NASHVILLE, Tenn.—When they were undergraduates at Nashville’s Belmont University, Makenzie Stokle and Channing Moreland were eagerly immersed in the city’s vibrant music scene. But amidst the buzz of talented artists and up-and-coming musicians, I noticed a glaring problem: many performers were performing for free.
“We were surrounded by a lot of talented artists, songwriters, and up-and-coming musicians who weren’t getting paid gigs,” Stokle recalls. “We just kept thinking, ‘Let’s show this industry what value this service actually has and how much it improves events.'”
Stokle studied music business, Moreland focused on songwriting, and their college roommates put their passions into action. They started booking friends to house parties and small festivals, and paid the bills by selling tickets and getting sponsors. As their reputation grew, they moved into the corporate world, which now accounts for 90% of their business.
“We realized that corporate event planners and musicians don’t really speak the same language,” Stokle says. “They were asking the wrong questions and struggling to communicate effectively. That’s when we decided to automate the process to get everyone on the same page about event details and logistics. Ta.”
Out of this need, EVA was born in 2015. The platform’s mission is to connect corporate event planners and entertainers, streamlining the booking process and making quality entertainment available for all types of events.
EVA’s user-friendly platform works similarly to Airbnb, the founders, now both 30 years old, note. Event planners upload important details such as event date, location, audience, and entertainment preferences, and EVA’s advanced algorithms match them with entertainers who meet their criteria. These entertainers will respond with quotes and EVA’s experienced team will guide planners throughout the process.
“We have executive producers on our team with decades of experience who understand what production requires,” Moreland explains. “We negotiate on your behalf and simplify big scary events.” This hands-on approach is useful not only for experienced planners but also for marketing assistants who may unexpectedly be responsible for booking entertainment. She points out that it is also suitable for presidents and executive assistants.
EVA currently has more than 2,500 entertainers and serves more than 500 regular customers in Nashville, Austin, Dallas, Chicago, Atlanta, New Orleans, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The New York City launch is scheduled for early December. Photo: Provided by EVA
Navigating the technical side of the business was definitely a learning curve, the team remembers. Initially outsourcing development, Stokel and Moreland eventually brought everything in-house, giving them full control. This adaptability has proven crucial during the pandemic, when live music has come to a halt. “We survived by moving to virtual activations,” Moreland said. “This has paved the way for us to expand beyond music to include keynote speakers, interactive experiences, team-building activities, and more.Currently, only about half of what we book is music. The rest includes everything a company needs.”
In the end, their perseverance is paying off. This week, the founders announced $2 million in new funding. The funds will be used to expand into new markets and strengthen marketing efforts. “We’ve been very strategic with our capital, and now it’s time to focus on marketing and getting in front of buyers,” Moreland said.
Amid all their success, Stoekl and Moreland remain passionate about the transformative power of live entertainment. “Entertainment is where events can truly differentiate,” Stoekl points out. “It’s the part that makes memories and sets it apart from other events you’ve experienced.”
“Entertainment is where events can truly differentiate,” says Stoekl. “It’s the part that makes memories and sets it apart from other events you’ve experienced.” (Singer-songwriter Autumn Nicholas.) Photo: Courtesy of EVA For corporate planners, Stoekl has one important piece of advice when it comes to entertainment. It’s about being open to experimentation. “Try something new, even if you’re not sure how it will land,” she recommends. “Viewers love to see something new, and even if it’s not perfect, it’s always a learning experience.”
Moreland observes that the corporate event entertainment landscape is changing. “Companies are now looking at this year holistically and thinking about how to engage their employees quarterly, even if it’s virtually,” she says, adding that interactive experiences like mural creation and philanthropy-building projects points out that it is becoming increasingly popular.
“And we’re also seeing unique big-name artists like Megan Thee Stallion, who not only performs, but also gives a great keynote address,” she added. “The experience of having big-name artists come in for fireside chats and keynotes, where everyone feels really engaged and emotionally connected, and then having them come back and perform that night. Combining that entertainment with events and educational themes is interesting and something we’re really looking forward to.”
As Stoekl and Moreland reflect on their journey, they are proud of EVA’s growth and the impact they have had. “We tend to be so forward-looking that we forget to look back,” Moreland says. “But we just got a few stats and realized we’ve put $6 million into entertainers’ pockets since 2019. This is a powerful reminder of why we started.” Let me do it.”