Do you think music should be played during breaks or be quiet time? Do YOU do play the music for the breaks or if they have a jukebox, let it take over? How long do you think a break should be and how often? Or are you one who prefers to not take many/any breaks?

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Bill
Yamaha PSR2000

I feel it’s always good to stop music for a period. No other source of music is acceptable, even my own. Aaaaaah, The break is needed so that they can renew. and there are times when you should not let up.

The ability to feel the group you are playing for is prime. I do not have a set break time or playing time. I do what is required to keep the people at a high level. I had a night when I played for 2 ½ hours without a break, they were going crazy – no time to stop.

When I book a larger job (contract)–Wedding ect---, It’s 40 minutes on and 20 minutes off. The option for continuos music, 55 minutes on 10 minutes off is an extra charge. Even here if the people are into what we were doing there was no clock.

An experience: I played a job 40 on and 20 off – After three hours of playing there was not one dancer on the floor. I was at a loss, I didn’t know what to do next. In the forth hour one young couple began to dance, the music was a in a swing tempo --- and they were dancing a poorly executed BOX STEP. They were a religious group – they did not believe in dancing.

Know who you are, and relay on your ability to read the group that you are playing for. In my guitar playing days I remember controlling the body movements of the dancers with my guitar – I accented they moved – I got crazy, they got crazy. Wow, what power, it’s hard to be humble.

My thoughts, John C.


[This message has been edited by bruno123 (edited 08-21-2006).]

There has been lots of controversy over breaks, the length of a break, and whether or not music should be played.

Much of this depends upon the individual venue. Some feel a rule of thumb is 40 minutes of playing time, 20 minutes of break time, especially when the job is four hours long.

As for the jukebox, I've always tried to keep them out of the picture if possible--particularly if you're playing in a bar or niteclub. By allowing someone to fire up the jukebox during breaks you are allowing some drunken fool to put several dollars in the machine, which always translates into a lengthy run of music he or she likes to play when plastered. This ticks off the person that hired you because you can't stop the jukebox and go back to performing.

The solution is simple. Fire up a series of MP3s or midi files to cover the music while you take a short break. In doing this you are in total control of the music. If some drunken idiot still persists in putting his or her money in the jukebox, which sometimes happens, talk with the ower or manager about unplugging the jukebox while you are playing. They are usually very cooperative about this.

Good Luck,

Gary

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Travlin' Easy

Back in my bar days, club owneres made some good cash on the jute box. Around here, it was the band's responsibility to turn the thing on during breaks and off before the next set started. There was an occasional problem with a drunk wanting to hear his tunes. We would just give him his money back. If that didn't work, we kicked them out. End of problem.

Now, I use all instrumentals...something like Forplay during breaks. Works fine in upscale resturants. Kiknd of sets the mood for my stuff. That's better than cranking up the house music, I think.


Russ


[This message has been edited by captain Russ (edited 08-21-2006).]

I agree with Gary's 40/20 rule with a band. For solo work I typically do 45/15. Depending on the night, I might do 60 for the first set and shorten the last set.

As for music during breaks, I think it's OK but you should try to control what it is. used to play in an 8 piece band that did big band stuff. During the breaks the band leader would play a CD with Count Basie, Ellington, etc. I thought it was a mistake to have the CD sound better/fuller then the live band. I think a small/light combo CD would have been more appropriate. Choose the background music carefully. You should control the entertainment from your first note until you start to pack up.

Good advice, Robert!

Russ

I2 Ditto to what Robert said. - Scott

Most often, the timing,length, etc. of breaks should be determined by the venue and the audience.... if you are playing 'background' for a dining situation, you can pretty much time your breaks as you want ... if you are playing for a dancing crowd, then it depends on what the crowd is doing ... If the dance floor is full, I don't want to take a break, ... on the other hand, if you have played & sung uptempo dance tunes for 45 minutes, YOU might NEED a break ...
I usually find myself not thinking about taking a break, because I am enjoying what I am doing - playing and singing - ...
As for music during the break, I like to control that, and will make it as far removed from what I am playing as possible ... often solo guitar or piano recordings, at a low volume ...
t.
PS ... if you are a guest at a function or you are at a club where there is live music, how many of you time the sets and breaks of the entertainment? ... I do it all the time ...
t.

Amen to that, nothing more embarrassing than to have a dancefloor that's been empty all night, suddenly fill up during your break. If that happens, expect a very short stay at that establishment.

chas

Hi all,

I usually do 45/15 but I never stop at min. #45 if the dance floor is crowded. During the breaks, I play instrumental music at about the same beat and same volume as we performed. This way I keep the energy at the same level as it was when I ended the set. It always works much better than playing some CD at very low volume or with no music at all. The audience gets used with the volume and so I can start a new set with a pretty high level of energy.
Cheers!

minutes, YOU might NEED a break ...
I usually find myself not thinking about taking a break, because I am enjoying what I am doing - playing and singing - ...
As for music during the break, I like to control that, and will make it as far removed from what I am playing as possible ... often solo guitar or piano recordings, at a low volume ...
t.
PS ... if you are a guest at a function or you are at a club where there is live music, how many of you time the sets and breaks of the entertainment? ... I do it all the time ...
t. [/B][/QUOTE]

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