Disc-Covered
Best-selling award winning original artists rely on millions of musicians across the globe covering their music. You are a key part of their long term sustainable business plan. Without you, an entire section of the Hospitality Industry is wiped out.
The selection of the right songs to cover is critical in the success and book ability of your act.
The curation of your Cover Song Sets is not as easy as it sounds. There are several factors to consider when creating the repertoire that will provide the soundtrack for your fans and patrons who happen to be in that bar when you are performing on stage.
First place to start is the gig itself. Is it a private party, a corporate function, a wedding, a club, bar or pub? Each one will have their expectations and their limitations.
Next, who will be at this gig? How old are they? What kind of music do they like? Why are they at this gig? What will set them on fire? What will get them on the dance floor? What will send them up to the bar? What will keep them coming to your gigs wherever you perform?
A well-known blues musician named Johnny Long commented that “ I would rather hear somebody play a worn-out standard, since that is the only way I can tell if they are good musicians. Anybody can play their own music, but a good musician can play the stale and trite songs and make them exciting again."
Remember this when someone requests Sweet Caroline, Khe Sanh and any song by Oasis.
Next up, you really need a decent mix of genres – Rock, Pop, Country, RnB, Party and anything that will move patrons singing along and onto the dance floor.
How do you identify the right bangers? Do your research. You can google anything; You Tube features thousands of mix channels. Check out other bands similar to your demographic and genre and watch what songs work and which ones don’t. Know what is popular. Know the trends and the current cycle. Remember that your show is not about you. It’s about what the audience want to hear. After all, they have left the comfort of their home, to go out to a bar to hear their soundtrack. Your job is to play it.
Consider the tempo of each song. You control the vibe of the room with the tempo. Put songs together with similar BPMs (beats per minute). Keep dead air to a minimum. Bring the tempo down to send people to the bar. Create segues to keep the crowd engaged and interactive.
Assess the danceability of your set lists. Can patrons groove, go crazy, slow dance? Build the night. Create the experience.
Once you get the songs together, can your lead vocalist cut it? Can the rest of the band support them with the correct backing vocals? The vocals are the part of the song that people identify with most as they sing along. If you cannot represent the song vocally, don’t even think about it. There is nothing worse than a great song being butchered vocally. Also consider killer fillers for when the vocalist is not 100% on any given night. Cater for this in your set choices.
Does the music bed cut it? Can the guitarist replicate the lead? Can you cover for a non-existent keyboard or horn party with additional guitars or clever arrangements?
Once you have settled on what you think is a workable repertoire, give it the pub test. Make sure you read the room. It’s not about what you think. Are they dancing? Anyone singing along? Are they staying? The patrons will tell you quick smart if your repertoire selection is not working.
So listen. Ask questions. And be open.
Your repertoire is a work in progress after all. 😊
Written by Nichola Burton. I work in partnership with Agents, Artist Managers and Event Producers, who juggle a diverse range of relationships in the Musoverse, to curate, manage and measure data in systems, experience, creative and content to support the entire Musoverse operation in my enterprise A Little Pitchy Copyright 2024
