Our Work

For the all night party of a global technology company, Empire booked and coordinated a performance by rockabilly legend and Stray Cats leader, Brian Setzer and his Orchestra. For this performance at the Louisiana Super Dome for almost 14,000 attendees, Empire provided a high-energy headline concert that perfectly suited the audience, the setting and the House of Blues-style rock and roll party atmosphere that the client wished to achieve. Brian Setzer and his Orchestra performed Stray Cats hits like "Stray Cat Strut" and "Rock This Town" as well as rock and swing covers like "Mack the Knife" and "Brand New Cadillac." Dressed in leopard print jackets, the orchestra featured two female backing vocalists and moved in tightly choreographed routines that kept the action going. Brian Setzer's rocking guitar work and vocals won over the multinational audience. Empire works regularly on large, complex programs in close collaboration with travel management companies, production and staging companies, decor vendors and venues to ensure smoothly run events. Empire is expert at tailoring it's approach in each of these situations to create the most efficient and positive experience for our clients.

For the 2003 MacWorld convention at the Jacob Javits Center, Empire was contacted by West Coast events company Milligan Events to provide suitable actors to play the role of MSN Butterflies to assist Microsoft in their event marketing efforts for this online service. Empire was able to quickly cast, costume, brief and direct three terrific, New York-based actors experienced in playing 'Brand Ambassador' roles. The client was thrilled with their enthusiasm, professionalism and can-do attitude.

Empire is a leading resource to communications firms in the casting, costuming, directing and deployment of brand ambassadors for street marketing campaigns.

For a private client in the Hamptons, Empire worked in collaboration with designer Colin Cowie to create an extraordinary evening's entertainment. Empire provided vocalist Patti Austin with her trio to perform at a dinner in a beautiful tented site in the Hamptons for approximately 250 guests. Following the dinner, Empire produced an intimate, greatest hits concert with rock and roll legend Rod Stewart who customized his show and included interstitial song introductions that related to the birthday host. One challenge that Empire was able to overcome was to arrange for rehearsal space at the last minute for Rod and his band that had not performed together for some time. Empire was able to accomplish this on very short notice.

Empire has many years of experience producing extremely high-end events in the Hamptons.

Working with travel management firm, Crossing Boundaries, Empire Entertainment designed and executed a complete entertainment program and provided all production in connection with three evenings of entertainment for a Midwestern insurance company's top incentive award program. The Diamond Club program was held for approximately 150 independent insurance brokers and their spouses. On the first night of the program, Empire provided production support for Michigan dance music ensemble, The Persuasion Band. On second night of the program, guests traveled to the Bay Harbor Yacht Club via ferryboat where they were treated to a dinner in a beautiful tented setting and a sunset concert by one of the Irish Tenors, Ronan Tynan, backed by a 41 piece local orchestra. For this performance, Empire secured Ronan Tynan, the 41 piece Interlochen Orchestra and provided all production including staging, sound, lighting and logistical management.

One of the challenges of this event was how to provide generator power to the tented setting in a way that the noise of the generator would not interfere with the peaceful lakefront setting or the incredible vocals of this world-class tenor. Empire's solution was to build a separate tent around the generator and treat the insides with sound absorbing materials. The result was a perfect performance with several standing ovations. On the final night of this program, Empire put together a surprise disco show featuring DJ / Emcee D Brown, four dancers in hot pants & afro wigs and headline performances by disco diva Gloria Gaynor ("I Will Survive"), Sister Sledge ("We Are Family") featuring all 4 original sister singers Kathi, Debbie, Joni and Kim, and The Village People ("YMCA," "Macho Man," and "In The Navy"). The performance kept the guests dancing and was the pinnacle of this incentive program. One of the challenges of this performance was how to mount a show on an island where all staging, sound and lighting had to be shipped by ferry and then carried up to the hotel by horse cart. Empire managed these challenges and produced a show the likes of which the 216-year old Grand Hotel has never seen.

For the 2003 worldwide incentive program awards dinner of a top global beverage company, Empire again worked to provide this longtime client with compelling interstitial entertainment with global appeal to break up sections of the awards presentations. In an enormous tent on the grounds of the company's worldwide corporate headquarters, Empire presented the modern circus ensemble Cirque to perform a series of dynamic segments that inspired and entertained the audience and perfectly suited the global themes. Performances included 3 female contortionists, a tandem balancing act called Rolla Bolla and the Tower Strength trio, a stunning hand balancing/strength performance. Extraordinary set & lighting design by Kaleidoscope Productions and decor by Bardin & Palomo combined with the performances to create an atmosphere of pure fantasy. Following the awards program, Empire again delivered top funk & R&B dance band Eturnity to rock the audience and keep them dancing until the end of the night.

For the 2003 Tribeca Film festival, Empire Entertainment was again engaged to produce the festival's largest single component, the Family Festival, which drew an estimated 300,000 visitors over the course of the one day event. This year's family festival encompassed more than 10 blocks of TriBeCa and incorporated a series of large sponsored pavilions and many smaller vendor tents, outdoor stages and activities. Empire Entertainment managed the entire event and provided virtually all services including tenting, permitting and street closure, community relations, integration with city agencies, security, electrical power distribution, decor, staging, sound, lighting, labor, bathrooms, street cleanup, video and A/V, event design and layout, stage management, etc. The key features of this year's event were a reading room and library by Scholastic which again featured storytelling by Whoopi Goldberg and others, a Bloomberg pavillion, a DJ station where children could learn to scratch and mix music, a Starbucks Coffee House pavillion which featured a full afternoon of live talent, a General Motors pavillion which featured an exhibit on hydrogen fuel cell technology and a futuristic hydrogen vehicle, an American Express pavillion where children created crafts, an additional arts & crafts pavillion where children could draw, paint and assemble collages and sculpt, and a Puppetville world which included a series of puppet performances. There were also approximately 50 tents for local merchants, restaurants and crafts people. Another feature of the event included a Tennis area by the USTA, a basketball area operated by the New York Knicks, a fencing area, giant street chess, sidewalk chalk painting, a public art mural, a face painting area, a kite making workshop, jewelry making, and dozens of other activities. There was also a main stage and 5 satellite stages where performances happened throughout the day as well as more than 100 street performers who entertained children and families continuosly throughout the event.

Empire is a leading producer of sponsored events and is proud to be part of the innovative team that presents the TriBeCa Film festival.

For the 3rd year in a row, Empire again produced the annual client conference for one of the world's largest financial companies. For this 4 day / 3 evening event, Empire booked and produced all entertainment and provided keynote and topical speakers including authors Ken & Maddy Dychtwald, Neil Howe & Bill Strauss, Jeri Sedlar and Dr. Bruce Pfau.The opening evening featured world-renowned mentalist, Michael Weber, who stunned the audience with his client-approved, custom mind-reading show. The second evening was an Italian-themed dinner, set in the beautiful hotel gardens, and featured festive décor by McNabb-Roick Events and the Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas. Empire complimented this décor and setting by booking classical Italian stringed soloists. Following the dinner, guests walked through the gardens to the Ponte Vecchio Bridge where a beautiful stage was set for concert headline entertainer, Chris Isaak.

For this evening, Empire provided stage & set design, which seamlessly conformed to the bridge architecture and outside surroundings and color schemes, lighting design, sound and all production. Isaak's 90-minute, audience interactive performance was the perfect entertainment for this warm desert night.The third night was a night out on the Las Vegas strip, for which Empire secured 100 tickets for the 'O' performance at the Bellagio. Finally, Empire also designed, built and installed the conference's Resource Center in which a dozen client participants / partners were provided custom-designed spaces to showcase their latest materials to the conferences 300 attendees. This space also served as a place where attendees could relax, network and check email between general sessions. Empire completely transformed a 100' X 50' ballroom space into a stately athletic club environment with custom-made wood desks, backdrops, bookcases, and custom-produced & framed artwork. These elements were complimented with a combination of rentals of leather furniture, beautiful props, floor lamps, trophies, newspaper racks, antique desks and a library area.

An email bank was custom-built in the form of a library study carral. The client indicated how pleased they were with the work that Empire had done for them with an onstage moment of recognition by the company's COO who stated, "Each year, Empire raises the bar…"

At the 2003 NYC Auto Show, Toyota needed a dynamic way to reveal their new Solara Automobile at a press event at the Jacob Javitz Center. Working with production company 02 Creative and in association with George P. Johnson & Co, LUMA created a runway of light in the dark routine set to music. The Solara came in during this blackout and undulating waves of light reflected off the side of the car. When the lights came up, the car was revealed but there was no sign of the methods by which the effect was created. The client was thrilled with LUMA's creative process and their ability to work closely with the client to develop performance solutions that meet their needs.

Two weeks prior to his 40th birthday, Empire Entertainment was asked to secure the entertainment, sound and lights for an elegant club event designed by Colin Cowie at the Ritz-Carlton in Washington, DC for basketball superstar and American icon Michael Jordan's 40th birthday party. Empire Entertainment had the challenge of finding the appropriate dance band and current club DJ while providing suitable sound and lighting to fit not only within a pre-approved budget, but within the fabulous Colin Cowie décor plans. As with every event on this scale, sound and lighting must be the finest quality and appear seamless within the structure of the décor scheme, which in this case was a three level "club" created using the three ballrooms largest ballrooms in the lower level of the Ritz-Carlton. Sound and lighting, for the entertainment and décor, was set up three days prior to the event making it possible to hide virtually every single cable and speaker. Even the front of house console was invisible to the guests.

For the entertainment, Empire Entertainment selected perhaps the most exciting dance band available in the 11 piece Eturnity Band, featuring former James Brown drummer Tony Alston, and radio personality and club DJ Funk Master Flex. Empire Entertainment handled all aspects of the evening's production, including talent and stage management, coordination with the transition from cocktails to a "reveal" of a hidden dance section. The party, dubbed "Club Michael", was one of the most memorable events we've ever been a part of.

For the first annual Syndicated National Television Association Conference evening reception, Empire transformed a generic hotel ballroom into a sophisticated, elegant and exclusive nightclub/lounge. The ballroom was draped entirely in white fabric to create a blank slate and was filled with white square banquet tables, white square airport high tops and custom made white square ottomans. At the center of the room a 36’ x 24’ white bar stood with a giant white island in the center. Atop this island an array of white televisions displayed the color bar pattern that Empire brought to life through computer animation. Throughout the room the colors on the monitors were picked up and emphasized with bright bouquets of yellow, red, green and blue flowers, colored martinis containing lighted ice cubes, colored pillows, and extensive décor lighting. Along one wall, Empire printed and hung an image gallery consisting of 21 6’ X 4’ marketing images from various top syndicated television programs which were promoted at the conference. Comfortable lounge areas of low ottomans and stools were grouped around a dance floor and stage upon which a live band performed and a DJ spun dance music in front of a fiber-optic light curtain that changed colors throughout the evening.

For InStyle Magazine's What's Sexy Now Party Empire worked with Event Designer Colin Cowie and Ted Kruckle III to create a singularly sexy event in Manhattan's newest venue, the Hammerstein Ballroom. Reopened after a 60 year hiatus, the Hammerstein Ballroom was Oscar Hammerstein's vision of the rival opera house to New York's Carnegie Hall. At this elegant party for InStyle advertisers and celebrity attendees, Erykah Badu descended a series of candlelit stairs dripping with fag to sing her hits and enchant the crowd. After her set, a DJ spun a set of dance music while attractive models dressed in leather on roller skates danced on pillbox platforms beneath enormous plumes of ostrich feathers created by Colin Cowie.

Empire is a leading producer of Magazine and advertiser events.

In January of 2003 martial arts performance ensemble Art of War performed five major production numbers and four interstitial segments for a Novartis Pharmaceuticals conference produced by MJM Creative Services. The cast of six performers consisted of some of the film industry's top martial artists, including stunt performers from prime time television shows. This outstanding troupe performed in front of an audience of over 600 at the Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles.The meeting's theme, "Focus The Power" came to life on three large video screens depicting a full-grown tiger, stalking and running, while narration told the audience, "The greatest martial artists are said to have the Eye of the Tiger. Like the tiger, they know that flawless execution of their strategy demands a relentless focus on their goals..." As the shoji screens slid open, two orange and black clad martial artists, costumed like tigers, furiously twirled staffs before meeting center stage in a combat exercise that illustrated the process of two people learning from one another to expand their knowledge. Later that day, the Art of War troupe performed at the Masters Awards Ceremony for employees who had achieved high goals in the company. The shoji screen at stage left slid open to reveal a martial arts Grandmaster in a black ceremonial uniform. The stage right screens opened and four students in black and orange uniforms entered, followed by a small woman in orange silk. The woman in orange exploded into a gripping wushu performance punctuated by ceremonial drumbeats. Ending her test, she resumed her position in front of the Grandmaster, and ceremoniously exchanged her orange belt for a black belt. Master and student bowed deeply to one another. All of Art of War's performances were met with resounding applause and exclamations of enthusiasm. Art of War is the world's leading martial arts performance ensemble working in the field of customizxed business communications. Art of War also performs at special events and spectacles, and for commercials and event marketing programs.

One of the major emerging trends that Empire has witnessed over the past decade is the increasing use of special events and other forms of experiential or otherwise interactive programming for the purposes of marketing and advertising products and services. As a leading designer & producer of creative projects in these genres, Empire has become an essential production partner to PR firms, advertising and event marketing agencies seeking to deliver high return on their advertising & marketing expenditures. One project that highlights Empire’s value in this area was the recent launch of the National Geographic Channel on Time Warner Cable, Channel 65 in New York City. For this two week campaign, Empire was engaged by the National Geographic Channel to partner with several PR firms and NGC’s media buyers to plan and execute an integrated campaign of events & stunts to achieve both consumer and advertiser awareness and channel tune-in, in the world’s most important media marketplace. Empire assimilated the values of National Geographic Channel’s brand and created a program of public events and stunts that included: NGC day at the Central Park Zoo at which NGC on-air animal adventure hosts The Kratt Brothers presented animal enrichment toys made from the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree to several animals; An Urban Climbing Open House at NIKETOWN New York that featured a 30’ high climbing tower (designed & built by Empire), a DJ, climbing stunts, and footage from the upcoming special Surviving Everest.Exercise classes at New York’s Chelsea Piers Sports Center led by former West Point Academy fitness instructors Bob & Bonnie Stauffer that included an army-style obstacle course and sandbag circuit to promote the NGC series Surviving West Point. Empire also produced a signature party targeted to key advertisers, members of the press and cable television VIPs. This celebration event showed the fun and edgy side of NGC and showcased its programming. The event was held at the stately Explorer’s Club and featured an Adventure Photo Station in which guests appeared in a jungle or atop the Himalayas, live animals and handlers including a lion cub, baby kangaroo (joey), alligator and 11’ albino python, lively African drummers, belly dancers, striking décor including extensive foliage and faux zebra & leopard print fabrics, a polar explorer’s martini bar made completely of ice, and an exotic menu including tempura-style tarantula, crickets and scorpions. A series of plasma monitors & projection screens, each tastefully outlined with NGC’s yellow border, looped channel programming throughout the event. The event was attended by several celebrities including undersea explorer and Titanic discoverer Bob Ballard, reptile wrangler Dr. Brady Barr, and Perfect Storm author Sebastian Junger. The last component of the campaign was a 10-member Adventure Squad composed of actors authentically costumed as astronauts, undersea explorers, polar explorers, and mountaineers. This squad took to the streets with the National Geographic Channel flag in hand to distribute Channel information and promotional items and engage in adventure-themed ‘street theater’ in all of New York City’s major areas of public congregation. Empire cast, outfitted, trained, and deployed the Adventure Squad, updating their routes daily to achieve optimal results. By the end of the campaign, these brand ambassadors had connected with over 1 million New Yorkers. The client’s view on Empire’s performance: “Thank you to you and your team for the flawless execution of the events celebrating the launch of the National Geographic Channel in NYC. Empire partnered with NGC, our PR firm and media buying agency to create events that were on-brand, on-budget, and exceeded all of our communications goals. Empire has done a superb job with our launch. I don't think anyone else could have done it better… THANK YOU!”

When Along Came Mary Productions sought creative and production assistance from a New York-based resource to help with the production of the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets at Cipriani, 42nd Street, they turned to Empire. For this magical event, Empire conceived of and created thematic activity stations for the children who attended the event. The stations included the following:- A Magic Potion Bar: Children created their own potions by pouring different colors of kool-aid powder from test tubes into a cup and mixing it with ginger ale. It was then stirred with a glowing straw and finished off with a lighted ice cube and magical dust. -A Magic Wand Decorating Station: Children were given Styrofoam wands and decorating materials such as stars, moons, glitter, jewels and many other sparkly items to create an exciting and unique wand to take home and practice their spells.-A Mandrake Planting Greenhouse: At this station, guests put on aprons, gardening gloves, and ear muffs (to protect them from the mandrake's fatal cry) and were given terra cotta garden pots to decorate. Once the decoration was complete, our costumed staff helped guests replant a mandrake (fictitious plant children learned about in the film) in their newly decorated pot, gave them growing/maintenance instructions and placed it in a cellophane bag for guests to take home and watch it grow. The heavily attended event which included appearances by all of the film's stars, was wildly successful for client Warner Brothers.

In order to generate press and create excitement surrounding the DVD release of their hit feature film, "Ice Age," 20th Century Fox asked Empire to come up with an idea for a press stunt that would draw lots of media attention. In order to achieve this goal, Empire conceived of and produced an ice sculpting performance that took place on a stage on the sidewalk in front of Toys "R" Us Times Square. The feature of this show was a 16' tall Geoffrey the giraffe made of ice surrounded by sculptures of the other characters from the film. Empire brought in world-renowned ice sculpture team "Fear No Ice" to deliver the live ice sculpting performance. Lighting and fog effects were used to enhance the atmosphere and draw more attention to the show. Background music consisted of a compilation of thematic songs including "Ice Ice Baby," "Cold and Ice" and "freeze frame." The atmosphere was further enhanced by the live walk-around characters from the film who interacted and posed for photos with guests. At the completion of the show, the world premiere of "Scrat's" Missing adventure," a short film that is available exclusively on DVD and home video was broadcast over the Jumbo "Geoffrey-tron" and was introduced by Denis Leary who was the voice of Diego, "Ice Age's" devilish saber-toothed tiger.Ther event was widely covered by both electronic and print media.

For a private client's 50th birthday party, Empire staged an elaborate and lavish full-day murder mystery at one of the world's top five resorts, and former Rockefeller country estate, The Point Resort in Saranac Lake, NY. The mystery was based on "Gosford Park" and entitled 'Foul Play at the Point.' A cast of 10 professional actors, 20 guests (who each had their own custom-written role), dozens of authentic period costumes and the use of many historically accurate props such as a working Victrola & original 78's, classic cars, lake boats, as well as live performances of 20's jazz, set the scene convincingly in the 1920s. The 12 hour murder mystery included a shooting party, a luncheon, a 'murder' and a surprise-filled dinner at which nothing was as it seemed and the mystery was solved.

When client J. P. Morgan held a special family premiere event at SONY Lincoln Plaza cinemas for the release of the first Harry Potter film, Empire was contracted to create a magical, thematic reception at the adjoining Reebok Sports Club for 600 people. For this parents & children event, Empire created a custom entry façade of THE HOGWARTS SCHOOL OF WITCHCRAFT AND WIZARDRY. Once inside Empire designed, produced and staffed a series of children's craft & magic areas which included a "Design your own Magic Wand," station and an area where children could learn to do sleight-of-hand magical illusions themselves. Thematic Buffet Decorations that included clusters of magic wands, wizard hats, volumes of books, owls, golden chalices, eyeglasses, quidditch, broomsticks, the Invisible Cloak, and the Sorting Hat. Empire also provided an entry façade that guests passed through on their way into the movie theater.

Empire often works with clients like J. P. Morgan to create exciting and innovative customer loyalty events that have a real, positive impact on our client's bottom lines.

For the Automobile Club of America's annual delegates meeting, Empire partnered with Ronnie Davis Productions and caterer Great Performances to co-produce a remarkable evening of entertainment designed to complement the historic surroundings of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum. As guests arrived via ferry, they were greeted by a group of children waving flags of many nations. At cocktails, guests were entertained by a stride pianist dressed in sleeve garters and suspenders playing music from the early twentieth century. Upstairs in the main hall, guests entered to a sumptuous dinner for 600 and were greeted by a singing choir of 30 members onstage. The choir then harmonized to support a dramatic reading of the 1883 Emma Lazarus poem "The New Colossus" that is engraved on the Statue of Liberty ("Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free..."). Following the dinner, guests enjoyed an uplifting performance by Irish Tenor, Ronan Tynan, who sang songs about the immigrant experience and concluded with a rendition of God Bless America with the backing of the choir that brought the audience to their feet to sing along.

At a worldwide meeting of all SONY executives in Yokohama, Japan LUMA was included to create a spectacle of illumination for the opening and closing of the general session. LUMA utilized Ten foot wings with illuminated leading edges to create giant "fans" of light. LUMA also incorporate the SONY logo in a routine in which the logo was projected onto giant moving silk flags. The non-verbal nature of LUMA'a routines make them ideal for international audiences from the world over.

For the fourth consecutive year, Empire partnered with Kaleidoscope Productions to contract the talent and related production logistics for the annual dealer meeting of one of the world's largest automotive companies. This year's meeting was held at the Los Angeles Staples Center, and Empire's mission was to secure acts of the highest caliber to fill the roles of host/emcee, concert headliner, and star of the short films played during the general sessions. The talent had to reflect the client-established Academy Awards theme, exceed the expectations of senior management, and be consistent with the company's conservative culture. The result - Billy Crystal's clean, yet witty comedy and interactive repartee as host/emcee was rivaled only by an awesome 90-minute concert by international musical superstar Phil Collins.

The short films, featuring multitalented film and television star Jim Belushi, were extremely well received. As a last-minute addition, Empire arranged for comedian Kevin Nealon who in tandem with Billy Crystal, brought down the house with a hysterical performance satirizing Arnold Schwarzenegger. When it comes to securing the world's best known talent, more corporations turn to Empire Entertainment than any other firm.

Working with leading event designer Colin Cowie, Empire Entertainment helped to produced Instyle Magazine's book launch of Elizabeth Taylor: My Love Affair with Jewelry at prestigious auction house Christies with a party and charity auction benefiting the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation. In addition to providing audio and visual support, Empire created multiple digital projection presentations of the jewels up for auction, including images from Elizabeth Taylor's book. Among the many notable celebrities in attendance, Sir Elton John introduced Elizabeth Taylor, who presided and bid on several of the jewels herself, at one point bidding against Caroline Rhea. To accommodate the last minute request by the client, Empire secured a camera crew to provide image magnification and live feed to the many television news crews outside the venue. Empire has been privileged to work with Colin Cowie Lifestyle for many years.

After delivering Aerosmith in their first-ever corporate concert at a 2001 technology industry conference, Empire was challenged by the client to deliver an equally compelling concert event for 2002. Additionally, the concert would have to feature a world-class artist or artists that would draw both a domestic and international audience of over 5,000 people. Empire worked closely with the client's marketing department, and together determined that a demographically diverse, classically-American concert lineup would best achieve the objectives. Empire delivered an amazing double bill concert featuring platinum-selling, Grammy Award-winner John Mellencamp and soul legend Ray Charles who together provided the ideal mix of global and patriotic appeal, recognized hits, and the right tone to embody the post-9/11 American spirit.

Empire handled all contractual negotiations and worked on all production and travel logistics with both artists. The conference attracted more than the expected number of attendees, Mellencamp thrilled the audience with 75 minutes of back-to-back high-energy hits, and Ray Charles' closing rendition of "America the Beautiful" (accompanied by a multimedia montage of inspirational images) brought the audience to their feet.

Every year, a top global software and technology company brings together nearly 15,000 of its employees from around the world to attend its multi-day global summit. For this year's meeting held at both the New Orleans Convention Center and the New Orleans Superdome, Empire was contracted to secure all of the talent for the conference within the client's specific creative theme.To kick off this incredible meeting, Empire was challenged to deliver a performance that would capture the imagination of the attendees and introduce the overall meeting theme of recognizing and actualizing potential. Empire discovered and presented 10-year old prodigy violinist, Jeremy Cushman, who played an inspiring solo supported by video projection, aerialists, dancers, and spectacular pyrotechnics. This performance received a sustained standing ovation and exceeded the client's wildest expectations for setting the right tone for the meeting.

For this massive undertaking Empire also booked a wide variety of leading-edge talent including world-renowned technology illusionist Marco Tempest who opened general sessions to over 7,500 attendees, New Orleans-style jazz band The Flying Neutrinos performed the walk-in music, aerial troupe AntiGravity (who flew 4 performers up 150 feet over the heads of the astounded attendees), and for the 'All Night Party' multi-platinum rock group Sugar Ray performed a headline concert followed by a breakbeat dance set by UK artist DJ Rap.

For the 2nd consecutive year, Empire was privileged to work for one of the world's largest financial services companies on a client conference targeted towards Chief Financial Officers of major corporations. For this program, which was held in Chicago, IL, Empire was contracted to contribute a variety of creative elements that would add overall value to the conference. Empire provided elements ranging from design and construction of a general session set reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural work in Chicago, to the design, construction, and installation of a client resource center and email bank also inspired by concepts of architecture and design.

Empire was also responsible for producing two nights of Chicago-style entertainment. The first night featured the Second City sketch comedy & improvisation troupe and the second night was held at the Field Museum where The World Champion Trinity Irish Dancers performed and received multiple standing ovations. Empire also provided speakers for the conference including the Honorable Rudy Giuliani, Dr. John Sullivan and aging / demographics expert Dr. Ken Dychtwald. Empire was awarded this program for 2003, to be held in Las Vegas, NV.

For the release of a major motion picture with a CIA theme, Empire deftly navigated the sensibilities of post-9/11 New York, and simulated a CIA training environment at New York's Pier 88 Passenger Ship Terminal for the premiere party. The event, hosted by the filmmakers and attended by the movie's A-list stars, featured lighted map tables whose surfaces were enlarged, high resolution satellite reconnaissance imagery, a central bar featuring live and pre-selected digital surveillance imagery, guest activities that included martial arts training, polygraph testing, handwriting analysis, speed chess, and an authentic spy gear showcase where guests could try the latest in intelligence agency technology. For this high-profile event, Empire handled every aspect from venue selection, decor & design, to staging, sound, lighting, entertainment, and activities

Empire is a leading producer of motion picture premiere events.

Last Spring, Empire produced the national sales conference for over 1300 employees of a global financial services company at the Wyndham Anatole in Dallas, TX. For this most important annual program, Empire served as executive producer, responsible for all aspects of delivering two general sessions, eight breakout sessions, multiple awards programs and a banquet event and party. Achieving the right message for this conference was especially important as the client company sought to strike the right balance between focus on positive growth opportunities and acknowledgement of 9/11-related setbacks. Moreover, it was necessary to meet the challenge of delivering a conference of the highest quality consistent with past years' programs, with a greatly reduced budget. Empire's work on this program met all of our client's objectives and achieved very high ratings from attendees in terms of the value of content as well as the quality of execution. The success of this conference was instrumental in helping the client move beyond the recent difficulties, and to focus clearly on the opportunities of the future.