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set lists and repeating songs

BassGirl1122

BassGirl1122

Jun 12, 2008
834
26
55
North Augusta, SC
#1
my guy's band doesn't use them. I don't really say anything to him, to tick him off or anything but I get (and others too) tired of them playing a song, and sometimes after they finish a song, they stand there talking for a few seconds to a min trying to figure out what to play next. Occasionally someone will holla a song out.
I think every band should have a set list. I mean they are a house band, so I thought if they made several different ones to use and rotate on weekends-and toss in a request in between that would be cool.
Also what gets a lot mad is they don't like playing a song twice in a gig. I mean, sometimes they will-for the special ones..I don't see the issue. If you didn't play it your last set-and played it earlier, who cares? I have sang a song, and later on someone asks me to sing it again, and I do it. I do it for the "fans". I am so grateful someone likes the way I sing it enough for them to ask me to sing it, I do it.
So what are your views on repeating songs, and how many bands here uses a set list (curious mainly on the house bands)
 
#3
SelenaBassGirl said:
my guy's band doesn't use them. I don't really say anything to him, to tick him off or anything but I get (and others too) tired of them playing a song, and sometimes after they finish a song, they stand there talking for a few seconds to a min trying to figure out what to play next. Occasionally someone will holla a song out.
I think every band should have a set list. I mean they are a house band, so I thought if they made several different ones to use and rotate on weekends-and toss in a request in between that would be cool.
Also what gets a lot mad is they don't like playing a song twice in a gig. I mean, sometimes they will-for the special ones..I don't see the issue. If you didn't play it your last set-and played it earlier, who cares? I have sang a song, and later on someone asks me to sing it again, and I do it. I do it for the "fans". I am so grateful someone likes the way I sing it enough for them to ask me to sing it, I do it.
So what are your views on repeating songs, and how many bands here uses a set list (curious mainly on the house bands)
Click to expand...

Repeating songs in a long evening for the benefit of a late audience who didn't hear the song first time 'round is ok, and also to pad your set list a little is ok. Don't make it a habit or lean to heavily on it though.

We have set lists. We rarely follow the order of songs exactly-we're trying to do what's appropriate for the mood and vibe at the moment the next song can be chosen. Plus you should be able to play any song in the list in any order and without a lot of lag time in-between. The futzing around between songs, rightly or wrongly, looks unprofessional or unprepared to the audience. The exception is if you have legit stories to tell, witty anecdotes, legit retunings and/or instrument changes which require a few moments. Then again, rushing through things doesn't look good either. I think it's a food idea to look (and be) well-rehearsed, reasonably polished, have fluid transitions, and confidence to take a few moments to interact with the audience to establish and foster a personal connection.

Looking like everything is under control and is smoothly going exactly as planned goes a long way.
 
#4
Ahh... setlists! A major issue in my band. We write one for every gig and 9 time of 10 our bandleader doesnt follow it. I find it a little frustrating as the songs are ordered for specific reasons. Such as tempo, key, style, how similar they sound, popularity etc.

Repeating songs is something I'd rather not do, but "Folsom Prison" is our Brown Eyed Girl and the audience loves it. I've done that song so many times, I cant count. We've played it up to 3 times in one nite and that I believe is excessive, but I dont call the shots in my band... so thats the way she goes.
 
#5
Some bands I play for have a setlist, some don't. I don't mind a band not having a setlist if they're quick about choosing the next song. e.g. In yhe classic Blues/Rock/Improv band I play with, the Guitarist does most of the intro's so it's not a problem.

As far as repeating stuff, I'm not precious if someone specifically requests it.
 
#8
We keep a set list, or 3-4 set lists I should say. Usually our openers and closers are the same, but we rotate them through different sets so that repeat customers don't always hear us open/close with the same number.

We pair or bunch specific songs and transistions together as well - like a lot of bands do.

Cash songs are also our Brown Eyed Girl. That and Stray Cat tunes. We typically will throw those in when requested.
 
#9
The best way to get a band to follow a set list is to make a good one and show how well it works. Sure, we'll do a request or throw in Birthday or whatever, or sometimes we'll run long or short and need to move things around (with notes for next time). But I worked through all of the songs we have, put together sets with good flow, and made adjustments for gear changes, and worked with the vocalists to spread the harder songs around. We also kinda catagorized the songs so we can move them from set to set and keep the same flow. I put in break points for talking with the audience (and gear changes), which also implies songs that go one into the next with a minimum of time between them.

I also print out lots of copies in big print so everyone has one and everyone can see it on stage.

Now I have the band hooked. They love the flow, the consistency, the knowing what comes next. The flow grabs the audience, shows them what to expect from us, and allows the crowd to trust us so they can get up and dance, not get left hanging on the floor, and have a chance to cuddle-up and close the deal by the end of the set.

It also give us guidance as to what songs to be learning next, since as a dance tune ages or whatever, we know we need to plug that hole in the set with a new dance tune.

It is really one of the main differences between a professional show and a garage band that's in over their heads.
 
#10
We use a master list approach since we have about 130 songs that cover 6 decades of music in our repertiore. We feel out the crowd and see what they respond to and keep the flow going very well. We never take long between songs and often go from one into the next. We will call out two or three songs in a row too. However, if we get a request, we will play that as the next song or one right after that to satisfy them. The only time we use a specific set list is when we are doing an opening set or a headlining for a major concert and we only have so much time and know what type of audience will be there.

As far as repeating songs, we usually only do them if requested and we did not play it within the last hour or sometimes, if we learn a new tune, we might do it earlier and later in the show.
 
#11
::::BASSIST:::: said:
Ahh... setlists! A major issue in my band. We write one for every gig and 9 time of 10 our bandleader doesnt follow it. I find it a little frustrating as the songs are ordered for specific reasons. Such as tempo, key, style, how similar they sound, popularity etc.

Repeating songs is something I'd rather not do, but "Folsom Prison" is our Brown Eyed Girl and the audience loves it. I've done that song so many times, I cant count. We've played it up to 3 times in one nite and that I believe is excessive, but I dont call the shots in my band... so thats the way she goes.
Click to expand...

Haha - I have the same experience with Folsom Prison - played it at one party during the first set and was asked by the host to play it again a bit later in the night. Just before we were starting to wrap up, he came up (more than a little wasted...) with a big wad of crumpled up cash and asked us to play Folsom Prison four times in a row. We did, then left. Very strange evening...

And for the most part we've used setlists with a fair amount of deviation. If I didn't push for them, we probably wouldn't use them at all. Without them, we have that same awkward thing the OP talked about - where there is some level of dialogue between every song. I hate that...
 
#12
I like having a set list, but the band HAS to be flexible. The pros of using a list is that everyone knows what the next song is. The problems are that if the set list isn't working, you've got to be able to adapt. And bands that insist on sticking to the list aren't paying attention to the audience for the most part.

We used to have several stock set lists, but the leader would call changes as he read the crowd. We worked out little three-song set so that if we did "Shakey Ground" we all knew that "Brown Sugar" was next and "Soul Man" followed it. That way we could alter songs quickly, but still keep the time between songs to a minimum. We'd also call out alternates DURING the song so we knew what was up next if we were deviating from the list.

Space between songs is crucial- too long and you're dead. And very few front-people are really that good at killing more than five seconds between songs. So, for me a list is important, but I'm not into slavishly following it.

John
 
#13
Set list or no set list, there is nothing worse than dead space between songs, idle chatter, stupid noodling, or the like. Any time I see a band and the set isn't tight it really bugs me. Right or not, it makes me think that they're amateurs. You can not have a set list if the band is quick to call out a tune and not seem disorganized, but that rarely seems to happen.
 
#16
I play in a 5 pc cover band that relies heavily on our set list. Flexibility is exercised at times but with 5 musicians playing multiple instruments or needing to change various patches or programming (keyboards, drums) we have to be extremely wary. I know for myself, there are certain covers that I prefer to play on my P-Bass or my Jazz Bass and sometimes I need my 5'ver.
 
#17
Your guy should at least have a master song list, maybe by category or genre. How about picking out 3 songs at time to cut the down time between songs.

Seems like they're a bit over confident in their "house band" status that their professionalism has suffered.
 
#18
I play in 2 bands. 1 "house" band and 1 club/festival band. We use set list for both. Sometimes the order of songs for a given set may change slightly, and we may omit a song or add one. Usually the omitted ones are due: 1.) the singers ain't "feeling it" right then (i.e., he don't feel like he can hit certain parts of the songs, due to whatever reason), 2.) running into "our" break, etc. But we always have a list going on stage. It rotates, slightly, for week to week. My club band has a solid 90 songs we know dead to rights and we work on an approx 8 week rotation in the clubs. We have an A B C list for a given night. The 1st time we play a show, we'll play, say, songs 1-45 broke into 3 sets. The next time, 8 weeks later, we'll play 46-90. The next, say 1-20 and 50-75. Other times, we'll just reverse the order or switch them up: ABC, then BAC, then CBA, etc.

"Dead" time between songs is a strict NO NO, to us. We want to roll from one song to the next within about 3-5 secs. This is mainly for our club band. The more you can keep them on the dance floor, the thirstier the become (i.e., during breaks the waitress' are near running to fill orders. The owners sells beer, the waitress makes tips, the patrons have a good time...as a result we get another gig booked.) We try to set our list up so if we roll directly into a songs that, say, I need to go from 4 banger to 5'er, the first 8-10 measures of the next song doesn't require bass. Or if the guitarist need to switch to an alternate tuned guitar, the next song will start with bass or keys, etc.

As far as "repeating" songs. If it a very hot tune and very requested, sure we'll play it twice a night...MAX 3 times. But the 3rd times is ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS the last song of the night. For 2 reasons: 1.) the people requesting it are more likely to stay if you tell them, "Ya were gonna do ((insert songs here))) in a few mins. They stay, they buy more beer...the owner is happy, the patron is happy. 2.) and this is why we play the "3rd" time song last . If it's requested enough for us to play it three times in one night, it must be a VERY popular tune, therefor we want "it" to be the song they're singing on the way home and the next day at work...telling all their friends about the "kick as$ band" they heard last night.

You just can't be SO strict that it becomes "work.":eek: It's all about having fun, making music, making the crowd happy...the money (on my level of playing), to an extent, it an added "bonus."
 
#19
I think a set list is a good idea, but I don't think you necessarily have to stick to it the same way every night. You should be able to mix the songs up if you want to. I do think repeating songs is all right as long as you have a crowd that is constantly coming and going. If you have the same batch of people sitting there the whole night I wouldn't do it. Unless something really goes over well then you should be versatile enough to either drag it out a bit or replay it later on in the evening.
 

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