When we had the band in NY our theme song was "Where or When" which I had picked (I did most of the song selections for the group) the lyrics just seemed to fit ... nowadays, it depends on the venue: restaurant/Country Club I will most often start with bossas and my go to tune is "Blue Bossa" ...
For Assisted Living/NH gigs, I set up a playlist, usually centered on some theme, and pick from there ...
Summer/outdoor gig, it is definitely something to get their attention ...

For boring jobs, it's the theme from Mash (you know....).

For one that feel right, it's an instrumental version of something like "I Love You More Today Than Yesterday".

Russ

At the nursing homes, I like to start with something fun, up beat
and that everybody hopefully knows and loves. Something like Blue Suede Shoes, In The Mood, Rock Around The Clock...

However today, I started with Stardust. There is a very sweet 96 year old lady that just loves that song and always gives me a big so I always put in on my list when I see her.

For Latin jobs, we like to start with a bolero or bossa nova. something like Sabor a mi, or Girl from Ipanmea. However if it's a crowd that looks like the are ready to party, we go right to the Cumbias, Salsa, Merengue, Norteñas/Tejano (Mexican style polkas)

When I was a kid in my teens with my rock band on stage we always opened with "HELLO I LOVE YOU" By the Doors....
& at the end if you know the song we would scream out to the audience "HELLO"........they would answer back the same "HELLO"
and do this 4,5,6 times the crowds loved it !!

I always start with a Bosanova. That way if I don't sound good, I can blame it on the bosanova.

I usually go between On the Road Again, Just in Time, or Sunny Side of the Street. Fly me to the Moon sneaks in sometimes.

Joe

Bill,

Nice performance at the Crossroads Gig.

Good mix of tunes, very upbeat, good interaction with the crowd.

Jerryghr

I usually start the 1st set with Bandstand Boogie. An upbeat tune that the crowd grew up with watching American Bandstand.

This gives the female vocalist a chance to walk around and check the sound levels and give me feedback on the sound level.

I may do a couple of instrumentals to warm up, and get the dancing started.

I then bring up the female singer for introductions and our theme song "Just the Two of Us" which is also the name of our duo.

Regards,

Jerryghr

Here is a quick recording of the opening song, before tearing down for tonight's gig.

https://app.box.com/s/37w3cjjbd14kmq32lsft

Regards,

Jerry