Song List sent by BL for tonight's gig.

[51PRI]

For some reason our BL is freaking out about our gig tonite. It's for some city organization, Chamber of Commerce or something, and he's stressing, and it has been stressed to him, that we should dress in "summer business casual." Then he actually copied and pasted a description of what "summer business casual" is. Then he started talking about what songs we should play, closing with "...you get the picture. Stuff old white people like." I'm wondering how old and white he thinks a Chamber of Commerce members are in 2025.

Some of the songs he has on the list for tonight's 'show':
Proud Mary
Margaretaville
Mustang Sally
The Twist
Whole Lotts Shakin Goin on
Johnny B. Goode
Blue Suede Shoes
Wagon Wheel
Friends in Low PLaces
Jambalaya
etc.....

Jeez, are we playing in a freakin' nursing home?

 

[Pilgrim]

Summer business casual? I'd wear khaki slacks, and probably a madras or Tommy Bahama shirt. No shorts, no flannel, no weird logo T-shirts, take it up a notch. Those tunes are quite safe as background music and would be well received by an older (50+) audience. However, I wonder how old your band leader is - he may have his own slightly distorted view of the age of business people today. There's definitely room for some more contemporary stuff.

 

[Wasnex]

However, I wonder how old your band leader is - he may have his own slightly distorted view of the age of business people today. There's definitely room for some more contemporary stuff.

The set list suggests the BL may be fairly old.

Without actually reviewing the ages of the Chamber of Commerce members we can't really say whether is appropriate or not.

My perception is younger people tend to be tolerant of the music they heard growing up. Older people tend to be less tolerant of the music their children liked. So it's probably a safer bet to play music that is a bit too old, rather then material that is a bit too new.

Summer business casual?

In general, a button-down collared shirt or polo with a blazer is considered business casual.

 

[gln1955]

If the people he talked to at the C of C were old retired buinessmen, he may think everyone is of the same demographic. The younger folks there may not hate your set, but they won't be excited about it either.

Is your BL of a mind to change it up on the fly if needed?

 

[51PRI]

The set list suggests the BL may be fairly old.

Without actually reviewing the ages of the Chamber of Commerce members we can't really say whether is appropriate or not.

My perception is younger people tend to be tolerant of the music they heard growing up. Older people tend to be less tolerant of the music their children liked. So it's probably a safer bet to play music that is a bit too old, rather then material that is a bit too new.


In general, a button-down collared shirt or polo with a blazer is considered business casual.

I don't have any khaki pants. I'll be wearing some Old Navy black casual pants and a black patterned collard shirt and red sneakers.

The set list suggests the BL may be fairly old.

Without actually reviewing the ages of the Chamber of Commerce members we can't really say whether is appropriate or not.

My perception is younger people tend to be tolerant of the music they heard growing up. Older people tend to be less tolerant of the music their children liked. So it's probably a safer bet to play music that is a bit too old, rather then material that is a bit too new.


In general, a button-down collared shirt or polo with a blazer is considered business casual.

We're ALL old, way older, I believe, that the members of the Chamber of Commerce will be. I don't know what he's thinking.

If the people he talked to at the C of C were old retired buinessmen, he may think everyone is of the same demographic. The younger folks there may not hate your set, but they won't be excited about it either.

Is your BL of a mind to change it up on the fly if needed?

Yes, except we don't have any modern-ish songs that we can even add. If a Chamber member is in their mid-thirties, for example, 'their' music growing up would have been songs in the early 2000's. We don't play ANYTHING that new except maybe a couple of slow country songs. I'm feeling like this might just be a good gig/wrong band situation.

 

[five7]

If they don't like your songlist you might to get to go home early. Think positive.

 

[OlyWhite]

"white people"

 

[pepj]

I don't have any khaki pants. I'll be wearing some Old Navy black casual pants and a black patterned collard shirt and red sneakers.

We're ALL old, way older, I believe, that the members of the Chamber of Commerce will be. I don't know what he's thinking.

Yes, except we don't have any modern-ish songs that we can even add. If a Chamber member is in their mid-thirties, for example, 'their' music growing up would have been songs in the early 2000's. We don't play ANYTHING that new except maybe a couple of slow country songs. I'm feeling like this might just be a good gig/wrong band situation.

How do you do this?
You get booked and at the last minute you get that set list.
Forget dress code... but 2 things worry me about that set.
a) that you actually have those numbers in your set, or if you don't
b) why would you add them unless someone actually requested them.... and begged you, at that.

 

[Zooberwerx]

For some reason our BL is freaking out about our gig tonite. It's for some city organization, Chamber of Commerce or something, and he's stressing, and it has been stressed to him, that we should dress in "summer business casual." Then he actually copied and pasted a description of what "summer business casual" is. Then he started talking about what songs we should play, closing with "...you get the picture. Stuff old white people like." I'm wondering how old and white he thinks a Chamber of Commerce members are in 2025.

Some of the songs he has on the list for tonight's 'show':
Proud Mary
Margaretaville
Mustang Sally
The Twist
Whole Lotts Shakin Goin on
Johnny B. Goode
Blue Suede Shoes
Wagon Wheel
Friends in Low PLaces
Jambalaya
etc.....

Jeez, are we playing in a freakin' nursing home?

Speaking on behalf of the old white guys and as an audience member, we would enjoy this immensely. If we're being fed, it would also qualify as "date night"...Susan may disagree on that point.

Look you're having a good time and the crowd will respond in kind. Post a follow-up and pics!

Riis

 

[Gopherbassist]

"white people"

Are you denying the existence of white people?

 

[Wasnex]

I don't have any khaki pants. I'll be wearing some Old Navy black casual pants and a black patterned collard shirt and red sneakers.

We're ALL old, way older, I believe, that the members of the Chamber of Commerce will be. I don't know what he's thinking.

Yes, except we don't have any modern-ish songs that we can even add. If a Chamber member is in their mid-thirties, for example, 'their' music growing up would have been songs in the early 2000's. We don't play ANYTHING that new except maybe a couple of slow country songs. I'm feeling like this might just be a good gig/wrong band situation.

I could be wrong, but I doubt you get any serious kick back.

 

[Wasnex]

How do you do this?
You get booked and at the last minute you get that set list.

Given the recent audition thread you started, I am surprised.

The OP indicated he's not a young punk:

We're ALL old, way older, I believe, that the members of the Chamber of Commerce will be.

So the songs are likely standard head charts that any working pro of his generation should be able to perform with little notice. I could probably fake through all of them except Wagon Wheel on the spot, and I pretty much stopped gigging in 2008.

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

You could add in any song that has been played repeatedly in TV commercials.

You could go up through the 1980s. Classic rock stations play stuff from the 80s. Local station finally just started adding in a few songs from the 90s.

 

[SactoBass]

For some reason our BL is freaking out about our gig tonite. It's for some city organization, Chamber of Commerce or something, and he's stressing, and it has been stressed to him, that we should dress in "summer business casual." Then he actually copied and pasted a description of what "summer business casual" is. Then he started talking about what songs we should play, closing with "...you get the picture. Stuff old white people like." I'm wondering how old and white he thinks a Chamber of Commerce members are in 2025.

Some of the songs he has on the list for tonight's 'show':
Proud Mary
Margaretaville
Mustang Sally
The Twist
Whole Lotts Shakin Goin on
Johnny B. Goode
Blue Suede Shoes
Wagon Wheel
Friends in Low PLaces
Jambalaya
etc.....

Jeez, are we playing in a freakin' nursing home?

Just to shake things up a bit, I'd throw in "Slaves Shall Serve" by Behemoth somewhere in the middle of that setlist.

 

[Danny C]

It just reminds me that I'm a whore. Please don't tell my nana

 

[gln1955]

Yes, except we don't have any modern-ish songs that we can even add. If a Chamber member is in their mid-thirties, for example, 'their' music growing up would have been songs in the early 2000's. We don't play ANYTHING that new except maybe a couple of slow country songs. I'm feeling like this might just be a good gig/wrong band situation.

So, this is the band that is happy to let itself sink into obscurity and do nothing about it, right? If I recall, they talk about learning new songs but never actually do it. Is this also the band that wants to just do festivals? This all makes my head hurt just reading about it.

 

[MidlifeBeginner]

Peace Sells by Megadeath


You need something in the setlist that was a big hit in the 80s when the audience was in college. Should be a catchy song that everyone sings along to. Simply Irresistible is what pops in my mind first. "There is no telling where the money went."

Regarding dress code. A chamber of commerce expects the band to be dressed cool, not look like one of them.

 

[EdO.]

I'm feeling like this might just be a good gig/wrong band situation.

It just reminds me that I'm a whore. Please don't tell my nana

Unless you're doing 100% original, we're all whores, at least to some extent. Just need to determine at what price we're willing to drop trou...

Regarding dress code. A chamber of commerce expects the band to be dressed cool, not look like one of them.

The name of the business we're all in is called 'ENTERTAINMENT". Give the customer what they want and like (and are paying for), or that experience dictates that it MAY be what works best. It's not about you or your personal likes (not to say that doesn't enter the equation in some manner, cause it does) so much as it's what's appropriate for the event. If your band is generally doing these types gigs anyway and IF it's paying well (or at least above average), occasionally taking one for the team is what good team players do. If it's not your regular type gig simply avoid gigs like it in the future, no biggie. I wouldn't be crazy about that set list either, however if it's what the customer wants (actually or perceived) who knows, might just get you some more above average paying gigs. Just have some tongue-in-cheek fun with it and let it roll, it might not be nearly as lame as you think.

 

[Dincrest]

If it's anything like my county seat's chamber of commerce (who are hosting the annual "Dancing with the County Stars" charity tournament right now), most of them are probably in and around my age on average. I'm 47, so give or take. So think a 40-60 demographic.

I would definitely throw in some 80s music. That always goes over well with folks in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Everyone in that age bracket is nostalgic for the 80s right now. A 60 year-old was born in 1965, meaning they were 20 in 1985, so 80s music takes them back to college. A 40 year-old born in 1985 heard 80s music on top-40 radio and likely had older siblings, cousins, classmates, etc. play them 80s mixtapes. And even younger generations (who were born in the 1990s or later) are heavily retro-trending towards 80s music. So right now, I think 80s music is the best go-to for mixed or potentially mixed crowds. It appeals to old, young, and everyone in between.

Songs listed in the OP like "Proud Mary" and "Wagon Wheel" (particularly the Darius Rucker version) definitely go over well with any crowd. Proud Mary is a classic singalong song that multiple generations know, and "Wagon Wheel" is another great feel-good singalong. Those are keepers for sure on ANY setlist for, like, any gig. I think another great 60s song to be a setlist staple in ANY context is "Nobody But Me" by Human Beinz. Everyone, regardless of generation, knows it and would sing along to the "no no no" part. Plus, it's fun to play on bass!

And you'd be surprised how hip "old white people" are. Like for that ballroom event, the chamber of commerce folks enjoy the "younger" music used in some of the dances. Just like younger folks might happily say, "Oh yeah, I know that song. My dad listens to it all the time!" the older folks might happily say, "Oh yeah, I know that song! My kid listens to it!"

 

[Billyears IV]

This thread is hilarious.... Pants