A Booking Agent Told Me This… And Bands Are Not Going to Like It!

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I got an email this week that stopped me cold.
One of my long-time industry sources, a booking agent working the Chicago and surrounding markets, reached out after watching the channel. What they said confirms what a lot of musicians suspect but don’t want to hear.
There is a massive lack of originality in the bands they are being asked to book.
This agent deals directly with buyers for summer festivals, outdoor events, and large showcases, and the message coming back is loud and clear. They are burned out on the same recycled acts. They are tired of tribute bands. They are desperate for something that feels new, different, and alive.
In this video, I read and break down that email and talk honestly about what it means for working musicians right now. Why playing it safe is suddenly the riskiest move you can make. Why copying a known formula might get you booked once, but not keep you relevant. And why originality is becoming currency again after years of nostalgia-driven booking.
I also talk about:
• Why buyers are pushing back on tribute bands
• What “original” actually means to a booking agent
• The difference between sounding familiar and sounding replaceable
• How bands can stand out without reinventing the wheel
• What festival buyers are really asking for behind closed doors
This isn’t a rant. It’s a reality check from inside the machine.
If you’re in a band, trying to get booked, or wondering why the phone isn’t ringing like it used to, this conversation matters. The market is shifting, and the artists who adapt are going to be the ones still standing when the summer stages go up.
Sometimes the most important music business advice doesn’t come from a seminar.
It comes from an email you weren’t expecting.
Listen carefully 🎶🔥

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