Expectations

GUITARII · Post by **GUITARII** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

Craven Sound's post on quitting times brought this back to mind for me....

How many songs make up an acceptable set list? I've seen bands do 10 - 12 and I've seen bands play for 2 hours straight.... What is the acceptable break time while gigging? We normally only take 5-10 minutes between sets and often end up playing until 2am so I am completely burnt by nights end..... What is everyone else doing for set and break times?

Sanctify · Post by **Sanctify** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

we love playing... so break times are only so we can take a piss and have a smoke...

how many songs can be misleading... cause our song times vary alot... 3-6 min... so going by times is my preference... I wouldn't play less than 45 min straight... unless you have to for some reason or another...

normally we play two 1 hour sets... with a 5-10 min break...

if you break more than 10 min you may see the crowd thin out... especially if you are breaking closer to 1am... I find that most people leave during a break.. .simply cause then they can talk to the band for a second and say good job.. or whatever... so the quicker the break... the better.. IMHO...

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

We try to do 45 on 15 off , 45 on 15 off, 1 hour. then we usually end up throwing a few extras in at the end.

We quite often time other bands on break just to see where we stand and most bands take some pretty lengthy breaks not that this is extrememly bad because the more people you talk to and make friends with the bigger crowd you will have. So I say leave enough time to talk and make some friends but don't over do it.

homerski · Post by **homerski** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

I agree with Tony.

Homer's Army usually plays 3-45 minute sets with 2-15 minute breaks.

However, the crowd will definitely let you know when you've been on break long enough... and you had better LISTEN to them!! The club owner is not a non-profit entity. He hires your band to bring in the people, and their money. If they aren't drinkin' or paying a cover and staying long enough to drink, you aren't doing him any good.

On the other hand,, let's talk about DANCING.

Most bands get really scared if they can't get the crowd up dancing.

Many moons ago (1980) we (Fantasy Airlift) were playing at the "Coaches Inn" (now City Limits). The owner was a shrewd business man, and actually did an analysis of how much folks spent when they were dancing versus sitting down and listening or otherwise socializing. The ratio was almost 2:1 in favor of the sitters. His motto from that point on was "if people are dancing, they aren't spending money". Therefore when we played there, he would tell us when to go back on stage. Some of those breaks were as long as 35 minutes. Did it hurt his business? Absolutely not!! In fact, on most nights when we played there they had to stop people from coming in because there literally wasn't even a path through the place.

Another reason we (Homer's Army) don't get shaken by non-dancers is that we do "mini-concerts" in our shows, and we want people to sit (or stand) and listen, so they can fully appreciate what's going on up on stage.

This DANCING thing might warrant it's own thread.

John Homerski Jr.
Homer's Army

facingwest · Post by **facingwest** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

We play the whole night straight, unless we get bogged down with too many gig in a week. When that happens, we take one break for about 15 minutes.

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

Actually "Facing West " I was going to bring you up earlier, I would rather see ya take a break, come over and say Hi etc. etc. And not just say Hi to old friends make some new ones too.

So now that I said that, I'm curious on your reasoning for not taking a break, I know you started doing that to prep for your florida shows so does it seem to keep the crowd better? Is that why ya stuck with it? Also with you and Kenny both playing it would be real easy for each of you to take a 15 min break?

lonewolf · Post by **lonewolf** » Tuesday Sep 21, 2004

We try to do 45 on 15 off , 45 on 15 off, 1 hour. then we usually end up throwing a few extras in at the end.

That was pretty much the standard back in the 70s when just about everybody was in the union. A 4 hour gig, just add a 45 minute set and a 15 minute break.

Of course, union pay per member was $10 for the 1st set and $5 for every set thereafter.

With the solo show, I usually program three 50-55 minute sets and take 20 minutes break between them. If they want more at the end, I'll play a few more.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Wednesday Sep 22, 2004

I think it's an organic kind of thing. I've had club ownwers insist the band takes a break, because the bar tends to get busier then... it also depends on how much waitstaff is there.
In the strummer show, I usually only break once, for a few minutes to catch my breath, sometimes not at all. It's easier not to, because I don't have quite as much work to do, as opposed to a band situation. Also, a drummer's job is more physically demanding, so you gotta give him a breather... the hardest thing I do solo is stand there and strum. It also depends on how tired i happen to be, if I had to work the day job.---->JMS

SUperstar · Post by **SUperstar** » Wednesday Sep 22, 2004

homerski wrote:I agree with Tony.

On the other hand,, let's talk about DANCING.

Most bands get really scared if they can't get the crowd up dancing.

Many moons ago (1980) we (Fantasy Airlift) were playing at the "Coaches Inn" (now City Limits). The owner was a shrewd business man, and actually did an analysis of how much folks spent when they were dancing versus sitting down and listening or otherwise socializing. The ratio was almost 2:1 in favor of the sitters. His motto from that point on was "if people are dancing, they aren't spending money".

John Homerski Jr.
Homer's Army

I have always agreed with this. If people are dancing they are not at the bar spending money. Breaks are breaks. It really depends on how "popular" your band may be. You can break for an hour- per say- as long as everyone stays and drinks and spends money. Your breaks are only too long if people start to leave. has always been a good rule of thumb.

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Wednesday Sep 22, 2004

I guess I agree with the comment about "why not take a break?" when you think about doing a little PR then, and doesn't it sort of freshen you up which can only improve performance (unless too much time is spent at the bar?) Remember facingwest that we had a nice chat the other night because you went on break...you guys are great!
Signed, 'A New Fan'

JeffLeeper · Post by **JeffLeeper** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

I've been doing this for more years than I want to admit , (in case any women out there foolishly think I'm still hot).....and John's right.

You gotta have shmooze time with the fans.

esa · Post by **esa** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

JeffLeeper wrote:I've been doing this for more years than I want to admit , (in case any women out there foolishly think I'm still hot).....and John's right.

You gotta have shmooze time with the fans.

That's a good and bad thing tho... usually when jae and i are out checking the local scene...if you schmooze with us, you're stuck with us. lol. i can't count on my hand how many bands we've "adopted" or been adopted too. that could be a bad thing lol.. but it's kick ass to us. die hard fans are just as necessary as bands are.
speaking of which.. look out guys..i just met most of the bands members from ribbon grass...muah ha ha!!

facingwest · Post by **facingwest** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

tonefight wrote:Actually "Facing West " I was going to bring you up earlier, I would rather see ya take a break, come over and say Hi etc. etc. And not just say Hi to old friends make some new ones too.

So now that I said that, I'm curious on your reasoning for not taking a break, I know you started doing that to prep for your florida shows so does it seem to keep the crowd better? Is that why ya stuck with it? Also with you and Kenny both playing it would be real easy for each of you to take a 15 min break?

There's a way we actually work around that now to where I'm able to come out and chat with people. Honestly though, it does depend on the night how the show is layed out. For instance, on a weekday if we take a break before 11pm, the room clears and that register isn't ringing. Depending on the night and situation, if we have to hand out schedules, Kenny will play American Pie and a few other tunes to give me a chance to say hi to everyone. Another thing to look at is the show is molded around the people, so the only thing we're really not doing sometimes is a one on one. A few people in some of the places we play requested that we come around and talk to them, so we do. Every night is different, but for the most part, keep the show going and people interested. Remember that we aren't a band to where people can dance to what we're doing, so we have to come up with other ways to keep people in a place we're playing. Don't know if all this made sense or not. heh

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

Bottom line, do what the club wants. We have certain nights that are different. Like last night in AC at the casino where they demand 40 min sets and half hour breaks. Thats not us but who are we to tell them and get fired. At a regular Canes show we will fire off a 2 hour set with no dancing but full tables into our groove. Thats us, hate to do the dance thing but most clubs want that and to keep our schedule flowing gotta please the folks at the club. Our favorite gig is just jamming with no set list and peeps grooving. A full night of boogie groove = more drinks and i can vouch for that.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

I think, too, that the whole karaoke and DJ thing enters into it. They don't take breaks, as far as I know (I don't really do those...). I have noticed people leaving when I say I'm going to pause for the cause, and I hate that... I feel like I'm giving them their opening to leave. Remember the acoustic thing doesn't have that wow-factor with the giant throbbing PA and lighting, and also that audiences tend to skew older (mine do, generally speaking) so Pap can't stay till closing because he has to hit the day job tomorrow to pad that 401K.
I also play a fair percentage of restaurant-type gigs, at least early in the night I keep it light and quiet, so I'm not tired until about midnight anyway. Other places, like The Post, don't start hopping for the first 45 minutes I'm supposed to play, sometimes I wait a half-hour to start, but the waitstaff needs to quit at the normal time, so I feel I need to play my full AMOUNT of time, for value to the clubowner. (How's THAT for a compound sentence!)
It's funny... I've played and attended shows back in the day where the band took almost an HOUR break, and nobody cared at all... the extra-curricular activities in the parking lot, and the latest metal blaring on the break-tape kept everyone happy. I'm sure you'd get fired for that now, so let that be a lesson to you youngsters... iron-lung them doobs and hurry them knobgoblins along, then BACK TO WORK!! YAH, MULE!!----->JMS

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

songsmith wrote:Other places, like The Post, don't start hopping for the first 45 minutes I'm supposed to play, sometimes I wait a half-hour to start, but the waitstaff needs to quit at the normal time, so I feel I need to play my full AMOUNT of time, for value to the clubowner. (How's THAT for a compound sentence!)

Actually, it's a run-on sentence. "Sometimes I wait a half-hour to start," is an independent clause. It's a comma-splice since there's no conjunction or semi-colon between "play" and "sometimes". (Sorry, John, you just had to know that was an invite for me to come and parse your grammar.

)

Breaks are great. I'm flat-footed, so standing for long periods of time can prove rather uncomfortable. And besides, how else would all of us musician types get laid unless we had some designated "pick-up" time?

HurricaneBob · Post by **HurricaneBob** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

You been laid? getthefuckoutahere!

bassist_25 · Post by **bassist_25** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

Well, I almost got laid once. Then I found out that "she" was just starting on her hormone therapy in the pre-op phase of "her" surgery.

byndrsn · Post by **byndrsn** » Thursday Sep 23, 2004

bassist_25 wrote:Well, I almost got laid once. Then I found out that "she" was just starting on her hormone therapy in the pre-op phase of "her" surgery.

aw hell, you should have went for it anyway!

tonefight · Post by **tonefight** » Friday Sep 24, 2004

I'm gonna go puke now , thanks

GUITARII · Post by **GUITARII** » Friday Sep 24, 2004

byndrsn wrote:
bassist_25 wrote:Well, I almost got laid once. Then I found out that "she" was just starting on her hormone therapy in the pre-op phase of "her" surgery.
aw hell, you should have went for it anyway!

I agree with Urbs.... You got put all the info that "she" gave you out of your head! Let's face it, when the lights are out..... sHe'll be anyone you want!

Go Paulie!!!

April · Post by **April** » Friday Sep 24, 2004

Hey Paul...I think I met HER in the parking lot of Peter C's one night. blonde hair, fishnets, 5 o'clock shadow. about 6'4 - 250lbs? she asked for directions to classic attitudes and if her tits looked hot.

true story.

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Friday Sep 24, 2004

Wasn't she that chick from the Crying Game? She was in Altoona? And I've never heard anyone actually use the word PARSE in a sentence bassist25.
Parse (pars) v. 1. To break (a sentence) down into component parts of speech with an analysis of the form, function, and syntactical relationship of each part.
True story about the local transvestite (sounds like the same one actually): When I worked at the Olive Garden (this was about 10 yrs. ago), this person of some type came into the bar, asked to see the dessert tray where we would show samples (same dessert sitting out on this display tray for weeks with people breathing on it). Real real tall, 5 o'clock shadow, wearing a wedding gown with a man's jacket over it, fancy make-up & hair. Nice nails. Said she'll (he'll?) take one of the desserts. A whole one...as in a whole cake that costs like $45.00. So while they went back to package it up, this thing proceeded to pick up the desserts on the display tray and eat them without silverware one by one. Last seen driving away in a tiny car eating the large cake. We were just speechless. And she did have nice tits. Sorta felt bad for him (her?) actually.

songsmith · Post by **songsmith** » Friday Sep 24, 2004

I have some lesbian friends who say that the Escapade on Saturday night at about 1:30 am is a freakshow of the highest caliber... and the most surprising part is how many seemingly hetero men show up and sneak out with the crossdressers and flame-queens, apparently after striking out with chicks at regular bars.
Oh, and a good crossdresser would LOVE knowing you're talking about him/her here... uh...from what I've heard... not that I'd do that... or that there's anything wrong with that... because there isn't... unless that makes me sound light in the loafers... because I'm not... I'm manly, dammit !! I scratch my nads when nobody's looking, pee in the shower, look down your blouse, leave whiskers in the bathroom sink, the whole nine. MANLY, I tell you, MANLY!!!!

------>JMS

ZappasXWife · Post by **ZappasXWife** » Friday Sep 24, 2004

Come to think of it, that guy wasn't THAT tall, and the weird thing was, he had a harmonica around his neck! Glasses, brown hair...Hmmmmm

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Expectations

Expectations

I agree with Homerski , too....

Re: I agree with Homerski , too....