RED FLAGS FOR BOOKING BANDS
By Liz Berg McNichols
After years of performing, booking talent, and working alongside venues, festivals, corporate planners, and entertainment buyers, I’ve learned that there are usually warning signs long before a problematic band creates issues for an event.
Of course, every band starts somewhere, and there are always exceptions. But if you’re hiring entertainment for a festival, corporate event, park district, theater, or venue, here are a few red flags worth paying attention to.
1. More Than One Band Is Using the Same Name
Some bands argue that if another group with the same name is located in a different state, it’s not a big deal. I strongly disagree.
To me, it demonstrates apathy and laziness right out of the gate. Your band name is your brand. If a group is unwilling to do the work to secure something original and distinctive, what else are they cutting corners on?
It also creates major confusion for buyers trying to research bands online. I’ve personally seen venues accidentally promote the wrong band because multiple acts were using the same name. Beyond the confusion, there is also the potential risk of legal issues and cease-and-desist letters down the road.
Professional entertainment companies protect their identity and reputation carefully.
2. The Only Photos You Can Find Are Obvious AI Cartoons
AI can absolutely save busy bandleaders time, and there are some genuinely fun promotional tools available now. Used creatively and sparingly, it can be a great asset.
But when the ONLY photos you can find of a band are the very obvious, cartoon-looking AI constructions, that usually tells me something else entirely.
In many cases, it suggests the band doesn’t have a regular lineup and is rotating substitute musicians in and out for nearly every performance. If there’s no real photography of the actual group consistently performing together, that’s often because the lineup changes constantly.
Consistency matters. Chemistry matters. Experience performing together matters.
3. They Never Post Full-Length Videos
This is one of the biggest giveaways in the industry.
If every clip online is seven seconds long with constant jump cuts, there’s usually a reason.
Strong bands are proud to show complete songs live because they can actually perform complete songs live. When a band avoids posting uninterrupted performances, it often indicates they struggle to get through songs cleanly without mistakes.
Short promo clips can be exciting and useful for social media marketing. But buyers should always look for evidence that a band can sustain quality over the course of an entire song — and ultimately, an entire evening.
4. They Play Mostly Bars and Pubs During the Summer
This one may surprise some people.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with bars and pubs. Many are wonderful venues with loyal crowds and fantastic owners.
However, summer is peak season for higher-end entertainment opportunities. The strongest regional bands are often heavily booked with festivals, corporate events, private events, concert series, and large community productions during those months.
If a band spends nearly every summer weekend exclusively in small bar settings, it can sometimes indicate they are not competitive in the higher-tier event market.
Entertainment buyers should look carefully at where bands are being trusted to perform during prime season.
5. Only One Lead Singer
This may be my most controversial opinion.
People immediately respond with examples like Aerosmith or Guns N’ Roses as exceptions, but there’s a major difference between international touring acts with massive touring infrastructure and regional event bands responsible for your local festival or corporate event. Aerosmith and Guns N Roses have notoriously canceled lots of shows, too.
When a band relies entirely on one lead singer, everything hinges on one person’s health and availability. If that singer gets sick, injured, or loses their voice, the entire show is at risk.
Bands with multiple lead vocalists and multi-instrumentalists often have far more flexibility and reliability. They can adapt, rotate responsibilities, and continue performing at a high level even when unexpected situations arise.
Reliability matters more than people realize — especially for buyers responsible for large public events.
Final Thoughts
At the end of the day, booking entertainment is about far more than flashy promo clips and social media hype.
Professionalism, consistency, preparation, reliability, and experience are what truly separate great bands from risky ones.
The best entertainment buyers know they are not simply hiring musicians. They are hiring peace of mind.
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Liz Berg McNichols is a talent agent with Bass-Schuler Entertainment and a Grammy voter.