Preference for Sequences: Rock Loud and Proud Music Set List

Abstract

Numerous situations require sequencing objects. Several factors can be taken into account, such as creating contrast, avoiding satiation, satisfying impatience, or managing anticipation and recall. In this case, the music director of a rock and roll band uses sequencing to order a band's set list for an upcoming concert. Although the lead singer has chosen 15 songs the music director wants to use her expertise in understanding what factors in a sequence contributed to overall audience satisfaction. Students will be asked to examine the case data and rearrange the set list. Excerpt UVA-QA-0856 Rev. Jul. 19, 2017 Preference for Sequences: Rock Loud and Proud Music Set List As the music director for the band Rock Loud and Proud (RL&P), Sofia Ortega played many roles working with event promotors, booking agencies, and band members to ensure things ran smoothly. Among the tasks she most enjoyed was putting together the band's set list, and she had years of experience honing the list of songs the band played at each venue. But the lead singer and founding band member insisted on managing the set list. While understandable that those playing the music would want to shape the set list, there were considerations beyond personal favorites and a desire to play some new materials that went into the task. The process Ortega and the band had worked out was that the lead singer would develop a list of 30 songs, and then Ortega would decide the final set list of 15 songs using her expertise around the order they should be played. Ortega had just been handed the potential set list for the Chicago stop of the 2016, 28-city tour. It was up to her to whittle the list down and decide on the order of the 15 songs. But this time there was a glitch in the process. The lead singer had already chosen the 15 songs and set the order! While she was okay with the 15 songs and decided not to make a big deal about the situation, Ortega would have to go back to the lead singer armed with rock-solid reasons for why she wanted to change the order of the songs on the set list. See Exhibit 1 for the set list in the order proposed by the lead singer. Rock Loud and Proud . . .