Routine Chicago

Our Commitment to Planning and Performance
From the moment you reach out to us, our goal is to establish a partnership based on clarity and vision alignment. We understand that hiring a band is about more than just filling a time slot; it is about curating an atmosphere. When you contact us, expect a detailed initial consultation where we prioritize listening over selling. We want to understand the nuance of your event—from the demographic of your guests to the specific energy you want during different phases of the evening—so we can provide an honest assessment of how our sound and style will elevate your specific occasion.

We believe that a truly seamless event is the result of meticulous preparation. Therefore, we put a significant amount of work into the pre-production phase to set crystal-clear expectations upfront. We handle the logistical heavy lifting early—finalizing timelines, load-in logistics, and repertoire flow—so there are absolutely no surprises on the day of the event. This front-loaded approach allows us to iron out every variable, ensuring that the scope of work is fully understood and agreed upon long before the first note is played.

Ultimately, this rigorous attention to detail serves one major purpose: to protect the quality of the musical experience. Because we have managed the expectations and logistics in advance, our musicians arrive with a singular focus—delivering a high-energy, top-tier musical production. By removing the stress of uncertainty, we ensure that our energy is spent connecting with your crowd and performing at our peak, guaranteeing you an immersive and professional experience that looks and sounds effortless.

“What type of music do you play?”
Routine Chicago is a funky dance band that colors outside the lines and maximizes the audience experience. No fake wigs and disco leisure suits - we don’t fake anything.

The Routine brings you a polished music experience that doesn’t feel like “another cover band.” The musicians in The Routine wear what they wore when they were on tour with people like Alexander O’Neal, American Idol, The Voice, Aaron Neville, and many others. The lessons in professionalism were learned under the mentorship of Prince and the school of the Minneapolis Sound:
- Start on time, end on time - you never have to worry when the party starts.
- One break per show - we want to maximize the amount of music for you.
- Practice makes permanent - we are fueled by a relentless pursuit of musical perfection.
- Put on a show, don’t just stand there - sing, dance, pick up a tambourine, keep your body moving.
- Five seconds max between songs - the party doesn’t stop for you, we know exactly where we are going.
- Play the song better than the record, and if you can’t do that don’t play that song.

Setup Access - The tech team requires access to the performance area at least three hours prior to performance start time.

Power - Routine Chicago does not supply our own stage. We can set up anywhere there is adequate space for the size of band you choose. If you’d like to rent a stage for us, your venue will almost always be your best option for stage rental. Here are the minimum space requirements for the our band sizes:

5 piece band= 12’ deep x 16’ wide stage area minimum

Please note, the band CANNOT setup on grass or dirt, as stated in the contract. Here are the two major safety reasons we must have a hard surface provided (ex. Concrete patio, snap together dance floor, stage or riser)
a. Electrical shock. If the ground isn't already damp, it will be by the end of the night. Most of the musicians are holding an electric instrument (mic, guitar, keys), and if they are standing directly on the wet ground, it puts their body as the quickest path to ground. If you are bored, here's an exciting video that explains some of the theory... <a href="https://www.gigsalad.com/external/redirect/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g%2Fdj14U181SzVZRVl2OA%3D%3D">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xS_5K5YEYv8</a>
b. Stability. There is a lot of heavy gear that is being help up by small pressure points on the ground via tripod stands. If there is a soft spot on the ground, one of the legs could sink during the night without being noticed. That runs a major risk of a main speaker (about 80lbs standing 6ft about the ground) falling on a musician or a guest.
6. Power requirements
If the band is playing outside, power outlets must be at nearby proximity. The band requires two standard power outlets from separate circuits - but this MUST be provided close to the band area and all outlets MUST NOT BE GFCI (GFI) type outlets as sound equipment can sometimes trip the GFCI (GFI) outlets. Otherwise, in more complex terms, we like to say that 2 DEDICATED NON GFCI 20 AMP circuits are required to 100% avoid any issues.