You know 30 songs. You still stand there mid-signup-sheet, thumb-scrolling your Notes app, hoping something jumps out. This is what I actually do instead, built the hard way, across different countries and cities of getting it wrong first.

• Why “play what you love” and “read the room” were never actually in conflict, you’ve just never been shown how they fit together!

• The 60-second read I use before every set, whether it’s a brand new room or my regular Sunday night.

• The one question that tells you whether tonight’s setlist is worth writing — or just another one you’ll delete tomorrow