How to time sets for New Years Eve gig?

The last time we played on NYE, we had the sets spaced so that 3-5 minutes after the ball dropped, we were onstage with some of our more danceable songs.

The crowd energy is pretty high then and a lot of people are on the dance floor, which makes for a great time. Also a good time to get some crowd pics and/or video so you can show the other club owners how you can work a crowd (always think marketing).

have fun !

 

I push a formula of 45 minute sets with 15 minute breaks in between. Except, when the crowd is jumping. My rule of thumb is to keep people on the dance floor as long as possible. That means rapid-fire transitions into the next song. When the crowd takes a breather, you can too. For New Years, I would plan an hour set with your strongest dance material right after the countdown.

 

Come back on about 15 minutes before the ball drops, stop whatever you're doing 30 seconds before the ball drops (even if you're in the middle of a song), you guys welcome in the new year with the crowd, play a few bars of Auld Lang Syne, then kick ass for the next half hour!

 

We don't plan sets. We measure the crowd and see what they respond to. It's an adjustment coming bands that preplanned sets. Not hard to do, keeps you on your toes and gives you more flexibility. Also, if the dance floor is full, keep the song going. Repeat verses. The people on the floor don't care cuz they love the music.

We shoot for 45 minute sets with a 15 minute break. NYE we coordinate with organizers what they want us to do.

Generally, we're just wallpaper for the first set. People start moving at the back end of the first set. After that, they're up and moving. Keep the danceable stuff for later.

 

That's sorta what we do. We play what we call the "3 and a half" set show.

1st set - 9.00 - 9.50
slower, groovy set to get the crowd warmed up

2nd set - 10.15-11.10
uptempo, funky and danceable

3rd set - 11.35 - 11.55
pumpin, energetic and popular

*break for the countdown, lots of patter and *
play Auld Lang Syne, maybe go into "Celebration" (we don't, but it does work)

3 &1/2 set - 12.05 - 01.00
full bore party set, singalongs, crowd participation etc

It may sound like formula, but hey, we are already booked for NYE 2006 and 2007.

 

SB69 - sounds like a good show, mate.

One word though - make sure your singer is ready for the marathon sets, its a long time without rest for the vocal cords...

 

My god I can't believe you guys take this length of a break between sets I see some one here who does three sets taking breaks in between. My band plays for solid two hours straight through start to finish for most gigs. If its a smaller gig in a small bar which isn't very important we might take 5 mins for a cigarette half way through.

I can imagine taking 15 mins break would completely kill the momentum that band has been working towards. The crowd gets off the dance floor people loose interest because theres no one playing. Plus I find taking breaks relaxes you and kills your own energy as well.

My own band try to get songs going quickly and smoothly running into each other with little to no stops in between songs. We're not quite at that stage yet but thats what we strive towards.

Sorry for the derailment. My advice would be try and get the band to finish a song seconds before the count down. Do the the count down then kick back in with a high energy song. Put a song with a solo that you can extend or shorten on the fly before the count down so that you can time the ending to just before the count down

 

I'm pretty sure he's talking about 4 hour gigs though...you HAVE to take a couple 15 minute breaks (at least) for those type of gigs or your set will suffer I think by the end of the night. Plus it won't kill the momentum as long as you have a decent DJ/CD playing tunes during the breaks--esp. if you pick good dancing songs that your band doesn't play (Usher's "Yeah" for example.) It also gives you a good chance to mingle with the crowd, gives them a chance for a potty break, call their friends (this awesome band is playing, you have to come out!"), talk to girls, etc. etc.

 

I suppose your right in that case, but to spread out a two hour show over the course of three hours taking a couple of breaks seems a bit lazy to me.I suppose I just prefer to keep it pumpin for the gig.

 

Yes, these are four-hour gigs, and the breaks are absolutely necessary. I have to have a break as standing/grooving in one small area plays hell on my back and feet. We have also found that most of our patrons are in their 30s and 40s, so 45 minutes of steady music is about right for that crowd. You may call it "lazy," but we call it "tailored time management." Besides, we make it very clear to all of the venues that we play what our system is. None have complained. If they did, we wouldn't play there.

 

yes I can understand a 4 hour set requires some breaks I don't mean to start a fight here but I was more refering more to pete squires time management system there seems to be almost as much breaks as there is playing. However I apologise for using the word lazy. But I do disagree with his bands method for laying out the sets.

That said it seems to be the way for doing things there. I've seen numerous TB'ers talking about their first second third sets etc. Over here its slightly different. In that bands usually play from a certain time until closing straight through.I suppose its a sort of culture difference. You guys say "color" I say "colour" samething just a little different.

Im just digging my way out of a hole here really.

I do find that taking a brake stops the adrenaline flowing and the tiredness can hit you more. I've never felt wrecked in the middle of a gig only after. But again thats just my experience YMMV

 

The two guys I play with came to Europe from the states in 1990 touring with a band that would play one set a night: from 9:30 until 2:30 nonstop. It wasn't a requirement, but more of their trademark. They played 7 nights a week. The longest nonstop stretch they did was 84 consecutive nights. Imagine what their chops were like back then.

I've been doing this for over thirty years and that was the first I ever heard of anyone doing such a marathon. We shoot for 45 minute sets with a 15 minute break. There are times when you need to be flexible and do a 1 hour or a 1.5 hour set. They are the exception and not the norm.

 

Now that is impressive but it goes to show that it can be done. If thats the way things are done with the whole set break set break etc doing such marathons could be a great gimmick for a band over there.

 

We are always onstage at midnight. Nobody seems to know exactly when it is or really cares. We do the countdown (make it up), play old lang sine (or what ever you call it) and then do a belly rubber. The women want a good kiss from their man before we break into the fast danceable stuff.