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Lesson # 37, August-Sept-Oct-Nov 2005 

By Warren Yates 

How to add a little professionalism to your band’s performance

 Maybe you are in a band or want to start one up.   In either case, you want it to be the best that it can be.  It can be a wonderful time for you or it can turn you against music all together.  The more people you have in a band, the more problems you can have.  If you can get it done with a small number of members, you will have fewer opinions as to how everything should work.  The fewer people that you have, the more likely you get to go perform at an event because of prior engagements. 

Getting together once per week for practice is all you really need.  Any more and you can get tired of it quickly.  Performances are different, that is fun and you can play all you want and not get so tired.  Practice is work.

Practices must be organized if you want it to be effective.  You will have to establish a "set list" so that everyone knows what to play and in what order.  This list should be long enough to do one 45 minute show.  You can add more shows later.  I have an example of a set list prepared so you can see how yours might look.  Click here to view it.  I use Microsoft Excel to create and store mine.  You can open them up on your computer and modify them and save them as a new document as often as you want.  If you have Excel, you can download this template to get started.

The sheet must contain the date so you know that everyone has the same up-to-date list.  The list should be large enough so it can be easily seen from the floor.  Let’s say that the song in the first line is, Blue Ridge Cabin Home.  You will want the key it is played in, the name of the song, kicks and breaks, and tips for reminders.

A  -  Blue Ridge Cabin Home – Bk  G B  -  There’s a well beaten path

Download this MS Excel template.  

Click here to view it as a PDF.

In the case of this example, Bk means banjo kick off.  The next G means the guitar will take the next break and the banjo will take the last.  The tip “There’s a

well beaten path” is a reminder to the banjo player to how the song starts off.  You can play a song for years and still draw a blank on stage.

Arrange your songs to please the audience.  You might want to start out with three energetic songs to get the people on the edge of their seats.  Put them all in the same key so you don’t have to stop in between and tune.  Do an introduction with a designated speaker while everyone is getting tuned for the next three songs in the same key.  A good joke or story builds rapport with your audience.   After the introduction, you can put together just about anything but don’t play too many slow songs back to back.  Once you get your audience to sleep, it is hard to wake them up again.  Finish out with a great song, maybe a good gospel or which ever one that you want them to remember you by.  Always keep a spare in case they insist that you come back and play one more.

Now you have a practice schedule and a performance plan.  This will help to keep you focused.  You can always change any part of it as needed, but change the date and give everyone a new copy. 

This list should be in a heavy clear sheet protector of some type so the wind will not blow it away when you are on stage.  Everyone should keep their own copy if possible.  If one person is responsible for keeping up with them, then that person can forget and leave the book at home and them you are in a mess trying to remember everything.  If you have four band members and three lists, that is ok, but four members and no lists is not. 

Now that you know what you are going to do and when to do it, how are you going to use it?

A pro band knows their material in their head because they are good.  We know this because we never see a list of songs, right?  This is wrong in most cases.  The trick is that you never see them look at their list and they should not see you look at your either.  Use it but don’t stare at it.  If the writing is large enough you can get by with it.  It is fine to look at your instrument so cut your eyes over and look at the list and they will never know. 

If you are happy, other will be happy.  If you cry, others will cry.  If you are angry, you will tick some people off.  If you want your audience to have a great time, then you must have the time of your life playing.  Joke with each other in a planned way as if you are really spontaneous.  You are the party leader.  If you miss your note and mess up, laugh it off and the people will enjoy it.   Now of course if you are playing for a funereal, all of this happiness this will not work.  Fit your actions to your event.

Once you get one list ready, create another so you will be prepared to play for the same people again with a different show.  If you are going to a really great place and need to do your best, you can create a best set with a combination of all of the best songs from both list and use it when you need it.

 Warren Yates