Ballpark is a concert promotion & artist management agency built on the belief that creative careers deserve professional organization, strategic advocacy, and the operational infrastructure to turn creative plans into measurable success.
For decades, the standard commercial art and music models have functioned as one-sided transactions —capitalizing on the labor of independent artists to build corporate wealth, all while excluding creatives from the profit their work generates.
Following that same flawed pattern, the system of artist management is also broken. The old reliance on gatekeeping, opaque "pay-to-play" tactics, and underpaying creative labor leaves creatives burning out just to stay afloat while agencies take their work while capitalizing on their vulnerability.
In contrast, Ballpark is a direct rejection of those exploitative norms. Our approach is built on a foundation of respect, predictable pricing, and true creative equity, guided by three core pillars:
We believe in fair compensation, full stop. By valuing the creative labor of both our artists and our team, we make sure that success isn’t built on someone else’s loss.
Traditional commission-based management introduces an inherent conflict of interest. Our flat-fee model removes that entirely. Our advice is always based on what actually serves your long-term career, not just our immediate bottom line.
We are here to protect the business value of your work, not extract it. As a woman-owned business, we are actively shifting the culture toward a baseline where independent creatives of all identities are fiercely protected, fairly compensated, and treated with absolute respect.
Founded on Long Island and rooted in the DIY scene, Ballpark was built as a direct response to the feeling of being left out by the larger systems meant to serve creatives.
Ballpark's founder, Basia Kurlender, began booking shows in 2017 while managing WPIR Pratt Radio. After years embedded in the Brooklyn DIY scene as a musician and graphic designer, she returned to Long Island and found a community with immense creative energy but a need for deeper cultural programming. She started booking shows as Ballpark Figure Booking in secondhand bookstores, nature preserves, art galleries, and craft breweries — prioritizing fair pay, diverse lineups, and programming that combined music with art workshops, nature education, and community events.
Ballpark Management launched in late 2025, growing out of a booking and events operation that had already produced 30+ events, partnered with major cultural institutions, and been funded by the Suffolk County Office of Cultural Affairs and the New York State Council on the Arts. While organizing these events, Basia noticed a recurring gap: many talented artists lacked the strategic infrastructure to navigate their careers. She built this agency to fill the gap — taking the DIY spirit and turning it into a professional blueprint for artists.
People first, profits second.
Clear communication equals successful collaboration.
Financial transparency is non-negotiable.
Fair compensation for creative labor benefits everyone.
Respect for people of all identities and walks of life.
We treat people of all identities and walks of life with the same respect and understanding.