Brian Knaff, Talent Buyer, Core Instructor, Teaches Students

Brian Knaff is president and co-founder of Talent Buyers Network, the largest outsource of casino showroom entertainment in the country, currently buying over 30 million in live entertainment for 60 casinos nationwide.

With offices in Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Seattle, Sun Valley and Atlanta, Brian is responsible for the training and development of current TBN sales reps, company strategy and industry expansion. Brian visited with Entertainment Management students on October 12. He shared his knowledge and expertise with MGMT 401: Event Management and MGMT 101: Introduction to Entertainment Management.

In MGMT 101 he shared with students negotiating strategies for talent buying. He focused on the importance of preparation and knowing what your trade-offs are. He also touched base on having the ability to walk away if something doesn't work out.

In MGMT 401 Knaff explained to students how to produce an event from beginning to end. He worked on the Reno-Tahoe Blues Festival and used his knowledge to demonstrate to students the logistics of an event this size. Knaff explained to students that an event needs about a year to incubate. "Otherwise, you are just running and not thinking."

Some of the key components to producing an event include a business plan, sponsorship, financials, talent buying, ticketing, marketing, production, security, vendor development, legal, and labor. Some of the keys to success that he shared with the class include great headline acts, strong supporting acts, best up and coming artists.

It's also important to create an event where artists want to perform. "An artist is a unique entity, take care of them, and make sure they are happy," Knaff explained.

With so many different components to consider when planning an event, Knaff explained, "You have to have an entrepreneurial spirit to accomplish this."