eddiewagner
Poster Extraordinaire
The oldfashioned way:
Making setlists
- Thread starter eddiewagner
- Start date
Tele-beeb
Friend of Leo's
I clicked in hopes of seeing a formula…
like:
Expressive Upbeat Fast Song
Another Bold Upbeat song
Take it Down a notch
Smooth Listening song
Flow into a slow/ballad dance
Back up-beat
Long jam/crowd interaction
Another dance/listener
One everyone knows
A set-ending high note
But not that, I was hoping for something not that
Ha
like:
Expressive Upbeat Fast Song
Another Bold Upbeat song
Take it Down a notch
Smooth Listening song
Flow into a slow/ballad dance
Back up-beat
Long jam/crowd interaction
Another dance/listener
One everyone knows
A set-ending high note
But not that, I was hoping for something not that
Ha
bottlenecker
Poster Extraordinaire
I tend to not play sets longer than will fit on a bar napkin at the last minute when I forgot to make set lists.
Formula:
1. Midtempo easiest to execute good enough to get attention song.
2. Another one of those.
3. Higher energy, top shelf song.
4, 5. A couple of downers.
6, 7. A couple of mid tempo palate cleansers.
8. Polka time.
9. Serious downer.
10. Loudest, good enough to close song.
Formula:
1. Midtempo easiest to execute good enough to get attention song.
2. Another one of those.
3. Higher energy, top shelf song.
4, 5. A couple of downers.
6, 7. A couple of mid tempo palate cleansers.
8. Polka time.
9. Serious downer.
10. Loudest, good enough to close song.
Never had a set list last past the 3rd song.
I make 'em every gig. Send em out early. We get about half way through maybe, then start to wander on song choice. If it's an unfamiliar gig we may have to change things early on, depending on "feeling the crowd". For repeat gigs it works well.
One slow every set, enough dance songs to satisfy people.
One slow every set, enough dance songs to satisfy people.
douellette
Tele-Meister
We mix our own sound at 90% of our gigs, so we start with a song by our singer who doesn't run the mixing board, while I go out front (wireless) and listen and signal to our sax player who makes adjustments to the mix based on my hand signals.
Often that first song will be someone saying "funky blues in A" or "driving blues in E" and the bass player will set the feel and the singer will sing lyrics he knows over the different feel. That keeps things a bit fresher for us. We try to get all three soloists in the mix on that first song.
Then, if the sound is really close to set, our other singer (sax player) will sing one, and I'll go out front one more time to verify that we're good to go for the night. Then on the next song we go back to the first singer to have the sax player go out front briefly to confirm my ears.
And then we're off and running for the next four hours. Our first few "real" songs (after we're set with the mix) are usually 3-4 originals from our latest album.
We don't usually write out setlists for bar gigs, and I just call songs on stage from our list of 70-80 tunes, plus ones that we forgot that we know to mix it up on ourselves to stay on our toes.
Often that first song will be someone saying "funky blues in A" or "driving blues in E" and the bass player will set the feel and the singer will sing lyrics he knows over the different feel. That keeps things a bit fresher for us. We try to get all three soloists in the mix on that first song.
Then, if the sound is really close to set, our other singer (sax player) will sing one, and I'll go out front one more time to verify that we're good to go for the night. Then on the next song we go back to the first singer to have the sax player go out front briefly to confirm my ears.
And then we're off and running for the next four hours. Our first few "real" songs (after we're set with the mix) are usually 3-4 originals from our latest album.
We don't usually write out setlists for bar gigs, and I just call songs on stage from our list of 70-80 tunes, plus ones that we forgot that we know to mix it up on ourselves to stay on our toes.
Happy Enchilada
Friend of Leo's
ANYTIME is POLKA TIME.
Cosmic Cowboy
Tele-Afflicted
Opener: Something rhythmic to get the band in sync.
Followed by: Some upbeat tunes, band introduction etc.
Couple of mellow/slow dancers
Something lively to end the 1st set.
Repeat
Followed by: Some upbeat tunes, band introduction etc.
Couple of mellow/slow dancers
Something lively to end the 1st set.
Repeat
keithb7
Poster Extraordinaire
I too prefer paper versus digital devices. Recently a band member had his ipod program sh*t the bed. He lost all of his lyrics, personal notes and arrangements. No thanks.
We place songs that generate lower crowd response, into the first set. We hit the second set hard right after the break, with a couple well-known dance numbers. The third set everyone in the crowd is well lube'd up and dancing. The sweaty dance numbers fall into place then. They always call for more by the time we have them riled up through the 3rd set. Then we have a couple of hot encores. Works pretty well for us and the crowd.
We used to take 2 breaks. 3 sets. Now we have so many great songs, we often take 1 break and have 2 sets across 3 + hours of performing.
We place songs that generate lower crowd response, into the first set. We hit the second set hard right after the break, with a couple well-known dance numbers. The third set everyone in the crowd is well lube'd up and dancing. The sweaty dance numbers fall into place then. They always call for more by the time we have them riled up through the 3rd set. Then we have a couple of hot encores. Works pretty well for us and the crowd.
We used to take 2 breaks. 3 sets. Now we have so many great songs, we often take 1 break and have 2 sets across 3 + hours of performing.
