When a newly-formed charitable organization, led by 17 year old founder Max Cohen, faced the daunting challenges of making a splash in New York City on it's first ever event, they turned to Empire Entertainment and event designer Colin Cowie to make dreams come true. The event would be even more challenging than most on account of the necessity to appeal adult-age donors and sponsors, while remaining cool and relevant to the largely teen audience from all of New York City's elite private and public schools. Empire Entertainment, Colin Cowie and Teens Against Cancer Founder Max Cohen and his committee of friends worked hard to deliver success.

Teens Against Cancer held it's first fundraising event on October 12, 2006 at Gotham Hall in New York City with the goal of raising money for the St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital. The benefit featured musical performances by SONY Music artist, Teddy Geiger, a concert by The Roots and dance music by DJ Cassidy as well as a fashion show choreographed by Thrash Creatir Sheryl Murakami for Seven Jeans and LeRock. The event also featured a live auction for items such as a weekend at the Atlantis Resort and a Monday night dinner table at Rao's restaurant. For the teenage guests the event offered a raffle for dinner at Ciprianis, sport jerseys and sports tickets.

TAC was founded in 2005 by then 17 year-old New York City student Max Cohen after his mother overcame a terminally ill case of Cancer. Cohen started the organization in hopes to raise awareness in teenagers about the disease and to show them that they also can make a difference. "After my mother became ill with Cancer her endless display of courage and the pain that my family and I fought through inspired me to begin Teens Against Cancer," Cohen said. "I want teenagers to be aware of what Cancer is and to provide support to anyone who has to cope with it in their life."

The event was designed and decorated by renowned event designer Colin Cowie. Entertainment and production were handled by Empire Entertainment. Robbins Wolfe Caterers graciously donated the catering and Lizzie Grubman handled all Public Relations. The benefit was sponsored by Seven Jeans, LaRock and One Step-up.In the end, the event was a huge success, drawing over 500 attendees and raising substantial funds for St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital.

Empire is a leading producer of not for profit events and has the creative flexibility to produce events targeted to any demographic including teen /youth audiences.

Competitive video gaming is poised to become the newest sensation in televised professional sports with the launch of DIRECTV's Championship Gaming Series, a video gaming competition that treats games in the same manner as traditional sports and the players as professional athletes. When DIRECTV sought to premiere its new program with simultaneous press events in New York City and Los Angeles, Empire was called to produce both events. Empire worked closely with DIRECTV's events team to identify and select key event venues that had a buzz factor, a design that fit with the video gaming theme, and a central location. The 40/40 Club, owned by rap mogul Jay-Z, was chosen to host the New York City event because its existing projection, LCD screens and monitors were perfect for client and sponsor branding, video gaming demos, and most importantly, the main presentation.

Since the program will be broadcast in high definition, Empire brought in HD Cam decks and compatible video switchers to upgrade the in-house projection, in addition to bringing in two 63" HD plasmas to air loops of the show after the presentation. Guests munched on a menu of video gamer staples that included miniature cheeseburgers and beef tacos, teriyaki chicken skewers and sweets such as fried Snickers and fried Twinkies. DJ Mighty Mi spun the perfect mix of old school and new hip hop while guests played video games on XBOX 360 consoles hooked up to individual LCD screens around the club.

In Los Angeles, Hollywood nightclub The Ivar, which has been featured on HBO's Entourage and CW's America's Next Top Model, was selected for the West Coast premiere event. To ensure that the presentation looked sharp, the existing projectors were swapped out for more powerful, brighter projectors and Digi-Beta decks were used instead of DVD. Catering was provided by Gourmet Celebrations and featured tasty items such as Chinese chicken salad in mini takeout boxes, mini crab cakes, and mac ‘n cheese bites. Attendees played games including Dead or Alive 4, Project Gotham Racing and Halo 2 on freestanding mobile XBOX 360 gaming kiosks. Hollywood favorite DJ Pesce kept the party going with contemporary hip hop. Empire was responsible for managing multiple elements of both events, including venue, RSVP tracking, guest registration, audio/visual, DJ, catering, XBOX gaming & security.

Many corporations choose Empire Entertainment to produce their high-tech events.

Lift Up America is a collaborative effort of companies including Tyson Foods, Give the Gift of Sight (a Luxottica Group foundation), Starkey Hearing Foundation and Interstate Batteries working with professional and college sports teams and local nonprofit agencies to provide the gifts of food, sight, hearing, hope and comfort to our nation's less fortunate.The objective of the Sept. 12 event in New York City was to encourage individuals and corporations to be "heroes" by reaching out to the less fortunate.

Corporations provided goods and services to Lift Up America that were distributed to the less fortunate at a large, one-day distribution event. These corporations included Tyson Foods (protein), Luxottica (vision care) and Starkey Hearing Foundation (hearing aids) and Interstate Batteries (batteries). Added to this were "hero celebrities", Navy seamen and sport celebrities from the New York Giants and the New York Yankees who helped to load humanitarian aid onto the trucks of 100 "hero agencies" of New York City. These "Hero Agencies" distributed the aid to those in need throughout New York City.

On a sunny, Tuesday morning on the day after the 5th anniversary of 9/11, Empire helped Lift Up America organize a singular aid distribution event at Pier 92. Approximately Seven trailer loads of food and other goods were distributed with the help of volunteers, the US Navy and US Marines who arrived on the USS San Antonio.The distribution event also featured a press conference on the waterfront highlighting representatives from each corporation and partner.The successsful event distributed a great deal of aid in many forms to over 100 local relief agencies.Empire was delighted to be a part of the Lift Up America team and provided staging, sound, lighting, electrical power distribution, rigging, onsite management and stage management.

When one of the world's most sophisticated corporations wanted a keynote speaker who could deliver the right closing message for their important, company-wide marketing symposium, they turned to Empire to recommend appropriate candidates. The chosen speaker would need to be able to hold the attention of an audience at the end of a long day of meetings, entertain and inspire them, and also deliver some important messages that would reinforce and underscore the content delivered by speakers earlier in the program. Empire was able to recommend and ultimately deliver best-selling author and one of the world's leading contemporary voices in marketing theory, Malcolm Gladwell, to deliver the keynote address. Gladwell's insightful best-seller, The Tipping Point, talked about the factors that turn small developments into full-blown cultural phenomena - the holy grail of marketing.

Gladwell's newest book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, is about the power of intuition and the decisions we make based on our first impressions. Understanding of the messages of this book are also essential to understanding the minds of the today's consumers. Gladwell's entertaining speech and question & answer session were able to meet the client's objectives perfectly. Gladwell's anecdotal and often humorous presentations keep everyone engaged until the very end of the marketing meeting and the substance of his remarks complemented the overall meeting content perfectly.

When the Jane Goodall Foundation held a fundraising event on the grounds of the Hampton's home of Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz and his wife, Empire was delighted to be a part of the all star event team. Overall event management for the event was handled by HWPR's Virginia Coleman while Publicity was handled by HWPR's Paul Lerner. Charles Attal Presents handled overall production management, catering was provided by Robbins Wolfe / Eventeur and the event was photographed by Patrick McMullan. The event took place on a spectacular evening in the Hamptons and featured poolside cocktails, a dinner, program and performance in a large tent on the grounds provided by Stamford Tents. The program included welcoming remarks by Howard & Sheri Schultz, a video on the work of the Jane Goodall Foundation, a rare keynote address by the iconic Chimpanzee researcher, Dr. Jane Goodall, a live auction led by Jamie Niven, a headline acoustic performance by Sarah McLachlan, and dancing with DJ Tom Finn. The celebrity attendees included Candice Bergen, Dina Merrill and Katie Couric. Among the highlights of the evening were the performance by Sarah McLachlan who performed at the piano and on guitar with accompaniment of two vocalists and a guitarist. Sarah's mellow set included several of her hits and covers such as the Beatles' "Blackbird." Sarah's incredible, soothing voice set the perfect tone for the evening.

For this event, Empire Entertainment handled all sound, lighting, video projection, electrical power and concert production management. Empire is a leading producer of high-end not-for-profit events.

When Joe Rigotti, Creative Director of Accent on Cincinnati, the biggest meeting planner and special events company in Ohio, needed a headline concert act to top last year's Hall and Oates performance, he once again turned to Empire Entertainment to secure, book, and produce the talent.There were whispers among the 2300 attendees of the premier insurance company's annual conference that topping last year's entertainment - Hall and Oates, would be impossible. But when the curtain rose and the surprise musical guest was revealed, the crowd roared in excitement and applause as Glenn Frey and his band hit the first notes of the Eagles classic, "Take It Easy," which Frey co-wrote with Don Henley and Jackson Browne.Frey, a member of both the songwriters Hall of Fame and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, played a greatest hits show that brought the audience to its feet, waving company branded glow balls that were distributed to the entire crowd.

The set list included "Lying Eyes," "Tequila Sunrise," "Take it to the Limit," "Heartache Tonight, " "Peaceful Easy Feeling," as well as several of Frey's solo original hits such as "The Heat is On," "You Belong to the City" and "Smugglers Blues," which is best known for being turned into the smash 80's TV show, Miami Vice.Frey's music, which evokes an endless California desert road trip, was a perfect match for the executive crowd and spouses on hand at Cincinnati's Aronoff Center for The Arts. After receiving a standing ovation, The Glenn Frey Band returned for a rousing encore of "Desperado" and the entire crowd sang in unison for the seventh time.The following evening at the same conference, Empire Entertainment showcased the talents of Greg Fitzsimmons, a stand-up comedian who won four Emmy Awards writing for the Ellen DeGeneres Show, and who has appeared on David Letterman 5 times. Fitzsimmons' stories about his family was a huge hit with the family-oriented demographic.

Empire is a leading booker and producer of major concert acts, comedians, and speakers for corporate meeting and events the world over.

For a three day global technology conference in Boston, the client's production company sought to open the each day's general session with an entertaining opening segment that emphasized different aspects of the client's business, all presented with the same general theme. The same musical theme would be used but to have to adapt on each day to reflect the themese of 1) the promise of developing markets, 2) the global nature of urban culture, and 3) the harmony between precision and power. To meet this challenge, Empire and original entertainment solution developer Live Lab worked closely with the creative production company to design, score, cast, costume, rehearse and deliver three different ensembles to former high-impact theatrical openers for each day's sessions.

To add to the challenge, the audiences would be in the several thousands each morning and would have to be highly visual and colorful to have an impact. The first day's general session message was emerging markets. For this, Empire provided the African Children's Choir, a 24 child ensemble made up almost entirely of orphans from the nation of Uganda, ages 9 - 13. This incredible group of singers and dancers led by an adult female vocalist and performin in vibrant colorful costumes, managed to bring the audience to their feet on the opening day with their powerful and inspirational performance of the song entitled "You and Me." On the second day global urban culture was represented in the form of a duet by New York City rap artist Adesola Osakalumi with Indian singer Manjit Devgun. They were in turn backed up by Chinese-American DJ David Chang and Donna D'Cruz, an extraordinary world music DJ whose background weaves together many cultures. Together the four performed a live hip hop / bhangra-crossover version of "You and Me" that took on an entirely different feel than the first day but still maintained the continuity and message.

On the third and final day, the piece began with an elegant string ensemble of 6 violins, viola and cello led by Juilliard graduate Lisa Liu. Midway through the piece E.B. Fraley's four piece rock band joined the number and Lisa Liu removed a tear-away gown to reveal a heavy metal wardobe and a flying-V viper-style electric violin. The piece built in energy and dynamism to an exciting finalé as Lisa and EB Fraley traded solos and brought down the house. Empire, Live Lab and the creative production company worked closely to deliver these original ensembles that met the client's objectives, exceeded the client's expectations and thrilled the audiences on each morning.

On the final night of the three day concert Empire delivered an outdoor concert with Train.

Empire and Live Lab are well-established leaders in the conception, design and production of original entertainment solutions.

The World Education & Development Fund is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to transform lives and reduce poverty by supporting high-quality education for poor children throughout Central and Latin America. To accomplish this, The World Education & Development Fund partners with efficiently run religious and secular private schools, as well as with education projects serving public schools, operating in poor communities.When World Education & Development Fund needed a new video to premiere at its 2006 Education Leadership Award dinner, it turned to Empire Entertainment's Film & Video department to produce a five-minute piece.

The video would communicate that the most effective tool to help people help themselves out of poverty is a high-quality K-12 education.The video premiered at the 2006 Education Leadership Award dinner, which took place in the Ballroom on the 36th floor ballroom of New York's Mandarin Oriental Hotel, overlooking central park. Founder and Executive Director, Luanne Zurlo kicked off the evening by thanking the attendees for raising over $1.6 million and then introduced the video that played to 400 black-tie attendees who were there to honor Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte - Chairman & CEO of Kimberly-Clark de México with the 2006 Education and Leadership Award.The video opened with the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and then intercut images of abject poverty with images of children, and startling statistics about Latin American education such as the fact that "Nearly half of Latin American children do not make it past the 5th grade" and "50% of Brazilian 15-year olds are functionally illiterate." A haunting music bed reinforced the stark images of the children, who are the future of Latin America.With the introduction of the World Education & Development fund's Logo and a voiceover discussing World Fund's mission, the mood of the music and images transitioned to an upbeat and hopeful theme to illustrate the success of World Fund's partner education programs.

Poignant on-camera sound bytes by Claudio X Gonzalez Laporte, and his son Claudio X Gonzalez Guajardo reinforced the evening's message that raising the quality of K-12 education in Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Columbia, Venezuela, El Salvador, Peru, and Brazil will make for a very different, and better future for these children, and their countries.The crowd silently listened while the images played across the multiple screens. With the final call to action, and the fade-up of the World Fund website, there was a rousing and inspired round of applause. Next up was Francisco Rivera, a graduate of Mano Amiga Chalco in Mexico. Francisco told a heartfelt story about his mother's inspiration, and how he overcame his difficulties and fears of learning at Mano Amiga Chalco. Although Francisco admitted some nervousness reading his words to the dignitaries, he overcame all obstacles and demonstrated the set of values he had learned: Respect, Responsibility, Perseverance, Generosity, Gratitude, Family Values, and Civic participation - all hallmarks of the World Fund's Educational programs. Francisco's speech resulted a standing ovation, and Luanne Zurlo took the podium to award Claudio X. Gonzalez Laporte the 2006 Education and Leadership Award. Keith Sherin, Chief Financial Officer, of General Electric presented Mr. Gonzalez with the honor.Other notables in the audience included Carlos Slim, the Honorary Chairman of Telefonos de Mexico, and Shelly Lazarus, Chairman and CEO of Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide.

Empire Entertainment is a full-service film & video production house capable of handling virtually any form of film & video project from conception to delivery.

Wynton Marsalis is an icon in the American jazz scene. Having earned eight Grammy awards, a Peabody Award, and a Pulitzer Prize in music before the age of 40, Wynton Marsalis is well on his way to becoming a true musical legend. When an elite international financial services institution sought to present an entertainer whose stature and accomplishments would add luster to the celebration, Empire Entertainment delivered this legendary performer for the closing performance. After enjoying the enchanting melodies of Juilliard's finest instrumentalists during cocktails and dinner at The Museum of Modern Art's exclusive event space, the 300 distinguished guests watched with anticipation as Wynton finally took the stage.

Wynton and his talented quartet hypnotized the audience with their elaborate improvised solos. Wynton's unparalleled trumpeting skills left everyone in awe. Even his improvised whistling led to great applause and a final standing ovation at the end of the night. Empire Entertainment coordinated all talent and production for this prestigious event, working within the demanding production environment of a world class museum that is open to the public until hours before the event began. Empire was also able to arrange onsite for Wynton to be interviewed for the client's commemorative video.

From Jazz and Classical to World Music and Rock, Empire is a leading provider of headline musical talent for prestigious corporate functions.

When Liberty Event Management, best known as producer of the New York / New Jersey International Boat Show, received permission to hold a public concert at Liberty State Park, they turned to Empire Entertainment to help them develop and present an outdoor, concert festival event.The inaugural LibertyJAM concert was conceived and developed to raise money for The Friends of Liberty State Park, a 501(C) (3) not-for-profit charged with the mission to improve Liberty State Park and bring meaningful attention to New Jersey's beloved urban waterfront state park. The Friends of Liberty State Park plan to fund tree plantings and other major developments in the Park, such as a picnic pavilion, and the renovation of a historic rail station where immigrants once disembarked to start their new lives here in America.

Empire Entertainment and Liberty assembled an amazing line-up of talent with a very broad appeal, in only eight weeks. Bands on the bill included homegrown Jersey favorites like John Eddie, Patti Smith and up-and-comer, Exit 105. The bill also featured The Fab Faux, The Smithereens, Los Lobos, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, and Cheap Trick.Leading up to the show date, Empire Entertainment provided production consulting to the promoters and staffed key positions such as Production Managers, Stage Managers, Talent Logistics and credentials personnel.Although the weekend was dampened by some rainy weather, all of the concert performances went off without a hitch, and the promoters are already planning next years LibertyJAM with the goal of creating the NYC/NJ Metro area version of Bonnaroo or the Coachella Music Festival.

Empire is a leading producer and consulting producer of public events and festivals, providing talent booking, production & logistics management, sponsorship activation and onsite event management. All images for this story were photographed by Richard Lynch.