I need some songs ideas for a new band...

[New Trail]

...with a female singer. As a new band just starting up, this band's intention is to be as commercial, danceable, and all-things-to-all-people as possible.

[Vito Corleone]

Feel free to take a look at the stuff on my band's songlist. Pretty much everything that is on there is there because they are songs that have been proven to work for us with a wide range of people. You're not going to find any big surprises or off the wall songs there. But it is all stuff that works.

 

One song that was questionable when we learned it, and nobody (but me) even wanted to try it, that turned out to simply KILL at every gig we've done with our female singer is "Walking On Sunshine". At least for the types of gigs we do, songs can't really be happy and peppy enough.

[mstreck]

If you're thinking "bar band" I might be able to help. If you're looking at something more "pro"... well, I got nothin'.

[New Trail]

 

If you're thinking "bar band" I might be able to help. If you're looking at something more "pro"... well, I got nothin'.

 

 

Yes, bar band at first with the hopes to work into corporate and party gigs.

[TrickyBoy]

Our female singer sings more songs that were originally sung by men, so keep that in mind.

 

Songs that work really well for us that she sings:

 

Proud Mary (rocked up Tina version)

Sweet Child O Mine

Your Love

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

I Love Rock and Roll (OK, I'm lying here, we don't actually do this, but everyone else does and it works)

What's Up

We Got The Beat

Teenage Dream, Hot And Cold, Waking up in Vegas

Love Story (a rocked up version goes over really well)

Living on a Prayer

Hey Soul Sister

Are You Gonna Be My Girl

Hey Mickey

Don't Stop Believing

So What

I Believe In A Thing Called Love

Talk Dirty to Me

Swing Swing

Summer of 69

 

IDK, I feel like I'm leaving a lot off, but my brain hasn't been right the past few days.

[mstreck]

I'll try to sum up our philosophy... YMMV as every band is different:

 

(1) First and foremost - know your audience and only play songs that they'll know. Also, be willing to drop songs that they don't react to (you're not there to educate them). That being said, we mix it up - pop, dance, 80's classic and modern rock.

(2) Only play songs from (1) if you can sing/play them well.

(3) Be "interactive" - the more audience participation, the better - everyone should be wireless if possible so they can get off of the stage and into the crowd when necessary. If you're just standing there, you're being boring

(4) No dead time!!! With every second you let happen between songs, another person is thinking "this sucks".

(5) Your fans are your lifeline. Be proactively approachable and sociable between sets and before/after the show - THIS HAS BENEFITED US MORE THAN ANYTHING.

(6) People will remember your "hello" and your "goodbye" - make them count.

(7) Remember who you are. We're a weekend bar band. And we're dorks - not rock stars - we don't pretend to be anything else.

(8) Don't stagnate. Learn current hits and keep the setlist changing.

 

I really want to stress the importance of (5) above... we have fans friend request us on our personal facebook pages - and we accept every one of them. Two months ago, we had a fan telling us that she could get us booked into a particular venue. Now that we're booking for 2011, I sent her a facebook message yesterday and she's making it happen - we never would have been able to do that if we hadn't talked to her between sets. Another fan that we've talked to a few times painted the windows of his SUV advertising our gigs. And a venue closed down one night and told everyone to go see us at their competition. Those things never would have happened if we were dicks - and didn't happen when we had band members that were dicks.

 

Setlists are usually built around the following framework:

 

Set one - get them interested in you by playing stuff they recognize

Set two - draw them in (great time for sing alongs and "I remember that" songs). Every song in our second set is pure gold for us.

Set three - party their socks off (more singalongs and modern rock stuff)

 

This approach has worked very well for us, although we still have a long way to go with song selection. I'm looking forward to the point when the "filler" is all gone.

 

Here is an example from last month:

 

CRAZY 8s 10/08/10 - SET ONE - mostly 90's stuff that our audience grew up on (ages 21 - 35)

 

 

 

1. ARE YOU GONNA GO MY WAY

 

*TALK

[GCDEF]

REMEMBER TO TIP BARTENDERS - TUNE BACK TO E

 

I don't think I know that one. Who's it by?

 

That looks like a decent list.

[mstreck]

I don't think I know that one. Who's it by? That looks like a decent list.

 

I copied/pasted and was going to take it out. But we put those things on there for a reason, so I thought it would be good to see. The night goes a lot better when we have reminders to do socials, encourage tipping, etc. Sometimes we go so wrapped up in the "performance" that we forget the little things. And the little things make all of the difference.

[jeff42]

Sometimes we go so wrapped up in the "performance" that we forget the little things.

 

for us its all the time not just sometimes. I constantly have to remind our singer and the rest of the band to do this stuff. They call me the maestro.

[New Trail]

Great stuff so far! Thanks!!

[wheresgrant3]

 

Mike... great advice and nice setlist! You've graduated from Grasshopper into Jedi candidate!

[mstreck]

Mike... great advice and nice setlist! You've graduated from Grasshopper into Jedi candidate!

 

Well, I had some pretty good tutors...

[tlbonehead]

...with a female singer. As a new band just starting up, this band's intention is to be as commercial, danceable, and all-things-to-all-people as possible.

my personal; belief is that a band that tries to be all things to all people ends up being no things to no people. But that's just my opinion.

[TrickyBoy]

 

Setlists are usually built around the following framework: Set one - get them interested in you by playing stuff they recognize Set two - draw them in (great time for sing alongs and "I remember that" songs). Every song in our second set is pure gold for us. Set three - party their socks off (more singalongs and modern rock stuff)

 

 

This was our formula, but it has been really changing as of late. We generally start between 10 and 10:30 and finish at 2. With that in mind, our crowd gets progressively drunker as the night goes on, but they're usually pretty lit when we start. So....

 

I say kick 'em song one. I don't feel like we have much if any "filler" any more, but if we did, I'm more inclined to put it at 1:20 AM than at 10:20. Hell them fools are so out of their minds at that point they'd dance to polkas. But they'll remember the first two sets.

 

Sweet Child O Mine was second or third set tune 2 months ago;. Now it's a first set staple. They're going to remember set 1 the most. YMMV

[mstreck]

This was our formula, but it has been really changing as of late. We generally start between 10 and 10:30 and finish at 2. With that in mind, our crowd gets progressively drunker as the night goes on, but they're usually pretty lit when we start. So.... I say kick 'em song one. I don't feel like we have much if any "filler" any more, but if we did, I'm more inclined to put it at 1:20 AM than at 10:20. Hell them fools are so out of their minds at that point they'd dance to polkas. But they'll remember the first two sets. Sweet Child O Mine was second or third set tune 2 months ago;. Now it's a first set staple. They're going to remember set 1 the most. YMMV

 

That's where we'll be once the filler is gone. If I have to play "We Got the Beat" one more time...

 

It doesn't help that we usually start at 9:00. Most people aren't even in the door yet.

[New Trail]

my personal; belief is that a band that tries to be all things to all people ends up being no things to no people. But that's just my opinion.

 

Well, I agree with you, I really do, IN THEORY, but the fact is that I've seen it work. One of the workingist bands in the area can play a country bar, a biker bar, a corporate function, a blues festival, casinos or a twenty-something bar because they have such a diverse song list. They may not have an 'identity' as a band like some bands do, but they sure do play a lot. But you're right, you CAN'T be all things to all people, but maybe a band can be "be a lot of things to a lot of people."

[TrickyBoy]

That's where we'll be once the filler is gone. If I have to play "We Got the Beat" one more time... It doesn't help that we usually start at 9:00. Most people aren't even in the door yet.

 

Funny you mention that, because we have one dinner gig we play every month that's 6:30-10 and for that show we follow your formula above. The first set is a lot of "American Girl", "What I Like About You" type tunes that never make it into our regular club set.

[mstreck]

Funny you mention that, because we have one dinner gig we play every month that's 6:30-10 and for that show we follow your formula above. The first set is a lot of "American Girl", "What I Like About You" type tunes that never make it into our regular club set.

 

I had considered an "alternate order" setlist for this Wednesday because it'll be packed early, but decided against it. Once that place is packed it usually doesn't empty out (unless the cops set up a DUI checkpoint outside - like the last time we played there ).

[Vito Corleone]

 

But you're right, you CAN'T be all things to all people, but maybe a band can be "be a lot of things to a lot of people."

 

 

Agreed. At some point even the most diverse bands have to pick their niche. You might play a wide variety of stuff, but you'll play it, to a large degree, in your own style. You'll choose a path that is more rock, more R&B, more country or whatever. Doesn't mean you still can't touch on a lot of stuff. Even most "classic rock" bar bands throw a country song or two or an R&B song or two in their setlist.

 

Your style of playing, the look of your band, and your stage show will be what mostly establishes your identity if you're a band that plays a wide variety of material. There's nothing wrong with that.

[rhat]

bands need to focus on their typical crowd more so than the setlist. we play stuff that is all over the map but tend to always play stuff that the people who come to see us will like. If you have the people in the room on your side you have tons of freedom on what songs you can do.

[Vito Corleone]

 

bands need to focus on their typical crowd more so than the setlist. we play stuff that is all over the map but tend to always play stuff that the people who come to see us will like. If you have the people in the room on your side you have tons of freedom on what songs you can do.

 

 

Yep. And venue/event has a lot to do with it. When we're doing a corporate event or a wedding, not only is there a wide variety of people in attendance but the people themselves are more open minded to a variety of stuff. Young guys who I am all but certain would never dance to a disco song at their favorite rockin' nightclub are all over the floor for KC and the Sunshine Band. Older people who would put down their drinks and walk out if they heard a modern pop song from the band at their favorite upscale restaurant/nightclub are packing the floor for The Black Eyed Peas.

 

What I always recommend for any starting band is: rather than choosing your songlist and then seeing what gigs you can get, target some venues first and then choose your songlist according to what is best for that particular market.

[jeff42]

lately we have been putting any kind of filler tunes late night in the 3rd set. It's been working better that way and sometimes because of some of the contests, crowd participation and impromtu stuff we have been doing lately we don't get to them (even better!)

 

Honestly we don't have many filler tunes any more but that always changes cuz what was once a great song that got a huge reaction may be filler a a few months later. and then of course dropped.

 

We usually play from 10-2 but a few gigs are 9-1. When we start at 9pm we ease into it compared to 10pm. Also where we play has a something to do with our set. We do a 6-10 gig in the summer at an outside restaurant on a lake in the pocnos. We play more stardard/ classic tunes to start off. Yes, that is where you will most likely here us pulling out Margaritaville and maybe even Mustang Sally.

[SeniorBlues]

 

What I always recommend for any starting band is: rather than choosing your songlist and then seeing what gigs you can get, target some venues first and then choose your songlist according to what is best for that particular market.

 

 

Yeah, but do venues really book only bands of a certain style? Does the crowd really want to hear different interpretations of the same repertoire or even the same genre(s)?

[mstreck]

bands need to focus on their typical crowd more so than the setlist.

 

I agree 100%.

 

But for a band that doesn't have a typical crowd, you may need to target a "perceived" crowd. Our driving goal has always been to play for the beach crowds, but when we were starting out we had to compromise a bit. The beach venues wouldn't book us. The inland places that would book us didn't really want to take a chance on a female-fronted band that played "pop, dance, 80s, classic & modern rock" when they had a scheduled filled with classic and modern rock bands. So we mostly played very small out-of-the-way places to almost no crowd. We adjusted our setlist to please what crowd was there and continued to build a following at those places. Now we're playing "better" rooms for more pay - still adjusting our setlist - and our crowd follows us. We're still not booked at the beach - but we've never lost focus on our original goal - now doors are opening and we're getting closer to the beach with every gig!

 

To paraphrase the best advice I ever got (and I got it from a Harmony Central forum member): "take baby steps - it will happen".

[jeff42]

To paraphrase the best advice I ever got (and I got it from a Harmony Central forum member): "take baby steps - it will happen".

 

YES! I like to add this too: Be more than 5 guys in the corner with instruments.