All Roads Lead to the Super Bowl...
...But Entertainers Take Many Paths to Get There
by Carolyn S. Baragona | Published in January 2008 Focus on Entertainment
The Arizona Super Bowl Host Committee (AZSBHC) recently invited the public to Countdown to Kickoff, a celebration marking 100 days until Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz., at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The committee reports that more than 12,000 football fans and Arizonans attended the event at Westgate City Center adjacent to the stadium.
The centerpiece of the Countdown to Kickoff was the elevated stage and video wall backdrop against which the talent performed a wide range of musical and dance numbers reflecting the diversity of musical tastes in the Phoenix area.
“We have found that the NFL is excellent at reaching out to local vendors and service providers in the host city. They really make an effort to utilize local providers whenever possible,” said Ken Koziol, senior vice president of Entertainment Solutions Inc., which produced the Countdown to Kickoff. “This is also evidenced by their selection to use our event management services for the Super Bowl Saturday Night program after conducting a national search of possible firms.”
Interested in getting a Super Bowl gig? Here are tips from entertainers and their representatives who participated in the Countdown to Kickoff.
Set Goals
Three years ago, FootKlan Dance Troupe, led by Darryl Khalid, set a goal of performing at the Super Bowl. FootKlan’s hip hop set energized the crowd at Countdown to Kickoff, but it was only one of many steps Khalid and Ken Reinstein, principal of blue22 pr, took to reach the goal. Other efforts included:
Performing at every opportunity. They gained exposure in the corporate, government, association and private event arenas. They therefore received referrals from recognizable sources.
Entertaining at AZSBHC FAM events. Members of the committee liked what they saw — and that led to the Countdown to Kickoff.
“I want to be part of history, to represent Arizona and demonstrate the positive entertainment talent here,” said Khalid.
Connect with the Media
The Herndon Brothers, named to the 2007 Arizona Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame, are long-time Arizona residents.
They perform at their restaurant HandlebarJ as well as for outside events. The Herndons have known Koziol since his days on a local radio station, so it was natural for him to book them for the Countdown to represent the country music genre.
Chris Parker Project also has a radio connection. Parker is the host for a local radio station morning show. When the group’s manager heard Parker interviewing members of the AZSBHC on his program, she rushed a copy of Chris Parker Project’s demo to the radio station for the AZSBHC to hear.
John Colby of Chameleon Entertainment recommends developing connections to local television stations. He contracts performers for their events — always a networking opportunity!
Promote Yourself
Reinstein called the AZSBHC early on to let the organization know of his interest. Reinstein adds some extra tips to consider:
- Present a quality product.
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Make sure the host committee knows who you are.
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Avail yourself of someone with business sense.
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Persist!
- Participate in local associations, event-oriented organizations and charities. Go to meetings. Get to know people.
- Connect with local sports teams and get involved in their segment of the entertainment industry.
The talent and their representatives all reflected that research, time, a keen business sense and maintaining networks produced results — and all anticipate additional bookings as the big day approaches.
About the author: Carolyn S. Baragona
Carolyn S. Baragona is the vice president of Event Solutions.
Contact: carolyn@event-solutions.com