Set list?...Yes or No?

[two fingers]

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?

Lead singer makes a set list for each show. They are similar yet different.

If we can pull of a request, we do it right when we're asked. Worst case it's one of our "big songs" that usually goes at the end of the night. If so, we might do it again. It's only rock n roll. Don't over think it.

We have a list of a dozen songs on reserve that we can flex into the set if we're running short.

 

[db59]

I always like when band members are debating what song to play next for a few minutes, that's entertaining........set list +1

 

[juancaminos]

In my first band in Arizona (late 70's) we would get together after set up and sound check to put a set list together just before the show, it was different every time. After that most bands I was in the BL just called songs. Next was my own band where we had a set list that was strictly followed with no time between songs.

Fast forward to now...the BL has a very large list of songs so he makes a new set list for every gig with about 10% standard fare the rest are pretty different. I don't like it.

Yes we do take requests sometimes right away, other times after we discuss during break. And yes we have been known to change things based on the crowd. However our current band leader is not good at reading a crowd and we are not allowed to banter with each other or the audience so our show is a bit sterile IMHO.

I like to know how much other are allowed to engage with the audience and each other on mic?

 

[Dominic D]

The bands I play with that pay well all use setlists. The bands I occasionally play with that mostly play bars rarely use setlists.

 

[dougfr67]

Every professional band has a setlist. It's very unprofessional to have the 'band leader' call the songs or take requests.

 

[PennyroyalWe]

In both bands we scratch out a set list and largely stick to it. Sometimes if we’re running over time we’ll cut one or two, or if we’re under time we usually have a few extras stashed away.

 

[Jefenator]

I often favor a song list over a set list. Referring to a master list really helps me 1) pick tunes out on the fly and 2) avoid forgetting about lots of great titles we've worked up in the past (which can be tragically easy to do).

 

[Bassamatic]

ALWAYS have a set list and stick to it. A set should have a "feel" where it starts strong, lightens/slows up in the middle and finishes strong. Calling songs along the way and taking requests ruins the feel of the set. It also minimized the time between songs. Big gaps are not professional.

JUST TO BE FAIR - There was a local band that put their song list on all the tables and let the audience call ALL the songs! A gimmick, but worked for them.

 

[ultra60]

Prefer set lists. Sat in with a friend that would not use them. Would just flip through his book to determine what to play next. He panicked with a full dance floor and not knowing what to call next. He looked at me and said "what do we play next?". I just looked at him and smiled. Dance floor cleared quickly and he lost the momentum.

 

[Muttleybass]

3 solid sets that we breeze through almost as if it's one long song, except for a few breaks for band identification and stage banter. We try to keep the dead air to a minimum and run it like a 3 act play. However, there's always room for requests and deviation. Not written in stone.

 

[rufus.K]

Setlist.

 

[Rip Van Dan]

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?

All the bands I've played with since 1966 used some form of set list.

When I was touring with a nightclub group for three years in the early 70's we typically did four 45-minute sets with 15-minute breaks in between (Union Policy). BL would give us the list each day. I'd make up index cards for each set for myself and tape the upcoming one on the back of my bass before each set so I could just tip my bass forward a little bit to read it and see what was coming up next. When we'd add new songs to our list, we'd schedule the new song for somewhere in the first half of the first set and again during the 4th set. Playing it early got over the "first performance" which was never as good as the second performance, and most people would hear us play it played during the 4th set. After that it was relegated to our normal rotation. We typically learned at least 2 songs per week, sometimes as many as 4.

Back when my eyes were still pretty good, I'd tape a set list on the floor. I'd tape it slightly in front of and to the side of my mic where I wouldn't accidentally step on it. Then I could just glance down at it. Since iPads and Kindles have come into use on stage, I use one of those mounted on my mic stand. I just number the songs according to the order we plan on playing it, which again makes it easy. I also keep charts of other songs handy arranged alphabetically so I can grab one quickly if we get a request for it.

If we get a request for a song already on our set list, we'll tell them that it will be coming up in a few minutes, the next set, or whenever we have it scheduled. If it's not on our set list that night, we'll work it into the next few songs. If it's scheduled for the last set and and the requester has to leave, we'll push it up and do it during the third or whatever the second to last set is.

 

[Bluesrock]

We always have a set list, which the lead singer abandons after a few songs because he claims he can “read the crowd.” As soon as people start moving to the first song with a fast tempo, he announces that we’re going to slow things down. Disappointed, the crowd returns to their seats. It’s sad but somewhat hilarious because it’s so predictable.

 

[themickster]

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?

We pick our songs when we know how long we will get. Sometimes it's within minutes of going on.

 

[39-Bassist]

Being an originals band...we do a set list and maybe every once and while switch a song or two.

 

[Turnaround]

My preference now is to have a well-thought out set list shared in advance with all (vis Band Helper app)

Yes! And Band Helper is such a great tool for sharing the set list, arranging rehearsals and performances, tracking what tunes have been used where, and on and on and on. Do you use any special triggers, layouts, etc. Perhaps we should start a Band Helper thread.

 

[bherman]

Yes! And Band Helper is such a great tool for sharing the set list, arranging rehearsals and performances, tracking what tunes have been used where, and on and on and on. Do you use any special triggers, layouts, etc. Perhaps we should start a Band Helper thread.

I’ve tweaked a layout a bit for my own use, nothing dramatic. It’s a really great product!

 

[Turnaround]

I'm going to start a Band Helper thread so as not to derail this one. Look for it in Band Management.

 

[51PRI]

For my horn band, I put my songs in blocks of 4 or 5 that would flow into each other, without stopping...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.....

I was in a band that did that. We had a block of 4 songs...two fast, a slow song, and then another fast song. That was one block. Then we would play a non-block song, and then another block, and end with a non-block song. The blocks could be mixed and matched with the non-block songs. Very minimal down time.

...
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.....

Keyboard players seem to need more time between songs to set their patches up. Luckily that is just about the same amount of time the lead guitar player needs to drink beer.

...If we can pull of a request, we do it right when we're asked. Worst case it's one of our "big songs"....

What are your "big songs?" Just curious.

The bands I play with that pay well all use setlists....

Like a show?

 

[QweziRider]

Totally depends on the band. In one, the BL gives us the list a day before (mostly so I can put it in my format), generally close to the same but drawing from about 150 songs on his master list. So there are changes every gig.

Another is nearly always the same, but any changes that BL makes are set in stone by the last rehearsal.

Then there's a third one I'm joining tomorrow that uses no list and the BL calls them out as they come from the top of his mond. Classic country and a pile of originals in the same vein. We'll see how well that goes for me, but he's been in the same venue every weekend for 20 years straight, so it seems to work for him.