Guides
How to build a setlist for a live gig
StoryBand (storyband.app) is a web app for musicians and band managers. Organize live gigs, lineups and setlists, and keep records of fees and musician payouts.
Start with the performance slot and confirmed lineup. Choose suitable songs, check their keys and durations, arrange the order, then leave time for transitions and breaks. Save a version for the specific gig.
StoryBand product team ·
1. Separate the repertoire from the concert program
The repertoire is the pool of songs the band can perform. A setlist is the selection and order for one show or set. Keeping them separate avoids editing the whole catalog when a client asks for one change.
In StoryBand, store songs in the repertoire and assemble them into setlists or an event program. Song information includes the key, duration, tempo and performance notes.
2. Budget time for more than the songs
For a sample 45-minute set, ten songs averaging four minutes occupy 40 minutes. The remaining five minutes cover introductions and transitions. This arithmetic is a planning example; use your actual arrangements and rehearsal timings.
If the booking has several sets, confirm break lengths and the final finish time with the venue. Do not fill the entire booking duration with song timings and then add breaks on top.
3. Check what the musicians will need on stage
Review vocal range, tuning changes, instrument changes and transitions between songs. Put a demanding number where the band can perform it well, not just where it looks good on a list.
Use short performance notes for the count-in, ending or arrangement. Review changes with the confirmed lineup and make clear which program version everyone should use.
4. Prepare a readable copy and a fallback
StoryBand provides a print view for setlists and event programs. Use the browser print dialog to print it or save a PDF. Check the layout before sharing it with a musician, client or venue.
Keep a few reserve songs ready for an encore or a change in the room. Review the program after the show and keep useful changes for the next performance.
Common questions
Is a setlist the same as the song catalog?
No. The catalog stores the repertoire; the setlist selects and orders songs for a performance. A song can be reused in more than one program.
Will the calculated duration match the show exactly?
It depends on the durations you enter and the live arrangements. Allow for applause, introductions, transitions and breaks rather than treating song totals as a guaranteed finish time.