I use what you just got rid of, a laptop.

I don't do set-lists but watch the audience as one song is playing, and use my experience and intuition to call the next song.

In Windows File Explorer I have them set as "list" and in alphabetical order. So I can:

  1. Type the first couple of letters of a song, hit "enter" and it starts playing in Media player
  2. As the song is playing, hit "Alt" + "Tab" and the computer's focus goes back to File Explorer
  3. Right before the song currently playing is ended, I've noticed if the dancers need another fast one, or a slow one, or anything else, type the first couple of letters of the song I want to play next and when the currently playing song is done, I hit "enter" and the next one immediately starts

Then it's back to step one.

I used to do set lists when I started, but I realized I wasn't clairvoyant enough to be able to predict what the audience was going to need in advance. So I started calling the songs on the fly.

If we're playing a fast one, and their energy level is high, I'll immediately go to another fast one at the same tempo or faster after the one playing. Immediate is necessary because 5 seconds would be enough for many to head back to their tables and once they start, it's hard to get them back.

On the other hand if they look like they are getting tired I'll call a slow one, or depending on the gig and what I've observed about the crowd so far, perhaps a ballroom dance, a line dance, a Latin American song, a request that may have come in earlier that would have disturbed the flow if I played it immediately, or whatever I think the audience needs.

I play the audience with my song selections. I want them to have the best time they can by calling what they want/need before they even know that they want/need it. I'm the pro, I'm supposed to know these things, they are just supposed to have a good time, and that's what I am there to help them do.

Insights and incites by Notes

PS I play for a variety of different audiences. At the beginning of the night, before the first song I look at the audience to see: How old are they? How do they wear their hair? What fashion of clothes are they wearing? What kind of shoes do they have on? What kind of bling? Are they still visiting with each other? Is dinner about to be served? And so on. That helps be call the first song of the evening.


Last edited by Notes Norton; 01/30/21 04:46 AM.
Bob "Notes" Norton smile Norton Music
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