Putting Together Your Band's Song List

You should start with a brainstorming about where your music will fit.

I would not book a gig for an arts and crafts festival with an emphasis on folk art if you were a punk band. I would not book a wedding if you were a death metal band, unless you were sure that's what the planners wanted! I also would not book a biker's festival if I could not pull off some blues and classic rock. Use your head when planning your bookings.

Consider not restricting yourself to one place either. Being a house band can be a good thing, but smart house bands will take breathers to play other places, and allow their house gig to bring in other talent. It keeps stuff fresh. It will also solidify your fan base. Your loyal following will come to the new gig, just do not announce it from the stage if you wish to keep playing at the old venue. Unless they say you that you can.

Now that you have narrowed your list down considerably, or you may have just added a dozen new songs to rehearse. In any case you will need to get with your owner/organizer and find out how much time you have to play and how many breaks you get.

We have played weddings where the reception was right after so we set up behind where the wedding took place, played two songs during the wedding then played two whole sets during the cake and reception breaking only for the pictures.

We have played 5 - 45s which means that we played five sets at 45 minutes give or take with a 15 minute break between sets. We have also played straight through breaks though.

Some venues we play for an hour then let other event run for about an hour or two then play a full 4 - 45.

It is up to you to find out these things. Especially when it comes to posting your venues to band sites like ReverbNation, thesixtyone, UBL, or even your MySpace.

Photo credit: darnok from morguefile.com

Family BBQs are hit and miss, you can play a couple of hours, or play all night (just check with local sound ordinances!  We have been shut down before.).

Weddings typically only have a couple of songs during the service and about an hour or two during the reception.

Clubs usually are about 4 to 4 1/2 hours, but times could vary according to when you are to start and end, and whether there are more than one band per day. Some clubs have several bands per day.


Photo credit: sioda from morguefile.com
Worship and Religeous Services This is usually where I brush up a new and exciting progressions and the like. I have sat in on bass and lead guitar and a few times even the drums. Those contemporary sounds can throw a classic rock/country player for a jazz loop at times.

Festivals and Parties are usually only about 1 hour slots. Not guaranteed though. You'll need to be prepared for whatever your organizer has planned.  The last event we played was a fund raiser.  We did not get paid anything, but we made new contacts, spread our sound over an outdoor venue where people could hear us from their house (and it was for a reserve police fund raiser so we didn't worry about security or sound ordinances)  And we played enough songs to get through our originals for the new CD and a couple of covers.  In other words, barely 2 sets, with a pie auction and other things mixed in. 

We spent most of our time eating and voting on the chili for the cook off.  Which of course was free for us.

Again it is in your lap to find out these things.  Also don't depend on a new organizer to know what you need either!

Now with armed with an idea of how much time you need to fill, figure up the songs you have practiced for time.

You should actually have about three extra songs ready per set, for a "grab list." Reason being, if you should over time your song and finish early, have something handy with a simplified intro, in case a snare strainer or guitar string breaks, so you can skip to it rather than wait on a string change.

Though on a side note, it's also good to have a second guitar or a drum quick repair kit very handy, for such occasions.

It's also good to continue the interaction with your audience. Jokes are a fall back but typically aren't well received unless you are really good at a comic routine. One liners tend to work well, as long as they aren't too cliche. Stage banter, and harmless kidding seems to work well for us, to get the fans into who we are personally.

Try to pace yourself. Depending on the genre, you can throw in a slow dance tune occasionally to give your voice a rest, or let the drummer get over calf cramps.

Leave plenty of time between songs to hydrate. I would suggest water every time. Alcohol can damage your vocal chords. So can pop and caffeine. Even KoolAid like soft drinks can be damaging to your voice, so be careful. If you feel your voice starting to crack, have a song ready for someone else to sing, or you'll likely regret it in the morning.

If you are playing in a club, the cigarette smoke is going to be heavy enough, you probably shouldn't add to it. Unless it will keep you from throwing one of those on-stage fits...

Another thing to think about, is someone like your bass player, might play guitar really well, but it doesn't fit your genre very well.

Say you play a numetal/speed metal, and your bass player is actually a "salty" country picker. Then "salt" up a country song to your style and let him have the guitar for one song. Or two. Give your lead players wrist a rest, unless of course he's the one that takes over the bass...

Or like False Hope, the opposite works very well. I actually come from the Satriani/Vai camp of guitar players but I play bass for a country/classic rock band, and occationally they let me take off on a VanHalen or Whitesnake song or two with my guitar.

It's more equipment to have to carry, but it can pay off in making your music not sound the same all night long. Which is a definite plus!

Now, don't argue, or throw fits about the sound, or fits about a heckler, etc. For one you are playing right into the heckler's trap. For another, if the audience can hear you on the mics, or worse you are causing too long of a pause in the show, you will turn off potential fans very quickly.

When arranging your list, avoid placing similar keys and progressions too close in the list, unless you have a way to make a killer transition that would make it a medley.

Also, like that last suggestion, if you play classic rock, try not to put all six of your Zepplin songs together in one set... Or for any genre. Metalheads try not to put too much Puddle of Mudd or Killswitch Engage together in a set, besides your drummer will probably thank you for it!

And don't be afraid to cross genres either. Careful with the classics like Sweet Home Alabama or something along those lines, because a fan of that band will tear you apart for a missed lead, or even a wrong key! But don't be afraid to put a fresh twist on a song from the 60's or 70's. Who knows you might end up doing the soundtrack for a TV commercial...

Use a rehearsal day to put several lists together and store them to computer or print them out. For club lists I would suggest at least 4 or more separate lists that way if you get a house gig, you won't be playing the same list every night.

Can you see where I'm going with this? People will get tired of coming to see you no matter how hard you work or how good you are. It also doesn't hurt to pull from old venue lists either. I know how it is to forget that you learned a song, if it never ended up on a list except for one special venue, then was quickly forgotten.

We did this with Amazed. We worked hard at putting our own spin on it with out hurting the integrity of the song. And played it out once at a wedding. We recently pulled it back out but after a year of not playing it we are having to relearn our own arrangement of it. It's almost like we never played it in the first place.

Rotating your lists will keep you fresh on all of your songs.

We also have created a Master List. A database of all of the songs that have been suggested or practiced by the band, at any time.