What makes a good tribute act

A tribute band seeks to re-create the musical experience of the original. Band members of successful tribute acts are musically-gifted and have an emotional attachment to the famous bands they are paying homage to. Over the years, tribute bands in the UK have made their presence felt, and garnered a following of their own. To fans, they are the next best thing to experiencing the real thing, and a cost-effective way to enjoy a few hours of memorable songs and in-the-flesh performances. But not all tribute acts deliver the feel and level of authenticity you hope for. For every fantastic ABBA, Beatles or Genesis tribute band there are half-a-dozen below-average ones. Keep in mind that a tribute act piques people's interest and is an exciting proposition for potential visitors to events like fund-raisers. Before you hire one however, do your homework, read reviews, and check out a few bands in person, to make an informed choice. As a rule of thumb, here are some things you should look for in a tribute act.

Shouldn't deviate from the original musical compositions

You would naturally expect an ABBA tribute band to present the super-famous Swedish group's songs in the same way as recorded, or as performed at their live events. Even a small deviation or attempt at introducing a newer sound can backfire. From sounds and lyrics to harmonizing, a good tribute back will approach the band's music more academically than innovatively, with the ultimate aim being to avoid errors on stage and deliver sounds that resemble the original very closely.

Dress and act the part

Members of a good tribute band will go the extra mile to dress up, act and perform dance steps reminiscent of their original counterparts. To do this successfully, the band will of course need to know the A-Z of live shows details about the band they play tribute to. This means glitzy glamorous costumes (and a couple of costume changes) for pop bands and leather pants, chains, wild hair (and even make-up) for rock and grunge. Every band has its own image, with vocalists, guitarists and drummers flaunting their unique styles on stage. Besides capturing their mannerisms, a good tribute band will need to dress the part first.

Stage settings

Creating the right stage ambience that transports you to the 60's or 80's is necessary to deliver a true concert experience to the audience. Stage settings, lightshows (if any) and other aspects that create the wholesome mood and feel of an ABBA or Beatles show or a more edgy Madonna concert, can make a huge difference in the way the audience perceives the tribute act.

Must engage the audience

The golden rule for all music bands in general, is to engage the audience in the best way possible. A tribute band must encourage audience participation, and in fact, try to incorporate this at strategic moments in their performances (such as asking the audience to join in during the chorus). A tight, well-planned song schedule is imperative to an overall entertaining show. Photo credit by Goognight London