... too much espresso today Donny??? ...

Try and relax a tad, Donny...I couldn't see where "band situations only" was stipulated in the first post or topic name.

I'm guessing there are far more solo arranger players here than those working in bands...it is a General Arranger Keyboard Forum, yuh know.

Nevertheless, carry on.

Ian

Espresso yes 3 cups today....lol
Dance club gigs require continuous high energy music.....Iv'e done enough to know thru the years.

A band is a band, is a band, is a band, is a band, is a band, is a band, is a band, one man, two, three, cha cha cha.

Gary

Gary go to any casino club and watch the bands play dance music...45/15 baby non stop.....Once you get the set medleys in your head it's pretty easy to knock em out..
the trick is "the lead in intro chain-link" to each song makes it flow one into the other all thru the set. When I was musical director on the 50's Oldie tour back in the 80's with a 9pc show band we did 2 shows like that every night on land & sea.
Works out good as long as everyone is in Sync.

Donnie, I'm not playing casinos, I'm not playing for people that frequent casinos, I'm playing for the same crowds you play for - older people that still enjoy dancing. I'm playing lots of Latin music, some big band, lots of 50s, 60s, 70s stuff, and they actually touch and hold their dance partners when they dance. It's amazing!

All of my audiences pretty much have gray hair, most are married, some are widowed, or widowers, they love what I play, and they tend to love my approach to keeping the music flowing. My dead time between songs could well be a medley, I guess. One songs ends and another begins within a second or less. Sometimes I announce the song, but most of the time it's not necessary - they know the song when the hear the intro. The only time I screwed up tonight was when I performed Hot Hot Hot - only a handful of people formed a conga line, but that's OK. Everyone still loved the performance.

As for the tips tonight, they sucked - $13. Big deal. They all said they'll be back in two weeks, no gig next Monday night because of passover.

Another fun night in Paradise,

Gary

Gary......lol....$13.00? at least you made Toll money for the way home and a cup of coffee...life in the trenches !!

When our band played the animal places and the VFW's and such the management wanted time between songs so the patrons would buy drinks. We would play 4 tunes then get up 4 more many of which would be requests. Some places you would know every request and who would request it before you even walked in the door.