daniel robert chapman wrote:On the subject of openers, here is the 'Robert Palmer Version' of 'A Forest' by The Cure.

Robert Palmer used to start his sets with a cover of 'New Day Rising' by Husker Du. I can't really imagine that, it sort of blows my mind.

steve wrote:

Lemuel Gulliver wrote: Obviously, going so long that you cut into the headliner's time, I can see would be a problem. But what if the opening band is on a roll? What if they don't exactly cut into the headliner's play time, but only into that 30 minutes b/w sets? This is more of a question about the logic of the ettiquette rather than me just trying to be a dick to headliners.

Opening bands should think of themselves as guests. I always feel that way when my band opens for another band -- we are there as their guests, using their stage and audience like a houseguest uses the kitchen and bathroom. If you play longer than your alotted time, you are being a dick, just as a houseguest who makes himself too much at home and overstays his welcome is being a dick. Don't do it. If you get on a roll, then you will probably make some converts, who will come see your headlining show, where you can play as long as you like to an audience that is there to see you. Be done when you're supposed to be done. Set changeover times are decided on because that's how long it takes to change over. Don't impose on the other band(s) because you think you're really "bringing" it.

Absolutely.

And DON'T make the sound person hate on you because your last song is 20 minutes long. Totally not fair to the other bands. Some clubs have time limitations because they are in residential areas and will be fined if they make noise after a certain time.

It seems like 99% of the shows we play we're part of a 4 band bill where each band is given 40ish minutes. That always seems like a perfect set time for us (except when no one is there to see us).

We have yet to open for a headliner that people actually care about.

noise&light wrote:Absolutely.

And DON'T make the sound person hate on you because your last song is 20 minutes long. Totally not fair to the other bands. Some clubs have time limitations because they are in residential areas and will be fined if they make noise after a certain time.

The only time in my life I have been inches from getting in a fight was because of a band playing longer than they were supposed to. They were the second band of three. After telling them they had one song left the singer/guitar player/chief douchebag replied with "one more song, yeah right" and they proceeded to play three songs. At this point I was asked by my boss to shut down the sound. They kept playing. My boss then turned off the lights. They finally stopped but decided the microphones on stage had lived a full life and disposed of them. When I went to change over and try to resurrect any equipment I could the singer got in my face, called me all kinds of names and flexed. I just laughed at him and told him to get off the stage.

Playing over your time by accident is ok. Playing over with intention, unless you are the last band, is an absolute dick move.

In my opinion, 30 minutes is a perfect length of time.

Jon

Around these parts, its usually a 3-band bill. For that, when its feasible, I like to figure out set-times with the other bands on the bill based on the last band: the "what time should we stop playing" system. Basically start with when the bar/club/whatever wants the music to end (2, 2:30) and based on how long the closing band wants to play, figure out what time the 2nd band should finish up, and then the same for the opener. Adjust accordingly to what the crowd is doing, who they're there for, etc.

This system doesn't always work, but when all the bands on the bill are on the same page it works great.

steve wrote:

Lemuel Gulliver wrote: Obviously, going so long that you cut into the headliner's time, I can see would be a problem. But what if the opening band is on a roll? What if they don't exactly cut into the headliner's play time, but only into that 30 minutes b/w sets? This is more of a question about the logic of the ettiquette rather than me just trying to be a dick to headliners.

Opening bands should think of themselves as guests. I always feel that way when my band opens for another band -- we are there as their guests, using their stage and audience like a houseguest uses the kitchen and bathroom. If you play longer than your alotted time, you are being a dick, just as a houseguest who makes himself too much at home and overstays his welcome is being a dick. Don't do it. If you get on a roll, then you will probably make some converts, who will come see your headlining show, where you can play as long as you like to an audience that is there to see you. Be done when you're supposed to be done. Set changeover times are decided on because that's how long it takes to change over. Don't impose on the other band(s) because you think you're really "bringing" it.

On top of that, opening bands should be conscious of how long it takes them to set up, and adjust their set accordingly if they take too long (like, they have a million sequencers to pump through the PA, their amp takes a shit and they need to borrow one at the last minute, etc.). Because of these sort of unforseen circumstances, yes, setup times should be fucked with about as often as other bands' set times, which is never at all.

DrAwkward wrote:

steve wrote:

Lemuel Gulliver wrote: Obviously, going so long that you cut into the headliner's time, I can see would be a problem. But what if the opening band is on a roll? What if they don't exactly cut into the headliner's play time, but only into that 30 minutes b/w sets? This is more of a question about the logic of the ettiquette rather than me just trying to be a dick to headliners.

Opening bands should think of themselves as guests. I always feel that way when my band opens for another band -- we are there as their guests, using their stage and audience like a houseguest uses the kitchen and bathroom. If you play longer than your alotted time, you are being a dick, just as a houseguest who makes himself too much at home and overstays his welcome is being a dick. Don't do it. If you get on a roll, then you will probably make some converts, who will come see your headlining show, where you can play as long as you like to an audience that is there to see you. Be done when you're supposed to be done. Set changeover times are decided on because that's how long it takes to change over. Don't impose on the other band(s) because you think you're really "bringing" it.

On top of that, opening bands should be conscious of how long it takes them to set up, and adjust their set accordingly if they take too long (like, they have a million sequencers to pump through the PA, their amp takes a shit and they need to borrow one at the last minute, etc.). Because of these sort of unforseen circumstances, yes, setup times should be fucked with about as often as other bands' set times, which is never at all.

We usually end up only playing for 3 or 4 minutes by the time I get my drums set up.

What bugs me most is bands that don't know how to get all of their shit off of the stage before breaking it down.

I mean come on. This is the biggest contributing factor to set lag, in my opinion.

I prefer to be a part of the following scenario:

if we start at 9PM, and we know the next band is going to start at 9:45, then that to me means a 35 minute set, with a song or two that could be added or taken away dependent on if the set goes off fast & without a hitch, or a string gets broken/tech difficulties etc. respectively.

But most importantly, as soon as the house PA music starts, get everything off the stage in sharp relay-line fashion. Then you can take your cymbals off the stands.

Nothing chaps my hide more than someone who goes over their set allotment, and then stops and talks and drinks a beer while doing no pack up activities, and we're waiting to go on.

Mr. Chimp wrote:But most importantly, as soon as the house PA music starts, get everything off the stage in sharp relay-line fashion. Then you can take your cymbals off the stands.

Nothing chaps my hide more than someone who goes over their set allotment, and then stops and talks and drinks a beer while doing no pack up activities, and we're waiting to go on.

Yes.

This is another cardinal rule--get your shit offstage ASAP.

You can roll up your strap and wind your cords and polish your Les Paul when you have pushed your shit offstage.

tmidgett wrote:

Mr. Chimp wrote:But most importantly, as soon as the house PA music starts, get everything off the stage in sharp relay-line fashion. Then you can take your cymbals off the stands.

Nothing chaps my hide more than someone who goes over their set allotment, and then stops and talks and drinks a beer while doing no pack up activities, and we're waiting to go on.

Yes.

This is another cardinal rule--get your shit offstage ASAP.

You can roll up your strap and wind your cords and polish your Les Paul when you have pushed your shit offstage.

Thirded. Since we usually do the whole noise-out/feedback orgy thing at the end of our set, i usually start hauling my cymbal stands off stage while everyone else is still feeding back. Efficient, and looks kinda funny.