<p><strong><em><img height="307" align="right" width="204" src="/system/files/200812121001463903.jpg" alt="" />Give a brief history of your industry experience and how you got to where you are today.</em></strong></p>
<p>In 1976 I volunteered to be the entertainment buyer for Burlington Steamboat Days in Burlington, Iowa. Several years later I was hired by the Don Romeo Agency to produce the talent for the event. In February of 1988 I was hired by the Don Romeo Agency as an entertainment producer. I was at the agency during the transition of the Don Romeo Agency to the Romeo Entertainment Group under the ownership of Don’s son, Bob Romeo. In 1999, The Romeo Entertainment Group was purchased by TBA Entertainment in Nashville, TN so in September of 2003, I left TBA Entertainment and partnered with my wife Liz in Neste Event Marketing. We moved from Omaha, NE in October of 2004 and opened Neste Event Marketing in Nashville, TN. This past May, we opened<br />
our new offices in Brentwood, TN in the Cool Springs area.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>Tell us about your clientele.</em></strong></p>
<p>Our client base runs the gamut from fairs, festivals, corporate, casinos, rodeos, fundraisers, radio station shows and nightclubs. Neste Event Marketing is the largest producer of country music festivals in the industry. The first major country music festival that I produced was Country Jam in Eau Claire, WI in 1990. Today we produce seven major country music festivals in North America including Country Thunder in Florence, AZ; Country Thunder in Twin Lakes, WI; Marion Country Music Fest in Marion, SC; Country Stampede, Manhattan, KS; Craven Country Jamboree in Craven, Saskatchewan; Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta; and Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home, OR. We also, produce talent for a variety of fairs including Westfair in Council Bluffs, IA; Yamhill County Fair in McMinnville, OR; Antelope County Fair in Neligh, NE; Lake County Fair in Grayslake, IL; Interstate County Fair in Coffeyville, KS; Josephine County Fair in Grants Pass, OR; Spokane Valley Fair in Spokane, WA; Southern California Fair in Perris, CA and the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock, AR. In addition to these events, we also produce numerous festivals and special events throughout North America.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Who are some notable acts that you’ve bought?</strong></em></p>
<p>I’ve bought most of the biggest names in country music over the past 10 years. George Strait, Taylor Swift, Dierks Bentley, The Jonas Brothers, Tim McGraw, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Carrie Underwood, Little Big Town, Rascal Flatts, Alan Jackson, Trace Adkins, Sugarland, and Toby Keith, just to name a few.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>What resources do you use to buy entertainment?</em></strong></p>
<p>We focus in on popular trends in the industry, so we follow acts on the charts to gauge their popularity and see who’s up-and-coming. We also use the trade magazines like Pollstar and Billboard to keep on top of current events and high-profile acts. I think a lot of talent buyers use these resources to keep up with popular trends. We also keep track of playlists and rotation count at country radio stations in the cities and surrounding areas of the event that we’re buying for.<br />
<em><strong><br />
Tell us a personal highlight of your career.</strong></em></p>
<p>Any successful large-scale festival that we put on is always a highlight. Some particularly successful events we’ve done have been The Country Stampede in Manhattan, KS, The Big Valley Jamboree in Camrose, Alberta and the Arkansas State Fair.<br />
<br />
<em><strong>Do you have any advice for young professionals?</strong></em></p>
<p>Networking is extremely important in this business. Getting out there and shaking hands and meeting people is just as important as anything you do. People who are looking to get into the business need to focus on building relationships with the people they meet and work with. The industry is money-driven and of course money is a sensitive issue during this time, but it’s still important to develop those relationships. <br />
<br />
<strong><em>What do you see as the biggest issue/problem in live entertainment today?</em></strong></p>
<p>High ticket prices are making it difficult for all parties involved. In the current state of the economy everybody is hurting. Ticket prices are going up and people are buying tickets for the one big show they’d like to go to instead of multiple shows like they have in the past. To adapt to this, we’re seeing more package tours in big arenas.<br />
<br />
<strong><em>What does winning the Entertainment Buyer of the Year award mean for yourself on a personal level, and what does it mean for your career?</em></strong></p>
<p>It means a lot to be recognized by your peers; it certainly gives sense of accomplishment on both a personal and professional level. Not only does it give myself a good reputation as a talent buyer, it also reflects well on the company and gives Neste Event Marketing a good reputation. It also creates a benchmark for myself and the company to build on and continue to succeed.</p>
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