AMC Networks Upfronts
During the past several years AMC and Empire have partnered to create large-scale, ground-breaking upfront events worthy of their extraordinary programming. This year, AMC opted to host a series of intimate, bespoke culinary events in New York City and Chicago designed to present a "tasting menu" of AMC Networks’ award-winning programming. Each event was intimate, elegant and created the perfect environment for conversations between the guests, the programming and the network hosts.
Six of the upfronts took place at Chefs Club, a trendy SoHo restaurant that welcomes culinary masterminds into their state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen. AMC Networks took full advantage of this unique space to provide guests a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience, with menus curated and prepared by some of the world’s best-known chefs including: Chris Santos, executive chef and owner of The Stanton Social, Beauty & Essex and Vandal; Scott Conant, James Beard Award Winner and co-owner of Fusco; Alex Guarnaschelli, executive chef at Butter Midtown and author ofO ld-School Comfort Food; Tyler Florence, owner of Wayfare Tavern; and Tom Colicchio, recipient of five James Beard Awards and owner of Gramercy Tavern, Craft, and Colicchio & Sons.
Each event began with a cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres during which AMC Networks executives and ad sales teams mingled with advertisers and agency personnel. Following cocktails, guests were seated for welcome remarks from Josh Sapan, President and CEO of AMC Networks, and Ed Carroll, COO of AMC Networks. Charlie Collier, President and GM of AMC, Sundance TV and AMC Studios, and Scott Collins, President of National Ad Sales, AMC Networks, teased new programming coming to AMC, BBC America, Sundance, IFC, and WeTV. Guests also had the opportunity to preview new shows on screens positioned throughout the dining room. As dessert was served, each chef gave a personalized introduction to the course.
In addition to AMC Network execs and celebrity chefs, show talent from across all five networks also attended the various events, giving clients the opportunity to mingle with the stars. Attendees included Norman Reedus, Julianna Margulies, Paul Giamatti, Kevin Smith, Danay Garcia, and Eli Roth.
In addition to the six upfronts at Chefs Club, another event was held at Boka Resturant in Chicago.
Empire was proud to work closely with AMC Networks to create these exclusive culinary experiences. Empire served as overall producer of the event series, secured the venues, contracted and worked with each chef on menu and logistics, provided technical production and décor, and executed all needs for the programs.
Empire is a leading producer of standout upfront events and key business-to-business presentations.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
