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Set list too short

#61
Wow, this thread has been a trip. Your ex-BL needs to think about his role as leader. The answer could have been as simple and communicating with the booker that an extended set would mean filler/lesser songs and the timeslot could have been potentially altered to avoid all of this.

As a booker, I will say one of my most peeved moments was when I booked a band to play a 90 minute set. They went on 15 minutes late and only played 45 minutes. When they were coming down the steps off the stage, I asked why they were taking a break. Their response? "We play punk. No one plays punk for more than 45 minutes." I told them we have a contract for 90 minutes of performance. Their response? "Once again, we are punk. Contracts don't matter."

Needless to say, I never booked them again, and the band faded from the local scene. Too bad, because they were really, really good. Just not professional.

Have attitude on the stage for the audience and show. Leave it there and be a decent, upstanding person off the stage. Honor your contact and keep your word.
 
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#62
gln1955 said:
Always go into a gig with more material than you need. Even with an 8-piece band there should be simple songs in any genre that the majority already know. If y'all can't put together a couple songs per week between now and then maybe you aren't quite ready to play that level of venue. It sounds like you think you can do it but the BL won't make the right call. It seems self-destructive.
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This. If this is the level your getting booked at there should be about 100 songs you can "learn" on the spot.
 
#63
You need 45 minutes more music and you've got 7 weeks?

Well, figure out whether you tend to do the high and tight 3 minute tunes, or take some solos. I'd figure 10-12 tunes. So, you (not sure WHO is "you" here, it ought to be the leader, who I gather is AWOL?) pick 12 tunes with simple formats that everyone knows how they go. Write charts (Not full notation charts; just chords, lyrics, and the road map). Send them out. Three rehearsals between now and the date, to make sure everyone's got the road maps. Done!
 
#64
I mean, I played almost 20 years in a society band where you got to the gig, the books were on the stands and the set list was lying on the books. Bandleader would regularly hand out charts at break and count 'em off to start the next set. If requests were called with money attached, the lead alto player the drummer and the bass player would start the tune and the rest of us would play parts on the fly.

To put together a set of 45 minutes of rock and roll with 7 weeks lead time should be within the capability of any band that plays for money.
 
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#67
basseux said:
We have a show in 7 weeks, that was booked 6 months ago and have to do 3 sets of 45 minutes.

With records of previous shows that I did, I have concrete proof we never did more than 2 sets of 43 minutes and 48 minutes.

45 minutes is missing.
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6 months to fill 45 minutes. That 10 to 15 songs if you cut it close. If you couldn't get it done by now that is the very definition of not professional. You promised and made a commitment. Find a substitute band that can get it done now.

If you can't do the work, don't do the gig.
 
#70
Do you mean you can't imagine playing seriously and NOT having a single leader in charge?

Consider the symphony orchestra. Or the bands of Tommy Dorsey or Charles Mingus.

I went through the "collaborative"/"commonwealth" scheme, where even the tiniest decision means hours of discussion. Not for me any more. That's cool when you're 20 years old and nothing much to do but sit around shoot the breeze get high and argue about minutiae but at 60 I want to show up play the music and go home. If no one else will make decisions, I will. If no one will make decisions and you won't let me do it either, I'm outa here.
 
#71
No, i'm 100% against a BL in charge period. But i'm in a original rock band that has 4 members, 3 of us have played together for over 30 years, so we're all in charge and all have equal say. I was just commenting having a single person in charge is foreign to me, and can go sideways when they aren't good at it, lol
 
#76
sleddogn said:
Glad to see a thread where the BL didn't win...
I can't imagine playing music, seriously, and have a single leader in charge...extremely foreign to me for sure...
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It was manageable until he had a day job existential crisis, were he left for another job that he quit 1 week later.
After that he started to picture himself as a startuper and musician living of music, that's easier when you still live at your parents home, with no rent or mortgage to pay.

Once after a show were we got paid 400€, he was uncomfortable keeping the money on him, since we planned to go to his brother party on a privatised boat on the Seine ( yes it's Paris ), so I proposed to take the money and drop it at my home 5 minutes away.
Finally he un-wised himself and he didn't want to anymore, so we went at the party.
At the party they were taking cash for the entrence, it was f ing expensive like 30€ with one drink, so he took money from the 400€ he had on him.
Then later I saw him take so many drinks.
I think he blew like 150€ from the band money that night.
I am not calling him dishonest, I didn't check, and do not think he "stole" the band money, but just that's an illustration of someone starting to lose it, or not really trust worthy, not very serious, in my book at least, and of course, with alcool problems.
 
#77
Years of cover band gigging makes me want 15 songs minimum per set. Sometimes that means we carry over 1 or 2 into the next set, or just skip them for the night. NEVER plan to be short. Unless your band is really polished you'll spend that 20-30 mins asking each other what to play. BAD BAD look. No club owner will be OK with you finishing early. I like the suggestion to add several easy ones to always have in your back pocket..songs that are gig-ready after practicing them 1 or 2 times.

I've often listed an extra set's worth of back-burner songs, printed as part of the set list, that we don't even plan to play...but could if necessary. That way you already have a list which makes decisions quicker. You know, for the endless encores. Seriously don't gig with too few songs. At 1 AM the folks always want 5 more songs. :) So you have to give 'em 2.
 
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