How to Start a Successful Cover Band?
Cover bands, which are usually comprised of general business musicians, play sets of songs written by other artists at private events, nightclubs, and bars. While they might not have the recognition or prestige of recording artists, cover bands have something fairly elusive in the live music business: steady work and a built-in audience. How to start a cover band of your dreams?
#1 Decide what you want to cover
First and foremost, you need to decide if your band will cover a specific band/artist, a genre, or a time period. Before making your final decision, do some research on your area, and see what’s already out there, and how you can do it. If you want to start a Guns N’ Roses tribute act, but there’s already one that’s prominent in your local scene, maybe rethink your idea. You undoubtedly want to be one of the best bands, so choose wisely.
#2 Figure out how far you want to take it
In some cases, the music is the easiest thing to figure out when starting a cover band. After that, think about everything that goes along with your live show, particularly if you’re tributing a specific band or period of music: costumes, hair, matching instruments, and gear, etc. Take into account not only the likelihood of pulling it all together but also how much it’ll cost.
On the other hand, sometimes the investment is worth it. If there is another band in your area, your authentic look and sound could set you apart. If you know you could assemble a more elevated form of a local cover band, go for it. You’ll likely make up your initial costs in bookings, and may even be able to charge more.
#3 Build the perfect set list
Cover bands have to be able to walk the line between playing to everyone and surprising those who are tired of the same old cover songs. Certainly, you want to include tracks that will get everyone out of their seats and singing along, but feel free to toss in some favorite deep tracks; you may introduce listeners to tunes they’ve never heard before. It’s never a bad idea to assemble playlists for a few different performing scenarios: weddings, street fairs, private birthday parties, opening acts, and more.
#4 Learn the music to near perfection
When you start a cover band, you need to learn the songs you’re playing front to back, side to side. If even a note sounds out of place, people will notice. That’s the downside of playing songs your audience has heard hundreds of times: they know what to expect and can immediately tell if something is wrong. Don’t take a gig until you feel confident in your abilities to recreate the music you’re playing.
#5 Pull together promotional materials
No matter what type of cover band you’re starting, you’ll need some type of promotional materials. You’re probably already familiar with these as an artist: an EPK, sound bites, photos, press clips, etc. But when you’re dedicating your cover band to a particular decade or especially to a certain act, you need to provide high-quality photos, videos, and song snippets. Like it or not, you’ll be judged on your look against the originals, so be prepared.
#6 Book your first gig
The most important thing to keep in mind when booking your cover band’s first show is that, no matter what level you’re at as an artist, you’re back to square one with a new band. Also, try to work the connections you’ve made along the way in your own career. Even if those promoters and bookers aren’t interested in hiring your cover band, they probably know venues and people who are.
The bottom line
Cover bands can be a lucrative side gig for musicians today. Many corporate events, weddings, or private parties book them for a flat rate, i.e., no door percentage, nothing contingent on merch or drink sales, which equals more take-home pay in most cases. If you follow the aforementioned points closely, you might succeed!