When you play live, how often do you play music you seriously love VS music just for the gig?

[Neil Folkard]

I've been lucky, in a sense, as since I have only played in original bands, I like all the music that I play, or I wouldn't be in the band.

One thing that I have noticed though, is that the music that I play in bands is not all music that I would normally listen to, for personal enjoyment. But I've found that playing the original music of others helps me get inside the tunes and understand what it is they enjoy about that music.

 

[mongo2]

Previously I've usually liked a lot of the tunes the bands I was in played but there are some songs I hope I never have to play again.

Currently, in the twilight of our musical "carriers" my duo partner and I decided to play only what we like.

 

[Marko 1]

At home I'll listen to what I personally enjoy.

Playing out, if there's a song I personally dislike but the audience shows enthusiasm, I LOVE to play that song.

A song I love that doesn't work with the audience, it's like torture getting through it.

I guess my mentality is different from some.

 

[HelpImaRock]

I play original music. We do what we do. But that's not everything I listen to or enjoy. Every band is different in that regard.

 

[mrcbass]

At home I'll listen to what I personally enjoy.

Playing out, if there's a song I personally dislike but the audience shows enthusiasm, I LOVE to play that song.

A song I love that doesn't work with the audience, it's like torture getting through it.

I guess my mentality is different from some.

Well I can say that we're on the same page. If the crowd is up, any song is fun. If not, some are pure torture.

To answer OP, I'd say that I enjoy playing about 30% of what's in my current rotation. I enjoy the genres I cover, but most of the songs I get to deal with really never need to be played by a musician ever again. But the crowd likes 'em so I soldier on.

 

[Polfuste]

As a non professional, i've the chance to play in two bands which i love the music. First is a contemporary jazz 4tet, arranged cover and few originals, with folks on the same level and goals. Second one is an afro-ska band, all originals and very energetic music. Two worlds in which i'm always growing musically.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I'm more interested in the level of musicianship of the other players. That is what has to inspire me.

 

[WI Short Scaler]

Our cover band has a pretty good mix of music I really like and some that maybe I don't like as much, but nothing I really dislike.

 

[StyleOverShow]

The audience’s tastes are not mine. I strive for flawless execution and enjoy the company of my fellow players. Everyone seems to enjoy it!

 

[Five or Six]

I don't dislike anything we play but, I'm sure burned out on some of it. Some too old request pop up frequently. We still smile and play them. It's not about us, it's about the people we play for.

 

[primusfan1989]

Id say about 90-95% is music I genuinely enjoy playing, whether its covers or originals from some of the fine musicians I have the pleasure of working with.

 

[LuckyScott]

I always say you should play the music the crowd wants to hear, not what you want to hear.

 

[JRA]

i love/hate each song on our tune list equally.

seriously, i don't dislike any of the tunes on our setlist, but some tunes aren't as fresh to me as others, and newer stuff generally seems more challenging (exciting?). but at the gig, if the audience is swooning, i'm likely to go-with-the-flow and swoon right along with 'em, no matter the tune.....

i like 'em all!

 

[themickster]

I've been lucky, in a sense, as since I have only played in original bands, I like all the music that I play, or I wouldn't be in the band.

One thing that I have noticed though, is that the music that I play in bands is not all music that I would normally listen to, for personal enjoyment. But I've found that playing the original music of others helps me get inside the tunes and understand what it is they enjoy about that music.

Both of my bands do all their own songs. I'll do covers at jam nights, for the sake of playing.

 

[Neil Folkard]

I always say you should play the music the crowd wants to hear, not what you want to hear.

Well, since I'm in original bands, I'll have to hope that they want to hear our stuff, haha.

Seriously, I get what you are saying, but the other scenario is this: I have drummer friend, and one of his cover bands plays stuff like Saga, Max Webster, Rush, April Wine...that is what the band is based around. If the crowd wants to hear Brown Eyed Girl or Sweet Child of Mine, they are at the wrong gig.

 

[JazznFunk]

As a sideman, I have always played in bands or with individual artists who do primarily original music. Of course there's a cover or 2 here or there, but the bulk of the material has been original, over my entire 'career' thus far. I've never played in a working cover band and don't have an interest in doing so. While I may not like every single song that we did in those bands, I still liked the fact that we succeeded or failed based on our own merits and creations. The scene here is (or used to be) very kind to original music, and I was able to make enough money 10-15 years ago to only have to work a part time day gig or 2 to make ends meet. I considered that a pretty good balance to get to play 90% original music all the time. It's changed a bit since then. 'Tribute shows' and tribute bands have come to dominate the scene, where originals gigs used to be more plentiful. As such, I don't gig as much anymore outside of my own projects.

Since my main project for the past 10 years has been my original jazz trio - where all 3 of us write originals - every gig that I do play is a gig where I am playing music I (we) love! Even on the rare occasion where we play a private event and lean more on standards, they're standards we like, and we still throw in an original here and there.... and get paid what we're actually worth on those gigs! That being said, I gave up playing full time as my semi-main income producer about 12 years ago, and am fine with that. I don't care about passing up a gig where I'd be playing music I'm not interested in, since the day gig pays the bills.

 

[RGerhart]

The majority of gigs I have are covers, and I usually only like about 20 - 30% of the tunes. About 50 - 60% are tolerable, and maybe 10% I genuinely dislike (there's only so many times I can stand to play "Wagon Wheel" and "Take me home country roads").

The enjoyment I find in the music is the interaction with the other players, not necessarily the material. When the interaction, material, and audience participation actually line up? Now that's magic.

 

[Crash 56]

I like almost everything my variety band plays, except the ones that make me think" I played this better in the 80's".....

 

[juancaminos]

I'd say that about a third of our set list I really like to play. The rest are what the BL considers "great songs".

 

[WG Plum]

I only play what I'm personally into. The few jobber/fill-in gigs I've played made it clear to me that unless I'm really into it, I really don't enjoy it, and my performance suffers accordingly. I'm an enthusiast, not a gigging pro. A man's got to know his limitations.