Rock in Detroit recently got a chance to catch up with Cheri Clair–talent agent and impresario extraordinaire–regarding her career as a booker and an insider of the Detroit rock scene.

ROCK IN DETROIT: How long have you been living in Detroit? Where are you from?

CHERI: I was born and raised in Detroit and my family moved to Warren when I was 13. I started living with a boyfriend’s family when I was 16 and have moved a lot over the years. I currently live in Lincoln Park with my husband John and our two cats, Buddy and Boo.

ROCK IN DETROIT: How long have you been booking bands and how did you get into that business?

CHERI: I booked a friend’s neighborhood bar in Warren while I was going to business school in the 90s. After graduating, I took a break from booking and worked in advertising until I got sick of people telling me how to act. In 2008, I started working as a publicist and booking agent for an AM radio show. Tina at New Way Bar in Ferndale noticed me promoting all these radio shows I had booked and she reached out to offer me a job booking for her. I kept both jobs for several years and struck out on my own when Tina sold the bar and the radio show eventually folded. Oh, and I booked exclusively for at least four different venues during my time with the radio show.

ROCK IN DETROIT: How many bands do you typically work with at a time?

CHERI: I typically put together a few three-band bills a month at different venues. Then there is Detroit Anarchy Punk Rock Festival which is a five-band bill and a bunch of vendors. I work with Tommy from Spitvalve on Anarchy. We’re co-founders in our sixth year coming up on May 3, 2025. I also manage Spitvalve and I’m a dedicated agent for Remnants, booking their shows and managing their social media.

ROCK IN DETROIT: What venues do you usually work with?

I work with Lager House, Small’s, Trixie’s, Cadieux Cafe, Bowlero, Ziggy’s, the Regal Beagle, the Old Miami… Basically, I will work with any venue that will work with me.

ROCK IN DETROIT: What has your experience booking bands taught you?

Time management is the most important lesson I have learned.

ROCK IN DETROIT: How has the Detroit rock scene changed over the years?

The more things change the more they stay the same. There are bands of every genre that have been together for years and there are new bands coming out every day. Just as they always have. There’s usually a trend in the types of bands who come out. Like, right now, I’ve noticed a lot of early 2000s-style emo. Every band may not call it that, but that’s what it sounds like to me and I was there.

ROCK IN DETROIT: Do you have any crazy stories?

Of course! I don’t think I’m ready to discuss them right now.

ROCK IN DETROIT: Have you had any brushes with famous musicians or bands that went on to make it Big?

CHERI: I’ve booked famous bands. The Vibrators from the UK, Faster Pussycat from LA, Jim McCarty and Dave Edwards of Detroit . . . that’s all I can think of right now.

ROCK IN DETROIT: Who are some bands on your radar right now that are doing great things in the scene and people should check out?

CHERI: I used to talk about the bands on my radar, but to keep others from swooping them up and booking them before I do, I’ve changed my strategy. You can usually tell who I like by who I book the most.

ROCK IN DETROIT: What are some of your highlight moments from booking shows over the years?

Discovering new music is always a highlight for me. Getting to know people in the business and having some connection and camaraderie is real cool, too.