5 setlist problems every musician knows

Whether you perform solo as a singer or play in a five-piece band — setlists are a source of frustration. Here are five problems nearly every musician recognises.

1. The paper setlist that disappears

Beer. Wind. Left at home on the kitchen table. The classic A4 setlist is reliable until the moment you need it. And then it’s gone.

The fix: your set lives digitally on your device. Open your browser, there’s your setlist. Always. Rally stores everything locally — even without internet your set is right there.

2. “Aren’t we doing Sweet Caroline first?”

The eternal debate about the running order. The band group chat has three different versions. The singer has it different from the guitarist. And on stage it turns out nobody has the same list.

The fix: one setlist in Rally that you keep up to date. On Club or Mainstage, when live sync launches, the whole band will follow the same version in real time. On Soundcheck, you still get one organised list on your own devices.

3. Lyrics and chords all over the place

One time you’re looking up lyrics on your phone in a notes app. Another time you’re flipping through a plastic folder. Sometimes you just know it by heart — until you blank on that one verse.

The fix: everything in one place. In Rally you add lyrics, key and BPM per song. During the gig you have it all on one screen. Searchable, clear.

4. No wifi at the venue

That beach festival. That basement bar. The church with walls a metre thick. No internet, and your digital setlist stops working.

The fix: Rally is offline-first. Your entire set is stored locally on your device. No wifi? No problem — you just keep playing.

5. Going from solo to band and starting over

You start as a singer with a folder full of songs. At some point you join a band. And then what? Re-enter your entire repertoire into a band tool? Or share that messy notes app via screenshots?

The fix: Rally grows with you. Start solo with your repertoire in Soundcheck (free). When Club or Mainstage launches, invite your band — your songs are already there, ready for live sync.

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Sound familiar? Try Rally for free — solo or with your band. Or read our step-by-step guide to create your first setlist in 5 minutes. Want to know more about the features? Check the overview.