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November 2005
Posts: 4827
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by Captain_Lovehandles:
fillhix, have you ever heard of Eugene Chadbourne? No. But it's only fair.
I'm pretty sure he hasn't heard of me either! ;)
and, for the record, I've never met a bar owner I didn't love. Even the ones who had to be 'convinced' to pay the band.......  |
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July 2004
Posts: 766
Location: New Hampsha | Ummmm
What I like about you - The Romantics
Play it nine more times.
Tell owner to give me $50 or I play it again... |
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February 2009
Posts: 119
Location: New York | Night Moves Segar
American Pie Mclean
Plush STP
Save the Last Dance for Me Booble
Southern Cross Crosby Stills Nash
Hallelujah Buckley
Roller Derby Queen Croce
I'm Yours Mraz
The Lime in the Coconut Nilson
Hurts so Good Mellencamp |
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March 2008
Posts: 355
Location: Wichita, KS | In no particular order:
Bad Moon Rising - Creedence
Sandman - America
Mohammed’s Radio - Warren Zevon
Roller Derby Queen - Jim Croce
I’m Your Captain/Closer to Home - Grand Funk
Fearless - Pink Floyd
Margaritaville - Jimmy Buffett
The Weight - The Band
Sullivan Street - Counting Crows
Locomotive Breath - Jethro Tull
Lawyers Guns and Money - Warren Zevon |
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November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I'm assuming we are talking about a band, not a solo act. And I'm assuming the bar owner wants them dancing...
Substitute - The Who
Smokin' in the Boy's Room - Brownsville Station/Crue
Runnin' Down a Dream - Petty
Saw Her Standing There - Beatles
Moondance - Van Morrison (let them go buy a beer)
Born on the Bayou - Creedence
Fast as You - Dwight Yoakum
Stacy's Mom - Worlds of Wayne
Californication - RHCP
Crossroads - Cream |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Omaha
Actually I was thinking solo act, but that is a great set....love to see it! |
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March 2008
Posts: 355
Location: Wichita, KS | On second thought, I think I'd have to drop Mohammed's Radio and Sullivan Street from my list, given that its a bar crowd. I had 11 songs listed anyway. Probably put in Like a Hurricane and will keep Fearless for one mellow number... |
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October 2008
Posts: 489
| It's fun to think about a list, but I just usually know what I want to begin and end each set with.
In front of me on the floor I have a legal sized list of all the songs I'm currently using and a clock of some sort. I pick the next tune while I'm doing the current one.
Kinda keeps you ready for whatever seems appropriate. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Ah , the ring-bind with songs on the floor , guy I know had invested in an electronic music sheet thing , and had it on the floor...not a recommendable thing to do...
Vic |
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October 2008
Posts: 489
| No, not a ring binder. Just a songlist that I scan. I don't "read" anything on stage. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I might be mistaken but it sure seems that so far there is not one duplicate song listed here.
Of course I don't expect any one else has the nerve to play the likes of Itchycoo Park or Elenor. |
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March 2002
Posts: 15664
Location: SoCal | Everybody, the songs you listed, are they proven songs that you've done before or are they just your favorite songs? I've always found that you better take into account the audience and what they want.
Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. Or maybe I'm the only one who's bombed because I didn't feel that way...... |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Everybody, the songs you listed, are they proven songs that you've done before or are they just your favorite songs? I've always found that you better take into account the audience and what they want.
Maybe I'm the only one who feels that way. Or maybe I'm the only one who's bombed because I didn't feel that way...... That`s a strong point , I do n`t know how to ascertain what the audience wants , I have no idea what they want , chatting might help , but as a rule people want me to do songs that I do n`t know..
Those were songs that I do with a mic. , I can Not sing , and I try to Avoid it like the plague , which is not allways possible , so.. I grab a mic. , up close , adjust as to get a Big , Warm sound , and try to emulate Jim Reeves.
In the old days , when I was busking , it was a lot easier , no-one was listening anyway.
Vic |
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October 2008
Posts: 489
| Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
are they proven songs that you've done before or are they just your favorite songs? I've always found that you better take into account the audience and what they want.
Yes, no, yes.
That's why I work with a fluid idea of what I'll play as opposed to a rigid list. Ya gotta have way more material than you're gonna need, and you gotta be prepared to change direction on a dime. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Just a word of caution...
If ya don't know all the songs in history, don't ask "Got any requests?"
Last year in the Keys, went to a 'beach restaurant' that had a competent solo guitarist/singer. He had a 'Request Tips' labeled jar on a stool in front of the mic.
After more than five requests, I gave up. No Croce, Chapin, Seger, Beatles, etc. Being an amateur player, critic and adult, I wasn't a happy camper.
If you're gonna take any requests, have a list of available songs you can play for the customers' selection. Saw that once in Denver and it went over well. The tip jar overflowed... |
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March 2005
Posts: 12754
Location: Boise, Idaho | There's a local here that does the same thing. He puts his set lists on the tables like menues. He knows a ton of songs and either plays down the lists or plays requests off the lists. He's good and very popular. |
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September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | I guess I cheated.
We don't gig.
We learn to play songs we like. If we play for someone we try to pick what we think is the best song for the moment but we don't put the effort into learning something if we don't really like it.
No Freebird here. |
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Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Originally posted by Slipkid:
We learn to play songs we like. If we play for someone we try to pick what we think is the best song for the moment but we don't put the effort into learning something if we don't really like it.
No Freebird here. I am an amateur myself , prefer to be " back up " , I`m not hardboiled enough to go on with a cold fer ex. ,and yet...
Anecdote :
Some time ago , being on holiday in Mallorca , there was this solo-act ( in the hotel-bar ) , who would come on three times a week , one day , the hotel had rented an expensive act , " Brazilian dancers ", who did not turn up , .. quickly Dave was found , who happened to have a day off , but came anyway , dressed in a beachy outfit , ready to roll , when them Brazillians showed up after all , they performed , and it was a success , despite some chaos ... , after the Brazillian show , I fiddled a bit with his 12 str. TAKAMINE , and before I knew it , a mic. was placed in front of me , I became nervous , the joint was equipped with JBL EON`s , which gave a high-pitched snarling sound with a high amount of " hiss " , very Unlike my beautyful ALTEC /JBL /UREI p a .
I clenched my butt , and gobbled up the mic. , now look , I was staying with my kids as a guest in that place , and there I was , making a fool outamyself , but people just wanted a show , no matter who performed , it went okay , and we got free drinks .
And the list ?.. I had none , just whatever popped up in my mind , some songs I could only remember halfly , turning them into medleys...in retrospect it was fun , but in the beginning it was rather scary..
Vic |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | Okay... Sorta off topic, maybe...
After reading this stuff yesterday, I decided to take my guitar outside with the Roland Street Cube and play on the corner... As opposed to sitting in my room and playing guitar. (It was a nice day)
I apparently had enough material to play for two hours without repeating myself too much.
(I finally left cuz I had to go to the bathroom, not cuz I ran outta material)
I did NOT sing. (Well, I did sing Almost Cut My Hair, but that's it.)
Nobody threw rocks at me.
I made $15.40, four cigarettes and a music store business card.
Luckily nobody really stood there and watched me for the whole time. (I have No Confidence)
But a woman and her son did sit around and listened while they ate lunch. (Kid gave me $3)
Otherwise people might stop for a few moments, or a song.
A woman from Powell's Books (that's where I was) came out and asked me to stick-around because I was better than whomever usually sits out there. [Is that a Compliment? :confused: ]
That was my first 'busking' experience in Portland.
When my unemployment runs-out, this might be my next job! :mad:
I took the 1860 Balladeer and the output jack was being temperamental.
Next time I will take the 1778T! It is Faithful. |
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April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Hey Arthur ..COOL !!!
Sounds like a Great Inauguration , a New Busker is born :)
Welcome to the fore.
Vic
...was it a Revelation ..?.. |
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January 2009
Posts: 4535
Location: Flahdaw | Originally posted by moody, p.i.:
Everybody, the songs you listed, are they proven songs that you've done before or are they just your favorite songs? That's what I was getting at. I listed 10 songs that I know real well, that I would be real comfortable with if I got thrown onstage. I was just wondering what others are really playing and practicing...maybe I could pick up something interesting. |
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March 2009
Posts: 715
| Originally posted by Mark in Boise:
I might be able to do the whole set with Croce songs.
Actually, I'd just ask Karl to send me his song book in the Senior font version. I managed to fake my way through 4 hours of that. Too bad that you live so far away from me. With a Croce set list, I'd definitely come to see you!
If I were playing in a bar, I would have (not necessarily in this order):
"Working at the Car Wash Blues" Jim Croce
"The Hard Way Every Time" Jim Croce
"Rock Me on the Water" Jackson Browne
"I'm Tired" John Hammond Jr.
"Wild about My Lovin'" The Lovin' Spoonful
"Me and Bobby McGee" Janis Joplin
"Something to Talk About" Bonnie Raitt
"Carefree Highway" by Gordon Lightfoot
"In My Life" the Beatles
"Secret Agent Man" Johnny Rivers
Michelle |
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March 2005
Posts: 5563
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | I've always found that you better take into account the audience and what they want.
Actually Paul, you are right on the mark...
I played bars/clubs/hotels/motels/supper clubs (ugh!)/etc. for 20 years...average of 5-6 nights per week, 4 sets per night, 10 song average per set...
I mixed it up w/pop, rock, country and did standards and a few that should have been...I kept it upbeat (no one wants to cry in their beer/beverage all night long)...In the 2nd and 3rd sets I did requests (I maintained a song book of 450 to 500 songs for 18 years) and usually kept the 4th set the same each night...I did finish strong as nearly every place I played was still open for a while after I finished...
I learned a lot over the years as to what worked and what did not...
I learned how to interact with the audience and when to shut up and play...
I learned how to handle drunks and rowdy folks...gave special attention to the regulars and travelers alike...did not drink (or anything else) to the point of ridiculousness or inebriation as that seldom adds anything positive to the music or performance and will get you packing your gear very quickly...I also found a little time to speak with folks about the Ovation instruments I played (usually during breaks or after the show)...
In short, it is your business...either you are serious about it or not...
That said, I do not miss the bar scene at all...but I am grateful for the years I was able to play upwards of 6 nights per week (sometimes 7) and have a chance to play the music I played and the guitars I owned for so many folks...it was a "long strange trip" to copy a phrase.
If you choose to do it, then enjoy it but take into account that "as you climb the ladder of success, be very nice to every one you meet, because you will meet those same people on the way back down"...you'll see..... ;)
Now, break a leg.... |
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January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | First, if it was anything other than a blues or jazz club, I'd decline the offer. If I didn't decline the offer, then I'd walk in with a looper, lay down different blues tracks (majors, minors, shuffles, funk, slow gospel, etc.) and noodle over them. The tracks would be pretty standard fare, but the noodling would be all original, all ad lib. |
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April 2008
Posts: 2985
Location: Sydney, Australia | I get hired to play in a bar. Me: "Am I on Candid Camera?" |
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You were just hired to play in a bar
