Being in a tribute band is...

[70strathead]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

thats totally ridiculous, "Musicians" have to do what they have to do to make ends meet while they are writing/recording originals to and trying to get that deal...as matter of fact i cant think of one famous musician that hasnt gone that route. Tribute bands and Cover bands have to promote just like original bands AND tribute bands play the same venues as original acts, so its not the normal people at the bar, you have to buy a ticket to get in!

 

[headlessdeadguy]

I've played in a few tribute bands...two different Maiden and a Priest act. With the 1st Maiden we had the stage set, an Eddie, fog, pyro the whole deal. It was really a great time.

The Priest act was good too, too bad the signer disappeared.

Done originals, and reg covers too. It's all good in my book, pros and cons either way you go.

What happened to that guy George? He was pretty good.

 

[UltraGary]

(of course everybody has the right to make their choices....but)>
The most enriched times in our musical history did not have tribute bands clogging up the independent music scene.
In a time where internet & society have everyone's attention span & finance for entertainment whittled down to nano-seconds & pennies......tribute bands are taking a good portion of the VERY-reduced live music customers away from new music.
Of course it's their right! (here come the "why not....?!...." replies) .....but with the top side of the music industry such a mess....it bums me out that so few clubs across middle America support live music because of the easy $$ of people dressing up like it's Halloween and acting as a jukebox to patrons who used to give new music a try more often.

 

[RaceU4her]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What about the touring/professional bands that do the occasional cover or two during their sets? I guess they are not musicians with that thinking. Yes, I know big difference, but is the guy that sits in the bedroom and records only his music more of a musician than the guy out there playing covers?

a pro touring band who is touring on music they wrote and recorded themselves.. i have this argument with my father who has been a DJ and in cover bands all his life since the 60s, he calls himself a "musician" when he has never wrote a note of his own in his life and i just dont see how he can call himself a musician. i can buy a box of crayons and draw a half ass copy of the picture on my wall, that in no way makes me an artist just like to me someone who does nothing but literally copy someone elses song all their lives are a guitar player and not a musician.

 

[Zachman]

(of course everybody has the right to make their choices....but)>
The most enriched times in our musical history did not have tribute bands clogging up the independent music scene.
In a time where internet & society have everyone's attention span & finance for entertainment whittled down to nano-seconds & pennies......tribute bands are taking a good portion of the VERY-reduced live music customers away from new music.
Of course it's their right! (here come the "why not....?!...." replies) .....but with the top side of the music industry such a mess....it bums me out that so few clubs across middle America support live music because of the easy $$ of people dressing up like it's Halloween and acting as a jukebox to patrons who used to give new music a try more often.

Ya, but the music business is not now, what it once was. Tribute bands are not clogging up the "independent music scene" at all. They exist because there is a niche to fill, which isn't filled by the "independent scene".

I disagree that they are taking anything away from anyone, (Especially new music, because those who go to tribute shows do so in large to satisfy a sense of nostalgia)--just as I disagree that if one likes blues and jazz that it takes away from something like punk, since the demographic is likely not relative to 'that' scene. They provide a show, which the market takes care of one way or another.

 

[Badronald]

he calls himself a "musician" when he has never wrote a note of his own in his life

I'll have to get on my high horse and agree with you on this one.

 

[ke2]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

 

[Zachman]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

A musician is one who "plays" music. (his own, other's, covers, or for an artist, in a supporting role)

A song writer is one who writes songs, to be played by others or themself, and does not have a direct correlation to their level of proficiency playing a given instrument.

 

[degenaro]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

A musician is one who "plays" music. (his own, other's, covers, or for an artist, in a supporting role)

A song writer is one who writes songs, to be played by others or themself, and does not have a direct correlation to their level of proficiency playing a given instrument.

To add to this...one that plays music with others, unless we're talking solo performances, like acoustic stuff...
Amateur muso...no pay
semi pro...pay but making your bills comes from something else
pro-paying your bills with it...

So when the bestestest shredder that makes zero bread with his playing makes fun of guys in cover or tribute bands feeding themself with it...well I take the muso...

 

[RaceU4her]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

to me you have to have something you can call your own to be a musician or artist. like you said, hired "players" for the artist. if you have never been part of anything original and only play other peoples already written songs be it a cover band, tribute, hired studio/tour guy, i look at you as a guitar "player" in a band at the end of the day. i wouldnt call the guy working on a building from a set of blue prints that he had no part in designing a architect much like i cant call someone who plays something he had no part in creating an artist or musician, they just play guitar

 

[Zachman]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

A musician is one who "plays" music. (his own, other's, covers, or for an artist, in a supporting role)

A song writer is one who writes songs, to be played by others or themself, and does not have a direct correlation to their level of proficiency playing a given instrument.

To add to this...one that plays music with others, unless we're talking solo performances, like acoustic stuff...
Amateur muso...no pay
semi pro...pay but making your bills comes from something else
pro-paying your bills with it...

So when the bestestest shredder that makes zero bread with his playing makes fun of guys in cover or tribute bands feeding themself with it...well I take the muso...

Ya, I never did get why some guys feel the need to diminish what it is that those who play lean toward, in terms of preferences whether it be gear, or genre preferences.

It usually isn't the bestestest guys talking crap about what others do, I am sure in this thread anyway-- that isn't the case.

It's like the joke; How many guitarists does it take to change a light bulb? 99, 1 to actually change the bulb and the other 98 to stand around with their arms crossed talking about how they could've done it better, faster etc...

 

[Zachman]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

to me you have to have something you can call your own to be a musician or artist. like you said, hired "players" for the artist. if you have never been part of anything original and only play other peoples already written songs be it a cover band, tribute, hired studio/tour guy, i look at you as a guitar "player" in a band at the end of the day. i wouldnt call the guy working on a building from a set of blue prints that he had no part in designing a architect much like i cant call someone who plays something he had no part in creating an artist or musician, they just play guitar

The skill required to make "music" with played notes/chords is an art, separate and aside from writing music.

 

[rlord1974]

to me you have to have something you can call your own to be a musician or artist. like you said, hired "players" for the artist. if you have never been part of anything original and only play other peoples already written songs be it a cover band, tribute, hired studio/tour guy, i look at you as a guitar "player" in a band at the end of the day. i wouldnt call the guy working on a building from a set of blue prints that he had no part in designing a architect much like i cant call someone who plays something he had no part in creating an artist or musician, they just play guitar

Love ya' man, but that is absolute nonsense.

With that rationale in mind, half of the "musicians" out there aren't musicians. Some of the biggest earnings acts right now don't even write their own songs! From rock bands, to jazz to soloists like Celine Dion and Shania Twain. Wow, are the amazing individuals playing their string instruments and horns in symphonies across the world not "musicians" just because they're playing Bach and Mozart?

Let's settle this once and for all.....

[And just to help those out that might struggle with the English language, the use of "or" in the below definitions implies the mutual exclusivity of all items included in the related list]

Definition of a "musician":

www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/musician
a composer, conductor, or performer of music; especially : instrumentalist

Collins English Dictionary & Thesaurus
A musician is a person who plays a musical instrument as their job or hobby.

Webster's Dictionary
1. Someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession).
2. Artist who composes or conducts music as a profession.
3. One skilled in the art or science of music; esp., a skilled singer, or performer on a musical instrument.

www.thefreedictionary.com/musician
One who composes, conducts, or performs music, especially instrumental music.

www.yourdictionary.com/musician
a person skilled in music; esp., a professional performer, composer, or conductor of music

dictionary.com
1. a person who makes music a profession, esp. as a performer of music.
2. any person, whether professional or not, skilled in music.

www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Musician
A person who plays or sings music.

wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
someone who plays a musical instrument (as a profession); or
artist who composes or conducts music as a profession

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musician
A musician is a person who performs or writes music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music: * An instrumentalist plays a musical instrument. * A singer (or vocalist) uses his or her voice as an instrument. ...

www.wordiq.com/definition/Musician
A musician is a person who plays or composes music.

Based on the above, it seems there is no argument that a "musician" is simply one that plays music. "Conducting" music also seems to qualify one as a musician, even though they are not actually 'playing' anything. What is clear, however, is that one does not need to compose music to be considered a musician.

Now, if there is someone out there that honestly believes that they are more qualified than the PhDs and teams of researchers that go through exhaustive efforts (including soliciting feedback from hundreds of highly respected scholars, professionals in the fields for which they seek a given definition for, etc.) to arrive at the definitions included in dictionaries and encyclopedias, by all means, have fun refuting the above. I'm going to tune you out though.....

And, for what it's worth, I have been a "musician" for the better part of 22 years, including many years spent in tribute bands and many others spent in original bands. I count them all in my quoted '22' as, clearly, they all qualify as such.

WORD

 

[Shiny_Surface]

to me you have to have something you can call your own to be a musician or artist. like you said, hired "players" for the artist. if you have never been part of anything original and only play other peoples already written songs be it a cover band, tribute, hired studio/tour guy, i look at you as a guitar "player" in a band at the end of the day. i wouldnt call the guy working on a building from a set of blue prints that he had no part in designing a architect much like i cant call someone who plays something he had no part in creating an artist or musician, they just play guitar

I agree, I do have respect for technicians who can reproduce accurately though.

Don't personally care if money is involved to be classified as professional in society, if someone creates art I appreciate I will give them as much courtesy/respect as any highly paid entertainer.

 

[degenaro]

i tend to look at cover and tribute bands as paid entertainers to provide background noise for people that would be at the bar anyway and not musicians.

What makes a musician?

Technical skills, writing skills, image, gear?
Is it enough to perform original songs to be a musician?

I don`t like to toot my own horn, but I firmly believe that I`m twice the "musician" than many band members in famous bands.
Hired guns are usually really good players, because the artist tend to pick the best guys he/she can afford.

I started playing in 1984.

I did the original thing for years, made two albums, did three different tribute acts (Kiss, U2, Metallica), I`ve played the same bill as Pagan`s mind and Jorn Lande/Masterplan.. Now I`m a family father, do the Metallica trib once a year, and an acoustic gig from time to time. Before I moved, I was the bass player that was called if someone needed a fill-in.

But I`m not a musician?

to me you have to have something you can call your own to be a musician or artist. like you said, hired "players" for the artist. if you have never been part of anything original and only play other peoples already written songs be it a cover band, tribute, hired studio/tour guy, i look at you as a guitar "player" in a band at the end of the day. i wouldnt call the guy working on a building from a set of blue prints that he had no part in designing a architect much like i cant call someone who plays something he had no part in creating an artist or musician, they just play guitar

Well looking at members of local 47 here in LA that are by definition are musicians... By your logic they aren't.

 

[RaceU4her]

to me you have to have something you can call your own to be a musician or artist. like you said, hired "players" for the artist. if you have never been part of anything original and only play other peoples already written songs be it a cover band, tribute, hired studio/tour guy, i look at you as a guitar "player" in a band at the end of the day. i wouldnt call the guy working on a building from a set of blue prints that he had no part in designing a architect much like i cant call someone who plays something he had no part in creating an artist or musician, they just play guitar

Love ya' man, but that is absolute nonsense.

With that rationale in mind, half of the "musicians" out there aren't musicians. Some of the biggest earnings acts right now don't even write their own songs! From rock bands, to jazz to soloists like Celine Dion and Shania Twain. Wow, are the amazing individuals playing their string instruments and horns in symphonies across the world not "musicians" just because they're playing Bach and Mozart?

i would say if you can play bach and mozart you are a great horn player, and if you can sing like celine you are a great singer, but if you arent playing or singing something you wrote, i cant call you a great artist or musician as i look at them as the same thing, i look at you as a good horn player or a good singer. there are plenty of "acts" which is exactly what half these big names out there today i dont consider musicians no matter what the dictionary says a "musician" is. is justin beiber or jessica simpson who do whatever they are told a "musician"??

 

[RaceU4her]

Well looking at members of local 47 here in LA that are by definition are musicians... By your logic they aren't.

they play guitar for a living

 

[degenaro]

No they don't. They being musicians play music for a living. And they are guitarists, drummers, cellists, trumpeters, etc...
I get what you're saying except it's so not based in fact. My union card says nothing about guitar nor does my tax return yet both say musician.

 

[FourT6and2]

no choice in the poll for my thoughts....

If you like it, and there is a demand for it to play live, why not? lots of people make decent money doing things like this, plus the live experience is always fun as well.....

If it's something YOU want to do who cares what anyone else thinks.

FWIW: if I could find the right guys to do a TOOL tribute, I'd joing in a heartbeat.

Me too! I loves mah Tool. I jammed with a good drummer the other day. Played a bunch of stuff off Undertow. He was sick.

RaceU4Her, I understand what you're saying and I agree, somewhat. Music is slightly different than many other fields since it requires two aspects that can, indeed, stand alone - art and craft. Playing the guitar requires a physical skill - the actual playing. Some people can play the guitar quite well. But if you lack that artistic ability to create something unique and original then what are you? Terms like Musician, Artist, Guitar Player, and etc. all basically mean the same thing but there are slight differences in emphasis and connotation.

The real question that should be asked is: Are all guitar players musicians? And are all musicians artists?

This entire debate is one of semantics and language, though. Does it really matter at the end of the day? Maybe.

It's interesting that classical musicians were brought up, especially since many classical musicians spend their entire life reproducing the works of other musicians. Yet a composer is nothing without an orchestra to recreate their written works.

Personally, I play guitar, I've written a few licks here and there, but I'm not in a band that writes and performs original stuff. I just do it as a hobby and for fun. I don't make a living off of music. I consider myself a musician, but probably not a musical artist. I posses the capacity to write, compose and perform. But is it art? At this point, no.

 

[Chris6870]

Here is a question for you guys in tribute bands. Did you say I'm going to join/form a Judas Priest (or whoever) tribute band and them learn all their material, or did you get the gig then learn all the material? And where you looking to cover a particular band or did you just get the opportunity and it was a band you were ok with so you took it? I had the chance to join a CCR tribute but I don't know one CCR song.