Should I hire a tribute act for my social club?
A handy guide to booking a tribute act for your social club in 2023
If you're looking to try some new entertainment at your social club, the idea of hosting a tribute night is a no brainer. There are so many family friendly tribute acts to choose what that are guaranteed to get any audience up singing and dancing! With many years of experience in the entertainment industry, we've used our expertise here at Henderson Management to answer that all important question we are commonly asked, 'should I hire a tribute act for my social club?'
What type of act should I book?
When booking an act for your social club, it's very important to put yourself in the customers shoes. Whether it's a ticketed event or you just want to put on something more enjoyable for members, you should always put yourself in their shoes and ask yourself 'what would my audience want to see?'
It's very easy to let your own personal music taste get in the way when you're arranging a tribute night, so always keep your audience in mind when choosing your act(s).
Check out our popular acts for ideas!
Will my social club have enough space for a tribute act?
One of the most important things to consider when booking a tribute act is space. Bands in particular will always need a reasonable amount of space to setup and perform. We'd usually recommend approximately 1.5 meters square per person (and allow 2 square meters for a drummer). Remember, space is needed in front and to the sides of the band to accommodate their PA, speakers and lighting stands. If you don't have the space for a full band show, there are plenty of fantastic solo tribute acts which may be more suitable for your club!
Minimum band stage size requirements
3 piece band: 3 x 3 meters
4 piece band: 4 meters wide by 3 meters deep
5 and 6 piece band: 5 meters wide by 3 meters deep
7 piece and bigger: 5/6 meters wide by 4 meters deep
Will I need a license for live entertainment?
Assuming you already have a PPL/PRS license to play recorded music in your social club, whether a license is needed for LIVE entertainment will depend on the circumstances. A licence is not required to stage a performance of live music, or the playing of recorded music if:-
- It takes place between 8AM and 11PM; and
- It takes place at an alcohol on-licensed premises; and
- The audience is no larger than 500 people
In other circumstances (if you're putting on a bigger event/festival for example) a licence may be required. One licence application can cover all types of regulated entertainment, this really differs depending on your event so it's always a good idea to do your research on laws and licensing for your specific situation!
How long do tribute acts perform for?
Most acts will perform for 60-90 minutes as a standard. 1 x 60 minute set or 2 x 45 minute sets are our most common performance formats for live bands as well as solo singers, duos etc.