To celebrate the launch of its two new entertainment shows, MSNBC threw a party at the Gibson Guitar Entertainment Showroom in the Hit Factory filled with food, drinks, TV stars, and live entertainment. The two shows, MSNBC Entertainment Hot List and MSNBC at the Movies, will cover everything from fashion, music, beauty, films, and celebrities (all that stuff that gets such scant coverage elsewhere).
Alison Katz, the corporate event manager for NBC/Universal, coordinated the event in Gibson’s fourth-floor space, taking the red color scheme of the shows’ promotional campaign and incorporating it into the lighting design. To complement the crimson gleam, ultraviolet cocktail tables and backlit bars were dotted around the venue. Frost Lighting highlighted the stage area (later used for performances by Shooter Jennings, Regina Spektor, and Martin Luther) with patterned, color-changing projections, shone the MSNBC logo on the walls, and projected a promotional video of the shows onto the rear wall of the stage.
The decor was simple, allowing the lighting to play the biggest role. Autographed Gibson guitars and banners of the shows’ hosts hung on the walls, plasma screen TVs played promotional videos, and a lounge area held white ottomans, purple and red pillows, candles, and small white floral arrangements from Cornucopia Flowers.
A promotional video also played on serving trays with four-inch LCD screens from Philippe Feret of Allure Catering. His passed hors d’oeuvres included tuna and truffle tartare in tuile cones, New England clam chowder in miniature cups, and barbecue pepper-crusted Buffalo filet mignon. An assortment of mini pastries and chocolate fondue was dessert.
—Anna Sekula
