Hiring a tribute act or band is a great way of matching entertainment to the theme of your event. Not only do tribute acts provide affordable live entertainments, they recreate masterpieces that draw your guests into nostalgic musical classics.
Tribute acts can take any form ranging from solo entertainers to a full live band of talented artists who mimic anyone from The Beatles to The Rolling Stones, Elvis to Robbie William and Adele to Ed Sheeran.
What is a Tribute Act?
A tribute act is a solo entertainer or a band that recreates the sound and performance of a renowned artist or band, often with authentic costumes and instruments. The tribute act also portrays the mannerism of the artist or band they are mimicking. With real bands phasing out, tribute acts are great options to get you as close to the real artists as possible.
What Are The Benefits of Hiring a Tribute Act?
They provide a great alternative
People often fall in love with a particular artist or band that has long since stopped performing either because they have broken up, retired or are no longer around. A tribute band can recreate the feelings of the group or music catalogue on stage at any time, giving party guests another chance to catch the band’s music in a different form.
You feel like you’re watching the real thing
Not only do tribute bands make music that is as close to the original band’s as possible, they are creative enough to replicate their stage presence. Think of them as a professional cover band that seeks to mimic the greats like The Kinks, Queen or The Rolling Stones in both sound and look. If you have never been able to watch the actual band play, tribute bands are the next great option to reproduce your favourite artists’ music in a live show.
You can experience old favourites in a new light
Tribute bands are not always out to play another band’s music exactly like the original. Rather, they create their own version of top hits and classics, giving you a feel of two eras in our musical piece. Because tribute bands tend to cover a variety of music genres, you might also hear classics back-to-back that are quite different from a radio station playlist.
They get the party going
There is nothing more surreal than attending an event where everyone is singing along, muttering every word in the lyrics of a famous song. This is what cover bands or artists help you achieve at your function. They get the party going by playing tracks that resonate best with the majority of people in attendance. They tailor their performance to their audience and theme of the occasion.
Their passion is clear
What can make someone or a group start reinterpreting songs of one or more musicians mainly for the enjoyment of a crowd? Passion!
Cover artists clearly enjoy what they do, and it is never more obvious than to someone watching them onstage live as they recreate great hits with energy, passion and enthusiasm.
What To Look For In A Quality Tribute Band
1. A regular fixed band line up
These days, it is not uncommon to see band leaders and agencies who accept bookings only to outsource or subcontract it to an entirely different band who turns up and perform under their stage name. Before booking an artist or band, make sure you elicit a commitment that the singer you are booking is the same that will perform at your event. Doing so will help you prepare your mind about what to expect on the D-day.
2. A great demo CD / MP3s
Before booking an artist or band, you can ask for their demo CD or in another format to have a feel of what they are capable of delivering at your event. It is important that the band is successful at recreating the music they are paying tribute to. Additionally, the band’s music recordings should be properly produced and in time. You can compare demo CDs or MP3s from 3-5 different bands to get a good idea of the right band to hire.
3. Customer reviews and testimonials
Taking time to check what former customers are saying about a particular band or artist can help you determine if the entertainer is a good fit for your event. Ideally, you will need to choose a band with plenty of reviews ahead of those with very scanty testimonials.
4. Experience and background
Check that the artist or band with a track record of performing in tribute shows. Review the expertise and experience of each player within the band as well as the overall experience of the band as a whole. There is nothing wrong with booking an amazing new tribute band – but you want to make sure you are confident about their artistry skills.
5. Cost
In the tribute act industry, you get what you pay for. While the desire to save cost is understandable, cutting corners in your selection puts the success of your event in jeopardy. When you are hiring through an agency, you will have many artists or groups each defining their own fees. These prices vary significantly depending on the experience and reputation of the act. Solo tribute artists cost from around £400 - £600 while 4-5-piece groups charge around £1500. More established tributes like The Bootleg Beatles can charge up to £12,000 per event.
Choosing a Reliable Agency
Although there are many independent tribute acts and bands out there, it is safer, faster and more cost-effective to hire a cover artist through an agency. The best agency boasts a vast database of specialised tribute bands, solo artists and lookalikes, allowing you to choose a band that fits perfectly into the theme of your occasion.
A1 Star Tributes is UK’s leading tribute act agency with over 8 years of experience, supplying tribute bands and acts for all types of events including wedding, private parties, theatre evenings and corporate functions.
A1 Star Tributes has a strict selection criteria for acts who sign up on their platform, making them the right destination when looking for artists to add glamour and glitz to your event. Whether you need a band, duo or solo singer for your next event, you cannot go wrong with A1 Star Tributes.
