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Leading online music streaming service Spotify, which launched in the United States in July 2011, held its first ever press conference on November 30, 2011, unveiling the Spotify Platform, and announcing, “this is the beginning of something game-changing for digital music." The press conference introduced Spotify's new platform and a range of apps, created in partnership with some of the best and brightest brands in the world.

The fastest-growing and most popular music service of its kind, the Swedish-founded Spotify is quickly changing the face of the music industry; with more than 10 million active users, over 2.5 million paying subscribers, and now available in 12 countries. The press conference was delivered by Spotify Founder and CEO Daniel Ek, who was joined on stage by the CEOs of a number of the partner apps, including Jann Wenner, the iconic founder of Rolling Stone. CEOs from Last.FM, Tunewiki, and Songkick also shared the stage with Ek to discuss their respective apps, and answer questions from the audience on the impact the development of the Spotify Platform would have on the Spotify user experience, and on the music industry at large. Up and coming indie pop band, fun, gave a fantastic acoustic performance to cap off the stage presentation before guests were invited to interact with the custom-built partner installations Empire placed around the room, allowing guests to demo the new apps. To punctuate the initiative of accessibility, the event was live streamed to audiences in London and Stockholm as well as to individual media outlets around the globe – an idea that not only extended the reach of the event, but also resulted in the press conference becoming the number one trending topic on Twitter in real time.

For attendees in NYC, Empire layered and enriched the event experience with multiple elements that underscored the Spotify brand and created a much buzzed-about experience. Large-scale custom-designed graphics and Spotify visuals populated the room, while a guest-curated Spotify playlist emanated from the speakers. Unique and innovative catering offered additional fodder for the press blogs, while installations showcased the newly-announced Spotify applications designed to enhance user experience.

“As seems to be Spotify’s style, the event has unusually high production values: waiters are handing out espressos and bite-sized breakfast foods that I’ve never heard of (but are quite delicious). The company has a custom backdrop for the stage featuring music-themed illustrations.” -Jason Kincaid, Tech Crunch

“The platform was announced at a press conference in New York that bore all the hallmarks of Apple and Facebook's set-piece keynotes, with chief executive Daniel Ek outlining the news with the help of several partners.” -Stuart Dredge, Guardian.co.uk

Empire is a leading producer of innovative product launches and announcements and is a leading event marketing agency to some of today’s fastest growing Internet and media brands.

When E18 & L'Experience, both highly-respected producers of live and corporate events in India, sought an internationally known comedian to perform a 5-city tour, they turned to Empire Entertainment to deliver Rob Schneider, star of films such as "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo", "Grown Ups", and "50 First Dates".The event sponsor, Black Dog Scotch Whisky, have built a reputation for hosting India's top comedy events and raised the bar with Rob Schneider's recent visit to Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Gurgaon (New Delhi), and Mumbai/Bombay.One of India’s top comedians, Mumbai-based Sorabh Pant, was the opening act throughout the tour. His 20-minute performance each night got the audience revved up for the evening's headliner.When Rob Schneider took the stage he was greeted by a roar of applause from the 600-1000 audience members, complete with fans shouting catchphrases from his various films. His set of 60-75 minutes began with 15 minutes of humorous observations and jokes on India and his experiences during the trip which he tailored to each city's unique culture. His material on what it's like working in Hollywood and more universal topics such as marriage cut though culture barriers and resonated strongly with the Indian audiences who roared with laughter throughout all performances.This first-ever visit by Rob Schneider included extensive press coverage from every major newspaper in India, including Times of India and Malayala Manorama, as well as television interviews with CNN/IBN and CNBC.Empire is a leading advisor and partner to international producers and talent buyers on every continent and a gateway to world-class entertainment. Empire is proud to partner with E18 & L'Experience in India and similar organizations throughout the world who have contributed to our work history of projects in 65 countries to date.

On November 15, 2011, Empire Entertainment once again served as producer of the Coalition for the Homeless’ 17th annual ARTWALK NY – New York's premier contemporary art auction event. More than 900 art collectors, art appreciators and celebrities came together in Skylight Studio for a night of festivities, including a live and silent auction.The core of ARTWALK was a silent and live auction featuring over 130 works of contemporary art donated by some of the world’s most celebrated artists from Andy Warhol, Shepard Fairey, Wade Guyton, Invader and Yoko Ono. All of the biggest names in the art world were represented and up for auction, all benefiting the Coalition’s efforts to end homelessness in New York City and beyond.The evening began with hors d’oeuvres by Canard and cocktails graciously provided by Star Vodka, Beck’s, The Odeon and Sud de France. Food was provided by several of New York’s best restaurants, including Macao Trading Company, Michael’s and Edi and the Wolf.In the live auction room, co-chairs Alec Baldwin, Carey Lowell, Richard Gere and honorary chair Coco Rocha took the stage to acknowledge the important work and various projects of the Coalition for the Homeless. When the live auction bidding began, Phillips de Pury auctioneer Aileen Agopian auctioned off a Shepard Fairey original painting as well as works by Andy Warhol, Wade Guyton, Ed Ruscha, Jenny Holzer and others.The rest of Skylight’s cavernous space served as a gallery for the silent auction. Throughout the night, guests bid on and purchased works from established artists like Yoko Ono, Leonard Rosenfeld, Olaf Breuning, and Christo. The silent auction featured works ranging from paintings and photographs to sculptures and installation pieces.The event was sponsored by FENDI and featured an exclusive FENDI Lounge where guests could relax on lounge furnishings between bidding sessions. Working closely with Coalition for the Homeless’ events team, Empire Entertainment served as overall producer of the event and was responsible for aspects ranging from event design, selected art solicitation (including the Andy Warhol piece), layout, production and logistics to décor, restaurant coordination and music.ARTWALK NY raised over $850,000 for the Coalition for the Homeless and reached the highest attendance in the event’s 17 years. Empire Entertainment is honored to have worked in collaboration with the Coalition for the Homeless and its many supporters, to make this year’s ARTWALK NY event the most successful one yet. To learn more about the Coalition for the Homeless or to get involved and donate, visit www.coalitionforthehomeless.org

The Gotham Independent Film Awards is an elegant dinner gala staged every year by the Independent Filmmaker Project. The funds raised by the event are channelled to independent filmmakers through the IFP's many programs and services. The Gothams are held at Cipriani's iconic Wall Street location, and are the marquee event of New York's prestigious independent film world.

At the 2011 Gotham Awards, tribute presenter and pint-sized comedian Patton Oswalt delivered one of the most memorable lines of the night as he stood at the podium with freakishly tall Charlize Theron draped on his left shoulder: "Yeah, this is what people really want to see. Charlize Theron with a bag of flour." Theron was one of four Gotham Awards tributees, along with Gary Oldman, director David Cronenberg and producer Tom Rothman, and one of many celebrities attending the star-studded 2011 Gotham Independent Film Awards. Ang Lee, Jim Jarmusch, Edie Falco, Alec Baldwin, Oliver Platt, Tilda Swinton and many others were out in force to support independent filmmakers and kick off the Oscars award season. This was Empire Entertainment 's fourth year producing the event.

On November 7, 2011, Microsoft publically released their new Windows Phone 7.5 software in a BIG way by building a six-story mobile phone in Herald Square, and activating it with a full day of interactive performances, free food, and a headline performance by Far East Movement.For this large undertaking, Empire was engaged by Microsoft to work closely with Seattle-based creative agency, Wexley School for Girls, and The Production Network to make sure that the five hour event went flawlessly. Empire worked closely with the Mayor’s Office and a variety of NYC agencies to secure the various event location permits for Broadway between 34th & 35th Streets, plus the surrounding streets for production vehicles and equipment to support the nearly week-long production. In addition to location permits Empire acquired additional permits from the Department of Buildings, Department of Transportation, Department of Health, FDNY and NYPD.Next up was talent: For a rocking lunch time concert, Empire booked and secured the Far East Movement to perform a 15-minute headline set, including their international hit, “Like a G-6”. Returning at the end of the day was the Far East Movement’s own, DJ Vermin, who spun hits for over an hour, turning Herald Square into an impromptu, outdoor dance club! Once the band was secured, it was on to securing local celebrities, actors, singers, and dancers to perform a series of vignettes created by Wexley that brought the phone applications to life throughout the day. These included: The voice of the phone, Cortana, Reporters from Accuweather, dance performances by “Zombies vs Aliens,” a “Fruit Ninja,” “Chefs,” onstage mini-makeovers, a Fitness Expert, The Humane Society, with live kittens for adoption, a real life marriage proposal, among others! Additionally, Empire secured all of the costumes and props, including Original Ray’s Pizza and popcorn, which were dispensed to the crowd. The full day event was a huge success, with locals and tourists alike, visiting the phone structure that combined huge LED displays with live stages. For more information, and a video mashup, please visit:http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PitGqCeJF8chttp://www.bizbash.com/microsoft_debuts_new_windows_software_with_six-story_mobile_device/newyork/story/21851Empire is a leading event marketing agency that supports clients and partner companies with innovative event marketing events in New York City and around the world.

The Happy Hearts Fund, an organization founded by model Petra Nemcova and dedicated to rebuilding sustainable schools in areas devastated by natural disasters, held their annual Land of Dreams event at the Metropolitan Pavilion on November 5th, 2011. This year’s event focused on Haiti and the tremendous need following the devastation of the 2010 earthquake. Empire was engaged to help produce the multi-faceted evening and to transform the Metropolitan Pavilion into an authentic environment that showcased the best of Haiti. On the evening of the event. Guests traveled over a mango carpet, past a projected departures board and were checked in for their journey to Haiti by stunning stewardesses in full uniform who handed out boarding cards and passports to all of the Haitian sites inside.Once inside festive music from a traditional Haitian band and specialty rum cocktails welcomed guests to the warmly lit reception in the expansive event space. Surrounding the room, a series of Haitian vignettes showcased highlights of Haiti. In the Iron Market Guests sampled mango, pineapple, bananas and Haitian coffee beans displayed in large wooden bowls and baskets. In the Pirate Bar, costumed bartenders served rum concoctions and Caribbean specialties in front of an authentic recreation of a pirate ship. In the Haitian School, guests read hand-drawn phrases in Creole on a blackboard and also wrote their own names on individual bricks symbolizing their individual commitment to provide the bricks needed to build new schools. In the Haitian Art station guests admired colorful paintings by Michel Brudent, a renowned Port au Prince artist. In the Urban Zen space Donna Karan’s team created a visually sumptuous display of Haitian housewares and crafts including handmade ironworks, carved wooden candelabras, papier-mâché sculptures, and horn jewelry. In the Beach Shack Haiti’s beautiful coast came to life around an aged wood structure outfitted with swaying palm trees, a projection of the water lapping Caribbean shores and a real live Macaw parrot. In the final station, Empire recreated Haiti’s iconic Citadel, where volunteers shared facts about the legendary fort and important Haitian history alongside a full size cannon, cannonballs and Haitian flags. After the cocktail reception, guests moved into the North Pavilion for the seated dinner and program. Bloomberg Television’s Margaret Brennan, the emcee of the evening, introduced the founder of the Happy Hearts Fund, the stunning Petra Nemcova and Executive Director, Phil Caputo who welcomed guests and set the tone for the evening to come. The dinner program also featured remarks by honorees Rene Haugrud and tireless Haiti relief activist Sean Penn who has lived and worked for much of the past year in Haiti. Grammy Award-winner Josh Groban and his band gave a heart-felt performance of three songs including his famous, “You Raise Me Up.” After dinner auctioneer Simon De Pury, of Phillips de Pury & Company, raised over $1 million dollars in an action packed live auction that included lots ranging from use of a Caribbean villa and an insider’s Victoria’s Secret Show experience to a custom James Bond mission and an exquisite Damien Hirst artwork entitled Mantra that sold for $100,000. For the grand finalé of the evening, Haitian musician and global sensation Wyclef Jean and delivered a high energy party performance that drew Petra Nemcova, Sean Penn and the rest of the guests out of their seats, onto the stage, and past midnight as they danced on chairs and tables in their black-tie attire. In addition to the evening events, Happy Hearts Fund hosted 300 children at the Metropolitan Pavilion earlier in the afternoon for an array of educational, interactive and kid-friendly activities all focused on Haiti. The Children learned traditional Haitian dances, painted their faces, created Haitian jewelry, learned to draw with a renown Haitian artist and even talked to the parrot.Working closely with Happy Hearts Fund, Empire served as Producer of the Land of Dreams, managing elements including décor, technical production, performing talent and stage management. To learn more about the efforts of the Happy Hearts Fund or to donate, please visit happyheartsfund.org. Empire is proud to serve charitable organizations like the Happy Hearts Fund and to help support their important work in Haiti, Indonesia, India and Peru.

On November 3, Empire Entertainment was once again proud to serve Keep a Child Alive as Producer of their 8th annual Black Ball Gala at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Graciously sponsored by Sachin & Saurabh Foundation, this year’s event featured extraordinary performances and collaborations by Alicia Keys, Usher, will.i.am, Norah Jones, Jay Sean, Richie Sambora, Gary Clark Jr, Midival Punditz and Karsh Kale.

A star-studded guest list of over 700 came to support Keys and Keep a Child Alive, an organization providing life-saving support to children and families affected by HIV/ AIDS in Africa and India. Clive Davis, Serena Williams, Queen Latifah, Tyra Banks, Keys’ husband, producer Swizz Beatz, Russell Simmons, and Padma Lakshmi were among many others who came to show their support in the fight against the global AIDS pandemic.This year’s event focused on India, marking Keep a Child Alive's new presence there. Guests entered the venue and were immersed in a stunning decor reminiscent of an old opulent India designed by Creative Director of Keep a Child Alive, Earle Sebastian, and designer Bruce Thompson. Hanging marigold entryways, tufted fabric walls with antique framed images, and backlit bars featuring traditional Indian patterns created a majestic setting for the evening.

Following cocktails, the guests moved into the main hall of Hammerstein Ballroom into a breathtaking candlelit oasis where they enjoyed a delicious Indian-inspired dinner menu served by Creative Edge Catering. All wine and spirits for the evening were generously donated by Sherry-Lehmann Wine & Spirits. Powerful emotive graphic messages and a series of films about the work and impact of Keep a Child Alive in India were projected onto multi-leveled projection screens.Like every year, The Black Ball honors individuals whose remarkable acts of giving have helped to transform lives.

This year’s Ball honored New Yorker, Anthony Scaramucci the managing partner of SkyBridge Capital who pledged that he and SkyBridge would raise $1 million for KCA next year.This year KCA also honored the late George Harrison for his spiritual, musical and philanthropic legacy throughout the world. Olivia Harrison, George’s wife, told the audience, “Tonight we’re all here because of the compassion and courage of two people who never met,” and pledged a donation to Keep a Child Alive. Alicia went on to say that George’s love of India’s philosophy, culture and people helped raised consciousness of the world and helped give rise to music’s first large scale rock & roll benefit concert, The Concert for Bangladesh, that took place in 1971 in New York City. The spirit of the late George Harrison was felt at the event as Keys honored him for helping "people change their view of how to act as humanitarians."

After a touching program, a Sotheby’s auctioneer and KCA advocate Tyra Banks worked together onstage to auction a series of incredible once-in-a-lifetime experiences. The duo worked in unity to auction an adventure to India, private tennis lessons with Serena Williams, a dinner party for 10 with Naomi Watts and Ed Norton, an America’s Top Model makeover experience with Tyra Banks and Fred Leighton bracelets worn by Ms. Keys herself. The auction raised over $300,000.

The concert program for which the Black Ball is renowned began led by Alicia Keys and her incredible band. Keys orchestrated an evening of tributes where all artists covered one of Harrison’s most remembered songs as well as their own material. Indian fusion musicians Midival Punditz and electronic composer Karsh Kale opened the set with “Within You Without You,” followed by Jay Sean and Keys sultry R&B duet of hit ballad “Something.” It was then blues–rock guitarist Gary Clark Jr.’s turn who jammed with Alicia on “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and brought the audience to their feet. Norah Jones then came onstage to deliver a sweet solo rendition of “Don’t Know Why” and a duet of “Isn’t a Pity” with Alicia Keys. Usher again brought the audience to their feet with his high energy “OMG,” later joined by Bon Jovi Guitarist Richie Sambora.

The evening concluded with a pop performance of Black Eyed Peas member will.i.am, singing “Where is the Love,” into Harrison’s “Got my Mind Set on You,” and a crowd pumping version of “I Got a Feeling.” All told, the 2011 Black Ball raised over $3 million for AIDS affected children and families in Africa and India.Once again,

Empire Entertainment served as overall event producer for the Black Ball and managed aspects of the event including site selection and contracting, logistics, catering, décor, talent coordination, technical production, security and onsite management. Empire Entertainment is proud to serve as partner of Keep a Child Alive in saving lives and raising awareness in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa and India.

On October 27th and 28th 2011, Empire Entertainment produced the first Russian Business and Investment Summit at the New York Stock Exchange. This summit was created to jumpstart American and foreign participation in Russia’s economic growth and to boost activity of listings and trading on the NYSE Euronext. In addition to production management, Empire created outreach materials that activated powerful sponsorships such as Ernst & Young, Russian Standard Vodka and Terex Corporation.CEOs of major Russian corporations, American investors and government officials were invited to meetings and panel discussions to impart valuable perspectives on the current state of Russia’s business and economy. Topics included a broad range, from policy-making trends to environmental regulations. Key speakers included Stuart Lawson, Executive Director and Senior Adviser at Ernst & Young, Congressman Bob Turner and esteemed officials, Deputy Minister Stanislav Voskresenskiy of the Russian Federation’s Ministry of Economic Development and James D. Wolfensohn, Former President of the World Bank.For the first day of the summit, Empire helped to bring together major players of Russian business by organizing one on one meetings between public and private Russian companies and investment funds at the Flatotel in midtown Manhattan. Attendees were provided with private meeting rooms to discuss valuable opportunities in their future relationships and to provide in-depth insight into the state of their businesses. After a day of business meetings, participants were invited to an Opening Gala reception that evening at the Ana Tzarev Gallery. Empire coordinated the cocktail reception complete with a fashion presentation of Russian couture fashion. Guests indulged in drinks sponsored by Russian Standard Vodka, Dozortsev & Sons, and Zhiguli Beer and lavished over Russian influenced hors d’oeuvres provided by Tatiana Restaurant. Roaming models showcased fashions designed by Oksana Remi Couture, Alex Teih, Helen Yarmak and accessories by Alex Soldier Jewelry and M.Y. Accessories. Meanwhile, guests enjoyed each other’s company against the backdrop of Ana Tzarev’s vibrant and richly colored paintings.The second day of the summit took place at the New York Stock Exchange where Empire produced a series of panel discussions concerning the full breadth of the Russian market. Panels included speakers from key Russian companies in telecommunication, pharmaceuticals, energy, and more. That afternoon, VIP participants were invited to ring the closing bell of the New York Stock Exchange. The summit was closed with evening drinks and reception at the New York Stock exchange’s illustrious boardroom.The two-day summit was a great success for businesses and investors alike. A leading organizer of corporate meetings, Empire set the stage for valuable business connections and truly meaningful networking.

On Monday, October 24, Lincoln Center recognized Ralph Lauren’s indelible mark on the cultural landscape and his leadership in the fight against cancer with an unprecedented evening which jointly benefitted the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention and Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.

This one night only evening with Ralph Lauren was hosted by Oprah Winfrey, who led a personal and intimate on-stage conversation with Mr. Lauren offering a rare look into the life of an intriguing public, yet very private, cultural icon.

At the conclusion of the discussion, which featured visual projections and multimedia elements presented within a uniquely Ralph Lauren set, the screens flew out to reveal a huge stage set and an unexpected reprise of Ralph Lauren's Spring Runway show with dozens of models in his most luxurious creations.

The multi media on stage conversation was preceded by a champagne reception in Alice Tully Hall and followed by a gala dinner in the David H. Koch Theater produced by KCD.

This landmark event was the most successful fundraising event in the history of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, raising over $7 million.

For this singular fashion event celebrating this true fashion icon, Empire Entertainment was proud to Co-Produce the evening’s stage presentation in collaboration with Producer Darren Bagert.

Empire is a leading producer of noteworthy events for the fashion world.

Partnering with Children Affected by Aids Foundation (CAAF) and Keep A Child Alive (KCA), Empire Entertainment produced Dream Halloween Los Angeles on October 29th. Now in its 18th year, the annual kids-oriented fundraising event attracts over 1500 guests from all over Los Angeles. Proceeds from the event benefits children and families affected by HIV/AIDS.Taking place in the historic Barker Hangar at the Santa Monica Airport, guests drove onto the taxiway and walked a 300’ red carpet to enter the space. The evening’s host, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Ribbon of Dreams Award recipient, Josh Duhamel, were among the attending celebrities.Earle Sebastian, Creative Director and Richard LaSalle, Production Designer had guests entering through a haunted forest. Waiting behind every bend were costumed forest dwellers ready to frighten unsuspecting trespassers. In keeping with the tradition of Dream Halloween, children trick or treated for toys instead of candy, made possible by custom windows built into the forest for distribution. Leaving the narrow, winding forest, guests walked into the transformed cavernous hangar. The main stage was packed with children’s entertainment all night with acts ranging from Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko Japanese Drummers to the child performers of Le PeTiT CiRqUe. No Halloween party would be complete without a 20-person rendition of Michael Jackson’s thriller, which was later taught step by step to any eager attendee. Other features of the event included Ghost City, a maze of black light drawn walls further enhanced by the 3D glasses given out.There was never a dull moment as kids enjoyed arts and crafts and face painting by MAC artists. Walk around characters treated guests to photo- ops throughout the evening. Outside the hangar, a teen tent pumped music all night courtesy of Nickelodeon’s own, DJ J Boogie.The fun filled night culminated in a live auction of a one-of a kind Barbie doll made in the likeness of Alicia Keys made by the Mattel design team that was won by one lucky guest and a performance by Disney Channel’s Roshon Fegan from Camp Rock and Shake It Up.Working closely with CAAF and KCA, Empire Entertainment served as overall producer of the event.To learn more about Dream Halloween visit www.dreamhalloween.org or to make a donation to the Children Affected by AIDS Foundation, please visit, www.caaf.org.To learn more about Keep A Child Alive or to donate, please visit, keepachildalive.org.

BizBash, the leading trade magazine for the event industry, announced the winners of the 2011 Reader's Choice awards during the 2011 BizBash New York Expo. Empire's President & CEO, J.B. Miller was honored to win the award for Event Producer of the Year.This prestigious award recognizes an individual event producer who has demonstrated an exceptional ability to execute all aspects of technical and creative corporate event production. With an unprecedented catalog already under his belt for 2011, J.B. is honored to be recognized for his dedication to creating and producing exceptional events in NYC and around the world.J.B. and his team at Empire Entertainment are hard at work on an impressive roster events for this Fall and Winter, continuing to produce the exceptional content that has been recognized by industry curator, BizBash. About our President:J.B. Miller, president and C.E.O. of Empire Entertainment, is an Emmy Award-winning producer with more than 25 years of experience as a producer in the entertainment industry. Born and raised in New York, Miller began making movies with his brothers Bennett and Teddy in his early teens and has continued producing ever since. Over the years, Miller’s career has included work in concerts, comedy, theater, radio, festivals, television, and motion pictures, as well as event production. For the past two decades, his New York City- and Tokyo-based company, Empire Entertainment, has provided the platform, team, and resources to marry his passion for producing events and managing creative enterprises with his widely diverse interests. The result is a prodigious track record of producing thousands of events in more than 65 countries for clients ranging from the White House, Microsoft, and Google to the XIV Dalai Lama and Keep a Child Alive. Miller believes he has the greatest job on earth and is honored to bethe winner of BizBash's Event Producer of the Year.

When a leading insurance company wanted top-quality entertainment to perform for approximately 700 of senior employees and their families, at The Broadmoor, they turned to Empire Entertainment to deliver a one of the most renowned music acts of the past five decades - The Temptations.On the final night of the week-long meeting, the attendees entered the ballroom with excitement, awaiting the performance of the three-time Grammy winning group. After remarks and an introduction by a company executive, The Temptations, featuring original member, Otis Williams took the stage to begin their 75-minute, high energy set. From the very beginning of their greatest hits concert, nearly the entire audience were on the dance floor, dancing and cheering as the band performed their hits including, "Ain’t Too Proud to Beg," "Papa was a Rollin’ Stone," “I Can’t Get Next to You,” “All I Need,” “Just My Imagination,” “Get Ready," and many more. 

The Temptations’ interacted with the audience throughout the night, bringing two male employees onstage to sing “The Girl’s Alright With Me” to their spouses, who were in the audience. At the end of their performance, the band closed with an all-out performance of their #1 hit “My Girl."Empire was responsible for proposing, contracting and arranging travel and accommodations for The Temptations, as well as coordinating and managing all schedules, logistical and technical aspects of the band's performance.Empire Entertainment is a leading producer of private and corporate events in the U.S. and around the world and is proud to provide world class entertainment for this corporate client whom we have served for almost two decades.

Aiming to increase their brand exposure within the tech community, a major global financial institution turned to Empire Entertainment to help them create and develop a unique, branded exhibit space for TechCrunch’s Disrupt San Francisco 2011 event. The space would need to convey the company's unique corporate culture and create a hands-on atmosphere for top-tier programmers, while simultaneously setting the activation space apart from the other event sponsors both visually and experientially.Empire worked with the client to design a custom, tech forward construction that promoted attendee engagement through an event-specific, live-data marketing trading game. The build included 4 plasma screens displaying game statistics and company content, as well as iPad and computer terminals where guests could learn more about the sponsor, compete in the game, or simply show off their programming skills. Comfortable lounge furniture surrounded the area allowing company representatives to engage with prospective employees and other attendees who were eager to rest their feet during the week’s events.As part of its 2011 TechCrunch Disrupt sponsorship, the client also hosted the Disrupt Opening Party where they worked with Empire to create a dynamic, energetic and unforgettable party experience. To supplement the activities inside the 1015 Folsom nightclub, Empire brought in retro arcade games and an arcade-themed photo. As for live entertainment, Empire identified and secured headline DJs Peanut Butter Wolf and The Knocks for a special live performance and DJ set featuring multiple stages and custom video projection.Empire oversaw the client’s entire TechCrunch Disrupt sponsorship activation from conception to completion, designing, building, managing and producing all of the various elements from load-in to load-out.TechCrunch Disrupt has become the frontline of technological innovation; providing insider access to start-ups and many different technologically savvy companies. The conference brings together entrepreneurs, programmers, investors, and venture capitalists to showcase dozens of start-ups and presents engaging panels and keynote speeches that provide insight into the ever-changing industry and market.Empire is proud to produce corporate events and sponsorships, assisting with everything from branding to implementation.

On the evening of September 20th, 2011, over 250 guests, including Academy Award winning director, Fisher Stevens, along with Emily Mortimer, John Leguizamo, Steve Buscemi, comedian Reggie Watts and others, arrived at the Prince George Ballroom to support Reel Works Teen Filmmaking’s 10th Anniversary Gala. Empire’s President and C.E.O, J.B. Miller, co-chaired the gala, Precious producer, Lisa Cortés.Reel Works is a youth filmmaking program based in New York City that matches students with film and television professionals who serve as mentors.The gala began with elegant cocktails and hors d’oeuvres passed while Reel Works teens conducted interviews on the star-studded red carpet. Attendees mingled and perused over 30 silent auction items ranging from backstage passes to The Daily Show With Jon Stewart to a signed photo of the cast of NBC’s The Office. The gallery of the Prince George Ballroom was decorated with custom movie posters featuring the movies of the six teens that were nominated by their peers for the night’s top award.Inside the grand ballroom, Thomas Preti catered a phenomenal three-course meal, which was followed by stage program. Comedy Central’s Hannibal Buress emceed, and the program, featured remarks by Reel Works founders, John and Stephanie Williams. Steve Buscemi and his wife, Jo Andres and others. Buscemi introduced the teen’s nominated movies and, to the applause and standing-ovation of the audience, Reel Works teen, Marco Teapox won the John F. Outcalt Award for his movie Sin Marchas Atra. Miguel M. Salinas, Program Director of Adobe Youth Voices, accepted the Corporate Leadership Award on his company’s behalf. In a heartfelt highlight, John Leguizamo presented his longtime friend, actor and director Fisher Stevens with The Visionary Filmmaker Award. The evening concluded with an outstanding performance by comedian and musician, Reggie Watts.As guests left the ballroom a mash-up video of highlights from the evening that the students had edited together that evening played on the big screen. The video can be watched at:http://www.reelworks.org/rw/Support/galabenefit2011/Event sponsors included Viacom, C2 Media, Digitas, Moet & Chandon, Akvinta Vodka, Six Point, and HBO among others. Working closely with the Reel Works’ team, Empire Entertainment served as sponsor and overall producer of the event. Empire successfully solicited sponsorships and in-kind donations. Empire was also responsible for aspects ranging from event design, layout, technical production and logistics to décor and music. To learn more about Reel Works or to donate, please visit, ReelWorks.org.

Every year, the President and First Lady of the United States host a reception in connection with the United Nations General Assembly in New York City. The event is attended by heads of state from around the world and is a keystone annual event in American diplomacy. This year, the event was held in the iconic New York Public Library.The distinguished guest list, necessity to observe diplomatic protocol in every detail, and extraordinary security precautions imposed by a host of agencies make the project one with many unique challenges. On the night of the event, heads of state, foreign ministers and other high profile guests arrived at the Library in a tightly-choreographed ballet of over 100 individual motorcades. Guests were met at Library entrances by an Honor Cordon representing all of the United States Armed Forces. Once inside, guests moved into a cocktail reception in the McGraw Rotunda and Edna Barnes Salomon Room where their conversations were accompanied by the United States Marine Band’s string ensemble.

President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama met the world leaders and distinguished guests in a receiving line, spending one on one time with each of them.Following the receiving line, guests made their way into the grand Astor Hall where, following, a rousing performance by the Bergen County Cadets marching band, and the standard ruffles & flourishes and “Hail to the Chief” the President and First Lady took the stage in front of a backdrop of American Flags to deliver remarks. Following remarks the President greeted more guests along a rope line and then departed while attendees remained to enjoy dessert and more musical accompaniment by the Marine Band Jazz Ensemble.The event was followed by an after-party for heads of Protocol from many nations featuring music by the Todd Londagin Trio.

Empire Entertainment was proud and honored to serve the United States and our President as producer and production company for this singular event. Photos courtesy of Paul L. Mertikas.

Nothing makes a wedding more special or memorable than the perfect entertainment. And in some cases, when the client wants to create the event of a lifetime, the entertainment required includes some of the bride and groom's fondest memories. This was the case when a client from North Carolina wanted the R&B hit makers Jagged Edge to perform at her wedding at the serene Umstead Spa in Cary, NC.Empire was able to quickly book Jagged Edge and worked closely with their road and production management to create a production scenario that could be achieved in the intimate outdoor space for the ceremony as well as an indoor performance for the reception. The group sang the bride down the aisle to their ballad “I Gotta Be” and then got the crowd partying with a 40 minute set of their greatest hits. 
The guests stood and danced throughout the performance. The client and their guest were ecstatic. Empire handled all booking and logistics, of the project working closely with wedding planners at David Tutera to ensure a smooth experience from load-in to load-out.Empire is a leading talent procurement agency.

Hosting an event in New York City for 1,500 of your top clients is no easy task. But in September 2011, a prominent NYC-based investment bank did just that, at the beautiful and iconic Metropolitan Museum of Art. Empire Entertainment was engaged to work in collaboration with event designer Thomas Noel of EDI to manage the highlight of the evening - a spectacular performance by nine-time Grammy Award winner, Mary J. Blige.Guests enjoyed cocktails in the Great Hall of the Met, before heading off to various areas of the Museum, such as the majestic Temple of Dendur for dinner. While most attendees toured the two million artworks housedin the Museum’s permanent collection, Empire escorted Mary J. Blige to a beautiful balcony above the Great Hall, where she took time to greet and take photos with a select few of the client’s VIP’s.As Blige prepared for her show, attendees in the Great Hall listened to remarks by General Wesley Clark and then bid in a live auction which benefitted The McCarton Foundation, a charity dedicated to increasing educational opportunities for children with autism and developmental disabilities.Empire then escorted Mary J. Blige to the stage for the evening’s grand finalé, and the multi-platinum selling Bronx native did not disappoint. She performed a high-energy set filled with hits including “Family Affair”, “RealLove”, and a gorgeous cover version of U2’s “One.” After the show attendees roared cheers for her incredible performance as Empire ushered the soul-singer straight from the stage to her waiting car.Empire is a preeminent provider of headline entertainment for events worldwide, and is proud to be called upon by end clients and production companies alike for our expertise in producing live performances by the world’s biggest stars.

When the world’s most prestigious Vintage Champagne House sought an experienced producer in the luxury brand space as well as a unique location to hold a new product launch event they turned to Empire Japan and set their eyes on the city of Kyoto to realize their vision.In this beautiful city, filled with rich history, Empire identified a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Ninna-ji Temple that provided the perfect atmosphere for the event. Given both the Temple’s long history of association with Japan’s Imperial family, and its special certification as a UNESCO site, the site was perfect for the client's purposes. securing the venue for our event promised many logistical and cultural challenges but Empire’s producers worked diligently to alleviate all concerns of the Temple, while still assuring that the client’s vision for the event could be achieved.As the sun went down, and the custom designed lighting package came to life, it was clear that the event was going to exceed the client’s expectations. In the words of The Chief Cellar Master, ‘This is by far the finest launch event I have witnessed in my 20 years as Cellar Master.’50 of the most prestigious figures in Japan's culture, news and arts world gathered for this special evening, where they were treated to a special collection of traditional Japanese recipes prepared by award winning chef Tokuoka Kunio. The traditional Japanese interior of the temple was complemented by projection mapping that seamlessly tied imagery from the city of Kyoto to that of 17th Century Champagne.Empire Entertainment Japan was proud to be responsible for the venue selection, direction, operation and overall production of this benchmark event and is a leading producer of luxury brand events throughout the world.

The Microsoft Imagine Cup is the world's premier technology competition. This annual global competition challenges young innovators to stretch the limits of what technology can do to discover out-of-the-box solutions to the world’s most difficult problems. Previously held in Spain, Brazil, Japan, India, South Korea, France, Egypt and Poland, this year the Imagine Cup made its debut in the United States in New York City and Microsoft called on Empire to serve as a key local production partner. The 9th annual Imagine Cup encompassed participation by 358,000 students representing 183 countries and regions who registered for this year’s competition. Tasked with applying their imagination and passion to the creation of technology solutions to help change the world, the competitors took on global issues ranging from combating diseases, improving education, fighting world hunger, and ensuring environmental sustainability, to creating disaster communication systems, helping children read and write, creating innovations for people with disabilities, and reducing child mortality. After a year of competition in their home countries, finalists and mentors from 70 countries converged in New York City to compete for the top honors. Microsoft partnered with Empire Entertainment to provide key logistical support in order to deliver a dynamic multi-day program for the competitors that covered several venues and the entire city.

Against the majestic backdrop of the Manhattan skyline, Empire organized a sumptuous BBQ on Ellis Island for the Imagine Cup participants. As the culminating event to the program’s ‘Cultural Day,’ where a vast majority of students were experiencing New York City and the USA for the first time, over 1,000 competitors and sponsors were invited to tour the nation’s historical and cultural gateway. Launching from Battery Park, state of the art ferries offered guests the opportunity to tour Liberty Island with close up views of the Lady Liberty herself before continuing on to the main event on Ellis Island. With the sun setting over the NYC horizon, students dined on a full buffet of traditional summer fare and enjoyed the creative, international spins of a live DJ. A kaleidoscope of cultures, languages and people, students and mentors were invited to the prestigious David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for the final day of this weeklong program for the World Festival and Awards Ceremony, which featured noteworthy presenters like New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and philanthropist, actor and activist Eva Longoria. With over 1,300 attendees, comprised of competitors, sponsors, judges, speakers and guests, key logistical support from Empire made it possible for all attendees to be seated with only 15 minutes between final presentations and the start of the dynamic closing ceremony. The projects developed by this year’s competitors raised the bar for technological innovation. From software created to keep cars from crashing to GPS technology for disaster relief to phone applications used to detect signs of malaria in the blood, students presented a broad spectrum of ingenious projects- many of which will have a substantial impact on our civilization's future. Empire Entertainment served as the local New York City logistics, venue and production partner. Empire's roles on the project included supporting site selection and acquisition, logistics, supplying key personnel to oversee various events, working with the client’s key vendors and providing onsite management for event flow for its 1,000+ participants.

Empire Entertainment was proud to partner with Microsoft on the 9th annual Imagine Cup and to play a role in helping the brightest minds of tomorrow solve challenges to make a difference in the world.

Kid Witness News, (KWN) is a global video education program supported by Panasonic. The program uses video production experiences to boost creativity, communication skills, and to foster teamwork in children from elementary to secondary school levels.This year for the first time, the global awards ceremony was held outside of Japan, at the Globe Theatre in Universal Studios Hollywood. To ensure a smooth and successful program, Panasonic and their agency Dentsu chose Empire Japan to serve as executive producer for the project. Empire's role would include selecting the venue, working with local PR and production vendors, and managing the overall look and production of the awards ceremony.For this year's global awards, there were six finalist schools participating from six different countries including Japan, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Slovakia, and United States. The students involved in the video production from each school were invited to Hollywood, CA to participate in "Winner's week" and the Awards Ceremony.After spending two days experiencing Hollywood, the main event would be the awards ceremony. The ceremony started off with the students walking a red carpet, where hired paparazzi were placed to photograph the surprised student celebrities.Next the students participated in interviews, which were distributed to PR companies in each of their home countries. The awards program began with an Olympic style parade of the nations, with a voice of god introducing each of the countries as they entered the theatre and took their seats.The ceremony began with an introduction video, then a viewing of each of the school's nominated video works. The awards ceremony included seven different awards, and Panasonic had invited special guests and judges from the U.S. and other countries to present each of them. Chairman & CEO of Panasonic Corporation of North America, Joseph M. Taylor served as the award presented for the Grand Prize.The day's Grand Prize went to Val Verde High School in the United States for their work "Without Me."After a 15 minute intermission, the students returned to the Globe Theatre to enjoy the special performance by "Everybody Dance!" from Gabriella Charter School. After the great performance, all of the guests enjoyed the dinner with each participant feeling like a Hollywood celebrity.Between the ceremony and the reception, members of the U.S. and foreign media interviewed the students, which resulted in excellent exposure and very successful PR for Panasonic. The ceremony also garnered substantial media coverage with students and teachers appearing on a live interview for KCAL channel 9, and numerous Internet news hits including the group picture front of the Globe Theatre being chose as the "Picture of the Day" in Yahoo News.Empire Japan was thrilled to take on the many challenges of helping this honored client, helping them take this event overseas for the first time. With the success in Hollywood, Empire Japan has already been engaged to produce the 2012 KWN Global Wards Ceremony.For more information please watch the YouTube video, that explains this 2011 KWN Global Awrads Ceremony.Empire Japan is among the most extablished, world-class event companies in Asia and, in partnership with Empire Entertainment, Inc. is a leading producer of innovative event programs throughout the world.

One of the toughest challenges when selecting a business speaker is finding someone with truly global appeal. Empire was presented with one such challenge by a global technology company seeking to present a speaker that would appeal to an audience representing 140 countries. Having established one of the world's most recognized and respected brands, Empire recommended entrepreneur, adventurer, philanthropist and founder of the Virgin Group, Sir Richard Branson. With over 300 companies in 30 countries, Virgin expanded from its beginnings in the music industry into air and rail travel, hospitality and leisure, telecommunications, health and wellness, and clean energy. A leader in product innovation and customer service, Branson was knighted in 1998 for his “services to entrepreneurship.” He remains one of the few business speakers in the world who is universally respected for his ingenuity, vision and foresight.Sir Richard Branson was introduced to an audience of over 12,000 at the Los Angeles Staples Center with a brief video that summarized his philosophy and achievements and the exciting exploits of Virgin brand businesses worldwide. Entering to great applause, Branson engaged in a lively moderated question & answer session with the corporate host that covered topics ranging from risk taking and customer service to his philanthropic work and views on the future of global brands. One of many highlights of the discussion was his response to a question about his forthcoming space travel venture - Virgin Galactic. Murmurs of anticipation spread through the arena as Richard told the audience that within a few years he plans to bring the cost of space travel down enough so that most of the people in the room would soon themselves have a chance to travel into space. This entertaining and inspiring discussion was the perfect way to add attendee value to this already extraordinary conference while also helping to underscore and reinforce many of the messages delivered earlier by the host company’s own executives. The full content of the discussion may be viewed by clicking here.Prior to his presentation, Sir Richard Branson participated in a meet & greet session with VIP guests and client senior management. Empire handled the negotiation and contracting of Sir Richard Branson’s services, coordination of all logistics, including precision arrival and departure planning between two other international engagements, as well as all onsite management.Empire is proud to present many of the world’s leading speakers and is a leading source for keynote speakers of global stature.

When a private client and her husband wanted to celebrate a fiftieth birthday with an unforgettable weekend in Las Vegas with friends and family, they turned to Empire as the overall producer for the project. With a VVIP guest list of over 125 attendees traveling from as far away as Europe & Asia, every aspect of the weekend would need to be planned with the utmost personalization and exquisite attention to detail. The expectations for the weekend would be nothing short of perfection. In the weeks leading up to the events, Empire worked closely with the client to design and send a unique invitation based on the Las Vegas skyline, supported by a visually-consistent registration / guest info website and travel staff offering a personal concierge touch. On Friday the weekend festivities began with airport greeters, personal greeting at the Encore check-in, whimsical welcome packages, an extraordinary gift bag including everything from engraved bottles of Johnny Walker Blue to iPods pre-loaded with the birthday girl’s soundtrack for the weekend. That afternoon, the hosts held an informal hospitality in their tower suite at the Encore. On the first night, guests assembled for an arrival dinner at SW Steakhouse where the entire outdoor patio overlooking the Wynn’s animatronic Lake of Dreams was seated in long, candlelit banquet tables. Following the elegant dinner, some of the guests retired to the hospitality suite for gambling lessons with Blackbelt in Blackjack author, Arnold Snyder. Other guests headed to XS Nightclub at the Encore where VIP tables and bottles of champagne on ice had been reserved to dance the night away.Saturday morning started early and guests participated in a myriad of custom designed activities for every taste. Activities included personalized yoga instruction with an instructor flown in from New York, golf at the Wynn Las Vegas Golf Club, private helicopter tours of the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam, Humvee desert expeditions and guided hiking in the Las Vegas hills. Other guests relaxed at the fully-stocked pool cabanas reserved at the Encore Beach Club, went shopping on the Las Vegas strip or enjoyed spa & salon treatments.Saturday evening’s event began with over 100 guests being treated to a performance of The Beatles LOVE by Cirque de Soleil at the Mirage Hotel. Guests were then transported back to the Alex Ballroom at the Wynn for the Saturday night big bash - the centerpiece event of the weekend. Working closely with the client, a major art collector and philanthropist, Empire transformed the elegant Alex Ballroom into her ‘magical, bohemian chic’ vision. All of the formal furniture in the indoor ballroom were replaced with contemporary furnishings grouped around a custom-designed black lacquer dance floor and main stage dressed in fabrics. The outdoor terraces were surrounded by over 200’ of high topiary covered with twinkle lights that glowed in the desert evening and lit the comfortable terrace lounge seating as well as the single malt tasting station and cigar areas. Exquisite crystal votive candle-holders and floral designs featuring a combination of feathers and flowers complemented all of the individual rooms’ aesthetics. The menu for the evening featured all of the couple’s favorite foods including everything from raw seafood bar and sushi stations to southern fried chicken and Asian specialties from Hot & Juicy. Many of the side rooms and wine closets of the ballroom were transformed into activity areas including henna and temporary tattoo stations, a photo booth, a karaoke lounge and even a dessert buffet that later became a pole-dancing nightclub.On the stage Empire presented a program custom-designed to the birthday girl’s tastes. In addition to toasts, remarks and a hilarious speech by a fictitious art consultant supported by a slideshow presentation, the evening featured non-stop music and entertainment. DJ’s Andrew Andrew spun a playlist of the couple’s favorite music via iPads, allowing them to control the music from the stage, the dance floor, or even the bar. The event featured live performances by the Australian Bee Gees Revue and the Funky Monks, the Red Hot Chili Peppers tribute band. Guests remained on the dance floor surrounded by Go Go dancers well past 4:00AM and adorned themselves with costumes and props provided specifically for the evening’s festivities. The next morning began with a whimsical ‘Hangover Brunch’ in the Encore’s Sinatra Restaurant at which centerpiece bowls of sunglasses, Alka Seltzer, aspirin, Emergen-C and other hangover cures were served. On their arrival at the brunch, guests were amazed to receive a printed & bound photo book and USB credit card featuring all of the photos of the previous night’s events that had ended only hours earlier. The day continued more activities, guest departures for most and a straggler’s dinner at Rao’s Restaurant. Empire’s responsibilities for the program included concept and agenda development, hotel room contracting and coordination, invitation, website and collateral design, RSVP tracking, guest communications, guest ground transportation, welcome packages, meal functions, classes, excursions and activities, shows, pool cabana and nightclub reservations, menus and catering, entertainment as well as all event design and production. With the exception of the client, their extraordinary staff and the outstanding Encore & Wynn hotel team, Empire provided all personnel to manage and execute the project onsite. The net result of the weekend: an immensely happy client and a rewarding experience for all attendees and participants. The client feedback was best captured in the following email from the client’s executive assistant: “The e-mails that [the client] is getting back on the event are over-the-top, ridiculously positive. Many of them read like unbelievable infomercial testimonials, others like they had a spiritual transformation, all of them 200% positive. Objective achieved beyond expectations. You are some kind of an amazing team.”Empire is a leading producer of personal and milestone events and is delighted to deliver beyond expectations for this and other private clients.

Each year, one of the world's top food and beverage companies flies its top performers and their spouses from around the world to its New York headquarters to celebrate their sales achievements and recognize their accomplishments.The trip includes sightseeing, business programs and an evening in NYC. The highlight of the annual trip is always the awards dinner, held inside a state-of-the-art tent built temporarily on the grounds of the corporate headquarters. For the past several years, this company has consistently turned to Empire Entertainment to deliver a program of brief performances to occur between sections of awards as well as post-awards ceremony entertainment.This year and in years past Empire was charged with creating a program of entertainment that translated over the multinational attendees that were present and that could segue naturally into a night of dancing and celebration.Empire presented four international acts that represented regions around the globe.The Bollywood dance troupe Ishaara dazzled the crowd with a high energy Indian dance performance. The NYC Lindy Hoppers were up next and put on a swinging performance that impressed the crowd with their acrobatic moves and custom choreography, created just for this event. Next on the stage Empire presented a beautiful and intimate flamenco performance by Flamenco Vivo. Finally to close the awards and set up for the party, the African Children’s Choir came roaring to the stage from the back of house to get the crowd ready to dance. As they came to the finale of their performance the Eturnity Band, New York City's best R&B, Funk & Motown dance band, took the stage and kept the audience dancing until the end of the night.Empire Entertainment is the leading booker and producer of talent and performers for corporate events and has delivered variety and theatrical talent reflecting nearly every region and nation on earth.

For Conservation International’s 14th Annual New York City Gala, Empire Entertainment, in partnership with @Radical.media, once again reinvented the traditional gala event model. By presenting the issues & content as the central focus of the evening, Conservation International’s attending supporters were not only well entertained, but well informed by the experience.The evening’s dynamic stage program was led by ABC News Correspondent George Stephanopoulos and included a live stage discussion with former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair. As Mr. Stephanopoulos interviewed Mr. Blair, guests learned first hand about the myriad issues threatening our world’s ecosystems and how governments both help and hinder eco-efforts. The informative and fluid discussion focused on Mr. Blair’s personal experiences in facing the challenges and opportunities in trying to make progress on conservation and sustainability.

Following dinner, Empire broke new ground by literally bringing the audience live to Liberia, Brazil and Japan. Making use of Mr Stephanopoulos’ skills as a live television host and with the help of Skype IP video conferencing technology, the event featured a live magazine show format that brought three of Conservation International’s field scientists from Liberia, Brazil and Japan live onscreen into the event. All three shed light on the importance of marrying global & local community efforts in the fight for conservation & sustainability and guests were able to witness first hand the work of Conservation International in disparate regions across the globe.Other speakers for the evening included Conservation International CEO, & Co-Founder Peter Seligmann and the president of the Council on Foreign Relations, Dr. Richard Haass.The setting for the dinner, The Hall of Ocean Life, was transformed with a stage set that included breathtaking falls of cascading indigo fabric that created a waterfall effect.

Tables were set with exquisite, sustainable floral arrangements for a combined effect that was understated, refined and dramatic. Held in the magnificent American Museum of Natural History, the event also featured an elegant cocktail reception in the Cullman Hall of Universe and a dessert reception in the Hall of Biodiversity.

Leveraging creative and production strengths, Empire, in collaboration with the Conservation International team and @Radical.media were able to deliver a flawless evening that informed, entertained and inspired the gala attendees.

It was a night to remember for the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) who hosted their benefit gala, “A Celebration of Heroes, Heart & Hope” at the world- renowned Waldorf Astoria in New York City. Over 800 guests comprised of innovators, achievers, endurance athletes and leaders came together to support CAF to help provide opportunities to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. CAF has enabled individuals to complete an Ironman with one leg, ride 620 miles down the coast in a handcycle, play baseball with other kids and compete in multiple sports in the Olympics. CAF’s goal is to help people with physical disabilities accomplish the challenge that is set before them and live life to the fullest by providing mentoring, clinics and support programs, as well as removing the barrier of expensive equipment and training and competition costs.Empire was honored when CAF had asked us to provide a headline entertainer to help celebrate the achievements and bravery of these amazing athletes. Empire fulfilled the client’s request by securing superstar performer Macy Gray and handling all contracting, management and logistics for her performance.After an inspirational program of speakers and presenters who were endurance athletes themselves, CAF hosted a compelling and exciting live auction that raised over $1 million dollars in a matter of minutes. Macy Gray then performed her greatest hits, such as “I Try, “Kissed It,” and Beauty in the World,” as the Challenged Athletes gathered on stage as a finale to a night full of inspiration and unforgettable stories. Empire supports the Challenged Athletes Foundation in their mission to have a great and significant impact on each physically challenged athlete served.To learn more about CAF, please visit www.challengedathletes.org.

Games for Change is the leading global advocate for the development of games that contain tangible social messaging. The Games For Change Festival is the crown jewel in the organization's event calendar. Each year gamers and game designers from around the world descend on New York to talk about -- and play -- the games that are changing the world. This year marked the eighth G4C festival and the event's directors were determined to take the event to new highs. Enter: Empire Entertainment. Empire orchestrated the 3-day festival's main stage, aggressively honing the event's A/V elements and running the show like a nationally broadcast television special, helping G4C take the first steps in transforming the historically low-key, "D-I-Y" festival into a world class event. Highlights of the 2011 Games For Change Festival included an awards ceremony honoring the best socially-conscious games of the year, an arcade where attendees could play those very games, and keynote presentations by video game and entertainment guru, Jesse Schell, and former U.S. Vice President, Al Gore. Empire is a leading producer of festival and not for profit programs.