Members sventvkg Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 What do ya know? Assuming a top notch act. Pay, average booking, nuances, etc associated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 What do ya know? Assuming a top notch act. Pay' date=' average booking, nuances, etc associated. [/quote']Tributes are doing well even at the bar level around here (for bar pay ). Dunno if I'd want to fly a tribute at the private/corporate level - I'd think a show of only one band's music wouldn't do as well as a more variety act unless you were doing a full-on Beatles broadway type show or some such. Genre tributes do OK (Southern Rock, flower power, etc). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members RoadRanger Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 > Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 Agreeing with Road Ranger. Unless you're doing one of the really big bands (Beatles, Eagles, Journey) there's going to be a very limited market at the corp level, and it seems there are already bands doing all of those type of acts in all the major markets. What works best are the broader genre "tributes". Which are really not much different from the typical corp acts but just with a bit more narrowly-defined marketing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members TIMKEYS Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 You see a lot of tribute bands getting booked at bike rallies where they want to field more bands and avoid the cost of big headliners. It takes a lot of the finanacial risk out of things is the weather is not ideal. It also keeps the wrist bands prices down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Iamthesky Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 Tribute bands get regular shows around here at the otherwise originals-band venues. I just went to see a Pink Floyd act (Breathe) last weekend, in fact, and there's other successful Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, and some classic metal shows that play regularly in the area. I have no idea what they're getting paid, but they are getting booked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 24, 2014 Members Share Posted April 24, 2014 Tribute bands get regular shows around here at the otherwise originals-band venues. I just went to see a Pink Floyd act (Breathe) last weekend, in fact, and there's other successful Grateful Dead, Allman Brothers, Widespread Panic, and some classic metal shows that play regularly in the area. I have no idea what they're getting paid, but they are getting booked. The tribute bands that play those sorts of venues around here at best get "good" club rates. $600-800. It's like anything else really. If your tribute band is really good, and you market it well, and you get in with good agencies, you're going to get good gigs and make good money. The ones that make really good money are the ones who have been doing it a really long time and have long-established reputations. There aren't too many shortcuts in this business for starting up a new band. You could put together a killer Beatles tribute tomorrow. But you aren't going to be making what Rain makes for a long, long, long time.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tim_7string Posted April 28, 2014 Members Share Posted April 28, 2014 The tribute bands that used to come through this way a few years ago were getting around $1200-1500 a night. The club would charge $10-12 a head at the door. No Quarter (Led Zep Tribute) was an excellent group out of Seattle, WA. I talked with the bassist/keyboardist and he said he was also in Rush tribute band, but that the Led Zeppelin tribute was far more lucrative (no surprise there). I saw several different tribute acts (Arch Allies - Journey/Styx/REO Speedwagon tribute, GN'R and Dust N' Bones - Guns N' Roses tributes, Beatlemania and Rain - The Beatles tribute bands) and I know the pay rate can differ. Rain played the Fargodome and charged $25/ticket. I saw them there and it wasn't full, but they probably still made out pretty well. Starting out, I'm thinking guido's figures are about right ($600-800), but you could probably move up to higher money as long as you had great word of mouth and a killer promo video. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted April 28, 2014 Author Members Share Posted April 28, 2014 I think it's more around here because my partner Mark just did a gig with his Journey Tribute band (and the singer sucks ass!!) at Boogie Nights Casino in St. Louis and they got $1700. They are playing a show next weekend at Boogie Nights Casino up at the Tropicana in Evansville Indiana where I played a couple weeks ago for $2K...Most of the tribute bands around here are making in that neighborhood for casinos but some play club dates like Hard Rock, etc..Usually for ticket price and i'm sure a nice guarantee.....So Who knows.... What I'd really like to know is what are the most lucrative tributes? We are messing with a Bon Jovi Tribute idea because I can sing it spot on and it's all easy...Also we're working up a Duran Duran, 80's Phil Collins era Genesis (with some of the older Prog Stuff thrown in-Dodo, Lamb-Medley, etc) and Peter Gabriel...I also sing U2 Spot on but again, there seems to be so many U2 Tributes......... The only thing that bothers me is dressing up in costume. I see some of the top bands like the Fab Faux who don't try to become the characters but the music is impeccably presented...I think we want to inhabit the "vibe" so to speak, of the bands but NOT attempt to impersonate the band members themselves..I'm NOT into pretending i'm Bon Jovi and Neither is Mark ... Anyway, just riffin some ideas. I'm just interested in building an entertainment business and having some tributes...REALLY good ones, seems like a good financial plan. We're currently working on backing tracks for all of them..Oh, BTW, Mark has all the Journey Tracks he did (with extra BG vox, keys etc) and all the spot on Toto tracks he did for a Toto tribute gig he did a couple months ago. I'd be interested in working up tributes to those bands as well but there are a zillion Journey (and finding a good singer is near impossible) and I don't know how financially viable Toto would be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 28, 2014 Members Share Posted April 28, 2014 Since you already know what a typical Journey tribute band can make compared to your band playing the same venue---I'd use that formula for a starter. I'd reckon that the percentages would stay fairly constant across the board. I think the more "spot on" you're willing/able to be, the more you'll be able to make. Fab Faux might be an exception, but the more a band can look like the band they are copying, the more the can make. Similarly, the bands that have more of a look to copy are going to do better as well. Maybe think about it this way. Which of these 3 bands do you think would do better? Which would you rather try to book if you were an agent? Which would you maybe rather go see? A) A Styx tribute band. Who may or may not look just like the original guys. Probably doesn't matter since nobody cares/knows what those guys looked like anyway. B) A Van Halen tribute band who inhabits the "vibes" C) A Van Halen tribute band who has a guitarist who looks just like Eddie and a singer who is the 2nd coming of David Lee Roth? All would be bookable. Band "C" is almost certainly going to make more money. And probably even if they don't nail the records quite as well as band "B". So no, you don't HAVE to dress up in costume for your Bon Jovi tribute band. Of course, you don't HAVE to play "Livin' On A Prayer" either.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djrnno Posted April 28, 2014 Members Share Posted April 28, 2014 I've been sort working on a ZZ Top trib band for a while now which is perfect for me since I sing a bit like Dusty. Hardest part has been finding the guy to play Billy, but I think i have him. This is a no brainer. A 3 way split of the $ minus some production costs and that's quite a good payday. I have an agent calling me regularly asking when we are ready. He says he has 8 to 10 venues waiting . with a min of $1000 for a 90 min to 2hr show. I also have another agent wanting to book us. Thing with trib bands is you kinda need to look a bit like them and it's all in the PROMO. In the south it's pretty easy to book a good trib band. And the pay is good, lot's of fairs and festivals are interested. I heard someone tell me she was at a Mary Kay convention in Dallas and they had a ZZ trib band and paid them $5000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted April 28, 2014 Members Share Posted April 28, 2014 A ZZTop tribute band would be a great band to have to try and look like because you can just hide behind fake beards and sunglasses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members SbrickwallS Posted April 29, 2014 Members Share Posted April 29, 2014 Not sure what your goal is but so far what I've read in the replies here are pretty much spot on for the tribute scene down here in the Houston area as well. And yes, the look does sell. It def makes a difference in the pay and in the venues you'll be able to get into. Typically it is just the singer that needs to look/act like the band your tributing unless you have another dynamic figure in the band like an Angus Young or something. My only thing to add to this discussion that hasn't been said already is that you need to decide what your goal is for that tribute band. If you don't want to travel then you may only want to book one show a month or so, so that you don't oversaturate your audience and ultimately kill your draw over time. Will that be enough reward for the work invested? If your band is willing to travel then you def can gig much more. If you are planning on playing in more then one band simultaneously then that opens up many more opportunities for you to play without over-gigging the tribute band and you wont' be forced to travel unless you simply choose to do so for more gigs and different venues. Hope that helps some? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FitchFY Posted April 29, 2014 Members Share Posted April 29, 2014 I have a good buddy who sings for an Eagles tribute act in New England, and they make total bank at the casinos and showcase venues. Great sounding act, very pro-light and sound, killer vocal harmonies -- it's a business to them 100% and they do a great job. I wish I liked the Eagles more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members djrnno Posted April 29, 2014 Members Share Posted April 29, 2014 Not sure what your goal is but so far what I've read in the replies here are pretty much spot on for the tribute scene down here in the Houston area as well. And yes' date=' the look does sell. It def makes a difference in the pay and in the venues you'll be able to get into. Typically it is just the singer that needs to look/act like the band your tributing unless you have another dynamic figure in the band like an Angus Young or something. My only thing to add to this discussion that hasn't been said already is that you need to decide what your goal is for that tribute band. If you don't want to travel then you may only want to book one show a month or so, so that you don't oversaturate your audience and ultimately kill your draw over time. Will that be enough reward for the work invested? If your band is willing to travel then you def can gig much more. If you are planning on playing in more then one band simultaneously then that opens up many more opportunities for you to play without over-gigging the tribute band and you wont' be forced to travel unless you simply choose to do so for more gigs and different venues. Hope that helps some?[/quote'] IN La and Ms in March, April and Sept., Oct. we have fairs and fests out the Yin Yang and it's a lot of the same bands play them doing the same show. So I don't think oversaturation would be that big of a problem , yes if you wanted to play 6-8 times a month in the same area.Almost every band in my area has to travel a bit to keep busy. I'm looking at my ZZ Top project as an area thing , mostly Gulf Coast Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted April 30, 2014 Author Members Share Posted April 30, 2014 Some good info. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted May 1, 2014 Author Members Share Posted May 1, 2014 I have a good buddy who sings for an Eagles tribute act in New England' date=' and they make total bank at the casinos and showcase venues. Great sounding act, very pro-light and sound, killer vocal harmonies -- it's a business to them 100% and they do a great job. I wish I liked the Eagles more.[/quote'] What's the name of the band? I love the eagles and would do an eagles tribute!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted May 1, 2014 Members Share Posted May 1, 2014 There are a LOT of Eagles tribute bands across the country. I'm sure if you wanted to join one you could find one somewhere who needed to fill a spot! I know of at least two in this area that seem to work quite a bit: "Hotel California" and "Heartache Tonight". But I think that's probably the names of most of the Eagles tributes around. These guys seem to be in your area and have a full schedule although it looks like they travel quite a bit. http://www.hotelcal.com/index.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted May 1, 2014 Members Share Posted May 1, 2014 I wish I liked the Eagles more. That's always the kicker for me with the tribute band idea: I know that covers are covers, but is there any band I like so much I'd enjoy playing nothing but their songs? Plus it's not like you ever really get to add new material much. I love Steely Dan but I turned down an offer to play in a SD tribute band a few years back in large part because I didn't want to end up getting sick of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ6stringsting Posted October 21, 2014 Members Share Posted October 21, 2014 I seen Rain years ago, best Beatles tribute band. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members AJ6stringsting Posted October 21, 2014 Members Share Posted October 21, 2014 I turned down an offer to play in an Ozzy Tribute band, yeah, I nailed those Randy Rhoads, Jake E. Lee and Zakk Wylde guitar riffs and solos.They wanted me to dye my hair blond, thing is I'm mostly Native and dark skinned .... I would have looked worse than the guy who played George Harrison in the Ruttles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nchangin Posted October 21, 2014 Members Share Posted October 21, 2014 Or do what these guys do and do it all, tickets run about 15 each and general admission. The way good concerts used to be... I have no idea what they make but they are good at what they do. I do know they stem from Slave Raider, a metal group from out of Minneapolis St. Paul that had some great albums and superior musicans (their drummer called the Rock was simply amazing drummer, this was back in the 80's) I am pretty sure their PA was meyer rig and sounds fantastic (or what they had when I saw them, I assume the do some pa outsourcing as well I know they do at the casino's cause that was a different system. http://www.hairballonline.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members GtrGeorge! Posted October 22, 2014 Members Share Posted October 22, 2014 Here in NY.we have tribute bands...they play the usual gigs for the county., or the rare casino...pay must be acceptable..but they cant play every night around here..not even every weekend..just not that much of a draw. And I assume the price they charge is prohibitive in getting them more work. I personally, think imitation is so burnt out. We have 360 degrees of crap in this media soaked environment... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sventvkg Posted October 22, 2014 Author Members Share Posted October 22, 2014 Here in NY.we have tribute bands...they play the usual gigs for the county.' date=' or the rare casino...pay must be acceptable..but they cant play every night around here..not even every weekend..just not that much of a draw. And I assume the price they charge is prohibitive in getting them more work. I personally, think imitation is so burnt out. We have 360 degrees of crap in this media soaked environment...[/quote'] I feel you but there is a definite market for great tribute bands. I'm a businessman and my own emotional attatchment or lack thereof doesn't factor into it at all. I personally MOSTLY neutral about playing covers but it's business to me. If there's a market, I'll run the numbers. I don't want my bands playing every night in bars for $400. I'd rather have my Variety band doing 50 weddings/corporate gigs a year for average of 5K, then Replicate the band for more gigs..and have 5 tribute bands averaging 10-15 gigs a year each for 2500 a pop atop my system with killer consistent tracks, video and top notch production light show. THAT is my model and we're on our way:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted October 22, 2014 Members Share Posted October 22, 2014 Here in NY.we have tribute bands...they play the usual gigs for the county.' date=' or the rare casino...pay must be acceptable..but they cant play every night around here..not even every weekend..just not that much of a draw. And I assume the price they charge is prohibitive in getting them more work. I personally, think imitation is so burnt out. We have 360 degrees of crap in this media soaked environment...[/quote'] Personal tastes aside, the market for tribute bands is probably stronger than ever. And a full on show band like Hairball is probably regularly pulling down 10-15K a show. Maybe more. I know corp gigs will pay 20-25K for that level of act around here. But no, it's not an every weekend thing and you have to be able/willing to put it on the road to at least some degree. You're not going to work a tribute act every weekend down at the corner bar. But if you're making that much you also don't necessarily need to work every weekend. I know for my band--which nobody is trying to make a living off of and we're not at tribute band level--we had a couple of slower-than-usual months this last year and a couple of the guys were saying "gee, maybe it'd make more sense to go back to just playing the small clubs". After I reminded them that it would take 5-6 small club gigs for them to earn what they make in one gig with this band...then suddenly that bit-slower schedule didn't seem quite so bad! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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