Touring opportunities for cover bands

[Sober]

To those of you who have a solid cover band: You don't have to be stuck in your hometown playing the same two bars every 3rd Friday of the month.

If you have a really solid demo/press package, and have a group that's able to commit to short tours, there are ways to do it and have a shitload of fun. You might even make a little money (!).

First option is Club Med Artists. It actually doesn't pay, but your stay, food, drinks (all drinks, and tipping isn't required, as bartenders are there on the same system) and activities (scuba, etc.) are free. You do have to pay your airfare. Your only obligation is to play about an hour/day. The hardest part is being sober enough to get through your set. These are generally ~1 week gigs. Each performer may bring one guest, who shares all the sweet benefits. Locations include Bahamas, Brazil, etc. I've had bandmates do this, and they speak very highly of it. A sick vacation for the price of airfare? Done.

The second option, which I have personal experience with, is Armed Forces Entertainment. AFE isn't quite Diet-USO, it's more like the Sam's Choice "Dr. USO." The program provides live acts to bases and posts around the world. While you don't get to pick your destination, you only go to green zones, and remote locations get precedence. I have friends who have toured Guam, Japan, Iceland, and most of Europe with AFE. I myself went to Korea last year to play at Kunsan Air Force Base. AFE does pay, I recall it being generally $50/day you're on the road. At the time I was playing with a better-known band, so I got $100/day. Lodging is provided, food is often free, and soldiers will pretty much buy all your drinks for you, because they're really excited to see people with long hair. I believe you are limited to touring something like 45 days/year with AFE.

Anyway, I miss doing these things, because they're fricking awesome. I'm putting together my own kits right now, so I can get the ball rolling on both of these. I'll likely do two profiles for each. One with my full band project, and one as a solo Johnny Cash act. Just started doing the Cash demo, to give you an idea of what level of quality is needed, especially for tribute-type acts:

Folsom Prison Blues

Feel free to ask about either of these groups. I'll answer as best I can.

So, who has similar experience with other entertainment providers? Does anyone have cruise ship experience?

[Hoblit]

Or you could just move to a moderately sized Florida city and do pretty well.

[jb]

How's the retirement and benefits plan?

[Sober]

I do pretty well in Dallas, even though it's crappy for music. AFE is contract labor, and Med is just a services trade.

I'm sure I'll be concerned about retirement one day, jb. Right now I don't even have health insurance.

ENOUGH THREADJACKING, BUTTHEADS.

[Caravan Ray]

Folsom Prison Blues

If we have a Johnny Cah cover fight - you win.

That's pretty bloody good.

[Sober]

Thanks, I've been doing it a while. I get the hair all done up and everything.

[Billy's Little Trip]

That does NOT sound like a guy that can do a 540 on an incline.
...pretty good, dude.

[Hoblit]

How's the retirement and benefits plan?

By my eye witness accounts, it doesn't look like any of the Florida cover bands know anything about retirement.

[Caravan Ray]

That Club Med thing looks very cool.

I'm thinking a set of Steve Irwin khakis, a hat with corks, a carpet snake and a few blue-tounged lizards in a sack and half a dozen standard bush-ballads (with didge solo) - and I'm ready to go in the cruiseship-style pissweak-cabaret caper.