Tenor vs. Alto

[tictactux]

...then again (playing in a concert band), Bb riffs may be easier to obtain - you could double a lot more instruments' parts than on Eb.

[hakukani]

...then again (playing in a concert band), Bb riffs may be easier to obtain - you could double a lot more instruments' parts than on Eb.

True, but one would hope that the other parts are covered.

The tenor parts in concert band are the most boring in the entire band, even including third clarinet and alto clarinet.

[Sundown]

I start kids on alto because they're smaller, and fit the young'uns better.

Concerning the OT--Hand position on alto and tenor are not that much different. More of a concern would be what style of music you play most often. If it's blues or rock, I recommend tenor. If it's jazz, either is fine. If it's classical or you will be playing in a concert/community band, then alto.

Why tenor for blues/rock?

[JayePDX]

I would not take that as a usual, across-the-board suggestion, actually. Many people will say the Alto is the preferred choice when fronting an electric rhythm section. One can argue in Rock it is the Alto which is prevalent.
Albeit for blues, traditionally it's a Tenor which a blues band will have.

Respectfully, I do not agree that the genre of music will inform which one you pick. I think that is adding an unnecessary ingredient to the pot.
Tenor or Alto are as common and comfortable in Blues, Rock, Jazz, Latin, Marching, Big Band, Community, whatever....maybe one can argue that for Classical, it'd be Alto...but that's about it, IMHO....

[tictactux]

The tenor parts in concert band are the most boring in the entire band, even including third clarinet and alto clarinet.

Not in my experience - it probably depends on the arrangement. There are enough "transcriptions" around with a rather dull and rigid viola->clarinet and cello->bass etc mapping.