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Set list from hell...

#24
Lobster11 said:
I'm just happy to hear that you escaped before Mustang Sally and Brown-Eyed Girl. You might not have lived to tell the tale!
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I heard BEG earlier in the week when we visited the same spot for some ice cream. I also heard CCR, Allman Bros., more SRV, Tom Petty and of course,"Keep your Hands to Yourself".
 
#25
My BL flat out refused to play BEG this past weekend when he saw the BL from a more well known band in the area checking out our set before they went on after us. The pride pill was apparently too big to swallow.

We did play Sweet Home Alabama though...
 
#26
If you don't like the list don't join. There was only one song I ever refused to play or sing back up it was just to lame and embarrassing. Had a member one time wanted to do Ride My Seesaw. Like anybody could dance to that.
 
#27
I just don't get the reluctance to play certain songs because they have been played, if the audience wants it. Go to a classical concert, you are a lot more likely to hear Mozart or Beethoven over some contemporary guy. Broadway is still recycling West Side Story and other shows from the 50s, Disney, or "greatest hits" shows of Carole King, Four Seasons, etc.

You have to play what they want to hear. Keep Your Hands to Yourself never fails to pack the dance floor., and BEG always gets them singing along.
 
#28
We have played every one of those songs, from BEG to Sweet Home to Georgia Satellites to Mustang Sally. Because people want to hear them and dance - and that's all that matters.

They are the ones hiring you, so you give them what they want. I honestly couldn't care less that another BL sees us playing them, because we are being paid that night, and he obviously isn't.

These are songs that have stood the test of time - they aren't bad songs. They are GREAT songs, and everyone of them is a blast to play, especially when you look out and see the dance floor is full.
 
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#30
Playing band or not - that is the question.

One thing I have found in about 40 years of playing is that when you go to a club there might be older people who have not been out since they had kids - so they want to hear Mustang Sally and some more of those over played songs we hate. So be it they haven't!!!!

So if the band is playing out and making some extra $$$ that is always what to look for. At my age I am not looking to be famous. Just to play.
 
#31
tfer said:
We have played every one of those songs, from BEG to Sweet Home to Georgia Satellites to Mustang Sally. Because people want to hear them and dance - and that's all that matters.

They are the ones hiring you, so you give them what they want. I honestly couldn't care less that another BL sees us playing them, because we are being paid that night, and he obviously isn't.

These are songs that have stood the test of time - they aren't bad songs. They are GREAT songs, and everyone of them is a blast to play, especially when you look out and see the dance floor is full.
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I agree here. I just joined a country band that plays some of the cheesy nu- country I'm not a big fan of. But I will say it's fun to play and seeing people getting into it and dancing is all the better. We play the songs they want to hear to get gigs and get paid.
 
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#32
bassbully said:
I agree here. I just joined a country band that plays some of the cheesy nu- country I'm not a big fan of. But I will say it's fun to play and seeing people getting into it and dancing is all the better. We play the songs they want to hear to get gigs and get paid.
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There are basically two options for us weekend warrior types. This - "... play the songs they want to hear to get gigs and get paid" or you can stay home and make Art-For-Art's-Sake in your practice room. IMO even if you're trying to write your own music, do your own thing, there is huge value to playing out in front of people and making some money while doing it. Learn to perform in front of actual live audiences, see what connects and what doesn't, hone your public performance skills etc. That most likely requires doing cover material at least while starting out, even stuff you're not personally crazy about, that is if you really want to gig very much. Commonly referred to as Paying Your Dues. If that's too distasteful for you then you can always just stay home and make Art-For-Art's-Sake and hope against hope someone "discovers" you. Possible but HIGHLY unlikely.
 
#33
EdO. said:
There are basically two options for us weekend warrior types. This - "... play the songs they want to hear to get gigs and get paid" or you can stay home and make Art-For-Art's-Sake in your practice room. IMO even if you're trying to write your own music, do your own thing, there is huge value to playing out in front of people and making some money while doing it. Learn to perform in front of actual live audiences, see what connects and what doesn't, hone your public performance skills etc. That most likely requires doing cover material at least while starting out, even stuff you're not personally crazy about, that is if you really want to gig very much. Commonly referred to as Paying Your Dues. If that's too distasteful for you then you can always just stay home and make Art-For-Art's-Sake and hope against hope someone "discovers" you. Possible but HIGHLY unlikely.
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I played in originals bands for almost 8 years. Two were fairly successful with paying gigs , decent turnouts and decent following. We did a few recordings and overall it was a great time. In the last year my search for good, marketable originals bands was frustrating. I found subpar artistswho played multi band shows for nothing. I decided it was time to quit supporting other artists and their songs and to take care of me.
I went out and looked for covers bands and as it looks now landed a good one. Last nights pay alone would equal at least three originals gigs and we had people rockin out to us.
I decided it was time to quit following others and do my own thing. If that requires me to play a few songs a night I'm not so found of..so be it. We are there to entertain folks afterall.
I loved original music but tired of the hassle and time it takes to see a reward. I have no regrets.
 
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