TMM #008 - Boost your productivity with this Setlist System

I wanna start closing out our setlist building series and moving on to some other musical ideas/tips soon, so let’s call this our last official week as we begin putting all the concepts together. 

I wonder if you’ve already been trying this Setlist System out or only reading through these newsletters and unsure of what to do first?

Well, the obvious answer is to start, but start small for whatever you’re doing OR hope to do! Try building out just one moment for your next service or gig. But, if you’re still not sure of what I’ve been teaching or how this could benefit you, then let me be a quick case study for you because…

I’ve been testing this Setlist Number System for the past year across various venues, audiences, gigs, & services and can honestly tell you that over the 40+ weeks in 2023 where I either played a live show or lead worship at a church, I’ve had 38 setlists out of the ~40 I built which served my audience incredibly well, were authentic, and helped to create beautiful moments wherever I played. If you’re into stats at all, that’s a 95% success rate… and the other 5% were still quite good!

What’s even better than these show-stopping moments & powerful times within services is that they were each built in less than 30-45 mins each time thanks to this system. 

Think of it this way: it would be like having to write a weekly 3-page paper for a class and knowing you had a secret outline that would guarantee you a grade of 95% (or higher). And rather than taking hours to write it and pull everything together, it would only take you about 30 minutes by simply plugging in a few elements once you knew which details you wanted to include. Plus, you could use this outline over and over and you’d never be in trouble for plagiarizing!

So, here’s what I’d try if I were starting to build moments into my setlist for the first time:

Step #1: Identify what the service/show is about

• Look for a theme/thread - This is a guaranteed, easy jump start for you. It’s an instant way to identify moment(s) to build into your set.

• No theme? No worries! Think about what moments might work and build these out with confidence.

• 💡 Some moments for you to consider:

  • Introduction Moment

  • Great Song Moment

  • Call to Action/Testimony Moment

  • and the list goes on and on…. 

Step #2: Understand who your audience is

• Know your audience? What moments + songs will best serve them?

• Don’t know your audience? Ask your pastor, host, concert promotor, or venue for details. Consider calling, emailing, or visiting the venue where you’ll be playing.

• 💡 Idea for you - Prep your audience by sending them audio or video of a chorus you want them to learn. They’ll be ready and feel connected to whatever moment you build around this!

Step #3: Be Brave!

• Practice - Set aside time to practice the moment(s). Go after it and help walk your band through your hopes & expectations. It’s a mindset shift from simply playing a setlist.

• Review - Take notes on what worked & what didn’t. I guarantee that if you do this with confidence, a lot more will succeed than fail. But, make sure to set aside 5-10 minutes afterwards to review so you can keep growing & improving!

• 💡 Trust the process - Change can be difficult and the impulse will be to question yourself & what you’ve created. Be brave and embrace these moments!

That’s it! 🙌 

Focus on these 3 steps as you build out your setlist of moments and I guarantee you’ll save yourself hundreds of hours with this system!

Thank you for being a part of this series. I’m excited to see how you apply these principles and create powerful, meaningful moments in your services and shows.

Stay tuned for more musical ideas and tips in the upcoming newsletters, and keep creating!

Dan

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