press release

GigMasters Reveals 2008 Rising Star Award Winners

The country's best in live music, impersonators and other event entertainment

REDDING, Conn., March 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The results are in! GigMasters.com, the #1 online entertainment booking service, today revealed its annual "Rising Star Award" winners for 2008, based on outstanding achievement in live music and event entertainment bookings. The 154 winners were selected from GigMasters nationwide database of over 5,500 top-quality, client-rated entertainment acts.

GigMasters' entertainers earned $13.7 million dollars in 2008, while performing at weddings, special events, clubs, parties, and other venues. The winners today represent the highest earning GigMasters entertainers throughout North America. Here are just some of the GigMasters' 2008 Rising Star Award winners:

Acoustic GuitaristPino De FazioAustin, TX
BagpiperMichael LancasterDenver, CO
Beatles Tribute BandMagical Mystery TourLos Angeles, CA
ClownSunny The ClownYonkers, NY
ComedianChris LinnLos Angeles, CA
Cover BandThe TripLaguna Beach, CA
DJIn the Mix USACartersville, GA
Elvis ImpersonatorRick TorresSanta Clara, CA
Face PainterFace Painting By JazzanaOakland, NJ
HarpistMelody: A Winning Combination of Harp & VoiceDaytona Beach, FL
HypnotistA Touch Of Magic Comedy and Hypnosis EntertainmentSaint Paul, MN
Jazz BandB.D. LenzHackettstown, NJ
JugglerMatt JergensWesterville, OH
Latin BandJose Conde Y Ola FrescaBrooklyn, NY
MagicianKeir RoyaleDenver, CO
Mariachi BandAcapulco Mariachi TrioSan Jose, CA
Marilyn Monroe ImpersonatorJanet as Marilyn MonroeLas Vegas, NV
Motivational SpeakerJon PetzColumbus, OH
PianistJ P DaineHouston, TX
PsychicL'OracleCharlottesville, VA
Santa ClausSanta DonMedina, OH
Steel Drum BandThe Caribbean CrewLongwood, FL
String QuartetTom CrowlDenver, CO
VentriloquistRick TorresWestminster, MD
ViolinistJennifer ArgentiLos Angeles, CA

To see the complete list of winners go to:
http://www.gigmasters.com/RisingStars2008

GigMasters.com(C) is the #1 online entertainment booking service, guiding party planners and hosts to the right entertainment for every event. With the Internet's largest nationwide database of client-rated performers for live music and variety entertainment, this Redding, CT-based business boasts a database of over 5,500 performers including live bands, wedding musicians, party DJs, impersonators, hypnotists, stand-up comedians, jazz trios, bagpipes, string quartets, soloists and more. GigMasters.com has helped facilitate more than 50,000 bookings since its inception in 1997, including over 20,000 in 2008 alone. The site, which was founded by Kevin Kinyon and Michael Caldwell, attracts 20,000 daily visits*, throughout North America. GigMasters.com is a proud member of the Better Business Bureau, TRUSTe, and is also a VeriSign Secured website. For more information, please visit www.gigmasters.com.

*Source: Google Analytics