Re Style choice to Song choice

[Mike Brotherton]

A subject I always return to and read through the posts looking if there are any new comments to a subject of interest to me.  I have previously posted that I do not generally perform in public but occasionally play for friends or family and my concern is what gig list do I compile?  Or, my process of selection.  I have through my 6 Busker Books, Easy play books and sheet music downloaded off the internet at least a 1.000 to choose from.  The sheet music purchases are I have heard a song, thought, I like that, down loaded it.  The Busker Books is random.  I select a different book each day, open it at any page, start playing, if I like it give it a tick for more practice especially if my wife say that's nice play it again.  As I said previously, I have a lot of music with some ticks on them.
That's a lot of sorting.  To assist I have set up a spread sheet contains all my music with headings, song name book sheet ref, genre, but the essential heading, what I consider is its position in the gig list. How should I make my selection?   I attend a monthly keyboard club performance with top keyboard performers playing so get plenty ideas.  Most do sessions of  9 songs (9 x 3mins) then a break.  No 1 is always a resounding opener usually from a show or march. No 9 a song that impresses the audience of their skill.  No 2 a song that calms one down from the opener. No 3 a song that demonstrates what their instrument can do. No 4 a foot tapper or a sing along. No 5 a Latin No. No 6 a 60's song.  No 7 a request. Finally No 8, a selection from the shows.
The Question is How would you or how do you select your 9 or is it 10 or 8?

[J. Larry]

I guess there's no right or wrong way to develop a play list, unless it's a specific kind of party----Christmas, Valentine's, Mardi Gras, etc...  First, I encourage requests at retirement homes, where I play.  It's amazing what you get.  If I don't know it, I'll learn it for the next time there.  Otherwise, a single program consists of about 20 songs.  I approach it via broad categories----songs by decades, major hits, a little country, pop/rock, jazz/big band, gospel/inspirational, and patriotic.  Now, to learn recent requests---If I'd Known You Were Coming I'd A Baked A Cake, How Much Is That Doggie In The Window, and Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor On The Bed Post Over Night.  Yes, that's correct.  Real song requests. 

[DrakeM]

Well, this is the way I have been doing all my gigs for 50+ years and no one has ever complained yet.

First a one hour gig is 16 songs.
Take a 15 minute break and the second set is 45 minutes and 12 songs.

Every song I create a custom style for I put in one of the 4 categories. I rotate from style type 1, 2, 3 and then 4 and repeat the pattern. So for a one hour gig I will be playing (4) #1 type songs, (4) #2 type songs, (4) #3 type songs, (4) #4 type songs.

The 4 different song categories I rotate through are:

1.)   2-4 Country Hoedown Beat, such as Folsom Prison, Workin' Man Blues, Wagon Wheel, The Closer You Get, Gentle On My Mind, On the Road Again, Sold

2.)    A song the doesn't fit in the other 3 categories, such as Neon Moon, The Wonder of You, Good Direction, People Are Crazy, Why Don't We Just Dance, 15 Minutes.

3.)   A slow belly rubbin' song, such as Funny How Time Slips Away, My Eyes, Help Me Make It Through the Night, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, Feels So Right

4.)   High energy/ Rockabilly such as Drivin' My Live Away, Dance the Night Away, This Ole Boy, What Was I Thinkin', Down on the Farm, Achy Breaky Heart.

You don't want to put people to Sleep with a bunch of Slow songs. 

Regards
Drake

[Mike Brotherton]

I like your reply particularly your notation for categories with an explanation.  I missed out on the Country and Western.  Not intentional, your Gigs are obviously Country and Western based with an audience that has specifically come to hear you play that style of  lmusic.  I am an only an amateur and probably only play at 4 events throughout a year.  Your grading of your songs with a style is the knowledge I am seeking.  I will search and play these   Am  familiar with Folsom Prison, Gentle on my mind, On the Road again.  With your category 2  I recognise only the Wonder of you.  Love the slow belly rubbing songs description and recognise all of them which I do play.  Category 4 only Achy Breaky Heart is played  My general list is
Exerts from Hello Dolly (Show. Stopper)
Honeysuckle Rose (Gypsy Jazz)
Just Remember This (Lounge Piano)
Stranger On The Shore ( Acker Bilk)
What's New Peggy Lee
Repeat What's New Herb Alpert
Irvin Berlin Melodies
(Tap Dance Fred Astaire)
A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square