The Steve Miller Band is an American rock band formed in 1966 in San Francisco, California. The band is led by Steve Miller on guitar and lead vocals. Originally a psychedelic blues band, the group shifted to a more mainstream pop rock sound by the mid-1970s. In 2018, Steve Miller was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Typical Costs to Book Steve Miller Band
The typical cost to book the Steve Miller Band for a live performance in 2023 ranges from $200,000 to $500,000 or more depending on the specifics of the event. Major factors that affect the booking price include:
- Type of Event – Festivals, fairs, or corporate events generally cost less than private performances.
- Location – Prices are higher for destinations that require more travel.
- Date – Summer and holiday weekends demand higher fees.
- Set Length – Longer sets of 90 minutes or more cost more than 60-minute sets.
- Production – Special stage, sound, and lighting requests can add expenses.
On average, Steve Miller Band costs between $250,000-$300,000 for a 90-minute set according to booking agents. However, they have been known to charge over $500,000 for private events and over $1 million for some festivals.
Factors That Influence Cost
Type of Show
The type of performance or event that Steve Miller Band is hired for has a major impact on the booking price. Public concerts and festivals generally have lower fees starting around $200k. Fairs and corporate events average $250-300k. More exclusive private events can run $500k or higher.
Location and Travel
Where the performance is located geographically also affects the cost. If significant travel is required such as international destinations or remote domestic locations, the price increases to cover transportation expenses. Within the United States, costs are lower for venues situated near the band’s home base in Idaho.
Date and Season
The specific date and season also influence pricing. Peak summer concert season and holiday weekends like July 4th or Labor Day demand the highest rates. Off-season weeknights and Sundays are more affordable. Similarly, public holiday events around Christmas, New Years and major festivals jack up the fees.
Set Length
How long the Steve Miller Band is expected to play determines the baseline price. A typical set is 60 to 90 minutes. Shorter sets of 30-60 minutes understandably cost less than longer 90+ minute performances. The band also occasionally does 2-3 hour marathon sets for special occasions which significantly increase the rate.
Production Needs
What kind of stage, sound system, lighting rig, and other production elements are required factors into the bottom line. Basic productions can be covered for the base fee. However, unique stages, expanded lighting and sound, and other special requests can tack on expenses to the performance cost.
Booking Steve Miller Band in 2023 and Beyond
Despite being inducted into the Rock Hall in 2018, Steve Miller Band remains an active touring band in 2023. They continue to perform 60-100 shows or more per year at venues across North America. Typical tour legs hit major markets like Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, Atlanta, and Toronto among other cities.
The band has not announced any plans to stop touring. As long as Steve Miller is actively fronting the group, they expect to have a regular presence on the road, likely playing a similar schedule in 2023 and the next couple years. Fans can anticipate 60-90 shows per year minimum through at least 2025 if not longer.
How Much Other Classic Rock Bands Cost
For comparison, here are the typical booking costs for other major classic rock bands from the ’60s and ’70s still touring in 2023:
Artist | Avg. Cost |
---|---|
The Rolling Stones | $5 million+ |
Paul McCartney | $2-3 million |
The Who | $1-2 million |
Santana | $500k-$1 million |
Chicago | $250-500k |
Doobie Brothers | $100-250k |
The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and The Who command the highest fees due to their legendary status. Santana, Chicago, Doobie Brothers, and Steve Miller Band fall more in the middle tier of classic rock bands costing a few hundred thousand on average.
How Much Steve Miller Band Has Made
Over 50+ years touring and recording, Steve Miller Band has generated tens of millions in revenue. Some key milestones and estimates:
- Sales: 30+ million albums sold worldwide
- Tours: $42 million gross from 932 shows played between 2005-2015 per Pollstar data
- Streaming: Over 1 billion on-demand streams since 2014
- Catalog value: $150 million+ based on a typical music catalog multiple of 10-15x annual royalties
Steve Miller Band remains a consistent draw on tour and continues generating solid royalty income from sustained streaming, catalog sales, and radio airplay. Conservative estimates place the band’s total career earnings well over $200 million and counting.
Is Steve Miller Band Worth the Price?
For fans of Steve Miller Band’s long list of ’70s and ’80s hits, the typical $200-300k cost to book them for concerts and events delivers excellent value compared to other legacy bands. The band consistently delivers high energy shows spanning their catalog of songs like “The Joker”, “Fly Like an Eagle”, “Rock’n Me”, and “Abracadabra” that audiences love.
Promoters and corporate sponsors also find Steve Miller Band generates strong ticket sales and ROI relative to their fee. While iconic groups like The Rolling Stones and McCartney tour much less frequently for exponentially higher prices, Steve Miller Band provides more accessible nostalgic fun at a reasonable rate compared to peers. For both fans and showrunners, the band remains a worthy booking within reach.
How to Book Steve Miller Band
To hire Steve Miller Band, the best method is contacting their management team at Iconic Artists Group:
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (615) 761-4321
Provide details on the type of event, preferred date(s), set length, budget, and any special requests. The earlier you inquire the better, as their schedule books up 6-12 months in advance for peak summer seasons. Be prepared to put down a 25-50% deposit to secure a date once approved. Having some booking history and industry relationships also helps secure top classic rock acts like Steve Miller Band.
Is Steve Miller Band Still Touring?
Yes, Steve Miller Band is still actively touring as of 2023. The band continues to play a busy schedule of shows year-round, typically between 60-100 concerts annually. Over the past decade they have consistently performed at amphitheaters, festivals, fairs, casinos and other venues across North America.
Some recent and upcoming Steve Miller Band tour dates:
- October 2022 – Performances in Indiana, Michigan, New York
- November 2022 – Shows in Florida, South Carolina
- June 2023 – Concerts planned in California, Oregon, Washington
- July 2023 – Dates at Milwaukee Summerfest, Ottawa Bluesfest
The band also has overseas performances periodically planned in Europe, though they focus heavily on U.S. and Canadian dates. There are no signs Steve Miller intends to stop touring anytime soon. Fans can expect to continue seeing regular shows announced into 2024 and beyond.
Setlist Expectations
Since Steve Miller Band has an extensive catalog of hits spanning multiple decades, their live setlists vary from show to show. However, fans can count on hearing most of the following songs:
- “Fly Like an Eagle”
- “Space Cowboy”
- “The Joker”
- “Jet Airliner”
- “Jungle Love”
- “Swingtown”
- “Abracadabra”
- “Rock’n Me”
- “Take the Money and Run”
These singles and fan favorites make up the core of a Steve Miller Band setlist along with deeper album cuts and blues standards. Sets typically last 90-120 minutes allowing the band to fit in 20-25 songs per show. The set varies night to night, keeping fans on their toes as to what rarities they may unveil.
Band Members
While Steve Miller has anchored the band for over 50 years, the lineup has changed frequently since their 1960s inception. Current members of Steve Miller Band are:
- Steve Miller – Guitar, Vocals
- Kenny Lee Lewis – Guitar
- Joseph Wooten – Keyboards
- Jacob Petersen – Bass
- Sonny Charles – Drums
This core group has played together for over a decade now, providing consistency in recent years after many member changes throughout the 1970s-2000s eras.
Why Steve Miller Band is Worth Booking
There are many great reasons to book Steve Miller Band for concerts, festivals, fairs, corporate events, and private functions:
- Hit catalog – A deep well of recognizable classic rock hits spanning decades
- Live energy – Still delivers dynamic, crowd-pleasing shows after 50+ years performing
- Fan base – Draws multi-generational crowds across North America
- Affordability – Reasonable price compared to other legacy acts and Rock Hall inductees
- Reliability – Reputation for professionalism and fulfilling obligations
- Relevant – Recent Hall of Fame induction keeps band visible and in-demand
Promoters can count on big crowds and excited fans when Steve Miller Band comes to town. The band consistently rewards the booking cost through strong ticket sales, sponsorships, concessions, and merch revenue.
Bottom Line
Booking Steve Miller Band offers excellent nostalgic entertainment value for any public event, festival, or private occasion. The band delivers hit after crowd-pleasing hit in energetic live performances. Compared to other aging rock bands, Steve Miller Band is reasonably affordable, reliable and eager to keep making fans happy well into their 6th decade and beyond.