How many sets and for how long?

[MtManiac]

We typically play 4 sets of 45 minutes each, with 2-3 encores. How about you?

 

[nsmar4211]

Depends on venue..... usually 45 minute sets though. No encores... "leave em wanting more" is guitarists motto and that's fine by me . Although, if the place has emptied out and it's only a few people and they really really ask we've done it.
Sometimes we'll do 50 minute sets 20 min break.....or whatever it takes to even out the time. Anything over 20 min break feels funny so we don't go over that

 

[Howlin' Hanson]

After three sets, the vocals go south. Four sets will cost extra, because doing a job the next night will likely be out of the question.

 

[coolrunner989]

wow, I've gotta get into better gigs. I've never played more than one set, usually 30-45, one time was an hour.

 

[Guiseppe]

Where I'm from, 4 45 min. sets is the standard. Some places will ask for 3 at a reduced rate.

 

[ogrossman]

Around here our standard bar gig these days is three 60 minute sets with 20 minute breaks. In the old days it was four 45 minute sets with 15 minute breaks. Once in a while you still run into a bar that wants the four set format.

 

[von buck]

I play in a zydeco band where two hour sets are common. Usually with a 15 minute break then another hour or so. The leader thinks people will leave if we stop. I think they'll just drop dead from dancing. Ther zydeco crowd loves dancing.

Andy

 

[JoDam]

We usually do four 50 minute sets with 10 minute breaks. Between sets we pump iPod music with old-school funk or fun songs like Electric Slide.

 

[MtManiac]

I play in a zydeco band where two hour sets are common. Usually with a 15 minute break then another hour or so. The leader thinks people will leave if we stop. I think they'll just drop dead from dancing. Ther zydeco crowd loves dancing.

Andy

How can anyone sit still when zydeco is playing?

 

[baba]

Usual club/bar time is 9:30 or 10PM to 1:30AM. We usually divide this into two or three sets depending on the crowd and who has to pee.

 

[Phalex]

We typically play 4 sets of 45 minutes each, with 2-3 encores. How about you?

That's pretty much the way we roll around here too.

Years ago we used to do 3 X 60 minute sets, but 4 X 45 seems to be the norm.

 

[Rickett Customs]

3 sets, 1hr to 1hr and 20.

/Jason

 

[MrDOS]

We've been doing the three longer set thing for a while. Seems to work better when the band /dancers get warmed up, they keep it going.

 

[kelleysdad]

3 one hour sets,2- 30 minute breaks.

 

[RED5]

wow, I've gotta get into better gigs. I've never played more than one set, usually 30-45, one time was an hour.

When I did original only bands a single one hour set was the rule. Took me some time to readjust to 3-60min sets a night. You gotta get an open mic gig, 3 SONG sets!! and hope there's enough bass players dropping by to play all night! Heh!

 

[Lucas G]

we usually get 45 minutes to an hour, one set. usually the other bands on the bill get the same, sometimes a little longer if they're a bigger band. i would like to have more time, as the stuff we've been writing lately is a little jammier and i would love to stretch it out some... i think this weekend we're playing four or five longer songs instead of our usual ten or so shorter songs. i don't know what cover bands do, i would imagine they play from like 9pm to 2am.

 

[megadan]

One set, 20 - 45 minutes.

 

[dewbass4]

Generally (4 hr total) 1 - 1hr plus 3 - 45 min sets with 15 min breaks (total playing time 3hr 15 min). Sometimes I play in the host band for a jam, these follow the same format, but depending on the number of 'jammers' I may play from 30 mins (opening songs) to all 4 hours.

One of the local blues clubs is 4.5 hr with the first set a mandatory 1.5 hr (or more) followed by 15 min break, remaining time: 2 - 45 min sets with 15 min breaks final set 1 hr (and no it doesn't pay any more than a 4 hr gig and runs 10:00 p.m. 'til 2:30 a.m.)

2 and 3 hr gigs are 45 min sets with 15 min break, one of the sets is 1 hr without break.

This is pretty much the same format I've played since the late 60's with the majority of gigs either 3 or 4 hr. Lately I've been doing some acoustic coffee house gigs that are 2hr. They're nice since I can take a small practice amp and most end early, but the pay is terrible.

 

[four2oh]

typical for my jammy bluegrass band is: 1st set 60min - 10min break - 2nd set 90 mins - 15min break - 3rd set 60mins - Encore 10-30mins.

 

[lonote]

It depends on what the venue wants. We typically play 3 one hour sets with 30 minute breaks or 4 45 minute sets with 20 minute breaks. Regardless, they get 3 hours of music.