Minimum Surf Set Length ?

pineapple_geoff

Joined: Apr 24, 2006
Posts: 119
MV Mi Amigo

Posted on Feb 04 2023 09:06 PM

So........ I think I’m good at composing surf instro, having had the benefit of years of music lessons. And there are a few tunes, that I’ll finally record

But I was thinking the other day....... maybe I should perform them too?

So, what do we think a minimum length set should be ? 30 minutes ?

What do you guys play ?

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Samurai

Joined: Mar 14, 2006
Posts: 2258
Kiev, Ukraine
Ukraine

Posted on Feb 05 2023 05:01 AM

We usually played on multi band fests or parties, so here 40-50 minutes were ok. In surf terms it’s 10-12 tunes) I guess that’s a minimal program you should have.
For a full set in a club we needed 2+ hours, so we played everything we had plus added some covers.

—

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

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dirkkahuna

Joined: Dec 21, 2012
Posts: 77
Willow Street, PA
United States

Posted on Feb 05 2023 08:37 AM

I'm with 1st Wave Hodads and in our area (central PA) the rule of thumb is 1 or possibly 2 sets at approx. 40 to 45 minutes a set. With our 1st Wave covers that is usually 15 songs...

—

give me 3-fingers of 1st Wave SURF

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revmike

Joined: Feb 26, 2006
Posts: 3811
North Atlantic
Canada

Posted on Feb 05 2023 09:08 AM

It all depends on the venue/festival, how many bands are on the bill, etc. Our average is about 50 min, but have played as short as 15 min, and as long as 90 min.

Rev

—

Canadian Surf

http://www.urbansurfkings.com/

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Taifighter

Joined: Oct 31, 2018
Posts: 225
Indiana
United States

Posted on Feb 05 2023 09:41 AM

The Tentakills commonly get put on for 45 minutes, if it’s not a full night gig. 45 minutes makes sense, allows for quick changeover to happen in hour long slots throughout an evening with multiple bands.

We’ve constructed a few set lists to work in that timeframe, which is really the perfect amount of time to get some different feeling tunes out and not come across as repetitive.

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chiba

Joined: Sep 02, 2022
Posts: 519
Central VA
United States

Posted on Feb 05 2023 10:45 AM

Having a solid 30 minutes of music to play plus 3-4 extra songs to push a set to 45 minutes is smart IMO

—

--
Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available!

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fenderfan

Joined: Jul 13, 2008
Posts: 780
9 News Pins

Posted on Feb 05 2023 11:39 AM

For the Royal Aces here in Denver - our first set is one hour, then the subsequent sets are 45 minutes. Playing a long first set, when we're fresh, really helps (a lot of our gigs are three or four sets long).

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stratdancer

Joined: Dec 11, 2013
Posts: 2537
Akron, Ohio
United States

Posted on Feb 05 2023 12:29 PM

I hate playing sets but when we do it's 45 minutes per. We've pushed 2 hours straight!

—

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

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ArtS

Joined: May 09, 2008
Posts: 1365
Isle of Kent, MD
United States

Posted on Feb 05 2023 12:56 PM

Depending on venue and how many sets you have to play 40-50, which leaves you about 10 minutes to talk to audience between a couple of the songs.

—

Surfcat

MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus
Wake up Jimmy! It's Christmastime! (2024) - Agent Octopus (Single)

YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf

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da-ron

Joined: Jan 02, 2009
Posts: 1307
The original Plymouth, UK.
United Kingdom

Posted on Feb 05 2023 01:28 PM

About 15 songs should see you through about 45minutes, depending on how much you interact with the audience, tune up, battle with technical issues or change broken strings.

We typically play songs in batches of three and interact with the audience (if there is one) in between each batch.

—

http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/

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pineapple_geoff Joined: Apr 24, 2006 Posts: 119 MV Mi Amigo	Posted on Feb 04 2023 09:06 PM So........ I think I’m good at composing surf instro, having had the benefit of years of music lessons. And there are a few tunes, that I’ll finally record But I was thinking the other day....... maybe I should perform them too? So, what do we think a minimum length set should be ? 30 minutes ? What do you guys play ? Top
Samurai Joined: Mar 14, 2006 Posts: 2258 Kiev, Ukraine	Posted on Feb 05 2023 05:01 AM We usually played on multi band fests or parties, so here 40-50 minutes were ok. In surf terms it’s 10-12 tunes) I guess that’s a minimal program you should have. For a full set in a club we needed 2+ hours, so we played everything we had plus added some covers. — Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki Lost Diver https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin Top
dirkkahuna Joined: Dec 21, 2012 Posts: 77 Willow Street, PA	Posted on Feb 05 2023 08:37 AM I'm with 1st Wave Hodads and in our area (central PA) the rule of thumb is 1 or possibly 2 sets at approx. 40 to 45 minutes a set. With our 1st Wave covers that is usually 15 songs... — give me 3-fingers of 1st Wave SURF Top
revmike Joined: Feb 26, 2006 Posts: 3811 North Atlantic	Posted on Feb 05 2023 09:08 AM It all depends on the venue/festival, how many bands are on the bill, etc. Our average is about 50 min, but have played as short as 15 min, and as long as 90 min. Rev — Canadian Surf http://www.urbansurfkings.com/ Top
Taifighter Joined: Oct 31, 2018 Posts: 225 Indiana	Posted on Feb 05 2023 09:41 AM The Tentakills commonly get put on for 45 minutes, if it’s not a full night gig. 45 minutes makes sense, allows for quick changeover to happen in hour long slots throughout an evening with multiple bands. We’ve constructed a few set lists to work in that timeframe, which is really the perfect amount of time to get some different feeling tunes out and not come across as repetitive. Top
chiba Joined: Sep 02, 2022 Posts: 519 Central VA	Posted on Feb 05 2023 10:45 AM Having a solid 30 minutes of music to play plus 3-4 extra songs to push a set to 45 minutes is smart IMO — -- Project: MAYHEM by Hypersonic Secret now available! Top
fenderfan Joined: Jul 13, 2008 Posts: 780	Posted on Feb 05 2023 11:39 AM For the Royal Aces here in Denver - our first set is one hour, then the subsequent sets are 45 minutes. Playing a long first set, when we're fresh, really helps (a lot of our gigs are three or four sets long). Top
stratdancer Joined: Dec 11, 2013 Posts: 2537 Akron, Ohio	Posted on Feb 05 2023 12:29 PM I hate playing sets but when we do it's 45 minutes per. We've pushed 2 hours straight! — The Kahuna Kings https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447 https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases Top
ArtS Joined: May 09, 2008 Posts: 1365 Isle of Kent, MD	Posted on Feb 05 2023 12:56 PM Depending on venue and how many sets you have to play 40-50, which leaves you about 10 minutes to talk to audience between a couple of the songs. — Surfcat MARCH OF THE DEAD SURFERS! (2024) - Agent Octopus Wake up Jimmy! It's Christmastime! (2024) - Agent Octopus (Single) YOUTUBE - Agent Octopus Surf Top
da-ron Joined: Jan 02, 2009 Posts: 1307 The original Plymouth, UK.	Posted on Feb 05 2023 01:28 PM About 15 songs should see you through about 45minutes, depending on how much you interact with the audience, tune up, battle with technical issues or change broken strings. We typically play songs in batches of three and interact with the audience (if there is one) in between each batch. — http://thewaterboarders.bandcamp.com/ Top

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Minimum Surf Set Length ?