Top Event Entertainers and Party Vendors Receive GigMasters' 2010 Rising Star Award

Winners in 129 entertainment categories including cover band, DJ, Marilyn Monroe impersonator, Santa Claus, face painter and more

News provided by

GigMasters

Jan 19, 2011, 10:45 ET

REDDING, Conn., Jan. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- GigMasters (http://www.gigmasters.com), the number one online event entertainment booking service, today revealed its annual "Rising Star Award" winners for 2010. Winners were chosen based on outstanding achievement in live music and event entertainment bookings. The 129 winners were selected from GigMasters' nationwide database of over 9,000 top-quality, client-rated entertainment acts and vendors.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20100322/NY74128LOGO)

GigMasters' members earned $16.5 million in 2010, while performing at weddings, birthday parties, corporate events and other special events. The winners today represent the highest earning GigMasters entertainers and party vendors throughout North America. Here are just some of the GigMasters' 2010 Rising Star Award winners:

Top Acoustic Band	Not Even Brothers Band
Top Acoustic Guitar	Matthew Cutillo
Top Bagpiper	Bagpiper& Guitarist – Michael Lancaster
Top Balloon Twister	Romo&Gianell
Top Big Band	Swing Machine
Top Body Painter	Next Level Airbrush
Top Brass Ensemble	The Patriot Brass Ensemble
Top Clown	Very Much the Clown
Top Dance Band	Liquid Blue
Top Elvis Impersonator	Rick Torres Bay Area's #1 Elvis Impersonator
Top Illusionist	Joe Black
Top Jazz Band	Ted Hefko's New Orleans Band
Top Juggler	Lou Johnson
Top Mentalist	Tim David, Comedy Mentalist
Top Motown Band	Z And The Party Faktory
Top Oldies Duo	Whinin' Cheez
Top One Man Band	Stephen Curto
Top Opera Singer	Belle Voix – Available Nationwide
Top Photographer	Rob White Photography
Top Puppeteer	Penny And The Puppettes
Top Rock Band	Mike Dangeroux
Top Soul Band	Soul Purpose
Top Steel Drum Band	The Caribbean Crew
Top Tribute Band	The Cavern Beat
Top Ukulele	Josh Kekoa Cho

To see the complete list of winners go to: http://www.gigmasters.com/about/Rising-Star-Awards.aspx

What the Winners Have to Say...

"I cannot even BEGIN to describe what an incredible asset GigMasters has been to my business. Not only does the site make it extremely easy for potential clients from all over the country to find me, but the easy-to-use interface makes the bidding and booking process quick and painless for both the client and myself. In addition to that, GigMasters' customer service is ALWAYS top-notch. Thank you, GigMasters, for helping me expand my artistic passion into a successful 'business' that I can truly be proud of!" says Lisa Smith of Las Vegas, NV - 2010 Rising Star Award winner for Top Jazz Singer.

"GigMasters clearly attracts the kind of clients who appreciate what we do, and I think that both we and the folks who hire us know that on this site we're dealing with an operation that's professional and reliable. Joining GigMasters in 2006 was one the wisest decisions I've ever made," says Sam Graham of the Sam Graham Trio of Los Angeles, CA – 2010 Rising Star Award winner for Top Jazz Trio.

"It is very exciting to receive this honor from GigMasters. Making a living as independent musicians is not easy, and the site provides us with an invaluable service by connecting us with thousands of potential clients. The tools provided are valuable and easy to use, and our site membership has already paid for itself many times over," says Jim Seem of Jim Seem and Melissa Hyman of Asheville, NC – 2010 Rising Star Award winner for Top Variety Duo.

GigMasters.com is the number one event entertainment booking service, guiding party planners and hosts to the right entertainment for every event. By combining the efficiency of the web with the personal touch of a private event planner, GigMasters has helped facilitate more than 100,000 bookings, including over 30,500 in 2010. With the Internet's largest nationwide database of client-rated performers for live music and variety entertainment, GigMasters boasts over 9,000 performers including live bands, wedding musicians, party DJs, celebrity impersonators, balloon twisters, stand-up comedians, jazz trios, bagpipers, string quartets, soloists and more. The site, founded in 1997 by Kevin Kinyon and Michael Caldwell, attracts over 20,000 daily visits*, throughout North America. GigMasters is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau, TRUSTe, and is also a DigiCert secured website. For more information, please visit http://www.gigmasters.com.

*Source: Google Analytics