BS: sets, number and length

Subject: sets, number and length
From: Mooh
Date: 11 May 00 - 09:52 AM

Howdy, and thanks for your advice.

I'm considering doing some solo gigs for the first time in a long while (I usually play with bands) and I'm wondering what your opinions are about the number of sets one should play in a full evening, in a 2 hour show, and so on. And, how long should those sets be? How long should the breaks be? I know what I need, but I wonder what the audience generally prefers. I'm less concerned about my own pacing, as I think I've a grip on that, as I am about listener fatigue. Coffee house sets are different than pub sets I suppose. My style is to sing with guitar(s) accompaniment, some instrumentals, and a mix of originals, traditionals, blues, and offbeat songs. I hope that's enough to go on.

Opinions anyone? Thanks again.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: Midchuck
Date: 11 May 00 - 09:57 AM

Our trio usually figures on 45-50 minute sets, with a 10-15 minute break. Most concert-on-the-village-green type gigs are two such sets.

Peter.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: JamesJim
Date: 11 May 00 - 09:59 AM

I'm getting ready to do a gig on Saturday night, but I'll be singing with 3 others. I personally think that anything beyond 30/45 minutes in a set is too long. A 15 minute break is usually appropriate. Since it sounds like you will be in a coffee house, I'd go the extra time (45 minutes), then take a 15 minute break. If you feel uncomfortable with this, certainly you could always adjust. I think a lot depends on your audience. I have seen times when people were listening so intently and having such a good time, that we just skipped the break. It's a little different when you are by yourself - you have to have your radar on and read the audience. You'll know what to do. Break a leg - hope you have a great gig!

Jim

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: Jim the Bart
Date: 11 May 00 - 01:32 PM

Two fifty minute sets w/twenty minute break fills two hours quite well. When there's an extra hour, add a forty on/twenty off. If the place empties early, add it at the end. If it fills late, at the beginning.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: TerriM
Date: 11 May 00 - 02:35 PM

Gotta go along with whats been said so far.We usually figure on 2 45/50 mins sets with 20 mins between but we vary the pace and style of what we do along the way to keep the audience awake.Sometimes, it even works :)!

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: Clinton Hammond2
Date: 11 May 00 - 02:47 PM

My best laid plans are usually to cop when I glance down at my watch and realise that my first set has been an hour and 45 minutes long!! LOL!!!! Playing 9:30 to 1:30 most gigs, that surely cuts down on the rest of the night... I'll take a half hour or 45 min break after that and then get back up and finish off the night or do two short sets with short breaks... depends on the mood of the pub...

Play it by ear is the best bet... if ya have the crowd keep playing... Ya only live once eh!!

{~`

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: Jeremiah McCaw
Date: 11 May 00 - 06:26 PM

If it's an opening set, find out what is wanted (usually no more than 30 minutes), and stick to it. Consider that limitation an absolute, especially if you want to be asked back.

Coffee house venue as main attraction, I agree with the 45 - 50 minute set, 20 minute break idea; but be flexible. Audience members may keep you chatting (& buying CDs) longer. This is generally a good thing.

Best "we'll be back soon" line I've heard (I'm using it myself, & I wish I knew the originator, because I do like to give credit): "We're gonna take a 5 minute break for 10 minutes & we'll see you in half an hour!"

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: Jim Krause
Date: 12 May 00 - 04:28 PM

Mooh, Like you, I generally play with bands too. But I try to seek out the occasional solo gig. I keep my sets to approximately 45 minutes, with a fifteen minute break in between. The way I pace my show, I can get from 12 to 14 selections in a 45 minute set. This all depends on how long each selection is, how many stories or jokes, I include, how much rap in stick in between each song, etc. I came up with this formula back during the bad ol' days of the vinyl LPs. I noticed that they were all approximately 30 minutes on each side, and each side contained 12 cuts, usually. So, I fugured that if I performed that much, I'd have at least a half hour, include the rap, stories, jokes, etc. between numbers, and viola I'd have a 45 minute set.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: Kim C
Date: 12 May 00 - 05:09 PM

We usually do about 45 minutes, break 15, go 45 more. Seems to work.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: wysiwyg
Date: 13 May 00 - 01:00 AM

Speaking for the audience---- play forever if you can, and take a pee break if you must, but be honest about how long the break will be. I like to know how long I have for my pee break, and I don't want to miss a minute of good music. Lines in the ladies room-- uh oh!

On the other hand, I may have to get home, and if the break is going to run very long, I would rather know that up front. Otherwise, I'm sitting there staring at my watch wondering if you will ever come back, and then finally decide to leave after a half hour when, if I had known, I would have just left when the set ended, happy as a clam with what I had heard.

Now this is all somewhat tongue in cheek, because now I play a bit here and there and it is very different on the mic side of the equation. It's hard work, playing, and my point is, your audience will not really know that and so they need to be catered to a bit.

Have fun with it!!!!

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: paddymac
Date: 13 May 00 - 04:51 PM

We normally do a 15 song first set, followed by two 10-12 song sets interspersed with 15-20 minute intermissions. The house seems to like the dual intermissions because its their chance to sell more beer, and we usually push the product as part of our patter. It keeps the publican happy and usually gets us invited back. Once you do take a break, you've then got the task of "recapturing" your audience. The message I get from all of the comments iher is that it is very, very situation specific. So, use your common sense, read the crowd as best you can, and, most of all, have fun. If you don't act like you're enjoying yourself, chances are the crowd won't have much fun either.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: JedMarum
Date: 14 May 00 - 01:27 AM

I do both solo and band work. As a solo in a 2 or 2 and a 1/2 hour show I normally do one hour before I break. I go longer, depending upon what's happening with the room and the crowd. If I am doing a four hour solo, I do two one hour sets with 15/20 minute breaks, and then play what's left in one shot.

With a band I have various experience. The current group I work with plans out the sets the way they want to present them, and plow on no matter what the clock says! I kinda like that. We do two long sets (one to one and a half hours) take a 20 minute break, and then a third set "cleans up" the rest of the evening.

I think the the 45 set you have been hearing is what people are used to, and works well. I think you need to find what you're comfortable with and stick with it.

Subject: RE: BS: sets, number and length
From: RichM
Date: 14 May 00 - 09:06 AM

Having been both on both sides of the mic, I think the length of a set should also depend on the kind of seating in the house.

If seating is typical pub/coffeehouse, then it's hard and not very comfortable. Maximum set length: 45 minutes. My ass will thank you.

Rich