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Post subject: # of songs in a set
Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 9:58 am
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So how many songs per set (and how many sets) is the typical cover band from your area playing on a regular Friday or Saturday night at the average bar?

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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:15 pm
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Uh, it depends. In our band, sometimes there are 10, sometimes 8, sometimes 6. It depends on the lenght of songs in our list and if our lead guitarist is feeling particularly prolific that night. We have been playing together for so long we can just "feel" when he is going to go off. He can make "Tush" last for 10 minutes!!!!! He has the ability to bring the audience up with his antics too; he likes playing behind his head at times and has even played with his teeth. The crowd loves it and in turn extends the length of the song and overall set!:D


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:24 pm
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Really depends on the song no?
Doing a In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida cover from that I-Ron-Butterfly band at around 17 minutes is easily a half set on its own.
Though it mostly works out the drummer :D

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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 12:34 pm
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Depends on the set, my band aims for set lengths of 45-55 minutes and have 4 sets, our first set has only 9 songs to hit 55 mins, our second set has about 12 but is shorter, so yeah, each to their own.

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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 2:56 pm
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I agree with the rest. It's more of a rough time slot than requiring some exact number of songs that someone's going to count.

A 45-60 minute set is about average. Two or three sets, depending on what they're expecting, how much they're paying you, etc.


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:13 pm
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i went to a dead show once i think they played 1


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:50 pm
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About 10 songs and 45 minutes. The bar wants a chance to HEAR to do business, so a longer set is not appreciated. Think that is just a beer bar attitude? Bill Graham who owned the Fillmore night clubs with performers like Hendrix, Cream, and Joplin picked Ten Years After as one of his favorite bands "because they play 45 minute sets".

As long as we are on the subject, there is a lounge "formula" for a set. Derived from years of performers playing in clubs.

1. You start slow and low, and build thru 3 songs.

2. You stop and talk to the crowd. Get personal. Spit on them if you are a punk act. (Just kidding) :lol: Seriously, make a connection on whatever level is appropriate for your venue.

3. Do a steady incline of intensity throughout the rest of the set and just blast them with the last song. When you leave the stage, if you have any chops at all, there will be people going just "Wow".

I wrote the set list for years with my band and the experience and feel for picking the order of songs for live gigs translates into picking the order of songs for a CD.


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 5:53 pm
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It depends on the average length of the tunes.

Usually around 15 tunes at an average of 4 minutes each for a 60 minute set.

Though the genre of music could drastically change average length of the tunes as with jazz or blues...more bridges.


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Posted: Thu Dec 04, 2008 8:19 pm
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stratoBobster wrote:
About 10 songs and 45 minutes. The bar wants a chance to HEAR to do business, so a longer set is not appreciated. Think that is just a beer bar attitude? Bill Graham who owned the Fillmore night clubs with performers like Hendrix, Cream, and Joplin picked Ten Years After as one of his favorite bands "because they play 45 minute sets".

As long as we are on the subject, there is a lounge "formula" for a set. Derived from years of performers playing in clubs.

1. You start slow and low, and build thru 3 songs.

2. You stop and talk to the crowd. Get personal. Spit on them if you are a punk act. (Just kidding) :lol: Seriously, make a connection on whatever level is appropriate for your venue.

3. Do a steady incline of intensity throughout the rest of the set and just blast them with the last song. When you leave the stage, if you have any chops at all, there will be people going just "Wow".

I wrote the set list for years with my band and the experience and feel for picking the order of songs for live gigs translates into picking the order of songs for a CD.


Great advice about the set list order. That can make or break a band. If your songs are all over the place, you might sound good but there won't be any structure to it. If you're a punk band, you probably don't care about that. If you're a rock band or similar, and you want a crowd and maybe a cool bar to call home and be their house band, you'll want to organize yourself better and make that connection with the crowd.

Like strato said, having that build up and ending on a high note is key in many situations. There is a certain way to structure or "build" a song, the same way you structure a guitar solo, the same way you lay out the order of song for a CD, the same way you order a set list, and the same way you even plan a music festival. It's all music. Music - good music - moves people. Move them in a way that they'll enjoy, and will make them like you and want to come see you over and over again.

Another note I'd add - always leave them wanting more. Don't blow your wad, and beat their heads into the ground playing too long, or so much that your audience is like "OMG! When are going to stop already?". You want them to....

- be interested
- like you
- connect with you
- like you more
- go "OMG these guys rock!"
- then go "Damn, I want to hear more. Can you play another song? When are you playing next? Do you have a site or a CD?"

That's where you want to get to.


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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 8:29 am
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10 sets
100 songs in 20 minute sets
You can't blink or breathe but it keeps u busy lol

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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 11:49 am
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gratz wrote:
i went to a dead show once i think they played 1

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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 12:08 pm
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gratz wrote:
i went to a dead show once i think they played 1


Man I think I was at that show!


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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:15 pm
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Usually one 90 minute show or two 60 minute shows.

Depends on the venue and contract(s).

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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 1:56 pm
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my band does the standard 40 min. on 20 min off 10 songs per 4 sets we hardley ever play all the songs on the 4th set
sparky


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Posted: Fri Dec 05, 2008 4:27 pm
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For me it's normally 2-45 min. sets or 3-30 min.
When I was in Germany it was 4-45 min. a night.


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