What Were Producing

Dennis Miller, Hootie & The Blowfish & The Beach Boys for Private Event in Bermuda

Dennis Miller, Hootie & The Blowfish & The Beach Boys for Private Event in Bermuda

Bermuda

October 2003

Whether you are the founder and CEO of a global technology giant or you would just like to party like one, Empire will help you and a couple hundred of your closest friends celebrate in style. From a tent, on a bluff overlooking the ocean, in Bermuda, guests took in the endless views and dined on gourmet food, following days filled with golf and yachting throughout a pleasure-filled weekend on the island. On Saturday night the guests were treated to the brilliant rants and references of Dennis Miller, who not only incorporated his usual panoply of cultural and political absurdities, but also worked with Empire to develop some custom material geared toward our client and his business. Following Dennis' performance the chairs were cleared and a dance floor created, for an inspired 90-minute performance by Hootie and the Blowfish.

Empire arranged for our client, a guitarist, to join the band onstage for the final 2 songs, including a special rendition of Johnny B. Goode. A special meet & greet followed in which guests were treated to photographs and private moments with the artists.The following night the tent was transformed into a beach party, outfitted with palms, surfboards, grills & parrots, for none other than the Beach Boys, who performed a high energy 90-minute set of non stop hits as guests danced the night away. Again, Empire arranged for our client to join the band onstage for the final 3 songs, and for a private meet & greet where guests were able to chat and take photographs with the Beach Boys.

Duran Duran first-ever corporate event in New Orleans

Duran Duran first-ever corporate event in New Orleans

New Orleans, LA

October 2003

When corporations look to entertain their customers, partners and employees with something extraordinary, they turn to Empire Entertainment to provide experiences that are new, unique and have never been done before for a corporate event. Such was the case when Empire delivered super group Duran Duran for their first ever-corporate event. Challenged by a global software company to deliver a unique concert experience for an international audience of 5,000 of their most important partners and customers, Empire negotiated for and secured Duran Duran just prior to the commencement of their U. S. tour.

Duran Duran featured all five original members, Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes, Andy Taylor, Roger Taylor and John Taylor. The well-rehearsed and dynamic band performed many of their classic hits including "Rio," "The Reflex," "Hungry Like The Wolf," "Wild Boys," "Ordinary World" and "Notorious" among others. Their high-energy show was held on an outdoor stage on the banks of the Mississippi River and featured video projections, laser light show and plenty of onstage action for the audience. The international audience danced and sang throughout the set and brought the band back for encores. They closed the evening with a dynamic version of "Girls on Film."

Empire is the industry leader in delivering new talent to corporate stages worldwide.

Empire Delivers Zap Mama From Belgium To Energize A Global Software Launch

Empire Delivers Zap Mama From Belgium To Energize A Global Software Launch

New York City, NY

October 2003

When the world's largest companies take to the stage to launch their newest products, before the watchful eyes of the global technology press, they turn to Empire Entertainment to deliver the right talent.For this particular product launch which was held in New York, Empire assisted our client in identifying and securing the Belgium-based, multi ethnic a cappella group, Zap Mama, to perform their inspiring and powerful world music as a component of the opening sequence. Zap Mama are an ensemble of 5 female vocalists, hailing from Jamaica, Senegal, Zaire, Burundi who are based in Belgium and who perform a blend of Euro-African music in brightly colored costumes. Empire worked directly with the client and their creative agency to integrate Zap Mama's performance into a multi-media extravaganza of video, graphics, lighting effects and stage direction. Empire negotiated for and facilitated the provision of a specially remixed backing track, to which all of the media was timed, while Zap Mama sang powerfully in colorful costumes to underscore the product messages. The collaboration between the client and artist resulted in a colorful, beautiful, memorable and newsworthy introduction of the next version of the world's leading business software products.

Empire is an invaluable partner to businesses looking to match their products and messages to the global talent pool. Our connections to global talent and experience in integrating the art of performances with the science of commerce are the foundations of our business.

Executive Council of New York's First Annual Ten Awards

Executive Council of New York's First Annual Ten Awards

New York City, NY

October 2003

When the Executive Council of New York, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to fostering innovation and commerce in New York City, sought to launch their Ten Awards program in New York City, they turned to Empire Entertainment to produce the awards gala. This singular business event was sponsored by a variety of companies including Microsoft, Accenture, AT&T & EDS and was staged to recognize and reward innovation and business achievement in the New York business community.

The theme of the event was "From Inspiration to Innovation..." The Awards program was hosted by the host of CNBC's Wakeup Call, Liz Claman and featured an, inspiring keynote speech by Craig Barrett, CEO of Intel. This year's award winners were: Shelby Bonnie, CEO, CNET Networks, Inc. Jason Devitt, CEO, Vindigo Hossein Eslambolchi, CTO, AT&T and President, AT&T Labs Donna Iucolano, President, e-Scholastic Sallie Krawcheck, CEO, Smith Barney Kumar Mahadeva, CEO, Cognizant Jim McCann, CEO, 1-800 Flowers Martin Nisenholtz, CEO, New York Times Digital Alan Patricof, Vice Chairman, Apax Partners Kevin Ryan, CEO, DoubleClick Lindsay Nohr, Founder and Executive Director, Fertile Hope (Civic Award). For this upscale event for more than 400 attendees, Empire provided virtually all services including venue selection (Gotham Hall), staging and set design, sound, lighting, the production of 11 video roll-in packages, graphic design and all program graphic production, catering, stage management, decor, florals, logistics management, security, signage, etc.

Empire is a cost-effective, efficient and creative producer of business events, meetings and awards shows worldwide.

Empire secures Tennis Legend Bud Collins at Corporate Hospitality Suite for 2003 U. S. Open

Empire secures Tennis Legend Bud Collins at Corporate Hospitality Suite for 2003 U. S. Open

Forest Hills, NY

September 2003

Working in conjunction with meeting planning & logistics company, Above The Rim, Empire Entertainment procured noted tennis celebrity Bud Collins to appear nightly at Morgan Stanley's hospitality suite at the 2003 U.S. Open. Empire arranged for Bud Collins, who is also an NBC sports commentator and author of several books on Tennis, to interact with important clients of Morgan Stanley's, providing observations and insights into the respective matches and the U.S. Open in general for three consecutive nights of play.

Empire Entertainment is a leading supplier of sports personalities for hospitality, motivational speaking, and exhibition play. Other sports figures Empire Entertainment has booked for corporate clients include Tom Seaver, Tommy Lasorda, Magic Johnson, Peggy Fleming, Carl Lewis and many others.

Elton John and other talent for the auto industry's premiere dealer meeting

Elton John and other talent for the auto industry's premiere dealer meeting

Philadelphia, PA

September 2003

For the past five years, Empire Entertainment has been an integral part of Kaleidoscope Productions' team in creating the automobile industry's premiere dealer meetings & reveal shows. For this year's meeting, held at Philadelphia's Wachovia Arena, Kaleidoscope Productions designed a stage that made the Academy Awards' stage look simplistic. Empire Entertainment filled the arena with premium talent. The day began with a speech by former President George H. W. Bush who surprised the audience with both his worldly insights as well as his robust sense of humor. The meeting was capably hosted by Jon Stewart, the hilarious host of Comedy Central's Daily Show. The meeting also featured live performances by American Idol's top winners, Clay Aiken and Reuben Studdard. The finale of the show was Elton John's first concert with a full band in almost three years. When Elton John performed timeless hits like "Rocket Man", "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road," "Daniel," "I Guess That's Why They Call it The Blues," and "I'm Still Standing," the audience went wild. The centerpiece of Elton's performance was the song "Philadelphia Freedom," a salute not only to the meeting location, but to the overall meeting theme of ‘Freedom.'

There were also other parts of the meeting in which Empire was engaged. As various new car models were revealed over the course of the afternoon, the Wachovia Center throbbed to the driving beats and freak-adelic sounds of The Crystal Method, a DJ team and America's answer to the UK's Chemical Brothers. During The Crystal Method's set, members of the FreeRunners -- French "urban ninjas" featured in recent television commercials for Nike – spilled into the venue like spider-men, leaping from rafters and falling from impossible heights, unhurt. The meeting reveals also featured Kaleidoscope-produced industrial videos starring basketball great David Robinson and Daily Show correspondent Rob Corddry, who were also booked by Empire. Empire also worked with The George P. Johnson Company to provide Dick Bright's SRO, an 18 piece dance/show band, for an elegant car salon after-party at which dealers and their spouses danced, ate, drank and viewed the exciting new car models. As with any show of this scale, challenges arose. Elton John was, at first, reluctant to perform with a full band. But the client desired this configuration and Empire was able to persuade him to accommodate their desire through patient and capable negotiation. Said one attendee of the star-studded event, "I thought I was dreaming."

Grammy Winners Wyclef Jean & Patti LaBelle Performance

Grammy Winners Wyclef Jean & Patti LaBelle Performance

Multiple Cities

September 2003

To celebrate the release of Wylclef Jean's highly anticipated new album, "The Preacher's Son," J Records turned to Empire Entertainment to stage and produce a multimedia 'listening party' presentation by music industry legend and RCA Music Chairman, Clive Davis, and live performances by Wyclef Jean and Patti LaBelle.The event was held at the Hudson Theater, an 800 seat former Broadway house adjoined to the Millenium Hotel. The maximum capacity audience for this 'high buzz' event included celebrities ranging from Donald Trump, Kevin Bacon and Tyra Banks, to Julius Irving and Don King.

Empire handled all production & onsite event management, working with the Hudson Theater and Wyclef's production team as well as a host of outside vendors and specialists to put together a state-of-the-art sound, lighting and multimedia projection system capable of supporting the demands of all parties. The presentation by Clive Davis included playback of tracks from the new album as well as his behind-the-scenes observations and projections for the future success of the album and the artist. The presentation also included playback of Wylclef's new music video to support the album. At the end of the presentation, the screen flew out, the curtains parted and Wyclef and his band rocked the dancing audience with a 30 minute set of material from "Preacher's Son" which included a duet performance with Patti LaBelle. In addition to all production and stage management for this event, Empire also provided the video crew & producer to shoot red carpet arrivals, the presentation, the concert, and the celebrity reactions which were compiled as B-roll to help J Records promote the album to the music press. The following week, Empire produced the same event and concert in California at the Conga Room in Los Angeles, CA.

Empire is a leading producer of contemporary music for all manner of corporate and private events.

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Kids for Kids Event for 5th Year in a Row

Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation Kids for Kids Event for 5th Year in a Row

New York City, NY

September 2003

For the fifth consecutive year, Empire Entertainment produced The Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric Aids Foundation, Kids For Kids charity event which was underwritten by Nickelodeon and the Bandai Foundation and sponsored by People Magazine, InStyle Magazine, Toys R' Us and Mercedes-Benz among others. As event producers of this mammoth, not-for-profit undertaking, Empire Entertainment managed and coordinated all aspects of the four hour event including the construction of eleven major tents on busy New York City streets, the permitting and street closures of five blocks of West Greenwich Village for almost 2 days, staging, sound, lighting, labor, electrical power distribution, labor, cleaning crews, main stage activities and talent, emergency medical service standby, signage, A/V and many other elements. Decor for the event was provided by Robert Isabell who transformed the tented spaces into a Fall carnival with trees and autumn leaves.

More than 1,500 people attended the event which featured a designer Sponge Bob Square Pants fashion show emceed by Whoopi Goldberg, A Nickelodeon Bikini Bottom space in which children went Jelly fishing for prizes in a real pond, a kids dance club created by MTV/VH-1/CMT, delicious foods from dozens of participating New York City restaurants brought together by Jonathan Morr, an Art Room in which artists like Chuck Close worked with children to create original paintings and sculptures, a street carnival where children played games with celebrities like Diane Sawyer, Natalie Portman, Chloe Sevigny, Gilbert Gottfried, Donna Karan and Al Franken, and a toy redemption area donated by Toys R' Us. The afternoon event also featured several performances on a main stage including Kid Pop, Big Truck Music, Jack Ryan, Strawberry Shortcake, The Power Rangers and Antigravity (featuring the first live performance on Segways personal transporters).

Empire faced the challenges of Hurricane Isabell which threatened to delay or even make impossible the building of tents right up until the day before the event. In the end the the event was a tremendous success for all involved and helped to raise funds for a very worthy cause.

Empire is a key producer of high-end, not-for-profit events and a strategic partner to businesses looking to create event marketing opportunities in collaboration with charitable causes.

LIVE LAB launches with major trade show for Panasonic in Berlin, Germany

LIVE LAB launches with major trade show for Panasonic in Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany

August 2003

In 2003 Empire Entertainment joined with Director/Choreographer Tee Scatuorchio and Musical Director, Mike Levesque (Co-creators of the performance ensemble The Rhythmics) to create LIVE LAB. LIVE LAB is an integrated creative & production team that delivers live performances from every genre for a wide variety of commercial applications. LIVE LAB exists to identify emerging trends & genres in live performances, and to stay in front of the curve to continually deliver fresh creative and the 'Next Big Thing' season after season. LIVE LAB provides an experienced and skilled creative team who not only identify new performers and performing arts genres, but also provide the essential development and packaging of this talent with professional support in script development, choreography & direction, music composition, recording and editing, casting, rehearsal management, costuming, makeup, prop design & fabrication, supporting multimedia production and production design.

LIVE LAB's expertise and organization enable it to secure performers from dance, sports, comedy, music, acting, mime, stunts, and other areas and fine tune their performances to international standards of excellence for specific applications such as trade shows, general session performances, industrial videos, event marketing programs, etc. In one of it's first major projects, LIVE LAB recently completed production of the main stage presentation for PANASONIC at the 2003 IFA exhibition at the Messe Berlin in Berlin, Germany. LIVE LAB was given the challenge to create a 10-minute, high energy entertainment piece integrating content about PANASONIC'S product lines. As PANASONIC is a major sponsor of Formula 1 racing, LIVE LAB was asked to utilize a racing theme for the presentation.LIVE LAB delivered an exciting, percussion & dance-based show based upon a day at the race track. Dressed in official Panasonic F1 Pit Crew suits, the LIVE LAB cast took the audience through the whole race sequence from setting up the car, time trials, & the race including pit stops.The focal point of the performance was the use of an actual Formula1 race car on stage during the performance. The cast used props such as Racing Tires, wrenches, Fast Fill Gas Cans and Large 30 gallon drums wired with electronic triggers. The performance was choreographed to an original music track and included high energy dancing and percussion on a two story high stage. The seamless integration of PANAONIC Flat Panel Displays, DIGITAL CAMERAS such as the D-Snap & AV-100 video camera, the PANASONIC E-100 DVD Recorder and the introduction future vision ideas were all woven into the performance using the racing theme. Playing off the PANASONIC advertising theme "IDEAS FOR LIFE", LIVE LAB, worked closely with PANAONIC'S Tokyo-based Ad Agency, Dentsu, to develop the script, cast performers from Germany, the UK and the United States, and stage the performances in Berlin. LIVE LAB, a U. S. creative team, working for a Japanese client to deliver a performance in Germany, in German to a mainly German audience was a total success.

Country Superstar Wynonna Judd for American Express & American Airlines

Country Superstar Wynonna Judd for American Express & American Airlines

Dallas, TX

August 2003

At the 2003 National Business Travel Association convention, Empire Entertainment was again asked for the 6th year in a row by co-sponsors American Express and American Airlines to secure headline entertainment that would meet a variety of criteria. The chosen talent would have to reflect the values of the sponsoring companies, work in the acoustically 'live' Union Station hall and be appropriate for the Dallas, TX setting for the event.

Empire worked with both clients to manage a selection process that ultimately yeilded all-American artist Wynonna Judd who agreed to perform in an acoustic configuration with the backing of bass, 2 guitars and 3 vocalists. Wynonna's performance was a thrilling highlight to the evening as she alternately seranaded and belted songs that spanned her celebrated career. From country & blues to all-American anthems and spiritual songs, Wynonna managed to bring the audience to their feet several times for standing ovations, sing-alongs and a roaring good time. Wynonna also agreed to a meet and greet with up to 30 of the sponsor's VIP guests and she was exceedlingly gracious and poised, taking time to speak with each guest before posing for individual photos. The timing of the booking coincided perfectly with the release of her newest album, and her performance at this event occured on the night before her new album debuted at #1 on the country charts.

Empire met many challenges in bringing this show about including budget constraints of the challenged corporate travel industry, the need to maximize audience capacity in a finite room space to cope with the overwhelming response to the Wynonna invitation, and the need to maintain the highest quality sound in a tall, stone room that reflected even the smallest sounds. Empire was able to overcome all of these challenges to present a truly spectactular evening that won our clients rave reviews from their customers and was, in a word. 'Awesome!'

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