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Starting a cover/tribute band from scratch

#21
Hey guys, I got a PM asking me to update my thread with my progress. Well since I started auditions in November, I've eventually filled all the spots with very good players.

Overall I've had about 6 or 7 audition sessions and I filled the positions in this order, lead guitar, drums, rhythm guitar, lost lead guitar to unexpected move from area, vocals. The first three players I was able to fill in the first couple of weeks from the initial pool of applicants from my first run of ads. The lead singer was much tougher to fill as Axl is of course a difficult vocal range. It took another month or so to find my guy, in which time the lead guitar player disappeared unexpectedly.

We've not done any "rehearsals", only audition sessions as I didn't want to waste anyone's time until we were fully ready to go. Even just with these sessions, we've worked our way through about 12-14 of the 17 songs on our initial setlist.

So now I've got to refill the lead guitar spot and I've been very picky as the quality of the singer and lead guitar will really determine the success of this endeavor. It's been about a month of running more ads to try and fill the spot. I've got a very well qualified Slash coming in tomorrow, he played Slash in a now defunct band for about 3 years, so hopefully the search is complete and I can get some gigs on the calendar!
 
#22
BassScum said:
Also since you are the only member in the band (which really doesn't exist yet) they will be auditioning you as well, especially if they are competent seasoned musicians who have been around the block a few times.
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+1

Have your ducks in a row or you won't land good folks. Run the thing like a business, with respect and professionalism. That stuff is KEY.
 
#23
Got my final member in place and have worked out the rehearsal schedule and potential gig dates out in April. I also have time scheduled in my guitarist's studio to lay down a quick demo in about a week and a half.

Got to keep everything well organized so we're ready to impress our first time out.
 
#24
I'm in a weirdly and incredibly successful tribute band in my State. If you want some direct advice or bounce anything off me, I have a lot of thoughts on the subject. msg me here if you wish. Good luck! If it comes together, it's fantastic. I've never have bigger gigs, never had people willing to fly me into different States (and countries), and never had so much fun until I got into the tribute thing.
 
#25
JimmyM said:
Whether you want to schedule them on the same night or not is up to you. But as someone who has auditioned for bands and hates it and refuses to do it anymore, don't waste their time. Give them 3-4 songs to learn, and keep the audition process under a half hour. And don't make guys come back again. If you can't decide the first time, it's not their fault. Just remember that you're starting a band that could easily flop as well as make a good living, and if you don't have a fair amount of gigs already booked, your project isn't really attractive enough to make good musicians jump through hoops, especially when you're the only guy in the band. Sorry, but it's the truth.
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+1000

It only takes 3 - 4 songs to know if someone has talent and you are gelling. Now, because of things like equipment load in/out and wanting to get a sense of who they are, I'd budget an hour for each audition - 30 mins for playing, 30 for the other stuff.

I've been on both sides of the coin and like Jimmy, I'm not into jamming for hours. If I'm going for a spot, let's get it over with. Pick 3 - 4 songs (or a list of 5 - 10, and have them pick the 3 - 4) so that you can evenly judge.

If I were you, I'd find a drummer first, then any other instrumentalists. Go for a singer last. We found out the hard way (the first time some folks and I tried to put a cover band together) you need most if not all of the players - especially the drummer - to audition singers.

Good luck.
 
#26
Just an update on my Guns N' Roses tribute project. We just got our photos back and online and are starting the booking quest while finishing our video, more demos, and press kit.

We could have already booked shows, but I've held off to ensure I've got a good package to sell for higher guarantees.

We demos online at:
Link Removed
www.guns4roses.com

Here's our photos:
g4r-3.jpg

g4r-1.jpg
 
#28
Another update:

We have now played a couple of shows now and the calendar is filling up fast as word of mouth starts to spread. We're getting repeat engagements with raises on our guarantees, so we must be doing something right. We haven't yet had any scheduling problems with members, likely due to our demands for good show guarantees straight from the outset.

Investment in authentic costumes and props, professional photos, website, full-color postcard flyers, video, and performance contracts has been paying off with nothing but compliments on our professionalism and stage show.

All in all, it did take about 5 months from inception to first gig, and 2.5 months from completing the lineup to first gig, but the added lead time allowed for all of the above to be completed in good time.

I guess I'd say I'm now transitioning from starting a tribute band from scratch to managing a tribute band for long-term growth.
 
#31
I think you're lucky that you don't need a keyboardist/synth guy 'cause the good ones seem to have their pick of gigs. All I can add is that you can weed out a lot of people with a chat on the phone. They may decide it isn't a good fit for them once you explain your plan in more detail.
 
#33
Here's some photos from a show we did last October (less than one year after I started placing ads looking for musicians and five months after our first show) in Mexico headlining for 14,000 GnR fans for a radio station promoted concert.

h-mex-axl5-sm.jpg


h-mex-axl6-sm.jpg


h-mex-axl1-sm.jpg


h-mex-slash2-sm.jpg
 
#37
JimmyM said:
...IMHO, anything longer than 3-4 songs is just wasting my time.
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+1. I just did an audition that was 7 songs and the follow-up audition was 6 additional. Too much.

I like a 3 song first audition (20 minutes, in and out) / 5 song second audition 1 hour, with time to chat and/or jam) format, with gear provided at both - both when holding auditions and doing them. First audition is tight and quick, you can set up a bunch in one day, weed out the bad / flakes / no shows quick. Second audition is looser, more fun. I always send the entire set list to those people, so if they have time to work ahead they can.

Good luck!

EDIT - oh snap, dead thread!
 
#39
Hey all,

This site looks good for finding new rock band members - Invalid Link Removed

Hope it helps.

P.S. Is there a trick to finding talented and reliable band members?? You can get talented OR reliable but both is almost impossible!
 
#40
I'm in a very popular tribute. You want to be a success? You have to sound AND look like the real band. ESPECIALLY at key positions. Good luck finding an Axl -- that's going to be a hard position to fill. Just sounding like the real guy won't cut it. Neither will looking like the real guy. With GNR, you MUST have guys that can look at sound like Axl and Slash -- no compromise! you can get away with not exactly looking like the rest of the band, but you must have the sound down PERFECTLY if you want to be successful at it. There are some really good GNR tributes out there already.

if you do let some guys slide on the look, you still need them to GENERALLY suggest the real guys. No fat people. No beards. If they don't have long hair, a wig would be necessary.

You will be shocked how much suggesting the look of the band in addition to the sound will take you.

just sounding like the band will get you nowhere.
 

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