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  1. Production & Strategy
  2. Programming & Entertainment

Entertainment

June 14, 2016
In partnership with the (Red) campaign, Belvedere staged an AIDS awareness takeover of New York's meatpacking district in November 2012, featuring a one-hour Chromeo concert. During the performance, the crowd waved oversize red glow sticks, which matched the glowing red look of the promotion.
In partnership with the (Red) campaign, Belvedere staged an AIDS awareness takeover of New York's meatpacking district in November 2012, featuring a one-hour Chromeo concert. During the performance, the crowd waved oversize red glow sticks, which matched the glowing red look of the promotion.
Photo: Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for (BELVEDERE)RED Night Lights for World AIDS Day
Lit with LED lights in customizable colors, the Peacock Egg cocktail at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is served in a hollow egg-shaped ice cube, containing lavender syrup, blue Curacao, Bombay Sapphire gin, and fresh lemonade.
Lit with LED lights in customizable colors, the Peacock Egg cocktail at Peacock Alley in the Waldorf Astoria Orlando is served in a hollow egg-shaped ice cube, containing lavender syrup, blue Curacao, Bombay Sapphire gin, and fresh lemonade.
Photo: Courtesy of Waldorf Astoria
At the welcome reception for Univision's “Leading the Change” event, held at the SLS Las Vegas hotel in Las Vegas in November 2015, a ballerina flash mob wearing glow-in-the-dark makeup surprised guests.
At the welcome reception for Univision's “Leading the Change” event, held at the SLS Las Vegas hotel in Las Vegas in November 2015, a ballerina flash mob wearing glow-in-the-dark makeup surprised guests.
Photo: Danielle de Bruno
Guests could pick up various glow-in-the-dark items such as necklaces, bracelets, and rings at the Outback Bowl’s Gridiron Gala, held in Tampa’s A La Carte Event Pavilion in January 2012.
Guests could pick up various glow-in-the-dark items such as necklaces, bracelets, and rings at the Outback Bowl’s Gridiron Gala, held in Tampa’s A La Carte Event Pavilion in January 2012.
Photo: Tacy Briggs-Troncoso/MamaRazzi Foto
An acrobat dressed in a bright fluorescent costume performed in a hoop suspended from the ceiling at the Gridiron Gala.
An acrobat dressed in a bright fluorescent costume performed in a hoop suspended from the ceiling at the Gridiron Gala.
Photo: Tacy Briggs-Troncoso/MamaRazzi Foto
Magnolia Bluebird Design & Events created walls of cotton candy served on LED glow sticks for a Pop Art-theme sweet sixteen party, held at the Musikfest Café at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in January 2015. “It smelled like a Katy Perry concert when you walked in the door,” said Danielle Couick, principal of the Columbia, Maryland-based event planning company.
Magnolia Bluebird Design & Events created walls of cotton candy served on LED glow sticks for a Pop Art-theme sweet sixteen party, held at the Musikfest Café at the SteelStacks in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania in January 2015. “It smelled like a Katy Perry concert when you walked in the door,” said Danielle Couick, principal of the Columbia, Maryland-based event planning company.
Photo: Rodney Bailey
For a trippy twist on team building, the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the JW Marriott Grand Rapids in Michigan offer glow-in-the-dark yoga. The one-hour class keeps groups focused thanks to the lack of visibility. By practicing in the dark, attendees are forced to tap into their senses while stretching. Groups start the session by drawing on themselves and each other with glow-in-the-dark body paint, then the class wraps with a dance party and glow-in-the-dark healthy cocktails. Snacks including fresh juices and fruits are provided.
For a trippy twist on team building, the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel and the JW Marriott Grand Rapids in Michigan offer glow-in-the-dark yoga. The one-hour class keeps groups focused thanks to the lack of visibility. By practicing in the dark, attendees are forced to tap into their senses while stretching. Groups start the session by drawing on themselves and each other with glow-in-the-dark body paint, then the class wraps with a dance party and glow-in-the-dark healthy cocktails. Snacks including fresh juices and fruits are provided.
Photo: Courtesy of JW Marriott
A Respawn Entertainment employee walked the show floor of the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo, sporting a dramatic logo Mohawk that glowed in the dark. (A buddy walked behind with a black-light flashlight to activate the effect.)
A Respawn Entertainment employee walked the show floor of the 2013 Electronic Entertainment Expo, sporting a dramatic logo Mohawk that glowed in the dark. (A buddy walked behind with a black-light flashlight to activate the effect.)
Photo: AliceDubin/BizBash
A trio of iLuminate dancers in bespoke LED suits performed during Alienware's laptop launch event at E3 in 2013.
A trio of iLuminate dancers in bespoke LED suits performed during Alienware's laptop launch event at E3 in 2013.
Photo: Tiffany Rose Photography
Guests could grab packages of green glow-stick earrings as party favors at the National Pancreas Foundation's Young Professionals' 'Punk Goes to Discotheque' benefit, which was held at the Oberon at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston in 2010.
Guests could grab packages of green glow-stick earrings as party favors at the National Pancreas Foundation's Young Professionals' "Punk Goes to Discotheque" benefit, which was held at the Oberon at the American Repertory Theatre in Boston in 2010.
Photo: Aviran Levy
At the 'Night of the AdEaters' event, which took place at Terminal 5 in New York during Advertising Week in 2009, organizers provided glow-in-the-dark ice cubes to help guests keep track of their drinks.
At the "Night of the AdEaters" event, which took place at Terminal 5 in New York during Advertising Week in 2009, organizers provided glow-in-the-dark ice cubes to help guests keep track of their drinks.
Photo: Alice and Chris
Performers twirled LED hula hoops at an App Annie event, held at Mezzanine in March during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
Performers twirled LED hula hoops at an App Annie event, held at Mezzanine in March during the Game Developers Conference in San Francisco.
Photo: Lindsay Bishop
Wellness: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Wellness: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Coachella, which took place April 10 to 12 and 17 to 19 in Indio, California, offered festivalgoers numerous health and wellness events to attend, including the Nylon Recovery Brunch. The event offered outdoor yoga, as well as other activities meant to help guests recuperate after the weekend.

Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
Wellness: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Wellness: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

Sparrows Lodge in Palm Springs was the location of Retreat, a wellness-minded, relaxation-focused event produced by Jeff Consoletti or JJ-LA and tour and event producer Tanya Slater. Taylor & Taylor was behind the production design, which included a silk patchwork canopy, Persian rugs, and kilim pillows. The event also offered free massages.

Photo: Tyler Curtis
Wellness: SXSWi
Wellness: SXSWi

This year's South by Southwest Interactive, part of SXSW, which took place March 13 to 17 in Austin, Texas, had a Pursuit of Equinox cycling class at the Fast Company Grill at Cedar Door. Bikes pedaled by participants sent out data that was visualized on a screen.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Wellness: SXSW
Wellness: SXSW

For early risers, Spotify House held cycling classes by SoulCycle and dance classes, with a live DJ.

Photo: Alli Harvey/Getty Images for Spotify
Guest Amenities: Lollapalooza
Guest Amenities: Lollapalooza

Many music festivals this year offered amenities to attendees that included beauty booths and necessary goods. Bud Light's traveling House of Whatever activation at Lollapalooza, which took place in Chicago's Grant Park from July 31 to August 2, had a "Tattoos and 'Dos" booth, which offered braiding, hair chalking, and other festival-inspired hairstyling services.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for Bizbash
Guest Amenities: Pitchfork Music Festival
Guest Amenities: Pitchfork Music Festival

Whole Foods had a miniature market at Pitchfork Music Festival, which took place July 17 to 19 at Chicago's Union Park. The market offered fruits and snacks, as well as sunscreen, hair ties and bobby pins, and scented sprays. The station encouraged guests to take advantage of the free perks with a sign that read "Refresh yourself before you wreck yourself."

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for BizBash
Guest Amenities: Pitchfork Music Festival
Guest Amenities: Pitchfork Music Festival

At a mini mart outside of a Soho House Chicago activation, guests could design their own parasols for portable shade during the festival.

Photo: Courtesy of Soho House Chicago
Guest Amenities: SXSW
Guest Amenities: SXSW

Comedy Central's one-day Kegs and Eggs at Pelons & Bar offered attendees three key festival necessities: eggs, beer, and ponchos for that inevitable rainy day.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Guest Amenities: SXSW
Guest Amenities: SXSW

For attendees with dying phone batteries, Mophie had St. Bernards on hand with the brand's power reserve unit inside a barrel attached to the dogs' collars. Those in need of a charge took screenshots of their phone screen and location, and tweeted to the brand.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Sweet-Theme Snack Bars: Pitchfork Music Festival
Sweet-Theme Snack Bars: Pitchfork Music Festival

Off site but near festival grounds, Soho House Chicago teamed up with food website and mobile app the Infatuation to host an Ice Cream Social for festivalgoers on Friday. The event included a complimentary D.I.Y. sundae bar, where toppings inspired by the hotel's eateries included melon, basil, and bits of apple pie.

Photo: Courtesy of Soho House Chicago
Sweet-Theme Snack Bars: Miami Music Week
Sweet-Theme Snack Bars: Miami Music Week

The Breakfast Sessions buffet was housed in the Red Bull Guest House at the Sagamore Hotel during the Winter Music Conference in Miami from March 24 to 28. Offered as a late-night snack, the buffet served munchies including Pop Tarts with dipping sauces, mac 'n' cheese, chicken-and-waffle sandwiches, and Twinkies.

Photo: Erik Voake/Red Bull Content Pool
Low-Tech Activities: Essence Festival
Low-Tech Activities: Essence Festival

Certain music festivals this year proved that going old-school can be the key to throwing an entertaining party. At the Essence Festival, which ran from July 2 to 5 in New Orleans, McDonald's threw a retro-theme community celebration, called the "Lovin' Skate Jam," which was designed by BPR and the Narrative Group. The fast-food chain's event offered roller skates and a skating rink for attendees, as well as a photo booth with '80s and '90s hip-hop-inspired props.

Photo: Courtesy of the Narrative Group
Low-Tech Activities: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Low-Tech Activities: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

The Bootsy Bellows estate's party featured a colorful ball pit for adults, backed by the logo and slogan of sponsor McDonald's. The Narrative Group handled media, producing the party with support from ESE Lifestyle.

Photo: Rick Williams
Low-Tech Activities: SXSW
Low-Tech Activities: SXSW

Brooklyn Brewery brought its traveling petting zoo, Tiny Tails to You, to the Grackle. One of the highlights was a tortoise race.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Low-Tech Activities: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival
Low-Tech Activities: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival

My Jewel Bar's table at the Retreat offered guests baubles that they could customize with festival-inspired charms and details.

Photo: Alesandra Dubin/BizBash
360-Degree Photo Booths: Lollapalooza
360-Degree Photo Booths: Lollapalooza

In a V.I.P. area, guests could have their photos snapped inside the "Bud Light Lolla-Scope." The machine took rotating, 360-degree photos of guests, who then posted the images to their social media accounts. The images were automatically populated with the phrase: "And this happened at Lolla 2015," along with the #UpForWhatever hashtag.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for Bizbash
360-Degree Photo Booths: SXSW
360-Degree Photo Booths: SXSW

HBO’s Silicon Valley brought Scheimpflüg’s Time Slice 360-degree photo booth to the Mashable House. Guests could email the images they took to themselves.

Photo: Nadia Chaudhury/BizBash
Remote Concert Viewing: Lollapalooza
Remote Concert Viewing: Lollapalooza

Not a fan being stuck in a wild crowd at the front of the stage? Festivals this year provided the opportunity to watch artists onstage in a less chaotic setting. At Samsung's Galaxy Experience and its Owner's Lounge, guests interacted with the Samsung Gear VR, a virtual-reality device that gave them an up-close view of the performances on the Samsung Galaxy stage.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for Bizbash
Remote Concert Viewing: Pitchfork Music Festival
Remote Concert Viewing: Pitchfork Music Festival

Local beer company Goose Island made custom periscopes, set back from the main stages, that let guests peer at the festival crowds near the stages.

Photo: Barry Brecheisen for Bizbash
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