Empire recently worked with Barclays Center to produce the venue’s first-ever Barclays Center Cares Gala: Shining a Light on Brooklyn.

Held at The Liberty Warehouse in Red Hook on the shores of New York Harbor in Brooklyn, the event celebrated the venue’s charity arm and five years of partnership with the Brooklyn community since Barclays Center opened its doors.

The evening included red carpet arrivals, a cocktail hour and silent auction, a seated dinner and an afterparty. The gala was hosted by FOX’s Rosanna Scotto and featured performances by Grammy Award-nominated classic soul artist Leon Bridges and DJ Chromeo.

Barclays Center CEO, Brett Yormark, recognized many Brooklyn community icons including Sustainability Award honoree, Scot Medbury, President of Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Culinary Leader Award honorees, Levy CEO Andy Lansing, and Alan Rosen, owner of Junior’s. Community Champion Award honorees included Rondae Hollis-Jefferson of the Brooklyn Nets, and Anders Lee of the New York Islanders.

Proud Brooklyn native, actress Rosie Perez, presented the final Community Champions award to professional boxers Daniel Jacobs and Heather Hardy, and Bruce Silverglade, Owner and President of Gleason’s Gym.

The final award of the night, The Vanguard Award, went to Scooter Braun, best known for managing Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande.

The evening ended with an afterparty and dessert reception featuring a dance set by electro-funk duo Chromeo.

Empire was proud to be selected by Barclays Center to support their work in the Brooklyn Community. To learn more about Barclays Center Cares, visit http://www.barclayscenter.com/bccares

Presenting Japan’s top CEOs, Forbes Japan announced their third annual CEO Ranking. This year's CEO Conference, the award ceremony for the winners, was held October 10th at the Palace Hotel Tokyo.

For this year's conference, special panel sessions were held in addition to the award ceremony and winners’ remarks.

Empire Japan was responsible for overall event planning, production, coordination, and management. In addition, Empire also produced an interview video of Dr. Gill Pratt of the Toyota Research Institute.

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Once again, Empire's Tokyo office had the opportunity to produce the leading Japanese IT event for the fifth year in a row. Salesforce.com continues to bring together the brightest businesses and technology leaders who are focused on expanding in the cloud-based and mobile computing realms. This exciting event gathers leaders from around Japan to Tokyo for two full days of sessions, expos, and events.

Salesforce.com this year hosted over 8,200 attendees over the course of two days at the Prince Park Tower and Tokyo Prince Hotel in Tokyo.

This year’s keynote speakers included Keith Block (President and COO Salesforce), Shinichi Koide (Chairman, President and CEO Salesforce Japan), Akito Mizuno (President Mizuno Corporation), Tsutomu Isobe (President Amada Holdings Co. Ltd.), Haruki Mukai (Cabinet Secretariat Councilor), with a special performance by Japan’s famous singer, Crystal Kay. This year the Fortune CEO Series was held to highlight experts from various fields, bringing many exciting speakers to the stage. The Fortune CEO Trailblazer Panel kicked off the first day’s activities, followed by a keynote in the afternoon with a Fortune CEO Fireside Chat.

This year’s exhibition hall also highlighted the growth of Salesforce with an increase to over 80 companies, significantly more than last year. The Tokyo Prince Hotel, located next to the Prince Park Tower, was rebranded the Trailblazer Zone and was the main hub for developer experts and a wide range of technology sessions.

Empire’s Tokyo-based Asia division was responsible for all event design, production and management, including technical production, and coordination.

Empire is a leading producer of global conferences and events in the Asian region and serves as the partner of choice for some of the world’s most sophisticated technology companies to produce their premier business events.

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UN Women hosted their third annual HeForShe event, a global solidarity movement in support of women’s rights and full equality between women and men.

The HeForShe 10x10x10 Gender Parity Report took place at the beautiful Cipriani 42nd St. and brought together Heads of State, CEO’s of global corporations, and leaders of the world’s top universities to review the impact the #HeForShe campaign has made in each of these sectors internationally for the gender equality.

Empire acted as the overall event producer handling the audio, video, staging, scenic aspects, and stage management of the program.

Hosted by Under-Secretary-General of the UN and the Executive Director of UN Women Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and MC’ed by Senior Advisor to the Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Elizabeth Nyamayaro, the event featured each of the IMPACT and Thematic Champion’s strategies for effective change.

A highlight of the morning was His Excellency Peter Mathurika, President of Malawi’s moving speech and accompanying video of his nation’s work to end early childhood marriages. Other notable speakers included the CEO of Barclay’s, Jes Staley, Chairman of Price Waterhouse, Cooper Bob Mortiz, His Excellency Sauli Niinstö, President of Finland, His Excellency Shinzo Abe, Prime Minister of Japan, CEO of Vodafone, Vittorio Colao, and John J. DeGioia, President of Georgetown University.

The event served not only as a reflection of the progress made, but pointed to the future of the initiative as six new champions were named to move the cause of gender equality forward in each of their specific sectors.

Some of the new champions include Andrew Wilson, CEO of Electronic Arts, Bruce Cleaver, CEO of De Beers, Giles York, and Chief Constable of the Sussex Police. These new champions have committed to making gender equality an “institutional priority”, agreeing to monitor the commitments annually. For more information on UN Women and the HeForShe initiative, go to http://heforshe.org

Casper (the sleep company) goes to Casper (the city in Wyoming) for the Eclipse!

On August 21st, 2017, the earth crossed the shadow of the moon, creating a total solar eclipse that travelled across the entire USA – and one of the best places to view this astronomical event was Casper, WY. So Casper (the sleep company) hit the road to create a once-in-a-lifetime luxury camping experience for 50 lucky customers and fans.

Partnering with Under Canvas, Alamo Draft House, and Outdoor Voices, Casper set up a pop-up campground 15 miles outside of town at the Trout On Inn, a picturesque venue along the shores of the North Platte River.

Upon arrival, guests were checked in to luxurious Safari tents provided each outfitted with two twin beds featuring Casper mattresses and bedding. Lunch was served out of Casper, WY’s own Mad Flatters food truck, and outdoor apparel company Outdoor Voices organized float trips down the river and yoga in the fields. As afternoon activities came to an end, guests were treated to a sunset BBQ.

Following dinner, expert astronomer and Director of the Center for Astronomy and Physics Education Research, Stephanie Slater, in town herself for the eclipse, stopped by and offered her insights into the cosmic coincidence and its effects on the human race throughout history.

The evening closed with a screening under the stars of Close Encounters of the Third Kind presented by Alamo Draft House on their renowned inflatable screen set in the horse corral.

A cowboy breakfast was set in the morning where guests enjoyed pancakes and coffee in eager anticipation of the coming eclipse. As the path of the moon’s shadow passed through the country, and total darkness eclipsed broad daylight guests looked up to marvel at the sight.

A farewell lunch was served by Impossible Burger.

San Francisco’s Chandran Gallery hosted British-born Artist Shantell Martin’s month-long solo exhibition at their gallery’s Geary Street location. Her show, titled “Charge Your Self”, included site specific, immersive wall drawings, canvas works, ceramic objects, and other installations of her signature black and white art. Known for her immersive art installations, this specific exhibit explored connections between commitment, positive energy, and self-love.

Shantell Martin’s unmistakable drawings are visible both inside and outside of the gallery, as well as underfoot on a floor installation.

During a series of opening events, the multi-media artist welcomed guests into the space, delivered a live, interactive drawing demo and performed an improvisational music concert, using declarative and powerful word-based paintings as the basis for the performance.

Shantell Martin’s live appearances and installations have included a collaboration Kendrick Lamar for American Express at Art Basel, an interactive installation for Alicia Keys's Keep a Child Alive Black Ball, high profile events for Samsung, and work with institutions such as the MIT Media Lab, Autodesk, and New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts.

Eschewing traditional art world norms, Martin’s work purposefully bridges fine art, performance art, technology, and commercial work. Her artwork has appeared in the Brooklyn Museum, Museum of the Contemporary African Diaspora, Bata Show Museum, and at the prestigious Albright Knox Gallery in Buffalo, New York.

Shantell Martin is a creative force whose talents transcend individual genres of expression and forms and she is celebrated worldwide both for her innovative artworks and site specific installations, but also for her live drawing, keynote speeches, musical performances, and technology collaborations.

Shantell Martin is represented by Empire’s new Empire Artists division which represents a new generation of creators and artists.

For inquiries, please contact info@empireentertainment.com or call 212.343.1645

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When Microsoft and creative agency Dialogue Live sought a world class thought leader to deliver inspiration and insight to an important audience of global business decision makers, they turned to Empire to deliver the appropriate candidate. Empire ultimately delivered Ian Bremmer, an American political scientist who specializes in U.S. foreign policy, states in transition, and global political risk.

Set “In the round” at the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., an audience of nearly 18,000 people watched as Ian Bremmer participated in a 30-minute fireside chat with Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer, Brad Smith, discussing recent geopolitical events and the role the technology sector can play in advancing solutions to some of the world’s biggest issues.

The conversation also touched on a wide range of current affairs, including climate change, education, trade, and regulation, and the implications it has on business and society. The conversation ended with a discussion on artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs, and how the role of industry will change to advance sustainability.

It was evident that both the audience and Microsoft were inspired by Ian Bremmer’s insights, as they remained in rapt attention throughout the discussion.

Empire handled the negotiation and contracting of Ian Bremmer, coordination of all logistics, as well as all onsite management.

Empire is a leading resource in delivering keynote speakers, political experts, and speakers of all areas of expertise for a variety of organizations.

To watch the full discussion, visit: https://partner.microsoft.com/en-us/assets/2017/08/04/16/26/754561

OZY, the start-up media brand focused on bringing its readers the new and the next, brought their second installment of OZY Fest to Central Park's Summer stage.

This year’s line up featured the best in musical, intellectual, culinary, and artistic talent, and OZY Fest 2.0 enjoyed substantial growth from the previous year in terms of audience, media coverage, and stature.

Empire, working together with OZY, delivered several of the festival’s tent-pole headliners including closing headliner Jason Derulo, Samantha Bee, Malcolm Gladwell, Zara Larsson, and Eddie Huang.

Empire is a leading source for A-list talent for festivals, and public and corporate events throughout the world.

Empire was called upon to recommend and contract some of the most interesting keynote speakers in the world for a Fortune 500 company’s annual incentive and retreat program in spectacular Banff, Canada. The client collaborated with Empire to arrange a lineup that would wow their leading employees. Day one of the conference featured a moderated conversation and debate with David Axelrod (the Chief Strategist for President Obama’s campaigns) and conservative commentator and syndicated columnist, Dr. Charles Krauthammer. The two men shared their views on the current political and economic climate, with both providing tremendous insight and humor throughout the discussion.

The second day kicked off with a surprisingly emotional keynote from Dr. Robert Gates, who served as the 22nd United States Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011. Dr. Gates teared up when talking about how difficult it was for him to send young American soldiers into battle in Iraq and Afghanistan, and allowed the attendees a look inside his thinking while he served under Presidents George W. Bush and Obama.

Immediately following Dr. Gates, Empire presented Brian Muirhead, the current Chief Engineer for the NASA Engineering and SafetyCenter. Brian’s discussion of the Mars missions he has been involved with fascinated the attendees before they headed out for their afternoon activities.

The final speaker was J.R.Martinez, the wounded U.S. Army Veteran best known for winning season 13 of ABC’s “Dancing With The Stars”. Martinez’s message of never letting obstacles stand in your way and always looking for new peaks to climb left the audience on a high note on their final day in Banff.

For the evening events, the client asked Empire to suggest the ideal concert performer for a beautiful outdoor amphitheater surrounded by the Canadian Rockies. After much discussion, it was agreed that Grammy-winners Train would fit the bill, and they didn’t disappoint. Performing shows on two consecutive evenings, the band played hits including 2001’s Grammy winner for Best Song, “Drops of Jupiter”, as well as their most recent smash “Play That Song” (and all of their hits in between such as “Hey Soul Sister”, “Drive By”, “Meet Virginia”, “Marry Me”, “50 Ways to Say Goodbye”, and “Save Me San Francisco”). And the crowd also was thrilled with the band’s choice of covers which included “Ramble On”, “Under Pressure”, and especially “Don’t Stop Believing”, during which lead singer Pat Monahan invited a couple of attendees onstage to sing along.

Empire is proud of our track record in securing many of the world’s leading speakers and performing artists for special events in Canada and other international destinations.

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To welcome in the next generation of the NMD shoe line, adidas sought out to create a bi-coastal pop-up experience in both Los Angeles and New York City. The activations themselves featured repurposed shipping containers which included a camera obscura and retail space, allowing passersby to experience the optical illusion through a unique photo booth experience.

Consumers received a printed copy of their camera obscura experience and were welcomed to engage with the retail portion of the pop-up displaying exclusive NMD product. In New York City, the installation was decorated with photography from Dondre Green, a street photographer hailing from the Bronx.

Over the course of a week, the New York City pop-up located in Soho saw over 1,000 customers pass through, just blocks away from two of the brand’s flagship storefronts.

Empire, in partnership with Roundhouse Agency, was tasked with sourcing the location of the pop-up as well as securing all necessary permitting and providing on-site support to ensure a smooth event from end to end. We are proud to once again work with the adidas brand and continue to act as a leader in producing global fashion brand events.

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