No set list, I'm not playing.

[Phalex]

I am a fan of the setlist myself, but if I'm filling in for a cover band it's fun when they call out a tune off the cuff. The only downside is if I don't know it.

If I'm familiar and comfortable with a tune, yeah, no problem. If I don't know the song, then yeah, I feel kinda poopy saying no......

 

[Winemule]

Got hired year before last to play an outdoor Fourth of July gig with a local country star (who shall remain nameless!). Drummer got me the gig. No rehearsal, no set list, he'd just start playing a song, and it was off to the races. Got a crick in my neck because I spent the night looking over at his left hand just to see what key he was in. I was so nervous I dug a small trench into the body of my bass where I'd jammed my right thumb over the pickup.

As it turned out, this was the way he auditioned people. "He likes to just throw you into the fire," said my drummer friend. He's used me a few times since. Nice guy, once you get past the trial!

 

[SteveC]

I'm lucky if we play the same "set" at church. While I have played in a band that tried to follow a set list, things change. The vibe at the gig may constitute a change to keep people on the floor or whatever. While it's nice to have, I am so used to not having one it doesn't bother me much. I don't do bass changes or anything so I'm always good to go. Sometimes I need someone to tell me the first chord, but we got pretty good at flying by the seat of our pants.

 

[pasta4lnch]

No rehearsal, no set list, he'd just start playing a song, and it was off to the races.

that's how it goes w/ a band I sub w/ these days. a lot of the songs sound the same too. the drummer and me sort of pick up on something and warn each other - but every so often both of us are stumped which can be fun . I even get tripped up on a few origianls, and I wrote a few of them

 

[thisSNsucks]

My band always has a set list on account that our drummer plays to a click track fed to his in ears.

Rather than him having to search for the right track between songs, they're already queued up in the proper order. That and we have them arranged so that we have a well rounded set, and allow for tuning/talking to crowd breaks.

Definitely helps cut down on the time that some bands spend looking and talking with each other as they try and decide what to play, which is pretty unprofessional looking.

Anyway, a set list is a must if you want to look legit, unless you're a band that's going to take requests all night.

 

[p-lo]

We debate set list vs. no set list within my weekend warrior cover band all the time. I prefer a set list. I also don't think our front man or guitar player are very good at calling songs or putting together a set list. The drummer and I have a better feel for it. We are generally divided, drummer and I for a set list and singer and guitar player against.

We started putting together 4 song mini sets based on songs that have and continue to work well together, danceability, era, etc. Our set list in now generally a single legal sheet with 10 or so mini sets numbered accordingly and a list of additional songs that we can pull from as necessary. We know going into a set we probably need to play three mini sets and another song or two. We call a set number and can play through those songs without hesitation. We can then take a minute to call the next groups of songs based on whats going on in the room.

We still go off list occasionally, but it has made everybody happier. Singer and guitarist get some of the flexibility they think they need and drummer and I can keep it flowing from song to song with just a couple breaks between songs each set.

 

[Factor88]

Master song lists I can see, but the crowd dictates what you should play next. . .

I just can't buy this in a night-in-night-out basis. Crowds just generally aren't that eclectic that they want a different feel/genra/tempo for the every next song. See what I wrote above. Pros can walk into a room, see the crowd, and pretty much guess what is going to work and what isn't, and be right most of the time. That's not to mention the fact that I bet for most of us in established bands, half or more of the venues we play every year are ones we have played in the past and know what the crowd there like. In those cases, it's just silly to dis a pre-arranged script, given what can go wrong if you don't have one (long awkward pauses between songs, guys not hearing the call of the next song and starting the wrong song in the wrong key, not having the right effect dialed in, etc. etc. etc.).

Again, that doesn't mean that a true pro won't know when the expected script is failing, and deviate until the right songs are found.

 

[eriky4003]

Always blows my mind that BL's don't tell a sub what the next song is via set list or some sort of queue. How can the BL expect the band he/she put on stage to be at its peak with no rehearsals or set list which can be relied upon?
These people must think: I sang/played fine. I still look good.
From the audience, I'd be thinking this band stinks. If that's the reaction the BL wants, so be it.

 

[sleeplessknight]

This is my own personal pet peeve. I hate, Hate, HATE doing gigs where the BL doesn't send a setlist, or says "find the songs on Youtube". I do them anyway, because I need the money. My own band, however, is meticulously charted out, with MP3s of the exact version of the tune in the same directory with the chart. This minimizes the chance of someone learning the wrong version/key of the tune, as well as saves players significant time because they don't have to hunt down the song to begin with.

My band also has a setlist for every gig. In my experience, the "we gotta read the room, maaaaan" excuse for not using a setlist is complete horse-puckey. It's a laziness thing, pure and simple, and bands/bandleaders who subscribe to that philosophy are handicapping themselves in the eye of the audience. In today's world of iTunes playlists, customized internet radio, etc, the only place a listener EVER has more than a second or two between songs is when listening to live music performed by an ill-prepared band. The "hey, whadda you wanna play?" "I dunno, whadda YOU wanna play?" dead-air BS decreases the audience enjoyment of the performance, which in turn makes them less likely to want to come out and support live music over time. In short, roll your setlist at least a day or two before the gig, play the room, and if for some reason the audience isn't responding, then change your setlist for next time! Don't sit there and discuss the finer points of playing Sweet Child Of Mine vs. Starships next "to get the chicks on the flooooor, maaaaaan!" on stage, the time for that is when you're crafting the setlists in the first place.

<rant off>

:-D

 

[BawanaRik]

I think that sometimes it's a power game. It allows the "leader" to keep the band a measure behind when starting any song.

I find it amazing that people have no idea of what they are doing to other people. It's incredible.

It's a common theme. I know the song.....so everyone else should, without preparation or forknowledge. Again, unreal.

In the band, when you so something that involves the other members of the band, you should consider them at some level.

You'd think it would be obvious, but for some reason its often not.

 

[DwaynieAD]

we make a set list but always have contingency plans. haven't needed the contingency yet thankfully

 

[millsbass5]

We always have a set list. But, sometimes it doesn't quite get followed to a tee. It actually depends on crowd reaction, what they seem to "be in the mood for." So, basically what we play depends on what the crowd wants.

 

[backup]

i remember my father used to play keys with a brazilian band (great musicians actually) once or twice a year. they would play bossa and brazilian music which is harmonically complicated and they never sent him a set list. when he asked they replied "its a surprise". he never complained about it and he could instantly hear the harmony and play the right thing
this makes me really want to have gigs without set list in terms of a challenge. however ive never really had a gig without any kind of setlist yet

 

[electracoyote]

Is it me or do musicians today have no clue...

Well, in this case, I don't think it's you.

My current band uses set lists at every gig, and we move from song to song rapid fire, incredibly fast pace that makes for a dynamic and exciting show.

We just learned to take a peek at the list before the current song ends. Our drummer is most unforgiving about clicking in the next song.

 

[kozmikyak]

I play in one band that has a strict setlist. That's fine.

But in my other two bands, there is absolutely never a setlist. One of the bands has rehearsed only 5 times in 5 years of history, all 5 of those rehearsals during the first week they brought me on board.

Depends entirely on what you're doing. The band that uses the setlist is playing covers, with distinct song starts and ends. The bands that don't use setlists, are jam bands, and it's part of the aesthetic of that scene (whether you like the scene or not) that people have to be ready to go anywhere, any time.

With crappy musicians that can be horrible. But both of these jam bands are spectacular. Nobody even calls the key of where we're going, we all employ our ears and figure it out on the fly.

So, I'd prefer a setlist if filling in for someone else, or playing a tight set of covers. But I don't mind the exploratory approach if you're working closely with top-notch musicians who have great ears and sensitivity to on-the-fly arranging.

I'm rather well known in my circles for my ability to sit in and play with just about anything, without knowing the song or the chords ahead of time. It's a skill that can be developed, even for a bassist, unless whomever wrote the songs is purposely trying to throw you off balance. It's definitely not as tight as knowing exactly where you're leading the harmony.

 

[SactoBass]

I think that sometimes it's a power game. It allows the "leader" to keep the band a measure behind when starting any song.

+1

You know you have a problem child when a so-called "leader" places the need to masturbate his own ego above the need for the band to be a cohesive unit for the audience.

If any under-evolved neanderthal ever tried doing something like that in our band, we would simply direct him to the nearest beach where he could pound sand all day long.

 

[Fiset]

My current band uses set lists at every gig, and we move from song to song rapid fire, incredibly fast pace that makes for a dynamic and exciting show.

Yep, thats the best arguement for having set lists. In my cover band, its essential to have virtually no down time between songs. While we occasionally change something up on the fly, its gotta be very quick. Nothing kills the vibe in the room like dead air while the band stares at each other trying to figure out whats next.

In my original projects, set lists are constructed so that the shows build to something. One specific project I'm in has video accompaniment for the whole show so set list deviation is not an option at any time.

 

[TRichardsbass]

I want to add that while I am pretty darn good at going on the fly, I don't play in cover bands, so there is no way to fake it, especially when a song is called that wasn't on the list to be learned.

Also, for MY professional reputation I don't want to suck, or sound way off. So if you don't follow a set list and I am filling in it exponentially increases the chances of it looking like I am not as good as I am, and then the possibility of word getting spread by another musician in the crowd.

Last night was one of those. The audience does not know that I have never played with this band before, nor do they know there was no rehearsal. All they know is that I was filling in and playing. So if it sounds off, must be I suck. If she sticks to the set list at least I will sound okay and so will the band.

We will see what anyone says about my performance last night...

 

[SactoBass]

I want to add that while I am pretty darn good at going on the fly, I don't play in cover bands, so there is no way to fake it, especially when a song is called that wasn't on the list to be learned.

Also, for MY professional reputation I don't want to suck, or sound way off. So if you don't follow a set list and I am filling in it exponentially increases the chances of it looking like I am not as good as I am, and then the possibility of word getting spread by another musician in the crowd.

Last night was one of those. The audience does not know that I have never played with this band before, nor do they know there was no rehearsal. All they know is that I was filling in and playing. So if it sounds off, must be I suck. If she sticks to the set list at least I will sound okay and so will the band.

All good points.

It sounds to me like she has no clue what leadership really is. Kinda like having a person in a lead position at work where he/she thinks it's all about controlling people and telling them what to do. They just don't "get" what leadership is all about.

It is unfortunate that you had to deal with such a mindless nimrod last night.

 

[pasta4lnch]

I just can't buy this in a night-in-night-out basis. Crowds just generally aren't that eclectic that they want a different feel/genra/tempo for the every next song. See what I wrote above. Pros can walk into a room, see the crowd, and pretty much guess what is going to work and what isn't, and be right most of the time. That's not to mention the fact that I bet for most of us in established bands, half or more of the venues we play every year are ones we have played in the past and know what the crowd there like. In those cases, it's just silly to dis a pre-arranged script, given what can go wrong if you don't have one (long awkward pauses between songs, guys not hearing the call of the next song and starting the wrong song in the wrong key, not having the right effect dialed in, etc. etc. etc.).

Again, that doesn't mean that a true pro won't know when the expected script is failing, and deviate until the right songs are found.

Fwiw 80% of the places I play are places I've played a dozen times. Crowds differ. Younger, older, dinner, crazy drunks, dancing chicks.

Set lists are fine, but I've done more then a few gigs w bands who just played off a list and ignored the crowd and the gig suffered because of it. Good to have a plan, s'long as you can break it ... Ymmv