White Glove Entertainment Booking
Trust. Care. Experience.
For more than 45 years, Gulf Coast Entertainment has been connecting clients with the country’s top headline artists, motivational speakers, party bands, and comedians. Founded by Susie Criner in 1979 at Houston’s legendary Rockefeller’s nightclub, we’ve grown from a beloved local institution into a national entertainment booking agency trusted by Fortune 500 companies, nonprofits, and private clients across the United States and beyond. From the initial inquiry to the performance date, we handle every detail so you don’t have to.
Gulf Coast Entertainment by The Numbers
18.000
Events Booked
1979
Year Established
500
Cities
550
Headliners
300
Fortune 500 Companies
Hitting the High Notes
GCE is proud to provide entertainment booking and production coordination services for our clients across the country. We support our clients from inquiry to execution and you can rest assured you will be taken care of every step of the way in working with us.
Our Values
We Believe in Old-Fashioned, Hard Work, and Respect for the Client and the Artist.
We Take Pride in Taking Care of our Clients, Artists, Venues, and Fellow Vendors.
We are Human-Centric, Intentional, and Knowledgeable.
Recent Posts
As Featured in Inside Weddings Magazine: The Snow Wedding at The Houstonian
As Featured in Inside Weddings Magazine: The Snow Wedding at The Houstonian Gulf Coast Entertainment | Wedding Entertainment | Houston, Texas When Clare Hotze and Thomas Snow said "I do" on May 24, 2025, at [...]
Meet Sam Austin, Director and Principal of Gulf Coast Entertainment
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GatiBgqQIk We’re excited to share the next installment of our series, GCE In Our Own Words, featuring Director and Principal, Sam Austin. In this episode, Sam offers his perspective on what makes Gulf Coast [...]
Annie Eifler: Shaping the Future of Gulf Coast Entertainment
Annie Eifler: Shaping the Future of Gulf Coast Entertainment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzR_exLCsc We are thrilled to share the second installment of our series, GCE In Our Own Words. In this episode, we spotlight the journey [...]
How to Produce Celebrity Entertainment
How to Produce Celebrity Entertainment By Annie Eifler, Managing Director and Principal at Gulf Coast Entertainment (GCE) So you know how to book celebrity entertainment, but do you know how to produce it? Knowing how [...]
Wrapping Up 2025 with GCE
Engagement Season Engagement season is officially upon us! Between the months of November and February, proposals are at their peak across the U.S., making this an especially exciting time for newly engaged couples. If you [...]
Susie Criner, the Visionary Founder Behind Gulf Coast Entertainment
At the heart of Gulf Coast Entertainment is its founder, Susie Criner. To kick off GCE's new series of videos, GCE In Our Own Words, we invite you to hear directly from Susie herself in [...]
We book a wide range of entertainment for private and corporate events, including party bands, cover bands, jazz ensembles, motivational speakers, keynote speakers, headline comedians, tribute acts, and specialty performers. Whether you need a high-energy band for a corporate gala or an inspiring speaker for a nonprofit fundraiser, we have the connections to make it happen.
Pricing varies based on the type of entertainment, event size, duration, and date. Party bands typically range from $6,000–$50,000+ depending on the size and profile of the act. Headline artists range from $15,000–$10,000,000. Motivational speakers range from $20,000–$500,000+. We work with all budgets and will provide a customized quote for your specific event. Contact us for a free consultation.
We recommend booking 3–6 months in advance for corporate events and galas, and at least 60–90 days for private parties. Popular acts and high-demand dates book quickly. That said, we have strong relationships with talent across the country and can often accommodate last-minute requests – contact us to check availability.
Yes. Gulf Coast Entertainment is headquartered in Houston, Texas, with an additional office in Denver, Colorado. But our reach extends well beyond our offices – we serve clients throughout the United States, North America, and internationally. Wherever your event is, we can be there.
We are a full-service entertainment booking agency. Beyond booking, we handle contract negotiations, technical riders, travel logistics, sound and production coordination, and day-of management. You work with one point of contact from inquiry to performance.
Online marketplaces are self-serve directories where you browse and book on your own. Gulf Coast Entertainment is a relationship-driven agency – we vet talent personally, curate proposals according to our clients’ needs, handle negotiations and contracts, and serve as your advocate throughout the entire process. We have been in business for almost 50 years and work to match you with the right act for your specific audience and event goals.
Yes. We have deep relationships with national agencies that exclusively represent some of the best motivational speakers, keynote speakers, industry thought leaders, celebrity speakers, and executive coaches in the world. We match speakers to your event theme, audience, and budget. Whether you need someone to open a sales conference or close a nonprofit gala, we’ll find the right fit.
Absolutely – nonprofit fundraisers are one of our specialties. We understand that fundraising events have specific goals: creating an atmosphere that inspires generosity, engaging donors, and delivering a memorable experience on a nonprofit budget. We work with nonprofits to find entertainment that elevates the event while respecting budget constraints.
We have offices in Houston, TX and Denver, CO, but we go wherever our clients go. We serve clients throughout the United States and North America, as well as Internationally.
The easiest way to get started is to contact us directly via our inquiry form or by calling our office. Tell us about your event – date, location, expected attendance, budget range, and the type of entertainment you’re envisioning. We’ll respond within one business day with options and a quote.
Most regional and local variety bands provide their own instruments and sound equipment, which typically covers events with up to ~ 350 guests. For larger events or venues with complex audio needs, additional sound support may be required. We can coordinate production for you at an additional cost or work seamlessly with a production vendor of your choice. Our team will ensure all technical details are handled so the performance goes off without a hitch.
We’re always excited to discover new talent! While GCE does not represent many artists exclusively, we welcome submissions for consideration. Please visit our artist submission form to share your materials, including performance samples, links, and contact information. We review all submissions and will reach out if there’s a fit for our clients and events.
If you need to cancel or reschedule your event, please contact us as soon as possible. Cancellation terms are outlined in your contract and will detail any applicable conditions.
For events booked more than 30 days in advance, a 50% deposit is required at the time of booking, with the remaining balance due 30 days before your event. We accept ACH payments, checks, and all major credit cards. Please note that credit card payments incur a 4% expediting service fee. If you choose to pay by ACH or credit card, our team will send you a secure QuickBooks payment link for a fast and seamless transaction.
To book a band or DJ for your event, simply reach out to us through our contact page and tell us about your event and the type of music you’re looking for. Whether you need a solo guitarist, a high-energy party band, or a professional DJ, we’re here to help. One of our expert booking agents will contact you within 24–48 hours to learn more and provide a personalized, complimentary proposal. Each proposal includes pricing details, artist bios, and video samples to help you choose the perfect entertainment for your event.
With decades of industry experience and trusted relationships across the globe, Gulf Coast Entertainment specializes in booking celebrity talent—from world-renowned headliners and nationally touring artists to emerging groups and specialty performers. We can also help secure celebrity speakers, comedians, and other notable personalities for your event. Our team manages the entire booking process, ensuring a seamless experience from contract to curtain call.
Gulf Coast Entertainment specializes in booking live musical entertainment for all types of private and corporate events. We book a wide range of artists, including high energy variety bands, party bands, cover bands- whatever you like to call them!- as well as nationally touring acts and other headliner entertainment like motivational speakers and comedians, DJs, jazz ensembles, classical musicians, Latin groups, Zydeco, and holiday performers. If you’re looking for something beyond music or headliner entertainment such as dancers, impersonators, or immersive entertainment, we can often help source those as well or connect you with a trusted partner. Whatever your vision, we’ll help you bring it to life through the right entertainment.
