THE extravagant glitz and glamor of Taylor Swift’s Eras tour doesn’t come cheap.
The U.S. Sun has spoken to two behind-the-scenes consultants for what is ready to become the largest grossing tour ever, surpassing her record of $1.2 billion from 2023.
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And both help break down the logistics of playing a 161-show world tour, including a mammoth 100-day, 51-gig stretch in Europe.
The Sun U.S Sun has already revealed the cost of security for Taylor and her entourage this summer across the pond is a whopping $30 million.
The effort, workload and cost are staggering for, what one of the insiders claims, is the continent’s “largest and most expensive tour” of all time.
The U.S. Sun has been told the entire money spent on hair, makeup and wages for the members of her back-up band which help crash out the tunes night after night for the European stretch which started in Paris earlier this month and ends in London in August, is an eye-watering $4.3 million.
“We are like an army,” said one external consultant in coordinating makeup and hair stylists for the Euro Part of the Eras tour. “But everyone involved loves this kind of challenge.”
MASSIVE BUDGET
The source, who has 20 years experience of working for Rihanna, and Beyonce, says every location throws up its challenges when it comes to making Taylor, the backup dancers, vocalists, and band members sparkle on stage.
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“With such long shows and changes in temperature and humidity, we are always having to adapt,” she added.
According to the source, 10 make-up artists are working on the entirety of the European stretch of Eras, each earning around $65,000 for three months’ work.
The budget for the whole tour for products alone comes in at $500,000.
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Although Taylor mixes up her live performances with some solo slots, her team of 15 backup dancers bring some serious energy when called upon.
Just like the superstar main attraction, they have 10 different outfits for the three-and-a-half hour performance. Each one costs around $1,500, with the dancers’ costume budget coming in at $225,000.
When performing hits like Are You Ready for It, the 33-year-old superstar is flanked by her on-stage pals, throwing out some serious moves.
It sends the fans wild – but also causes a few headaches for the wardrobe department.
“The fans also come to the concerts for the costumes, and the styles, but we often have to adjust and fix outfits”, said one of our insiders.
“Because of the intensity of the dance movements, holes sometimes appear.”
ERAS TOUR EUOPEAN DATES COST BREAKDOWN
TOTAL COST FOR BEHIND-THE-SCENES TEAM WORKING ON ERAS TOUR IN EUROPE : $4.3 million
Taylor’s 10 different outfits
Versace, $50,000
Oscar de La Renta, $140,000
Three Roberto Cavalli designs, $255,000
Total (including rest of wardrobe) : $1.3 million
Accessories
Necklaces, rings, bracelets, Swarowski jewelry
Total: $1.2 million
Shoes
Mostly Christian Louboutin
Total: $195,000
Hair stylists
Two full-time stylists, costing $3,000 per show.
Total: $153,000
Make-up
Two full-time makeup artists, including products costing $3,000 per show
Total: $153,000
Backup dancers costumes
10 different outfits, costing $1,500 each.
Total: $225,000
Hair budget for dancers and vocalists
$30,000 per show
Total: $650,000
Make up artists
10 people, paid $65,000 for three months work
Budget for products for dancers, vocalists and instrumentalists
$500,000
Total: $1.1 million
Instrumentalists
Six people, 10 different outfits , costing $1,000 each
Total: $60,000
Backing vocalists
Four people, 10 different outfits, costing $1,200 each
Total: $48,000
CLASSY COSTUMES
Taylor’s 10 costume changes revolve around expensive designs from the likes of Versace and Roberto Cavalli.
The Versace number is valued at $50,000, while the three Cavalli come in at $255,000. The budget for Taylor’s on-stage look, which also includes a $140,000 Oscar de la Renta dress, is $1.3 million.
That’s not including, however, accessories such as rings, bracelets and some Swarowski jewelry, totaling $1,2 million.
She has two full-time make up artists, and between products and material, it costs around 3000 dollars per show just for her makeup, which works out at $153,000
Her shoes, which mostly consist of her favorite Laboutins, total $195,000 dollars.
Hairstylists are on board for $3,000 a show.
“Taylor has great taste, she is always giving us feedback and the teamwork is very beneficial” said the 15-year industry veteran who’s also worked with Katy Perry.
“The outfits are marvelous, and they really fit her personality, her image and her art.”
AMAZING EXPERIENCE
With an average of 44 songs in a show, Taylor relies on the energy, and talent, of her back-up band.
There are six instrumentalists who also need 10 different outfits at $1,000 each and likewise with the team of four backing vocalists, who have a $60,000 budget to boost their own looks.
To put the spending into some kind of context, legendary Irish rockers U2 grossed a then record from 2009 to 2011, making $736,421,584 from 110 shows
Problem was, it was costing the band $750,000 to keep the show on the road, and that’s without taking into account the cost of building the elaborate sets.
With Taylor poised to break the $2 billion barrier in 2024, there’s money to spend in the pursuit to deliver a show worthy of some of the exorbitant ticket prices, especially in the United States.
“The budget is huge, as the show and the outfits, wardrobe and styles for this tour have been prepared and programmed to be a whole ‘tribute’ to her career so far,” added the style specialist.
“It’s a very exciting and intense experience, but the people working the shows are the best in the world.
“There’s a lot of moving parts between concerts, but the coordination and flow has been perfect. Everyone is very happy, and it’s probably the best experience of my career.”
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