When a private client wanted to throw an unforgettable 60th birthday party for his father, he turned to Empire Entertainment to secure his father’s four favorite singers to perform. With an audience of over 350 VIPs from around the world, the event would have to be flawless. While working quickly to contract his father’s favorite artists, Empire worked on technical solutions to accommodate their needs. With some deft negotiating, Empire was able to lock in Julio Iglesias, Natalie Cole, and Tom Jones, all performing with their own full bands, on one small stage in the ornate Grand Ballroom.Additionally, on the other side of the ballroom, a second stage was built where Alexander Kogan would perform with a 29 piece big band on a set that mirrored the orchestra scenes in Meet Joe Black. By alternating performances between opposite stages, Empire managed the time required to reset for the other performances and for the Plaza to serve a sumptuous seven-course dinner. Kicking off the night, Julio Iglesias performed a 45-minute set of his greatest hits, spanning the last four decades. Backed by his full band, Julio took over the room, singing romantic ballads, including a special happy birthday to the guest of honor. Next up on the same stage was Natalie Cole. Performing with a quintet, Natalie’s heartwarming 45-minute set filled the room with an overwhelming feeling of joy. In the middle of her set, Natalie called Alexander Kogan onstage to sing a duet of Charlie Chaplin’s song “Smile.” In addition to many other hits, Natalie included an amazing rendition of “Unforgettable”, a duet with her father, Nat King Cole. Finishing out the night on that same stage was Tom Jones, performing with his 10-piece band. The audience rose to their feet the minute Tom Jones began performing his many rocking hits including “Delilah,” “Mama Told Me Not to Come,” “She’s a Lady,” “Sex Bomb,” and his encore, “Kiss.” Between these exciting performances, Alexander Kogan and his orchestra performed heart-warming renditions of jazz standards, including “Close To You”, “I’ll be Seeing You” and “Accidental Waltz”.During the course of this project, Empire worked to identify talent candidates, negotiate the many elements of the performance contracts, and facilitate the development of a working production plan. Empire also worked to manage complicated logistics including the stage management of an eight-hour show on two completely separate-stages, as well as all travel & logistics for all performers. Empire also oversaw a five-camera HD shoot and multi-track record of portions of the concerts for the client’s archives.Whether it’s securing headline talent with international appeal, handling complicated production and logistical needs, or simply helping a client plan an unforgettable birthday celebration for his father, Empire Entertainment is the ideal producing partner or the most special private occasions in the world! Photos courtesy of Zev Greenfield.

On March 3, 2011, Empire Entertainment, in partnership with @Radical.Media, produced Conservation International’s Gala at the Four Seasons Hotel in San Francisco. The second of five national fundraising events that Empire is producing for Conservation International, this event brought together some of the Bay Area’s leading philanthropists with some of the world’s most notable champions of the environment.

The event began with an elegant cocktail reception and proceeded into a seated dinner for over 400 guests. The Four Seasons ballroom was elegantly, yet simply decorated with organic linens and votive candles, reducing to a minimum the use of greenery and florals.Once guests were seated, Laurene Powell Jobs, wife of Apple CEO Steve Jobs and a longtime philanthropist, welcomed the audience and set the stage for the impressive evening to come.Jobs then introduced motion picture superstar Harrison Ford who spoke about his own long-term commitment to the environment and his work with Conservation International for over 15 years.Ford then introduced Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger who wowed the guests with his command of the environmental and energy issues he had faced as Governor of California and his strong recommendations for how to confront them.

Next Harrison Ford and Governor Schwarzenegger were seated onstage where they engaged in a lively discussion and debate about the issues. Following dinner, Conservation International Chairman and CEO, Peter Seligmann, delivered a powerful keynote address highlighting critical environmental and conservation issues around the world and focusing on CI’s vital work in these areas.At the conclusion of the evening, Gap Inc.’s Robert J. Fischer took the stage to ask the attendees to remain engaged with what hey had heard on this night and to give generously.

Following the dinner, guests adjourned to an after-party for drinks and desserts.Empire served as overall event producer for this gala and was responsible for all technical production, stage design, and stage management. @Radical.Media provided all screen content and graphics.Conservation International empowers societies to responsibly and sustainably care for nature, our global biodiversity, and for the well-being of humanity.

To learn more about Conservation International, visit http://www.conservation.org/

Empire is a leading producer of innovative gala events and is proud to serve Conservation International.

When a global corporation sought an internationally-recognized keynote speaker who could personify exemplary leadership across a diverse organization, they once again turned to Empire Entertainment to recommend appropriate candidates. The chosen keynote speaker would need to be globally-known and able to deliver important messages to the company's CEO and top executives that would reinforce and underscore the content presented by business speakers earlier in the program. Empire ultimately delivered General Colin L. Powell, USA (Ret.), the first African-American chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the 65th Secretary of State, and one of the most admired and respected leaders in America today. He is also one of the world's best speakers. General Powell's informative and inspiring keynote presentation exceeded the client's expectations and met their objectives perfectly. General Powell's remarks about the challenges of coordinating across the diverse cultures of the Army, Navy, and Air Force and his insights on dealing with and leading through complexity engaged the executive level audience and the served to strongly support the overall meeting content. Whether the audience requires a motivator, inspirational speaker, a topic-specific expert or just someone to engage and entertain, Empire is the ideal one-stop-shop for every type of keynote speaker.

For the highly anticipated launch of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue 2011, Sports Illustrated Executive Director of Event Marketing Christine Rosa and Events Director Kristen Leoce again selected Empire Entertainment to provide celebrity entertainment for their marquee event in Las Vegas. At Club SI Swimsuit, the final night of launch week at the Hard Rock Hotel's Vanity Nightclub, Empire secured the television host of the “Sing Off” and multi-platinum recording artist Nick Lachey to emcee the stage program before an eager crowd of over 1000 guests and sponsors. Following the stage program and Swimsuit model reveal, Empire also delivered R&B artist NE-YO who performed a 45-minute set that had the entire club on their feet. Empire was responsible for securing NE-YO and Lachey and handled all details relating to their appearance and performances with the Sports Illustrated Events team. Empire also worked closely with Team Epic who staged all of the launch week events.

Empire is a leading provider of high-profile talent for media events.

Beer. Bikinis. Body painting.It's not too often that the Empire is asked to create an event which encompasses those characteristics. But that's exactly what happened when Labatt Blue Light and NY-based marketing agency, STRATEGIC, approached Empire to bring Labatt's brand to life in the form of a one night house party. Set in the beautiful mountains of Stowe, Vermont, the party was the keystone event of a 3-day prize weekend for 50 Labatt consumers and their guests. The event was designed as the manifestation of the brand's current ad campaign which centers around the Blue Light Refreshment Duo otherwise known as two sexy "ambassadors of literal and social refreshment" who travel the country on their snowmobile, saving our social lives one beer emergency at a time. The party's setting would embody the Duo's top secret Headquarters, located deep in the snow covered mountains.After a full day of skiing, snow boarding, and dog sledding, guests were shuttled to an unknown destination. Surrounded in darkness, all that could be seen upon their arrival was an emanating blue light through the trees. As each shuttle pulled into the driveway, guests were wowed by a huge, shining Labatt Blue Light logo across the house, just as it appears in the current ad campaign.Once inside, guests were treated to a multitude of activities, a host of food and snacks, and, of course, Labatt Blue Light beers, which were stocked on every shelf and bookcase throughout the house. Under the blue lights of the 3-story "Refreshment Headquarters," guests were constantly entertained by girls soaking in steamy hot tubs, models and fellow guests getting airbrushed tattoos, drink service from a Labatt Blue Light ice bar, green screen photo sessions, s'mores roasted at the backyard fire pit, and even a video confessional room to share their stories and love for Labatt Blue Light.To top off the evening, the living room hosted a supercharged musical performance by up and coming rock band Halestorm.If all this wasn't enough to complete a memorable weekend, the Labatt Blue Light Refreshment Duo themselves descended on the house to welcome guests, pose for fan photographs, and burn up the dance floor until the AM. With the blue-lighted house, fully beer-stocked shelves, and 25 Labatt Blue Light-costumed models, the house party perfectly integrated the brand's messaging and created a once in a lifetime experience for the attendees.Empire is a leading producer of immersive branded events and experiential marketing.

On January 28th, 2011, Gilt City, the religiously followed online store that provides luxury goods for discounted prices, packed their warehouse onto trucks and neatly unfolded and hung their high-end merchandise in The Altman Building. That evening, the press were greeted with cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres to preview the sale. The sale itself took place on Saturday, January 29th. With the promise of 75% off the high-end brands, 2,000 tickets were sold-out within hours. The lucky Gilt City members who managed to snatch a ticket began lining up behind velvet ropes in anticipation, hours before the sale opened. Once guests were checked in with I-PADs, they could peruse the racks or go to the bar for SVEDKA Vodka’s specialty drink. They could have a RBC coffee brewed just for them or freshly baked cookies provided by E.E. Cookies. Also featured within the event was a Gilt City pampering station where guests were attended to by facialists, hairstylists and make-up artists providing their complementary services. Empire Entertainment was engaged to be the overall production company of the event, handling event design, planning, technical production, staffing, logistics, budgeting and coordination.

Empire is a unique resource for the design and execution of branded pop-up shops and temporary retail locations / brand experiences in New York and in cities around the world.

On January 11th, 2011, Empire was thrilled to serve as production company for One Show Interactive’s “Best of the Digital Decade” program at New York’s Museum of Modern Art.The One Club, a non-profit organization devoted to promoting creative excellence in the advertising industry, had gathered an esteemed group of Interactive Judges to identify the top ten digital works of the last ten years of One Show Interactive pencil winners. Out of 75 nominations, ten advertising projects were awarded a Best of the Digital Decade distinction for their innovative use of digital media.

Guests entered the warmly lit lobby and were greeted with an impressive display of the evening’s sponsors projected onto the existing video wall at reception. Passing through a red carpet press area, the world’s top advertising clients from companies like Nike and HBO, along with executives and creative directors from leading advertising agencies enjoyed cocktails and innovative passed hors d’oeuvres provided by Abigail Kirsch Caterers. A looping reel of the nominated work was projected onto the museum’s wall overlooking the cocktails. After the cocktail reception, guests climbed the stairs into the lofty Atrium for dinner and the awards ceremony. Set beneath the sixty foot ceilings was an all white stage set that watched the minimal space set underneath a large projection that served as the backdrop. Long, rectangular banquet tables were set for individual ticket guests while circular tables were reserved for the chairman circle seating.

After a three-course meal, the emcee, stand-up comedian and host of Australian Idol, Josh Zepps took the stage and introduced the evening’s ten award winners. As production company for this inaugural award show, Empire handled all event design, planning, technical production, stage management and event logistics, budgeting and coordination.

Empire Entertainment is a leading producer of contemporary award shows and is honored to have served as a producer and sponsor for the Best of the Digital Decade.

For a unique corporate event, Empire took to the field of Dallas Cowboys’ Stadium to stage an extraordinary concert with the Dave Matthews Band for a corporate client's 900 guests. With tight timelines & budget restrictions to work around, Empire worked with Dallas Cowboy's Stadium and the band to build a huge stage into the Cowboys’ end zone. This stage would later host a 100-minute concert by the Dave Matthews Band. Empire contracted the band as well as provided all technical and logistical support for this major headliner. Prior to the concert, Dave Matthews participated in a Meet & Greet with approximately 80 of client’s VIPs. When it was time for the concert to begin, guests were standing as close as possible to the stage as DMB performed hits from the past 14 years, including Satellite, Crash, Ants Marching, and a lengthy encore of Two Step, which made the crowd go crazy!

Whether it’s securing headline talent, handling all production or logistical needs, Empire Entertainment is a capable of executing major headline concerts throughout the United States and around the world!

"Unforgettable night filled with unforgettable moments!" These were some of the words of praise Empire received from Amway's senior management, following the completion of the event.As the largest network marketing company in the world, Amway is renowned for the originality and quality of their distributor incentive tours and leadership seminars. When Amway Taiwan decide to hold their 2010 Leadership Seminar in Osaka Japan, they reached out to Empire Entertainment Japan for a turn-key solution for all their event needs.Empire produced both of Amway Taiwan's key events for this tour-the Leadership Seminar and Gala Dinner Event. Empire's provided comprehensive services including concept development, venue negotiation, scripting, stage design, sound & lighting, video, entertainment performances, and VIP wardrobe and entrance performances.

The largest network marketing company in Taiwan, Amway invited approximately 1,100 distributors from Taiwan to participate in the Business Session and Gala Dinner in Osaka Japan.The Business Session, held at the Swissotel Nankai Naniwa Ball, kicked off the day. The session featured key speeches by Amway Taiwan Executives and top distributors, and special coordinated activities for distribute future goal setting.After enjoying the city of Osaka, the distributors gathered at the Osaka Grand Cube to participate in the Gala Dinner. Guests were photographed as they arrived, and using a green screen and post production, Empire was able to composite a single group photo gathering all 1,100 distributors without the logistically complications of needing to gather all members in one place.Once in the ball room, guests were treated to a mesmerizing sample of traditional and modern Japanese entertainment and performances.

Altogether, Empire cast well over 100 performers for the evening including Fuku-musume, Samurais, Ninjas, Sumo wrestlers, originally choreographed traditional Japanese tap dancers, and live musicians.The entertainment finale of the evening featured 57 dancers performing Yosakoi, an exciting Japanese festival dance. The performance was highlighted by the synchronized dance on all 3 of the stages-creating an atmosphere in which every seat in the hall felt central to the excitement-and participation in the dance by all 1,100 of the guests.

When a famous US Credit Card and Members Services company wanted to celebrate their 50th anniversary in style, they called on Empire Entertainment Japan to deliver their customers with an once-in-a-lifetime show.Empire conceived, designed, negotiated and produced an unprecedented collaboration between the top Jazz artists or Japan and the US.The evening was kicked off with performances by Japanese Jazz vocalist Keiko Lee and jazz trumpeter Hino Terumasa. The audience was then treated to a performance by the famous jazz group Fourplay, led by lengendary artist Bob James. The respective performances by Lee and Terumasa and the Fourplay proved to be just a warm-up to the finale of the evening when all artists joined for their first ever collaboration live. The thrilled reaction of the audience confirmed what the client already confidently felt-that they had just provided their customers with an unforgettable experience.