The Art of Crafting a Set List: The Behind-the-Scenes Process

Creating a set list for a live performance is a multifaceted and intricate task that involves a combination of artistic vision, business sense, and crowd engagement. Musicians and their teams spend considerable time strategizing and implementing a set list that will resonate with their audience and promote the overall performance.

Popularity: Meeting Fans’ Expectations

One of the primary considerations when constructing a set list is the popularity of the songs among the concert-going audience. Many concertgoers, especially those who are not avid fans, are primarily interested in hearing the band's or artist's well-known hits. This ensures that the audience is engaged and leaves satisfied with the experience. For example, when Pink Floyd's David Gilmour and Roger Waters perform, they typically play a majority of the band's classic hits along with a few promotion songs from their solo careers.

Album Promotion: Highlighting New Releases

Another factor is album promotion. If a band has recently released a new album, they are likely to include several songs from this project to generate buzz and drive sales. This not only helps in promoting their new work but also keeps the audience curious about what will be the next big hit from the band.

Familiarity: Mastering Song Repertoire

Familiarity plays a crucial role in concert planning. Musicians often tailor their set list based on the songs that have been fully rehearsed and perfected. Before embarking on a tour, they work with both primary band members and supporting musicians to ensure that they can deliver a cohesive and polished performance. This process ensures that the set list is consistent and meets the expectations of the audience.

Listenability: Adapting Studio Hits for Live Performances

Not all songs that sound perfect in the studio translate well in a live setting. Musicians must consider the listenability of each song, ensuring that the energy and performance elements are impressive enough to captivate the audience. This often involves reworking some tracks to fit the live performance dynamics, which can include changes to the tempo, arrangement, or instrumentation.

The Collaborative Process

The decision-making process behind a set list is often a collaborative one. The band members, especially the lead vocalist, usually have the final say in song selection due to their role as the primary performers and the center of public appeal. However, seniority and band dynamics can also influence the process. In some instances, a producer or manager may play a role in helping the band make decisions to enhance the performance.

It's important to note that different bands may have different structures. For example, the drummer typically has the least influence on the set list as they are more focused on rhythm and timing than song selection.

The Goal of a Great Set List

The ultimate goal of a well-crafted set list is to create an engaging and memorable performance that resonates with the audience. To achieve this, a number of factors are considered:

Genre: The mood and atmosphere of the performance are shaped by the genre. Electronic acts often prioritize setting the mood, where the order of songs may be less critical, while other genres may require strategic sequencing due to the lyrical content and the emotional context of the songs. Location: Different cities and venues have unique vibes that can influence the set list. Headlining acts often tailor their performance to match the energy of the city, while opening acts need to keep the audience engaged throughout their shorter sets. Some acts even bring guest artists to collaborate based on the location. Role: Whether a band is headlining or opening for another performer influences the set list. Headliners have more freedom to tell a story through their performance, while opening acts need to peak the audience's interest early on. Additionally, spot dates or gig performances versus tours often dictate the type of set list, with tours promoting new material and non-album or reunion tours focusing on hits from the band's entire catalog. Crowd Familiarity: It's generally not advisable to debut new songs during a live performance, as seasoned bands can gauge audience reaction through the performance.

Conclusion

Creating a set list is a complex process that requires careful consideration of multiple factors. By balancing popularity, album promotion, familiarity, and listenability, musicians and their teams can craft a set list that not only meets the needs of the audience but also showcases the band's talent and creativity.