Set List

[vmabus]

I received an email on Saturday from a guitarist I worked with in a big band last spring. He's in a jazz combo whose bass player moved out of town, and I had talked with both him and the drummer at that time about taking over the bottom. We made several appointments for an audition, which they cancelled every time for various reasons. I figured they had changed their minds, and stopped asking.
Anyway, the guitarist stated that their bass player was erratic, and wanted to know if I could play. Thinking nothing would come of it again, I said, "Sure. Glad to fill in. Can you send me a set list?" From my previous conversations with the drummer, I knew they only play two sets, so I'm thinking maybe 20 songs, tops, some of which I probably already know (standards). He responded with a list, but said they just call the tunes. There are 97 titles on the list, which I would have to be ready with at a moments notice...
My question:
Is it better to have a clearly defined set list, in order to have continuity and flow to the set, so that one song leads to the next. I think the song should start the instant the applause dies out, not after some minutes of discussion, and fumbling around for the sheet. These guys are seasoned pros who have made a living through music; maybe I'm overthinking the whole thing.
What is your experience?

 

[Slade N]

take the gig but keep them posted as to your progress with the material. also long as you can get thru the gig on a limited for only the first gig or two id think theyd be ok provided that they are aware that you are getting up to snuff.

i joined a band and had to learn four sets in two weeks, singing some of the songs as well. it was a cool to have a specific set goal to work towards

 

[hrodbert696]

In principle I'm totally in agreement. When there's a defined setlist it's easier to prep and easier to have the flow going and everything you say. At the same time, a couple months ago I joined an established classic rock band and they do what you describe - call it as they go. I didn't get the list of 97 songs, I got 20 or 30, and they call all kinds of stuff that aren't on the list and I just follow the guitarist's hands. It's not jazz, so it's easier than I imagine your gig would be, but still. The guitarist does check a list to remind himself what I know, though I do know lots that aren't on that list that we find out as we go along. I think in part it's just that when the group is established they can get away with it, and in part it does allow for some spontaneity and responsiveness to the crowd. It's really hard to be cranking out dance music at a crowd that just doesn't want to dance, or to have a dancing crowd and be scrambling to rearrange a fixed set list to accommodate them.

 

[Biggbass]

we go into each gig with a planned set list, based on the venue, expected crowd, dancing or not, etc.
but we sometimes change tunes on the fly when the situation calls for it. To be able to do that requires that we have a lot of material on our master song list ready to plug in when the need arises. For us, that's just over 100 songs on our master list. We don't call that a "set list" though.
The set list is what we're playing that given night. It's a road map of sorts, and sometimes we do get off the map.