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Did "The Roots" sellout for being on Jimmy Fallon's show in your opinion? Or was it a smart move?
A Five-Year Commitment, an Eight-Week Bonanza
In taking the nightly NBC gig, the Roots traded a stressful tour schedule for a slightly less stressful nightly grind. Each season of the band's five-year deal with NBC will net the Roots about as much as its grueling 220-date tour in 2008 – which
In taking the nightly NBC gig, the Roots traded a stressful tour schedule for a slightly less stressful nightly grind. Each season of the band's five-year deal with NBC will net the Roots about as much as its grueling 220-date tour in 2008 – which
Forbescalculates to have cleared $2 million, on $10 million gross.
The deal is already paying dividends -- at least theoretically, says drummer Thompson. "The silly thing is, now that we're on TV, we're more valuable then ever. But we can't really cash in on it." Concert promoters, he says, offer the band 25% more per show than they did a year ago, which breaks down to an average of $55,000, over $44,000 last year. The Late Night commitment forces the group to turn down most requests.
The band's eight weeks off every year, however, are a bonanza. A month-long tour could gross $2 million, on top of the group's salary from NBC. "For every week we have off, we take advantage and do shows," Thompson says. "It's like that extra board on Mario Bros., where it's just a room full of gold coins, and you have, like, 15 seconds."
The deal is already paying dividends -- at least theoretically, says drummer Thompson. "The silly thing is, now that we're on TV, we're more valuable then ever. But we can't really cash in on it." Concert promoters, he says, offer the band 25% more per show than they did a year ago, which breaks down to an average of $55,000, over $44,000 last year. The Late Night commitment forces the group to turn down most requests.
The band's eight weeks off every year, however, are a bonanza. A month-long tour could gross $2 million, on top of the group's salary from NBC. "For every week we have off, we take advantage and do shows," Thompson says. "It's like that extra board on Mario Bros., where it's just a room full of gold coins, and you have, like, 15 seconds."
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