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Dec 30, 2009, 11:32am

Destruction412 Message Board! :: General :: Everything Else :: Tribute Bands

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Topic: Tribute Bands (Read 371 times)

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Tribute Bands
« Thread Started on Sept 11, 2005, 11:59pm »

You see, I work (run websites for and do promotions) with several tribute acts here in the state of Pennsylvania and let me tell you, they work just as hard if not harder that most of the "original acts" out there today. Tribute acts appeal to a specific audience. It's not something that you can go to see on a regular basis, but for a change of pace it is quite enjoyable. We all know that Motley Crue are never going to dress in the costumes from "Shout At the Devil" ever again, Elton John may never wear the famous "duck suit" again and Van Halen may never have David Lee Roth at the lead, but many of these people's fans would like to see that, hence the rise and success of the tribute scene.

Motley Crue, Neil Diamond, Elton John or Billy Joel are, for the most part, still touring in some manner. If you are a fan I suggest if you have the means to see them by all means support whoever you want. If you cannot see them when they blow through your town, a tribute act would be the next best thing in my book. Some people who go to see tribute acts also have a very strong emotional tie to the music of a certain era of a band or specific artist's career. I enjoy a good Journey tribute act every now and again, but I also take time to see original acts just as much. You should support the local music scene in your area, bacause in many ways, original music is a dying artform and NOT due to the tribue scene. I do not buy into that thought process for one second. The music industry is killing the original artist slowly but surely, but that's another discussion for another time.

I think my brother (from another mother) said it best:"I've done the original thing and it was fun, but now it's time to get paid!" A strong tribute act can make in excess of $1500 in a night, up to $5000 for a three night engagement. He plays Mick Mars in a Motley Crue tribute act that played Las Vegas. $5000 for three nights, and everything on the house. He also told me that any good tribute act has a passion for the person/group they are paying tribute to. If you don't, it will look like sh*t, sound like sh*t and you are over before you begin.

My one friend (who is an Elton John/Billy Joel impersonator) makes a living from what he does and has done so for 15+ years now and there is no sign of him slowing down now. He has released several of his own recordings in the past with modest success. When he realized that his tribute business started to pick up and build over the years, he had to adapt quickly to the ever growing demand. He still sells his own material at most of his shows and still loves playing him own music, but realizes that sometimes in life you have to make compromises. Only a select few get to make a living playing the material they wrote and love, and others just play for the love of the song. I guess the point that I'm trying to get across is that these people that are in tribute bands/acts are VERY hard working, even if they play someone else's music. Being a musician is a job, and not an easy one to get at that, plain and simple. If you have to make money by moonlighting as something else so be it. Don't get it twisted, the tribute scene is even MORE cut-throat than the original music scene. Believe me, I've seen it happen first hand.

It's all music even if you don't agree with me.

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