Dave Matthews is an extremely popular and successful musician who rose to fame as the frontman of the Dave Matthews Band. With hits like “Crash Into Me,” “Ants Marching” and “Satellite,” Dave Matthews has cemented himself as one of the most influential artists of his generation. His unique blend of rock, folk, jazz and world music has earned him a devoted following of fans who flock to his shows year after year.
Given Dave Matthews’ popularity and fame, hiring him to play a show or event does not come cheap. There are many factors that go into determining Dave Matthews’ performance fees, including the type of event, location, production requirements and more. In this article, we’ll break down the typical costs associated with hiring Dave Matthews for a private or public performance.
Dave Matthews Band Touring and Performance History
The Dave Matthews Band formed in Charlottesville, Virginia in 1991 and began touring extensively in the early 1990s. Their live shows became legendary, with improvisational jams and extended versions of songs pleasing their dedicated fans. Despite being an independent band in their early years, they were able to book shows at major venues and festivals thanks to the strength of their live reputation.
Their breakout album “Under the Table and Dreaming” was released in 1994 and went on to sell over 6 million copies. This propelled the band into larger venues and their first arena tour in 1996. The Dave Matthews Band has continued releasing hit albums and touring arenas and stadiums for over 25 years now. They have also founded their own music festival, the now-defunct Dave Matthews Band Caravan.
Some key stats about the Dave Matthews Band’s live shows and tours:
– They have sold over 38 million concert tickets over their career according to Billboard Boxscore.
– Between 2010 and 2019 they grossed over $709 million in tour revenue. Their highest grossing tour was in 2010 when they grossed $72.9 million according to Pollstar’s Top Tours of 2010.
– The band regularly plays multiple nights at venues to meet ticket demand. For example, in 2018 they played 7 shows at The Gorge Amphitheatre in Washington.
– Their tours often include back-to-back dates in cities to accommodate fan demand.
– The band took a break from extensive touring in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They returned to the road in 2022 with an extensive North American tour.
This track record of successful touring and their reputation as an incredible live act allows the band to command high performance fees. Their devoted fanbase is willing to pay premium ticket prices for the chance to see the Dave Matthews Band live.
Factors Impacting Performance Fees
When determining how much it costs to hire Dave Matthews for a show, there are several important factors at play:
Type of Event
Dave Matthews would command the highest performance fee for an event like a major festival or corporate event where he is the main draw. He would likely charge less for a private event like a wedding or party. The band also tours every summer, usually playing amphitheaters and arenas, where ticket prices are around $40-$100 per seat.
Location and Venue Size
The location of the event and venue size will impact the potential fee. For example, Dave Matthews would charge more for a show in a major city like New York versus a remote location. Playing large venues increases their revenue potential as well.
Production Costs
Putting on a Dave Matthews Band concert requires major production elements like lighting, video walls, audio equipment and tour staff. The bigger the production, the higher the performance fee required.
Ticketing and Promotion
For public events like festivals or tours, the band may also take a percentage of ticket sales and merchandise as part of their fee. The promoter covers the costs of advertising, ticketing, and promotion. This reduces the risk to the band.
Support Acts
If the event requires other big name artists to perform besides Dave Matthews, this increases the total budget required. Most festivals have multiple acts on the lineup.
Band Expenses
Hiring Dave Matthews also necessitates covering travel, lodging, food, and per diem costs for the entire touring party. This could include band members, road crew, management, and more. For a major festival, this entourage could be as many as 50-75 people.
Charity Shows
One exception where Dave Matthews may reduce his performance fee substantially is for charity concerts and fundraisers. Given his philanthropic track record, especially for environmental causes, he is willing to do these occasional shows for a good cause.
Price Range for Hiring Dave Matthews
Taking all these factors into account, here is an overview of the typical price range to hire Dave Matthews Band:
Major Festival Headliner
For a major festival where Dave Matthews Band is one of the main headliners, performance fees typically start at $750,000 and can exceed $1 million. Bonnaroo paid the band $1 million in 2013 according to reports. They played right before the festival headliner Paul McCartney.
Public Concert
For a regular tour stop at an arena or amphitheater, the band probably earns between $500,000 to $750,000 per show. Again, they take a percentage of ticket sales here.
Private Event
For a private performance like a wedding or corporate event, the fee will likely be between $250,000 to $500,000 depending on the circumstances.
Charity Event
For charity and benefit shows, Dave Matthews may reduce his fee to $100,000 or even play for free. This allows fundraising proceeds to go fully to the cause.
Here is a table summarizing the typical price range:
Event Type | Price Range |
---|---|
Major Festival Headliner | $750,000 – $1 million + |
Public Concert | $500,000 – $750,000 |
Private Event | $250,000 – $500,000 |
Charity Event | $100,000 or free |
As you can see, even on the lower end of around $250,000, hiring Dave and his full band represents a major expense. The band’s guarantee alone would represent the lion’s share of most event production budgets. Promoters and corporate event planners know that having Dave Matthews on the bill will drive attendance and buzz, justifying the high cost.
How Performance Fees Are Determined
Dave Matthews’ management team at Red Light Management negotiates performance fees on his behalf for all shows and tours. They have decades of experience booking their roster of artists at major festivals, venues, and events worldwide.
There are no publicly posted rates or fee schedules. Rather, fees are negotiated on a case by case basis considering the factors already outlined. The band weighs each opportunity based on their touring schedule, production needs, travel and more.
For the band’s annual summer tours, they work closely with promoters like Live Nation to route a tour that hits major markets in venues that make sense for their production and their ticket sales history in each market. The band and promoters agree on a fair revenue share based on ticket sales forecasts and local operating expenses.
Of course, someone hiring Dave Matthews also takes on the risk if ticket sales underperform expectations. The band still gets paid their negotiated fee regardless. The bulk of revenue beyond Dave’s fee goes to cover local venue fees, staff, marketing, and the band’s considerable touring overhead.
Is Hiring Dave Matthews Worth the Investment?
Big name artists like Dave Matthews have the leverage to command premium prices due to the value they provide for events. Dave Matthews delivers on a few fronts that make the high costs worthwhile:
Proven Box Office Appeal
Fans reliably turn out to see Dave Matthews Band in concert year after year. For festivals or venues with tickets to sell, he helps drive attendance and revenue.
Veteran Performers
After 30+ years of touring, the band are seasoned professionals who know how to deliver a compelling live show.
Production Value
Seeing the band’s LED-filled production in an arena or stadium setting heightens the thrill and impact.
Mainstream Appeal
Dave Matthews Band appeals to a wide swath of listeners thanks to their radio hits and blend of genres.
Buzz and Credibility
Having Dave Matthews on the lineup generates buzz and credibility for any festival or event. It’s a major coup to book him.
Very few artists can promise these benefits like Dave Matthews Band. Given the rising costs of event production and marketing, it makes sense to pay a premium for proven crowd pleasers. Even with the high talent costs, the band helps drive revenue through ticket sales, concessions, sponsorships and more.
In most cases Dave Matthews Band represents an extremely sound investment, albeit a very expensive one. They have an especially strong appeal for festivals, with their crossover appeal between jam, rock and pop audiences. If you can afford the millions in upfront costs, you’re almost guaranteed a profitable event.
How to Make the Performance Feasible
Clearly not every promoter or event planner has seven-figure budgets to afford Dave Matthews Band’s fees. Here are some tips to help make hiring Dave Matthews feasible:
– Partner with a major tour promoter like Live Nation who can package the show as part of a larger tour. This spreads the costs across multiple events.
– Book Dave Matthews as just one headliner at a festival with lower-priced supporting acts helping to offset costs. A mix of old and new artists also appeals to more fans.
– Consider booking one or two band members acoustically for a more affordable private event. Seeing even part of the band offers great cachet.
– For charity events, appeal to the band’s philanthropic spirit to reduce their fee. A great cause helps overcome budgets.
– Produce the performance as cost-effectively as possible. Outdoor concerts and simpler production help reduce expenses.
– Maximize revenue opportunities via ticket sales, concessions, merch, and corporate sponsorship sales. Enhanced VIP packages also help recoup costs.
– Negotiate payment terms with the band’s management team that allow you to cover their fee through post-event revenue like ticketing settlements, rather than all upfront.
With the right business plan and negotiation, even less-established event producers can pull off a successful Dave Matthews Band concert or appearance. His fee demands may be sky-high, but the rewards of booking Dave are worth stretching those budgets as far as possible.
Conclusion
In the live music industry, few artists can command the premium performance fees available to Dave Matthews Band. Thanks to their broad fanbase, extensive touring history and reputation as an amazing live act, prices start in the high six-figures. Top festivals readily pay $1 million or more for Dave Matthews to anchor their lineup.
His veteran management negotiates fees on a case-by-case basis, weighing factors like event type, location, production needs and revenue potential. Of course, budgets are always a concern for event producers. But given the band’s guarantee to deliver satisfied crowds and serious profits, they remain a highly worthwhile investment even at their lofty pricing. With the right business planning, even newcomers can make hiring Dave Matthews work and bring his magic to their event or venue.