Seth Shomes—What A Difference Day After Day Makes: Indie Talent Agency Thrives In Tight Market

The veteran agent and event producer has carved a niche with a unique collection of arena headliners, tribute acts, TV psychics, reality stars and nostalgia.

To compare Seth Shomes to Woody Allen’s Broadway Danny Rose might be easy, but it does a massive disservice to the multimillion-dollar business he has built as founder/CEO of Day After Day Productions, Inc. with dedicated, profitable divisions — recently restructured — devoted to casinos, fairs and corporate gigs as well as arenas, sheds and theaters.

Shomes boasts an eclectic, multi-level roster that includes arena-headlining acts like Missy Elliott, Xscape and Bow Wow, as well as rappers Fat Joe, Flo Rida, Too $hort, Soulja Boy, Tone Loc, Ginuwine, Fat Joe, Flo Rida and Xzibit; tributes to Aretha Franklin (R.E.S.P.E.C.T.), Meat Loaf (Bat Out of Helloween) and Journey, along with an array of estimable acts that include Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Don McLean, Wayne Newton, Staind, Aaron Lewis, Village People, the Commodores, the Chi-Lites, Patrice Rushen, El DeBarge, the Spinners, Xscape, Billy Ocean, 98 Degrees and Bobby Brown.

DADP’s seasonal attractions include “A Charlie Brown Christmas – Live” and “A Charlie Brown Christmas — In Concert,” while the firm also handles live work for famed “Hollywood Medium” Tyler Henry, mentalist Colin Cloud and Matt Fraser from E! Television’s popular psychic reality show “Meet the Frasers.”

Other overlooked bookings with a dedicated following include fan loyalty-driven events such as the interactive “Bingo Loco” (a connection he actually first made at the Pollstar Live! conference) and “Deal or No Deal – Live” along with “Hallmark Stars Live,” which will tour for the first time in 2026.

The Tufts University alum, now based in Santa Ynez, California, has worked with such clients as Pitbull, Toni Braxton, Paul Anka, Bell Biv DeVoe and Isley Brothers. Shomes started his own booking firm Day After Day Productions (DADP) in 1995 and joined The Agency Group in 2014 where he launched a casino division. He founded a similar department at UTA when it acquired TAG in 2015, before leaving in 2021 to return full-time to his newly launched Day After Day Productions.

“I’ve always tried to do things the right way,” Shomes says about returning to the ranks of the independents. “I try to be a good human first, and a successful agent only after that. I run my company like a family, where everybody has a voice. I learned early on, the wheels move slowly at a big corporation. I wanted to be able to pivot, to make my own decisions more quickly … to live and die on my own sword. I particularly enjoy working hands-on with clients developing their brand in new creative ventures to attract both new and longtime fans.”

Another aspect not touted as much is Shomes’ work with Rob Thomas’ Sidewalk Angels Foundation, co-headed by Marisol Thomas. The philanthropy supports animal rescues and no-kill animal shelters across the country for which Shomes has worked on the behalf of for more than fifteen years helping raise millions of dollars.

The successful indie agency is nominated for four Pollstar Awards this year, including Independent Booking Agency of the Year (Global), with Shomes up for the Bobby Brooks Award as Agent of the Year, his third consecutive nomination. In addition to running the overall operations of DADP, Shomes co-heads the company’s Casinos, Corporates and Colleges division with Aidan Flynn and Jordan Golenberg as Director. Senior Agent Michelle Scarbrough and Director Olivia Bentley head the Theater, PAC and Symphony division, while Pollstar Rising Star Award nominee Marcus Greenstein is Head of Fairs, with Jordan Dempsey as Head of Touring.

“I look to put people into positions where they are going to thrive,” he explained. “There are things they can learn from me, and things I can still learn from them.  I’m still a student of the game. I try to find new ways to brand and market my clients every day.”

Another burgeoning area for Day After Day is the growing category of tribute bands.  Among his clients are Celebrating Meat Loaf, authorized by both the Jim Steinman and the Marvin Lee Aday estates, featuring Meat’s longtime backup band, the Neverland Express, and the Ultimate Journey Tribute, featuring Steve Perry look-and soundalike Hugo Valenti.

“We only work with tribute bands that are sanctioned by the estate,” said Shomes. “Then there are those bands in which at least one of the original members is still alive, so they don’t fall into the tribute category.”

Included in the latter is the Commodores, experiencing an upsurge in popularity thanks to the increased visibility of Lionel Richie, despite the fact he hasn’t been in the band for over 40 years.

Day After Day also specializes in package tours, including the Pollstar-nominated “Millennium Tour” with Bow Wow as co-headliner, and the Queens of R&B Tour, featuring Xscape as headliner promoted by Live Nation and produced by Mona Scott-Young. They also create brands such as “Legends Of Love” which will perform spot dates in 2026 followed by a North American tour in 2027.

“My business model is to work with icons and name brands,” added Shomes. “I’m a music fan. I want to work with people whose music I love, and I will work hard to repurpose their brand. Legacy artists are like blue-chip stocks that have stood the test of time due to their incredible catalog of music.”

As for his long-range goals, Shomes isn’t necessarily looking to sell his company: “I’m always open to conversations if there was a way to do it while keeping the independent spirit we’re known for.  But I’m not going into another big corporate structure. I’ve already done that. My career has been defined by hard work, the never-give-up, never give in attitude, which was the name of an award I got from playing high school sports. No one is going to outwork me as an innovative marketer.  And I think the talent industry respects us for that. We offer good value for the ticket price.

“In the end, I want to be known as the guy that made the most of his talents, his agency’s talents and the talents of the artists we represent.”

Broadway Danny Rose couldn’t have put it better.