How many songs do you play in a set?

Si_

We usually do 12 in the first set, and 12-14 in the 2nd with encores. But the addition of a new singer and upcoming gig in a week means we've had to cut that down to 10 and 12, which I think is not enough.. Just wondered how many others fitted in.

bluechargeboy

We play 17 songs of instrumental music over two 45-minute sets, which is enough to tip anyone over the edge into madness.

Cirrus

When we did covers gigs it was three 45-50 minute sets, usually 10 to 12 songs per set. One time we were told we had to finish after midnight to get paid and we were on our last song at 11:45, that turned into quite the drawn out jam...

RocknRollDave

Si_ said:

We usually do 12 in the first set, and 12-14 in the 2nd with encores. But the addition of a new singer and upcoming gig in a week means we've had to cut that down to 10 and 12, which I think is not enough.. Just wondered how many others fitted in.

Usually about the same for us too - 12 or 13 in the first set, one or two more in the second.
Can you stretch any of the existing 22 songs out a bit? Get some "singalong" parts going, or an extended solo/ jam?
Or are there any dead easy songs you could busk on the night that the new singer wouldn't need to learn? (Usually something like Teenage Kicks comes up during these such conversations...)

Roland

Two sets with about 16 songs in each.  We reckon on 3 to 4 minutes per song, including gaps for tuning, instrument changes, and conversations with the audience.

EricTheWeary

yes, pub gig usually 2x45 minute sets, so number of songs depends how long they are! Time/ record them in rehearsal. Do you have much between song banter? You will play everything faster on a gig than at rehearsal as well so take at least 10% off all your timings.

You can certainly re-use at least one song from the first set into the second. Certainly anything from the first set is fair game as your encores. Don't hold anything back for encores if you are struggling for complete numbers.

I am approcahing a year now without having gigged but we used to book end the sets. So, used a really strong number to open set 1 and used it again to close set 2. Quite often you have different people in by then anyway and for those who are still around its your greatest hit!  

Instrumentals - obviously different for different types of music but a short instrumental can go down well, even just as a play on tune, and worth considering if it saves your singer's voice.But, I would suggest 1 per set as a limit and know the difference between an instrumental and a jam.  

EricTheWeary

Cirrus said:

When we did covers gigs it was three 45-50 minute sets, usually 10 to 12 songs per set. One time we were told we had to finish after midnight to get paid and we were on our last song at 11:45, that turned into quite the drawn out jam...

we played a gig in a right scarey shit hole and with no audience interest. After our first 45 minute set we asked if we could just leave. No one was listening and there were fights taking place. The landlord said we had to play a second set to get paid. I think we played 3 songs, packed up. took the money and ran!

ESBlonde

Usually 11 numbers in a 45 minuet set but we would write 13 on the list and drop whatever was inappropriate i.e. if they dance early drop the ballads, if they stay glued to the bar/seats drop the dance drivel.
Typical 3 set gigs for us.

Always have an encore  and pull it out if needed. Always leave them wanting more.

stickyfiddle

My old covers band was 2 hours across 2 sets. We'd aim for 50 mins and 70 or thereabouts, expecting to tag another song or 2 onto the end of that if needed. Digging out an old set list that was 13 songs then 18, but that'd depend on the exact setlist.

vasselmeyer

Depends what sort of covers you're doing. A Pink Floyd covers band might get 3-4 songs per 45 minute set.

EricTheWeary

vasselmeyer;161083" said:

A Pink Floyd covers band might get 3-4 songs per 45 minute set.

although in any decent venue they would be bottled off long before they got that far.

not_the_dj

Loads, but mostly the same solo.

mudslide73

not_the_dj said:

Loads, but mostly the same solo.

Sounds like me, that. We do 40mins first half and 60 ish second including "encores". We do a very fluid version of Sympathy which can ruin the timings a bit too.

johnnyurq

Used to be 43 to 45 over 3 hour gigs.

Some encores sometimes depending where we were playing.

My old band still do.

Danny1969

Pubs used to be 2 x 45 but now they are open till 12 it's more like 1 x 55 and 1 x 65

Club and corp gigs are generally 3 x 40 mins ish 

I think you need around 25 pref 30 songs to be safe

John_P

Danny1969 said:

Pubs used to be 2 x 45 but now they are open till 12 it's more like 1 x 55 and 1 x 65

That's very true for most of my gigs...   I'd usually write a set list of 10 and 12 with a list of spares but make a point to either time it in rehearsal or do an itunes playlist to check the length.  

As others have said it depends how long the songs are and how much banter the singer will do...   I'd feel edgy having less than 25 but I've seen a lot fo bands stick to the 2x45 so it's more a case of what you're used to - you probably have enough depending on the song lengths.

jd0272

It's not the number in the sets that's the worry, it's the numbers in the encore. We found we had too few, cause the punters were still giving it and the pub was all "Aye ok then...", so essentially the encore was a separate mini-set.

Probs cause I said "Look, I'm NOT playing the same fucking song twice".

viz

17 plus 2 encores

digitalscream

9 songs in a single set...then again, it's an originals band so the odds of anyone asking us to do more than 45 minutes are pretty low.

monquixote

2 x 1 hour usually. 

Number of songs is determined by how long they are. 

PolarityMan

We hate playing 30 min sets cos we can only get 4 songs in