The Talent Pool

We’ve all heard the buzz surrounding the Twin Cities–area arts and entertainment scene. But the metro area is home to a large group of musicians, magicians, jugglers, comedians, and any other type of entertainer you may need for the next employee appreciation event, sales kickoff meeting, or holiday party. Choosing Minnesota talent for your event can save money, too.

Frank Steck, president of Spotlight Corporate Entertainment, Inc., a Minneapolis-based entertainment production company, says the Twin Cities has a rich talent pool for an event planner to choose from. “For the size of the Twin Cities and the nature of the convention market in the Twin Cities, it’s one of the strongest in the country,” he says.

“We’ve got a great variety, from multicultural groups to wonderful dance bands in many different price ranges and levels of musicianship,” Steck adds. “And when we don’t, we can efficiently bring top acts to town that might not be national acts, but are highly appealing corporate entertainment.” While choices abound, it’s the quality of the talent and technicians that makes the Minnesota market stand out.

Steck points to local standouts such as Prince who have helped to raise the bar for other entertainers in town. In addition, a number of lighting, staging, audio-visual, and pyrotechnics professionals who have worked with Prince and other high-profile Twin Cities musicians over the years have taken their trade to the next level. Minnesotans are known for their support of the arts and music, and Steck says that this support brings national concert tours to the Twin Cities on a regular basis, giving technical professionals here exposure to new equipment and technology that they can use for corporate events.

“We have some of the best local talent of any market in the country,” says Greg Schmidt, president of The Music Works, Inc., an entertainment agency in Center City. “The music scene here is as extensive as any, and musicians here are able to make at least a part-time, if not a full-time, living doing what they do because of the market and the demand for live entertainment.” He says businesses can get great Minnesota entertainers because competition invariably improves the quality of the talent. Schmidt’s company represents several bands that are popular at business events, including the Kurt Jorgenson Band, a rock band with blues and gospel influences; Brat Pack Radio, an ’80s-inspired pop and new-wave band; pop-country group The Killer Hayseeds; country cover band High Noon; and Jonah and the Whales, a dance band that covers hits from the ’80s and ’90s. The Music Works also represents hypnotists, illusionists, comedians, and other entertainers.

Holly Zelinsky is president of Woodbury-based NationallySpeaking.com and its two divisions SpeakingofEntertainment.com and MinnesotaSpeakers.com, that represent singers, magicians, speakers, jugglers, hypnotists, and comedians in the local and national market. Zelinsky’s stable of talent includes Monroe Crossing, a bluegrass and gospel quintet; Bill Hermann and Stevie Ray, comedians and masters of ceremonies; and Tim Cimbura, a comedian juggler, magician, and speaker.

Zelinsky says there’s a common misperception that entertainers who come “all the way from New York,” or another large city are more prestigious or famous than their Minnesota counterparts. But, she says, Minnesota is home to some world-class entertainers.

In the Details

Talent experts can help you find the right event entertainment, but  they offer a range of services. Talent or entertainment agencies are companies that represent bands, speakers, or magicians, and they negotiate with event planners on behalf of the entertainer. The Music Works is an agency—you can book Jonah and the Whales only through them.

Another way for an event planner to procure entertainment is through companies that research and identify talent, but do not represent certain entertainers. Instead, these companies negotiate with an entertainer’s manager or agent on behalf of the event planner. Some of these firms, such as Spotlight, will not only help an event planner choose entertainment, they’ll even produce the show—manage crew members, direct lighting, sound, and special effects, and keep everyone involved on the same page.