Doing All-Nighters with No Break?

[jive1]

So my band is throwing around the idea of doing our bar gigs without breaks. We find that we get people pumping, and then next thing you know, we take a break and the energy level of the place drops and it might takes a songs or 2 to get the energy back up after the break. But, where we're most concerned is that during our last break before our last set, a good amount of people take it as a cue for them to leave.

So what we're considering is doing our bar gigs with no breaks. But, we will have individual members in the band take a break for 10-15 minutes. We'll have a couple of songs with just the singer and keyboard player or guitarist to give the rhythm section a break. I'll sing a few songs to give the singer a break. We'll do some power trio stuff to give the keyboard player a break.

Anybody tried anything like this? If so, how did it go over with the audience? Any issues for the band?

 

[Stumbo]

Oh, man, I thought you were posting about my old girlfriend!

 

[charlie monroe]

Seems like there was a thread like this just a week or two ago.

You're a mod, so you will likely find it more easily than I.

If memory serves, most of our members were against.

 

[RobTheRiot]

My band has done that a number of times; never planned in advance, but the crowd is so into it we don’t want to let the energy drop, like you said (or stop having fun, either!). Inevitably, at some point in a 3, 4 or 5 hour set someone has to use restroom or rehydrate, so usually our Singer/guitarist will do a song or 2 solo, then the rest of band will do a song or 2 from the songs that one of us sing. It has generally gone over great - crowd obviously has a blast, and venues have been Happy their crowd is happy.

Only advice is this: once we realized we like doing this and are capable of playing straight thru, we started checking w/ the venues to get their opinions on it. Some are thrilled, some don’t care, but some feel that the breaks give the crowd a chance to go to the bar and get drinks (which if we’re honest, in 95% of venues (if not more), that is our job, not entertainment per se, but to sell drinks). The latter venues tend to be adamant that we stick to their schedule, 45 on 15 off or whatever. That’s fine too, they’re the bosses - I’m not going to argue not to take a break.
But, i love it; when you can get a crowd up and keep them going for hours on end, it just feels great at end of the night!!

So, TL;DR - I say go for it, just get the blessing of the bosses first!

 

[jive1]

Seems like there was a thread like this just a week or two ago.

You're a mod, so you will likely find it more easily than I.

If memory serves, most of our members were against.

I thought so, but when I did a search, I didn't find anything specific.

 

[lz4005]

Seems like there was a thread like this just a week or two ago.
You're a mod, so you will likely find it more easily than I.
If memory serves, most of our members were against.

That one was a little different.
If I recall correctly that thread was looking for all super high energy songs with no bass so they could do the same thing with zero down tempo anything in a 3 hour gig.
Which is pretty silly.

Anybody tried anything like this? If so, how did it go over with the audience? Any issues for the band?

As for the concept in general, it works for dance music. It doesn't work if it's a 'standing there and listening crowd' or in a restaurant gig.
Listening crowds want a break to go smoke and buy more drinks. Restaurants want to encourage turns.
In the right venue, it works just fine.

 

[jive1]

....but some feel that the breaks give the crowd a chance to go to the bar and get drinks......

Sounds like a great reason for doing a 9 minute bass solo.

 

[Element Zero]

The country band I fill in for does 22 songs, 15 minute break, and then 22-25 songs. It’s a good way to not lose the crowd.

 

[Paulabass]

We used to play 9-1 with one half hour break. It was met with mixed reactions.

 

[buldog5151bass]

1. Many venues want bands to take breaks so that the patrons can buy drinks and food.
2. You are getting paid for the 3-4 hours music you provide. If you don't take a break, you will be playing more music for the same amount of money. Is that what you want to do?
3. I like taking a break so the band can discuss how things are going.

 

[Stumbo]

TL;DR - I say go for it, just get the blessing of the bosses first

My band has done that a number of times; never planned in advance, but the crowd is so into it we don’t want to let the energy drop, like you said (or stop having fun, either!). Inevitably, at some point in a 3, 4 or 5 hour set someone has to use restroom or rehydrate, so usually our Singer/guitarist will do a song or 2 solo, then the rest of band will do a song or 2 from the songs that one of us sing. It has generally gone over great - crowd obviously has a blast, and venues have been Happy their crowd is happy.

Only advice is this: once we realized we like doing this and are capable of playing straight thru, we started checking w/ the venues to get their opinions on it. Some are thrilled, some don’t care, but some feel that the breaks give the crowd a chance to go to the bar and get drinks (which if we’re honest, in 95% of venues (if not more), that is our job, not entertainment per se, but to sell drinks). The latter venues tend to be adamant that we stick to their schedule, 45 on 15 off or whatever. That’s fine too, they’re the bosses - I’m not going to argue not to take a break.
But, i love it; when you can get a crowd up and keep them going for hours on end, it just feels great at end of the night!!

So, TL;DR - I say go for it, just get the blessing of the bosses first!

To all TBrs, please put the TL; DR at the top of your post.
Thanks!

 

[sean_on_bass]

i actually think the break is a good thing, i know i need it. But our band has done something similar by having our piano player do solo piano pieces during a portion of the break. In this case he played 3 or 4 ragtime tunes. People seemed to like it.

We have also cut down from three sets to two longer sets, minimizing the amount of breaks. We used to have a set 3 break exodus so this moved the break up to an earlier time in the evening.

 

[Paulabass]

1. Many venues want bands to take breaks so that the patrons can buy drinks and food.
2. You are getting paid for the 3-4 hours music you provide. If you don't take a break, you will be playing more music for the same amount of money. Is that what you want to do?
3. I like taking a break so the band can discuss how things are going.

I get paid for the evening, not by number of songs, or length of sets.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I get paid for the evening, not by number of songs, or length of sets.

Around here at least, we get hired either for a 3 or 4 hour night of music. Some specify the amount of breaks, some don't - the general rule is 15 minutes max per hour. But if OP does this, he will be doing more work for the same money.

 

[eriky4003]

Your setting the bar too high! Pretty soon all bands will need to be marathoners. Don't do it!;-)
Actually, the only concern I'd have is burning out voices (or the drummer). With four or five vocalists I could see how this could work.

 

[LBS-bass]

A band I was in during the mid '80s did something similar but not exactly this. We played two sets. Our first set was at least two hours long and our second set was short. If someone had to pee they'd let the BL know and someone would do a solo number or a novelty song while that member left the stage. It was a very effective strategy to hold the audience through the bulk of the evening and there was very occasional grumping by band members, but no one really ever complained because that band was making money hand over fist and playing the best clubs.

We expected most of the crowd to leave after the first two hours, but the club owners were always happy that we'd held them for as long as possible.

 

[filmtex]

So my band is throwing around the idea of doing our bar gigs without breaks. We find that we get people pumping, and then next thing you know, we take a break and the energy level of the place drops and it might takes a songs or 2 to get the energy back up after the break. But, where we're most concerned is that during our last break before our last set, a good amount of people take it as a cue for them to leave.

So what we're considering is doing our bar gigs with no breaks. But, we will have individual members in the band take a break for 10-15 minutes. We'll have a couple of songs with just the singer and keyboard player or guitarist to give the rhythm section a break. I'll sing a few songs to give the singer a break. We'll do some power trio stuff to give the keyboard player a break.

Anybody tried anything like this? If so, how did it go over with the audience? Any issues for the band?

I think this is a great idea. We've been discussing it ourselves.

 

[Stumbo]

How about no break between the last two sets?

Last thumpin' and bumpin' live band I heard played dance music through their great sounding PA during their breaks.

No one danced.

We all needed drinks, potty time and the singles needed time to mingle and get their jingle on.

Did I say the PA sounded great? Thinking back, it actually sounded better than the band mix.

I think the sound guy was half deaf because the mix overpowered the PA. It was at least twice as loud as it needed to be.

Later in the night I saw the sound guy following asleep at one of the rear tables. 110db didn't bother him.

 

[Stumbo]

A band I was in during the mid '80s did something similar but not exactly this. We played two sets. Our first set was at least two hours long and our second set was short. If someone had to pee they'd let the BL know and someone would do a solo number or a novelty song while that member left the stage. It was a very effective strategy to hold the audience through the bulk of the evening and there was very occasional grumping by band members, but no one really ever complained because that band was making money hand over fist and playing the best clubs.

We expected most of the crowd to leave after the first two hours, but the club owners were always happy that we'd held them for as long as possible.

So, knowing your set was going to be two hours, seems like your band mates were either drinking during the gig, had weak bladders, wanted to take a toke or smoke break or had some honey waiting off stage.

 

[Gringo Basso]

Without the break, when do you have time to talk up the girls? If you wait until 2pm, you're going home alone or going coyote. And that's why 90% or more guys and even gals play music, all BS aside.