To contact Bob for bookings: hotfudge@cfu.net
(319) 277-4007
P.O. Box 14, Cedar Falls, IA 50613-0010

Thanks for your interest in having The Blue Band play at your event! We are a 100% self produced, self managed group. We have often worked thru agents and brokers but have no exclusive ties with any agency at this time. If you want us, you've come to the right spot!

Of all the jobs that I do for The Blue Band, booking the group seems to be the most difficult and my least favorite. Pricing the jobs often is the toughest part. Everyone in the group derives his biggest portion of yearly income from playing in the band. This isn't a hobby. It's our livelihood. We have members of the band from Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Iowa City, Cedar Rapids and Des Moines. There are always road expenses involved no matter where we play. All of the players in the group are among the state of Iowa's premiere players at the instrument they play. Many of them are inducted members of various regional music halls of fame.

OK, so all you really wanted to know by stopping by this page is: are we available for the date you have in mind and how much does it cost. We do a really good job of keeping our web tour calendar as up to date as possible, so you can find out the availability on the tour schedule page of this website. Most nightclub dates are "moveable" if your party HAS to be on one of those dates. Price is a little trickier. We can do a 5-8 piece version of the group (we prefer 6). We can supply all necessary sound and lights (Pro Bose sound system) and a technician to run it for a crowd of up to 3000. We normally think in terms of supplying 150 minutes of music (either three 50-minute shows or two 75-minute shows) within a three to three and a half hour time span.

We are available to play 50 Saturdays a year. Saturdays are in the greatest demand and consequently are the most expensive. Fridays and Sundays are the next most expensive. We are available seven days a week. Mid-week days are the least expensive. Generally, holidays are a little more expensive. New Year's Eve is the most expensive night of the year and is usually booked 8-10 months ahead of time. We currently maintain a direct mail list of over 5000 names. All of these addresses are no older than 10 months old. All of these addresses are sent a card with our appearance schedule at least once a year to help promote our appearances. These addresses can be called by zip code if you are interested in promoting your date to specific audiences. We currently maintain an email list of around 400 names that get an email message from us every week in order to help promote our appearances.

So, I still see you wondering: How much does it cost???? Truth is, it's all negotiable. We generally start at a figure of $1500 and go up or down from there. Negotiable points are: the number of players you want to do the job; will you supply the sound system or will we; will you feed us; can you supply motel rooms; the amount of travel involved (the equipment truck gets 8.5 MPG); how long do you want us to play; have you been coming out 5 times a year for 10 years (we love to play private parties of long time supporters of the band and consequently adjust the price to make that happen!); will we play later than midnight (early nights are less expensive than playing til 2am!); will it be in a smoky bar (smoke free is less expensive than smoke friendly, but we play both types of events). I'm sure you can think of many other reasons why we should play your event for less money! I know I can come up with a few reasons why we ought to get more money! Call or email me and let's try to work something out!
Bob Dorr

Oh, and one more thing! We have done many, many, many fundraisers over the years, but seldom a benefit. At fundraisers, we are paid a fee, benefits are done gratis. We do not do political events for free. Any appearance at political rallys/fundraisers are done for our standard fee. (we've done appearances at political functions for everyone from Steve Forbes to Al Gore to Jim Nussle). Individually everyone in the band has their opinions, but we do not collectively endorse candidates.

In the last four years, The Blue Band has played in all of the following places.
Feel free to contact any of them for recommendations.

American Home Finding Association Fundraiser-Ottumwa, IA
Ankeny Summerfest-Ankeny, IA
Ballyhoo-Perry, IA
Baxter Fun Days-Baxter, IA
Beaverdale Fest-Des Moines, IA
Blayney's of Westport-Kansas City, MO
Blues on Grand-Des Moines, IA
Bourbon Street Bar-Cedar Falls, IA
Bricktown-Dubuque, IA
Burlington's Heritage Days-Burlington, IA
Busted Lift-Dubuque, IA
Catfish Festival-Dubuque, IA
Cedar Falls Chamber of Commerce Wing Ding-Cedar Falls, IA
Cedar Rapids Freedom Fest-Cedar Rapids, IA
Chrome Horse Saloon-Cedar Rapids, IA
Clive Fest-Clive, IA
Dubuque Arts Council Summer Arboretum Series-Dubuque, IA
Dubuque County Fair-Dubuque, IA
Famous Dave's-Minneapolis, MN
FB & Co-Waubeek, IA
Festhalle Blues Concert-Amana, IA
Fly Iowa Celebration Hangar Dance-Clarinda, IA
Fridayloo-Waterloo, IA
Fundraiser for The Dennis Brown Cancer Foundation-Ankeny, IA
Gallagher-Bluedorn Performing Arts Center-Cedar Falls, IA
Grand Excursion-Lansing, IA
Grinnell Area Arts Fundraiser-Grinnell, IA
Grinnell Sesquicentennial/Independence Day Celebration-Grinnell, IA
Hampton Music in the Park Series-Hampton, IA
Hampton Summerfest-Hampton, IA
Hearst Center Jazz & Blues Series-Cedar Falls, IA
Hearst Center/Cedar Trails Festival Night Ride Kickoff-Cedar Falls, IA
Heartland Brew Fest-Des Moines, IA
Hoover High 30th Reunion-Altoona, IA
Hotel Fort Des Moines New Year's Bash-Des Moines, IA
House of Bricks-Des Moines, IA
Huxley Prairie Fest-Huxley, IA
Independence Day Celebration-Marshalltown, IA
Iowa Arts Festival-Iowa City, IA
Iowa County Fair-Marengo, IA
Iowa Public Policy Celebrate Voting-Des Moines, IA
Iowa State Association of Counties Convention-Des Moines, IA
Iowa State Fair-Des Moines, IA
Iowa Trial Lawyers Convention
IPTV Living in Iowa Blues Music Special
John and Gary's Sports Bar-Grinnell, IA
Johnston Green Days-Johnston, IA
June Jam-Sioux City, IA
Keyster's Night Club-Urbandale, IA
KUNI Blues Blowout-Waterloo, IA
KUNI Riverboat Cruise-Dubuque, IA
Lake Arts Blues Concert-Okoboji, IA
Lake Panorama Days-Panora, IA
Let's Dance-Cedar Rapids, IA
Linn Co. Blues Society Bluesmore-Cedar Rapids, IA
Manson High School Class of '75 Reunion-Manson, IA
Marion by Moonlight-Marion, IA
Mason City Globe Gazette North Iowa Up In Smoke BBQ Bash-Mason City, IA
Meredith Corp. Anniversary Picnic-Des Moines, IA
Morrison's 125th Birthday Party-Morrison, IA
Mt. Vernon Heritage Days-Mt. Vernon, IA
Music in the Park-Mason City, IA
Music On Main-Galena, IL
My Waterloo Days-People In The Park-Waterloo, IA
New Pioneer Co-op Orientation Party and Earth Day Dance-Iowa City, IA
Newton American Legion-Newton, IA
Nitefall on the River, Simon Estes Amphitheatre-Des Moines, IA
Nob Hill Supper Club-Decorah, IA
Nouveau Wine Dance-Galena, IL
O'Kelly's Steak and Pub-Baxter, IA
Old Settlers Days-Corydon, IA
Ottumwa Savings Bank "Live After Five"-Ottumwa, IA
Party in the Park-Keystone, IA
Porky's Diner-Des Moines, IA
Prairie Meadows Casino-Altoona, IA
Priority Appraisal Client Appreciation Bash-Grundy Center, IA
Puckerbrush Days-Forest City, IA
Pufferbilly Days-Boone, IA
Quad Cities Marathon Party In Motion Boat Cruise-Moline, IL
Quad Cities Steamwheelers Arena Football Tailgate Party-Moline, IL
Raccoon Ridge Music Hall-Stuart, IA
REMAX Weekend at the Park-Okoboji, IA
River Music Experience-Davenport, IA
Rock Island Brewing Company-Rock Island, IL
Rossi's Blue Star Room-Minneapolis, MN
Shazam Corporation Christmas Party
Siren Club-Iowa City, IA
Snake River Saloon-Keystone, CO
South Skunk Bowlful of Blues Celebration-Newton, IA
Spaghetti's-Oskaloosa, IA
Stone Cliff Winery Blues In The Vines Celebration-Durango, IA
Sturgis Falls Days-Cedar Falls, IA
Sundown Lounge-Williamsburg, IA
Surf Ballroom-Clear Lake, IA
Swamp Fox Festival-Marion, IA
Sweet Corn Festival-Adel, IA
Tabor Family Winery Anniversary Party-Baldwin, IA
Taste of Dubuque-Dubuque, IA
Taste of the Quad Cities-Moline, IL
The Hop-Hopkinton, IA
The Mill-Iowa City, IA
Thursdays In The Park-Grinnell, IA
U of I Urban & Regional Planning Dept. 40th Anniversary Party-Iowa City, IA
University of Okoboji Winter Games Chili Feed and Dance-Okoboji, IA
Urbandale Friday Fest-Urbandale, IA
Waterloo Jaycees Fireworks Festival-Waterloo, IA
Wells Fargo Street Festival-Davenport, IA
West Branch Music In The Park-West Branch, IA
Windsor Heights Fourth of July Celebration-Windsor Heights, IA
WOC Radio Mississippi River Jam-Moline, IL
Ziggies-Denver, CO