When the Los Angeles based event and catering company, Along Came Mary, was asked to produce the premiere party for the movie "Big Fish" in New York, they turned to Empire Entertainment to secure and manage the talent for the party. "Big Fish" is an allegorical motion picture directed by Tim Burton and starring Ewan McGregor, Danny DeVito and Albert Finney about the amazing life stories of one the characters. A central component of the motion picture is a series of scenes that take place in the mythical 'Calloway Circus' and involve a variety of sideshow performers associated with that circus. Empire was tasked by Along Came Mary to deliver performers that would complete a remarkable decorated environment and serve as ambient entertainment to entertain and amuse the guests.

Working from a series of production stills and background on the movie, and accessing Empire's extraordinary network of talent contacts, Empire was able to make this vision a reality by finding, booking and stage-managing a cast of 11 acts for the event. The talent included a barker to welcome the guests to the event, a hanging trapeze act, the Wau Wau Sisters (who closely resembled the Siamese twins depicted in the film), Flambeau, the Fire Eater, Ula the Rubber Girl (contortionist), Clark the Magnificent fire juggler, a strong man and his assistant, a stilt walker, a tarot card reader, a palm reader, a graphologist, and a crystal ball reader. All of these artists wore costumes that resembled those of the period depicted in the film and performed on satellite stages in front of painstakingly recreated sideshow backdrops. In front of the big top ring, Empire produced acoustic bluegrass band, Trail Mix, to perform upbeat music that tied together all of the circus elements and established the festive and eccentric mood for the event.

Along Came Mary transformed the cavernous Hammerstein Ballroom into a series of carefully crafted environments including a forest, the picture-perfect town of Spectre and, of course, the Calloway Circus.The event was attended by all of the film's stars including Ewan McGregor, Danny DeVito and Albert Finney, as well as Tim Burton and the other talent & studio executives. The event was an unforgettable evening for SONY Pictures, it's clients and stars.

Empire is a leading resource for booking even the most obscure forms of entertainment.

When The Samuel Waxman Cancer Research Foundation sought to produce two time Grammy Award-winning, headline concert act The Wallflowers (featuring Jakob Dylan, son of legend Bob Dylan) at their sixth annual dinner & auction, their event producer, Candace Sands of CS Events, turned to Empire Entertainment to provide all production and technical support in mounting the show. The event was held in the historic event space, Le Capitale, which is the former East River Savings Bank building located in New York's Chinatown at Bowery and Grand. The marble interiors and soaring ceilings are both magnificent and a major challenge acoustically. Empire solved these challenges by selecting the right audio system and calibrating it carefully to meet the acoustical properties of the room.

There were also other challenges that Empire faced including the need to fit the Wallflowers' large stage plot onto a small stage that needed to fit between existing columns of the building and not block any of the fire exits. Empire was able to solve this issue by working closely with the venue and the Wallflowers' production manager to create a solution that worked for everyone. The Wallflowers performed for over an hour and brought the audience to their feet with a set that included all of their hits as well as closing with a cover of the David Bowie song "Heroes." The event drew nearly 1,000 people and raised over $1.6 million for this worthy cause.

Empire is a leading producer of talent for not-for-profits and fundraising events.

To launch 20th Century FOX's DVD for the blockbuster motion picture XMen2, FOX turned to Empire Entertainment to create a highly-themed, celebrity-driven press event in New York City just prior to the Thanksgiving holiday. For this event, Empire provided all services from original conception and event design, to site and menu selection, talent booking, activities, video projection, silver carpet staging, step & repeat signage production, decor, lighting, sound, labor, security, sidewalk and lane closure, event staffing, celebrity and sponsorship solicitation and transportation logistics for all celebrity talent. The site chosen for the event was Club 40/40, a hot new event space and club in New York City owned by several partners including hip hop superstar Jay-Z. In addition to the main event space, the club features two private rooms that were used for VIP party areas and one-on-one interviews, as well as a well-appointed cigar room for which Cohiba provided free cigars.

The Studio directed that the main thrust of the press coverage should be based on celebrity attendance by the stars of the XMen films including Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Famke Janssen, Rebecca Romjin-Stamos, Anna Paquin and James Marsden as well as the film's producers and creatives. To supplement the attendance of these stars, Empire performed extensive outreach to the celebrity community through our own celebrity solicitation specialist, as well as leveraging relationships with Club 40/40, The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (a beneficiary of the event, arranged through Empire's relationships), and celebrity DJ Marc Ronson.

Empire also created decor for the event that mirrored the film's sleek stainless steel logo and imagery. Instead of a traditional red carpet, Empire proposed and provided a shimmering silver carpet. Silver tables, chairs, rope & stantions and a massive 50' long X 9' high silver 'step & repeat' to serve as a branded backdrop for celebrity photos were also provided. The step & repeat faced a press corps and paparazzi contingent that included more than 50 camera crews and photographers. The step & repeat and silver carpet were lit by a series of five 12' tall aluminum truss sections built on the sidewalk which also provided skytracker blue lights, animated logo projection and up-lighting of surrounding buildings and the Steel X2 logo which was mounted over the club entrance Inside the club, Empire provided a series of internally-lit blue cube tables, blue-lit floral arrangements, silver fabric accents and a dramatic lighting scheme created by blue gelling each of the club's hundreds of existing lighting instruments and accenting surfaces with blue votive candle holders. The event was DJ'd by celebrity DJ Marc Ronson and featured an oxygen bar, plexiglass chess sets featured in the film, and footage from the new XMen2 DVD playing on more than 20 monitors, plasma screens and projection screens throughout the club spaces.

Empire also managed the highly demanding ground transportation logistics, coordinating movements of the many stars and executives in a fleet of silver sedans, graciously donated for the event by Mercedes-Benz as a result of solicitation by Empire Entertainment. The resulting event was a carefully themed, smoothly run, heavily-attended and well-covered press event that generated a great deal of press coverage for a major entertainment property, just prior to the busy holiday shopping period.

Empire is a major producer of creative event marketing programs.

When a global financial services & travel company sought to entertain its' top customers at a multi-day client symposium's offsite event, they turned to Empire Entertainment to secure the right talent for the performance. The dinner and concert event took place in the outdoor courtyard at the historic Mission San Juan Capistrano. The entertainment needed to suit this environment in both character and form and provide an intimate concert experience for the 325 seated dinner guests.

Empire Entertainment was able to procure platinum-selling recording artist, Bruce Hornsby, to perform solo at a grand piano. Hornsby is best known as the leader of Bruce Hornsby and the Range. Hornsby is also an accomplished pianist and songwriter. He recorded many hits that reached the top of the Billboard charts. Hornsby has also recorded with Bob Dylan, Bonnie Raitt, and even co-wrote and performed the hit "The End of The Innocence" with Don Henley. He has toured with the Grateful Dead and just a few nights prior to this engagement was in the United Kingdom recording with Eric Clapton and Sting. Bruce Hornsby performed all of his greatest hits, including "The Way It Is," "Mandolin Rain," "Look Out Any Window," "The End of the Innocence," and several other cover songs.The audience responded enthusiastically and the client felt Hornsby was the perfect fit for this engagement.

Empire Entertainment is uniquely qualified to selecting, book and produce the best-suited talent for any audience or event.

To celebrate the release of Avril Lavigne's highly anticipated FOX DVD, "My World," Fox Consumer Products turned to Empire Entertainment to stage and produce a red carpet press appearance to facilitate maximum press coverage. MY WORLD, is the first live concert movie by multi-platinum selling Arista recording artist Avril Lavigne. Filmed in Buffalo, NY on May 18, 2003 - the final night of her headlining five-week North American "Try To Shut Me Up Tour," "My World" Celebrates a mega-successful debut year and reprises all of Avril's hits and favorite album tracks from her six-times platinum album "LET GO. "MY WORLD offers Lavigne fans the only opportunity to own all four of Avril's MTV "TRL" #1 hit music videos - "Complicated," "Sk8er Boi," "I'm With You" and "Losing Grip," as well as an added video bonus of "Knocking On Heaven's Door."

For this collaborative promotional event held by FOX and Arista records, Empire handled all of the production and the on-site management, working with AMC Theatres and several other vendors to provide red carpet, crowd control, sidewalk permitting and lighting to facilitate press coverage. As predicted, the teen superstar and pop sensation drew a large turnout on the part of the press as well as swarms of screaming fans.Empire is a leading producer of press events.

When clients need to ensure a smooth running press conference, red carpet appearance or stunt, they turn to Empire Entertainment to manage the details.

To announce the release of Alicia Keys highly-anticipated new album, "The Diary of Alicia Keys," J Records again turned to Empire Entertainment to help create and produce their very important release events in both New York City and Los Angeles. The New York event was held at the fashionable West Village Photography center, Industria Superstudios, and was catered by Washington Park Caterers. The event included a listening and video room in which guests could view Alicia's new music video and a documentary of Alicia around the world, as well as listen to tracks from the new album. The event also featured a main performance room where Alicia performed at a grand piano in front of a photographic cyclorama with backing vocalists, bass and guitar.

For this event Alicia Keys wanted a very specific look & feel to match the vibe of the album. She wanted a loft-like setting with a relaxed and casual environment with visual elements like votive candles, oriental carpets, ottomans, pillows, burning incense and wood furniture. Empire was able to realize this vision and provided all services including site selection and contracting, design & decor, oversight of catering and bar operations, private and NYPD security, sidewalk permitting and street closure, tenting for the registration and oriental 'red carpet' arrival area for press, staging, extremely high quality concert sound, stage & decor lighting (including original lighting design and production based on album artwork), video projection (including live video & audio feed into a spillover room), video coverage of red carpet arrivals and the live performance, stage management and onsite event management.

The event drew a capacity crowd of 400 including celebrities ranging from Quincy Jones, Pink, Tommy Lee, Grandmaster Flash, Chris Judd and Starr Jones among others. J Records Chairman Clive Davis and President Charles Goldstuck introduced Alicia Keys before she wowed the audience with a 30-minute performance of her best-known songs and future hits from "The Diary of Alicia Keys."The following week Empire produced a similar event in Los Angeles at the Highlands Hollywood.

To celebrate their 185th anniversary, Brooks Brothers teamed up with Time Inc. business publication Fortune Magazine to throw a big bash at the Brooks Brothers store on Newbury Street in Boston, MA. Fortune Magazine turned to Empire Entertainment to help make the night a huge success. More than one hundred invited guests gathered at the store for a fabulous evening of drinks, passed hors d'oeuvres and shopping. The high point of the evening was the in-store concert given by jazz great and multiple Grammy nominee, Kenny Garrett and his amazing band. After performing an hour's worth of standards and hits from his eight albums, Kenny and his band were lauded with a standing ovation and, to cries of "One more, one more!" returned to the stage and played a three song encore that nearly blew the lid off of the joint.

Fortune and Brooks Brothers asked Empire to deliver and install first class production services that would compliment the sophisticated charm of the store's décor and not interfere with the store's regular retail operations. Working with the limited space, Empire provided and built a form-fitting stage that fitted around the wood paneled columns on the first floor, and washed the stage with warm amber light using ground supported instruments. Per Kenny Garrett's exacting standards, Empire provided the band's backline, grand piano and drums as well as all other instruments and sound without interrupting a single sale on the floor. The result was a successful show that celebrated Brooks Brothers history, created good will for their customers and strengthened the longstanding advertising relationship between Fortune Magazine and Brooks Brothers.

Empire has many years of experience working within the genre of "Value-added" programs within the magazine publishing industry and is expert at delivering our services in working retail environments without impeding on store operations.

When Mercedes-Benz Tri-State Dealers became a founding sponsor for Radio City's production of "Sinatra: His Voice. His World. His Way", they were given the opportunity to present a special preview night for 5,300 of their existing customers as a loyalty and retention initiative for customers coming off lease. This preview performance was a final dress rehearsal to take place two days before opening night.Empire conceived and designed a Sinatra themed event for it's 5,300 attendees which was divided into three periods of Frank Sinatra's extraordinary life that were to be setup in Radio City's main lobby, lower lobby, mezzanine and other "front-of-house" areas.

The Grand Foyer was to be setup as Sinatra's Twin Palms Estate, located in Palm Springs, California. Positioned in the center of the room were to be two 16' Palm Trees, a giant cabana in which staff in cabana shirts served sparkling water and fresh fruit juices.The Grand Lounge was to be set up as the Copa Room of The Sands Casino, Las Vegas circa 1960s complete with Vegas Showgirls and staging, a lounge singer and pianist and casino gaming tables.The Mezzanine level was to be setup as a Sinatra photographic retrospective with images ranging from Sinatra circa 1930's through to 1980's.In addition to the main reception, Empire created a VVIP reception to take place in the Radio City Suite, for the celebrities and Mercedes-Benz Tri-State Dealership owners.

For this exclusive gathering in the stunning Art Deco era backstage room at Radio City Music Hall, Empire hired caterers Fancy Girl Catering to put together a 30's style hors 'douerves menu to be served by staff costumed in 1930s attire. American Song Book Standards were to be played by one of NYC's premier jazz pianists, Matt Ray.Empire was also tasked with desiging and implementing the communications, invitation, RSVP and ticket distribution plan using Mercedes-Benz Tri-State Dealership customer databases. Empire set up an RSVP line to receive calls from attendees, updated the existing database with contact information and allocated 1,800 pairs of tickets to recipients. Empire continued to answer inquires and take down information from callers even after the show sold out, to send out gifts compliments of Mercedes-Benz Tri-State Dealers.

Empire also produced a custom "Sinatra: His Voice. His World. His Way" show compilation CD in association with Sinatra Enterprises. Empire designed the CD artwork and Mercedes printed 5,000 CD's to be given away to attendees and customers that did not make the RSVP in time.Empire also solicited celebrity attendance for the preview night and had confirmed celebrities including Spike Lee, Moby, Joan Osborne & Wyclef Jean to name a few to add sizzle to the big preview night.Empire was also responsible for several other areas of this far-reaching program including parking, logistics, vehicle placement, staffing and onsite management. Then, just a few days prior to the event, disaster struck. On Saturday night, prior to the Monday load-in for the event on Tuesday, Radio City Music Hall notified Mercedes-Benz that due to technical delays, the preview night would have to be canceled. All elements were in place and 5300 Mercedes customers throughout the Tri-State area were poised to come into attend the much anticipated event. Empire's immediate job was to notify guests who were coming from all over New York, New Jersey & Connecticut and to do so in a way that would limit their inconvenience and ensure that their experience would not reflect poorly on Mercedes-Benz. Within minutes of this notification Empire was working with Mercedes-Benz to avert a major marketing and public relations crisis, and together mobilized a force that sent out thousands of Emails, Fedexes and phone calls notifying the guests of the cancellation with a well-written and thoughtful letter of regret from Radio City Music Hall with an additional incentive for leasing new Mercedes

For the fourth year in a row, Empire Entertainment was hired by celebrity designer Colin Cowie Lifestyle and the Whitney Museum to contract and manage all talent and sound production in connection with the high profile Whitney Benefit Gala at the Whitney Museum of American Art. Each year this gala dinner draws New York City's elite art patrons as well as artists, celebrities and sponsors for a unique evening of entertainment. For this year's dinner Colin Cowie transformed the fourth floor gallery into an exquisite dining room based on the artwork of Ellsworth Kelly. Colin Cowie's unique design provided for square dining tables, dressed with gray linens and smoke colored glass, arranged symetrically on gray carpet at either side of the room. The center of the room was divided by an angular stripe of bold red carpet on which were placed unusually shaped tables, adorned in vivid matching red.

As with every Colin Cowie event, visual aesthetics are of the highest importance and Empire Entertainment's challenge was to seamlessly blend elements of audio production to the color scheme and design, keeping all such elements, including speakers, consoles, cables and gear out of site of the guests. To accomplish this Empire often runs cables days in advance under carpets and set installations and paints speaker cabinets and other equipment in matching colors to blend function with form. The results of this collaboration are visually astoundinging as well as fully functional.

For this year's gala dinner, Empire Entertainment secured legendary R&B singer Dionne Warwick to perform with piano accompaniment. Ms. Warwick performed favorites including "Alfi," "What The World Needs Now Is Love" (a duet with with Burt Bacharach) and "That's What Friends Are For." She also performed a special audience rendition of "Happy Birthday" to artist Ellsworth Kelly who came the the stage to be honored by the singalong. Guests including American Express Chairman Ken Chennault, Dan Aykroyd and Edgar Bronfman Jr. joined Dionne in serenading Kelly and the performance ended with a standing ovation. After the dinner, the after-party began on the lower level of the Museum for younger supporters of the museum. Mirroring the theme upstairs, the cafeteria was transformed into a night club with an energy that lasted early into the following morning.

Once again, Empire Entertainment provided invisible, high end sound coverage throughout all the rooms of the club. Yet, when one of the sponsor's talent cancelled due to illness, Empire moved swiftly to provide cutting edge entertainment with only two day's notice! Empire rose to the challenge and delivered Sharon Jones and The Dap-Kings, a youthful 11 piece band, and arguably the hottest new funk and soul act in New York City. If the evening's pulse was already heightened by Paris' DJ Kemedji, it was the Dap-Kings who moved the party to a frenzy. Even Colin Cowie himself couldn't resist the dance floor before jetting off the following morning to appear on Oprah Winfrey's show.

Empire is a major producer of not-for-profit events and is a loyal production and talent partner to world class event design firms such as Colin Cowie Lifestyle.

Since leaving office as Mayor of New York, Rudy Giuliani has published a management book, built a world-class consultancy and become one of the top speakers in the world for corporate meetings and special events. Empire has been fortunate to have many opportunities to present him to various corporate clients ranging from Wall Street banks to global computer companies.

On this particular occasion, Empire secured Rudy Giuliani to speak for the Chairman and top producers from one of America's oldest and most respected insurance firms. For this intimate dinner gathering at the St. Regis Hotel, Empire secured Mayor Giuliani to attend cocktails, to take photos with each couple in attendance and then to join the host and guests at dinner to deliver his inspirational remarks. This was the second time that Empire has presented Rudy Giuliani for this client. Mayor Giuliani is a candid, plain-talking and often entertaining speaker whose lectures typically include many colorful stories of his experiences as Mayor of New York and his career as a crime fighter and the man who turned New York into the safest large city in America. He also talks at length about his personal experiences of 9/11 and it's aftermath and how New York City was able to manage the crisis and return to greatness.

His inspirational speeches contain powerful messages of motivation and how to overcome adversity. He also enjoys participating in open Q&A sessions, which often ranges from his Presidential aspirations and thoughts on the War on Terror to his personal challenges (he is in remission following diagnosis with prostate cancer) and his beloved New York Yankees. Mayor Rudy Giuliani wowed the rapt audience with his remarks and free wheeling Q&A and left them as he usually does, on their feet applauding one of great leaders of our age.

Empire is a leading resource in the identification and acquisition of appropriate speakers for corporate meetings and events.