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Extend Your Set List: What to do for 90 Minutes

I get this a lot: “Your Graph is great for a 45-60 minute set list… but we play 90 minute shows.” And I hear this question to accompany it, “should we just repeat the Graph?”

The short answer is no. But I want you to understand a little more about the reasoning behind it all.

For those of you who have studied my Graph (set list), you should understand by now the reason for the order of the “moments.” For instance, Moment #3 (or song #4) needs to be different – because by that time in your show, your audience thinks they have you figured out. To keep them engaged, you want something different… it’s your “plot twist,” so to speak.

The Touching Moment follows the Big Fun Moment because it’s the best time to bring a message to your audience – they’re relaxed, all barriers are down, and you can speak to them about something that touches your heart.

Every “moment” I use in the Graph comes at the time it comes for a specific purpose. So when you extend your set, it isn’t simply a matter of repeating a series of Moments like a factory conveyor belt. These are my suggestions for how to approach the longer set:

1) Make sure you aren’t playing 90-minute sets just because you love being onstage.

I recommend artists master the 1-hour show before they try to master the 90-minute show. After all, in order to be a success, you need to create great word-of-mouth at your live shows. … Read More, Watch, Comment – Backstage Pass Required