This may be the one time it’s actually okay to get marker all over the furniture. Taking inspiration from the recent trend of adult coloring books, national furniture rental company AFR has introduced a new initiative called #ColorYourEvents, which allows guests to grab a marker and color in branded decals that are adhered to tabletops. (The company's Aspen Cocktail Table is pictured, but the decals can be used on other AFR tables as well.) Clients provide the artwork and markers, and AFR handles the decal printing and pasting. Pricing depends on the item and the size.
Think beyond the balloon animal. Self-taught “balloon twister” Addi Somekh makes unique, larger-than-life balloon installations, such as the pink poodle that greeted guests at the event registration area. In addition to funky decor, Somekh can provide live demonstrations for events, creating balloon hats and inflatable crowns custom-designed for guests’ personalities and style. He also hosts teambuilding exercises where guests create balloon flowers that are later donated to local nursing homes. Somekh can provide his services to events around the world; prices are available upon request.
Blueprint Studios showcased a variety of seating rentals at the expo. On the top row, from left to right, is the Giorgio ottoman in fur; the Bristol chair in green (it also comes in white, yellow, gray, light blue, and black); the Portofina lounge chair in brown and iron; the Louis chair in white (it also comes in black, silver, and gold); and the Whitby chair in green (it also comes in blue, brown, gray, yellow, and purple). On the bottom row, from left to right, is the Marais chair in red (it also comes in gunmetal silver); the Pino chair in green and chrome; and Portofino ottoman in brown and iron. Prices are available upon request, and the San Francisco-based company rents nationwide.
Olive & Cocoa provides high-end gift boxes. The company specializes in business gifting as well as social occasions, and can include marketing or promotional items inside the boxes. Gifts arrive in stylish wooden crates that can be customized with logos or other branding; it costs $395 to create a custom hot iron brand that can be reused on any order. Prices for gift crates vary depending on size and content.
For a unique amusement park-inspired entertainment option, the Conjurer provides live fortune-telling at events. Founder and performer Robert Smith, who is based in New Mexico, travels the country to work festivals and corporate events. Prices for corporate appearances start at $5,000, and for an extra fee, he can provide custom branding on fortune cards and custom audio fortunes for V.I.P. guests. Smith also offers a variety of magic performances for events.
New from national draping company Quest Drape is the Geo Panel. The geometric panels, introduced in January, are made from expanded PVC and hang from truss or the drape line. They are three-foot squares that come in six patterns; the solid pattern can be branded or used as a projection screen. Currently, the panels are only available in white. Prices vary depending on volume and location; the company has 19 locations throughout the United States.
Los Angeles-based catering company Fill ‘R Up Gastro Garage uses blow torches to cook on site, creating an interactive, entertaining option for events. The chefs—called “mechanics”—create sweet or savory “tanks”: brioche-style doughnuts that are torched and filled with nitrous foam in a variety of flavors. The company has worked with clients such as American Idol, Warner Brothers, and Social Media Week Los Angeles, and can travel to events around the country. Prices start at $10 to $20 per guest, depending on numbers, hours, and other factors.
Cotton candy is a summertime staple for people of all ages. A new twist on the classic treat is cotton candy illuminated by a colorful LED stick. Glo Cone’s flashy catering option costs $500 for a case of 400 glowing cones; the candy is not included. The company can provide their product nationally for events such as festivals, birthday parties, corporate gatherings, and more.
For a sustainable option, Bamboo Studio offers three product lines—two of which use parts of a bamboo plant and one that uses leaves from a palm tree. The result is dinnerware that is all-natural, disposable, and 100-percent biodegradable. The company’s plates, bowls, utensils, and other tabletop items have a clean, natural look, and custom branding can be created for corporate events, weddings, and more. The Arlington, Texas-based company ships nationwide, and prices vary depending on the item.
Forget the glow sticks or cell phone flashlights. Crowdsync Technology provides controllable LED wristbands for events or live performances that light up to the beat of music using specialized DMX control software. Wristbands last roughly six hours or can be purchased with replaceable batteries for multi-day use. They can also be printed with company logos. Prices range from $3.49 to $3.99 per wristband, and the company works on events nationwide. Crowdsync Technology can also be applied to festival-friendly items such as beach balls.
Los Angeles-based Plan-It Interactive provides carnival games, inflatables, and other event activities and equipment. They specialize in oversize games such as giant chess, Jenga, and Twister, as well as human bowling and obstacle courses. The games can be customized for events; the company can also organize teambuilding activities and scavenger hunts. Plan-It Interactive services all of California and Nevada, and can travel to other states upon request.
Union Fare is a 25,000-square-foot restaurant and market in Manhattan's Union Square that includes a gastrohall, a bakery, and two bars. Housed in the complex is a contemporary American restaurant, which opened in May, and has a capacity of 185 seated or 450 for receptions. The restaurant has a raw bar and a charcuterie station. The venue has two spaces for rent for private use, as of September: one that seats 15 people and another suited for receptions of as many as 70 guests.
Avra Madison, scheduled to open in August on the Upper East Side, is a spinoff of the midtown Greek eatery Avra Estiatorio. Serving a mix of Mediterranean dishes and authentic Greek fare (with an emphasis on seafood), the eatery is a bi-level, 17,000-square-foot restaurant that seats 395 or holds 600 for receptions. During warm weather, large bay windows at the entrance of the eatery can open to a 22-seat sidewalk cafe. On the upper level, which holds 220 seated or 400 for receptions, trees in the center of the room stretch up to a skylight. The restaurant's entire lower level, which is available for private events, can hold 175 seated or 225 standing guests. On the lower level, a private dining room seats 30 or holds 40 for cocktails, and a wine cellar seats 12 people. The lower level also has a large, shallow reflecting pool in the center of the dining room.
Inside the 70-foot dome was a 360-degree virtual reality theater that held as many as 400 people. The experience was visually produced by Invisible Light Network and Dirt Empire, and Antfood provided sound effects.
Macy's partnered with LeadDog Marketing Group to produce the Macy's Oasis, which gave festivalgoers a chance to relax with lounge furniture and a charging station. Along with bandanas soaked in ice water, the lounge had a string art wall created by attendees.
Antioxidant infusion beverage brand Bai partnered with Relevant to produce the the lounge, which offered drinks and cocktails, a phone-charging station, and a photo station featuring a LightBright wall created with Bai bottles. Bai also had a custom Snapchat geofilter for the festival.
AT&T-sponsored charging stations kept people connected.
Open shelving displayed branded products like logo fans—all done in a red, white, and blue palette.
This year, Smirnoff is celebrating the 75th anniversary of its co-creation of the Moscow Mule cocktail. To mark the milestone, Smirnoff hosted a series of immersive dinners at Tales of the Cocktail. Throughout the evening, guests were transported back in time to experience the story of the Moscow Mule in a pop-up restaurant modeled on the drink’s history. The Wonderland designed and produced the series, which it billed as the first time experiential theater has been used for a brand experience at Tales of the Cocktail.
Create a virtual celebrity photo opportunity with Air Graffiti Dallas’s new augmented reality technology. The new system, which launches this summer, is intended for brands that are looking for ways to leverage their celebrity endorsement contracts. Air Graffiti Dallas shoots a brief video of the celebrity in advance, for example, walking into the shot, waving, or bouncing a ball. At the live event, fans stand in a designated photo area, and the video of the celebrity is virtually added to the image. Guests receive copies of the images, which can include sponsor branding, to share via email, text, or social media.
Photoboxx is a social media printing station for parties and events. When guests post their photos to Twitter or Instagram using a designated hashtag, the Photoboxx printer automatically prints a hard copy. Hosts can customize the background color of the prints and also add graphics or logos. They can also choose whether to display or hide information such as username, profile image, and comments. After the event, Photoboxx provides a report on hashtag usage, impressions, and reach.
