The 2018 GigMasters Rising Star Award winners represent the top-booked entertainers and party vendors in the U.S. and Canada.
The awards are distributed annually to those members who have earned the most revenue from GigMasters bookings.
Most Popular Children's Party Entertainer | Costume Characters & More | Boston | Massachusetts |
Most Popular Corporate Event Entertainer | The 'Big Joker' aka DJ FX | Raleigh | North Carolina |
Most Popular Wedding Band | Those Guys | Waterbury | Connecticut |
Most Popular Wedding DJ | Sam Lippert - DJ SamIJam | Cincinnati | Ohio |
Most Popular Wedding Entertainer | Those Guys | Waterbury | Connecticut |
Most Popular Wedding Variety Entertainer | Caricatures By Diane | Oceanside | California |
Top A Cappella Group | Clear Harmonies | Washington | District of Columbia |
Top Accordionist | PAPA BAVARIAN Accordion | New York City | New York |
Top Acoustic Band | The Clubhouse Band | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
Top Acoustic Duo | the[xma]project | Maplewood | New Jersey |
Top Acoustic Guitar | DAVID PAYTON: U.S.#1 Singer/Guitarist/One-Man-Band | Marietta | Georgia |
Top Acoustic Trio | Lilac Wine | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top Animals For Parties Company | Wild About Monkeys! | American Canyon | California |
Top Astrologer | Kate Wind | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Top Auctioneer | Duncan Schieb-Auctioneer/Fundraising Consultant | New York City | New York |
Top Bagpiper | I Pipe It-Bagpiper for Hire | Fresno | California |
Top Balloon Twister | SuperNovA | West Nyack | New York |
Top Banjo Player | Richard Stillman | Montclair | New Jersey |
Top Barbershop Quartet | Quatrain Barbershop Quartet | Baldwin | New York |
Top Beach Band | Koka Philips | Middletown | New Jersey |
Top Beach Music Singer | Kai Kalama | San Juan Capistrano | California |
Top Big Band | South Coast Swing | Laguna Hills | California |
Top Big Band Singer | Matt Walch-Singing The Big Band Standards | Ann Arbor | Michigan |
Top Bluegrass Band | Michael and Jennifer McLain & the Banjocats | Nashville | Tennessee |
Top Blues Band | Street Jaxkson Band | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Brass Band | Bon Temps Brass Band | New York City | New York |
Top Brass Ensemble | Patriot Brass Ensemble | New York City | New York |
Top Broadway Singer | Roberta Rehner- Vocalist/Entertainer | West Palm Beach | Florida |
Top Cabaret Dancer | SHOWGIRLS - Hire real Las Vegas Showgirls. | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Top Caricaturist | Caricatures and Silhouettes by Darci Herbold | Los Angeles | California |
Top Cellist | Rebecca Shaw, cello | Somerville | Massachusetts |
Top Children's Music Band | The Fuzzy Lemons | Hoboken | New Jersey |
Top Children's Music Singer | Aaron Short Children's Singer | Woodside | New York |
Top Choral Group | THE LATE SHOW'S GOSPEL CHOIR | New York City | New York |
Top Christmas Carolers | Christmas Matters Holiday Carolers | Summit | New Jersey |
Top Circus Performer | Dallas - Circus | Dallas | Texas |
Top Classical Duo | Otherwise Strings | Redlands | California |
Top Classical Quartet | Art-Strings Ensembles | New York City | New York |
Top Classical Singer | Francesca Sola - Classical, Broadway & More | Beverly Hills | California |
Top Classical Trio | Amethyst Trio | San Francisco | California |
Top Clown | Sassi The Clown And Sassi Entertainment Unlimited | New York City | New York |
Top Comedian | Jason Douglas - # 1 Booked Comedian! | Birmingham | Michigan |
Top Comedy Group | Improv Unlimited - Clean Corporate Comedy & Shows | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Costumed Character | Costume Characters & More | Boston | Massachusetts |
Top Country Band | 3 Chord Rodeo | Austin | Texas |
Top Country Duo | October Rose | Riverdale | New Jersey |
Top Country Singer | Robert Abernathy-Acoustic/Live Entertainment | Birmingham | Alabama |
Top Cover Band | THE TRIP | Anaheim | California |
Top Dance Band | Those Guys | Waterbury | Connecticut |
Top Dance Group | Gatsby Entertainment | Charleston Flappers & Swing | New York City | New York |
Top Dancer | Liz Watts And Company | Los Angeles | California |
Top DJ | Silver Lining Entertainment | Hoboken | New Jersey |
Top Dueling Pianos | Piano Punch | Conroe | Texas |
Top Elvis Impersonator | Las Vegas Elvis Impersonators and Showgirls | Las Vegas | Nevada |
Top Emcee | Chuck Dukas Live Event Emcee and Auctioneer | Los Angeles | California |
Top Escape Artist | The Dangerous Fun Show | Saint Paul | Minnesota |
Top Event Artist | Sylhouettes By Sylvia-Silhouette Portrait Artist | Fullerton | California |
Top Event Planning | This Magic Moment Events ~ Event Planner | Los Angeles | California |
Top Event Services | Photo Booth Parties | Suffern | New York |
Top Event Staffing | Fluid Bartenders | San Diego | California |
Top Face Painting | Island Girl Face Art + Balloons & Tarot | New York City | New York |
Top Fiddler | Andy Lentz | Oakland | California |
Top Flutist | Jennifer Zhang - Chinese Instrumentalist & Singer | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Folk Band | The Local Boys | Wilkesboro | North Carolina |
Top Folk Singer | Coventry Jones | Milwaukee | Wisconsin |
Top Folk Trio | Cuban Latin Quartet Rosell, Cary, Yamila & Yalil | Burbank | California |
Top Fortune Teller | Gypsy | New York City | New York |
Top Funk Band | Fantasy Band ft. Lady Patice & Motown Reflections | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Gospel Band | Jazzmen for Jesus | Washington | District of Columbia |
Top Gospel Singer | Ernie Hines/Baby Blue Records | Forest Park | Illinois |
Top Guitarist | Tavi Jinariu, Los Angeles Classical Guitarist | Los Angeles | California |
Top Harpist | KATRINA SAROYAN | Burbank | California |
Top Human Statue | Statue Guy | Johnstown | Ohio |
Top Hypnotist | Hypnotist Jonathan Yeager | Fort Worth | Texas |
Top Illusionist | Noah & Heather Present MAXIMUM MAGIC | Panama City Beach | Florida |
Top Impersonator | Linda Axelrod - Joan Rivers Impersonator And More | New York City | New York |
Top Impressionist | Joey Vincent - Funny Man With A Horn | Westmont | New Jersey |
Top Jazz Band | The Bailsmen | New York City | New York |
Top Jazz Duo | Clif & Nelda’s little BIG Band | Seattle | Washington |
Top Jazz Ensemble | The Creswell Club | New York City | New York |
Top Jazz Singer | Chicago Jazz Singer and Band Leader, Elaine Dame | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Jazz Trio | Like Minds Trio | New York City | New York |
Top Juggler | Justin Wood Circus - Unique Circus Performer | New York City | New York |
Top Karaoke Band | Casual Encounters Live Band Karaoke | Los Angeles | California |
Top Keyboardist | David Zipse, Virtuoso Pianist | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
Top Magician | Magic Of Marco - 412 Reviews! | Rockaway | New Jersey |
Top Marching Band | Marching Band Now | New York City | New York |
Top Mariachi Band | Mariachi Trio Los Azulado | San Bernardino | California |
Top Marilyn Monroe Impersonator | Mrs Monroe Entertainment | North Hollywood | California |
Top Mentalist | Jason Suran | New York City | New York |
Top Mentalist | Alan Chamo - Mental Magic Entertainer | Miami Beach | Florida |
Top Mime | MIMEALOT, GigMasters' Top Mime | Greenfield | Massachusetts |
Top Mind Reader | Fred Zimmerman - The Chicago Mentalist | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Motown Band | EPICSOUL Band | Livingston | New Jersey |
Top Motown Singer | The Sound Of Charles Lee | Harrisburg | Pennsylvania |
Top Oldies Band | Gatsby Now | New York City | New York |
Top Oldies Singer | Jennifer Mello | Boston | Massachusetts |
Top One Man Band | Riley Wilson- Award Winning Solo Performer | Dallas | Texas |
Top Opera Singer | Sarah Nordin | Bronx | New York |
Top Orchestra | Casino Players Orchestra & Sinatra Tribute Show | Cincinnati | Ohio |
Top Original Band | Brooks Dixon Band | Greenville | South Carolina |
Top Palm Reader | MISTER VIBE: 4-Time #1 Top Entertainer Winner! | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Personal Style | Makeup by Vesta | Brooklyn | New York |
Top Photographer | Sphotography | Whittier | California |
Top Pianist | Shake Rattle & Roll Pianos Solo/Dueling | New York City | New York |
Top Pop Band | The Breakfast Club | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Pop Duo | Chris and Laurann | Los Angeles | California |
Top Pop Singer | Tom Cash | Hoffman Estates | Illinois |
Top Pop Trio | Rockville Strings | Rockville | Maryland |
Top Psychic | Barbara G Meyer | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Puppeteer | Party Animal Productions | Boca Raton | Florida |
Top R&B Band | The Blue Tips Rhythm Revue | Fredericksburg | Virginia |
Top R&B Singer | Oya | Beverly Hills | California |
Top Rock Band | Mike Dangeroux Gigmasters' Top Rock Band | Chicago | Illinois |
Top Rock Duo | Blind Ambition | Davenport | Florida |
Top Rock Singer | Brian Moore Acoustic | Crofton | Maryland |
Top Roots Band | Lazy Brad Lewis | Anaheim | California |
Top Saxophonist | K. Chris Knight | Lorton | Virginia |
Top Singer | Kevin Laurence - Pianist, Vocalist, & Entertainer | Miami | Florida |
Top Singer Guitarist | Bruce Brill | Oakland | California |
Top Singing Telegram Company | Artistic Entertainment | Los Angeles | California |
Top Snake Charmer | Samantha Slithers - Snake Charmer | New York City | New York |
Top Soul Band | The Southpaw Preachers | Dallas | Texas |
Top Soul Singer | James Anaya | Seattle | Washington |
Top Speaker | Motivation. Time Mgmt. Team Building. Mindset. | Devon | Pennsylvania |
Top Square Dance Caller | Pat Cannon's Foot & Fiddle Dance Co. | Sloatsburg | New York |
Top Steel Drum Band | Feelin IRIE | New York City | New York |
Top Steel Drummer | Sterling C Sample's Island Music Steel drums LLC | East Orange | New Jersey |
Top Stilt Walker | Madeleine Belle | Philadelphia | Pennsylvania |
Top Storyteller | Queen Emeralda | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top String Quartet | Leesburg String Quartet | Leesburg | Virginia |
Top Stuntman | MIRROR SHOW | New York City | New York |
Top Swing Band | Half-Pack Live!!! | Seattle | Washington |
Top Tarot Card Reader | Tarot Fortune Teller Violette & Friends | Dallas | Texas |
Top Theme Party Company | Game Show Sensation | Brooklyn | New York |
Top Top 40 Singer | Ariel Rose | Miami | Florida |
Top Transportation Service | Falcon Tour & Travel | Fresh Meadows | New York |
Top Tribute Act | DANNY JACOBSON - Legends Impressionist | Long Beach | California |
Top Tribute Band | Woodie & The Longboards: Beach Boys/Beatles/Eagles | Riverside | California |
Top Tribute Singer | William Cintron - Tribute Singer | Orlando | Florida |
Top Trumpeter | Trumpeter Rich Wardlow | Staten Island | New York |
Top Ukulele Player | Troy Fernandez | Reseda | California |
Top Variety Band | The A-Town A-List | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top Variety Duo | BellaNova Electric Strings | Mauldin | South Carolina |
Top Variety Singer | John Prather | Austin | Texas |
Top Variety Trio | Etude Entertainment | Atlanta | Georgia |
Top Ventriloquist | Kevin Horner - Ventriloquist/Magic/comedian | Kansas City | Missouri |
Top Videographer | Andrew Chalence - Videographer / Photographer | Brooklyn | New York |
Top Violinist | Sweet Harmony ~ Live Music For Special Events | Woodland Park | New Jersey |
Top Wedding Officiant | Weddings Officiated by Rev Charlotte Worsley | Jamaica | New York |
Top Woodwind Ensemble | Third Wheel | Los Angeles | California |
Top World Band | The Latin Ensemble | Boynton Beach | Florida |
Top World Music Duo | Spanish Guitar Chicago / Spanish Guitar Duo | Chicago | Illinois |
Top World Music Singer | Teo | Thornwood | New York |
Top World Music Trio | Triváh | Los Angeles | California |