Affordable Entertainment with Impact
Thinking about entertainment? Top entertainers give you a few things to think about to ensure an impactful event
by Carolyn S. Baragona | Published in October 2009 Features | entertainment
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
About the author: Carolyn S. Baragona
Carolyn S. Baragona is the vice president of Event Solutions.
Contact: carolyn@event-solutions.com