Originally Posted By: JoanneCooper


Could I ask if you were playing at one of these types of venues and somebody asked for a song that is in your repertoire but that you haven't played in over two years what you would do?


This happened often in our shows. Especially when we were the house band in a club for two and a half years. Often several times a night.

Our response to the request was often dependent on a number of factors. There were times when we would look at the request, and then usually, say something like we'll get your requests in the next set or there were times where we'd drop that song into the set we were in right then and there. We also had no problems telling the person that we didn't know that particular song. If we were going to attempt it, we'd work it out in the dressing room.

If the song was old and we hadn't played it in a very long time, we'd discuss it backstage between sets, and if it seemed easy enough to pull off, we'd attempt it and let the chips fall where they may. Repeat a verse if we couldn't remember them all or cut it short. We didn't do that very often. The usual response to a song we weren't sure of was.... sorry, we don't know that song, how about if we do (song title) for you instead?

In fact, I can recall a number of times in one of the other bands I was in, getting a song request that I had never heard before..... but the drummer and bass player knew it from way back in former bands. The bass player would tell me what kind of groove.... start it like such and such a song, that we did know..... and then he would call out any "off normal" chords. I was extremely good at playing by ear and could anticipate chords easily. We'd pull that song off like pro's and at times we'd even add it to our regular set list.

Essentially, we'd do what we had to do in the circumstances. No rules, just get the job done and make the audience happy. Happy audiences come back to see you again.

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