I was wondering how many people organize performances by putting together sets, or how many just "wing it"?

If you do organized sets, do you have various sets put together for certain audiences?


I just "Wing it"!

Russ

I 'wing it,' but I'm pretty sure 80% of the stuff is the same 80% of the time.

It depends on the venue, but the first set is often 'background' for dinner ... then I pretty much wing it, but there are tunes that just seem to naturally follow each other.....(at least in my alleged mind)
t.

Wing it.....you can't "cater" to the crowd with sets...besides.. sets get very very boring. Make every job different you'll enjoy it more & so will your audience!

------------------
www.donnypesce.com

Wing it...I like the freedom of playing whatever I am in the mood for, at any moment, whenever possible. I am able to put myself into the music more. Helps keep the creative juices flowing...(at least in my mind)..Gary

My band Red Rhythm see http://www.aband.com always prepare set lists but we are always flexible depending on the response from the crowd. Quite often we will replace songs in the list depending on reaction. So it is a combo of planning with winging it always being a possibility.

You know I wing it. I just play what I think is appropriate at the time.
The only time I stay close to a set routine is at the nursing homes. I start fast, slow down a little and end with a fast gospel usually.
DonM

Same sentiment...In my solo gigs, I have a list that I can draw from, but sticking to it is not always the game plan. As Tony said, "It depends on the venue". You've got to be prepared to read the audience. Our band gigs, we use a set list which we try to stick to, but then they know what they're getting when they hire us, as we've dropped off a promo CD and/or DVD, or it's a return gig and we know what will be well accepted there.
Just my thots.



------------------
...L

For formal concert gigs, I'll usually put together a set list, yet never hesitate to veer from it as the mood strikes, to satisfy an audience song request, or sudden change of heart. For restaurant, bar & party work, I spontaneously wing it according to the mood of room, though I may, on the way to the gig (go over in my mind) a list of songs I might be in the mood for playing that evening. This brings up the advantage of the Music Finder feature on Yamaha arranger keyboards. I'm able to scan/search/peruse all 550 songs included in my custom selected core repetoire at a moments notice, and call up the appropriate style & instrument setup at a moment's notice. The Music Finder really is an asset for quick spontaneous playing. - Scott

My band uses sets but like Nigel we're flexible and if the mood calls for it the band leader will improvise and call up a song that isn't on the set list; something we've played and practiced before or course. Panick would ensue if a song was played out of the thin blue air where we hadn't practiced it beforehand let alone a song that none of the other members know at all. So he's careful to pick something we've all well practiced on before. If your an OMB which I am too of course, then winging it is a convenient method for keeping things flowing and being spontaneous with your music and with the crowds.

I could see where set lists even when OMB'ing, could be very practical too especially in a more structured environment, eg., at a 'wedding', etc.

Best regards,
Mike

We use set lists. We have 7 guys in our band and it get's tricky calling out ad-hoc songs between songs. We provided NON-STOP music so the transition from one song to the next is very important when people are on the dance floor.

We change the set's and do requests during and at the start of the next set. We've been doing this a long time and our set's are setup for the peak dancing sets.

Al

There's only the two of us so we 'wing it'. We sometimes wonder about set lists but they normally last about half a song!

I would agree that we tend to use little subsets of 2/3 songs that we tend to play in sequence, but this is adjustable as determined by audience (non!)-reaction.

I plan every job and put together a specific MFD file for that audience. The list, however, is only a basic guideline, and like most folks here, I stray from the list to satisfy the audience. If a certain era's of music fills the dance floor, I'll pretty much stick with it through most of the gig. Later, I'll put together a specific MFD for that audience--it just makes life a bit easier the next time you play for them. You must be flexible and respond to the audience at all times--they're paying the bill.

Gary

Wing it....... at first to find out what they want then go into a number of pre-determined mini sets based on audience reaction.

Keeping them on the floor is the name of my game as I'm sure it is for many of us and I positively invite requests by talking to the audience in the break and sometimes before the gig if I get chance ... as has been said already.....They are paying.........

KF

31 years of winging it...not easy, because I've winged it whether solo or with a band. Spontaneity is a beautiful (but sometimes painful) thing!


Angelo

.. yeah .... we even 'winged it' with the band in NY ...
Ang .... 31 years?!?!? ... you been gigging since you were 2yrs.???
t.