Donny's suggestion is a good one but once you've seen someone else's act its very tempting to mimic or pattern your act after theirs, which I think you want to avoid at all costs.

I will respectfully disagree with Messrs. Joe & Fran regarding staying away from slower, even sometimes sad tunes.

IMO...

Our job is to stimulate these audiences. I've had too many AD's compliment through the years as to the wide range of emotions I'm able to evoke in them from my song selections. NO, you sure don't want too many, but if I can get one-two slow songs to really touch them...perhaps move someone to a tear or two, plus make them want to run through walls on the faster stuff, then that's a home run in most AD's eyes.

Remember, its not a concert & its our job to stimulate them intellectually and emotionally during our time with them. Don't be afraid of the slower/sad stuff. Chances are many of these exact type songs are important songs of these folks lives and bittersweet or not, they'll appreciate that you played it. The intimacy of these type songs make you stand out vs. other NH entertainers who come in and play all happy stuff. They will remember you even more...

My ratio is roughly 5-1 or 80% medium/upbeat stuff, 20% slow hymns and ballads...


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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 06-15-2009).]