Members pmrawls Posted February 23, 2015 Members Share Posted February 23, 2015 I am a solo acoustic act. Acoustic guitar and singer. I'm curious what other similar acts are doing as far as set length, gig length number of songs, etc. I can't seem to sing as many songs in a night as I used to before my voice goes out. A lot of bands have more than one singer and can trade off the vocal responsibilities. That's not an option for a solo act. I've been playing a place where I play from 9:00pm-1:00am. I take a few breaks and probably sing 40 songs or so. I know different venues have different schedules but I'm just curious what some of you are doing and if you have any tips? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members STM86 Posted February 23, 2015 Members Share Posted February 23, 2015 Five hours is just silly IMO. You aren't Def Leppard. There are no advantages to burning out as opposed to fading away. I go on for 50, off for 10 for two to four hours. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members STM86 Posted February 23, 2015 Members Share Posted February 23, 2015 Math is normally a strong suit. Not today apparently. I'll stretch my breaks to 15 minutes on some of those four-hour nights. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members J.Paul Posted February 23, 2015 Members Share Posted February 23, 2015 I am a solo acoustic act. Acoustic guitar and singer. I'm curious what other similar acts are doing as far as set length' date=' gig length number of songs, etc. I can't seem to sing as many songs in a night as I used to before my voice goes out. A lot of bands have more than one singer and can trade off the vocal responsibilities. That's not an option for a solo act. I've been playing a place where I play from 9:00pm-1:00am. I take a few breaks and probably sing 40 songs or so. I know different venues have different schedules but I'm just curious what some of you are doing and if you have any tips? Thanks![/quote'] For the 9-1 gigs I play 3 sets of 50 minutes and take 15 min breaks (no longer than 20) - the last set is either boring random requests or full on dance medleys for "drunk hot chicks" (depending on what's happening). There ARE a number of 3 hour straight gigs (w/ NO break) that I do as well, so for those : A) who says you can't play an instrumental every now and then ? (that's a couple of 5 minute breaks) B) who says EVERYTHING has to be in Steve Perry or Sting's key ? People just wanna hear "their song", they don't care what key it's in. Change the key. C) you only have one singer? How about that random chick that wants to sit it on "Landslide"? Or random dude that knows all the words to Sublime's "What I Got"? Let them sit it. You just got another 10 minute break and everyone wins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members STM86 Posted February 23, 2015 Members Share Posted February 23, 2015 For the 9-1 gigs I play 3 sets of 50 minutes and take 15 min breaks (no longer than 20) - the last set is either boring random requests or full on dance medleys for "drunk hot chicks" (depending on what's happening). There ARE a number of 3 hour straight gigs (w/ NO break) that I do as well, so for those : A) who says you can't play an instrumental every now and then ? (that's a couple of 5 minute breaks) B) who says EVERYTHING has to be in Steve Perry or Sting's key ? People just wanna hear "their song", they don't care what key it's in. Change the key. C) you only have one singer? How about that random chick that wants to sit it on "Landslide"? Or random dude that knows all the words to Sublime's "What I Got"? Let them sit it. You just got another 10 minute break and everyone wins. Good point! I forget that. Dropping down a half step had made a WORLD of difference in my vocal endurance. I'll slap a capo on one if it's already low in my range. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted February 23, 2015 Members Share Posted February 23, 2015 As a solo artist, I mainly play in hotel lounges, restaurants and casinos. The toughest gig I do is a three hour gig that has one contracted 1/2 hour break in the middle. Luckily I can play instrumentals as well as vocals, so it's not bad. Last time I was there, I went to go back on after 30 minutes and no one on staff could get the break music off. So I waited another 15 or so for someone to come back and turn the music off. Oh yes, and I had to start 20 minutes later that night because of the hockey game. A pretty easy night overall. Other than that I never take less than 20 minutes and never more than 30 - unless I can't get the music off. Actually you wouldn't believe how much that happens in hotels, where the front desk has the muzak control. They get slammed with guests and can't get to the break music. I will make exceptions; if the gig is two hours I might only take a 15 minute break. Or if it's late at night in a party room, I might keep the crowd by taking a shorter break. Generally however, I put myself first. Hands and voice before crowd and club owner, but YMMV. Depends on where you live and where you play - and how much you want to play. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 One of my favorites is a Thursday night solo gig where they are so incredibly relaxed... Start around 9ish... Or so, but sometimes it's a late crowd so I adjust accordingly... Slow night? Go home early still get paid... By the same token I've played well into locked door after hours with generous compensation... It works out in the end, time / wage wise and it's one of the places I can play what I feel, how I feel... Come to think of it, I need a few more places just like this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 I find that musicians perform and play better when the gig is relaxed. It amazes me that many or most venues don't understand that. I played a place back in December that had just spent $100K on their house PA system - not because they wanted good sound, but because they wanted a low profile white PA that matched their $150K piano! My apologies to the K-Array folks, but that was the wrong PA for that room - it barely sounds better than their old Bose system. Anyway, my point is that the manager came up to me, looked at my two DI's on the floor and said "are they really necessary, they look messy". A little while later, someone bought me a drink and urged me to sit with them. whereupon another manager came up and told me I couldn't drink there and couldn't sit with the patrons... Life's too short for that nonsense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 When I go to the local pub, I appreciate it if the musicians play about 50/10 or 45/15 per hour. I like breaks because then you can talk without guilt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the_big_e Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 I busk/play for tips (so technically I am one of those 'play for free' people. Different topic for another time maybe). Typically I play farmer's markets because I am amplified which limits where I can play. Normally I play for around 3 hours, and other than stopping to take a drink of water (in summer) or coffee in winter (it gets cold out there!) I don't really stop at all but then again my music is generally about 60/40 instrumentals and songs and I'm really just back ground music anyway so it's not any strain on my voice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 When the manager told me I wasn't able to sit with the patrons, that would be the part of the evening when I informed him that I no longer work for them... After which I would smile and tell them ever so politely to kiss my gluteus Maximus... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 Big e... You sound like a lot of fun... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 24, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 24, 2015 typical solo gig is private parties were I am basically background music, but I get requests [usually not played, but sometimes it is just too easy...if there is a tip ], sometimes get people who want to hang around and listen [the best gigs!] and most of the folks I work for are not sticklers on time, and don't mind me interacting with their guests. I can do up to an hour and a half set, but I like 45 minutes to give me a chance to take a leak, stretch my legs and rest the vocal cords. I don't do a lot of instrumentals, mainly because I honestly don't know that many ...except for surf tunes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 On odd occasion I will play somewhere over the rainbow in melodic fashion for an instrumental... Very rare but when it fits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Shaster Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 When I go to the local pub' date=' I appreciate it if the musicians play about 50/10 or 45/15 per hour. I like breaks because then you can talk without guilt.[/quote'] Agreed. Years before I started doing a single, I used to eat at this restaurant that had a duo playing there. Their first set was oten an hour or more, and was never stuff I really wanted to hear. I made a mental note then, to never overstay my welcome. Sure, if I'm total background music it's not as crucial, but otherwise I usually like to cap my sets at the 45 to 50 minute mark - especially if I'm "in their face". Every gig is different, but that's my philosophical starting point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 I don't do sonic wallpaper... Nothing wrong with it, it's just not me... I'm a very physically oriented performer... I hate sitting down, it prohibits good breathing, projection and lowers energy levels. I like to move on stage, I like my mic set so I have to reach for it a bit... So 40 to 45 minutes is a good workout... With the right crowd a two hour set happens now and again but generally 45/10-15 is about par for me... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted February 24, 2015 Members Share Posted February 24, 2015 I don't do sonic wallpaper... furniture music Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 25, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 25, 2015 On odd occasion I will play somewhere over the rainbow in melodic fashion for an instrumental... Very rare but when it fits... I do that in my ukelele set! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted February 25, 2015 Members Share Posted February 25, 2015 I do that in my ukelele set! Israel Kamakawiwoʻole style? or Ukulele Ike style? [video=youtube;jJtIpsweV1A] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Voltan Posted February 25, 2015 Members Share Posted February 25, 2015 I do that in my ukelele set! ha! I do the everly brothers " dream" on banjo everly blue moon or so... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 25, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 25, 2015 Israel Kamakawiwoʻole style? or Ukulele Ike style? [video=youtube;jJtIpsweV1A] no, actually, I do it as an instrumental...but I'm-a lik-a ukelele Ike-a...[he was also the voice of Jiminy Cricket...Cliff Edwards] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted February 25, 2015 Members Share Posted February 25, 2015 Ole Cliff was 'way outside the box. A star in his day. Amazing scat singer and one of my go-to guys for 20s repertoire. [video=youtube;FNekUJOlLfA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNekUJOlLfA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted February 28, 2015 Members Share Posted February 28, 2015 4 hour gig usually requires about 40 normal length songs. So I think you're in the ball park. As the only singer, you need to avoid songs that stretch your voice and let the PA handle the volume as well as keeping very hydrated. Check out the singers portion of this forum for tips to help keep your voice healthy. One early band was gigging 5 nights a week and I was singing half the leads and harmony everywhere else. My speaking voice sounded like I was a 4 pack a day smoker. (Don't smoke.) That was 20 hours of show every week and one rehearsal for new material. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators daddymack Posted February 28, 2015 Moderators Share Posted February 28, 2015 One early band was gigging 5 nights a week and I was singing half the leads and harmony everywhere else. My speaking voice sounded like I was a 4 pack a day smoker. (Don't smoke.) That was 20 hours of show every week and one rehearsal for new material. I did that for over six months straight, and I was smoking...fortunately, my voice recovered, but it did teach me how to turn on and off that bluesy rasp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WynnD Posted March 3, 2015 Members Share Posted March 3, 2015 And I wasn't attempting to do any raspy vocals. I've heard the same in interviews with other singers. The one that comes immediately to mind was Little Jimmy Scott on NPRs Fresh Air show. (Recently passed away.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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