Our Work

​One the eve of the 2016 Olympic Games, Empire kicked off the festivities by producing two high-profile reception events for Worldwide Olympic Sponsors Panasonic and Bridgestone.

Panasonic’s reception event took place on top Sugarloaf Mountain, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Empire proposed and secured this venue for not only the reception party, but also as a technology showcase called the “Panasonic Stadium of Wonders”, which will be open to the public throughout the Olympic Games. Sugarloaf is also the site of the Empire-produced Panasonic Find-Your-Dreams CityCam web activation featuring Neymar Jr., which can be seen here: http://find-your-dreams-rio2016.panasonic.com/2016/

Guests arriving at the reception via cable car were treated to the vaunted panoramic views of Rio, including Copacabana and Corcovado Christ the Redeemer. Following a dramatic sunset, the party began. Entertainment planned and delivered by Empire included a live Bossa Nova band and performance by 20 Samba dancers and musicians, including the 2016 Queen of the Rio Carnival, Clara Paixão.

At the same time, down on the Copacabana Beach at the famed Copacabana Palace Hotel, Empire helped new Worldwide Olympic Sponsor Bridgestone celebrate their first summer Olympics with live performances by Bossa Cuca Nova and São Clemente Samba School.

What makes a perfect evening? How about a performance by the legendary Andrea Bocelli at the world-renowned Sporting Club in Monte Carlo? Empire presented and produced the beloved tenor as a surprise for nearly 1,000 corporate guests on August 31, 2016.  

His performance was a surprise to the audience and there was an audible gasp from when Mr. Bocelli was first introduced to the stage. The Maestro then enchanted and thrilled the crowd with two sets; the first accompanied by piano and a quartet, and then, after a very quick stage changeover, the second set featured the Maestro backed by the Orchestra Philarmonica Italiana.  

Bocelli mesmerized the attendees with classical pieces, and was joined onstage by Alessandra Marianelli and Ilaria Della Bidia to duet with him operatic renditions of more mainstream hits, such as "I Can't Help Falling In Love With You" and "I'm In Heaven". As the audience gave Mr. Bocelli a tremendous standing ovation, the windows and roof of the Sporting Club opened for the final surprise of the evening - an incredible fireworks display over the Mediterranean.  

In addition to his performance, Mr. Bocelli also joined client VIPs for an intimate meet & greet and photo op prior to the show.

Empire has presented many of the world’s elite performing artists at incomparable venues in more than 100 countries around the globe. From Andrea Bocelli, Kathleen Battle and Jessye Norman to Jennifer Hudson, Tony Bennett, and Norah Jones, Empire is always able to provide classic, elegant headline entertainment for sophisticated audiences.

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Ozy Media, in partnership with presenting sponsor, Fusion Media, launched the inaugural OZYFusion Fest, a fresh and unique addition to New York City’s busy summer festival calendar. Billed as “TED meets Coachella” and “Aspen Ideas + Burning Man,” OZY Fusion Fest was an experiential festival of ideas that presented music, current affairs, humor, politics, technology, food, art, and social interaction in one memorable day and evening. Although Ozy.com was founded in 2013 and boasts a rapidly growing base of over 20 million monthly users, OZY Fusion Fest was in many ways OZY’s coming out party, a chance to celebrate with its diehard readers, and to introduce itself to an entirely new group of fans.

Over 2,000 attendees descended on Central Park’s Rumsey Playfield to enjoy over ten hours of thought-provoking and highly-entertaining programming. By the time doors opened at 10:30 AM, it was 90 degrees in the shade, but a line had already formed of eager guests waiting to get inside.

Once guests entered, they were emerged in the completely transformed Rumsey Playfield. In addition to the main stage, a series of large tents each adorned with custom signage, designed with a colorful graffiti splash and furnished with colorful seating and displays. Individual spaces included the Town Square Stage, Chef’s Tent, Good Sh*t Bazaar, Intel Theater, Virtual Reality Theater, a VIP tent, and an Ask OZY station in addition to food & beverage kiosks and open air activity spaces.

On the main stage, the day kicked off with author and thinker Malcolm Gladwell, delivering an electrifying and very personal speech on the state of College Admissions in the U. S. Hint: we have a lot of work to do. Columbian musical superstars Choquibtown then brought their Latin /Caribbean grooves to the crowd followed by a hilarious conversation with Broad City’s Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, moderated by WNYC’s Phoebe Robinson. Asthe afternoon cooled and the sun set the audience danced and sang to hour-long sets by Grammy Award performer Andra Day, Wyclef Jean and Black Eyed Peas’ will.i.am.

Across the field, the Town Square Tent provided a more intimate setting and an opportunity for many deep discussions. OZY Founder Carlos Watson led a series of interviews with political heavyweights and thought leaders. Former Chief of Staff and republican strategist, Karl Rove, weighed in on this year’s Presidential election followed by New Jersey Senator Cory Booker, who discussed the Black Lives Matter movement and his views on the most urgent issues facing the incoming president. Editors Cole Bolton and Ben Berkley of The Onion led their own political panel discussion in their unmistakably irreverent style. Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, sat down with Laurene Powell Jobs, Founder of the Emerson Collective, and will.i.am to discuss their visions for the future of philanthropy in education. HBO rising comedy star Issa Rae delivered a multimedia comedy set, while other Town Square participants included Grover Norquist, Island Records & Golden Eye Resorts Founder, Chris Blackwell, Judy Smith, Beatbox House, artists Kazuhiro Tsuji and Zaria Forman, and more.

For the foodies in the audience, Chef Alex Guarnaschelli, host of Chopped and founder of Butter Restaurant in New York City, led a series of live cooking demos, curated discussions, and food samplings in the Food and Beverage Experience tent. She was joined by her friends Miroslav Uskokovich, celebrated pastry chef at Gramercy Tavern, as well as Benjy Kirschner, sommelier and owner of Wilson Daniels wine. Chef Guarnaschelli also curated the menus provided by Summer stage concessions managed by Brooklyn Flea’s Smorgasburg, allowing guests to purchase items that were exclusively available to OZY FusionFest attendees.

In between stage programming, guests meandered through the Good Sh*tBazaar, a live version of OZY’s online content vertical, where unique vendors and products were showcased alongside prized pieces of art, including Kazuhiro Tsuji’s famed (and giant) Abraham Lincoln head sculpture. Vendors included the Ugly Fruit Guy, a rock &’ roll celebrity stylist, a digital photo booth, and a register to vote station. Lounge furnishings situated in the center of the Bazaar provided guests with a shaded area to relax while waiting for the next program to begin.

And those lucky enough to have purchased a VIP ticket were able to enjoy a stage-side lounge complete with hosted beer, wine, and food.

As if all of the above wasn’t enough, guests had the opportunity to screen original films and content by the likes of Bill Gates in the Intel Theater, walk on Mars via a VR experience, watch artworks created live in an open air art zone, and reimagine what future high schools might belike via the XQ Super School Project.

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​It isn’t easy to entertain a room full of celebrities, but Empire was asked to do just that for a financial services company holding an annual celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. To fill the bill, we contracted Tom Papa and Sebastian Maniscalco, two of the top comedians touring today.  

Tom Papa starred opposite Matt Damon in the Steven Soderbergh film, The Informant, and is the host of the hit SiriusXM show, ‘Come to Papa.’  He was also personally chosen by Jerry Seinfeld to host the NBC series, ‘The Marriage Ref’. Tom had a recurring role opposite Julia Louis-Dreyfus on the CBS series, ‘The New Adventures of Old Christine’, and starred in his own NBC series, ‘Come to Papa.’  He is a regular guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, and The Late Show with David Letterman, and regularly opens for Jerry Seinfeld.

Sebastian Maniscalco is the proverbial “next big thing” in the world of comedy. A 2014 American Comedy Award nominee for Best Club Comedian, Sebastian is a frequent guest on networks such as Showtime and Comedy Network, and has made appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Late Night with Seth Meyers, and Conan. Of Sebastian’s performance, our client said "I've never laughed so hard from a comedian in the past. He was so animated and got a cardio work out on the stage.”

Empire recommends, secures, and produces entertainers for special events throughout the world and are proud to have delivered many of the most acclaimed comedy performers including Billy Crystal, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock, Jim Gaffigan, Kevin James, Dave Chappelle, Brian Regan, Louis CK, Dana Carvey, Seth Meyers, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, John Oliver, Broad City, and dozens more for our clients' programs.

The annual summer party held by Herbert Smith Freehills was held again this year at the Ritz Carlton, with over 250 guests in attendance.

Special attention was given towards the decoration of the room with the usage of vertical banners hung from the ceilings as well as structures placed on the party floor.

The guests entering into the room were instantly transported from Tokyo to the Middle East and Africa, the two main themes of the party.

Rin Nakashima on the Japanese Koto brought to the venue a wide range of sounds, with songs specifically arranged for this event. She was joined by her colleagues on guitar and drums and they rearranged well-known songs in a Middle Eastern and African fashion, further adding to the ambiance of the evening.

The party finished off with a special sand art performance by the duo group Emullenuett, with images shifting and constantly changing on the screen—a journey that took the guests around the world and the various regions that Herbert Smith exists.

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

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​Following a successful 2015 run on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA, online mattress retailer, Casper, opened a second pop-up shop, dubbed the“Casper House” on the “Coolest Street in America.”

Conceived as an illustrated house erected inside a brick and mortar store, this playful concept perfectly integrated Casper’s whimsical nature while providing practical & cozy areas – in the form of bedrooms – for guests to try out the Casper product line which includes mattresses, sheets, and pillows. The shop also hosted numerous events over the course of its run such as cocktail events, influencer parties, and even yoga classes! Interior walls were built on castors to provide flexibility for the space to function for multiple purposes.

The initial two-month Summer run was so successful that Casper extended the project to eight months to run through the holidays!

Learn more on Casper's blog here

​Playworks celebrated its 20th anniversary by raising more than $200,000 at the second annual New York Get in the Game Gala, recognizing Inspiring Leadership Honoree ESPN and Most Valuable Principal Heather Foster-Mann of Brooklyn’s PS 133 William A. ButlerSchool. This school year, acclaimed nonprofit Playworks will provide safe, healthy, and inclusive play for nearly 900,000 children in more than 1,800 elementary schools nationwide to reduce bullying, increase physical activity, improve learning, and promote social and emotional skills.

The evening featured remarks from Olympic gold medalists Edwin Moses and Benita Fitzgerald Mosley, a live auction led by CK Swett, entertainment from Grammy-nominated artist John Forte, and international recording artist ELEW, recess games, a friendly pingpong tournament, plus food and drink. Funds raised support the expanding efforts of Playworks to bring the power of play to every girl and boy in New York and beyond.

To help make this event a success, Empire produced the fundraiser at the elegant TriBeCa Rooftop venue, where we transported guests from the ballroom to the playground on the transformed rooftop space. Attendees enjoyed stunning Manhattan views and experienced play through sophisticated and immersive activations of traditional recess games like Four Square, along with life-sized installations of Chess, Jenga and Connect 4.

Working closely with Playworks, Empire served as the event producer, managing elements including venue, décor, technical production, and performing talent.  Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and we are honored that Playworks continues to work with us to produce successful events.

To support or learn more about Playworks, please visit www.playworks.org

Philanthropist and supermodel Petra Nemcova and the Happy Hearts Fund team called on Empire once again to produce their 2^nd Annual Fight for Education gala in the renowned Hammerstein Ballroom. Leaders from finance, sports, and fashion gathered to support the Happy Hearts Fund mission to rebuild safe, resilient schools in areas impacted by natural disasters.

The action-packed evening was kicked off by internationally-acclaimed tenor James Valenti and soprano Jessica Fishenfeld, singing the National Anthem. After the moving performance, veteran sports announcer Mark Fratto invited Petra to the ring to thank the guests for their attendance and lead a traditional ten-bell salute, honoring the passing of Muhammad Ali.

The night proceeded with six fights featuring amateurs in finance representing Blackrock, Deutsche Bank, and Oppenheimer, among others. Models Hind Salhi and Arlenis Sosa also showcased some exciting boxing in support of the cause. The last bout consisted of acclaimed professional MMA fighters Nick Pace and Julio Arce.

In between the action, auctioneer Patrick Tully led the live auction of eight lots, including a trip to Monaco and Cannes to experience the famous Formula E-race on the Monaco Grand Prix F1 track, and a special VIP package to the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show. As a compelling finale to the event, Ms. Petra “Trouble” Nemcova surprised guests by taking on comedian Dane “Kiss The” Cook in an entertaining fight using cupcakes, whipped cream, and chocolate syrup.

Throughout the elevated evening, the nearly 400 guests were treated to a three-course meal of caprese salad, chargrilled filet of beef, and family-style desserts for a sweet finish, all catered by Abigail Kirsch.

Over $1.1 million was raised as a result of the Fight for Education gala, continuing the exciting annual tradition benefiting the Happy Hearts Fund.

Empire was proud to be a part of this creative fundraising event, having been the producer of Happy Heart’s annual events for the last six years and is a leading producer of not-for-profit events globally.

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

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The team behind the Lowline has been working for the past several years to generate support and awareness for their vision to convert an historic underground trolley terminal on Manhattan’s Lower East Side into a subterranean public park. Using breakthrough solar technology for natural sunlight illumination and plant growth with cutting-edge design, the Lowline will be the world’s first underground park, adding a much needed acre of green space to the neighborhood.

The Lowline opened the Lowline Lab, a long-term laboratory and exhibit open to the public, designed to showcase the power and potential of the technology to grow and sustain a wide variety of plant life. Located inside an abandoned market on the Lower East Side just two blocks from the proposed site of the future park, the Lowline Lab serves as a prototype, letting the public preview what's to come. Over 60,000 visitors have come to date and dozens of free community-based programs have been held.

The Lowline held its inaugural spring benefit at the Lowline Lab, to raise funds and welcome guests into an underground, other-worldly garden experience.

Guests were greeted by scantily clad nymphs in body paint and ivy, tempting them to drink tequila spiked elixirs from flower-covered watering cans before moving deeper into the Garden of Eden. An interactive cocktail hour allowed guests to pour their own drinks from irrigation wall taps, where specialty cocktails were surrounded by plants, herbs, and spices. Guests could also add basil, mint, and lavender to add infusions and garnishes to their drinks.

The evening included a seated dinner where attendees enjoyed a DIY-style meal featuring an “interactive salad” that required chopping their own vegetables and an entree that encouraged guests to eat with their hands and serve each other from the family-style dishes. The appetizing menu was created and curated by Chef John Fraser of Nix, Narissa, and Dovetail.

The program featured speeches by Lowline Co-Founders Dan Barasch and James Ramsey, and honored Openbox’s Marquise Stillwell and Lowline Young Designer student, Nasir Mouzon-Cooley. CK Swett hosted the live auction, garnering over $50,000 in proceeds for auction lots that included a trip to Tuscany and a video message from singer/songwriter Sia.

Amber Martin, vocalist and comedic performance artist, closed out the program with an original three-song, jaw-dropping performance with chosen musical and comedic vignettes from her fascinating repertoire of characters. The audience could not keep their eyes off of her. DJ Sammy Kim created the playlist for the evening.

Empire is honored to serve as the Lowline’s event producers since 2013 and proud to support the creation of the world’s first underground park.

To learn more about the Lowline, visit http://thelowline.org/

Empire recently worked to provide headline entertainment at an annual user conference that brings together thousands of thought leaders from the fields of business and information technology to solve the world’s most complex business technology problems.

For this year’s conference, the first in Las Vegas, conference producers, Invision Communications, chose Empire as their partner to secure and produce the headline entertainment for the opening night Customer Appreciation Event.

Working closely with the Invision team, Empire supported an artist selection process and was able to quickly deliver multi-platinum selling and Grammy award-winning artists, The Goo Goo Dolls. Fresh off their new record release, the Goo Goo Dolls delighted the crowd of approximately 4,000 attendees with all their classic songs including "Iris", "Slide", and "Broadway", as well as a mixture of new music from their latest release.

The Goo Goo Dolls performed on a massive stage in the tiered Grand Garden Arena, underneath a monumental projection wall. DJ Ravi Drums played a warm-up DJ set prior to the band taking the stage. The band also participated in a VIP meet & greet.

Empire and Invision worked closely on all creative, logistic, and production details to ensure a smooth experience for the client and band and to promote the best possible experience for the attendees.  

Empire is a leading resource for delivering and producing headline talent for corporate conferences worldwide, and a proud to partner to organizations like Invision Communications.

For the fourth 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 Alice Tully Hall’s outdoor sunken plaza and soaring glass atrium. Amidst a series of freestanding walls printed with the designs, guests mingled and sipped champagne while VIPs walked the red carpet and posed for the press photographers in a tent on West 65^th Street.

Once seated in Alice Tully Hall, the evening’s host, critically acclaimed actor, producer, and comedian, Alec Baldwin, kicked off the star-studded award program in his signature style. His humorous opening monologue covered the Fragrance industry and this year’s nominees to current affairs and politics.

Notable program participants included Hall of Fame Honoree and CEO of L Brands, Leslie Wexner, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Perfumer, and Vice President of International Flavors and Fragrances, Sophia Grojsman.

Celebrity presenters included Lionel Richie, Adriana Lima, Petra Nemcova, Karolina Kurkova, Laverne Cox, Eric Dane, Josephine Skriver, Meg Ryan, Nacho Figueras, Leigh Lezark, Jessica Stam, Natasha Gregson Wagner, Tracee Ellis Ross, Stella Maxwell, Mary Elizabeth Winstead and more.

Following the seated Awards program, guests were seated for an elegant, sit-down dinner in the Alice Tully Hall atrium and outdoor plaza—the perfect summer night dining experience. Leigh Lezark & Geordon Nicol of the Misshapes DJ’d throughout the meal.  

The evening ended with an afterparty held at the Lincoln Restaurant. The guests danced to music by the fashion-favorite DJ, Mia Moretti, as they sipped their cocktails and visited various food stations.

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

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

​Would you go through weeks of hardcore boxing training while working full-time and then climb into the ring in front of hundreds of your friends and coworkers for a great cause?

That’s what 16 amateur fighters did for “Executive Fight Night,” a semi-annual Vegas-style boxing event designed for business executives to blow off some steam and raise funds for a good cause. Empire Japan was once again proud to produce such an exciting event.

The sixth and latest fight night was held at the Tokyo Grand Hyatt. 400+ spectators were wining and dining as their friends and coworkers fought it out in the ring.

Of course, EFN is not just about blowing off steam and testing ones physical ability. Over ¥10 million in proceeds from this event, a EFN record, has been raised for Shine On! Kids, an organization devoted to bettering the lives of children in Japan who are battling cancer.

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

Empire Japan presented five entertainment acts for Shell Global’s 2016 Smiling Stars incentive, an annual event that rewards its retailers around the world for exceptional performance.

As the welcome entertainment, a duo of guitar and koto harp serenaded guests in the garden with their arrangements of Japanese and western music. Following the music in the garden, violin trio Grand Noir provided acoustic ambience during dinner before returning to electrify the stage with a plugged-in performance in advance of award presentations.

As the first act of the evening, traditional Eisa and lion dances from Okinawa energized and interacted with guests from all over the world out on the terrace. Following the Okinawan dance, guests moved inside and the juggling sensations Kikyo Brothers used their trademark light-up programmed batons in an exhilarating juggling routine. Finally, as a capstone for Empire’s portion of the program, world-champion diabolo performer Yusaku Mochizuki, also of Empire Artists-managed group enra, lit up the stage with his unique performance of his original piece “GRAVITY” in a high-octane routine combining the diabolo with tap dance.

Empire was responsible for proposing, negotiating, contracting, and advancing logistical elements for all five acts. Empire is a leading provider of talent for corporate events and celebrations around the world.

​Now in its fourth year, The Architizer A+Awards are the definitive global architectural award program with more than 100 categories and over 300 judges. The gala event in New York City is the signature architectural event during the city’s design week, NYCxDesign, and falls just before the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF). 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 second year in a row, Empire was at the helm to ensure this event was a success.

The ceremony was hosted again with charisma and charm by John Gidding from HGTV's "Curb Appeal: The Block", and kicked off with a phenomenal and impassioned speech about the Architecture industry by Architizer CEO Marc Kushner. “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,” says Architizer CEO Marc Kushner.” This year we are expanding the fame, creating an even wider set of categories, celebrating the buildings and structures that impact our world, as well as the products and material used to create them.”

Over 500 luminaries from the world of architecture and design entered the industrial-style space to a red carpet and step & repeat, where event sponsor MINI showed off one of its spectacular new models. Guests enjoyed cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres by Cloud Catering while enjoying the ambient music played by DJ Javier Peral.

Attendees also enjoyed watching an extraordinary demonstration of the artistry of a watchmaker from partners Audemars Piguet, sipped on cocktails at a customized Sunbrella designed bar, and saw contest-winning architectural designs, all created in LEGO.

This year's biggest winner was Studio Gang, which was named Firm of the Year, and other special achievement awards were presented to Penda, Paul Goldberger, and Samsung, among others. A moving tribute to the late and brilliant architect Zaha Hadid was the highlight of the night and all were inspired by her legacy.

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 2016 Architizer A+Awards.

What do Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba, Lena Dunham, The Onion, Kanye West, Making a Murderer, and #BlackLivesMatter all have in common?  They were the big winners at the 20th Annual Webby Awards, produced by Empire in New York City.

For the 12th consecutive year, the Webbys chose Empire to produce what many hail as “the Oscars of the Internet.” The show is renowned for its tradition of allowing its winners only five-word acceptance speeches, and this year spawned some true classics including “Break The Internet” winner Kim Kardashian (“Nude selfies until I die!”), Entrepreneur of the Year Jessica Alba for the Honest Company (“Guts. Heart.  Passion. Drive. WiFi.”), and Artist of the Year, Kanye West (“I can’t stand short speeches”).

Parks & Recreation’s Nick Offerman hosted the awards, setting the tone with his sardonic wit, and advising the attendees that this year’s Webbys would be the last, as he had been informed that one of the winners had actually broken the internet. Offerman then advised the crowd to "celebrate these Webbys as if they truly might be our last, because, God knows, if Donald Trump becomes President and gets his tiny, tiny hands on our internet, we may never get to do this again.” Later in the show, Offerman introduced his wife, Megan Mullally, and the couple presented the Agency of the Year Award in hilarious fashion.

Other presenters and winners included documentary filmmaker Michael Moore, VICE Founder Shane Smith, YouTube personality Tyler Oakley, and Director Spike Lee, who presented the award for Social Movement of the Year to #BlackLivesMatter.  For the show’s finalé, the Webbys chose to honor Prince, who performed live at the Webbys in 2006 after receiving that year’s Lifetime Achievement Award. With the stage bathed in purple light, Erykah Badu sang Prince’s “Ballad of Dorothy Parker,” followed by a video of Prince’s own five-word acceptance speech “everything you think….is true”.

As in past years, the evening was a mix of profound creativity, innovation, irreverent humor, gravitas, and emotion, reflecting the diverse nature of the Internet as a medium.  

Following the awards, the audience moved to the Highline Ballroom for the annual Webby awards afterparty which featured a performance by Wu-Tang Clan’s Raekwon and music by Funkmaster Flex.

Empire is honored to have produced some of the world’s leading awards programs, including The Webby Awards, The Gotham Awards, The Fragrance Foundation Awards, The Architizer A+ Awards, and The Film Society of Lincoln Center Chaplin Awards.

Screenvision Media is the premier provider of in-cinema advertising in movie theatres nationwide. For this year’s Screenvision Media Upfront, the company chose the theme, “Impact Like No Other,” to represent its ability to deliver impact before, during, and after the movie to advertisers. The upfront would seek to demonstrate how Screenvision connects the in-theater experience and brands to every part of the moviegoer’s journey, driven by data and technology, interactivity, and integration.

To bring the "Impact Like No Other" theme to life, Empire developed designs and worked closely with Screenvision Media to transform Skylight Moynihan Station into a fully immersive theater and afterpary experience for its high-level attendees.

The evening began with guests entering through a movie theater “lobby,” complete with movie trailers and animated content on screens supplied by Christie Digital and Cinema Scene. Guests moved into a full-size recreation of a movie theater, complete with a concession stand, for a presentation given on the best advertiser medium available: a massive, 40’ screen. After compelling remarks by Screenvision Media executives including CEO John Partilla, EVP of National Sales, Katy Loria, CMO John McCauley, and SVP of Sales, Christine Martino, Loria closed by inviting guests to a “Party Like No Other”. At that exact moment, drapes were lifted to reveal four Star Wars Stormtroopers who emerged and led guests into the afterparty space. As guests streamed through the portals, they entered in to a Hollywood-style afterparty, complete with a screening room, crystal chandeliers, a 16’ square bar, innovative catering by Pinch Fopod Design, and interactive movie sets inspired by some of 2017’s most anticipated feature films, including Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ “Kong: Skull Island”, Warner Bros. Pictures’ “LEGO® Batman Movie”, and Marvel's “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2”. Within each set were a series of custom guest activities including a photo booth based on a giant recreation of a crashed helicopter for “Kong: Skull Island” and a record-your-own-voice-over booth for “LEGO® Batman.”

A showcase of the upcoming movie slate was produced by Screenvision Media programming partner, Bitesize TV. Timeplay created a customized interactive game experience in the “screening area”, 40 Foot Solutions produced other on-screen elements for the show, and Christie Digital and Cinema Scene provided interactive video walls throughout the entire event space. In addition, SITO Mobile, Shazam, and Mobiquity Networks provided state-of-the-art location services utilizing a combination of beacons, geo-fencing, and data capabilities throughout the event to demonstrate the power of data and audience targeting in real-time.

Working closely with Screenvision Media’s marketing and creative team, Empire conceived of this experiential and immersive way to tell their story to their advertising customers and to provide a memorable experience for the influencers in attendance. Empire was responsible for all event details including concept ideation, venue acquisition, layout and set design, catering, staging, sound, lighting, graphics, furnishings, carpet, catering, technical production, staffing, and coordination with movie studios.

Empire is a leading producer of innovative upfronts, newfronts, and other mission critical B2B events.

​South Korea’s leading tire company, Kumho Tire, recently opened its first US-based manufacturing plant in Macon, Georgia, a $450 million dollar project. To celebrate the new three million square foot facility, they asked Empire to produce the Grand Opening Ceremony. 300 guests including Kumho Tire executives, state and local government officials, and local business representatives attended this historic event to celebrate the successful inauguration of the largest plant to open in Macon, Georgia, in 40 years.

The Chairman of Kumho Asiana Group, Park Sam-Koo, gave the keynote address giving deep appreciation for welcoming Kumho Tire to Georgia. Nathan Deal, the Governor of Georgia, added his thanks and support of this new plant. Also in attendance were State Senator Sanford Bishop, County Mayor Robert Reichert, Kumho Tire CEO Lee Han-Seob, and Cliffard Whitby of the Macon-Bibb Industrial Authority.

After the speeches, all major state, local, and company officials gathered on stage for a ceremonial ribbon cutting followed by a tree planting ceremony of hackberry trees nearby the entrance of the building. Once all ceremonies were over, all the guests got a special opportunity to take a tour of the new and operating tire plant. The event ended with a buffet for the general guests and a luncheon for the VIP.

Empire provided all the production and event services required to make this historic day a success including tenting, technical production, scenic and stage design, branding and printing, catering, talent, staffing, and stage management. Working closely with our clients, partners, and benefactors, Empire continues to excel in building brand awareness and high-end ceremonies for global conglomerates and corporations worldwide.

The Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation hosted its 4th annual Tom Ridge Awards at the Sheraton Times Square. Named after former Pennsylvania Governor and the nation’s first director of Homeland Security, Tom Ridge, the Awards honored the outstanding achievement of Federal Agents in the various branches of the Justice and Homeland Security departments including the FBI, DEA, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, ATF, CBP, and others.

The evening began with a VIP cocktail reception and red carpet where Special Agents in Charge of their respective agencies took photos with Governor Ridge and Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, Dick Wolf. As the cocktail reception came to a close, the DEA Pipe and Drum Corp and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Honor Guard began a bagpipe procession, leading guests into the Metropolitan Ballroom to take their seats for dinner and the Awards ceremony.

Following a beautiful rendition of the National Anthem performed by Ariel Kendall, the awards ceremony began with each branch’s award presented by a celebrity presenter and a Special Agent in Charge to a worthy recipient. A silent and live auction was presented by host Bill McCuddy and managed flawlessly by 501 Auctions with mobile bidding.

For the finalé of the evening, a tribute video played as Creator and Executive Producer of Law and Order, Dick Wolf, was honored on stage with a Lifetime Achievement Award. Actors Yaya DaCosta and Nick Gehlfuss, stars of Dick Wolf’s latest television drama, Chicago Med, presented the award to the esteemed producer. Governor Ridge and FEHSF Chairman, Richard Kendall, then joined them on stage for closing remarks.

To learn more about the Federal Enforcement Homeland Security Foundation and the Tom Ridge Awards, and to support their work, please visit here. ​

SONY Pictures’ digital entertainment network, Crackle, once again partnered with Empire to produce their 2016 Upfront. With an exciting lineup of both new, original programming and returning series, Crackle had much to present.

The Upfront took place at the New York City Center and opened with welcoming remarks by SONY Pictures Television’s President of Worldwide Networks, Andy Kaplan.

Next, an opening video featuring the League of Freedom from the television series SuperMansion led to remarks by Executive Producers Seth Green, Zeb Wells, Matt Seinreich, and Bryan Cranston.

Crackle Senior Vice President of Digital Media Sales, James Smith, then took the stage, emphasizing that “Because we’re Sony, we’re not just talking product placement, those are a given and we can do those all day long, we’re talking about custom storylines, talent inclusions, and technology-based experiences like 360 & VR.”

SONY Pictures Television’s SVP of Digital Networks, Eric Berger, appeared on the program to give remarks including the introduction of a new, “break-free advertising” sponsorship model, with additional comments by Jonah Goodhart, CEO of MOAT. Eric Berger also presented Crackle’s programming slate accompanied by many of Crackle’s biggest stars and show runners including Kate Bosworth, Christian Cooke, and Dennis Quaid.

Among the many announcements of the day, Crackle also announced that it will create original VR narrative content. The first will be a special episode of SuperMansion. Crackle will also create original VR content with sponsorship opportunities to be viewable on PlayStation VR, Samsung Gear VR, Google Cardboard, and smartphones.

To close the event, Crackle introduced two new original series – “Snatch” and “StartUp” – and invited the “StartUp” cast members Adam Brody, Edi Gathegi, and Otmara Marrero to discuss the show.

In addition to securing the venue, designing the spaces, managing event logistics, catering, and managing the program, Empire provided all staging and technical production support.

Empire continues to set the industry standard for producing outstanding presentations for clients seeking to communicate their mission, motivations, and value proposition to key customers. Empire is proud to have served SONY Pictures Television and Crackle on this year's Upfront.

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adidas has a long history in Japan and is currently the number one sports apparel brand in the country. So it was a natural choice for adidas Japan to host a globally-facing celebration of the iconic Originals line. And adidas Japan’s choice was to have Empire Entertainment Japan handle all aspects of production, from event concept to execution and media production.

adidas Japan wanted a large-scale interactive event where the public could experience Originals connections to the Past, Present, and Future. Empire took that concept one step further and came up with idea of KOSATEN, Japanese for Intersection. The ten-day event would explore how Originals lives at the intersection of culture.

An integral part of the overall plan was to leverage social media before, during, and after the event to drive awareness and excitement. Empire Japan produced a high-energy teaser, a pre-view video, daily digests, and a wrap-up video to contribute to the buzz. This content was distributed worldwide on adidas’ social media feeds as well as the feeds of major influencers involved with the event.

The week-and-a-half event kicked off with a private showing for the media followed by an invitation-only, celebrity-driven Opening Night Party. Famous faces from the worlds of sports, fashion, music, and culture explored the exhibits and danced the night away – click HERE for the Opening Night Party Video.

As soon as they entered the hyper-modern space in the heart of Harajuku, Tokyo’s fashion epicenter, they were greeted by a massive three-story video installation hanging from the ceiling. From there they were led on a journey through three levels of encounters with the brand: over 500 pairs of the rarest vintage adidas athletic shoes, brought over with their collectors from Europe expressly for the occasion; a giant installation allowing you to feel like you were entering the interior of the latest adidas show, with walls constructed of Prime Knit and a floor made out of Boost; and a glimpse into the future with live 3D printing showcasing how, soon, shoes can be made just for you.

Each day, Empire produced a Talk Show at the event space that included some of the biggest pioneers and global influencers in adidas`s lineup. From tennis legend Stan Smith to hip hop legend D.M.C, each speaker spoke about their experiences with the brand and how it continues to influence them in their everyday lives. Other speakers included Markus Thaler (Adidas ZX Model Pioneer), Top Japanese comedians, RG (Razor Ramon), Anthony (Matenrou), Akaba (Saru-Gorilla), Ueda (Good Walkin), Shigeyuki Kunii (Mita Sneaker Creative Director), MATSU (Exile), GENKING (Top Model), MALIA (Top Model), Poggy (UA Creative Director), and Genvey Yamaguchi (World Famous Obi Artist).

Over the course of 10 days, the exhibit became a trending topic across numerous social media channels, press outlets, and fashion influencers.

Empire once again proves to be the leading producer of global fashion brand events and was thrilled to help adidas Japan produce yet another successful adidas event.

AMC Networks is comprised of AMC, BBC America, Sundance, IFC, and WeTV.  During the past several years, AMC and Empire have partnered to create large-scale, groundbreaking Upfront events worthy of their extraordinary programming.  This year, AMC opted to host a series of intimate, bespoke culinary events in New York City and Chicago designed to present a ‘tasting menu’ of AMC Networks’ award-winning programming. Each event would be intimate, elegant, and create a conversation between the guests, the programming, and the network hosts.

Five of the sidefronts took place at Chefs Club, a trendy SoHo restaurant created in partnership with Food & Wine magazine, that welcomes culinary masterminds into their state-of-the-art chef’s kitchen. AMC Networks took full advantage of this unique space to provide guests a once-in-a-lifetime culinary experience, with menus curated and prepared by some of the world’s best-known chefs including: Jean-Georges Vongerichten; winner of several James Beard Awards and owner of Michelin star-rated restaurants; Mario Batali, known for Iron Chef America and The Chew; Alex Guarnaschelli, executive chef at Butter Midtown, star of Iron Chef America, judge on Chopped, and author of Old-School Comfort Food; Marcus Samuelsson, known for his popular Harlem restaurant, Red Rooster, and his roles on Iron Chef America; and Tom Colicchio, recipient of five James Beard Awards, head judge on Top Chef, and owner of Gramercy Tavern, Craft, and Colicchio & Sons.

Each event commenced with a cocktail hour and passed hors d’oeuvres during which AMC Networks executive leadership and ad sales teams mingled with advertisers and agency personnel. Following cocktails, guests were seated for welcome remarks, a personal introduction to the meal by each chef and a brief speaking program. Arlene Manos, President of National Ad Sales, Josh Sapan, President & CEO of AMC Networks, Charlie Collier, President & GM of AMC, and Scott Collins, EVP of Ad Sales, teased new programming coming to AMC, BBC America, Sundance, IFC, and WeTV. Guests also had the opportunity to preview new shows such as "Feed the Beast", "The Night Manager", and AMC’s hotly anticipated "Preacher", on screens positioned throughout the dining room.

In addition to the five sidefronts at Chefs Club, additional events were held at the offices of one of New York City’s biggest media agencies, and another at Morgan’s on Fulton in Chicago.

Empire was proud to work closely with AMC Networks to create these exclusive culinary experiences. Empire served as overall producer of the event series, secured the venues, contracted and worked with each chef on menu and logistics, provided technical production and décor, and executed all needs for the programs.

Empire is a leading producer of standout upfront events and key B2B presentations of every kind.

Microsoft launched a new conference, Microsoft Envision, with the goal of bringing together business leaders and decision makers from across several industry sectors to discuss trends and technology that are helping enterprises succeed in a fast-changing world.

For the opening keynote, Empire delivered astronaut Captain Scott Kelly for his first public appearance following his historic 340-day journey in space aboard the International Space Station. Captain Kelly joined Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella for an introductory conversation, as well as Microsoft CMO Chris Caposella later in the program for a ‘fireside chat’ in front of an audience of approximately 6,000 attendees. Throughout his on-stage appearance, Captain Kelly discussed how Microsoft’s augmented reality technology, Hololens, was used on the ISS and the challenges of living in space for a prolonged period of time.  

On the conference’s second day, Empire helped the Microsoft Envision content team deliver a series of eight concurrent “State of the Industry” panel discussions on the topic of how technology is transforming business. Each panel included industry luminaries, established business leaders, disruptors, academics, and industry association figures to bring broad perspective to the discussion. Industry panels were held for Government, Finance, Sports & Entertainment, Retail & Consumer Packaged Goods, Health Care, Travel & Hospitality, and Professional Services. Among the 40+ participating panelists, notable figures included Former Senior Advisor to President Obama, Daniel Pfeiffer; Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for the NFL, Michelle McKenna Doyle; and the 18th Surgeon General of the United States, Regina Benjamin. Empire worked closely with the Microsoft Envision team to research, contract, coordinate, and deliver all speakers for these panels.    

To close out the inaugural Microsoft Envision, multiple Grammy award-winning band Train brought the attendees to their feet at a final night party that ended the conference on a high note. Train frontman, Pat Monahan, delighted the crowd by taking selfies on attendees phones during his performance, and inviting two lucky attendees on stage to belt out Journey’s ‘Don’t Stop Believing.’

For more information on Microsoft Envision, please visit: www.microsoft.com/en/envision

​Initiated by philanthropist and business woman Shari Arison of the Ted Arison Family Foundation in Israel over 10 year sago, Good Deeds Day has grown into a global movement of doing good and the power of doing good deeds. For this years 10^th anniversary event, Empire was engaged to manage partnership and sponsorship development in North America as well as to produce the national flagship event at Herald Square, directly in front of corporate partner, Macy’s.

The flagship event took the form of a street fair at which 20 not-for-profit organizations and corporate partners hosted good deed-related activities on site. Each participating organization was given its own tented space with tables, chairs, and uniform signage in which each organization offered a different participatory good deed. Jessica Seinfeld’s GOOD + Foundation hosted a sorting and bundling clothing project where participants created wardrobe packets for children of families in need. Stand with Us partnered with the Israeli Consulate and made sandwiches that were delivered to a nearby homeless shelter.The event also featured a steady stream of speakers and performances on a main stage throughout the day. David Arison, head of global relations for the Arison group, kicked off the day encouraging everyone to participate and do a good deed, no matter how big or small. Actor, musician, and environmental activist Adrian Grenier spoke about Mobile Kitchen Classroom, an organization that empowers high school students to actively contribute to the creation of a healthy and sustainable food culture. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio also stopped by to take photos and show his support for the 10^th anniversary events.

As the day progressed, emcee James Donahower kept stage programming light and engaging, while highlighting each not-for-profit and corporate partner and driving home the purpose of the day. The all-day event also featured performances by Jessica Sweetman, Judah Friedlander, Harlem Samba, and more. DJ Beco Dranoff kept the energy up in the crowd between performances and during activities. Empire delivered several sponsors including Macy’s, Scholastic Book Fairs, KINDSnacks, and VH1 Save the Music Foundation, who were on site with innovative activities to offer to participants. More than 33,000 schools nationwide hosted Scholastic book fairs good deed initiatives throughout the months of April and May, 500 children’s books were donated on site at the NY event by Scholastic to encourage people to host read aloud, KIND hosted a guided meditation and shared Kind products as well as hosting a KIND wall of good thoughts, while VH1 brought music instruments for people to practice and play on. The NYPD estimated that the Good Deeds Day Flagship event hosted more than 8,000 people, with many more stopping by to snap a photo and upload their post to social media. Additionally, Empire supported social media marketing efforts, engaging influencers like Bill Gates who tweeted about Good Deeds on the day.  

In addition to strategic partnership and sponsorship development throughout the year, Empire was responsible for the design and execution of the street fair event, including securing Herald Square, providing all tenting, staging and production, security, staffing, on site management, and talent coordination. Empire also worked with reelworks.org, a youth filmmaking charity, and the Good Deeds Day team to create a North American public service announcement (PSA) that ran on partner websites and on Jewish Broadcast Service.  

Good Deeds Day’s 10^th anniversary brought more New Yorkers to participate than ever before and Empire is proud to have had the opportunity to produce this milestone event.

Check out the highlights video, produced by reelworks.org at:

https://app.frame.io/f/XDYNEp5j

To learn more about Good Deeds Day or to get involved in 2017 plans, please visit

www.gooddeedsday.org

Online mattress retailer, Casper, opened their first-ever pop-up shop on the “coolest block in America” on Abbot Kinney. The intimate shop offered curious customers the opportunity to test out the available online-only mattress and simultaneously provide insight into what a brick and mortar solution could look like for Casper.

An eye-catching mural on the front facade of the shop drew in local passers-by and also acted as a billboard on the popular Venice thoroughfare. As guests entered, they were greeted in the foyer by Casper staffers who scheduled 15-minute “naps” or trials for any interested customers and offered insight into Casper’s history, brand, and answered any questions. Guests were then invited to take a private nap on the Casper mattress in a custom-created canopy tent. Following the trial, guests were invited to a sunny patio space to relax and reflect on their experience and enjoy light refreshments.

The experiment was so successful that Casper extended the store’s run by 50%.

Visit here for more.

Working in tandem with the New Museum, Empire booked Shamir – a Las Vegas native with killer vocals that perfectly match this year’s theme – for this year's spring gala. Shamir delivered an electro-pop disco performance, including his hit single“Hot Mess.” He also exclusively debuted his unreleased track from his new album, “Demon”, and performed it for the very first time at the gala.

As for decor and dress, a rainbow ribbon installation hung above guests while bikes filled with larger-than-life, multicolored flowers paired for a vibrant cocktail hour. Spring Studios was buzzing with bright attire including multihued, patched suits, a couple of inventive wigs and hair extensions, and even a pair of curly rainbow horns.

DKNY served as the main sponsor for the gala, which raised $2 million for the museum. Following a live auction of paintings with Simon de Pury in all his glory, over $300,000 was raised.

Throughout the night, legendary DJ Stretch Armstrong kept guests entertained, including DKNY’s creative directors Maxwell Osborne and Dao-Yichow, Mia Moretti, Jeff Koons, Casey Fremont, Cynthia Rowley, Swizz Beats, Michael Stipe, Ugo Rondinone, John Giorno, and Massimiliano Gioni.

For this colorful engagement, we proudly served as entertainment producer, including talent buying, talent management, on-site management, and technical oversight. Now in our third consecutive year of producing this event, we are grateful that New Museum continues to choose to partner with us to deliver quality results.

To learn more orjoin, please visit http://www.newmuseum.org

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Hailed as the Oscars of social media, the Shorty Awards honor the best influencers, celebrities, and brands on popular social media platforms such as Snapchat, Periscope, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and more. The 8^th Annual Shorty Awards returned this year to The Times Center. Streaming live on YouTube to over 100,000 viewers, the event highlighted popular digital talent, animals, blogs, and content, alongside traditional celebrities.

Mamrie Hart, ranked #2 on Buzzfeed’s list of “10 YouTubers to Know,” hosted this year’s program, while Pitch Perfect 2’s Flula pumped up the show as the house DJ. Presenters ranged the gamut from internet stars such as Hannah Hart, Rhett & Link, Lele Pons, and Frankie Grande, to America’s favorite weatherman, Al Roker, Fuse TV’s Chris Gethard, and LMFAO’s Redfoo.

The competition was fierce this year with over 3.4 million votes, nearly double that of last year. Winners of the signature Shorty Awards Whale Tail included Jimmy Fallon, Misty Copeland, Katie Couric, Adele, Jiff Pom, Baddie Winkle, Lindsey Sterling, Kevin Hart, Hannah Hart, Casey Neistat, and Snapchatter of the Year – DJ Khaled. Not to mention Pizza Rat walking off with the Shorty Award for GIF of the Year.

International R&B sensation Nico & Vinz hit the stage for a special musical performance with their hit song, “Am I Wrong”, and new track from DJ Spinking “League of Your Own.” Once again, the entire program was simulcast to a separate viewing party downstairs where guests were able to network while enjoying the delicious caterings of Cleaver and Co, beer from Sixpoint, and signature cocktails in teal wax-dipped glasses from Maker’s Mark. Winners from this year’s brand and organization competition accepted their trophies on their very own stage where they were invited to record their acceptance speeches as well.

We’re proud to partner with The Shorty Awards for our second year and we wish a huge congratulation to all the influencer and brand winners this year!

WATCH THIS YEAR'S SHORTY AWARDS HERE.