​Empire was proud to help produce the "SUPER ENERGY" fashion event for Kansai Yamamoto, one of the most famous Japanese designers, at the dynamic Roppongi Hills Arena.

The day-long festival is part of a massive effort to lift Japan out of the post-3/11 tsunami doldrums and energize it as it gets ready to host the 2020 Olympic Games.

The show featured approximately 250 big names, including Hip Hop artist, Tyga, actor/film director, Yusuke Iseya, model, Akimoto Kira, model/talent, Ahn Mika, model/artist, Tsuchiya Anna, actress/photgrapher, Miyuki Matsuda, movie commentator/talent, LiLiCo, and many more. The show also featured original clothing from Kansai Yamamoto’s archive collection and a range of performances that lit up the stage.

Other highlights of the show were energetic performances from the African Percussion Group "Wagan Ndiaye Rose with sophie ker gi" and the 100 brass band and dance department of Gakuen Hachioji Senior High School. It was a night of electric stage performances, unique acts, and various workshops backed by the voice of Kansai Yamamoto.

The family-friendly "SUPER ENERGY" event drew around 10,000 people.

Empire is a major producer of public events and is very proud to be a partner of this year's celebration.

For the fifth consecutive year, Empire served as producer of the Fragrance Foundation Awards, the fragrance industry’s premier event celebrating outstanding achievement and creativity.  

Held at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall, the evening began with guest arrivals and an elegant cocktail reception in the Hall’s outdoor sunken plaza and soaring glass atrium. Amidst a series of freestanding walls, printed with this year’s design motif, guests mingled and sipped champagne while attending celebrities walked the red carpet and posed for photographers.

Once seated in Alice Tully Hall, the evening's host, comedian and actor, Joel McHale, kicked off the star-studded award program in his signature style. His humorous opening monologue covered the Fragrance industry and this year’s nominee achievements.

Notable program participants included Hall of Fame Honoree and CEO of Puig, Marc Puig, Lifetime Achievement Perfumer, and Master Perfumer of Firmenich, Harry Frémont. Country singer Trisha Yearwood performed a moving rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow".

Celebrity presenters and attendees included Karlie Kloss, Katie Holmes, Carolina Herrera, Judith Light, Adrian Grenier, NinaGarcia, Debi Mazar, Dascha Polanco, Jessica Pimentel, Mario Contone, Tommy Dorfman, Elettra Wiedemann, Carly Chaikin, Annie Parisse, Anna Clumsky, Lais Ribiero, and Rose Gilroy.

Following the seated Awards program, guests returned to the Alice Tully Hall atrium which had been transformed during the program into an elegant, seated dinner—the perfect summer evening dining experience.

The evening ended with an afterparty held at the Lincoln Restaurant where guests danced to music by fashion-favorite DJ Mia Moretti.  

The Fragrance Foundation Awards bring together virtually every luxury and consumer brand in the fragrance industry, including Estée Lauder, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Diana Vreeland, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, ToryBurch, Marc Jacobs, Victoria’s Secret, Michael Kors, Givenchy, Elizabeth Arden, LVMH, Puig, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Cartier, Jean Paul Gaultier, Hermès, Lancôme, Zegna, Clinique, and Gucci.

Empire is a leading producer of events, award shows and programs for the luxury brand, fragrance, cosmetics, and fashion industries.

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When TNT wanted to launch its new series, WILL, an unconventional period drama centered on a young William Shakespeare, they turned to Empire to deliver an attention-getting premiere event to reflect the unique character of the series.  

The premiere took place in the center of New York City on the iconic Bryant Park lawn. Empire worked closely with the Park to secure the venue and all permissions and to present the episode on the giant 40’x20’ screen used for the Summer Film Festival.  

After a set by DJ Jon Blak, themed festivities, and red carpet arrivals, the episode was introduced by EVP of TNT Original Programming, Sarah Aubrey, as well as executive producers Craig Pearce (The Great Gatsby, Moulin Rouge!, Romeo+ Juliet) and Shekhar Kapur (director and Golden Globe nominee for Elizabeth).

On a perfect summer evening, guests sat atop colorful blankets on the expansive lawn and enjoyed treats from Hester Street Fair vendors, including the aptly named “To Banh Mi or Not to Banh Mi”.  

Following the episode, Vanity Fair Senior Writer Josh Duboff brought the cast onstage fora live discussion, including Laurie Davidson, who plays William Shakespeare, Olivia DeJonge (The Visit, Hiding), Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Hell on Wheels), Mattias Inwood (The Shanara Chronicles), Jamie Campbell Bower (Sweeney Todd, The Twilight Saga) and Ewen Bremner (Trainspotting, Snowpiercer).

After the stage presentation, the cast and friends headed over to the Bryant Park Grill which had been tented and transformed into a festive Elizabethan party hall. Shelves stacked with books and skulls, tapestries, and British rustic furnishings were juxtaposed with posters that combined the aesthetics of Elizabethan England with edgy punkrock street art, setting the perfect tone for the party.

Guests enjoyed British pub food and drinks while participating in a branded photo booth, tattoo, and calligraphy activities, all to a soundtrack of the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Jam.

For this large-scale public event and VIP afterparty, Empire was responsible for securing the venues, handling all staging and technical production, audience logistics, and activities as well as the décor, design, and production of the afterparty.  

Empire is a frequent producer of large-scale premieres and is a trusted activation partner to networks and studios in the all-important New York City market.  

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On a crystal clear evening, guests arrived at the Observatory at the top of the World Trade Center building to a stunning sunset over the New York City skyline. The tone was set for a beautiful and warm evening to celebrate and raise support for one of Empire’s most beloved long-time clients, Happy Hearts Fund.

The Happy Hearts Fund, founded by Petra Nemcovain 2006 after she survived the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, is dedicated to providing ongoing support by building schools and providing opportunities for education to children in countries effected by natural disaster, long after primary rescue efforts have left these struggling communities. Celebrating the success of these school programs, the theme of the the night was Graduation: Class of 2017!

The evening kicked off with a cocktail reception, passed canapes, and remarks by Petra, Tomas Alvarez-Bolon, also a survivor of the Indian Ocean Tsunami, and Edna Candelaria, a student at one of the Happy Hearts Schools in the Philippines. Many major supporters were honored with an award and “diploma” for their tireless involvement in the cause, including motivational speaker and dedicated philanthropist Tony Robbins, long-time Happy Hearts Fund supporter, Ramzi Mussalam, and Founder of All Hands Volunteers, David Campbell.

After this, guests took part in a live auction hosted by the ebullient auctioneer, Simon de Pury, and they were off to the races! In no short order over a million dollars was raised and some very pleased guests would be going home with a variety of priceless trips and experiences, fantastic jewelry, and fine art by modern masters like Bosco Sodiand and Helidon Xhixha. Guests also won premium tickets and backstage passes to John Legend and U2, a once-in-a-lifetime South African excursion, and more, all of which was donated from supporters from around the world.

Following the extremely successful auction, guests enjoyed a whimsical buttermilk and berry panna cotta as they enjoyed a high energy performance by Just Kool from Kool and the Gang with hits like“Fresh,” “Get Down On It,” and “Celebration”.

As dinner and the performances came to an end, guests were then invited to the next room for an after party hosted by DJ Cassidy, who had them on their feet dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

Empire is proud to continue our partnership with many purposeful and impactful non-profits like Happy Hearts Fund, and to help them successfully host these thrilling fundraising events.

To learn more about Happy Hearts Fund, please visit www.happyheartsfund.org

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Global advertising and powerhouse marketing agency, Grey, launched its year-long centennial celebration with a kick-off week featuring a mix of business meetings as well as celebratory social events. Grey called upon Empire to produce three of their biggest events for the week.

Grey welcomed agency leaders from around the world with a reception and seated dinner in the Whitney Museum of American Art. After remarks by Debby Reiner, CEO of Grey New York, Marc Pritchard, Chief Brand Officer of P&G, and Sir Martin Sorrell, CEO of WPP, guests had the chance to explore the Whitney. During dinner, Jim Heekin, Chairman and CEO of Grey Global, unveiled the gorgeous, warm red coffee table book profiling Grey’s first 100 years. These books were also showcased on bookshelves spanning the Whitney lobby. Michael Houston, Grey Global President, revealed the commemorative Grey centennial logo – one that celebrates the colorful, diverse minds of Grey's 5,000 global employees by turning scans of their brainwaves into art. A video also introduced Grey's Rising Stars, recognizing young talent and their worldwide contributions to the agency.

The 68th floor of 4 World Trade Center was the perfect setting for the Global Meetings. Floor-to-ceiling windows provided an expansive 360° backdrop of skyline views while executives attended keynotes and breakout sessions. To balance the sun-filled venue, window tints were customized with elements of the Grey centennial logo to add another layer of branding and dimension to the space. Similar vinyls also subtly called out iconic New York City landmarks for newcomers.

The Centennial Gala dinner at Madison Square Park concluded the week of events. Guests enjoyed cocktails inside elegant tents surrounding the main bar set up in the central fountain, while DJ Lina provided music throughout the evening. The clear expansive dinner tent featured a stunning ceiling installation of sheer fabric panels printed with Centennial graphics. The dinner program featured comedic throwbacks to some of Grey's most famous ads, and presented awards to teams behind iconic campaigns featuring Volvo, Gillette, the E*TRADE baby, the Swedish Number, and more. As part of the future-facing announcements, Houston introduced the UNICEF + Grey Global Kids Council, vowing to drive social change by working together with the next generation to solve cultural challenges with creative solutions.

Additional visual aesthetics and brand messaging were creatively integrated into the event. Floral arrangements in the warm red tones found in theGrey logo were displayed in modern vessels to offset and match the monochromatic, minimal, and geometric designs of furniture and table settings. Red colors were also featured in the custom-designed "brainwave" barback drop and sculptural dinner centerpieces cut from acrylic panels.

Empire is proud to collaborate with Grey to celebrate their monumental achievement and reveal a commemorative visual identity for the 2017 Centennial year – highlighting Grey’s global range of creative perspectives and solutions in creating Famously Effective work.

Screenvision Media is a premier cinema, video, and media organization that curates powerful and uncluttered storytelling for brands, exhibitors, and audiences at movie theatres nationwide. For this year’s Screenvision Media Upfront, the company chose the theme “The Most Memorable Impression” to represent their ability to deliver impact before, during, and after the in-theatre experience. The Upfront demonstrated how Screenvision Media connects brands to every part of the moviegoer’s journey, driven by data and technology, interactivity and integration.

To bring the “Most Memorable Impression" theme to life, Empire developed a design and concept, working closely with Screenvision Media, to transform New York City’s PlayStation Theater into a fully immersive theater and afterparty experience for its high-level attendees.

As guests checked in to the event, they were encouraged to download an app that functioned as both a digital passport and tool to unlock special AR content throughout the evening. Guests then moved into the theater space where top Screenvision Media executives, including CEO John Partilla, unveiled its “10 Pack” offering, a package giving advertisers access to blockbuster films along with an advanced targeting tool, Cintel. Through Cintel, brands will have the ability to target advertising based on behavioral and psychographic data, in addition to movie genre and demographics. Highlights from the industry were also showcased, including the upcoming 2017/18 movie slate and record-breaking box office figures.

After a reveal to the afterparty, guests were welcomed to a large, inviting space featuring a 24’ bar, innovative atering stations by Creative Edge, and interactive movie sets inspired by some of the most anticipated feature films. The main attraction was on the existing concert stage, where guests stepped into the jungle of Sony’s “Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle”, Marvel Studios’ “Thor: Ragnarok”, Sony’s “The Emoji Movie”, and Fox Studio’s “Deadpool 2”. Within each set were a series of custom guest activities including actual movie props and an interactive photo booth in “Jumanji”, a Whiskey tasting bar and pool table in “Deadpool”, and arm wrestling table in “Thor: Ragnarok” meant to depict the film’s gladiatorial contest between Thor and the Hulk.

Christie Digital, Vision Media, and Selfie With Me provided interactive video walls and photo booths throughout the event.

Empire is proud to have once again worked closely with Screenvision Media’s team to reach their advertisers with a creative concept and provide a memorable experience for the influencers in attendance. Empire was responsible for all event details including concept, venue acquisition, layout and set design, catering, staging, sound, lighting, graphics, furnishings, carpet, catering, technical production, staffing and partner/studio coordination.

Empire is a leading producer of innovative Upfronts, Newfronts, and other mission critical business-to-business events.

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The Architizer A+ Awards are the definitive global architectural award program, with over 100 categories, and are judged by a panel of more than 400 luminaries and thought leaders from fields as diverse as fashion, publishing, product design, real estate development, and tech. Winners, jurors, and VIPs gathered at a red-carpet gala that is part of the three-week-long NYCxDesign program New York City. Comprising diverse and innovative global projects from starchitects to emerging firms, this year’s winners represent the best new architecture, interiors, and products from across the globe. For the third year in a row, Empire was at the helm to ensure this event was a success.

The ceremony kicked off with a phenomenal and impassioned speech about the Architecture industry by Architizer CEO, Marc Kushner, who served as the evenings host.

"The A+ gala is more than just a party. It represents a moment for us to stand up and champion our art, recognizing the transformational role that architecture plays in our lives," said Kushner.

Luminaries from the world of architecture and design entered the industrial-style space to a red carpet and step & repeat welcome, where event sponsor Sunbrella’s custom architectural installation welcomed guests under an array of colored fabric. Guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres by Cloud Catering along with ambient music played by DJ Javier Peral, while enjoying the décor and enhanced atmosphere with a custom Corian bar created by sponsor DuPont.

Attendees also enjoyed interacting with the Behr/Home Depot photo booth and extraordinary visual demonstrations of winning projects by the virtual reality team at Graphisoft.

This year's biggest winner was Adjaye Associates, which was named Firm of the Year, and other special achievement awards were presented to Koray Duman, Tatiana Bilbao, Carlo Ratti, and and DJI drones, among others. The Lifetime Achievement honoree was handed to the brilliant architect, Odile Decq, which was highlight of the night where all were inspired by her legacy.

"[Receiving this award] is an incredible honor and, of course, very humbling...To be recognized for work that you deeply believe in is incredibly rewarding." - Sir David Adjaye

Empire is a premier producer of some of the world's most prestigious award ceremonies, including The Webby Awards, The Fragrance Foundation Awards, and was honored to be chosen as Architizer's production partner for the Architizer A+ Awards.

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​We’re often call upon to fight for a good cause, but rarely is this statement so literal.

Sixteen incredible men and women took to the ring in a semi-annual, Vegas-style boxing event designed for titans of industries to let off some steam and raise money for charity. Empire Japan was once again proud to produce such an incredible event.

Held at the opulent and prestigious Grand Hyatt Tokyo, over 450 spectators wined and dined as their loved ones, friends, and coworkers boxed it out to see who would come out on top.

Of course, EFN is not just about these 16 epic showdowns. It is an event that gives new hope to children with cancer. With over 10 million yen raised, all proceeds from the event will benefit Shine On! Kids, a certified nonprofit dedicated to supporting children with cancer and other serious illness in Japan and their families. Funds raised from EFN are going to support SOK’s innovative Facility Dog Program, which aims to improve treatment outcome and children’s approach to medical treatment/therapy.

Empire once again proves to be the leading producer of fundraising events and was thrilled to help produce yet another successful Executive Fight Night.​

SmartCities NYC is a newly-minted conference and exposition that explores the intersection of technology and urban life. Presented recently in the revitalized Brooklyn Navy Yard, the inaugural event was sponsored by Microsoft and featured world-renowned speakers, a cutting edge exposition, workshops, panels, parties, and a multitude of public events drawing attendees from around the world.

For the past several years, Smart Cities events have been held globally, bringing together hundreds of local, national, and international organizations from government, academic, public, and private sectors in Barcelona, Istanbul, Kyoto, Casablanca, and Puebla to focus attention on urban innovation and to bring together businesses and institutions interested in finding the best solutions.

Inspired to meet the growing interest in pioneering urban solutions that are defining and transforming cities around the world, Smart Cities was organized around three major concepts – innovation, infrastructure, and inclusion. Smart Cities NYC’ 17 focused specifically on the importance of citizen participation in making cities ‘smart’. With over 250 speakers, Smart Cities covered a broad range of important topics from cybersecurity and cloud computing, to technology for the disabled, mental health, big data, drones, rooftop urban agriculture, shared housing, transportation, and infrastructure.

Some of the noteworthy speakers and participants included: Toni Townes-Whitley, Corporate VP Worldwide Public Sector, Microsoft (tech and education); Miguel Gamiño Jr., Chief Technology Officer, City of New York (civic tech & innovation); Daniel Doctoroff, Founder and CEO of Google’s Sidewalk Labs; Rachel Haot, Managing Director, 1776 (global incubator & seed funding); Robert Wolf, Chairman and Co-Founder, Measure, Drone as a Service (drone solutions); Abby Joseph Cohen, Senior Investment Strategist, Goldman Sachs; Richard Park, CEO, CityMD (tech solutions for healthcare); David Rothkopf, CEO and Editor, FP Group (global foreign policy insight& analysis); Gregory Treverton, Former Chairman, National Intelligence Council (U.S. Intelligence Community); Andrew Right, Former Counselor, U.S. Secretary of Transportation (transportation & infrastructure); Stacey Gillett, Senior Program Officer, Bloomberg Philanthropies; James Ramsey, Co-Founder and Creator, Lowline, and developer Lela Goren of the Goren Group.

The event featured an exhibit hall and B2B trade show that included interactive demonstrations from sponsors ranging from Microsoft, Verizon, Union Point, Boston Properties/Dock72, German Areospace, Victor+Stanley, BMW/Urban X, PBSC Urban Solutions, and the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. At the expo, lead sponsor Microsoft showcased HoloLens - the first self-contained, holographic computer, enabling participants to engage with digital content and interact with holograms in the world around them. Measure: Drone as a Service demonstrated its turnkey drone solutions via the DJI Inspire 2,the first filmmaking drone in the world to integrate HD video transmission.

On the final day Smart Cities NYC ’17 hosted STEAM AHEAD, a day of citizen engagement to help New Yorkers access the information they need to better prepare them for the demands of the modern workforce. From challenging high school students to think big with moonshot projects, to creating employment opportunities for our country’s veterans, to helping people seek meaningful careers in technology, STEAM AHEAD brought companies, nonprofits, and government departments together with members of the community to discuss the challenges and opportunities of work in the 21^st century.

The four-day event culminated in a by-invite-only “Humans of the Year” Closing Night Party, hosted by Smart Cities NYC ’17 media partner, VICE Motherboard, and Prius Prime. Vice Motherboard and Smart Cities NYC invited over 500 guests to enjoy closing night cocktails and custom projection installations in the cavernous Duggal Greenhouse space as well as on the picturesque East River waterfront.

Its placement in the Duggal Greenhouse showcased Brooklyn’s increased standing in the world of technology. And in the past year, the Brooklyn Navy Yard has been host to two tech hubs opening: New Lab, a workspace for manufacturing and design firms, and 1776 NY, a startup incubator.

Empire served as overall producer of Smart Cities NYC and was responsible for project management, production design, technical production, staging, production of digital media content, liaison with all exhibiting sponsors, staffing, catering (through a partnership with the New York Food Truck Association) and café area. Additionally, Empire’s team worked closely with Global Futures, Microsoft, VICE, and other partners to facilitate each partner’s activation and to supervise the overall guest experience.

Empire is proud to have served as producer of the inaugural Smart Cities NYC and to have supported this important thought leadership platform.

To learn more about Smart Cities NYC visit http://smartcitiesnyc.com

​Action Carting treated their customers and investors to a night of"BAM!" at Emeril's flagship restaurant in New Orleans. Guests were treated to some of the celebrity chef's most famous Cajun & Creole dishes including his BBQ Shrimp, Crawfish Boudin, and Banana Cream Pie.

Local music legend, Kermit Ruffins, delivered an unforgettable headline performance, kicking off the night with his signature catch phrase “We partyin’ ya’ll!”

Voodoo priestesses roamed the party dabbing love and money potions on guests, and local fortune tellers held court in a candlelit wine cellar for anyone seeking a glimpse into their future.

Guests were also invited to sample a variety of Bourbons, curated by Emeril’s in-house expert, which paired nicely with the nearby gumbo and chowder station.

With a line around the block full of eager attendees, there was no better place to be in New Orleans!