We play dance clubs, so in 4 hours we get two breaks and play 1 1/2 hour set 1, 1 hour set 2, and whatever is left at the end of the night. We play DANCEABLE music during the breaks. We are hired because we exhaust people on the dance floor and are known for packing the dance floor night after night. People follow us around because they know they are going to dance. Playing music during breaks, for us, just keeps the mood throughout the night.



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Al Giordano
www.al-giordano.com

Tyros 2, Yamaha P-250, Korg Triton Extreme 76, Roland VK8-M, DW Collectors Series Drums

I think it best to ask the club manager what to do for breaks..... then if it backfires, it's not your fault!!

Ditto for length of set (linked to pay, of course!).

Personally, I prefer to put CDs on myself during the break, firstly, you've probably got a better sound system than the house, and secondly, you can shape the evening's energy to better fit with what you are doing....... If you are packing the floor for 50 min, you might want to let them relax a bit and go to the bar, if you are playing mostly 70's and older songs to a younger crowd, you can give them a little hiphop to grind to....... I just find it is better to contrast what YOU do a little, so when you go back to playing, their ears perk up.

Tony has the right answer..

You have to try and keep a pattern or club owners will take advantage of you..40/20...45/15....and 30/15 are standard..But I agree with Tony , don't even watch the clock when people are responding to your music..A packed dance floor will rekindle your energy better than any break...

If you don't believe me ..think about the times you play to an empty or dead crowd..How long were those gigs even with breaks..

I don't think I had an audience smaller than 150 people in a few years,, Matter a fact lately our crowds are 250-300 people...We have a great time on stage,,,playing an hour or more a set...

A couple weeks ago we played an outdoor shore gig to more than 2,000 people..The gig was only an hour and a half..but we could have played straight thru for 4 hours at the excitement level..

But to answer your question 40/20 is standard and most places prefer that you take care of the break music..Clubs don't make enough money to be bothered with jukeboxes..

FWIW, every bar I know of around here has a jukebox. Nightclubs, that's another matter, although, some do. I also know of some private clubs with jukeboxes.

If it were up to me, I prefer to have NO music during a break, so, that people can talk. But I've had club owners tell me they want to play the jukebox because it's revenue. And I'm thinking, my gosh, what are we talking about, five dollars? How 'bout just NO SOUND during breaks.

Then again, I understand how you could lose some patrons during a break. That's another reason for NOT breaking unless you have to. Of course, the standard of every band I have ever seen around here is 45/15. But I have seen some Texas music acts play for hours with no break.

Also, other than a large nightclub, I am not aware of any place around here where 250-300 people regularly gather to hear music except for a concert. I'm serious. It would be rare, anyway. You east coast guys have LOTS of people!

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

I read the crowd. Depends on the situation. Take a break if you have to pee. Or to visit with guests. Sometimes I don't even take a break.
Last night somebody bought be a $60. steak dinner, so I took a break to eat it!
I always play MP3s on my breaks. Again, volume and selection depends on the crowd. If I've had a request I don't know how to play live, I try to play the MP3 during break.
DonM

[This message has been edited by DonM (edited 08-23-2006).]

Meet the new guy in town, everyone! Dlon! Man, that's hard to pronounce, Dlon.

Whatchoo talkin bout? I never make typos.
DonM

I thought DonM was your sig!

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000