​Microsoft's developer product division, Visual Studio, brought their “cloud-first, mobile-first” story to life with a bold two-day conference event at Spring Studios in New York City. Drawing 270 attendees to the high-touch, in-person experience and over 340,000 online, the event generated unprecedented engagement from the developer and IT communities.

Led by Executive Vice President of the Cloud and Enterprise Group, Scott Guthrie, and Corporate Vice President Developer Division, S. Somasegar, the Keynote event focused on .NET and Visual Studio product announcements and was heralded as a “milestone moment for Microsoft".

Spring Studios, a recently opened, raw space in NYC’s trendy TriBeCa neighborhood, provided a clean, contemporary environment featuring 22’ floor-to-ceiling windows. It was the perfect setting for an event dedicated to vision, collaboration and the boundless possibilities of cloud computing.

To balance the sun-filled window backdrop with the need to beautifully illustrate the data-driven content, three large-scale LED screens were custom-built to fit within the existing window frames, and the “view” was extended along the sides of the room with backlit scenic skylines. The audience was seated on custom white lounge furniture that delivered both comfort and contemporary design. The space’s design delivered the visually stimulating wow! factor that the client sought as well as uncompromised clarity of the presented content.

The visual aesthetic and brand messaging were integrated into every aspect of the event. Large-scale, interactive screens “codified” passers-by as they moved through registration. The lunch space incorporated campaign artwork into the decor in the form of menu boards and a large-scale light installation on the ceiling to subtly echo the cloud. Afternoon breakout sessions offered custom content tracked to attendees’ varied interests and needs.

Channel 9, Microsoft’s own online video community, broadcast the Keynote and live post-event interviews to tens of thousands of real-time viewers.

From registration, breakfast and keynote to lunch and evening cocktails, every element of this program was custom-designed to communicate brand values and foster a high-touch guest experience. We were proud to once again serve and collaborate with Microsoft to create and execute this top-tier business communication event.

Empire is a leading producer of conferences and business meetings worldwide.

Reel Works is one of the leading digital media educators in the United States. They are the only filmmaking program that matches teens 1:1 with professional filmmaker-mentors to tell their stories and have their voices heard. It’s a powerful combination that changes young lives while creating startling and original films that have been seen by over nine million viewers since their founding in 2001.

This year's Reel Works Gala began in the mezzanine level of the Edison Ballroom, where guests were invited to mingle and enjoy cocktails and passed hors d’oeuvres. Custom posters featuring the movies of the seven teens that were nominated for the evening's award decorated the cocktail area. Guests were encouraged to participate in the silent auction prior to making their way into the ballroom for the program and dinner.

Sade Baderinwa, Emmy Award-winning journalist for WABC-TV’s Eyewitness News, kicked of the program by welcoming students on stage and highlighting their accomplishments and history with the organization. The program featured honorees, chair members, and students, with a special surprise from Vice President of Talent Integration and Pipeline Programs at NBC Universal, Michelle Hord-White, who presented Dexter Dugar Jr. the the F. John Outcalt Award for Outstanding Filmmaking and a $5,000 scholarship.

Later in the night, energetic James Donahower took the stage as the live auctioneer, helping to raise a record $380,000. The evening wrapped with a special musical performance by Angela Johnson. Event sponsors included Empire Entertainment, Comcast NBC Universal, A&E Networks, Viacom, Comedy Central, Raine, CNN and HBO.

Empire was proud to work on this year's Gala, Reel Works’ most successful benefit dinner to date.

On November 19, 2014, EBONY Magazine presented the 3rd annual EBONY Power 100 Gala, honoring the nation’s 100 most influential African Americans and guest of honor, legendary producer Quincy Jones.

This year’s Ebony Power 100 took place at the historic Avalon Hollywood and Bardot Lounge, and was hosted by the magazine’s Chairman, Linda Johnson Rice, and CEO, Desirée Rogers, of the Johnson Publishing Company. The red carpet saw the likes of A-listers Melody Hobson & George Lucas, Anthony Anderson, Beverly Johnson, Teyonah Parris, Verdine White of Earth Wind & Fire, David Oyelowo, Jesse Williams, Niecy Nash, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Malcolm-Jamal Warner.

After an elegant cocktail reception, guests were seated for a dinner program emceed by television star Wayne Brady and musically directed by Rickey Minor. Throughout the night, attendees were entertained by a wide array of musical performances, each one representing Jones’ career and influence in the music industry over the past 70 years. Performers included Terrence Blanchard, Savion Glover, Kem, James Ingram, Patti Austin, Doug E. Fresh, Slick Rick and Chaka Khan.

At the end of the dinner program, LL Cool J presented the Ebony Lifetime Achievement Award to Quincy Jones. Jones addressed the crowd, stating, "It's amazing to be around and have a career last almost seven decades and watch everything that's happening. Everything's going to be all right." This year's gala focused on issues of race in particular, and Jones said that he was especially humbled to receive the Award because he considered the founder of Ebony magazine, John H. Johnson, to be a mentor.

DJ Kiss spun at the Bardot Lounge afterparty and performed throughout the event.

The Ebony Power 100 was presented by Nationwide Insurance and other sponsors and partners included Ariel Investments, United Airlines, Ciroc Vodka, Starz, McDonald’s, Vosges Chocolates, Georgia Pacific, Toyota, Fashion Fair, Twitter and Comcast.

Empire was honored to once again serve as event producer for the Ebony Power 100, responsible for venue selection, catering, production, talent booking & coordination, music, registration, videography & media distribution and event logistics and onsite management.

Empire is a leading producer of broadcast and non-broadcast, celebrity-driven media events.

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After their highly successful inaugural gala fundraiser in 2013, the Lincoln Center Corporate Fund chose to honor cultural icon and internationally recognized fashion designer, Stella McCartney, with their Women’s Leadership Award.

Lincoln Center Corporate Fund once again turned to us to design and produce all aspects of the evening.

Held at the prestigious Alice Tully Hall, the evening began with two VIP cocktail receptions with hedge walls lining the entrance pathway. The hedges served both fashion and function, accentuating the “English Garden” design theme, while concealing the 40-table dinner reception that was to follow the stage program.

Stella’s friends who could not be in attendance including Bono, Chrissie Hynde, Kate Winslet, Gwen Stefani, Quincy Jones, Amy Poehler, Reese Witherspoon and Doris Day, gave heartfelt video tributes.

Chelsea Handler surprised everyone by submitting her video in which she claimed to be too cheap to purchase the plane ticket to New York and then appeared onstage as the evening’s host.

The program’s second act featured a sit-down with Stella and Jerry Seinfeld in which the comedian interviewed her as only he could, touching on the important industry issues such as the “shorts epidemic for men” and “angry-faced models”.

Seinfeld then introduced the presenter of the Women’s Leadership Award following their conversation—Sir Paul McCartney. Sir Paul flew all the way from Brazil that morning to surprise his daughter on stage.

The program concluded with a musical performance by Dhani Harrison, son of George Harrison, whose acoustic rendition of Love of My Life, a favorite of his “Big Sister”, Stella, set up the finale, which summed up the tone for the entire night. The walls which previous to that had been the backdrop to the “English Parlor” design treatment were quickly rolled away to reveal a full band and 21-piece orchestra who backed Dhani as they performed Live and Let Die to the delight of guests and Sir Paul himself.

The event raised $1.6 million for the Fund, which provides unrestricted support to ten performing arts organizations at Lincoln Center: The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Film Society of Lincoln Center, Jazz at Lincoln Center, Lincoln Center Theater, The Metropolitan Opera, New York City Ballet, New York Philharmonic, The School of American Ballet, Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, and The Juilliard School.

Sponsors for the evening were American Express, Hearst Corporation and Harper’s Bazaar.

To learn more about the Corporate Fund and to donate please visit http://www.lccorporatefund.org

We were honored to be involved in another program at Lincoln Center in support of the arts and in strengthening our expertise in the area of high-end fashion events.

On September 30, 2014, Empire presented two-time Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey to deliver the closing keynote at the IAB MIXX Conference in NYC. The MIXX conference is the centerpiece of Advertising Week, and this year the theme was “Digital’s Renaissance Moment”. And who better to speak to that topic than the star of “House of Cards”, the smash Netflix series which may well be the show that finally makes the internet a true competitor to television networks.

Spacey was clearly passionate about the subject, attributing the success of the series to the “creative courage” of the actors, writers, and the executives at Netflix who green-lighted the show without seeing a pilot. And he compared that courage to the integrity of Sam Mendes, director of American Beauty. And he closed with an inspirational note, stating that “if there's one thing that overlaps between business and art, it's that the risk-takers are rewarded.”

Empire’s strong Hollywood relationships have allowed us to deliver incredible talent for our clients over the years, including Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, Sarah Jessica Parker, Matthew Broderick, Greg Kinnear, Charlton Heston, Alec Baldwin, Jessica Biel, and dozens more.

Boon the Shop​, well known as the first "modern luxury specialty store" in Seoul, South Korea, reached out to Empire to secure the perfect talent to provide music at the grand opening event of its highly anticipated flagship store located in Cheongdam. Empire delivered the Misshapes as DJs who are in high demand for fashion and luxury brand events.

On October 17, 2014, the first day of Seoul Fashion Week, Boon the Shop opened its doors for the grand opening celebration, inviting over 1,200 VIP clients, celebrities, models, fashion designers and industry leaders, bloggers and media from around the globe.

Notable attendees were Anna Dello Russo from Vogue Japan, the store's architect Peter Marino, Supermodel Lindsey Wixson, Haider Ackerman, Chitose Abe of Sacai, Gilles Mendel of J. Mendel, Jack McCollough & Lazaro Hernandez of Proenza Schouler, as well as Korea's A-list celebrities such as G-Dragon, Taeyang, Ko So-Young, and Ha Jung-Woo.

Boon the Shop opened up all of its retail floors for the party, displayed its featured merchandise, launched exclusive collections from leading fashion brands, and presented an exhibition for Proenza Schouler.

The Misshapes, including Leigh Lezark and Geordon Nicol, provided the soundtrack for the entire evening with a cool and classy mix of the latest pop, hottest indie music, and funky dance tunes. They started off on the main floor and then moved over to DJ at the VIP lounge.

It was a special night for fashion in Seoul where international fashion VIP got together at this new Asian luxury landmark.

Empire is a leading provider of talent for retail and luxury events around the world and Empire has worked extensively in Korea for over a decade, providing its world class services through our Seoul-based representative.

On Saturday, October 18, 2014, Empire produced About.com’s Expert Conference for the second straight year at the IAC Building in NYC.

The conference gathers together hundreds of About.com’s experts—the people who write content on the site on topics ranging from travel, health, and tech, to sandwiches, etiquette, and women’s hairstyles. The site is visited each month by approximately 90 million users.

At the 2013 event, new CEO Neil Vogel received applause from the experts throughout the day as he explained the many changes he was planning for the website. He took the stage once again at the 2014 conference, this time to show that he had delivered, taking the once staid website and making it vibrant, exciting, and alive—a site designed to attract viewers to the site and to keep them there. Many images and videos from the new site were displayed prominently on the fantastic high-resolution video wall at the IAC Building (120’ wide x 11’ high).

Vogel introduced other company executives to speak throughout the day and led a panel discussion with some of the site's most popular experts. Attendees also enjoyed catering by Abigail Kirsch, who also provided delectable passed hors d'oeuvres for the cocktail reception that closed the day.

Empire managed all aspects of the About.com conference, providing stage management, registration, TPA procurement, technical direction, catering management, décor. Empire is proud to produce business conferences for some of the world's leading companies.

For the second year in a row, Empire was proud to serve as producer of the Lowline Anti-Gala, which helps raise funds to convert an abandoned, turn-of-the-century trolley terminal on Manhattan’s Lower East Side into the world’s first underground public park. Using innovative solar technology to enable plants and trees to grow underground, the Lowline will become a new kind of public green space and a must-see cultural attraction in one of the world’s most exciting urban environments.

The Lowline has attracted visionaries, artists and creators since the concept was first envisioned so it was no surprise that this year’s hosts would be some of the most celebrated creative figures today – Girls Creator Lena Dunham and Academy Award-winning director Spike Jonze.

Working closely with the Lowline team, Empire worked to develop an overall creative concept to reflect the plans for the park itself. The event would take place underground and would provide glimpses of what the Lowline will feel like once it is built. Skylight Modern, with its cavernous, yet minimal subterranean space would be the perfect venue for this concept.

The evening began above ground with a cocktail reception showcasing a circular bar set around a towering tree. Guests sipped Absolut cocktails concocted by celebrity mixologist Dave Arnold from Booker and Dax and Momofuku while VIPs appeared in front of a media backdrop in the form of a hedge featuring a fire-stenciled wooden Lowline logo.

At the end of cocktails guests made their way underground into a subterranean paradise. Buskers and beatboxers played as guests made their way down the stairs and into a walkway surrounded by trees, plants and foliage provided by Terrain.

Emerging at the far end of the venue, guests abruptly found themselves in a cavernous clearing in which was set a dazzling seated banquet served by Neuman’s Kitchen and Chef Julian Alonzo. The dinner menu included a salad of “edible soil” with raw and cooked garden vegetables, herbs in a flower pot and other sumptuous courses.

In keeping with the spirit of the evening, Lena Dunham and Spike Jonze performed custom skits as Vaudeville characters, inviting guests into their “salon”. Dunham recounted, “as a native New Yorker, I am committed to continuing to create public spaces that reflect the ingenuity and diversity of our city. As downtown kids, our safe outdoor spaces were few and far between—it was before the West Side Highway had been done up all fancy, so a rare trip to Central or Prospect Park was my only experience of the magic of public green spaces.”

Co-founders of the Lowline, Dan Barasch and James Ramsey, spoke about the exciting developments of the upcoming project, estimating a 2018 opening of the Lowline.

Auctioneer CK Swett began with a bottle of Dom Perignon and a starting bid of $1 to warm up the crowd. Lots included tickets for two to Broadway’s Cabaret, a deluxe Tahoe Ski Getaway, a visit the set of Girls, tickets to the Foxcatcher premiere and after-party, and a night on Larry Ellison’s sailboat. Two of the packages sold for $20,000 each. Lena sold the dress off her back, which featured a custom-designed print of the Lowline itself.

Star-studded communal tables served the likes of Edward Norton, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy, filmmakers Bennett Miller and Darren Aronofsky, Celerie Kemble and Boykin Curry, Senator Cory Booker, contemporary artist Tom Sachs, and film producer Megan Ellison, as well as slew of New York’s young and established artists, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and socialites.

As the evening shifted into afterparty mode, blacklights once again transformed the space into an Avatar-like fantasy world as the dinner guests were joined by a second wave of attendees. A beatbox battle by Too Many Zooz and a percussion funk band set the tone for the evening’s headliners: Jack Antonoff’s band, the Bleachers. After their set, LCD Soundsystem’s James Murphy DJ’d well into the night.

Empire was proud to once again serve Lowline and help them create another standard-setting, creative fundraising event that perfectly suited their style and message. To learn more about the world’s first underground park, visit www.thelowline.org.

Empire is a leading creative producer of innovative events and fundraisers worldwide.

On October 30, 2014, Empire Entertainment served as producer for Keep a Child Alive’s 11th Annual Black Ball at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. Generously sponsored by Parfums Givenchy and Jynwel Charitable Foundation Limited, the Black Ball featured extraordinary performances by Alicia Keys, Sean Puffy Combs, David Byrne, NAS and Angel Haze.

Hosted by Keep a Child Alive’s co-founder and 15-time Grammy Award-winning artist, Alicia Keys, Grammy Award winner Sean Puffy Combs, and the legendary Swizz Beatz, the Black Ball has raised over $22.6 million since its humble beginnings in 2004.

The event, designed by Creative Director Earle Sebastian, featured an elegant cocktail reception under a ceiling of simulated stars that were reflected in black mirror with music by DJ Dhundee. In the main ballroom guests were seated at long tables topped with candles and all-white floral arrangements. A proud Alicia Keys and CEO of KCA, Peter Twyman, took the stage to deliver inspiring remarks about the power and potential of young people living with HIV/AIDS.

This year’s Black Ball honored Givenchy’s Artistic Director, Riccardo Tisci, for inspiring new and compassionate ways of thinking through his bold and unapologetic voice in challenging discrimination while breaking cultural barriers in the fashion industry and beyond.

A star-studded guest list of over 600 came out to support Keep a Child Alive’s mission with guests including Madonna, Kanye West, Clive Davis, Selita Ebanks, Estelle, Gayle King, Lala Anthony, Marina Abramovic, Aretha Franklin, Olivia Harrison, Padma Lakshmi, Russell Simmons, Steve Van Zandt, Alek Wek, Mr. Brainwash and amongst others.

Guests dined on a delicious family-style dinner, with a menu designed by guest chef Johnathan Adler of Franny’s Brooklyn and catered by Creative Edge. This year’s Black Ball raised $2.3 million through table/ticket sales, sponsorships, donations, pledges and a live auction that featured a rare Givenchy purse and one-of-a-kind shirt designed by Riccardo Tisci, an India wellness trip package, a Dubai and Maldives luxury vacation, an exclusive dinner and tasting of Remy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl cognac, two custom designed pairs of Christian Louboutin shoes for parent and child, and other exclusive packages.

Alicia Keys and her band then put on an exceptional performance that, true to Black Ball tradition, featured several amazing musical guests.

Sean Puffy Combs joined Keys to open the concert for an old school classic “Mo Money Mo Problems,” and started the energy on high. Rising star Angel Haze then came out to perform OneRepublic’s “Counting Stars” segueing into a duet with Keys on “Battle Cry".

NAS took the stage next with a hard hitting set of “Streets of NYC,” “New York State of Mind” and “Made You Look.” Puffy then joined him for a pumping “Hate Me Now.” NAS brought out a crowd favorite Phil Collins song, “Coming in the Air Tonight” then a duet with Keys on “If I Ruled the World.”

Closing out the concert, legendary Talking Heads frontman David Byrne joined Alicia Keys to perform “Once in the Lifetime", “Strange Overtones", "Life is Long", “It’s my Life” and “Burning Down the House".

Swizz Beatz and DJ Runna took to the stage to DJ the Afterglow party, having all guests dancing into the early hours of the morning.


Empire has been proud to serve as the Producer of the Black Ball since its inception in 2003 and partner with Keep a Child Alive and Alicia Keys over the past decade to grow it into one of New York’s most anticipated annual fundraising events.

To learn more about Keep a Child Alive, please go to www.keepachildalive.org.

Photos: Chris Saunders and Winston Struye

When one of the world’s leading, luxury jewelry brands sought to launch a new jewelry collection, they turned to Empire to create an exclusive event the likes of which its top clients had never experienced before. In keeping with the character of the jewelry collection, every element of the elegant event was designed with a touch of mystery.

On the evening of the event on Rodeo Drive in the heart of Beverly Hills, guests approached entrance by walking on a custom “red” carpet, emulating the ruby and diamond design of a bracelet that had yet to be revealed. Two immaculately attired male models opened a set of double doors, revealing the salon, completely redesigned as never seen before. Upon entering the salon’s foyer rotunda, guests were surrounded by an installation of sapphire and diamonds, animated within the wall vitrines and projected onto the chandelier, further teasing the bracelet design.

Stepping through the doors guests entered the dimly-lit salon transformed into a breathtakingly elegant, Art Déco-era house of secrets. Model wait staff served custom cocktails and bespoke hors d oeuvres, including caviar pillows and black truffle beignets presented on polished black lacquer trays in unique jewelry-inspired vessels. While enjoying Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Champagne in tall champagne flutes, guests were treated to the first glimpse of the collection, showcased on a group of exquisite female models placed within a tableau vivant or ‘living picture’. With glamorous hair, makeup and wardrobe to mirror the aesthetics of the jewelry collection, the models' movements and interactions with the guests were choreographed by Emmy-award winning director duo, Nappytabs.

The tableau vivant was presented on a custom-designed Art Deco stage comprised of geometric cut mirrors and a gold metallic frame, richly adorned with period accurate props whose use was incorporated into the model choreography. In the center of the room, a large jewelry vitrine adorned with a tall arrangement of white flowers was filled with fog providing guests with a tantalizing glimpse of the jewels on display below and perfectly capturing the mystery of the collection, Upon a musical cue, the models took their places on stage with a dramatic finalé pose showcasing the full collection. Following the performance, the salon’s director invited guests upstairs to a floor which was transformed from a generic suite into a dramatic dining room of black & mirror complete with custom-designed wallpaper, mirrored dining tables, lush tufted chairs, custom-embroidered napkins, and dark, moody, and refined floral centerpieces.

After mingling on the terrace on a beautiful Beverly Hills evening, guests enjoyed a seated four-course meal created by Patina Caterers. Courses included Blue Fin Tuna Tartar, Alba White Truffle Risotto, A-5 Japanese Kobe Cote de Boeuf, and a Cranberry Chutney Cheesecake Sphere for dessert, unveiled by the lifting of a cloche glass. Each course, accompanied by pairings of rare wines, was delivered to the guests via choreographed and synchronized waiter service, intermingled with the female models, which gave the guests more time to get a closer look at the jewels.

Following dinner, guests were invited back downstairs into the yet-again transformed salon, which was now recreated as an elegant Jazz age nightclub. Guests were seated on black leather lounge furniture and served Yuku Kosho Caramels along with vintage cognac, single malt whiskey and dessert wines. As a finalé to the evening, guests were treated to a live performance by Grammy-nominated jazz vocalist Jane Monheit, accompanied by her pianist, who performed on the tableau vivant stage.

For this ambitious, top-tier luxury brand project, Empire created and developed the concept and provided all design, décor, production, talent, catering, permitting, floral displays, scenic elements and staffing, and managed the project from conception to completion.

We were honored to have been part of this pivotal launch for this esteemed jewelry brand. Empire is a leading producer of top-tier luxury events worldwide.