^^^ +1.
Personally, unless it's requested, I'd NEVER repeat a song. Not only is it very unprofessional, it's BORING!!!
But do whatever, and hope no one listens for to long - good luck.
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Repeating songs at a paying gig? Thoughts?
- Thread starter tspallone
- Start date
^^^ +1.
Personally, unless it's requested, I'd NEVER repeat a song. Not only is it very unprofessional, it's BORING!!!
But do whatever, and hope no one listens for to long - good luck.
I see no big harm in repeating a song or two or maybe three on a long night of playing. I don't usually do it but maybe I have a half dozen times. It's 2 or 3 hours later and no one remembers or if they do they are way drunk by that point. That said repeating 6 songs over and over is kind of lame but just take the gig for what it's worth and don't worry about it too much. Although I probably would not advertise the name of the band much. 
Reminds me of playing a marathon a few times. A different stage set up every half mile. New audience every 20-30 seconds. Hell, we could've done one song all damn morning.
While there might be a high audience turnover, the one hiring you might be there the whole time, so it would be ideal having more material. If you can follow some charts and you have someone who can read the melodies, I would try and add some more standards. If not, it's not the end of the world. Have fun!
If the place is dead during the first set, we may repeat some of those songs during the last set. That doesn't happen often though.
I've had to do this before on a 3 set night. The DJ didn't show up to play between sets, so our breaks were shorter. Luckily, the crowd that's around at 9:30-10 isn't the same crowd that's there around 1-2.
Try to have enough songs to cover your ground, but it's not a deal killer for most places if you have to press the rewind button once.
Try to have enough songs to cover your ground, but it's not a deal killer for most places if you have to press the rewind button once.
Are they songs or instrumentals? I doubt the organiser will be musically educated enough to know the difference if its just standards. He'd be more interested in the 'vibe' IMO. Having said that, sticking to only six songs is not something I would recommend moving forward.
While the turnover might be big in a farmers market setting, the people who are working there and running it will see you repeat your set repeatedly and think your band is bad. I would be real uncomfortable doing it.
My two cents of course!
Cheers!
MJW
My two cents of course!
Cheers!
MJW
I wouldn't be worried about repeating songs or sets at a farmers market or other high-turnover event, provided it was discussed and agreed with the organisers beforehand.
I would however be worried about this groups reluctance to introduce new material to cover a wide range of situations though.
Have fun at the gig!
I would however be worried about this groups reluctance to introduce new material to cover a wide range of situations though.
Have fun at the gig!
I would rather die than repeat one song during a gig.
Take it too seriously? Whatever.
I take it seriously.
So what?
So sue me.
Take it too seriously? Whatever.
I take it seriously.
So what?
So sue me.
The only time I've ever done it was in a new band that had an opportunity to play a bar gig on short notice, and we were 4 or 5 songs short of 4 full sets. We played a few of the songs from the 1st set in the 4th set, the idea being that most of the people there then hadn't been there for the 1st set, and the ones that were had been drinking for 4 hours and probably wouldn't even notice. It worked pretty well, no one noticed, and the manager hired us back many times after that (although we had enough songs by the next gig).
A farmer's market is different though, in that the crowd is very fluid, with people only staying a short time. You should be able to get away with it with them, but the management will notice, and the vendors who will be there for the entire thing will notice, so you may get some flack about it from them.
If you have been playing together that long and don't have more than 6 songs you need to think about what your goals are. If it is to just jam for fun then 6 songs is enough, but if you want to continue to play gigs you need to learn a lot more. Are the other members willing and able to learn that many? If not then you don't have to worry about being hired again, just go play the gig and have fun. If they are more serious about gigging I would not do it until completely ready if possible. It only takes one bad gig to ruin a reputation. Been there before too....
A farmer's market is different though, in that the crowd is very fluid, with people only staying a short time. You should be able to get away with it with them, but the management will notice, and the vendors who will be there for the entire thing will notice, so you may get some flack about it from them.
If you have been playing together that long and don't have more than 6 songs you need to think about what your goals are. If it is to just jam for fun then 6 songs is enough, but if you want to continue to play gigs you need to learn a lot more. Are the other members willing and able to learn that many? If not then you don't have to worry about being hired again, just go play the gig and have fun. If they are more serious about gigging I would not do it until completely ready if possible. It only takes one bad gig to ruin a reputation. Been there before too....
+1000
1. You can't play the same 6 song set 4 times if you're getting paid.
2. All the people saying 'Dude!! It's a farmer's market' don't seem to understand that there will be plenty of people who hear what you're doing.
3. I've never heard of any band doing anything close to this. If you do it, people will be laughing at you.
4. I assure you, folks who are warning you off this plan are definitely not 'taking themselves too seriously'.
Sorry.
This.
Plus, you may not get paid as you haven't really provided 2 hours of live music.
What about getting a support band in to fill the first 45 mins?
I dont know about the US, but in the UK, support bands ( if you supply pa and backline) dont need paying.
Plus you could jam some blues for a while. Then play your 6 songs.
With a break between bands that should cover 2 hours.
Sounds like you guys aren't ready yet though.
