Mark Sonder
Chief Entertainment Officer
Talent Buyer
Author
Industry Expert
Speaker














BRANDING STATEMENT

Positions companies for vibrant growth by leveraging keen understanding of B2B and consumer-based marketing to gain competitive advantage. 

BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

2009                                         Co-Promoter, “Alain Nu’s Evening of Invisible Connections” engagement Fall 2009 at The Westin Grand, Washington DC

2009                                         Successfully mounted a tour of Michigan ending at The MGM Grand Detroit for Linwood Peel’s Tribute to The Drifters.

2009                                         Named Exclusive Booking Agent for Alain Nu as well as Linwood Peel’s Tribute to The Drifters.

2009                                         Tapped for talent by producers for a NBC TV show with weekly viewership of 12 million* (*2008 statistics).

2008-Present                            Recommended Entertainment Vendor,  NEWSEUM  The newest museum in Washington DC, opened January 2008.  MSP was the first agency to perform at this facility in December 2007.

2007-Present                            Official A/V Supplier, THE TIMES CENTER The New York Times Center, in NYC, opened October 2007.

2006-Present                            Subject Matter Expert, BOOMBACKER.COM

Advisor to a new US patented company which will provide a method and a system to determine a market need before any monies are spent to produce and commercialize an artist. This method and system for determining the market demand for an artist comprises: receiving user input to determine which artist to select from a pool of artists; determining the market demand for said selected artist based on users contributing to a fund for said artist; and producing selected artists that attain a predefined level of user contributions.

2000-2001                                Official Entertainment Contractor for the WASHINGTON (DC) CONVENTION CENTER

2000-2002                                Co-Owner, WATERFORD at FAIR OAKS, Fairfax, VA


Multi-faceted Banquet & Reception Facility, hosts 4 ballrooms.

1997-2006                                President and CEO, VIEWPOINT INTERNATIONAL® DESTINATION MANAGEMENT COMPANY  Acquired full service New York City Destination & Event Management firm offering: custom designed produced special events, spouse programs, tours, transportation, Broadway Show tickets, speakers, various venues for meetings, conventions & incentives.  

Responsibilities include overseeing all departments of the firm, including: special events, tours/ticketing/transportation, sales and production.  Meeting with prospective clients, development and implementation of multi-day programs, contracting vendors, reviewing company contracts and payrolls, and the supervision of sales representatives and employees.

1985-Present


Chief Entertainment Officer, MARK SONDER MUSIC, INC., and MARK SONDER PRODUCTIONS, INC.  As an award winning entertainment agency, Mark Sonder Productions, Inc. is the national leader in designing event marketing solutions through headline entertainment and production services for facilities, corporations and associations. 

Talent Buyer
for corporate and public events.  Responsibilities include meeting with prospective clients, development and implementation of marketing programs, contracting musicians, and the supervision of sales representatives and employees.

MUSICAL EXPERIENCE

1985-Present                            Musical Producer:

Tony Bennett                           Blondie
Les Musiques de Broadway       the late Bobby Short
LPT Drifters                              Marvelettes
CG Coasters                              Platters
Joan Jett & The Blackhearts      Phil Vassar
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy              Randy Crawford
Ronnie Milsap                           Otis Day & The Knights
Blood Sweat & Tears                 Eddie Money
Lisa Loeb                                  John Mayer
Larry Carlton                             Diana DeGarmo
Mark Chesnutt                          others nationwide & abroad.

Guest Conductor with The NYC Big Band and Les Musiques de Broadway.  Worked live in concert with numerous Artists.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2003-Present                            Frank Vagnozzi Music Foundation, Trustee  To develop and nurture musicians, bands, artists, poets and their venues for live performances to reach the youth of today.

2003-Present                            CIMPA, Board of Advisors,  Connected International Meeting Professionals Association

 

FACULTY (past and present)

University of Nevada at Las Vegas (UNLV);
The George Washington University;
George Mason University;
New York University;
Stratford University;
The University of the West Indies (Trinidad);
Northern Virginia Community College.

WRITING EXPERIENCE

1990-Present                            Articles published in over 30 Magazines.
Interviewed for over 20 articles in trade Publications.

Author:
Book, Event Entertainment and Production.  448 pages.  Publisher, Wiley & Sons, NYC.  Copyright 2004.  (Note: this book has become the bible for the industry and at many higher education institutions).

Tech Guru Advice Column
in the publication (commencing July 2008), Convention South Magazine.

Entertainment Column Contributing Editor in the new publication (commenced February/March 2008), Association Conventions and Facilities, entitled “On Stage.”

Major Contributor: to the book “Made It: Interviews with Event Professional Success Stories.” The secrets of 7 of the most successful and well known Event, Tourism, and Hospitality professionals.  © 2007.  Author:  Mathew Gonzalez.  Other success stories feature: Lena Malouf; David Tutera; Mike Roman; John Daly; Dr. Joe Goldblatt and Colja Dams.

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

International Association of Assembly Managers (IAAM)
International Association of Corporate Entertainment Producers
International Entertainment Buyers Association (IEBA)
Meeting Professionals International (MPI)

SCREEN and TV APPEARANCES

The Money Talk Show                        Financial News Network FNN
Good Day New York               Fox Television 5 in NY City
The Money Pit                        Universal Pictures Major Motion Picture
The Crook & Chase Show       The Nashville Network (TNN)
New York Now                       Time Warner Cable System

SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

From 1990-Present spoken at over 70 national and international meetings, conventions, trade shows and expositions on topics related to music, entertainment and/or production.  From a Keynote speaker in Florida for EventPro Forum to a Moderator for the Global Gaming Exposition in Las Vegas.  Mr. Sonder has spoken in:
Atlanta                                     New York City
Baltimore                                  Orlando
Blacksburg                                Palm Beach
Chicago                                    Philadelphia
District of Columbia                   San Diego
Hartford                                    St. Louis
Houston                                   Syracuse
Las Vegas                                Trinidad & Tobago
Miami Beach                             Tucson
New Orleans                             Northern Virginia
                                               

PERFORMANCE EXPERIENCE  1978-1993

Studio Commercial Recordings

Recording sessions for TV & radio jingles, TV themes, and industrial films for top music production houses whose clients have included: Coke, Pepsi, ABC, NBC, Burger King and the  NFL.

Shows: Artists in Concert

the late Frank Sinatra
the late Sammy Davis Jr.
the late Peggy Lee
Tony Bennett
Cher
Linda Ronstadt
Lena Horne and many others.

Broadway Theatre
                 Gypsy, St. James Theatre, New York City
                                    Sugar Babies, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York City

Classical and Pop                  Soloist, Great Neck Symphony (New York)
National Ballet of Marseille Orchestra (On tour/New York)
Radio City Music Hall Orchestra (NYC), the Christmas Show
The late Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra on tour with Linda Ronstadt (What’s New Tour), & The Betty Hutton Show.

EDUCATION
1974-1979                                Manhattan School of Music, New York, NY
                                                Master of Music (M.M.) 1979
Bachelor of Music (B.M.) 1978

HONORS or AWARDS
Over 25 Awards or Honors bestowed on Mr. Sonder and/or his company, including:
Awarded The Super Six Award for Best Special Event Planning under $100,000 by Successful Meetings Magazine
Named Meeting Industry Guru by Successful Meetings and Meeting News Magazines

CONTINUING EDUCATION 

1987-Present
Continued Education in a list extremely deep of local, regional, national and international attendance at shows and seminars for the meeting, hotel, hospitality and entertainment industries, as both a registrant and speaker.

FAMILY

1999-Present                            Mr. Sonder resides with his wife Roxanne and Humane Society dog “Lucky”, in northern Virginia.

NOTE                                       An unabridged version is available upon request.

Last update:  September 24, 2009