Mandatory Wedding Set List

jps · Post by **jps** » Wed Mar 10, 2004 3:54 pm

Dear Band Leader:

We look forward to your performance at our daughter's wedding. If
you don't mind, we would like to request a few of our favorite
songs. Please play these during the reception:

A Keith Jarrett composition from his solo series. Please arrange it
for full ensemble in the key of B but nothing in 4/4 please.

Mahavishnu Orchestra, "Dance of the Maya" and please have the
guitarist play John McLaughlin's solo from the live performance Nov.
16, 1972 at Chrysler Arena. My wife and I were at that show and we
liked his use of polyrhythms.

One of John Coltrane's duets with Pharaoh Sanders. Our guests love
high register tenor saxes.

We thought a little Stravinsky right after the toast would be nice.
So please play "The Rite of Spring." We like a tempo of about 1/4
note = 93 and transpose it down 3 half-steps - it will be so much more
appropriate for this occasion in the slightly lower register.

Then for the candle lighting ceremony, please play Frank Zappa's
"The Grand Wazoo." The original key of B flat, would be fine but my
cousin Jeannie would like to sing the baritone sax solo in the key
of D - she has kind of a high voice.

When my new son-in-law takes off the garter, please just a little of
Varese's "Ionization." It's such a funny piece, we think it would go
over real well. Much better than "The Stripper."

And for the bride & groom's first dance, please slow things down a
bit by doing Barber's "Adagio For Strings." It's so much better than
"We've Only Just Begun" or the "Anniversary Waltz."

When my wife and I join in the first dance, could you segue to
Thelonius Monk's "Ruby, My Dear" - it's in honor of my wife's
grandmother whose name was Ruby. It would mean so much to the
family.

Thanks for all your help. Depending on the outcome we'll certainly
be happy to recommend your band to our friends.

We'll have your check for the fee of $250 (minus our expenses in
contacting you of $12.50) by the end of next month: we're a little
short as the young lady doing the balloon arch wanted her $1,850 in
advance and the DJ had to be paid up front his $2,500 as normal. Our
daughter assured us that your love of music was greater than your
need for money, and that you would welcome the exposure you would
get from playing this wedding.

Before you leave, please feel free to ask the caterer for a snack
sandwich and a soda (the bottles are returnable or you can pay the
deposit to the butler). Please use the back entrance to avoid
disturbing the guests."

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:04 am

Wow, a once in a lifetime opportunity. How does a person get so lucky to find a gig like that?

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:25 am

Dance of the Maya is one of my favorite tunes. Does any one know the time signature of that one?

basshawk · Post by **basshawk** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:31 am

It would be my guess that the author of the above letter would know the answer to that question.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:42 am

You forgot to add ... that macaranna song, proud mary, play that funky music white boy, a few selections by John Cougar, wonderful tonight, and some kind of wonderful, a few 70's disco songs, and then some prince and madonna ...

it's enough to make me smash a bass or two ...

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 5:43 am

and then some old lady will come to the stage and tell you haw bad your band is because you play too loud ....

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 7:19 am

...which is one of many reasons in my entire life I've only done two cover song gigs.

sneakers · Post by **sneakers** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:04 am

Geeez I would have paid THEM to play at their wedding. All those opportunities to play all those great songs! $237.50. Where I am, they could get a DJ to play for one hour.

rob · Post by **rob** » Thu Mar 11, 2004 8:34 am

Jps-

Is that for real?

Tell me it's a joke.
I'm LMAO!!!

How did Frank Zappa get in that set list?

rictified · Post by **rictified** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 8:30 am

Oh yeah we'll play that for you sir, 5th set.

Too loud? what? huh??!! I can't hear you the band is too loud!!

You want us to play "Can I have this dance for the rest of my life" for twenty minutes for the dollar dance? Sir, it will sound like we are playing it for the rest of our lives.

You want to hear what? Mam, do you realize that we are in the middle of a song?

Color my world? sorry sir, never heard of it.

Who? What's his name? Billy Ray Virus?

Time for the garter? I didn't know they made them in that size sir, OK you lucky guy, up one leg and down the other.

The Hoochie Koochie, ummmm, I think we used to know that one, what? oh sorry sir, the drummer doesn't remember it. Next time sir, no seriously. No no we really mean it.

shamustwin · Post by **shamustwin** » Fri Mar 12, 2004 11:54 am

One of the cover gigs we've done was for an office party (at a nice house) for our bassist's work. Two sets, 300 bucks and food and drinks. First set was all Beatles, second was all '60's (maybe a '50's and '70's song or two) because that's what we told them we knew. The only request, which was given weeks in advance was for Wooly Bully, which was sung by about 20 drunk partygoers around one mic. That made us heroes. The only other one I remember was in the late '70's and all I recall playing was Miss You, a couple Cars' tunes and Heroes by Bowie. Otherwise it's been no pay or small door receipts. But hey, my brother doesn't get paid for playing golf either, and he spends a fortune on clubs and green fees. I've never paid to play (which is rampant out here in L.A.).