The help can always tell what's up with me. They know if the first song is the theme from Mash (Suicide is Painless) it's gonna be a looooooong night)!

Russ (Take me now, lord) Lay

Russ,

I don't think you could beat "If Tomorrow Never Comes"
for a starter and it would be all downhill from there

Maybe no big bucks, but consistent bucks and more appreciation than you would get just about anywhere else.

Joe

Thanks for sharing guys. It's interesting to not that some you pro have a standard first and final song while other "read the crowd". Whatever works!

For my first song I try to play something that I know very will, that I dont have really even think about. No chart or lyrics. I want to be free to main eye contact with the audience, observe if the feel comfortable with the volume, how they are reacting, make any adjustments with the sound/eq... I also like to play something that I can have some fun improvising a solo on. That kind of get my fingers loose.

For NH I try to start off something fun and up beat. Maybe some big band like "In The Mood" or some old time rock n roll like "Blue Shuede Shoes" or "Rock Around The Clock" Then I'll slow things down a bit with some Great American SongBook Standards, 50's 12/8 ballads, some more big band, classic country, Mowtown, and then finish with some upbeat old time rock n roll.

For restaurants or small parties I usually start off with something soft but slighly up beat- bossas are great.

With my Latin Act we usually start the set with some nice boleros. We like to give the crwod sometime to "alcamate" to the sound before we hit them with the harding driving salsa, cumbias, merengue... But it all depends. Sometimes people ready to party right away.