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Things are looking up in 2016 for World Touring Entertainer and Motivational Singer Mark J. Lindquist and his 17 piece big band.  Ever since he announced to the world at his debut shows at the historic Fargo Theatre that his dream is to see his big band underneath the shining lights of Vegas, doors have been opening up for Lindquist. 

"It has only been a few weeks and we have already heard from entertainment directors in Vegas who may be interested in the show.  No promises yet, but my stated goal is to play in Vegas... and I see that happening in 2016" said Lindquist.

Just as the headline above states, Mark J. Lindquist is on...

...his way to performing under the shiny lights of the Las Vegas Strip.  Lindquist understands that the music business is first and foremost a business, and he is working hard with his team to ensure the he has the right pieces in place to be able to make his way to Vegas in the year 2016 and beyond.  Stay tuned to Mark's journey to America's Playground at www.markjlindquist.com

Mark J. Lindquist says, "For a dreamer, everything is possible."  Can a small town kid like me make it to the Vegas Strip?  Sure can!  Just watch me." 

Mark J. Lindquist, who grew up in the small town of Ortonville, Minnesota is now on a path to make his way to Las Vegas.  His 17 Piece Big Band has stormed on the scene with a style of entertainment that possibly hasn't been seen since the days of the Copacabana.

iHeart Media presents the Alerus Center Holiday Spectacular featuring the Mark J. Lindquist Big Band on December 18 at The Alerus Center in Grand Forks ND. Mark J. Lindquist is a nationally recognized motivational speaker and world-touring entertainer who has performed live for over 1,000,000 people in 22 countries and 44 states throughout his career. Join us and the Mark J. Lindquist Big Band for some holiday fun on December 18!  (More Info Click Here)

Audiences all over the nation sit in their chairs at conferences and conventions and hear Nationally Recognized Motivational Speaker Mark J. Lindquist tell his inspiring story.  Now, they have another reason to subscribe to the wisdom and teachings of this 34 year old achiever and dreamer. 
This past weekend, Lindquist took the stage in front of a sold out house on the debut weekend of his big band.  He produced the show, pulled together the creative and technical elements of his team and brought a level of entertainment to the city of Fargo that left one audience member saying, "Mark has raised the bar for entertainment in this town, probably forever." 

World touring entertainer and nationally recognized motivational speaker Mark J. Lindquist cues his 17 piece big...

...band before singing one of his crooner tunes on stage at the Historic Fargo Theatre.  The show was sponsored by KFGO, EAPC Architects Engineers, Bell State Bank and Trust, Hatch Realty and Blueprint IT/Xerox. 

The Mark J. Lindquist Big Band showcased not only local talent, but a fellow world touring entertainer named Patrick O'Shaughnessy.  Patrick toured the world with Mark in a show called Tops In Blue, a USO style show administered by Air Force Entertainment.  Together, the duo has performed on stages in 22 countries and 44 states for over 250,000 people at almost every major Air Force installation on the planet.

You've heard "You're one in a million."  But how often do you hear "One in a billion?"  Well, that's what the Mark J. Lindquist Big Band accomplished this weekend on November 21st, 2015.  Let us break it down to you like a fraction. 

The Mark J. Lindquist Big Band took the stage at the historic Fargo Theatre this past weekend for their debut performance.  They sold out Saturday night's house.  They sold over 1200 tickets over the weekend.  They sold the tickets for $35.00.  Remember, this was their very first performance, ever.

Let's examine how rare this is. 

Of all the musicians in the world, how many of them get to headline their own show?  1 in 1,000?
Of all the musicians in the world, how many of them headline their own show and sell out the house?  1 in 10,000?
Of all the musicians in the world, how many of them headline their own show, sell out the house, and charge $35.00 a ticket?  1 in 100,000? 

Now for the real question. 

Of all the musicians in the world, how many of them headline their own show, sell out the house, and charge $35.00 a ticket and do all of that on the very first weekend the band exists?  Remember, The Mark J. Lindquist Big Band didn't exist prior to 7:45pm on Friday, November 20th, 2016.  That night, they sold 350 tickets.  The next night they sold out a house of over 850 seats.  Think about it.  That is a stat line that's pretty hard to put together if you haven't played a single house, ever.  If you go to the local dive bar and ask the owner to headline Friday night at the bar, they will ask you for a promo reel, they will ask you for a demo tape.  They will want to see something that you've done.  If you say to that bar owner, "I don't have anything to show you, we don't exist yet.  Right now we're just an idea."  They will laugh at you.  They will tell you to come back once you've gained a following.  They will kick you right out the door. 

The point is, before you exist as a band, you couldn't even get a gig at the local dive bar, much less sell out a theatre. 

The Mark J. Lindquist has done something that we think is 1 in 1,000,000,000.  That's one in a billion for those of you counting the commas.  Have 6 or 7 people in the history of the world done this before? 

Headline your own show.  Sell out a house and over 1200 tickets on your debut weekend.  Charge $35.00 a ticket.  Our guess is that if you do that, you'll be the sixth or seventh person to do that.  One in a billion. 

The lights were bright on an evening in November when The Mark J. Lindquist Big Band...

...took the stage for their debut weekend.  Over 1200 people came out to see the #AsianSinatra as he took the stage in a Vegas style show that is already gaining interest from Vegas insiders. 

With his interactive and engaging entertainment style, world touring entertainer Mark J. Lindquist works the audience and brings smiles to the faces of crowds everywhere.

The debut weekend of The Mark J. Lindquist didn't disappoint.  On Friday, November 20th and Saturday, November 21st The Mark J. Lindquist Big Band packed the historic Fargo Theatre with fans of the big band sound.  World touring entertainer and showman, Mark J. Lindquist brought a Vegas style show to the stage and the audience members were blown away.  "One of the best I've ever seen" and "Probably the best show of my life" were the comments from the audience following the sold out Saturday night show.  Learn more about the Mark J. Lindquist Big Band at www.markjlindquist.com

The Mark J. Lindquist Big Band thrilled audiences with songs like...

...Fly Me to the Moon, Come Fly With Me, New York, New York and My Way.  The packed house at the Fargo Theatre was electric and the audience sang along and swayed to the beat of Frank Sinatra's music in celebration of his 100th Birthday. 

World Touring Entertainer and Nationally Recognized Motivational Speaker Mark J. Lindquist rocks the stage at the Fargo Theatre with the Mark J. Lindquist Big Band

... speaks with a radio-ready voice.

"I kind of think I was born in the wrong decade. I always loved Sinatra, Martin, all of the Rat Pack," he says. "Maybe I'm more old school than most 34-year-olds. I'd rather be wearing a tux and tails than a T-shirt and jeans."
A tux and tails is exactly what he'll be wearing Friday and Saturday night when he performs at the Fargo Theatre — at least for part of the show. The singer's concerts were inspired by what would have been Frank Sinatra's 100th birthday on Dec. 12, but it's also a nod to big band crooners and the golden age of Las Vegas concerts. As such, Lindquist even plans a few wardrobe changes for the gigs.
The idea for the show came when he noticed no other big bands were playing the area or touring around here.
As a high-schooler in Ortonville, Minn., a friend — former Fargo DJ James Rabe — gave Lindquist a best-of Sinatra disc and he was immediately hooked on the sound.
"It's old school. It's timeless," Lindquist says. "You can be singing this 50 years from now and you'll still find an audience."
"You listen to a Frank Sinatra recording, you can't help but smile and love that," says saxophonist Russ Peterson, who assembled the band to back Lindquist.
The two met while the singer competed at the Fargo Star finals in 2014, where Peterson's group, Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome, served as the backing band. This weekend Post-Traumatic opens the shows.
The saxophonist assured Lindquist that a Sinatra tribute would be a hit, and so far it has been. The Saturday night show sold so well that Lindquist added a Friday concert.
Lindquist thinks the audience will be a broad one and not just limited to people who were alive during the Rat Pack years.
"I don't think it's going to be just old folks," he says. "It's going to be folks my age and younger, too."
While the focus will be on Sinatra, the show will also feature songs by Tony Bennett, Michael Bublé and Bobby Darin.
Peterson has been impressed that Lindquist isn't trying to just impersonate any of the singers, but incorporating his own style.
"Mark is one of the most flamboyant performers I've ever seen. He's one of the best performers around," Peterson says. "You can't imitate Frank, but you can honor his music and give people a taste of what great music he brought to us."
"I'm not trying to be an impersonator. I'm trying to do the best with the songs he sang," Lindquist says. "I don't think anyone will sit in the audience and think, 'This sounds just like Frank.' It would be great if they did ... You can't be a Sinatra impersonator when you're Asian."
The Korean-born singer is embracing the intersection of his Korean heritage and the late Italian crooner by wearing a #asiansinatra T-shirt. Lindquist adds that he'll be dropping in Asian jokes throughout the show.
He also has a CD out, "Mark J. Lindquist Sings the Classics," which he's selling at the show for $15.
"He's going after it. Everyone who sees the show will appreciate it," says David Ferreira, who plays piano in the band. "He's someone to watch. I think he's headed somewhere."
Lindquist may be better known for his regular day jobs as a motivational speaker and a singer of the national anthem at area events, but he sees this as not just a one-time thing, but a potential new venture. If all goes well, Lindquist wants to bring the show on the road to theaters and casinos.

"If I can figure out how to be a 34-year-old snowbird, I win," he says with a laugh. "What if I can take this from Fargo to the MGM Grand? Someone has got to headline, why not me?"

If you go:
What: Mark Lindquist big band with Post-Traumatic Funk Syndrome
When: 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, doors open at 6 p.m.
Where: Fargo Theatre, 314 Broadway
Info: Tickets are $35 through tickets300.com and (866) 300-8300
Online: Visit www.inforum.com to listen to two tracks from the CD "Mark J. Lindquist Sings the Classics"

It's official. Life is awesome. We just finished up our busiest month ever with...

...25 speaking gigs in three states, covered over 7,200 miles behind the wheel of my car. Knocked it out of the park for a company you may have heard of, they call themselves Microsoft.
Dreams are coming true. We're making an impact on the world. I'm having a blast on the road as an entertainer and motivational speaker. We're just getting started.
Life is awesome.

Nationally recognized motivational speaker Mark J. Lindquist delivered nearly a keynote a day in the month of September 2015.  Lindquist says, "When you love what you do, it never gets old.  You never get tired of it.  You can keep going on no sleep, drive all night, and give your best to the next audience.   I love this passionate life!"

Actor from LOST, Hawaii Five-O, and the Universal Studios movie "Battleship" has been retained...

...as the full time National Anthem singer for the 2014-2015 UND Men's Hockey season.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. – UND Athletics and the Ralph Engelstad Arena are pleased to announce that Mark J. Lindquist has been retained as the full-time national anthem singer at UND men’s hockey games for the 2014-15 season. 
Lindquist’s talents were on display at multiple UND Athletics events during the 2013-14 season and his rendition of “The Star Spangled Banner” has become an anticipated portion of the North Dakota hockey game experience. With a significant amount of positive feedback from fans, as well as the desire to add to the unique experience of UND men’s hockey games at “The Ralph,” the decision was made to ensure a consistent performance of the national anthem.

Lindquist is a nationally-recognized speaker and world-touring entertainer who has performed live for over a half-a-million people throughout his career. As an actor, he has appeared in ABC’s “Lost,” CBS’ “Hawaii Five-O” and the Universal Studios movie “Battleship.” 
Currently, Mark travels the country performing the national anthem for collegiate and professional sports teams, delivers keynote addresses for businesses, associations, conferences and school assemblies, as well as educational financial seminars in cities across America. 
This summer, Mark has performed at the College World Series and will be performing at Fargo Redhawks and Minnesota Twins games in July, as well as for the Los Angeles Dodgers in August.
“It's such an honor to become a consistent part of such a storied hockey program. The national anthem is my favorite song to sing and I am proud to bring my rendition to UND Athletics and the Ralph Engelstad Arena,” said Lindquist.
Lindquist makes his home in Fargo, N.D., and co-founded Breath Is Limited Motivational Speaking LLC as his way of bringing a message of hope, passion, perseverance and joy to people all over the world.

Lindquist is a former sergeant in the United States Air Force and an Afghanistan war veteran who grew up in Ortonville, Minn.

Mark J. Lindquist is the full-time National Anthem singer for every home game at the Ralph Engelstad Arena, which hosts the University of North Dakota Men's Hockey Team. 

World Touring Entertainer Mark J. Lindquist and seven of his closest buddies were invited to go bowling at the White House on President Barack Obama's 50th Birthday.  After the fun social outing, the vocalists performed for staffers at the White House. 

"It's not every day that you get to go bowling on the same lanes as Richard Nixon, Harry Truman, Bush I and II...

... and so many other leaders of our nation, past and present.  What a treat to be able to be here at this place with these people, doing something that we'll never forget." - SSgt Mark J. Lindquist

Tops in Blue 2011 members Aimee Grills, Jarrod Burton, Quentin Thomas, Patrick O'Shaughnessy, Doug Boren and Derek Speights pictured here in front of the West Wing of the White House on President Barack Obama's 50th Birthday.