This isn't exactly the topic, but since everyone's here, maybe someone can explain it to me. I've never really understood the appeal of cover or tribute bands, neither as a musician nor as a listener. I've only ever used cover versions as a starting point when I've formed a new band. The goal, however, has always been to write my own songs as quickly as possible. As a listener, I don't mind the occasional cover version if it's well done. But I would never intentionally go to a concert by a cover/tribute band. The only exception was a Ramones cover band by some friends of mine. They didn't take it seriously, though; they performed with a lot of irony and sarcasm, including costumes.
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, and I get paid to hang out with people I like, and, if you can get it right it's a passport to meeting interesting people and being in interesting places. I always prefer seeing behind the scenes than watching a show. I wouldn't like to go see a covers band and I've never paid money to see a tribute band! But, I'll happily get paid to do both!!I suspect most people in professional tribute bands are doing it in order to make a living.
I think originals is about 'the band/artist', whereas covers is about serving a venue/audience and doing what needs to be done to engage/entertain.
Personally, I like performing songs that I like, and I like getting paid, and I like performing in venues that have audiences (and who pay). I love playing with musicians who can really play.
Did I mention the money…
I am also a small part of a respectable originals band, who perform in fancy venues. It's musically rewarding but - I make next to nothing on those gigs. (Happy if my hotel room is paid for with breakfast included!)
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I can't credibly, because I kind of come down where you do on this as far as I'm interested in doing.
But, here in Seattle (city limits) we have a huge audience and lots of places to play for original music or specific genres that play standards like jazz or Brazilian music.
In Dallas, where I am originally from, people who I know there who can play jazz, end up playing a lot of top 40 or "classic" period covers, because they have to in order to work enough. Not that there isn't jazz, but even some of them that play jazz gigs say that they have to work in some recognizable pop songs on the gig.
I think it's more about what the venues and audiences want (familiarity) than what the musicians want.
Also, not everyone can write.
buldog5151bass
Kibble, milkbones, and P Basses. And redheads.
What I have found is that audiences are more open to different kinds of music. I play in a band that gigs regularly, everything from 60s through 2010s, and about 20% originals.
Isn't
It brings back all the emotions of yesteryear.
A love a really good cover band!
That being said, I don't attend cover bands or tribute band shows
(I don't have time to attend. And I'm in a cover band!). 
I'm in your corner: I prefer being in an original band.
However, sometimes, reality insists otherwise.
So (at least for me), I'm in a band that does 95% covers, 5% originals, and I am allowed the privilege to play monthly in a church doing...you guessed it...covered Church songs.
And I like it.
Isn't cover bands for the benefit of the masses who want to remember the "good old" days?
It brings back all the emotions of yesteryear.
A love a really good cover band!
That being said, I don't attend cover bands or tribute band shows
(I don't have time to attend. And I'm in a cover band!). I'm in your corner: I prefer being in an original band.
However, sometimes, reality insists otherwise.
So (at least for me), I'm in a band that does 95% covers, 5% originals, and I am allowed the privilege to play monthly in a church doing...you guessed it...covered Church songs.
And I like it.
I live in a very large 55+ "retirement" community (8,000+ homes). There are several resident bands here that play regularly for the folks that live here. Some do classic rock, some do classic country, etc. They all seem to be in constant demand for one engagement or another, even the ones that aren't all that good. So there seems to be a lot demand in my demographic for cover bands. Another phenomena that has exploded is tribute bands. There are also regional cover bands and tribute acts that come through here all the time. Most of them are really good.
No. If a club gig equates to bar and club dates, then within an hrs drive of where I live, I can't begin to count how many gigs there are per week.
Including solo's...I'd say 100 but in truth, I wouldn't even be able to count them accurately..
So the concept in terms of work is not dead.
The quality of many of these outfits is another discussion
Including solo's...I'd say 100 but in truth, I wouldn't even be able to count them accurately..
So the concept in terms of work is not dead.
The quality of many of these outfits is another discussion
I'm 55 and about median age for my band, and the crowd we play to tends to be the same generation, so I resemble that remark.I'm glad to hear that there are places in the USA where you say that cover bands are not dead.
On the other hand, I would like to see some videos from the recent cover band gigs where there are more than 4-5 old men (mostly woman) in the audience. Everyone is older than 45 within a radius of 200 yards. Sad...
On the other hand, a month or six weeks back I popped into a nearby bar and a band was playing where the musicians, and most of the crowd, were 20-30-somethings. So it definitely still exists among the younger generation, though maybe not as prominent as a generation ago.
I do think generally, when you're younger, you have more hope that maybe you might catch fire as an original artist so there's more incentive to avoid covers. When my band had an opening I asked a friend of my son's if he wanted to audition for the guitar slot. He declined, even though we've got pretty steady gigs. But he has a couple of original projects and wanted to focus on them.
cover bands arent dead, but there are less and less venues
Tributes are huge too.
Either via agency or self promote..My friends do either if the numbers work.
The per head pay is never less the 2.5 times local money and would be more if you worked around fees and P.A costs.
Talking to an agent...who always spews grand figures, the market rate might be $5000. I've never tested whether thats true.
Then you get to larger theatre productions which definitely must be $10k and above but they are productions companies or houses so the end pay to the player does not rise exponentially.
So 'covers' are still in business...imv
Either via agency or self promote..My friends do either if the numbers work.
The per head pay is never less the 2.5 times local money and would be more if you worked around fees and P.A costs.
Talking to an agent...who always spews grand figures, the market rate might be $5000. I've never tested whether thats true.
Then you get to larger theatre productions which definitely must be $10k and above but they are productions companies or houses so the end pay to the player does not rise exponentially.
So 'covers' are still in business...imv
How do you know if an agent is lying? Answer - his lips are moving.
To just throw out a $5,000 is beyond ridiculous. There are so many factors, it may be way high, it may be low.
Yep, agree higher and lower is in scope but this one particular guy is always using that figure.
I know a couple whose heads are turned by it, but their band is not at that particular level anyway so whether he pays it or not is not confirmed.
However, bigger shows that a couple of bandmates are in are much much more creditable ...the take home is not much larger but the production is a another level.
The difference is around a $30 ticket against a $50 ticket.
I'm working one show this week and going to see my mate in the other price bracket next month so will get a more upto date point of reference..
I know a couple whose heads are turned by it, but their band is not at that particular level anyway so whether he pays it or not is not confirmed.
However, bigger shows that a couple of bandmates are in are much much more creditable ...the take home is not much larger but the production is a another level.
The difference is around a $30 ticket against a $50 ticket.
I'm working one show this week and going to see my mate in the other price bracket next month so will get a more upto date point of reference..
