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About GigSalad

GigSalad is the largest, most diverse marketplace for booking bands, performers, speakers and services for events, parties, and gatherings of all types and sizes. With millions of users across the U.S. and Canada, GigSalad.com provides an easy and secure way for event planners to book ...

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Emily McGee

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  • 02/11/202502/11/2025

From Side Hustle to Spotlight: How GigSalad Helps Performers Book More Events

Any event can be elevated with the right live entertainment. With over 110,000 entertainers and vendors spanning 500+ categories of talent, GigSalad is the platform that musicians, performers, and event service providers turn to for their next gig. As the #1 event marketplace in the US and Canada, GigSalad connects its roster of outstanding talent with planners booking all kinds of events—weddings, children’s parties, corporate events, and more. 

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02/11/2025, From Side Hustle to Spotlight: How GigSalad Helps Performers Book More Events
02/11/202502/11/2025, From Side Hustle to Spotlight: How GigSalad Helps Performers Book More Events
Announcement
02/11/2025
Announcement
02/11/2025
With over 110,000 entertainers and service providers across 500+ categories, GigSalad simplifies the booking process for planners while giving performersa direct path to more paid opportunities. To date, GigSalad has helped artists earn over $113 million in bookings. MORE» More»

Any event can be elevated with the right live entertainment. With over 110,000 entertainers and vendors spanning 500+ categories of talent, GigSalad is the platform that musicians, performers, and event service providers turn to for their next gig. As the #1 event marketplace in the US and Canada, GigSalad connects its roster of outstanding talent with planners booking all kinds of events—weddings, children’s parties, corporate events, and more. 

Dedicated to empowering performing artists with a platform to sustain their careers, GigSalad has helped gigging professionals earn over $113 million total from booking. GigSalad boasts an expansive and eclectic roster of musical talent for any event. Singing guitarists, wedding bands, bagpipers, and more use GigSalad to find work in their area. Mariachi bands are a hot commodity on the platform too. GigSalad received over 38,000 requests for Mariachi bands in 2024—more than 100 requests per day on average.

GigSalad simplifies the event booking process from talent discovery to payment. The platform’s smart search and filters make finding and comparing the rates and availability of local entertainers a breeze. With payment protection, amazing service, and no-hassle refunds with the Worry-Free Guarantee, GigSalad ensures secure bookings for event planners, so they can relax and watch their celebrations come to life. 

Like DIY musicians or independent authors, this sector of live entertainment is much bigger and more diverse than people realize, and it continues to grow. GigSalad is the platform where these performing artists can build a business, expanding their reach and turning their talent into profit.

GigSalad co-founder and CEO Mark Steiner, who developed a decade-long career as an actor, is all too familiar with the endless cold-pitching and rejections creative people face when looking for work—something he never forgot throughout the 20 years he spent as a talent agent: “Since the beginning, GigSalad has been all about empowering artists with a platform to find good work. Whether they have turned gig work into a career or just a side hustle to support their real passion projects, GigSalad wants to make it happen for them.” 

When gigging professionals list their services on GigSalad, they become discoverable to the over 3.2 million event planners who book events on the site. Entertainers begin by creating a profile to collect reviews, showcase their talent, and attract new clients. Next, they adjust their lead preference settings and calendar tools to receive customized leads. GigSalad’s intuitive message system allows event service providers to create templates and send custom quotes for every potential job. Plus, clients pay through GigSalad which means payment is guaranteed every time.

“The gig economy is only growing, and some predict it will be an over one trillion dollar industry within the next decade,” explains Steiner. “For 18 years, GigSalad has connected performing artists with event planners—bringing people together for their mutual benefit. As more freelance artists search for work to sustain their careers, GigSalad will continue to have the expertise, network, and platform to connect talented people with opportunities to expand their reach.”

About GigSalad
GigSalad is the largest, most diverse marketplace for booking bands, performers, speakers and services for events, parties, and gatherings of all types and sizes. With millions of users across the U.S. and Canada, GigSalad.com provides an easy and secure way for event planners to book entertainment and services.

Announcement
02/11/2025

12/09/2016, Santa on Demand: Increasing Numbers of Party Planners Are Hiring Christmas’s Main Man to Up the Cheer, Thanks to the Internet
12/09/201612/09/2016, Santa on Demand: Increasing Numbers of Party Planners Are Hiring Christmas’s Main Man to Up the Cheer, Thanks to the Internet
Announcement
12/09/2016
Announcement
12/09/2016
Santa Claus has a lot of appointments this time of year so it’s no surprise that his helpers (and stunt doubles) are in high demand as well. GigSalad has been tracking how the jolly men in red suits have been faring and, like most types of entertainment on the entertainment booking platform, requests for Santa services are up. MORE» More»

Santa Claus has a lot of appearances to make this time of year. With his numerous commitments, it’s no surprise that his helpers (and stunt doubles) are in high demand as well.

GigSalad has been tracking how the jolly men in red suits have been faring and, like most types of entertainment on the leading entertainment booking platform, requests for Santa services is up. Way up.

“Bookings for Santa have increased more than 70% year to year,” explains Tessie Barnett, GigSalad’s head of marketing. “Our Santa-themed entertainers have been seeing nearly 40% more queries about their services as well. It’s always a busy time for Santas but usually not this busy. It’s unexpected that demand for Santa is growing so significantly.”

The jump in Santa bookings mirrors the overall growth of GigSalad, as more and more party planners turn to the platform to find and engage entertainers, from face painters and bartenders to burlesque dancers and mermaids, to string quartets and jazz trios.  

The most successful Santas have a knack for expanding the usual ho-ho-hoing repertoire. Take Santa RW in New Jersey: He’ll play carols, sing, read stories to young partygoers, and ride in on a boat for a bit of nautical flair. Andrew Santa in New York adds a special Big Apple humor and some nice dance moves to things, while keeping the traditional, demanding Santa style intact.

Party planners in balmier climes seem most keen to bring the Jolly Old Elf to their events. Top Santa markets include San Diego and Austin. “We can’t speak for event planners, but it does seem to be a great way to up the holiday spirit at a party, even if the weather is sunny and warm,” Barnett says.

About GigSalad
GigSalad is an online platform for artists and event service providers to promote their talent, connect with event hosts and planners, and get booked for private and public gigs ranging from weddings and parties to corporate events and festivals. As the largest entertainment booking platform in the U.S. and Canada, GigSalad can help you do what you love. Find out more at www.gigsalad.com

 
Announcement
12/09/2016

11/29/2016, Sing Your Way Out of Debt: How One Musician Used Smart Tools to Achieve Financial Freedom
11/29/201611/29/2016, Sing Your Way Out of Debt: How One Musician Used Smart Tools to Achieve Financial Freedom
Announcement
11/29/2016
Announcement
11/29/2016
Here’s the cliché: Musician equals starving artist. Here’s the reality: A performer can gain financial freedom and personal stability if they choose smart systems. And leading online booking marketplace GigSalad, along with other tools, can help jumpstart the process, while letting performers do what they love. MORE» More»

Here’s the cliché: Musician equals starving artist. Here’s the reality: A performer can gain financial freedom and personal stability if they choose smart systems over short-term gains. And leading online booking marketplace GigSalad, along with other tools, can help jumpstart the process, while letting performers and key party entertainers do what they love.

Rob Vischer is case in point. He and his wife had $37,000 in student loans and no bright financial prospects in his immediate future. But he knew one thing: He didn’t want to live that way. One morning, he stumbled across The Total Money Makeover, a book about getting debt free by Dave Ramsey. He picked it up, intending to read only a few pages. 24 hours later, he had read it all.

At the time he was a dedicated and full-time musician, and he felt frustrated at the low turnout he often saw at live gigs. Right after Vischer read the book and resolved to ditch the debt, a fellow musician, Bill Ballenger, tipped him off to GigSalad. “My friend started telling me, ‘You’ve got to go on GigSalad if you want to earn more money with music.’ I was like, “What are you talking about? I’ve heard of it, but I just always wondered if those sites were kind of a scam,’” recalls Vischer. “Then Bill said, ‘You have to do this, I’ll pay for your first two months. Rob, I’ve made $3,000 off one gig.’ That’s when I knew I definitely had to try it out.’”

Vischer’s two life goals of full-time music and financial freedom meshed. In addition to playing small concerts of original music, he offered high-end singing telegrams. “I decided to create a high-level experience where I’d buy either a bottle of wine or some huge crazy balloons,” says Vischer. “And then I’d go in, and based off the style of music the person getting the singing telegram liked, I would make up either a parody in that style or dress up like somebody. I started making a lot more money than I expected... Probably a few thousand, just doing the singing telegrams over about a 6-8-month period. And it was really fun.”

It wasn’t always easy. For one memorable Tennessee appearance, Vischer dressed like a chicken. He was hired to try to win back ex-wives for lovesick ex-husbands. He even did a quirky version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Since You’ve Been Gone:” “I had no idea what to do because obviously I am not Kelly Clarkson. I’m 6’6’’ guy, so I decided to do a really funny parody in my key. Her key wasn’t about to work for me. So I did this parody and the recipient loved it.”

These efforts paid off, helping Vischer and his wife kickstart their path to financial freedom.

He credits GigSalad with making that path easier. “If you want to make money in music, you gotta have marketing and great tools like GigSalad to connect you with the right people. If you don’t want to pay anything, you’re going to be spending all your time doing the booking yourself. And you’re never going to have the time to play or practice... GigSalad helps you do what you love and earn more money in the process. I don’t romanticize the idea of being a starving artist. There’s nothing romantic about hunger pains. I want to make money, and GigSalad helps me do that.”

About GigSalad
GigSalad is an online platform for artists and event service providers to promote their talent, connect with event hosts and planners, and get booked for private and public gigs ranging from weddings and parties to corporate events and festivals. As the largest entertainment booking platform in the U.S. and Canada, GigSalad can help you do what you love. Find out more at www.gigsalad.com

Announcement
11/29/2016

10/20/2016, Offstage Stories: GigSalad Unveils Podcast, as Actors, Musicians, and Other Performers Give "The GigSalad Greenroom Interviews"
10/20/201610/20/2016, Offstage Stories: GigSalad Unveils Podcast, as Actors, Musicians, and Other Performers Give "The GigSalad Greenroom Interviews"
Announcement
10/20/2016
Announcement
10/20/2016
When you run one of the biggest online marketplaces for live entertainment, you meet a lot of intriguing performers. You hear a lot of hilarious stories about life on stage and off. The folks at GigSalad couldn’t help themselves: They had to share the best of these tales with the world. MORE» More»

When you run one of the biggest online marketplaces for live entertainment, you meet a lot of intriguing performers. You hear a lot of hilarious stories about life on stage and off. The folks at GigSalad couldn’t help themselves: They had to share the best of these tales with the world.

Starting October 3, 2016, GigSalad will release one fun, fascinating account from behind the scenes a month, The GigSalad Greenroom Interviews podcast (available via SoundCloud and iTunes). Upcoming guests include musicians, actors, writers, and directors. First up in the green room: Maribeth Monroe (of Workholics and Keeping Up With the Joneses) and Dana Powell (Bridesmaids, Modern Family). Future episodes will feature Rhonda Vincent (Grammy-nominated bluegrass artist),  Aaron Schwartz (Gossip Girl, Mighty Ducks, Guardians of the Galaxy 2), and Ruther Pointer (The Pointer Sisters), among many others.

“GigSalad has always been about bringing people together, people who are looking for entertainment, and people who love providing it,” says GigSalad CEO Mark Steiner, who got his start as an actor and talent agent. “We’re thrilled to get a chance to share some of what we learn from performers about their lives and the work they adore.”

The first conversations were recorded in Springfield, MO, GigSalad’s hometown, when guests came to be part of The Mystery Hour, the regional Emmy-winning live talk show. The GigSalad crew often asks entertainers to stop by their headquarters while they are in town, and to record an intimate conversation about their lives, work, and art. Things range from pensive to raucous, but always give great insight into what it’s like to be in the entertainment business.

“Because GigSalad, as a company, aims to help people do what they love, we always ask our guests on the podcast about their pursuit of their own personal passions. Every successful entertainer starts out with a dream and a lot of hard work,” explains podcast host Destin Harrison. “Many of GigSalad's members are in the exact same place as our guests, just a few years ago, before they got their big break, so we always like to hear about that journey. We also ask for any advice that our guests would like to offer entertainers who are still trying to make it in the industry.”

The entertainment business is rapidly changing, democratizing on all fronts. Now it’s not just big events and players who hire talented performers, but party planners and parents who want to arrange something special for a private function. GigSalad wants to make everyone entertainment insiders, inviting everyone into the Greenroom to hear exactly what it takes to pursue a life of creativity and do what you love.

About GigSalad

GigSalad is an online platform for artists and event service providers to promote their talent, connect with event hosts and planners, and get booked for private and public gigs ranging from weddings and parties to corporate events and festivals. As the largest entertainment booking platform in the U.S. and Canada, GigSalad can help you do what you love. Find out more at www.gigsalad.com

 
Announcement
10/20/2016

07/12/2016, GigSalad’s Trump Cards: Business Bump for Candidate Impersonators Points to Grassroots Market for Sillier Side of Election
07/12/201607/12/2016, GigSalad’s Trump Cards: Business Bump for Candidate Impersonators Points to Grassroots Market for Sillier Side of Election
Announcement
07/12/2016
Announcement
07/12/2016
What Donald Trump,presidential candidate,means for America is up for debate.What it means for entertainers parodying his ways is clear.Trump impersonators are getting the best gigs,says GigSalad.With a few clicks,you can have a Trump-alike come and mingle with your friends,give a cheeky speech,or jump out of your birthday cake. MORE» More»

What Donald Trump, presidential candidate, means for America is up for debate. What it means for entertainers parodying his tell-tale ways? That’s crystal clear.

Trump impersonators are getting all the best gigs, says GigSalad, the premier online marketplace for performers and event planners. “We’ve gotten requests in the thousands for Trump impersonators,” says Tessie Barnett of GigSalad. Just imagine: With a few clicks, you can have a Trump-alike come and mingle poolside with your friends, give a cheeky stump speech, or jump out of your birthday cake. The possibilities are endless.

Americans have long loved finding a lighter, party-friendly side to the democratic process, from the satirical counter-elections of disenfranchised African Americans dating back to the 18th century, to election evening get-togethers to watch the votes come in (and maybe kick back a few drinks, depending on the results).

The widespread interest in having an in-the-flesh representation of your favorite (or least favorite) candidate is something new, however. “I founded GigSalad because I saw there was a huge potential market for certain kinds of talent,” notes GigSalad CEO Mark Steiner. “I saw all these great performers, who just needed to connect with people planning parties, events, and other happenings.” GigSalad allows that to happen, and it’s helping grow a very grassroots market for live entertainment.

The market for political look-alikes is a great example. It’s professional, yet flies below the radar of bigger agencies or entertainment tracking services like Pollstar. But it’s a thriving, expanding business. In the case of Trump, a dozen entertainers have hung out their shingles, ready to rock. Overall, more than 6,000 performers were booked via GigSalad’s system in the last three months (April, May, and June) of this year, with many more making arrangements outside the platform.

Technology and the internet have enabled this shift. “It’s gotten way easier to find someone to come play that part, and do it well, at your event,” Barnett remarks. All it takes is a simple search, a few clicks, and you can book the local Trump of your dreams, for a very reasonable fee. Thanks to GigSalad, ordering a Trump is about as easy as ordering a ride, booking a plane ticket, or finding a vacation cabin.

Though Hilary and Bernie are also in demand, no one can touch The Donald. “It’s no surprise,” Barnett muses. “He’s new to the political scene. And he’s got a very distinctive, unexpected style that’s hard to forget and fun to imitate.”

About GigSalad:

GigSalad is the largest and most diverse marketplace for booking bands, performers, speakers and services for events, parties, and productions of all types and sizes. With millions of users across the U.S. and Canada, GigSalad connects over a million event and party planners with over 80,000 professionals for hire, making it simple to search and book great talent.

Announcement
07/12/2016