Our Work

FOX’s Upfront at New York City’s Manhattan Center broke new ground by blending presentation with celebration for over 1,000 attendees. The event reimagined the traditional Upfront format, emphasizing connection and engagement over the usual theater-style approach.

At the heart of the experience was a striking 360-degree full-service bar, dubbed the “pill stage” for its sleek, elongated oval shape, which served as the Upfront’s centerpiece. Complementing it was a massive 70-foot Apex Hero Stage, angled to spotlight speakers and hero content. The design fused Manhattan Center’s classic New York City charm with modern sophistication, creating a timeless yet contemporary atmosphere.

The program boasted an impressive roster of talent, including Gordon Ramsay, Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Michael Strahan, Erin Andrews, Carli Lloyd, Rob Gronkowski, and DJ Natasha Diggs. Cabaret-style seating spread across three levels encouraged conversation and connection. FOX’s signature branding was woven throughout the space, with rich blue as the hero color accented by burgundy, gold, magenta, and amber to represent the network’s subdivisions.

Every detail was thoughtfully crafted—from the furnishings to the strategic branding placement—to transform the venue into a stunning, camera-ready backdrop. The result was an unforgettable event that set a new benchmark for the Upfront experience.

‍

Empire was honored to work with VTS, a leading real estate software company, on VTS Accelerate, which took place at Center 415  and brought together 400 employees, investors, and influential thought leaders for two days of keynote presentations, panel discussions, breakouts, and freestyle networking opportunities.

The event’s goal was to offer a better understanding of VTS’ products and their impact, spark inspiration, build connections, and offer tools to navigate the challenges of the industry. The conference content was specifically designed to educate members of the C-Suite and senior leasing and asset management executives on how to integrate data and technology to stay competitive.

Day One of the event provided a full day of stage content from morning to evening, and included keynote sessions, fireside chats, panels, Q&As, breakouts, and concluded with a customer award ceremony. Day Two, attendees returned for a half day of panels and workshops. Guests also experienced the custom-built “Product Zone” and “Activate Zone”, where VTS’ newest software was unveiled.

Attendees enjoyed breakfasts, snacks, and lunches provided by the design-focused and delicious PINCH Food Design. The raw space of Center 415 was transformed with custom fabrication, printed graphics, and thoughtfully-selected furniture. The venue was divided into multiple areas, including two stages, the product zone, the activate zone, registration lobby, and a hospitality space for meals.

The design of the event was produced via collaboration between Empire and These Days, VTS’ creative agency based in London. Working hand-in-hand with the VTS team, Empire managed all aspects of production including fabrication, printing, catering, budgeting, staging, technical production and venue management.

To learn more please visit: https://accelerate.vts.com/

​

Empire was honored to work for the first time with The Legal Defense Fund to produce their 35th National Equal Justice Awards Dinner (NEJAD) at The Glasshouse in New York City.

Founded by Justice Thurgood Marshall, LDF has a significant legacy in promoting civil rights progress and remains committed to actively advancing civil rights today. With a history spanning over eight decades, LDF, alongside its partners, has made substantial strides in enhancing the dignity and citizenship of Black individuals in America.

NEJAD serves as a platform to honor past achievements, recognize ongoing efforts, and inspire continued action. This year's Gala, themed "The Future Is Ours," paid tribute to LDF's core values and foundational narrative.

Upon arrival at the Glasshouse, attendees embarked on an immersive experience on the sixth floor. They were warmly welcomed with a red carpet moment, providing an opportunity to capture their photographs against a branded backdrop. As guests proceeded through an exhibit highlighting impactful LDF work, they were guided to the main cocktail lounge, where they were greeted by an atmosphere adorned with emotive photography, mood-enhancing music, and signature cocktails. This carefully curated ambiance fostered a celebratory and futuristic atmosphere, setting the tone for the evening.

As attendees mingled and celebrated the power of their community. A moving performance by the young faces of Brooklyn United Drumline signified the end of the cocktail reception and led the audience of over 600 guests into the dining room to take their seats for dinner.

Angela Vallot, Co-Chair of LDF's Board of Directors, took the stage to address the audience and introduced the evening's esteemed host, Sade Baderinwa of ABC News. Baderinwa welcomed guests and then invited Janai Nelson, LDF's President, to share her perspective on the profound meaning of "The Future Is Ours."

Subsequently, honorees were recognized, with attorney Fred Grey receiving the prestigious Thurgood Marshall Lifetime Achievement Award, followed by the acknowledgment of the National Equal Justice Award recipients: the Emerson Collective (presented by Geoffrey Canada), Nike, Jordan, and Converse brands (presented by Carmelo Anthony), as well as Vista Equity Partners' CEO, Robert F. Smith (presented by Spike Lee.)

The award ceremony culminated in a performance by the acclaimed, Grammy Award-winning singer Ledisi, who performed her music as well as that of Nina Simone.

After a brief close to the evening, the festivities continued as attendees adjourned to the lounge/bar area for an unforgettable future-themed after-party with DJ Trauma.

Empire was proud to serve as overall producer for the event, handling multiple aspects including run of show and creative narrative (with Paul Oakley Stovall), technical design & production (with Studio Productions), decor (with Red Maple Leaf), content and video production (with Januari1 Films), catering (by Olivier Cheng), venue liaison, guest experience, and registration (led by Advance NY).

Together the evening created a memorable and impactful experience, furthering LDF’s mission of advancing equal justice and civil rights for all.

​Empire was proud to produce an exclusive Keith Urban performance one of the world’s top corporations during an incentive trip to Chicago.

The concert took place at The Chicago Theatre with a private headline concert by four-time Grammy winner Keith Urban. Keith and his band brought the audience together for this special evening and performed all his greatest hits including “Brown Eyes Baby,” “Blue Ain’t Your Color,” and “One Too Many”.

Guests were treated to an open bar throughout the historic venue and premium access to some of the best seating in the house. VIP attendees won an exclusive meet & greet with Keith prior to the concert, where they were able to memorialize this exciting night.

Empire was responsible for securing the artist and advancing all logistical and production elements at The Chicago Theatre to support the performance.

Empire is a leading provider of headline music & entertainment for corporate events and celebrations around the world.

Empire presented Sheryl Crow for a corporate group in Salt Lake City, just a week after the Grammy-winner was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Sheryl thrilled the attendees with mega-hits including “If It Makes You Happy”, “Soak Up The Sun”, “All I Wanna Do”, “Every Day Is A Winding Road”, and many more.​

Empire had the pleasure of supporting the revered whisky brand, The Macallan, in bringing to life an immersive experience, "The Path to the Incomparable", at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo.

The event offered guests the opportunity to learn about the distillery’s rich history and commitment to cask quality through projection mapping and interactive exhibits in the Experience Area.

The Bar Area provided guests the chance to indulge in the "Double Cask" while taking the virtual reality tour of the Macallan distillery and capturing their experience with the Glambot camera.

The opening party featured a special performance by Japanese performer MIYAVI, inspired by The Macallan Double Cask. Other notable artists performed throughout the course of the multi-day event.

Empire is thrilled to have supported The Macallan in delivering this benchmark event that immersed guests in the world of exceptional whisky. The success of "The Path to the Incomparable" at Roppongi Hills demonstrates the power of experience design in creating unforgettable moments for brand enthusiasts and newcomers alike.

Empire is a leading producer of experiential consumer-facing events.

​

Empire once again served as producer to Target Corporation for their Target Financial Community Meeting, an annual presentation by the company’s leadership to analysts and media. Target announced their 2023 growth plans, earnings, and recent accomplishments, along with strategies for continued growth.

After a networking breakfast, Target CEO Brian Cornell took the main stage to provide financial perspective for the upcoming year, highlighting updates on Target’s partnerships with Apple, Starbucks, and Ulta Beauty, as well as growth in the company’s owned brands such as Good & Gather and All In Motion.

At the conclusion of the presentation, Target’s leadership team engaged in an Investor Q&A segment which was immediately followed by a smaller Q&A session with media only.

Additionally, Target leaders had one-on-one live broadcast interviews where they further discussed Target’s financial performance and plans.

As in past years, Empire worked closely with Target’s team to plan and execute each component of the event. Empire oversaw permitting, venue management, technical production, programming, budgeting, creative design and catering. Empire also managed new accessibility such as virtual and in-person American Sign Language Interpreters.

Empire is proud to work with leading corporations like Target to present their important business communications events.

As part of a unique collaboration with Vietnamese singer Hà Anh Tuấn, Empire delivered the Grammy Award-winning artist Kitaro as the special guest performer for a two-night concert event in Ninh Binh, Vietnam.

In the months prior, Kitaro collaborated with Hà Anh Tuấn to rearrange and record five songs for an upcoming digital release. The track list includes Kitaro’s classic songs “Koi” and “Silk Road” with new lyrics written in Vietnamese for the project. The other three songs are hits by Hà Anh Tuấn: “Một Mình Một Sớm Ban Mai”, “Xuân Thì”, and “Tháng Tư Là Lời Nói Dối Của Em”. The collection is expected to release globally in mid-2023 with versions in Vietnamese, English, and Japanese.

Nearly 12,000 attendees made pilgrimage to the Hoa Lu Ancient Capital in the beautiful mountainous region of Ninh Binh for Hà Anh Tuấn’s sold-out concert series THE GLORIOUS HORIZON, featuring Kitaro’s first-ever show in Vietnam.

Following Hà Anh Tuấn’s performance of Kitaro’s “Koi” & “Silk Road”, a 40-foot high globe rotated 180-degrees to reveal the master himself. Kitaro’s show-stopping performance included his well-known compositions “Aqua” and “Matsuri”, for which he played both synthesizer and taiko drums.

Backed by the 34-piece live band, including the Saigon Pops orchestra, Kitaro also performed his arrangements of the three hit songs by Hà Anh Tuấn. As a final surprise song for Kitaro, Hà Anh Tuấn presented the master’s song “Caravansary”, with new Vietnamese lyrics and featuring the rapper Đen Vâu.

As part of his visit to Ninh Binh, Kitaro joined the environmental organization RỪNG VIỆT NAM to unveil a reforestation and wildlife protection project at Cúc Phương National Park. After a brief press conference deep within the national park, Hà Anh Tuấn and Kitaro spent the morning planting trees for future generations.

In addition to artist booking and contract negotiation, Empire advanced all technical and creative aspects of Kitaro’s participation for these events, including staging, sound, lighting, run of show, schedule, rehearsals, and hospitality. Working with our long-time partners in Vietnam, Empire coordinated all air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, and visa acquisition.

Empire also provided consulting on all matters regarding music arrangement and production, live video recording, content release and distribution, licensing, interactions with press and media, interviews, and press releases.

Empire is proud to develop unique collaborative projects between global musical artists for events in new markets such as Vietnam and beyond.

The FISU World University Games Winter is an international collegiate multi-sport competition held biannually. In January 2023, Empire was proud to produce the ceremonies of the 31st World University Games in the historic Herb Brooks Arena, bringing together teams from more than 50 countries centered around the theme of Saving Winter.

The Opening Ceremony began with an ancestral welcome and land acknowledgement by Theresa Bear Fox, the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe, and Oneida Indian Nation. Following the opening address, the parade of Nations began. The lively parade set to a bespoke musical composition included 1,500 athletes from 50 nations and featured dancers from the Joffrey Ballet School and skaters from the Skating Club of Lake Placid.

Following the parade, Christopher Kinney, a bobsledder who competed in the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, sang a moving rendition of the National Anthem. Welcome speeches were made by Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Organizing Committee James Mckenna, FISU President Leonz Eder, and New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, who declared the games officially open.

As the lights dimmed, dancers from the Joffrey Ballet School and aerialist Sarah Sporich set the stage for the torch relay featuring Environmentalist, Bill McKibben; FISU alumnus and Adirondack Park Commissioner, Art Lussi; and Olympians: Jim MIller, Andrew Weibrecht, Mark Grimmette, and Billy Demong.

The creative portion of the show was divided into three segments. The first, Gathering in the Light, featured a diverse group of skaters from American Ice Theatre wearing custom costumes from designer Liz Vandal. Skating cameraman Jordan Cowen captured their modern movements and a quick-change costume element midway through the song. The second segment, Sharing in the Light, was an elegant and moving piece backed by a set piece featuring the mountains of the Adirondacks. Aerialists Angela Kim and Pawel Walczewski wowed the crowd with their acrobatic feats 40 feet above the ice. The third segment, Celebrating Winter, featured five 40-foot tall kabuki trees native to the region, an uplifting skating performance by American Ice Theatre, and the daring moves of aerialist Sarah Sporich. At the end of Celebrating Winter, the audience watched as the hydro-electric powered cauldron was lit to signify the start of the Games.

The Closing Ceremony celebrated the 11 days of competition while also paying tribute to Torino, Italy, the host of the next FISU University Games Winter in 2025. The ceremony welcomed back Christopher Kinney to sing the National Anthem. Remarks were made from James McKenna, President of Lake Placid 2023 FISU World University Games Organizing Committee; Robert Rodriguez, New York Secretary of State; and Leonz Eder, Acting President of the International University Sports Federation. The Mayor of Torino, Stefano Lo Russo, welcomed the world to join him in Torino and introduced Pinguini Tattici Nucleari, an Italian rock band who made their US debut. Theresa Bear Fox and representatives of the Akwesasne Nations returned to close the circle opened 11 days prior, extinguishing the sustainable cauldron and honoring the heritage of this very special area, bringing the ceremonies and Games to a close.

​

SHOWTIME® continues to be a pioneer in LGBTQ-inclusive programming and has carried on making these often overlooked stories accessible to the masses through their hugely popular revival, The L Word: Generation Q.  This reboot has something for everyone by bringing back some of the original show’s favorites as well as a new, younger cast to relate and empower this new generation of queer youth.

This winter, SHOWTIME® called on Empire again to help promote the third season of The L Word: Generation Q by enhancing a series of 10 weekly viewing party events in New York City and Los Angeles leading up to the season finale. Empire sent brand ambassadors, L Word swag, and custom-made neon signs to each location. The wedding-themed finale viewing parties featured additional enhancements including temporary tattoos, a photo booth, and even a wedding cake for guests to enjoy afterwards.

At Henrietta Hudson in New York City and The Semi-Tropic in Los Angeles, fans were treated to surprise attendance from many of the show cast including Jacqueline Toboni, Jamie Clayton, Jordan Hull, and Rosie O’Donnell, as well as appearances by celebrities such as Chrishell Stause and Fletcher. SHOWTIME®’s enhancements to the weekly viewing parties brought in record attendance at the bars, peaking at around 650 total guests for the finale episode watch parties in New York City and Los Angeles.

The third season of The L Word: Generation Q is available on-demand on SHOWTIME™.

Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez/SHOWTIME®

Nearly a year after bringing John Legend to Vietnam for the inaugural VinFuture Prize, Empire delivered Grammy Award-winning artist Christina Aguilera for her first-ever performance in Vietnam. The second annual VinFuture Prize award ceremony took place on December 20, 2022, at the historic Hanoi Opera House before a live audience of 250 VIPs including the Prime Minister of Vietnam, Phạm Minh Chính. It was broadcast live throughout Southeast Asia and the world on Vietnam Television (VTV). Christina Aguilera’s show-stopping performance included her hits “Beautiful" and “The Voice Within“ with her band, and for the finale, an intimate performance of “A Million Dreams”. The event also featured the Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra with acclaimed Conductor Honna Tetsugi and traditional Vietnamese ballet performances.

The VinFuture Prize Foundation is an independent and non-profit organization in Vietnam. The Foundation was established with the vision of catalyzing meaningful changes in the everyday lives of millions of people by honoring transformational technological innovations at a global scale. https://vinfutureprize.org/ The first global award of its kind from Vietnam, the VinFuture Prize, presented US $4.5 million to international scientists to support breakthrough scientific research and technological innovation. In addition to the Grand Prize, three special prizes recognized female innovators, and outstanding achievements in emerging fields and developing countries. In addition to artist booking and contract negotiation, Empire advanced all technical and creative aspects of Christina Aguilera’s participation for the event, including staging, sound, lighting, LED screen graphics, teleprompter, run of show, schedule, and dressing room hospitality. Empire also provided consulting on all matters regarding artist interactions with press and media, television interviews, press releases, broadcast/livestream, and music licensing concerns. Working with our long-time partners in Vietnam, Empire coordinated all air transportation, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, visa acquisition, and local sightseeing excursions.

Empire Entertainment is proud to deliver global musical artists for events in new markets such as Vietnam and beyond.

Endeavor was able to hold their annual Gala after a two-year hiatus. The gala brought together 500 network members, including global entrepreneurs, top investors, and international industry leaders, to celebrate 25 years of Endeavor. Empire was proud to support this year’s gala to raise critical funds to support the high-impact entrepreneurship movement around the world.

This year’s gala took place at Glasshouse, which features floor-to-ceiling views of New York City and the Hudson River. At cocktails, guests enjoyed hors d'oeuvres served on innovative serving vessels and specialty cocktail bars featuring a selection of hand-crafted cocktails provided by Codigo and Casa Lumbre. After, guests proceeded through an experiential hallway into the main area for the seated dinner in the massive, designed space with table centerpieces, screen content, flown lighting, and printed collateral—all mirroring Endeavor’s colorful themes.

The dinner program included keynote remarks by Endeavor Global Chairman, Edgar Bronfman Jr., and Co-Founder and CEO, Linda Rottenberg. This year, the Gala featured a candlelight performance by Fever composed of string musicians amongst a backdrop of thousands of candles, and The Multiplier Effect recital featuring spoken word by Marco Fisbhen and percussion by Roger Squitero.

Endeavor celebrated the achievements of Martin Migoya, Mudassir Sheikha, Nadine Hachach-Haram, Peter Njonjo, and Songe LaRon by presenting them with The Lindas award. This spectacular dinner segment was catered and serviced by Pinch Food Design.

After dinner, guests moved through a starlit tunnel to the High-Impact afterparty in the cocktail space, which had been transformed into an upscale lounge featuring music by DJ MICK.

Empire and the Endeavor team collaborated closely to ensure that the organization’s mission was showcased at the Gala in addition to highlighting entrepreneurs in their network. This year, guests had the opportunity to try their hand at a wheel of fortune to win prizes consisting of products from Endeavor Entrepreneurs. A secluded networking space featuring decor by Bearaby and Havenly allowed guests a retreat to speak with one another and foster these important entrepreneurial relationships. Attendees were able to document their time at the gala with a photo booth provided by Mashbooths. Attendees experienced an interactive projection activation brought to life by Rise New York & Partners, mapping the Endeavor multiplier-effect while the DJ spun.

Empire is a leading producer of innovative not-for-profit galas and is proud to support Endeavor Global’s work. Endeavor is transforming the economies of 40+ growth markets by helping entrepreneurs scale, create jobs, and multiply their impact by becoming outstanding role models, mentors, and investors to the next generation of founders.

To learn more, visit www.endeavor.org

​

To celebrate all that Dartmouth alumni, friends, and family have done to make The Call to Lead capital campaign an audacious success, Dartmouth continued to collaborate with Empire to produce the event series titled “Give a Rouse", convening the Dartmouth community and thanking them for their contributions and support.

Following the inaugural event of the series at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Give a Rouse Tour continued on to four more shows around the nation: Wang Theatre Boch Center,  Boston; Warner Theatre, Washington D.C.; Moonlight Studios, Chicago; and August Hall, San Francisco. Hosting over 1,300 guests, the cross-national event was a huge success.

Each event followed a similar format, with adaptations and localizations for each city. Upon arrival, guests were met with a Dartmouth-themed exterior presence and live music. Guests registered at Dartmouth-branded, wooden check-in desks and then entered a theater space to enjoy the program.

The 45-minute stage program included monumental screen projections, a series of videos that told the story of A New Day at Dartmouth and summarized the achievements of The Call to Lead comprehensive campaign. The program paid tribute to Dartmouth’s outgoing President, Philip J. Hanlon, and re-energized the community about how Dartmouth’s future leaders will shape a better world.

The conclusion of the stage program included a multimedia effects sequence that combined video projection, animated special effects, remote-activated light-up bracelets, and theatrical lighting to emphasize the idea of Dartmouth “greenlighting” the future.

Excited guests wearing bracelets lit in green exited the theater program to attend the afterparty. Guests mixed, mingled, and networked while enjoying a curated menu of food and drinks; a live jazz band; and multiple activities including ping-pong on green and white tables, a photo booth, an interactive social media wall, and a variety of Instagram-worthy backdrops including a sculptural installation of large-scale letters spelling out “Dartmouth.”

Empire worked closely with several Dartmouth departments, faculty, alumni, and volunteers, as well as many creative, communications, production, and events partners to plan and execute the events. Empire’s role included concept development, venue acquisition, registration, run of show and program development, scripting, screen content production, technical production, catering, permitting, security, scenic, décor, budgeting, staffing, and guest logistics & experience.

Empire is honored to work with Dartmouth to help them scale their unique educational model around the world. The Call to Lead has raised over $3 billion overall to realize three overarching goals: advancing Dartmouth’s distinctive educational model to its fullest potential; making discoveries that improve the human condition; and preparing students for lives of wise leadership. To learn more about The Call to Lead: a Campaign for Dartmouth, visit: https://calltolead.dartmouth.edu/

Empire is a leading producer of high-level events, both on and off campus, for Ivy League schools and many of the world’s leading educational institutions.

BVLGARI JAPAN hosted the BVLGARI AVRORA AWARDS Golden Carpet and Awards Ceremony at the newly built Ariake Arena (created for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games). Empire is proud to have produced the event for the sixth time and to be a part of fulfilling BVLGARI’s vision for this important movement.

The BVLGARI AVRORA AWARDS shine a spotlight on the achievements and activities of inspiring women who possess unparalleled creativity, intellect, and talent in a range of areas, celebrate the way they live, and bestow them with awards. This celebrated format has been successfully reproduced by BVLGARI around the globe, including in China, Europe, and South Korea.

In attendance for the star-studded event were 400 VIP guests and 5,000 public spectators, including awardee/model, Hikari Mori, global music sensation, Miyavi, and actress/model & BVLGARI ambassador, Kōki. Also in attendance, as well as gracing the stage for an enthralling musical performance was actor, artist, and BVLGARI ambassador, Tomohisa Yamashita.

The grand scale of the arena location was enhanced by a 120'-wide screen with a 3-story high dynamic Kinesys motion-controlled central LED screen. The event’s afterparty included performances from renowned DJ’s AmiAya and a 360-degree projection mapping that completely immersed the guests in a world of dynamic beauty and color fitting of BVLGARI and the many honored guests.

As the AWARDS continue to grow and evolve, we look forward to being a part of the team that further builds their reach, recognition, and impact.

evian, the premium natural mineral water brand renowned for its annual limited-edition bottles in collaboration with top designers, has forged a significant partnership with Balmain, the historic fashion house in Paris. United by a shared vision of "dreaming of the future," these two brands, deeply rooted in the French heritage, have announced the release of a limited-edition glass bottle.

To commemorate this collaboration, a three day event, "Dream our future together," took place at CÉ LA VI Tokyo.

The Empire team devised a strategy to enhance both brands' iconic status and the shared passion in sustainability credentials. The objective was to create engaging and shareable content for the media, influencers, and the public, fostering social buzz. This initiative aimed to cultivate a community of media and influencers to support future communications.

The launch party welcomed guests from the media and over 30 influencers. The event featured an exhibition of the "Tree of Dreams" made from the limited-edition bottles, a photo booth, and curated drinks using evian water. Attendees, all dressed in white to complement the event's theme, witnessed a tree-of-dreams light-up ceremony for the festive season. evian's management thanked attendees, and guests added to the festive spirit by sharing their dreams on evian-bottle wishing cards.

For the next two days, the “Tree of Dreams” and the wishing cards continued to be displayed in CÉ LA VI Tokyo, allowing guests to savor curated drinks and experience the innovative collaboration between two leading French brands.

The successful events received extensive media coverage and buzz.

Empire’s comprehensive scope of work included strategy planning, PR planning, invitation management, influencer casting, creative concept development, construction, audio, visual, lighting, and overall event management.

​

Empire was honored to work with Ketch to launch the Privacy Matters Conference at the Public Hotel in New York City.

This ethically-minded conference, hosted by Jonathan Joseph, Ketch’s Head of Solutions and Marketing, focused on how companies can be more mindful in their usage of consumer data in a progressively digital world. The daytime conference began with a networking breakfast, including a Ketch-branded coffee bar, and an opening session featuring remarks from Ketch CEO, Tom Chavez. A series of main stage sessions and panels took place throughout the duration of the day featuring presenters such as TedX speaker, Linnette Attai, UM Worldwide’s Chief Privacy Officer, Arielle Garcia, and President and Chief Operating Officer of MMA Global, Lou Paskalis. A case study on Data Stewardship by Ketch’s Director of Sales, Diego Mejia, and DISH Network’s Senior Privacy Counsel, Coleman T. Lechner, and Head of Data, Measurement, & Analytics, Kemal Bokhari, closed out the morning session and led the attendees into a catered lunch by the Public Hotel.

After lunch, the data privacy education continued with sessions featuring speakers from organizations such as Kelley Drye & Warren LLP, Connecticut Attorney General's Office, SafeGuard Privacy, Loeb & Loeb, IAB Tech Lab, Network Advertising Initiative (NAI), 6sense Revenue AI, Sandals Resorts, Publicis, Digitas, and Habu. In the evening, attendees headed over to Hotel Indigo's 15th floor bar, Mr Purple. This posh spot with terraces served hors d’oeuvres & cocktails to the data-conscious crowd into the night. Empire’s scope of work included overall project and production management, talent booking, technical production, venue management, programming, development, and creative design. Empire is proud to have worked with Ketch to produce their Privacy Matters Conference.

Empire was excited to partner again with New Heights, a non-profit sports-based youth development and educational organization, to produce their 6th annual GameChangers Ball. The gala took place at the newly renovated Major R. Owens Health & Wellness Community Center in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. The venue features a variety of sports facilities, classrooms, offices, and community spaces.

The gala began with a cocktail reception and live jazz performance by KingKlavé. Guests were treated to signature cocktails upon arrival and were invited to pose with friends at the photo booth.

At the close of the reception, attendees were ushered into the Ballroom by New Heights volunteers where they gathered on the facility’s basketball courts to enjoy a seated dinner from Abigail Kirsch. The room integrated existing basketball hoops into the overall stage and room design to complement the organization’s sports-driven mission.

Once guests were seated, New Heights Executive Director Ted Smith greeted attendees from the stage and invited speakers, alumni, and award recipients to join him in sharing how New Heights has positively impacted their lives. The program concluded with a live auction from Auctioneer Bobby D with items such as golf with NFL pros and courtside basketball game tickets available to be won.

Working closely with New Heights, Empire served as the overall event producer, managing elements including venue, catering, décor, programming, and technical production. Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

​

athenahealth is a leading cloud-based healthcare technology company that connects clinicians, patients, payers, and partners in differentiated ways. athenahealth’s Thrive Summit is an annual event that brings together more than 2,000 of the brightest minds in healthcare for three days of keynote presentations, panel discussions, intimate breakouts, and freestyle networking opportunities, all with one simple goal in mind: Let’s thrive together to create healthcare as it could be.

It was no small feat. Empire brought this mission statement to life at the massive Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX. Working within more than 150,000 square feet of blank space, Empire crafted hundreds of networking areas, 60+ custom partner booth opportunities, a stunning Keynote stage fit for a 2,000-person audience, and a central athenahealth hub showcasing the brand’s products and services. Every element of the event was crafted in the inviting and accessible experience athenahealth strives to deliver to its customers. Empire designed every aspect of the event to bring the digital brand to life and connect attendees.

From the “Connection Lounge” filled with soft seating for casual conversations to the “Coaching Café,” where attendees could schedule 1:1 meetings with athenahealth representatives, to the lively Expo Hall mini-stages that offered TedTalk-style content, each space was created with the intention for anyone from senior leaders to prospective customers to feel welcome and excited to be a part of athenahealth.

Working hand-in-hand with the athenahealth team, Empire managed all aspects of the creative design and development, production, fabrication, budgeting, staging, talent coordination, technical production, and venue management.

To learn more please visit: https://www.athenahealth.com

​

Across three cities and over the span of one month, Empire produced three private concerts for a major anniversary of one of our corporate clients in Chicago, Deer Valley, and Palm Springs.

The series opened with Alicia Keys at the Chicago Theater on Wednesday, September 21, followed by a stand-up set from Jerry Seinfeld at the Montage Deer Valley a month later on Sunday, October 22. The series was brought to a close with an astounding performance by Stevie Wonder at The Show Theater at the Agua Caliente Resort on Thursday, October 27.

Alicia Keys’ 90-minute set for approximately 1,000 guests included some of her best known hits including Fallin’, This Girl is on Fire, and Empire State of Mind, among many others. Prior to the performance, Alicia participated in an intimate meet and greet in one of the sponsored lounges for the client’s executives and guests.

Legendary standup comedian Jerry Seinfeld brought the roughly 250 guests in attendance to fits of laughter with a 45-minute set packed with jokes about family life, vacationing in the mountains, and some on-the-spot improvisations with the audience.

Ending the anniversary event series with a bang, Stevie Wonder wowed 1,200 guests with an almost two-hour set of his classics including Superstition, Sir Duke, and I Wish. Wonder and his full band received a standing ovation from the crowd after the unforgettable performance.

Empire contracted all artists and handled all aspects of logistics and onsite management and provided technical supervision for all shows.

​

Empire was proud to produce the closing party for a three-day business conference in Las Vegas for 1,500 attendees.

The final event took place in Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas with a private headline concert by the Barenaked Ladies.

The band brought the audience together for this special evening and performed all their greatest hits including “One Week,” “If I Had a Million Dollars,” and the Big Bang Theory theme song.

The event also featured custom client branding throughout the venue, open bar and food stations catered by Blue Ribbon, a dance party by DJ Crykit, and an immersive photo booth by Pop Up Photo Op.

The evening culminated with a confetti moment immediately following Barenaked Ladies’ final song.

Empire was responsible for proposing, negotiating, contracting, and advancing all logistical and production elements at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas and Barenaked Ladies’ performance.

Empire Entertainment is a leading provider of talent for corporate events and celebrations around the world.

​

Empire was honored to partner with GREENTECH once again to produce their second annual GREENTECH FESTIVAL at Truman Brewery in London on October 13 & 14, 2022.

GREENTECH, a Berlin-based group, brought their green sustainability and technology innovation summit to life over two programmed-filled days at Truman Brewery, located on London’s historic Brick Lane.

Attended by more than 1,000 visitors in total, night one featured a black-tie gala hosted by Céline Flores Willers with a seated dinner featuring a completely vegetarian & sustainable menu, dynamic video screen content, speeches, a musical performance by New Atlantis Project, and finally a cocktail reception featuring DJ Kim Kong. Stage participants included Amanda Jobbins of Vodafone, Andrew Doyle of Audi, and Illac Diaz of Liter of Light.

Day two’s festival-style conference saw over 600 unique visitors for a series of keynote remarks, panels, fireside chats hosted by Natasha Elkington, and later bootcamps and an “Investors Gourmet” networking lunch designed to connect startups and venture capitalists. Speakers included Marco Voigt and Sven Krüger, Co-Founders of GREENTECH FESTIVAL, Giovanni Sacchi of the Italian Trade Agency, world-renowned designer Sir Paul Smith, race car driver Charlie Martin, Albert Cheung of Bloomberg, Financial Times’ Finola McDonnell, and more.

Throughout both days, attendees toured multiple sponsor and exhibitor activations from various industries including an Audi electric car, an electric MINI, and Vodafone’s Extreme E vehicle. Other exhibitors included E.ON, Green Future Project, the Italian Trade Agency, Notpla, Magway, eROCKIT, Ma Petit Planéte, and Maucher Jenkins.

Empire served as the overall event producer, coordinating all logistics, technical production, sponsor management and fulfillment, and creative design and execution. The second GREENTECH FESTIVAL London was a great success and a tremendous lead-up for GREENTECH FESTIVAL Singapore on November 17 & 18, 2022.

​

Empire was proud to partner with Pratham USA to produce their annual NYC Gala at Cipriani Wall Street. Over 600 guests gathered to support Pratham’s mission in improving access to quality learning opportunities for children and young people across India and beyond. We were delighted to see the Pratham NY Tri-State Chapter raise a record-breaking total on the night.

Guests were invited to a cocktail reception at 48 Wall Street where they dined on delicious South Asian cuisine by Buhkara Grill. Then they were escorted across the street lined with a red carpet and a dhol player graciously welcoming them to a seated dinner and program at Cipriani Wall Street.

The program featured remarks by Chairman of Pratham USA, Deepak Raj; CEO of Pratham Education Foundation India, Dr. Rukmini Banerji; and Pratham USA CEO and Global Executive, Manisha Bharti. The highlight of the evening was when Host of The Daily Show, Trevor Noah, held an incredible, inspirational and enlightening conversation with Pratham Board member and CNN Host, Fareed Zakaria.

Pratham Board Director, Ila Paliwal and Indian-American comedian, Anish Shah, kicked off a lively pledge drive followed by a successful auction with auctioneer Mark Turner.

DJ Rehka, who was the trendsetter who established Basement Bhangra, turned the volume up with a high energy set that had everyone on the dance floor with Bhangra, international hip-hop and drum beats. It was a wonderful night of sharing, learning, and giving, where thousands of children and young people’s lives will be changed through learning with Pratham’s programs.

Working closely with Pratham USA, Empire served as the overall event producer, managing elements including venue, catering, program development, and technical production. Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

For more information on Pratham, please visit https://prathamusa.org/

Joby Aviation, Inc. is a California-based transportation company developing an all-electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft which it intends to operate as part of a fast, quiet, and convenient service in cities around the world.

Empire was honored to produce Joby’s inaugural “Field Trip” at the Marina Municipal Airport pilot production facility in October 2022. This private event was a full-day venture for guests introducing them to the process behind the revolutionary aircraft with on-stage talks from Joby’s CEO, CFO, and Head of Aircraft OEM.

Joby invited guests to start the day with breakfast and coffee before the program began. Following breakfast, guests were led through a tour of Joby’s pilot eVTOL aircraft manufacturing line and took an early look at what future skyports may look like. Guests also got a chance to pilot a virtual Joby aircraft in a flight simulator.

Besides being a public airport, Marina Municipal Airport is used as Joby’s Flight-test site and home to the pre-production prototype aircraft. Joby Field Trip guests had the grand opportunity to witness a test flight themselves while Joby’s Chief Test Pilot talked through its route and the aircraft’s notable attributes.

At the end of the day, Joby’s executive staff hosted a Q&A session for their guests, opening the floor to questions about the company, process of aircraft evolution, and passenger experience. Empire was thrilled to be a part of the inaugural Joby Field Trip coordinating logistics, creative presentation design, and technical production.

To learn more about Joby Aviation, please visit: https://www.jobyaviation.com/

Empire was proud to partner with UNITAS to produce their 5th Annual Gala at Cipriani South Street. Over 450 guests gathered together for the first time since 2019 to support UNITAS' mission to disrupt human trafficking and to provide opportunities for survivors to thrive.

Held during the height of Fashion Week, there was a packed red carpet and a cocktail reception with gorgeous florals, generously donated by Sunshine Bouquet. Then guests sat down for a delicious dinner and program hosted by Emmy Award-winning journalist and WABC-TV News Anchor, Sade Baderinwa.

The program featured remarks by UNITAS CEO Tonya Turner, Executive Vice President Lamont Heibert, and three distinguished honorees: President and Founder of ESD Global Self Defense, Yehudit Zicklin-Sidikman; Human Trafficking Survivor and Educator, Jessica Kay; and Lieutenant Amy Capogna of the NYC Police Department Detective Bureau, Vice Human Trafficking Unit—Human Trafficking Squad. All were honored for their courageous work in the fight against trafficking and advocacy for a safer and violence-free tomorrow. A live auction then followed with high energy auctioneer, Harry Santa Olalla, where overall they raised $1 million to continue UNITAS' vital work.

Evening highlights included an incredible live performance by multi-platinum singer Natasha Bedingfield, who performed four songs including a cover of Prince’s classic “Purple Rain,” the Grammy-nominated “Unwritten,” “These Words,” and “Pocketful of Sunshine", plus performances by Pharell-produced recording artist/singer Cris Cab and violist David Carpenter of The Carpenter Trio.

Working closely with UNITAS, Empire served as the overall event producer, managing elements including venue, catering, décor, program development, and technical production. Empire is a leading producer of fundraising events and has been proud to serve leading not-for-profit organizations and foundations for nearly three decades.

For more information on UNITAS, please visit https://www.unitas.ngo/

After a two-year interval due to Covid-19, Empire's Japan office resumed its work with Ian Bremmer's Eurasia Group to bring back the "in-person" version of the most elite geopolitical event in Japan—the Zero Summit. The high-level conference brought together corporate, political, and civic leaders in a dynamic forum to discuss the greatest risks and opportunities facing our world today.

A wide range of topics on the current and ever-changing geopolitics of the world were discussed over the course of the day, with appearances from Yoshimasa Hayashi, Foreign Minister of Japan, Yasutoshi Nishimura, Minister of Economics, Trade, & Industry, and Kono Taro, Minister of Digital Affairs. Also Yuiko Koike, Governor of Tokyo, joined to present a keynote speech about current undertakings and future plans of the city of Tokyo. Many other speakers and participants shared their insight both on the stage and via livestream to deliver an engaging and important thought leadership event.

Now in its second year, Unfinished Live convened more than 3,000 in-person and virtual attendees to explore and focus on the solutions needed to build a more equitable internet, economy, and society.

The event featured a world-class lineup of 188 speakers with main stage programming, live podcast recordings, interactive workshops, engaging masterclasses, dozens of dynamic discussions, artistic expressions, and unparalleled networking opportunities.

The discussions during Unfinished Live explored a decentralized future where new technology can support a stronger democracy and fairer economy. It also celebrated the networks, movements, and people challenging the status quo. From owning and controlling personal data, to protecting trust and privacy, to repairing social media and what it has broken, Unfinished Live looked towards what’s possible through innovation and collaboration.

Returning as host was Baratunde Thurston and program highlights included Maria Ressa’s conversation with Vivian Schiller on the rising threat of disinformation to democracies around the world. Frank McCourt and Kevin Roose examined how Project Liberty is using breakthrough technology to create a healthier internet and more equitable future. A masterclass, led by Tristan Harris and Maria Bridge, explored how wisdom can protect humanity from technology. Cleo Abram interviewed Iddris Sandu who shared his latest innovations that bridge the gap between the physical and digital worlds. Cory Doctorow hosted a live recording of his Craphound podcast, Seize the Means of Computation: A Big Tech Disassembly Manual.  Nina McNeely stunned audiences with a choreographed exploration of the unconscious mind in The False Mirror.

Also hosted at The Shed during Unfinished Live was The Project Liberty Experience in collaboration with Refik Anadol, a provocative and fully immersive environment that actualizes a society where people hold the power and control over their personal data. Free and open to the public, visitors were invited to step into this future-forward spectacular to explore and interact with the technologies, art, organizations, and ideas that are actively working together to shape a better future. Empire worked closely with the Unfinished team and various Unfinished partners to deliver an inspiring and seamless run-of-show and broadcast for this high-profile convening. Empire oversaw show running for the main stage programs as well as the Podcast Stage, the Forum, and Collaboratory stages for the live show days as well as broadcast to a virtual audience. Empire worked closely with T Strategy and Plan Experiential on all aspects of show production as well as Chilean strategy and creative design agency, Felicidad, to deliver an extraordinary display of Unfinished Live’s design assets and imagery within the live program. Empire is a proud production partner for Unfinished Live.

About Unfinished Live: Unfinished Live is an annual convening of technologists, journalists, thought leaders, artists, and change-makers focused on harnessing the power of ethical technology and civic engagement to build a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Unfinished Live examines viable solutions to tackle the most urgent problems created by our current digital landscape.

About Project Liberty: A critical part of the Unfinished ecosystem is Project Liberty—a first-of-its-kind initiative to create a web optimized for democracy. Project Liberty’s comprehensive approach combines three tracks—Technology, Governance, and Movement—to reset and rebuild our digital civic infrastructure for the public good. At the core of Project Liberty is a groundbreaking, open-source technology called the Decentralized Social Networking Protocol (DSNP) that was designed to serve as a foundational layer of the next generation of the internet and to enable users to own and control their data.

The McCourt Institute, launched with founding partners Georgetown University and Sciences Po, is supporting new research and bringing together technologists and social scientists to ensure that digital governance is prioritized in the development of new technology and embedded in tomorrow’s web. To realize the transformative potential of DSNP and Project Liberty, Unfinished catalyzes movement leaders, social impact organizations, and a diverse network of partners with the goal of creating a thriving, multiracial democracy and fairer digital economy.