1. Their actual performance
Start with the most important question:
Can they deliver the experience we’re promising our guests?
Ask:
- What tribute act are you presenting, and how authentic is the show?
- Is the band a dedicated tribute act or a general classic-rock cover band?
- How long have you been performing together?
- How many shows do you perform each year?
- Can we see recent full-length video of a live performance—not just promotional clips?
- Can we see video from a venue/event similar to ours?
- How much of the performance is scripted/choreographed?
- Do you perform in costume?
- Do you use replicas of the original band’s instruments, clothing, stage props, etc.?
- How closely do you reproduce the original band’s sound?
- How long is your normal performance?
- How many sets do you typically play?
- Can you customize the setlist for our audience?
One particularly important question:
“If we hired you today, what would our guests experience from the moment you walk on stage until you leave?”
Their answer can tell you a lot about how professionally they think about the show.
2. References from comparable events
For a high-profile event, I would absolutely request references.
Don’t just ask for three references. Ask specifically for:
“Can you give us contact information for three recent clients who hired you for an event of similar size, budget, and profile?”
Then ask those clients:
- Were they on time?
- Did they communicate well?
- Did they meet the contractual requirements?
- Did they require additional money?
- Did they work well with your event planner?
- Were they easy to work with?
- Did they perform as promised?
- How was their interaction with guests?
- How was their interaction with the venue?
- Would you hire them again?
That last question is particularly revealing.
3. Professionalism and reliability
For a major event, reliability may be just as important as musical ability.
Ask:
- Who is our primary contact?
- Who is responsible for the band on event day?
- How early will you arrive?
- How long do you need for load-in?
- How long does setup take?
- How long does soundcheck take?
- When will you be completely stage-ready?
- What happens if a band member becomes sick?
- Do you have substitute musicians available?
- Have you ever cancelled a contracted performance?
- Do you carry backup equipment?
- Who handles communication with the event producer?
I’d specifically ask:
“Tell us about the worst thing that has gone wrong at one of your shows and how you handled it.”
You can learn a tremendous amount from that answer.
4. Production requirements
This is where seemingly inexpensive bands can become expensive.
Get a complete technical rider before making your decision.
You need to know:
Stage
- Minimum stage dimensions
- Stage height
- Stage covering
- Backdrop requirements
- Lighting requirements
- Power requirements
- Weather requirements if outdoors
Sound
- Do they provide their own PA?
- Do you need to provide the PA?
- Do they provide a sound engineer?
- Do they require a house engineer?
- Number of inputs/channels
- Monitor requirements
- Microphones
- DI boxes
- Subwoofers
- Wireless microphones
- In-ear monitoring
Lighting
- Do they provide lighting?
- What type?
- Do they require a lighting technician?
- Do they have a lighting plot?
Video
- Do they require video screens?
- Do they provide visuals?
- Do they use backing video?
- Do they need a video operator?
A band that says “We just need a stage and electricity” may not actually be giving you the complete picture.
5. The “hidden costs” question
Ask for a complete event-day cost, not merely the performance fee.
Get everything in writing:
- Performance fee
- Travel
- Airfare
- Hotel
- Ground transportation
- Meals/per diem
- Equipment rental
- Sound engineer
- Lighting
- Backline
- Stagehands
- Setup
- Teardown
- Overtime
- Rehearsal
- Additional sets
- Special requests
- Taxes
- Service charges
Ask:
“What additional costs should we budget for beyond your quoted performance fee?”
Then ask:
“Is there anything that could cause the final invoice to be higher than the contracted amount?”
6. Setlist and audience
Classic rock covers an enormous range.
Ask them for their complete current setlist.
Then look at:
- 1960s vs. 1970s vs. 1980s
- Hard rock vs. pop rock
- Danceable songs
- Slow songs
- Familiarity of songs
- Appropriate material for your audience
If this is a corporate or VIP event, you may want to avoid having the band simply play their normal bar set.
Ask:
“How much can you customize your show for our particular audience?”
You could also provide a list of 10–20 songs you’d particularly like them to perform.
7. Stage presence
Don’t evaluate only how well they play.
Watch for:
- How they interact with the audience
- Energy
- Appearance
- Professional clothing/costumes
- Movement on stage
- Vocal quality
- Transitions between songs
- MC ability
- Crowd interaction
- Whether the singer dominates appropriately
- Whether the show feels polished
For a major event, the audience is buying an experience—not simply 90 minutes of music.
1. Their actual performance
Start with the most important question:
Can they deliver the experience we’re promising our guests?
Ask:
- What tribute act are you presenting, and how authentic is the show?
- Is the band a dedicated tribute act or a general classic-rock cover band?
- How long have you been performing together?
- How many shows do you perform each year?
- Can we see recent full-length video of a live performance—not just promotional clips?
- Can we see video from a venue/event similar to ours?
- How much of the performance is scripted/choreographed?
- Do you perform in costume?
- Do you use replicas of the original band’s instruments, clothing, stage props, etc.?
- How closely do you reproduce the original band’s sound?
- How long is your normal performance?
- How many sets do you typically play?
- Can you customize the setlist for our audience?
One particularly important question:
“If we hired you today, what would our guests experience from the moment you walk on stage until you leave?”
Their answer can tell you a lot about how professionally they think about the show.
2. References from comparable events
For a high-profile event, I would absolutely request references.
Don’t just ask for three references. Ask specifically for:
“Can you give us contact information for three recent clients who hired you for an event of similar size, budget, and profile?”
Then ask those clients:
- Were they on time?
- Did they communicate well?
- Did they meet the contractual requirements?
- Did they require additional money?
- Did they work well with your event planner?
- Were they easy to work with?
- Did they perform as promised?
- How was their interaction with guests?
- How was their interaction with the venue?
- Would you hire them again?
That last question is particularly revealing.
3. Professionalism and reliability
For a major event, reliability may be just as important as musical ability.
Ask:
- Who is our primary contact?
- Who is responsible for the band on event day?
- How early will you arrive?
- How long do you need for load-in?
- How long does setup take?
- How long does soundcheck take?
- When will you be completely stage-ready?
- What happens if a band member becomes sick?
- Do you have substitute musicians available?
- Have you ever cancelled a contracted performance?
- Do you carry backup equipment?
- Who handles communication with the event producer?
I’d specifically ask:
“Tell us about the worst thing that has gone wrong at one of your shows and how you handled it.”
You can learn a tremendous amount from that answer.
4. Production requirements
This is where seemingly inexpensive bands can become expensive.
Get a complete technical rider before making your decision.
You need to know:
Stage
- Minimum stage dimensions
- Stage height
- Stage covering
- Backdrop requirements
- Lighting requirements
- Power requirements
- Weather requirements if outdoors
Sound
- Do they provide their own PA?
- Do you need to provide the PA?
- Do they provide a sound engineer?
- Do they require a house engineer?
- Number of inputs/channels
- Monitor requirements
- Microphones
- DI boxes
- Subwoofers
- Wireless microphones
- In-ear monitoring
Lighting
- Do they provide lighting?
- What type?
- Do they require a lighting technician?
- Do they have a lighting plot?
Video
- Do they require video screens?
- Do they provide visuals?
- Do they use backing video?
- Do they need a video operator?
A band that says “We just need a stage and electricity” may not actually be giving you the complete picture.
5. The “hidden costs” question
Ask for a complete event-day cost, not merely the performance fee.
Get everything in writing:
- Performance fee
- Travel
- Airfare
- Hotel
- Ground transportation
- Meals/per diem
- Equipment rental
- Sound engineer
- Lighting
- Backline
- Stagehands
- Setup
- Teardown
- Overtime
- Rehearsal
- Additional sets
- Special requests
- Taxes
- Service charges
Ask:
“What additional costs should we budget for beyond your quoted performance fee?”
Then ask:
“Is there anything that could cause the final invoice to be higher than the contracted amount?”
6. Setlist and audience
Classic rock covers an enormous range.
Ask them for their complete current setlist.
Then look at:
- 1960s vs. 1970s vs. 1980s
- Hard rock vs. pop rock
- Danceable songs
- Slow songs
- Familiarity of songs
- Appropriate material for your audience
If this is a corporate or VIP event, you may want to avoid having the band simply play their normal bar set.
Ask:
“How much can you customize your show for our particular audience?”
You could also provide a list of 10–20 songs you’d particularly like them to perform.
7. Stage presence
Don’t evaluate only how well they play.
Watch for:
- How they interact with the audience
- Energy
- Appearance
- Professional clothing/costumes
- Movement on stage
- Vocal quality
- Transitions between songs
- MC ability
- Crowd interaction
- Whether the singer dominates appropriately
- Whether the show feels polished
For a major event, the audience is buying an experience—not simply 90 minutes of music.