Why book through a licensed tribute agency?
Anyone can list bands on a website. In California, only a licensed talent agency can legally procure engagements for artists. That license comes with a state-approved contract, a surety bond and oversight by the Labor Commissioner. For a buyer, that means:
- One accountable contract. You sign with the agency, not with five musicians and a manager.
- Protection if something goes wrong. Licensed and bonded means there is a regulated company behind your date.
- Vetted acts, not listings. Every act on our roster has been reviewed for show quality, production readiness and reliability before we put it in front of a buyer.
- A single point of contact from first quote to final encore — routing, riders, advancing and day-of-show questions all go through one agent.
Directories and marketplaces connect you to a band. An agency stands behind the booking.
Tributes aren't a sideline here
Plenty of entertainment companies added a "tribute" category in the last few years. MZ was built on it. Michael Twombly founded the agency after booking his own Cure tribute act, The Cured, and has worked the tribute market from both sides of the stage since 2008 — performer and agent.
That focus shows up in the details that decide whether a show works: which acts sell tickets in a 1,200-seat casino showroom versus a free summer concert in the park, which acts can carry a festival mainstage, and which ones fit a corporate room where the audience didn't buy a ticket.
What we book
| Buyer | What we provide |
|---|---|
| Casinos and resorts | Showroom headliners, weekend residencies, lounge acts, multi-act packages (For casinos) |
| Performing arts centers | Ticketed tribute concerts with proven draw (For PACs) |
| Festivals and fairs | Mainstage headliners and full-day lineups (For festivals and fairs) |
| Cities and concert series | Summer series, holiday events, community celebrations |
| Corporate events | Galas, conferences, holiday parties, brand events (For corporate events) |
| Private events and weddings | Tribute and cover bands for celebrations of any size (For wedding venues) |
Roster depth: classic rock to today's chart-toppers — "ABBA to ZZ Top" — plus country acts, Latin tributes (bandas tributos), and modern-artist tributes to acts like Bruno Mars, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Dua Lipa and Post Malone. Acts have played international dates including Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.
How booking works
- Tell us about the event — date, city, venue size, audience and budget. (Request an Act)
- Get a shortlist and quote — usually within one business day, with video, EPKs and production needs for each act.
- Hold the date and sign — one agency contract on the state-approved form.
- We advance the show — rider, stage plot, travel and timing, confirmed before show week.
- Show day — your agent stays reachable start to finish.
What does a tribute band cost?
Most professional tribute bookings fall between $5,000 and $25,000. The full market runs from about $1,500 for a local cover band to $50,000+ for a large production show. For a standard 5-piece tribute:
| Routing | Typical 5-piece fee |
|---|---|
| Local (drive-in) | $3,500 – $10,000 |
| Regional (in-state / neighboring state) | $5,000 – $12,500 |
| National fly-in | $7,500 – $17,500 |
Day of week, lineup size, production and travel all move the number. Full breakdown: How much does a tribute band cost?