For talent agent Jay Siegan, the post-pandemic event world has been refreshing and exciting. "It's been a total thrill to be in big rooms with people singing, hands in the air, and huge smiles on their faces. This is what it's all about," Siegan says.
With a successful background as a live music venue owner and curator for the renowned TED Conference, Siegan has built his agency, Jay Siegan Presents, on highly curated booking services that leave a lasting impact on clients. JSP is now a fast-growing, multi-million dollar agency with a client list that reads like the Fortune 500 and a talented staff of musicologists and culture hawks who deliver high-touch expertise to their clients.
Here are some current live music trends Siegan has spotted:
Big Name Bands: Having a massive name at your event is talked about for years to come. "These kinds of experiences make memories that last a lifetime," says Siegan. He recalls booking Andrea Bocelli as a surprise for a client's guests at a beautiful Italian Villa overlooking Rome. "You could hear a pin drop inside the room when Bocelli performed. It was truly the most beautiful experience I could imagine. It was so deeply moving and inspiring. You could see tears of joy in people's eyes." In addition to Bocelli, Siegan and the team have booked Coldplay, Celine Dion, Imagine Dragons, The Killers, and other extraordinary names into intimate settings to create memories that last a lifetime.
Dance Bands: "It's a safe bet that a killer cover band will pack a dance floor: plain and simple," says Siegan. "We've done it for many years, and for good reason. An original band may come out and play three or four of their hits, but a dance band has an entire show with high-impact, recognizable songs to keep the dance floor packed, and it's at a fraction of the price of notable acts. When the goal is to keep butts moving on the dance floor, there's no better option than one of these bands. They can also be sourced regionally to save on travel and accommodations. It's a smart move." Siegan calls out Pop Rocks, Notorious, and Wonder Bread 5 as his go-to choices to deliver the hits.
DJs: "DJs are perfect when you have the right venue, like a Vegas nightclub, or you have space constraints and need something with a small footprint," Siegan says. He recommends a celebrity DJ to get the buzz going and keep your socials active with chatter. "A few favorites are Girl Talk, Kaskade, and Mark Ronson—all big names for private parties. They know how to throw down and keep the dance floor going." For budget-minded clients, a DJ is a smart choice as they travel with fewer people and generally have fewer production needs than a band—but the impact can be just as significant.
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