Entertainment

March 12, 2013

Entertain a crowd post-sunset with an alfresco movie experience. Utah-based Open Air Cinema is an outdoor cinema equipment supplier and event producer, with rental affiliates throughout the U.S. The company can provide screens up to 40 feet wide, as well as snacks such as popcorn and hot dogs. (The theater systems can also be set up for video games or karaoke.) Event production costs start from $2,000, and Open Air Cinema can help obtain a public performance license for movies, which can cost between $300 and $500.

Photo: Courtesy of Open Air Cinema

Companies including Turner Classic Movies and American Express have booked water ballet company the Aqualillies. The female synchronized swimmers wear vintage swimsuits, flowered swim caps, and red lipstick, while performing a tightly choreographed routine to music. Based in Miami, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and New York, prices are available on request.

Photo: Resolution Photographics

New York-based GrooveHoops performs a mix of dance and acrobatics while manipulating Hula-Hoops. The six performers stage choreographed sets that typically last four to seven minutes, while using standard variety, glowing LED, or fire-lit Hula-Hoops. GrooveHoops travels worldwide; fees start from $500 for one performer.

Photo: Courtesy of GrooveHoops

Entertainment company Zen Arts offers an array of entertainment options for dramatic outdoor entertaining, including fire dancers, costumed mermaids, and transparent “bubble spheres” that float on water while holding dancers. Most recently, six female Olympians joined the company’s synchronized swimming troupe. Based in Los Angeles, Zen Arts performers can travel worldwide; performances cost between $10,000 and $100,000.

Photo: Courtesy of Zen Arts

Bicycle action performer Trevor Bodogh performs gravity-defying tricks on two wheels while traversing a portable set of obstacles like ramps and platforms. The 25-minute set features Bodogh executing moves like climbing up a six-and-a-half-foot-tall “Devil’s Staircase” on his seatless bike. Bodogh can perform outdoors on a variety of surfaces, and he brings his own equipment, music, and sound system. Based in Toronto, Bodogh travels across the U.S. and Canada; fees start from $1,500.

Photo: Calvin Frank Photography

In addition to nighttime fireworks displays, PyroTecnico can also present daytime “fireworks” shows using colored smoke. With offices throughout the U.S., the company can stage performances anywhere. Prices available on request.

Photo: Courtesy of PyroTecnico

Brightline Interactive created a game called “Fix the Tired” for 5-Hour Energy. Players sweep their hands across an iPad to virtually throw one of the bottled drinks onto a large screen, aiming to hit some of the tired-looking people in the scene. As the bottle hits them, they wake up. 5-Hour Energy is using the activity at Nascar events, marathons, and state fairs. The technology includes an administrative tool that provides the brand with engagement statistics. Brightline also adapted it into a free mobile app.

Photo: Courtesy of Brightline Interactive

For presentations, such as one at a military conference, the speaker can control a slide show just by moving his or her hand in the air. Since gesture technology can work from up to eight feet away, it provides a better view for onlookers than a touchscreen presentation where the speaker must stand close to the screen.

Photo: Courtesy of Brightline Interactive

At the N.F.L. Experience leading up to the Super Bowl in February, gesture technology allowed fans to throw virtual football passes in a game sponsored by Pepsi.

Photo: Courtesy of Brightline Interactive

For the Sports Illustrated Heisman Tour, sponsored by Nissan, Brightline Interactive created a two-person game where players tried to complete the most football passes in one minute.

Photo: Courtesy of Brightline Interactive

At this year’s Rolling Stone Live Super Bowl party, producer Toast created a "trashed hotel room" where guests could take photos and pretend to live the rock star life. The event took place at the Bud Light Hotel, a Wyndham property in New Orleans rebranded for the weekend.

Photo: Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images for Rolling Stone

At last year’s Sundance Film Festival, Abel McCallister Designs created a movie-themed space for Chase Sapphire. Interactive photo booth installations allowed visitors to enter the worlds of well-known films that originally premiered at the festival, including Dogtown and Z-Boys. The photo station had guests stand on a skateboard set next to a sideways backdrop of Santa Monica beach; the printed photographs were then turned horizontally to make it look like guests were captured mid-trick on a skateboard ramp.

Photos: Evan Agostini for Chase Sapphire (photo booth), Courtesy of Abel McCallister Designs (printed photograph)

For this year's iteration of the Chase Sapphire activation at Sundance, Abel McCallister Designs created several new photo booth installations based on movies, including Hairspray, Hoosiers, and Little Shop of Horrors (pictured).

Photo: Courtesy of Abel McCallister Designs

At the Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center’s gala in Miami, guests could pose for photos behind an oversize golden picture frame. Shiraz Events provided decor for the event, which drew 600 guests to the JW Marriott Marquis Miami and Hotel Beaux Arts in December.

Photo: Courtesy of Shiraz Events

At the Lipton Uplift Lounge at the Sundance Film Festival in January, guests including Lil Jon could pose for photos while sitting in a real ski-lift chair set against a snowy, branded backdrop.

Photo: Todd Oren

Groupon hosted its Camp Groupon event last July at the Swissôtel Chicago. Kehoe Designs spruced up the hotel with thematic decor for the weekend, including a photo station area with a woodsy backdrop that included life preservers, boat paddles, and bundled logs.

Photo: Sheri Whitko Photography

To celebrate the release of Girls season one on Blu-ray—and to hype the second season—HBO hosted a cocktail party at Toronto's House of Moments in December. Guests were encouraged to snap Instagram photos in front of a backdrop based on Central Park in New York City, where Girls is set. The Big Apple-inspired area had lampposts, trees, shrubs, and backdrops decked with New York City architecture.

Photo: Becca Lemire

David Copperfield helped produce the L.A.'s Promise "A Night of Magic" gala in October. The producers at Chad Hudson Events worked with Copperfield's team to set up a photo booth that made it look as though guests were floating in midair in front of the famous magician. In reality, the station had a potted plant placed sideways against a wall, while attendees stood on a metal stand that was hidden from the camera by clothing and feet.

Photo: Sean Twomey/2Me Studio

To introduce its new line of men's grooming products and promote its partnership with Space Expedition Corporation to send 22 fans on a flight beyond Earth's atmosphere, Axe built its own space academy in January. The brand turned the Cullman Hall of the Universe at the American Museum of Natural History into its secret space headquarters for the launch event, placing a moon-landing-inspired photo op area up front.

Photo: Getty Images for Axe

Last fall’s New Yorkers for Children gala had a "light the way" theme, inspired by the nonprofit's mission to improve the lives of young people. David Stark handled the decor, embellishing a photo backdrop of a forest scene with white birch trees, lush greenery, and a path lit by lanterns.

Photo: Billy Farrell/BFAnyc.com

In November, NBC once again hosted Democracy Plaza at Rockefeller Center in New York, a free interactive, election-focused exhibit and promotion for the public that also served as its election-night coverage hub. Inside the Rockefeller Plaza concourse, people lined up to have their photos taken in side-by-side replicas of the White House press room and the Oval Office.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash

For Dos Equis's "Most Interesting Masquerade," held in Chelsea's historic Masonic Hall in New York and produced by Mirrorball, body painter Craig Tracy drew half a lion's face on the sides of two models. When the models sat back-to-back inside a gold picture frame, the full face of the lion was visible and formed the backdrop of a photo op.

Photo: Courtesy of Mirrorball

For last year’s American Heart Association gala in Seattle, event designer Matthew Parker created a photo backdrop for the Kentucky Derby-themed event that included a life-size papier-mâché horse made from more than 5,000 individually placed construction-paper strips.

Photo: Courtesy of Matthew Parker Events

To promote its new line of Outdoor Life apparel, Sears built a campsite-themed area in New York’s Times Square last October. Guests could pose in a photo op area that was set up to look like a real campsite, with a tent, faux grass, a fire pit, and outdoorsy props.

Photo: Getty Images

Transitions Optical, working with chef Robert Irvine, had a two-story activation at the recent South Beach Wine & Food Festival’s Grand Tasting Village. Inside the structure, guests posed at a Mad Hatter's tea-party-themed dining set with props, including cutouts of Irvine’s face.

Photo: Elizabeth Renfrow for BizBash

For a recent wedding in New York, Oh Snap Smile constructed a unique photo booth environment: Guests were shot from above while lounging in a bed strewn with custom pillows to use as props.

Photo: Courtesy of Oh Snap! Smile

For e-commerce company Vente-Privee USA's one-year anniversary party held last November in New York, StudioBooth set up a custom photo set with fall leaves and vintage props, designed to mimic the company’s fall campaign. The images were turned into animated GIFs that were emailed to guests.

Photo: Anna Sekula

Immersive Mobile Venue

From newly launched full-service San Francisco production agency Madrone Creative comes its flagship mobile venue, the Immersion Dome. The 2,000-square-foot space can hold 300 standing or 150 seated and comes with seamless 360-degree video projection. The Madrone team works with clients to create custom-branded video content, which can also include audio reactive projections or a customized interactive mobile app. The Immersion Dome can be shipped worldwide.

Photo: Courtesy of Madrone

David Stark's New Book

In his latest book, The Art of the Party (The Monacelli Press), $40, event designer David Stark shares a peek into the creative process behind 27 of his eye-popping events produced for clients including the Metropolitan Opera, Target, the American Friends of the Israel Museum (pictured), and Kiehl’s. [BizBash executive editor Anna Sekula will lead a Q&A session with David Stark at Elevate on July 24. Click here for more information.]

Photos: Courtesy of David Stark

Rustic Wood Bar

Available in locations throughout the U.S., Designer8 has introduced its Reclaimed bar just in time for summer events. The rustic-looking bar comes in five different sizes, and the rental costs range from $395 to $2,000.

Photo: Courtesy of Designer8

Ready-to-Serve Cocktails

A newly launched line of low-calorie, ready-to-drink beverages, Miami Cocktail Company offers zero-carb, zero-sugar cocktails in flavors ideal for summer events, such as Old Time Sweet Tea and Piña Colada.

Photo: Courtesy of Miami Cocktail Company

Giant, Inflatable Sculptures

Chicago artist Claire Ashley produces giant, inflatable sculptures splashed with colorful graffiti-style paint. The whimsical pieces can be commissioned as site-specific installations with about one month’s advance notice. Performers can also climb inside the sculptures to stage quirky dance routines.

Photo: Courtesy of Claire Ashley

Safari-Style Tents

Safari-style tents are the new hot ticket: Under Canvas Events is now renting marquee teepee-style tents for events throughout the U.S. and Canada. As many as seven of the large canvas tents can be connected to accommodate 315 seated or 700 standing. The company also rents teepee bathrooms with running water, accommodation teepees that sleep as many as four people, and a variety of furniture and accessories for corporate retreats.

Photo: Courtesy of Under Canvas Events

Custom Photo Booths

Photo station the Danger Booth now offers custom-crafted backdrops. The basic package price of $850 includes three hours of event coverage with an attendant, a standard backdrop, an online gallery for guests, a USB drive of high-resolution photos, and travel within an hour of Boston's 02135 zip code. Custom backdrops start from $150.

Photo: Zac Wolf Photography

Gourmet Sweets Packages

The adorably packaged gourmet sweets from Chicago-based A Sweet Delivery can be customized with company logos and one-off motifs. Each of the company’s signature gift boxes has a stylish themed interior and includes a variety of confections along with a tiny candy scoop. Prices start from $35, and gifts can be shipped worldwide.

Photo: Courtesy of A Sweet Delivery

Versatile Vintage Bus

Airship 37 in Toronto has introduced to its space the Silver Bus, a retrofitted, 14-seat vintage bus that can be used as an indoor pop-up shop, V.I.P. area, or greenroom. Parked along the raw space’s wall, the bus has black leather seating, an LCD TV, a Bose sound system, and a kitchen; the exterior panels can be vinyl-wrapped.

Photo: Courtesy of Silver Bus

Eco-Friendly Linens

National linen rental company Creative Coverings has implemented new sustainable components to its manufacturing, shipping, and laundry departments. Initiatives include recycling damaged linens into alternate size coverings or swatch samples; teaming up with U.P.S. to design reusable canvas shipping bags for returning linens; and using eco-friendly product lines in the laundering process.

Photo: Matt Theilen

Brandable Candies

Australian candy company Sticky USA has opened its first U.S. store at Hollywood & Highland in Los Angeles. Specializing in custom candies, the sweets can include corporate logos and messages.

Photo: Courtesy of Sticky USA

Golfing for Groups

Available at all nine of Oki Golf’s Puget Sound area courses, the new Golf Solutions program is designed to make planning golf tournaments and small group outings easier. The Golf Solutions team helps planners create, market, and manage golf events based on group size and event type, handling everything from catering and giveaways to creating custom event Web sites and sending email updates to guests. Pricing is available on request, and the program can accommodate groups of as few as 16 people.

Photo: Courtesy of Golf Solutions

Human-Powered Shaved-Ice Machine

Available throughout the New York area, Ice Riders NYC offers its eco-friendly, bicycle-powered shaved-ice machine for events. Packages start around $775 for 50 to 100 guests for two hours, including staff, compostable dishes and utensils, and six flavors of your choice, such as watermelon and wild cherry. A portion of profits is donated to earth-friendly charities. A minimum of two weeks’ notice is preferred.

Photo: Todd Julian/Old Brick Studios

Adrenaline-Fueled Teambuilding

As Las Vegas’s largest indoor shooting range, the Range 702 makes for an adrenaline-filled teambuilding option. The location includes a V.I.P. room with a pool table, flat-screen TVs, a private entrance, and seven private lanes. Group shooting packages start from $40 and include experiences like Zombiance, complete with zombie targets.

Photo: Courtesy of Rage 702

Mobile, Eco-Friendly Advertising

Ideal for warm weather promotions in New York City, the Urban Mobility Project offers Ad Bikes, a fleet of 10 recumbent bicycles that support two-sided, 4- by 6-foot posters that travel custom routes throughout the five boroughs. Custom hubcap covers and T-shirts for riders are available. The cost is $400 per bike and rider for a six-hour shift.

Photo: Courtesy of Urban Mobility

Dinner-and-a-Movie for Groups

A new dinner-and-a-movie outing that takes place at Theatre 1 inside Boston's Revere Hotel, Reel Chefs is available for private groups of many as 225 guests. The activity includes a film screening and a thematic meal prepared by a local chef. Prices start at $50 per person.

Photo: Marc Andrew Deley/CrammedMedia