I don't write up the setlists for my current band, but I was in many bands where that was my job. I was looking back on that in my experience, and I realized I have a predetermined formula for how I structure sets. Roughly, I break up each set into thirds and assign each third-set a role in the overall gig. Any song that fit that role could then rotate in or out.
Set One
First third: Come out of the gate strong, upbeat material.
Second third: Gauging the crowd should be finished, encourage dancing with danceable songs
Last third: Obscure stuff goes here, but end strong.
Set Two
First third: Hit it real hard, they're ready to dance now.
Second third: If you do slow dance songs do some now, then back at it.
Last third: Here's where I'd play my strongest material of the night. Anything you do afterward will probably work, you're gold.
Set Three
First third: Dance more, audience participation to keep energy up.
Second third: Pace yourself, give 'em a chance to slowdance again, then back to rocking, singalongs work best here before they crash.
Last third: If you're not officially kings of the world at this point, you're having a pretty bad night. Play whatever, but the girls will still dance if you let them.
SO,
How do you all structure your setlist? Mine is all about the dancers, because that's pretty much who you're entertaining at most bar gigs. You also have to make it so your bandmates can physically get through it, too, too many high-velocity songs in a row can wear your drummer out, and you have to deal with people's ability to sing demanding songs in the long-term. There's a lot to think about.
How do you do it?
How do you build a bar-gig setlist?
I'll bite, Johnny! We keep a list of songs for bar shows, and feel the crowd out. Sometimes they want more originals so we manipulate on the fly. Other times, they want their faces melted off with jams and we oblige. Most times they just want the funk and that's what they get!
We do structure sets for festivals, and shorter sets wherever necessary.
We do structure sets for festivals, and shorter sets wherever necessary.
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bassist_25
- Senior Member
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- Joined: Monday Dec 09, 2002
- Location: Indiana
LOLColton wrote:I don't think it really matters what ya play as long as Crazy Bitch is in the set list at least twice.
I'm expecting Crazy Bitch to find its way into the next edition of the Real Book.
I find that targetting the setlist to the venue and crowd is always a good strategy. Some venues like more aggressive music while others want poppy and accessible. Some like more covers and some like more originals. Sometimes you have to change selections on the fly. I've seen a lot of bands stick to their setlists as though they're written in stone, even if they are obviously not working for the crowd that night. Also, as long as you have your material tight, it's always better to have a larger repertoire than a smaller repertoire, IMO.
When all else fails, becoming a Justin Bieber tribute act will solve all of your problems.
"He's the electric horseman, you better back off!" - old sKool making a reference to the culturally relevant 1979 film.
For many years, I played in bands that I would design setlists for every week and be flexible within the sets. My current band only uses setlists for specific concerts, festivals, or shows where we know we have a certain amount of time to perform and the songs depend on the type of audience. Normally, we have a master songlist we refer to and play songs depending on the venue, the crowd, dancers, audience requests, etc. We have found that works well for this band. Sometimes, we have to ease into the show and other times, we start off like gang busters with a high energy rock song.
I must say, the aforementioned formula is subject to change... drastically. I don't think I've played a set as listed since the old Legion Hall days, and even then it was rare. The "formula" is just a place to start, and it's for bar jobs only. Nevertheless, I always have it in the back of my mind, because sometimes you have to come up with a good song right now.
bassist_25 wrote:Colton wrote:
When all else fails, becoming a Justin Bieber tribute act will solve all of your problems.
LMFAO!
The BMC
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
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"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
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It's sad but I would have to go see that show at least once moxham123... lol
The BMC
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
www.facebook.com/thesitchrocks
"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."
www.facebook.com/thesitchrocks
I think it's a good idea to have a grab bag of Emergency Material. These would be songs like you use for soundcheck or to start a set. Something not too difficult, upbeat, ones that the group does well but isn't overdone. They're very useful if things go bad and you need a pick-me-up NOW. But they do need to be written down somewhere.
Of course, we don't make setlists. We have the audience do that for us, then we make them perform it.
It's a double-edged sword...
Of course, we don't make setlists. We have the audience do that for us, then we make them perform it.
It's a double-edged sword...