How to Become a Cover Band or Tribute Band - Advice and Tips (Part 1)

Becoming a Cover Band or Tribute Band Tips

After speaking to various bands and people in the know I have decided to compile a little list that outlines some top tips for becoming not only a cover band or tribute band, but, actually becoming a successful one. So, with this in mind if you are looking to get more gigs and earn a bit of extra cash check out this guide to cracking the market :D

Firstly, make sure that you spend the time to record good, high quality demos. It really is worth spending the time and extra cash to ensure that your MP3s are the best sounding that they can possibly be. Also, check that your instruments are in tune before (and during all sessions) starting to record and that all vocals and backing vocals are in tune before saying 'yep, that'll do nicely'. Sounds obvious, but bum notes and bad tuning will immediately make you sound amateur.

Next up, once the sounds are brill, make sure that you get the best quality photos you can as well. It doesn't matter if you are a dirty, rock and roll type cover band or a high class Frank Sinatra tribute singer - make them count! There's nothing worse than the standard 'standing by a wall', or, 'sitting in the pub with pint glasses on show' type photos for putting people off and making it look as though you don't take yourself seriously. And, to top it off they've been taken by a really poor quality camera. So, spend and get somebody professional to take the photos. Dress smart if that's the style or dress casual to suit. Look the part, get the shots and be prepared to pay for it. These piccies could represent your band for the next few years so it's actually a really good investment.

Similar to investing in great photos, make sure you have brilliant equipment! Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not saying buy boutique or crazily expensive stuff that is just overkill. But, make sure you have high quality, reliable and fantastic sounding kit. (NB. If you are a Beatles tribute, you may have to invest in high quality boutique style equipment to ensure you look the part, but, if that's the path you choose enjoy the trek I say.) And, this doesn't just include your own personal use equipment, ensure that the PA is top quality and also that you have some lighting to set the performance area off perfectly.

Make sure you have a reliable mode of transport! Some bands opt to buy a van... some will hire one for each event, and others will divvy everything into an assortment of cars for getting around. Whatever your choice just make sure that the transport is serviced, reliable and not falling apart. Obviously, even the best taken care of cars or vans can still encounter problems so make sure as well that you are equipped with breakdown cover. A good idea if you are in a band (i.e. there is more than one of you) is to take out 2 different breakdown policies. This way if you breakdown en route to an event you can ask to be towed to the venue so you are not letting anybody down. But, the additional policy will mean that you can also get yourself towed home after the gig and avoid having the worry of what you'll do all night.

OK, so you have what I call the practicalities sorted now... next on the list is to make sure you know lots (and I mean lots) of songs! This applies whether you are a tribute band or a cover band. To be a great tribute band you will now only know all the main tracks by the band or singer you are tribute-ing, but you should also know the album tracks, B-sides and even rare recordings. You are expected to be an authority on the subject... so, get swotting up! With regards a cover band you need to remember that the best paid gigs will probably be weddings or private functions and for these types of events the crowd will vary in ages and tastes. So, you need to know a LOT of songs from the 50s and 60s right up to the present day chart hits. Your songlist should be constantly growing and evolving. Use pub gigs to trial and error certain songs and find out what gets the crowd moving. NO trial and error at weddings.... these are such important days that you need to be a well oiled machine with a great setlist. Take no chances here because you will not be forgiven and it could seriously jeopardise future events and bookings for you. Do a great job though and it could easily lead to another 4 or 5 bookings. But, I digress..' learn loads of songs and execute them brilliantly!

That's enough info to get you started on becoming a successful cover band or tribute act, but... part 2 will follow soon :D

Thanks for reading.

Written by Matt Warren

Tribute Bands, Wedding Bands and Pub Bands... all the same?

I thought today I'd vocalise my opinion on the differences between tribute bands, wedding bands and pub bands. Because, whilst they may appear the same on the surface (they all perform music by other musicians and bands right?) there are actually some pretty significant differences.

First off, lets get the easy one out of the way.... tribute bands. OK, these are very distinguishable from wedding bands and pub bands because they perform music from a specific artist or band. In it's simplest terms, if you you go to see a Metallica tribute band they will perform Metallica. Chances are they won't perform songs by Kings of Leon or The Killers... unless Metallica do this themselves. In the tribute band genre there are different levels of commitment to the cause. For example, some bands will be a Beatles tribute band and perform all the Beatles classics, but, they will not adopt the suits, wigs and follow the equipment inventory to the letter. However, those who really want to build a show from performing the songs will adopt this approach and make sure a mop-top isn't out of place and that the John Lennon lookalike isn't 25 stone overweight. In addition to the aesthetic, a good tribute band will also actually sound like the band they are paying homage to. They will in essence do everything they can to actually perform, look and sound as close to the originator as possible.

Tribute bands are one dimensional in approach, whereas Wedding Bands and Pub Bands are not. They have the freedom to be able to play a lot more when it comes to choice of musicians and bands. But, whilst they may seem to be very similar in approach there are actually many subtle differences between pub bands and wedding bands.

With wedding bands you are performing at weddings... obvious right :) But, what this actually means is that you are performing to people who do not usually spend their Saturday evening together. For example, Aunty Flo won't be out with little James (aged 8) and not forgetting Nana and the bride and groom themselves. A pretty varied mix right.... all those ages to cater to. In order to cater for this a good wedding band will normally make sure that they have a songlist that caters for everyone. This can be done by having a wide ranging choice of songs from the 1950/60s to present chart hits. The Beatles are always popular across the board, as are modern classics such as Sex on Fire or Mr Brightside. Songs that everyone knows and will get them on the dance floor are the perfect choice for wedding bands - anthems, singalongs, up-tempo... easy :)

The other thing with wedding bands is that they tend to be a lot smarter dress code wise. They are playing at somebodies wedding after all and be getting aid. They will appear on photos, be almost representing the feel of the day from the bride and groom's perspective and more than likely be earning a reputation where they will be re-booked by guests - so, the last thing they should be doing is looking like a bunch of tramps.

In contrast to a wedding band, a pub band has a lot more freedom. They can dress much more casually and they can also have a very different kind of set-list to wedding bands. Many pubs do not have dance floors and so it isn't as important to be providing those floor-filling classics, which is why many pub bands will perform tracks by Jimi Hendrix, Cream, Eric Clapton, etc. where the focus is primarily on the musicianship as opposed to the 'getting everyone on their feet' kind of tone.

This isn't too say that pub bands are any less worthy. In fact, most of the wedding bands I know enjoy playing pubs because it gives them the chance to really tighten up their act and also experiment with new material to see how well it goes down with prospective weekend wedding clients.

Pub bands can also afford to be a little more talky with the punters because it isn't about getting people on the dance floor and then keeping them there (like it is with weddings). So, with pub bands you can expect a bit of banter, which again, is great practice for those pub bands that then go onto the wedding scene and teaches them how to deal with the 'odd' drunk guest.

Anyway, hope that clarifies things a bit with regards the differences between Tribute Bands, Wedding Bands and Pub Bands, but if there's anything I've missed please do comment and let me know.

Muchos gracias for reading :)

So, What's This All About?

Queen... always a very popular tribute act

First of all, hello! My name is Matt and I have recently got into this blogging thing. Why? Well, because I can basically prattle on and have a bit of a break from working. My job is pretty full-on and so it can be hard to find distractions. However, live music and live bands have always been a massive passion and so I figure that as I can't always get to actually go and see them (cash flow, time, other commitments etc.) I might as well write a bit about what I have seen, will be seeing and who has affected me in past years....

But....

I am only going to write about tribute bands and cover bands. Why? Well, there are a lot of reasons. First of all, these kind of bands and performers can be seen pretty inexpensively and also locally. I reckon that unless a massive effort to book accommodation (unless you live close to a venue) and travel a bit I could put money on the fact that the best nights out YOU have ever had that have involved live music have been with these kind of bands. Am I right?

It's pretty amazing to go and see a band like Bon Jovi or to witness the spectacle that is Lady Gaga, but the cost, normally pretty crappy seats, massively expensive drink prices, in-the-middle-of-nowhere locations, and queues to get in and out of the venue can make it all a bit of a buzz-killing experience.

Don't get me wrong, I love going to these kind of gigs. But, compared to a local venue where you can get to the venue on foot after having a couple of nice drinks locally, pay a reasonable price to help support live music and a local venue, buy competitively priced grog all night and then listen and watch a group of guys and girls who work really hard to give you a great night's entertainment. It can't be beat.

Specifically, I've seen some amazing tribute bands over the last few years and I've been witness to awesome cover bands* as well. And, whilst there have been some pretty dross ones I don't want to concentrate on them, positivity breeds positivity and so I will only be blogging about the good, the great and the colossal.

Now I don't claim to be a writer in any sense of the word so sometimes you may catch me rambling. I'll try to reign myself in as much as I can, but if I lose track, then I apologise now.

I want to support live music and live bands as much as I possibly can, and if I can do that by talking about it and encouraging you lovely folk to turn the X-Factor off, get up and get out I reckon we may just have a chance.

So, on with the show...

*Incidentally, by cover bands I mean bands that play other peoples songs and not their own compositions. A tribute band by comparison would be somebody who play a specific artist's music. For example, an Elvis tribute would perform only Elvis songs, whereas a cover band may play the odd Elvis song, but would also play tracks by The Beatles, The Killers etc. In addition, and more often than not, a band or performer dubbing themselves as a tribute band will also go that extra mile to try to look like the artist being mimicked and also do everything to sound as close to them as possible. Just to clarify :)