Q: What is G.L. Berg Entertainment, and how long have they been booking fair and festival entertainment? A: G.L. Berg Entertainment is a Minneapolis-based talent and entertainment booking agency founded in 1989. With over 37 years in the industry, we specialize in connecting fairs, festivals, and special events with professional entertainers across the Midwest and beyond. Our Fairs & Festivals division has been a core part of our business since the very beginning. We are members of state and regional fair associations throughout the country including the International Association of Fairs & Expositions (IAFE), Rocky Mountain Association of Fairs (RMAF), Heartland Association of Fairs, Festivals and Events (HAFFE), Minnesota Federation of County Fairs, Wisconsin Association of Fairs, among several others. Q: What types of entertainment does G.L. Berg Entertainment book for fairs and festivals? A: We book a wide range of family-friendly entertainment including free-stage variety acts (including acts such as Kenny Ahern, Jerry Frasier, HypnoFX, Jared Sherlock, Duelly Noted dueling pianos), comedy performers, jugglers, magicians, circus performers, strolling acts (including The Bubbler), children's entertainers (including The Dollipops and The Bubbler), bands (including The Memories, Renegade, Coyote Wild, Uncle Muskrat, and others), tribute shows (including acts such as Tribute to the Troops, The Britins, , and country music acts. We also assist with grandstand entertainment, including nationally-recognized touring artists. Whether you need a full day of free-stage programming or a single headliner for your grandstand, we can help. Q: What states and regions does G.L. Berg Entertainment serve for fair and festival bookings? A: We primarily serve the Midwest, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Missouri, Wyoming, Montana, and surrounding states. However, our roster of performers travel nationally and we have worked with major events including the Wisconsin State Fair, Minnesota State Fair, Iowa State Fair, North Dakota State Fair, South Dakota State Fair, Missouri State Fair, Colorado State Fair, Eastern Idaho State Fair, State Fair of Texas, Arizona State Fair, Utah State Fair, and Florida State Fair, among many others. Q: How does the entertainment booking process work with G.L. Berg, and is there a fee to get started? A: There is no fee or obligation to explore your options with us. Simply fill out our interest form or call us, and one of our talent consultants will reach out to learn about your event, your audience, and your budget. We then present you with curated entertainment options that fit your needs. Once you select a performer, we handle all contracting and logistics to make the process as smooth as possible. Our fees are built into the total artist fee quoted to you. We are very customer-service oriented and try to respond to inquiries within one business day. Q: Can G.L. Berg Entertainment help with both free-stage entertainment and grandstand acts? A: Yes. Free-stage entertainment is a core specialty of ours — we represent dozens of professional variety performers, comedy acts, musicians, and specialty entertainers who are proven crowd-drawers for open-air fair stages. Depending on availability, we can also provide a self-contained stage that can be shared with other acts. For grandstand entertainment, we can assist in multiple roles: from negotiating and contracting with nationally-recognized touring artists, to providing on-site production assistance to ensure your grandstand event runs smoothly. This can include stage management coordination, sound and lighting vendor recommendations, coordination and consulting for security, hospitality, catering, and other services, and day-of artist liaison services. Q: How does G.L. Berg ensure that the entertainment is appropriate for a family fair audience? A: Family-friendly programming is a requirement, not an afterthought. Every entertainer in our fair and festival roster is vetted to deliver a positive, crowd-pleasing experience suitable for all ages. We look for performers who can engage children, parents, and grandparents alike — whether it's a physical comedian, an interactive juggler, a children's music show, or a classic rock tribute band. Our goal is entertainment that draws a crowd and keeps them smiling. We will never book an act for your fair’s free stage without first confirming that their material is appropriate for an all-ages audience. Q: Does G.L. Berg book strolling and street performers for fairs and festivals? A: Absolutely — strolling and street acts are one of our specialties. These performers create intimate, up-close entertainment experiences that happen just feet from the audience, drawing crowds throughout the fairgrounds rather than anchoring them to a single stage. From comic jugglers and magicians to circus performers and interactive characters, our strolling acts are ideal for filling programming gaps and enhancing the overall atmosphere of your event. Strolling/Street performers do not require a stage and have a minimal setup. Most strolling/street performers provide their own portable sound systems that travel with them on the fairgrounds. Q: What fairs and festivals has G.L. Berg Entertainment worked with? A: Over more than three decades, we have worked with hundreds of county fairs, state fairs, and city festivals across the country. On a national level, clients have included the Wisconsin State Fair, Minnesota State Fair, Iowa State Fair, North Dakota State Fair, South Dakota State Fair, Missouri State Fair, Colorado State Fair, Eastern Idaho State Fair, State Fair of Texas, Arizona State Fair, Utah State Fair, and Florida State Fair. We also regularly serve smaller county and regional fairs throughout the country including notable fairs as: Clay County Fair (Spencer, IA), Porter County Fair (Valparaiso, IN), Steele County Fair (Owatonna, MN), Alameda County Fair (Pleasanton, CA), Brown County Fair (Aberdeen, SD), Dunn County Fair (Menomonie, WI), and countless more! Cool fact: We’ve helped provide entertainment at the Minnesota State Fair for over 40 years – yes, prior to our company’s formation! We treat every client, large or small, with the same level of personal attention and service. Q: Why should a fair or festival use a booking agency like G.L. Berg instead of booking talent directly? A: Working with an experienced booking agency saves you time, reduces risk, and gives you access to a curated roster of proven performers you might never find on your own. We handle the negotiation, contracting, logistics, and follow-through so you can focus on running your event. We also know which acts are the right fit for fair audiences — not every talented performer translates well to an outdoor free stage. Our 35+ years of experience means fewer surprises and better outcomes for your event. Common issues when booking talent directly include performers who don’t communicate well, maybe aren’t properly insured, incomplete contracts that may not account for weather situations, or simply an act that looks great on video but has no practical experience working with a fair audience. But, you don’t have to worry about those situations when booking through G.L. Berg Entertainment. All of the artists & acts we represent are thoroughly vetted by our experienced staff. Q: How do I get in touch with G.L. Berg Entertainment to start planning entertainment for my fair or festival? A: You can reach us by phone at (612) 361-6002, by email at info@glberg.com, or by filling out the interest form on this page. There's no obligation — just tell us about your event and we'll come back to you with ideas and options. We look forward to helping make your fair's entertainment a standout success.