The Best of Xbox Showcase transformed United Artists Theater, an iconic venue in the Spanish Gothic Style theatre at the Ace Hotel, for a night of hands-on gameplay, demos, and sneak peeks of new and upcoming games for Xbox One. Working with Jennifer Tweed, Beth Honebrink, and Mark Harper from the Xbox Global Marcom team, experiential marketing agency Zed Ink produced the affair.
This year’s Xbox Media Briefing took to the Galen Center, with an attendance of more than 4,300 people, including broadcast, print, and online press, partners, developers, and fans. Spike TV picked up the live, commercial-free broadcast, and the event live streamed online as well. The event got an immersive set design from producer Zed Ink that flanked the arena from end to end. An 80-foot center screen changed dynamically throughout the show through massive moving semi-transparent scenic doors that opened and closed to accommodate trailers and demos of varying aspect ratios. Three additional LED screens stood angled on the floor as the backgrounds for satellite stages designed for the staging of multi-player demos and presenters throughout the show.
Perry memorably made her entrance riding a giant metallic tiger puppet. A large puppet appeared at the YouthAIDS gala at Washington's Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner in 2007. Supplied by Creative Inflatables, the inflatable Moulin Rouge-style elephant was airbrushed with Indian drawings. The Los Angeles-based company also has three types of inflatable lions and an inflatable tiger.
During one section of her performance, Perry appeared onstage with costumed dancers dressed as beach balls, sharks, and other seaside tropes. To give an event a similar vibe, consider adding beach balls to the decor or even serving thematic snacks. For example: Claire Crenshaw of Chicago's Moto Restaurant created the “100 Days of Summer” dessert with coconut macarons painted to look like beach balls. The treats were plated with white-chocolate seashells and pineapple starfish, as well as “sand” made from brown sugar.
Perry's set also featured dancers clad in polka-dot bikinis. For a similar type of entertainment, consider booking the Aqualilies, a Los Angeles-based a troupe of water ballerinas.
The show featured elaborate projection mapping on the floor of the stage. The Warner Brothers International Television Distribution gala in 2012 filled a Burbank, California, lot with digital mapping by Bart Kresa Design, costumed entertainers, and an array of pyrotechnic stunts and decor. Aerialists from Lucent Dossier entertained from above the party space. Companies like Obscura Digital, Ninjaneer Studios, and Media Stage have also created such visual displays on existing buildings.
The set of Perry's performance also featured an elevated stage that had flooring lit up with vibrant lights. For a similar look, Energy Floors offers human-powered, interactive dance floors for event rental worldwide. The eight-inch-deep tiles each house small generators; the tiles compress when stepped on, activating the generators to convert the kinetic energy produced by the dancers into electricity. The power can be used to activate the colorful LED light tubes inside the tiles that respond to the movement of dancers or nearby electrical systems.
The performance included a sea of illuminated orbs, held by performers clad in silver spandex. San Francisco company Got Light has similar fixtures, which they used at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art's Modern Ball in 2014. Got Light collaborated with Stanlee Gatti on the night's overall design.
Fitting for a singer who has a hit song called "Firework," Perry's show ended with a spectacular fireworks finale. Fireworks were also incorporated into a Chicago event for Ferrara Pan Candy in 2009, when a barge stationed in the river set off 30 minutes of fireworks so that guests in the riverside host venue could look on. Those fireworks were supplied by Lumina Inc.; there are other suppliers throughout North America.
Brent Bolthouse's massive Neon Carnival went into its sixth year with a new lineup of sponsors. It was the major event on the Saturday-night calendar off the festival grounds and the biggest unofficial party.
Also among the weekend's big-scale parties was the Bootsy Bellows estate, where the logo and slogan of sponsor McDonald's backed a ball pit. The Narrative Group handled media, producing the party with support from ESE Lifestyle.
Backing away from its huge estate party, H&M hosted an exclusive sunset cocktail reception at the Parker. There, summery hors d'oeuvres included skewers of mint, feta, and watermelon.
An dramatic art installation was made from multicolor neon ribbons at PopSugar and ShopStyle's Cabana Club hotel takeover. The piece was a collaboration with the Las Vegas festival Life Is Beautiful.
Alessandra Ambrosio launched her BaubleBar jewelry collection at the Avalon hotel. At the event, guests picked up Voco drinks at a bar decorated with open coconuts and vibrant flowers.
The hosts' names decorated the hotel's existing privacy hedging, which was visible from the street entrance.
M.A.C. and Mia Moretii hosted their festival collection with a pool party at the Ingleside Inn. Stoelt Productions produced the event, which was hosted by the BMF Music Lounge. A trio of colorful umbrellas made for a colorful photo backdrop.
At the Retreat at Sparrows Lodge, guests dined on healthy fare from New York's Fat Radish at a long, bohemian-style table. Steph Sciré and Isaac Ferry, who were behind the event, said they were motivated to create a place where they and their friends would want to be. Jeff Consoletti of JJ-LA produced, along with tour and event producer Tanya Slater. Taylor & Taylor managed the production design, which included antique Persian rugs, Native American artifacts, succulents, whimsical floral arrangements, oversize and kilim pillows, leather, and a silk patchwork canopy.
My Jewel Bar set up a table at the Retreat where guests could customize baubles from festival-appropriate charms and details.
Dior provided nail art at the Retreat, including festival looks with palm trees, Ferris wheels, flowers, and animal prints. The offerings also included a full hair and makeup boudoir, a spa with whole-body massages, oxygen facials, reflexology, and a vinyl listening lounge.
Guests came to the NVE-produced Nylon event on Sunday for a yoga session in the sun. It was part of an experience meant to revive guests with wellness activities and offerings after the hectic weekend.
At the Sunday afternoon event, guests sat poolside for vitamin and hydration IV treatments—using real needles.
Rachel Zoe hosted an intimate brunch with DVF and Moët & Chandon Ice Imperial at the dFm House in Palm Springs. Fare Trade and Workshop Kitchen & Bar provided food.
A giant logoed teddy bear decorated the Moschino party hosted by Jeremy Scott.
A logo floated in the pool and covered oversize props at the Moschino party. DeLeón Tequila sponsored.
Pandora brought Questlove for its Cathedral City party, which announced brand names on a round central bar. The event also included a hair-braiding station, giant chessboards, ping-pong, and beanbag toss games.
Stoelt Productions produced the event, which offered a teeter-totter and snow cones.
Ocean Pacific set up a surf shop at the Ingleside Inn as part of the Music Lounge.
Culture Collide, a new editorial platform from the co-founder of Filter magazine, presented the annual Coachella kickoff party known as Not a Pool Party, ahead of the festival on April 9 at the Hard Rock.
Kari Feinstein was also among the hosts kicking things off early—and in Los Angeles. The Kari Feinstein Style Lounge gifting suite took over the Sunset Marquis hotel, where an arrivals backdrop had a festival-appropriate, tassel-like look.
At Sunstone Winery in Santa Ynez, California, groups learn to detect the different aromas in wine through an educational session that lasts 45 minutes. Staffers use fruits, flowers, chocolates, nuts, and more to help guests develop their sense of smell while participants taste a selection of wines and describe the aromas they detect in them.
Also in Santa Ynez, Gypsy Studios hosts outings that invite corporate groups to paint in vineyards throughout the region. During the two-hour sessions, studio owner Christi Schaeffer leads guests through painting the surrounding landscapes with step-by-step guidance. All painting materials and aprons are provided, and guests are also treated to a glass of wine from the host winery. The activity can accommodate as many as 30 guests.
In Northern California, Napa Valley Bike Tours offers customized, abbreviated versions of its Classic Napa Valley and Classic Sonoma Valley wine tours for corporate groups. Lasting four to five hours, the tours let guests pedal bikes at a leisurely pace and include stops at two local wineries for tastings and a picnic lunch. The company can host groups of as many as 200 guests, and larger groups are split up for tours of from 10 to 12 riders each.
At City Winery in Chicago, corporate groups can participate in a private wine blending experience. A member of the winery leads guests through the hands-on activity, which lets participants taste different blending varietals and concoct their own blends based on personal tastes. Guests can also be divided into separate groups for a teambuilding activity that lets teams compete to create the best blend. The activity can accommodate as many as 75 guests and typically lasts two hours.
Known as the Standup Sommelier and the Wine Coach, Laurie Forster is a Maryland-based wine expert and comedian who leads teambuilding experiences for groups throughout the country. One of her offerings, "Something to Wine About," combines a one-hour comedy show with a wine tasting and includes audience participation and games. Throughout her act, Forster offers wine education. Group sizes vary depending on location.
Eat This, Shoot That organizes food, wine, and photo tours in Santa Barbara, California. During its roughly two-hour Wine and Photo Tour, groups wander through the historic El Paseo building, which houses six tasting rooms. Guests take frequent stops to sample small bites and locally made wines. Along the way, tour guides offer tips for taking better wine and food photos (guests tote along cameras or smartphones) and also share details of the region's history. The tour can accommodate as many as 14 guests per guide.
To celebrate the intersection of the entertainment and sports industries in Hollywood, Coca-Cola hosted the fifth anniversary of its Gold Meets Golden event at the House on Sunset in Los Angeles. The daytime brunch event, which was tied to the Golden Globes and the upcoming Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea, featured a Coca-Cola- and Olympic-theme memorabilia throughout the venue. The event was produced by Amara Studios.
The event had appearances from a number of TV and film stars, as well as sports stars including American soccer player Alex Morgan, who autographed a giant poster.
The event served golden mini waffle cones filled with fried chicken, paired with mini bottles of Coca-Cola with golden straws. Chef Cat Cora and Whoa Nelly Catering developed the menu.
Backstage during the Golden Globes, which took place January 7 at the Beverly Hilton, presenters and winners celebrated with golden goblets of Moët & Chandon, the official champagne of the ceremony. Overall, the brand served more than 1,500 Moët & Chandon Impérial minis, 125 cases of Moët & Chandon Grand Vintage 2006 and Moet Rosé Impérial magnums, and 500 cocktails featuring Moët & Chandon Impérial. The brand also continued its annual philanthropic initiative, “Toast for a Cause,” for the ninth year. The program invites nominees to raise a toast in support of their favorite charities; for each toast, Moët donates $1,000 to the charity in the nominees’ names.
Netflix hosted its Golden Globes party on January 7 at the Waldorf Astoria in Los Angeles. The event, which was produced by Swisher Productions, featured a blood-red wall where hands served arriving guests glasses of wine.
Coinciding with Golden Globes weekend, the 15th annual HBO Luxury Lounge teamed up with Ancestry.com to create a retreat for celebrities and influencers at the Four Seasons. Ancestry asked guests to write notes and attach them to a "family" tree; there was also a historian on site who helped attendees navigate their family histories. Other lounge sponsors included Lucy Hart Ink, which provided on-site brow-shaping, as well as Pinkberry, Don Julio Tequila, and Watch Gang.
Our roundup of stage design ideas this week included the Girlboss Rally business conference, held in New York in November. It brought together more than 600 attendees and 30 speakers to discuss the meaning of success. The event featured a feminine, cheery color palette of pinks, reds, oranges, and whites. The stage design by the Gathery offered a simple—yet stylish—backdrop of curved shapes that picked up the same colors and styles as the rest of the conference.
Also from the stage design roundup was a kickoff event for New York Comic Con in October. Clickspring Design transformed a nightclub into a futuristic world featuring a “cyberpunk, neon-noir” look meant to evoke Blade Runner 2049, one of the movies being promoted at the convention. Designers used reflective finishes, LED video displays, glowing neon, and materials such as corrugated polycarbonate to create an eye-catching stage design. The event was produced by CAA and ReedPop.
The 65th annual Crystal Charity Ball, held at Dallas’ Hilton Anatole's Chantilly Ballroom in December, featured "An Evening in the Alps” theme. The decor included crystals, sparkling lights, trees and winter florals, fake snow, hanging lanterns, snowy mountain scenes painted on backdrops, and more; Tom Addis Productions Inc. designed the event. The ball raised $5.8 million for eight non-profit organizations that serve children.
Benefiting Kids Beating Cancer, the Hats & Heroes Masquerade Ball, which was held at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando in September, featured a Phantom of the Opera theme, which was reflected in the dessert dishes. The event raised $850,000 for the Kids Beating Cancer pediatric transplant center programs.
