Event Solutions | Magazine Articles

From the Publisher: Optimism Breeds Creativity

webmaster — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 12:39:40 -0700

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Meredith Mcllmoyle

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November 2009

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Some companies have taken the last year to strengthen their core

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While exhibiting at a regional trade show several weeks ago, I was surrounded by event professionals full of optimism — how refreshing!

The collective agreement was that we were tired of being beaten down by the bad economy and it was high time to reorganize and rethink our business approaches.

There was talk of first-quarter budgets being revived, holiday celebration business and a stabilization of the economy overall. However, the conversations that I enjoyed the most were the ones revolving around creative solutions for finding new business niches.

Some companies have taken the last year to strengthen their core. They are bringing out new product lines, retraining employees and regrouping in preparation for a better 2010. Terry Patton from Espresso Elegance shared with me that his company saw its worst month in 20 years over the summer. But it was short-lived and it gave him and his team time to streamline their operations. Now, he is back to serving 15,000 or more lattes at an average of 25 events a week. Though he is cautious, business on the books is on track for a dramatic improvement over earlier this year.

Other companies are taking this opportunity to extend their business offerings. As you will read in Event Savvy (pg. 8), companies across the country are proactively creating new-to-our-industry solutions. Feastivities Events’ Snow Balls are a brilliant addition to the corporate holiday party tradition.
Colorado-based Forté Events has added a funeral planning division to the company. As anyone who has been through this knows, it’s an extremely important time for families to have the support of a professional to handle their loved one’s final event.
Zip Promotions has designed a program for planners to add speed dating events to the services they offer. Talking Tree Creative, from Maryland, has called upon its in-house expertise to create stunning digital décor packages, which are affordable and incorporate cutting-edge technology.

The list goes on. And the best part is that everyone is willing to share their creative solutions with colleagues in an effort to jump-start our industry.
After our September article on adding social events to your services, I heard from dozens of planners telling me that they have started venturing into weddings and other social events. It appears that most of them are finding enough success there to get through this tough time.

The conversations that I had the opportunity to be a part of were lively and inspiring. This speaks volumes to the benefits of networking with your peers and participating in conferences, where you can start to draw on the energy of the group at large.

It’s time for all of us to take a fresh approach to our businesses and call upon our creative selves to find new successes.

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Event Profile: Unified Design

webmaster — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 16:54:21 -0700

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Carolyn S. Baragona

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October 2009

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Event pros came together to show the true power of collaboration for this Arizona meeting

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Event pros came together to show the true power of collaboration for this Arizona meeting

The Orpheum Theatre opened in 1929 with the affectionate title “The Pride of Phoenix.” Originally created as a vaudeville house, it became a movie palace, then a performance arts theater. The Orpheum was added to the National Register of Historic Places following the completion of a $14.5 million restoration completed in 1997. The elegant theater now hosts performances by internationally celebrated entertainers and Broadway-style show productions.
The Orpheum is also a popular venue for corporate meetings and events as well as social functions, offering a selection of smaller meeting spaces in addition to the luxurious auditorium, designed to offer the ambiance of a Spanish courtyard. The auditorium’s ceiling lighting mimics the movement of the sun across the sky, complete with moving clouds and ending with a navy blue night sky. Original, restored murals of Arizona’s natural scenery further create the feel of being in the desert. Custom stage lighting designs complete the look for diners enjoying dinner on the stage.
The Arizona Chapter of the International Special Events Society selected the Orpheum for its August meeting. Executive producer Michael Stavros and his team took full advantage of the theater’s amenities and charm.
Collaborating with featured speaker Steve Hand, principal of Burbank, Calif.-based The HAND Company, the meeting illustrated in actions the major points Hand made in his presentation, “Award Shows (or Any Show) that Will Keep Them Applauding.”
Stavros’ production of the event was true to the concept, down to the most minute details. The entire evening demonstrated to the assembled event crowd what collaboration between dedicated professionals and cohesiveness of a unified design can accomplish — and had everyone in the theater calling for an encore.

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Event Production Team

Executive Producer: Michael Stavros, Aventura Catering
www.aventuracatering.com

Co-Producers: Tamiko Tinker, Orpheum Theatre
www.friendsoftheorpheumtheatre.org
Kathy Kramer, Joni Jones, Miguel Munguia, Phoenix Convention Center www.phoenix.gov/phxpccd.html

Venue: Orpheum Theatre, underwritten by Phoenix Convention Center.

Caterer: Aventura Catering.

Featured Speaker: Steve Hand, The HAND Company.
www.thehandcompany.com

Entertainment: Katalina Gomez, Scottsdale Latin Group’s Duo Felice Guitar and Vocal
www.scottsdalelatingroup.com

Organist: Courtesy of Valley of the Sun Organ Chapter, American Theatre Organ Society
www.vots-atos.org

Specialty Linen: Southwick Linens
www.southwicklinens.com

Centerpieces and Floral Décor: Angelic Grove with special thanks to Kool Party Rentals
wwwangelicgrove.com | www.koolpartyrentals.com

Production: Orpheum Theatre (lighting, sound, labor, A/V), underwritten by Phoenix Convention Center.

Rental Equipment: Creative Event Rentals Inc. (carpeting, tables and chairs)
www.creativeeventrentals.com

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Tech Tool Revolution

webmaster — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 15:34:24 -0700

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Diana Rowe

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October 2009

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Whether your budget is limited or limitless, take advantage of these new technical event production elements to create highly engaging experiences

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Whether your budget is limited or limitless, take advantage of these new technical event production elements to create highly engaging experiences

“Lights, camera, action!” isn’t just the call to action for Hollywood anymore. Today that mantra is fast becoming achievable for event producers due to the incredible advances in technical event production elements. Audiences now require more interactive entertainment, rather than sit-back-and-listen stage acts. That ups the ante for producers to achieve the most exciting production using the latest and greatest tools in lighting, A/V and multimedia.
“The latest advancements can be really showcased on big productions with big budgets,” says Suzanne Baugh, CEO of Q&A Events, based in the Atlanta area. “However, even when budgets are limited and quality is absolutely important, technology opportunities still exist for producers to pull off a spectacular event for their client.”

ES interviewed top event producers for their take on the latest in lighting, A/V and multimedia tools and technologies that are making a difference in events across the world.

Visualize your Event in 3-D
“Visual” event producers appreciate the ability to see the layout of a room and visually apply the design and theme to the décor and stage production prior to finalizing the production commitment.

“One incredibly talented set and lighting designer is Mike Swinford,” says Baugh. “Swinford creates the vision with 3D Studio Max, which gives me an accurate depiction of how a set will look at different times of the day, or with different light fixtures and set components. It’s much easier — and more cost-effective — to make augmentations to sets on a computer screen than after it has been fabricated.”
Bob Moisan, vice president of sales and marketing for Intelligent Lighting Creations, based in the Chicago area, uses the ESP visualizer, a pre-visualization rendering software that allows you to import, draw a room and mimic all attributes of the room, from carpet to wallpaper.
Although Moisan agrees with Baugh — it’s a great tool for the event producer — he also uses it as a selling tool. “It’s like a virtual reality show,” says Moisan. “I can create the setting exactly like the client asks, and then I can drop added components and features that will make it look that much better, such as adding the additional expense of four moving lights. The client can see the benefits on the screen, and I don’t have to launch into reasons why it’s worth the additional costs.”
Moisan adds, the “ESP visualizer also saves the client money and the event producer time. We visually lay out the set and save time on-site. Also, when the venue is a union facility, the client doesn’t have to pay eight hours of programming on-site. All we do is hand them a disk to load up, and the client saves thousands of dollars in union labor.”

Welcome to the LED Revolution
LED is an abbreviation for “light-emitting diode,” little lights that shine brighter, live longer and change color quicker than other types of illumination. LEDs also happen to be smaller and more energy-efficient.
“Lighting has seen the LED revolution,” says Todd St. Onge, show designer with North Charleston, S.C.-based Production Design Associations. “Now almost every manufacturer is making a move to LED fixtures. Just this year, manufacturers developed a way to adjust the beam angle from narrow to wide. This will give event producers another batch of options in abilities of throw distance and lumens output.”
Aaron Hubbard, lighting operations manager with Milwaukee, Wis.-based Clearwing Productions Inc., says, “One of the most exciting innovations comes from combining the limitless creativity of video content with two core basics of every production: theatrics of stage lighting and creativity of scenic elements.”
With the recent introduction of the FLX series from display and visualization solutions provider Barco, for example, Hubbard says that designers have been given the creative freedom to apply any combination of individual LED video pixels to build any shape imaginable, breaking free from traditional rectangular video display.

Go Wireless
“When ‘clean’ and dramatic looks are important to achieve, but space constraints prevail, such as walls and multi-level buildings, a wireless DMX system can help you overcome some of the lighting programming challenges that difficult settings create,” says Baugh, paraphrasing comments from production partner Gary Teal of Live Event Solutions, also based in the Atlanta area.
Wireless is an ever-changing and continually beneficial tool for event producers, according to Baugh. In addition to the DMX systems, producers can run sound wirelessly — necessary when a large production setup in the front of house is either not feasible due to the size of the room or not desired because of the atmosphere the client wants to achieve.
Wireless systems give the event producer the flexibility of creating a front-of-house area in the back of the house, says Baugh. Out of sight and out of the way of attendees, wireless DMX systems are also becoming more affordable.

Photo Courtesy: LD Systems
Case Study: Projection, sans Screen
With the advancements in LED media technology, 3-D mapping technology is projection technology, says Scott Justis, a project manager with LD Systems, a Houston-based lighting, sound and video company.
“Projection can now be out-of-the-box: no longer relegated to square box and screen. Event producers can take advantage of existing facades, without requiring pipe and drape, and projection can have depth.”
For example, Uptown Park in Houston was the scene of the annual Page Parkes Modeling “Faces of Summer” model search in 2009. The unique challenge, according to Justis, was to provide a large visual to support the event in an outdoor setting, which took place at the boutique Lenny e Cia. “The awnings over Lenny e Cia became the projection surface for the event, a natural and spectacular backdrop for the runway.”

Photo Courtesy: Disney Event Group
Case Study: Combining Technologies
“Sometimes the secret to pulling off a spectacular event is combining technologies,” says Dennis Wirzman, managing director of the Disney Event Group. “There’s so much available to event producers that the challenge becomes finding the tools that belong together and then creating a sensory overload.”
Disney Event Group recently engineered a highly successful, “futuristic” event for a client at the World Showcase at Epcot Center, a big black box of space hosting 2,500 attendees for that occasion.
“We pulled from the world of technology, coordinating several tools: fiber-optic drape, surround sound, lasers and mechanized illuminated balloon planets,” explains Wirzman. “The CEO announced the theme: blasting off into the future. That’s what we orchestrated: fire and flames, rumbling noise of a space ship taking off, and the planets illuminated and lowered 2 feet above everyone’s heads. It created the illusion of the world traveling towards them. It was a definite wow moment.”

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Branded Experiences

webmaster — Wed, 13 Jan 2010 14:30:56 -0700

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Lindsey Getz

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October 2009

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These events are so successful they’ve become brands in their own right. Discover how they did it

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These events are so successful they’ve become brands in their own right. Discover how they did it

By Lindsey Getz

Making an event a compelling branded experience is one of the very best ways to generate loyalty. We’ve examined five high-profile events that have been so successful in branding, they’re more than just events. They’re brands in their own right. Here’s what we discovered.

Creating Name Recognition
Super Bowl
When it comes to sporting events, the Super Bowl takes the crown in name recognition, which is one of the ultimate goals of event branding. It’s become such a heralded occasion that fans want to own merchandise with the Super Bowl logo — how many event producers can say that about their event?
Created by sportsman and promoter Lamar Hunt, the Super Bowl had its first game in 1967. “There were a lot of things that Hunt did brilliantly when he proposed the first game, which has contributed to our success in branding over the years,” says Frank Supovitz, NFL senior vice president of events. “One of the most important things was to decide on a neutral location, which was very unusual in its day when considering that any championship game would be held in one of the cities of the participating teams. But by hosting it at a location picked well in advance and opting for a place with warmer weather, it set the stage for something that could be turned into a much bigger event.”
Advanced planning allows for plenty of time to generate interest and create that brand recognition, so Super Bowl planning begins four years in advance. In fact, Supovitz notes, New Orleans has already been selected for the 2013 Super Bowl and planning began this past summer.
“Allowing people to make their plans so far in advance has also allowed for coinciding events to spring up around the Super Bowl such as the Maxim Super Bowl Party, the Sports Illustrated Super Bowl Party, the NFL Charity Golf Tournament and others,” he says. “These events are all possible because there’s plenty of time for planning.”

Branding through Change
Robin Hood Foundation Gala
Last year, 3,700 Wall Street executives, plus celebrities, were in attendance at the Robin Hood Foundation Gala and raised $56.5 million for the charitable organization, which targets poverty in Manhattan. With big-name execs and stars coming out for the event, creating a unique atmosphere each year is part of the draw.
“These people are very sophisticated and have been everywhere and done everything,” says David Stark, president and creative director of David Stark Design & Production, who designs the décor for the event each year. “So when I’m branding, I’m creating a very specific identity for that event experience that is special and unique for people who have pretty much seen it all.”
While the event’s objective remains the same from year to year, the décor allows for variety that keeps it exciting. “I approach each year’s event as though it were an art installation,” says Stark. “Even though it’s essentially the same event, you don’t want to make the exact same picture again and again. I find new ways for the guests to experience the event.”
Stark also makes an effort for the décor to have meaning infused into it. Last year he took some of the items that Robin Hood’s recipients were in need of and created décor out of them. For instance, recipients were in need of alarm clocks, so Stark created an entire wall out of alarm clocks. He even replaced traditional centerpieces with donated laptops that showed a photo of a flower arrangement while also sharing important messaging.

Incorporating Other Brands
NASCAR
In terms of branding, NASCAR has been the ultimate success story in creating an environment where other corporate brands are part of the overall experience of each event. Sponsorship opportunities are considered for virtually every facet of a NASCAR race or event. From the cars themselves to the racing suits that drivers wear, the experience offers many ways for corporate brands to connect with the audience.
“Branding is the backbone of motor sports,” says Jay Howard, president, JHE Production Group, which produces the programming and entertainment for all NASCAR events. “When the Winston brand was first used as a title sponsor for NASCAR in the ’70s, that was a benchmark that started an almost endless stream of companies wanting a billboard on the car. This kind of brand connection with athletes was unprecedented in professional sports at that time and it created brand loyalty which sports marketing had never seen before. For a long time, Dale Earnhardt Jr. fans only drank Budweiser and Dale Earnhardt Sr. fans religiously had Chevys in their driveways.”
Even today no sport has linked loyalty to the athlete with loyalty to a corporate brand so successfully. For that reason, Howard says they are constantly thinking of ways they can increase signage opportunities. For instance, prior to a NASCAR race, all of the opening entertainment is performed on a heavily branded stage, but then JHE has only five minutes to get the stage completely off of the raceway so the race can begin.
“We’ve created this 25-foot stage that actually folds up and can disappear quickly,” says Howard. “We have to consider creating as much signage opportunity as possible, despite the fact that we have to get rid of it quickly, so that meant a large stage that can fold down. We’ve even created some platforms for which branding is their sole purpose in life.”

Letting the Event Create its own Brand
Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade
The oldest of all the events we profile here, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924, and has remained true to its original identity as the years have passed. Today’s parade makes use of most of the same elements from that very first jaunt through the streets of Manhattan. From its conception, the event’s pinnacle has been the arrival of Santa Claus at the end of the parade, who officially declares the holiday season has begun. It’s certain “untouchable” elements like this one that have contributed to the parade’s recognition.
“Santa Claus has evolved a bit over the years, perhaps with more elaborate dress, but that piece of the parade has remained the same from the very beginning,” says Amy Kule, group vice president, national events and partnership marketing for the Macy’s Parade & Entertainment Group. “Santa Claus still shows up as the last character, and is still the star of the show.” The balloons, for which the parade is famous, have also been a core element since the beginning, though the balloons have gotten more detailed over time.
While the Macy’s Parade has become so well-recognized over the years that it’s become a brand in itself, Kule says that what’s loved about it is that it’s remained so untouched. For that reason they’ve avoided merchandising and other elements that might push the parade as a brand.
“There hasn’t been a great initiative to turn this parade into a brand, but instead we’ve just let it happen the way it’s happened,” says Kule. “We don’t want to dilute a good thing and have pulled back from merchandising and focused more on just producing pure, wholesome entertainment.”

Consistent Messaging
International Consumer Electronics Show
The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), the world’s largest consumer technology trade show, began in 1967 and has been picking up momentum ever since. Over the years it has gone from a show that centered primarily around manufacturers and retailers to one that Hollywood, entrepreneurs, the music industry and even the general public is interested in. Celebrities are often part of the event as special guests of exhibitors — Tom Hanks and Usher, for instance, made guest appearances for Sony at the 2008 show — or because they simply want to drop by the show floor to see it for themselves.
While tech gadgets becoming more fascinating each year certainly generates considerable interest in the show, show producer the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) also works very hard at branding each year’s event.
“One of the most basic, but important, things that we do every year is to produce a brand book that is distributed to anyone who might be involved,” says CEA spokesperson Tara Dunion. “It has the specific colors and any other information they might need on the branding of the upcoming show, including our exact logo. This way, if they use the logo, they aren’t trying to make their own or re-create ours.”
Dunion adds that consistency is incredibly important when it comes to successful branding. Because it’s a trade show, and a variety of companies are included, relaying information to everyone involved is crucial. The brand book has been the easiest way to get the branding message out to everyone who might be sharing it.

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How much is the Super Bowl worth?
A 2007 Forbes article pegged the Super Bowl’s value at $336 million, making it almost twice as valuable as its closest sporting event competitor, the Summer Olympic Games.

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Affordable Entertainment with Impact

webmaster — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:44:59 -0700

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Carolyn S. Baragona

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October 2009

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Thinking about entertainment? Top entertainers give you a few things to think about to ensure an impactful event

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Thinking about entertainment? Top entertainers give you a few things to think about to ensure an impactful event

A world of entertainment for your event exists — so how do you narrow it down to the right act at the right price? ES sat down with top event performance artists, and they gave us a few things to think about when it comes to getting the impactful and affordable entertainment you need.

Australia’s Strange Fruit
{tip} Astound the guests with something they’ve never experienced before.
The Melbourne, Australia-based Strange Fruit surprises and captures the crowd’s attention from the moment the guests arrive. Performing atop 14-foot fiberglass sway poles, Strange Fruit hypnotizes the audience with enchanting presentations. Guests can also mingle with others and explore the performance from various locations around the perimeter. The freshness of the idea stimulates awe, conversation and networking — three elements of any memorable event.

Troupe performers can provide a range of price points, depending on the number of their performers entertaining at your event and the length of time. The group’s choreographed performance art includes two to eight performers and is customized from five to 45 minutes in length.
www.strangefruit.net.au

Extreme Art
{tip} Entertainers can provide options for fundraising at your charitable organization’s event.
Artist Jean François Detaille, principal of Las Vegas-based Extreme Art, has honed his skills as an artist, entertainer and speaker. His internationally recognized artwork has energized multitudes of events from corporate to social. François exhibits his painting talent with panache and showmanship at fundraisers. The auctioneer then starts the bidding for the completed artwork. His pieces have earned many contributions for charities, with the lucky bidder taking home a one-of-a-kind piece of original art. François can customize to themes, VIPS or causes. When planning your next fundraiser, consider performance art that becomes part of the fundraising auctions. www.extremeart.com

Encore Creations
{tip} Communication is critical in creating the greatest impact of the entertainers on your event.
Eddie Diaz, president and CEO of Encore Creations, emphasizes that honest dialogue between the client, producer and performance artists will bring out ideas that create impactful entertainment. It’s all about the client. The talent discusses all the possibilities of what they bring to the table. The client discusses their vision, branding, messaging and ROI. And the producer fuses all these ideas and goals into a cohesive program. Diaz produces a range of unique entertainment and event experiences, from theatrical productions that break the fourth wall to individual performances. He further advises that all members of the team treat each other with respect, which enhances trust and promotes true, productive communication so that ideas and solutions can bloom. www.encorecreations.com

Living Energy Events and Production
{tip} Use intelligent lighting for a variety of looks and maximum impact.
Living Energy, based in Scottsdale, Ariz., brings to the table a complete DJ entertainment package, including performance-oriented DJ, staging, dance floor, truss and intelligent lighting. Utilizing intelligent lighting creates different looks in the same space with the click of a remote. Using one vendor also helps negotiate bigger discounts for the client and reduce delivery congestion.
“Always ask potential suppliers prior to contracting them about the value add-ons they are willing to provide that you may not have thought of,” suggests Rick Benton, president of Living Energy. “You may be surprised to learn of multiple uses for the same equipment. Consolidating efforts goes a long way toward effective budget control.” www.livingenergy.com

Scottsdale Latin Group
{tip} Performance companies may be able to add an ethnic flair to their entertainment. What additional talents do they offer?
Many entertainers can customize their music to the audience and theme, in addition to their ethnic repertoire. For example, the Scottsdale Latin Group, led by Katalina Gomez, can bring authentic Latin performance art to your event, from Latin ballads to salsa dancing. Gomez’s variety of entertainers also brings the impact and ambiance of live entertainment to your event with the type and style that suits it, including guitarists, dancers, opera-trained vocalists and salsa lessons.

New Century Dance Company
{tip} Dancers have many varieties of talents to offer any event. Meet your budget by choosing one dancer up to an entire troupe.
Discuss with the dance company all they can provide for your event. For example, Miami-based New Century Dance Co. can perform intricate dance routines; act as elegant greeters, living carpets, chandeliers or tables; and create customized branding performances, as well as mingle with guests and lure them out to the dance floor. Performances can range from several dancers to a whole troupe. New Century choreographs and designs costumes for innovative performances that can introduce your VIPs or support the message of your event. The group also creates living tableaus for décor and environmental art. www.newcenturydancecompany.com

11H Entertainment
{tip} Find a “new take” on something familiar and popular — for example, fusion between recorded and live music.
Raise the bar on the DJ as one of the most popular entertainment arts for special events. Look for something novel that creates excitement and buzz that the guests take home with them. 11H provides a customized selection of popular recorded music with live performances by four world-class musicians. The company creates a fusion that adds a fresh, vital feel to social and corporate events.
“11H Entertainment’s ability to customize the sound of today’s hottest hits by adding live musicians produces a whole new layer to the sound and creates unbelievable energy on the dance floor,” says Clint Upchurch, an account executive at Extraordinary Events, based in the Los Angeles area. “Combining the talents of a world-class DJ along with live A-list musicians is genius!” www.11hentertainment.com

Fred Anderson
{tip} One talented performer may perform multiple responsibilities for your event while creating affordable impact.
Fred Anderson keeps your meeting or event moving with his rare combination of improv, comedy, juggling, audience participation, illusions, tight rope and swirling fire torches. Internationally recognized, he applies these talents to keynote speaking, workshops, team building activities and a full production show. “Once the performer(s) have been contracted, the ‘heavy lifting’ — hotel, flight, basic performance package cost — is taken care of. Since performers are going to be there for a couple of days, consider other things that they can do for your event,” advises Anderson. “This affords you the opportunity to get a ‘package price’ and maximize your ROI.” www.fredanderson.com

Drum Cafe
{tip} Selection of versatile, impactful entertainment can provide an opening session, interactive general session and breakout session team building for your event.
San Diego-based Drum Cafe is a leader in energizing organizational spirit through the power of interactive drumming experiences. Provide up to 9,000 drums to the audience. A rousing opening for the general session sets up anticipation. Inspiring the entire audience to participate in the drumming builds a sense of camaraderie that translates into the rest of the conference. Drum Cafe can bring a team building, keynote or entertainment experience to breakout sessions that attendees will remember long after the event is over. www.drumcafewest.com

Apollo Robbins
{tip} The flexibility and professionalism of the performer in dealing with production elements greatly influences the impact and cost of your event.
For most planners, meaningful entertainment generates buzz, stimulates conversation and creates an unforgettable experience for guests. “An impactful performer who can do all this, and be easy to produce and affordable, is equivalent to the entertainment Holy Grail!” notes John Wolfslayer of East Coast Entertainment. Much of Apollo Robbins’ pickpocket talents are built on the fundamental foundation of sleight-of-hand and illusion. An intellectual performance, his show focuses on audience participation, humor and mind-boggling manipulation — though Robbins is best known for challenging his audience to catch him in the act. www.istealstuff.com

Stringfever USA
{tip} Entertainers can respond to the audience reaction to their performance and adjust accordingly — this will keep guests’ attention.
Stringfever USA, represented by Richard Byford, Byway Events & Entertainment Inc., features four string instrument virtuosos. These world-class musicians combine their talents in a most interesting presentation of crowd favorites, including Ravel’s “Bolero” — played by four musicians on one instrument.
“When planners/producers ask Stringfever for their show program, I give them a list, saying that the show will include some of the following,” explains Richard Byford of Byway Events & Entertainment. “But onstage, Stringfever senses the audience and how to reach it, selecting the correct material for the situation and the crowd.” www.stringfeverusa.com

Larry Weaver Entertainment
{tip} Bring the party to the office instead of the office to the party.
Corporate and professional comedian Larry Weaver of Durham, N.C.-based Larry Weaver Entertainment fuses humor with his experiences as an office worker to bring comedy to your corporate events. This timely innovation encourages companies under budgetary duress to celebrate their employees, create a festive environment and still stay within the means of the organization. Weaver performs a humorous awards program with certificates and trophies to acknowledge employees in a light and funny way, without embarrassing anyone yet still getting laughs. www.larryweaver.com

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Tech Talk: Inexpensive Halloween Effects

webmaster — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 20:26:26 -0700

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Warren K. Kong

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October 2009

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What are some inexpensive Halloween effects I can recommend to my clients

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Q: What are some inexpensive Halloween effects I can recommend to my clients?

A: Halloween is the one time of year you can spill blood, guts and brains all over the dance floor — and it’s OK! Every October, I seem to get one or two events that lean to the dark side. Whether it’s a themed wedding or a Halloween party, the topic of spooky effects always turns up. Fortunately, there are many ways to get inexpensive, high-impact effects for your event, without making it look like you purchased the entire inventory of your local discount store.
When tasked with a Halloween event, I always try to achieve two things. First is the centerpiece — not literally the table centerpiece, but the metaphorical centerpiece of your event, the icon for your event, the one thing that every guest will be talking about for months afterward. And when it comes to icons, I can only think of one place: Scare Factory (scarefactory.com). This company has been making high-quality effects in the spook industry for decades, all at reasonable prices. From a bleeding corpse that literally jumps at you to a 20-foot-tall monster that pops out from a tombstone, these guys are the leaders in the animated effects industry. Imagine a wolf lunging from a painting at your guests as they enter the room, blood dripping from an animated vampire’s mouth and a half-eaten corpse flopping around on the ground. These are just a few ideas from the more than 30 new effects Scare Factory designs each year. It only takes one good icon for your event and all the rest of the pieces fall into place.
The second item I try to achieve is the soundscape. Music can change the mood of your event on a dime. From scary to whimsical with the flick of a CD, music is intimately tied into the heartbeat of your event.
Early on, decide with your client about the style of music. These songs will be the gateway into your client’s mind. Each track shows you how far you can push the Halloween threshold, and more importantly, gives you an understanding of what your client wants. The last thing you want is skeletons jumping out of a skull-covered piano for a client expecting “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown,” or worst yet, the reverse.
For more whimsical events, I tend to recommend a dancing tombstone and ghost show. The same system that allows people to “dance” Christmas lights can make ghosts and tombstones shimmy. Many classics like “Monster Mash” and “The Munsters” lend themselves very well to these types of shows.
On a small budget, you can easily create unique Halloween effects, making your event stand out from the rest. Halloween is the one time of year people want to be shocked and disgusted — and there never seems to be too much of a good thing when it comes to that.