Band as juke box scenario

[Deep Thought]

I'm sure we've all had this scenario-punter wants you to play his/her favourite song, despite the fact that you don't know it, and can't get their head around the concept that a band can't just play a song at will. I had it at our last gig, from the chap organising it, in all seriousness 'that chap over there thinks you have a good voice for Joy Division, any chance you could play some?'. Well I don't know about everyone else's band, but we certainly can't just bash out a song on demand with no rehearsal. I really like Joy Division, but I doubt, with the possible exception of 'Love will tear us apart', the other two have even heard anything by them. I had to explain that a band is not a juke box and cannot just pluck a song out of a hat. I still don't think he got it!

[discreet]

Arse.

[SpaceChick]

My band is actually called "Not a Jukebox"

Hope the punters get the hint

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1343328309' post='1749090']
My band is actually called "Not a Jukebox"

Hope the punters get the hint
[/quote]

Alternative name: Not A DJ

Bunch of idiots who have no idea that playing music requires learning and rehearsing songs, unlike playing a record, and should stick to the latter.

[JimBobTTD]

Being a band jukebox has always been a dream of mine. A book at the front of the stage with a list of all the available songs...request made...band plays track.

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='JimBobTTD' timestamp='1343328499' post='1749095']
Being a band jukebox has always been a dream of mine. A book at the front of the stage with a list of all the available songs...request made...band plays track.
[/quote]

You would still need to have that book with the list! But that's a fun idea, although it might encourage idiots to think that any band can play requests, even without a list to choose from...

[JimBobTTD]

Nah, because there would be the book of terms and conditions next to it. Problem solved!

[bartelby]

[quote name='JimBobTTD' timestamp='1343328499' post='1749095']
Being a band jukebox has always been a dream of mine. A book at the front of the stage with a list of all the available songs...request made...band plays track.
[/quote]

My dad played in a band in the 60s, they'd note down requests and learn them for the next week. Apparently one old guy kept requesting the same song every week, none of the band had even heard of it. They finally found a copy and learnt it. All chuffed they were ready to play it, half way through the set they notice the guy wasn't there.
They asked if anyone knew where he was, someone at the back of the pub told them he'd died the previous week. So my dad's band dedicated the song to him.

[Blademan_98]

Because we play mainly blues / rock venues, we can usually pull something out the bag

We will usually just play a twelve bar and get the words to fit............

Aparently, they still made records after 1979, but I don't believe it personally

[Cat Burrito]

Some punters say the funniest thing; The fact that your drunken friend / relative standing next to you plays a bit too doesn't mean I am going to hand over my pride and joy just to discover the true meaning of the phrase "a bit!"

[Cat Burrito]

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1343329577' post='1749126']Aparently, they still made records after 1979, but I don't believe it personally
[/quote]

I heard that too but assumed it was just a myth

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='Blademan_98' timestamp='1343329577' post='1749126']
Aparently, they still made records after 1979, but I don't believe it personally
[/quote]

Only heavy metal, and that ended in 1993.

[Blademan_98]

[quote name='bluejay' timestamp='1343329953' post='1749139']
Only heavy metal, and that ended in 1993.
[/quote]

If that has more than three chords and in a pattern other than I IV V, then it's just not music..............

coat on and on my way

[Silvia Bluejay]

[Donnyboy]

Been there done it etc. because our band have been together , on and off , for a long time, we kinda know stuff- sometimes individually more than together, and playing rough and ready pub gigs can be fun/challenging . We do sometims scramble something together on the spot , but as the singer says " we're not a f'in jukebox". We have given in and tried " Sex on Fire" , so that we can slip it in if needed.

[discreet]

[quote name='Donnyboy' timestamp='1343332815' post='1749212']
We have given in and tried " Sex on Fire", so that we can slip it in if needed.[/quote]

*Snort!*

[ras52]

I work with the drummer in this band... http://www.unclejackweb.co.uk/ who boast a repertoire of over 80 songs (including Sex on Fire).

[Judo Chop]

We had one drunk lady say to us:

"Do you know any Nicki Minaj?"

Singer: "No sorry we don't do requests."

"Oh, well do you know any Maroon 5?"

Christ knows what she thought he meant.

Edited July 26, 2012 by Jack Cahalane

[discreet]

A function band I was in drew their sets from a pool of 240 numbers. Luckily while I was with them I was only required to learn around sixty of them, and generally played around forty of them regularly. Initially I needed to learn thirty of them in two weeks, which was interesting.

[SpaceChick]

Ive needed to learn my setlist of 26 songs in a week!!! I have cheated.... Root notes for several, and working on 2-3 tracks a week to make them more interesting/authentic

[discreet]

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1343334540' post='1749252']
Ive needed to learn my setlist of 26 songs in a week!!! I have cheated.... Root notes for several, and working on 2-3 tracks a week to make them more interesting/authentic [/quote]

That's going some.

[skej21]

This was never a problem with my old function band as we were all good improvisers/buskers and could all read music, so of a request was made we'd promise it after the break, get it on the phone/Internet in the interval and agree a lead sheet and busk it in the second half. If we liked it, it got added to the 'new songs to learn properly in reheasals' list

Don't see what the big deal is with requests to be honest. If you're in a function band and play covers that people want, you can't JUST play covers that YOU think are right for the people paying you at the end of the night!

[Silvia Bluejay]

[quote name='skej21' timestamp='1343335231' post='1749264']
This was never a problem with my old function band as we were all good improvisers/buskers and could all read music, so of a request was made we'd promise it after the break, get it on the phone/Internet in the interval and agree a lead sheet and busk it in the second half. If we liked it, it got added to the 'new songs to learn properly in reheasals' list

Don't see what the big deal is with requests to be honest. If you're in a function band and play covers that people want, you can't JUST play covers that YOU think are right for the people paying you at the end of the night!
[/quote]

I see your point, and that's awesome (not everybody would be able to do that). Then again, you may "busk it" only to have the audience object and say (not always to your face) that it sounded nothing like the original or that the guitar solo was unrecognisable etc. I've spent many years in the audience, as opposed to on stage, so I know that that happens - a lot!

[debwilliams]

[quote name='SpaceChick' timestamp='1343334540' post='1749252']
Ive needed to learn my setlist of 26 songs in a week!!! I have cheated.... Root notes for several, and working on 2-3 tracks a week to make them more interesting/authentic
[/quote]

Jeez they're getting their money's worth out of you Debs! Well done for already being the most dedicated member of the band.

[martin8708]

No point in getting arsey if some drunk punter requests a song , even better if you can bang out a half decent rendition of the requested song . We were playing a real spit and sawdust pub when some drunken chap kept requesting " Comfortably Numb " . The singer / rythm guitarist knew the words /chords so we did the song on spur of the moment with the guitarist shouting out the chord changes as we went along , great fun had by all . The punter came up afterwards and thanked us profusely for our efforts as this was one of his wife's favourite songs and she had passed away a few weeks ago . The band got a round of drinks and we seemed to make this chaps night , I don't think the punters really expect everything to be note perfect anyway .