How does your band plan out the performance night? Do you use a regular set list that is the same every gig, or does the band leader call the songs based on what is going on with the crowd on that particular night, or do you do a show? Do you take requests, and if so, how do you take them? Do you play a request right then or next set when it works naturally into the set?
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Set list?...Yes or No?
- Thread starter 51PRI
- Start date
We have all our songs on a giant wheel and let audience members come up and spin it for song selection.
When they spin it they Get Happy!!
Actually, both my bands work out a set list in advance and stick to it. Neither band takes requests, although I have played in other bands that did. Messes with the carefully worked out song sequence/tuning/show pacing so I prefer to avoid requests.
When they spin it they Get Happy!!
Actually, both my bands work out a set list in advance and stick to it. Neither band takes requests, although I have played in other bands that did. Messes with the carefully worked out song sequence/tuning/show pacing so I prefer to avoid requests.
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For my horn band, I put my songs in blocks of 4 or 5 that would flow into each other, without stopping.
Either one instrument immediately starts the next tune, e.g., the bass part of “Give It To Me” or the guitar entrance to “Clean Up Woman; or, in cases where the beats matched, the entire band went into the new tune.
These blocks were all numbered, so that I only had to call out the appropriate number in order to get into the next several tunes.
I also had a bunch of non-blocked tunes that could also be started by different members (again without stopping) to segue between blocks, add one more tune to a block, or if that block isn’t working, to simply change things up, until I decide what to call next.
Worked great in a situation where some of the players (especially horns) had to read parts.
Either one instrument immediately starts the next tune, e.g., the bass part of “Give It To Me” or the guitar entrance to “Clean Up Woman; or, in cases where the beats matched, the entire band went into the new tune.
These blocks were all numbered, so that I only had to call out the appropriate number in order to get into the next several tunes.
I also had a bunch of non-blocked tunes that could also be started by different members (again without stopping) to segue between blocks, add one more tune to a block, or if that block isn’t working, to simply change things up, until I decide what to call next.
Worked great in a situation where some of the players (especially horns) had to read parts.
devnulljp
Supporting Member
BL goes to a lot of trouble making up a setlist and then abandons it about 3 songs in and just calls songs. You just have to roll with it
We are given a list of songs the client wants to hear. We add similar songs to fill the time, and the singers put them in performance order.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
I've done both. Nothing wrong with winging it, as long as you aren't taking time between songs.
I was in a band where the BL would pick the next song before the last chorus, and pass it down on stage. Generally never more than about 3 seconds of silence between songs. Whoever has the pickup for the next song would start. If nee be, the drummer would keep the best go ng (once they are up on their feet, do NOT let them get off).
I was in a band where the BL would pick the next song before the last chorus, and pass it down on stage. Generally never more than about 3 seconds of silence between songs. Whoever has the pickup for the next song would start. If nee be, the drummer would keep the best go ng (once they are up on their feet, do NOT let them get off).
we have a set list that changes over time it is a Motown/Funk/Soul band so the set list reflects that , set 1 Motown 2. Funk . 3 Soul and so on , we will change up sets and go 3-1-2 etc.
We tailor our set list to the venue/show. We always have one. We also always end up calling a few audibles during a gig depending on requests, audience interaction, phase of the moon, whether the lead guitarist took his adderal, and other such factors…
I like to have a plan to deviate from. When the situation calls for it, we'll switch things up. While we're playing, our BL is always scanning the room to see how what we're doing is going over. Or not going over.
Have played with a guy that never used a set list, never a problem. Most use some kind of list, but it's not exactly the same list each gig. There's usually flexibility(last night's band we pretty well trashed the list, watch the room). We stick pretty tight to the list in an all originals outfit. Never been in a band that wouldn't take requests if we could do a good job of it and put it in a logical place in the set tempowise. Really don't get that many requests, seems like less than in years past...No Freebird though.
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We usually make it through the first set before the BL goes off script. Once we get into the second set, anything goes including requests. The BL does a lot of solo gigs in addition to our band, so if we get request that some of us are clueless on and likely to just eff it up, he'll handle it solo. It's not always pretty, but the venues and crowds are happy.
Man, haven't heard a band do "Clean Up Woman" in decades. Great tune!
Anyway, has been different in different bands. I much prefer with set lists as it just keeps things moving - even if the bandleader has some latitude to deviate based on the crowd, etc.
We take the requests that are on the setlist
I once was in a new band, where I had to learn about 40 songs in about a month, and we didn't practice....just show up and play. So I asked for a set list because I had notes, like keys and such for certain songs......The BL declined and would call out songs as I hurriedly shuffled through my cheat sheet. Mind you. I had a full time job and family at the time. The BL was irate about the no set list policy (and other things). I left after two months. He had anger breakdowns on stage (not at me thank goodness, but his girlfriend, the singer). Was a very crazy time. I was glad that I did learn the songs, but honestly, a set list in advance would have helped me so much in preparation and the band would have sounded better. I once pointed out the the drummer was playing a song wrong, and I was chastised. So I had to play the songs perfectly, and others, not so much. Goodbye band
Setlist, no setlist, taking requests...done it all. And it all works. I will say some situations call for an ordered setlist, like when you want to keep the music flowing with minimal breaks between.
at a regular "gig" we'd take requests, no doubt, but for "shows" it's always a preconceived plan. i used to play lots of "gigs," but most of my 'gigs' these days are actually shows, albeit small ones.
I've been in alot of bands over the years that have done it all different kinds of ways. My experience is that it is the rare band (and leader) that can pull off a smooth set without a list. My preference now is to have a well-thought out set list shared in advance with all (vis Band Helper app) so that all players can review and practice as needed on their own, with a few extra tunes on the ready as-needed.
Set list is worked out a few weeks in advance, tailored to account for things like the type of show, vocals warming up and guitar changes. We run the list during rehearsals several times in that order, but if we can handle a request from the stage we'll do that. That's my band.
I'm in another band that where the BL does the aforementioned thing of abandoning the list a few songs in. The keyboard player and I placed bets on how many songs we'd go before he started changing things out the last time. She won the bet with 3; I had said 4.
I have a show tomorrow with a different band and I still don't have a set list for it. We play a lot of the same things at each show; the order may be different but I try to keep up with the whole list in personal practice so there won't be any surprises. I've played a handful of shows with them now and I feel like the repertoire is pretty good under my fingers at this point so I really only need to practice the trouble spots. That BL will pass out a list during set up and we'll play it straight through, unless we run into time issues, then we might move things around toward the end.
I'm in another band that where the BL does the aforementioned thing of abandoning the list a few songs in. The keyboard player and I placed bets on how many songs we'd go before he started changing things out the last time. She won the bet with 3; I had said 4.
I have a show tomorrow with a different band and I still don't have a set list for it. We play a lot of the same things at each show; the order may be different but I try to keep up with the whole list in personal practice so there won't be any surprises. I've played a handful of shows with them now and I feel like the repertoire is pretty good under my fingers at this point so I really only need to practice the trouble spots. That BL will pass out a list during set up and we'll play it straight through, unless we run into time issues, then we might move things around toward the end.
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We always start with a set list. We never adhere to it. We sub stuff in and out based on the audience we have at the time. If somebody requests something (usually they come up to one of us between songs), we do our best to play it ASAP.
