What makes a great Gary Barlow tribute act?
If you're thinking about booking a Gary Barlow tribute act, you might think the job is pretty straightforward.
Find someone who looks a bit like Gary.
Get a decent suit.
Learn a few Take That songs.
Job done, right?
Well... not quite.Ā š
Having spent three decades performing professionally, I can tell you there's a lot more to being a good tribute act than putting on a wig and singing A Million Love Songs.
A great tribute performer has to make an audience believe, even just for a little while, that they've stepped into the world of the artist they're there to see.
And with someone as recognisable as Gary Barlow, that's no easy task.
So, what actually makes a great Gary Barlow tribute act?
1. It's not just about looking like Gary
Let's get the obvious one out of the way.
Yes, looking the part matters.
When people book a tribute act, they're buying into the experience. The moment the performer walks onto the stage, the audience should immediately understand who they're supposed to be watching.
But appearance is only one piece of the puzzle.
You can look like Gary Barlow all day long, but if you open your mouth and sound like Barry from accounts after three pints, you've got a problem. š
The voice, mannerisms, presentation and overall performance all have to work together.
The look gets people's attention. The performance keeps it.
2. The voice has to sound right
This is probably the biggest one.
Gary Barlow has a very distinctive voice.
From the early Take That songs through to his solo material, there are certain qualities that make his voice instantly recognisable.
A good tribute performer needs to understand those qualities rather than simply singing the notes.
It's about phrasing.
Timing.
Tone.
Emotion.
And knowing when notĀ to over-sing something.
Because ultimately, you're not trying to demonstrate how good youĀ can sing.
You're trying to recreate the experience of hearing Gary Barlow.
3. You need to know the songs inside out
A Gary Barlow tribute isn't just about performing the obvious Take That hits.
Gary has an enormous catalogue of music, from the early Take That years through to his solo career and more recent material.
Songs such as A Million Love Songs, Pray, Back for Good, Patience, Greatest DayĀ and Rule the WorldĀ can instantly change the atmosphere in a room.
But the performer needs to know the songs inside out.
Not just the words.
The arrangements.
The introductions.
The endings.
The moments where the audience is going to sing louder than you.
And trust me, they will. š
4. You have to understand your audience
This is where experience really comes into play.
A wedding isn't the same as a corporate event.
A birthday party isn't the same as a holiday park.
A cruise ship isn't the same as a theatre.
And an audience at 8pm isn't necessarily the same audience at 11pm after they've had a few drinks.
A good performer reads the room.
You might have a setlist prepared, but you also need to know when to change the pace, encourage the audience and give them the songs they really want to hear.
Entertainment isn't just singing. It's communication.
5. It needs to feel like a show
There's a big difference between somebody who can sing Gary Barlow songs and somebody who can put on a Gary Barlow tribute show.
The audience shouldn't feel like they've just watched someone perform a collection of karaoke tracks.
There should be energy.
Personality.
Interaction.
Movement.
A sense of occasion.
Even the quieter moments should feel deliberate.
Because when somebody has paid to have entertainment at their event, they deserve more than someone simply standing there pressing play and singing along.
6. Professionalism matters just as much off stage
This is one that doesn't always get talked about.
Being a professional entertainer isn't just about what happens for the 60 or 90 minutes you're on stage.
It's also about everything around the performance.
Answering enquiries properly.
Arriving on time.
Having the right equipment.
Communicating with the organiser.
Being flexible when circumstances change.
And making the client feel that their event is in safe hands.
Because ultimately, they're not just booking a singer.
They're trusting you with part of their special occasion.
That's a responsibility I take seriously.
7. Experience makes a difference
I've been performing professionally for around three decades.
And one thing I've learned is that you can't fake experience.
You can rehearse a song.
You can buy the clothes.
You can learn the choreography.
But you can't instantly manufacture years of standing in front of different audiences in different venues and learning how to handle whatever happens.
Microphone stops working?
Carry on.
Audience unexpectedly quiet?
Work the room.
Someone shouts for Back for GoodĀ halfway through another song?
Smile and carry on. š
That's live entertainment.
And the more experience you have, the more comfortable you become dealing with it.
8. Gary's music works brilliantly at events
One of the reasons I love performing Gary's music is the reaction it gets.
Take That have songs that people grew up with.
Gary's solo career has added another collection of songs that people know and remember.
And there's something quite special about seeing a room full of people suddenly start singing together.
You can see people remembering where they were when they first heard a song.
You get couples singing to each other.
Friends putting their arms around each other.
And occasionally someone who has had slightly too much wine attempting a dance routine that hasn't been seen since 1994. š
That's what live entertainment is about.
Creating a moment people remember.
9. Look beyond the tribute itself when you're booking
If you're looking for a Gary Barlow tribute act for your event, don't just look at the photographs.
Watch the showreel.
Listen to the voice.
Look at the venues they've performed in.
Read genuine reviews where available.
And think about whether the performer is suitable for your particular event.
A good tribute act should be able to tell you exactly what they provide, how long they perform for, what equipment they bring and what they need from the venue.
If they can't answer those basic questions, I'd be asking a few more questions before booking.
So, what makes a great Gary Barlow tribute act?
For me, it's the combination of everything.
The voice.
The appearance.
The songs.
The performance.
The audience connection.
The professionalism.
And most importantly, the experience to bring it all together.
That's what I'm aiming for every time I walk onto a stage as Pure Barlow.
I'm Davey Nicholls, and I've been performing professionally for around three decades, bringing the music of Gary Barlow and Take That to audiences across the UK and beyond.
From private parties and weddings to corporate events and cruise entertainment, the aim is always the same:
Give people a great night and leave them with something to remember.
Thinking about booking a Gary Barlow tribute?
I'd love to hear from you.
Photo: Marc E. / Wikimedia Commons ā CC BY 2.0
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