How to Make A Perfect Set List For Your Next Gig

Because we believe that any musician should know perfectly which are the best tips to be able to elaborate the perfect set list, we are going to explain below what we consider to be the keys to make a set list for a concert a real success.

You’ve probably heard the phrase, "there are no second chances for a first impression". Well, in the live music world this couldn't be more than true. It’s important to open your set with a song or introduction that will fully grab the attention of the audience to better help keep their interest for the rest of the night. 

If you have ever been to an amazing concert, you probably noticed how great musicians or bands start their shows with a song full of rhythm, energy, and one that everyone can sing along to. It's a resource that never fails and that will make the audience full of excitement and eager to keep listening throughout the show.

First impressions are everything and I can’t stress enough how important it is to make the first part of your show the best. It will set the tone for the rest of the show and spark the connection with your audience from the start.

Of course artists want to play their most popular songs during their concerts that they know their fans will love and sing along to — as they definitely should. However, you don't want your set to be too predictable or have the audience already expecting what you are going to play. 

It’s always a good idea to throw in a song or two that is unfamiliar to the music you normally play and give the crowd something unexpected from your norm. If you are a rock band, think about playing a cover song of a current chart-topping pop hit, but make it unique to your style of music. 

Music that is unfamiliar to your fans yet still relevant in the music scene will keep your audience on their toes and show your fans that you are versatile and willing to try new things. It sounds risky, but you will never know the reaction you’ll get until you try. This will ultimately make your show more fun, unique, creative, and could possibly be the inspiration for something even greater for your next performance. 

One thing that performing musicians don’t do often enough before a show is research about the town, venue, and demographic they are playing to. A little studying can go a long way when it comes to understanding your audience. There are plenty of music analytic sites and tools out there that can tell you exact details about your audience that will help you better formulate your perfect setlist. 

Information such as the average age of your crowd, most listened to genre in the city or state you're playing in, your most liked songs, and even the songs that are most likely to become a hit among your fans are all indications that the proper research will give you. 

At the end of the day, knowledge is power and with the advancements in technology today — all of the information and knowledge you could ever ask for can be found with a couple clicks on the internet. Use this to your advantage and create a customized set list according to your research you found about your audience.

This point is sort of a piggy back on the last one, but it’s important to reiterate the importance of understanding your fans in order to craft your setlist to them. Again, doing your research is extremely helpful but in addition to this, you can also ask your fans on social media what they would like to hear and see during your set. 

You can do a poll on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to take votes to see what is the main song your fans are urging to hear during the concert. This will not only be beneficial during the actual show itself, but it will show your audience that you are actually listening to their opinions and are engaged in what their thoughts are. 

This can also be a great marketing tool because surprisingly enough, some people only attend concerts to hear one specific song. If fans already have an indication on the song lists you will be playing, they may be more inclined to buy tickets and attend.

If you have a truly hardcore fanbase, chances are they are going to know every song you play at all of your shows. Instead of playing a show that is filled with music that they already know and love, try throwing in some unreleased music to give them a taste for something different. 

This can be a good way to experiment with your new songs and see how the crowd reacts to them before they are even released. You may find that a song you were thinking of dropping doesn’t have the crowd reaction you hoped for. Or vice versa — you may find that your track that you never considered releasing as a single is a hit among the crowd. 

Fans thrive off hearing new music from the artists they love, especially when it’s performed live in an intimate setting. This will leave the crowd talking about your music after the show and hyping up your new releases before they’ve even been announced. 

In short, the best thing you can do after carefully reading our advice is to get together with your team and your musicians and plan an effective set list, full of stylistic twists (within your means) and ensuring that the emotion is present until the last note you play. Don't forget!