What Herding Cats does

Herding Cats is a Seattle, Washington-based classic rock cover band operating as a three-member partnership (Jon Bolton on drums and vocals, Mike Mattingly on guitar and vocals, and Dune Butler on bass guitar and vocals). Founded in 2001, the band delivers live classic rock performances for bars, clubs, casinos, weddings, private parties, corporate events, and golf country clubs across the Pacific Northwest — including a recurring weekly Sunday residency at The Lime in Kirkland, WA, and bookings at Madison Ave Pub in Everett, Sandpoint Golf Country Club in Idaho, Fairwood Golf Country Club, and Emerald Downs Casino.

The band's core product is high-energy, request-driven classic rock performances differentiated by Jon Bolton's distinctive drumming style and interactive audience engagement. There is no proprietary technology platform; the offering is delivered purely through in-person live performance. Marketing is conducted via an official website (theherdingcats.com) with a newsletter signup, social media presence, earned media (positive Seattle Times review and 2018 'Best Band' recognition from 425 Magazine), and word-of-mouth through venue appearances. Bookings are handled via a single email address ([email protected]) and through a booking-agency relationship with Machine Entertainment.

The business model is straightforward: one-time performance fees negotiated per event based on venue, duration, and event type, with no published pricing. Revenue is generated across three primary use-case segments — bar and club audiences (primary), private event clients including weddings and corporate (primary), and casino/resort and country-club venues (secondary). The band operates with no external institutional funding, no parent company, and equal partnership ownership among its three members.

Name

Herding Cats

Legal name

Herding Cats Band

Website

https://theherdingcats.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Herding Cats is a Seattle-based classic rock cover band trio founded in 2001, performing live at bars, clubs, casinos, weddings, private parties, corporate events, and golf country clubs across the Pacific Northwest for venue operators and individual event clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Others

Revenue model

1. Live Performance Fees: The band generates revenue through performing at paid events including bars, clubs, casinos, weddings, private parties, corporate events, and golf country clubs. Revenue is one-time performance fees based on event type and duration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Herding Cats is a classic rock cover band performing live music as a three-piece trio (drums/vocals, guitar/vocals, bass/vocals). The band delivers high-energy, interactive live performances at bars, clubs, casinos, weddings, private parties, corporate events, and golf country clubs throughout the Pacific Northwest. Bookings are arranged via email inquiry with custom quotes based on event type, location, and requirements.

Product overview

Herding Cats is a single-service offering: a classic rock cover band providing live music entertainment. The band features a trio of musicians (Jon Bolton on drums & vocals, Mike Mattingly on guitar & vocals, and Dune Butler on bass guitar & vocals) who perform high-energy classic rock covers at various venues and events.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Herding Cats Live Music Performances

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Machine EntertainmentcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 January 2001Machine Entertainment serves as a booking agent and promoter for Herding Cats. They have worked with the band for live music events since at least the early 2000s. Machine Entertainment also promotes events at Emerald Downs Casino where the band has performed.
• Emerald Downs CasinocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorEmerald Downs Casino is a recurring venue for Herding Cats performances. The casino books the band for live entertainment events, serving as a venue partner and client.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• The Australian Pink Floyd Show: An internationally touring Pink Floyd tribute act performing classic rock in large theaters and arenas. Operates the same cover-band performance business model but at significantly larger scale, with national/international touring infrastructure that Herding Cats lacks.
• AEG Presents: A major live entertainment promoter and venue operator that books tours, festivals, and concerts globally. Operates in the same live music ecosystem as Herding Cats but as a large-scale incumbent rather than a niche cover act.
• Live Nation Entertainment: The largest live entertainment company globally, operating in concert promotion, venue management, and artist representation. A broad incumbent in the same live music market where Herding Cats operates, though at massively different scale.
• Brit Floyd: A Pink Floyd tribute show that tours internationally and performs in larger theater venues. Same core cover-band performance business but operates at significantly larger production scale and geographic reach than Herding Cats.

Others

• Machine Entertainment: Herding Cats' existing booking agent and promoter. Functions as an adjacent ecosystem participant - a booking/promotion intermediary in the same live music market rather than a direct performance competitor.
• Gigmasters (now The Bash): An online marketplace connecting event planners with live entertainment acts including cover bands. An adjacent platform that competes for the same private-event booking demand that Herding Cats serves, though not a direct performance competitor.

Direct peers

• Get the Led Out: A Led Zeppelin tribute band that tours nationally performing classic rock covers at theaters, festivals, and corporate/private events. Same event-driven GTM, same classic rock repertoire focus, and same target customers (venue bookers, wedding/corporate planners) as Herding Cats.
• Dark Star Orchestra: A Grateful Dead tribute/cover act that performs live shows at theaters, festivals, and private events nationwide. Operates the same cover-band business model (live performance fees, venue bookings, private events) and competes for the same classic-rock audience segment as Herding Cats.
• Hotel California (Eagles tribute): A touring Eagles tribute band performing classic rock covers at theaters, casinos, and private events. Directly comparable business model, genre focus, and venue mix (theaters, casinos, corporate) to Herding Cats.
• Me First and the Gimme Gimmes: A punk-rock cover band that performs live shows at clubs, festivals, and private events nationwide. Same event-driven cover-band business model with comparable target customers and venue types (bars, clubs, festivals) as Herding Cats.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/HerdingCatsTheBand

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Herding Cats