Q&A with Lee Barkalow of CurEnt Group
Co-Founder
Principal Series:
CurEnt Group’s inception began when we saw a gap in the entertainment, lifestyle and travel space. Our vision was clear – present clients with unique opportunities and access. Changing trends and continued demand confirmed what we already knew…long gone are the sidelines restricting folks on how to “”play”” but rather the freedom to “”choose your own adventure””.
With direct access to the world’s most coveted events, we have developed a network spanning every continent so that our clients can engage in experiences worldwide, ranging from music to sports to television & film to fashion to culinary and beyond.
Hands-on personal service matched with a growing tech platform, allows the experiences to reach you live or virtually alike and not just attend an event like the masses, but customize one-of-a-kind experiences. Whether it be on the field at the Super Bowl, backstage with your favorite artist after a show, or walking the red carpet stairs at The Met Gala, no experience is out of reach.
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Oct 6, 2021 at 2:15pm-3:15pm EST
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What is the Business Model for CurEnt Group?
CurEnt has multiple different revenue avenues through Music, Travel, Sports, TV & Film, Culinary, Virtual, and our newest partnership in Technology leveraging first party data from talent and translating it into media revenue never before seen by talent.
What is the problem / advantage that CurEnt solves and offers?
CurEnt Group saw early on the need and desire of consumers for a more in depth experience at events than what was being offered. Long gone are the sidelines that box you into cookie cutter experiences, but the freedom to truly choose your own adventure when it comes to experiences. We also decided it was time to bring the access directly to the consumer which not only lowered costs, delivered higher success rates, and better overall experiences.
Where is the live entertainment industry going?
It is projected that by 2022 the music side of the Live Entertainment Industry will reach $31 Billion annually. The global video streaming market size was estimated at USD $50.11 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach USD $59.14 billion in 2021. The global entertainment and media market is expected to reach approximately USD 6,709.4 billion by 2030, registering a CAGR of 10.40% during the forecast period. With demand continuously increasing the growth cap our industry continues to grow year after year. As CurEnt Group splits it's time in the primary market and secondary market, we enjoy the benefits of exponential growth from the primary, and also benefit from the expansion of the secondary market which comes in at average 2-3 x larger than the primary market.
Lee Barkalow of CurEnt Group
Lee Barkalow was born to be a disruptor. One who has a deep understanding of how a curated, personal touch can make the difference between a successful start-up and another one that bites the dust. After studying political science and business studies at George Washington, he moved to Los Angeles, where a job in the music department at Paradigm Talent Agency led to a nearly seven-year tenure as an agent in the music department at William Morris Endeavor. His career in entertainment now spans over 10 years, and throughout his experiences, Barkalow not only mingled and collaborated with titans in the entertainment industry, but also formed lasting relationships with top talent across all verticals. It was through these relationships that he had the idea to mesh both hospitality and the world of entertainment, leading to the creation of CurEnt Group in 2019.
“IT’S NOT JUST WHO YOU KNOW; IT’S ABOUT CULTIVATING REAL AND LASTING FRIENDSHIPS WITH THOSE YOU’VE MET ALONG THE WAY. KINDNESS HAS BECOME AS IMPORTANT AS INNOVATION, AND CRUCIAL IN A BUSINESS THAT PRIDES ITSELF ON PROVIDING WHAT MIGHT PREVIOUSLY HAVE SEEMED IMPOSSIBLE,” says Barkalow. Lee says that it’s his skepticism of traditional business practices that fuels his business model as an entrepreneur. “Quality over quantity is the new paradigm,” he says. “It’s what sets you apart from the competition.” He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and baby daughter. Contact Lee: lee@curentgroup.com