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Special Events - Rating TOP50
1. Exclusive: 14th Annual 50 Top Event Companies
Corporate Magic Helps the Salvation Army Celebrate 150 Years
COVER STORY
HIP IN CATERING:
DIY DESSERTS P. 27
RENTAL PROS BEAT
THE LOW-BALL BID
P. 33
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
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Five experts share the
event essentials that
keep the funds flowing
YOUR GALA
Growing
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4. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
3
THIS ISSUE
09-10/15
27
COLUMNS
6 Editor’s Page
Lisa Hurley on what
the big-time players
can teach us all.
38 The Last Word
Kelly Murphy on her
life in linen.
DEPARTMENTS
9 Confetti
Corporate Magic helps the
Salvation Army celebrate its
150th anniversary with the
astonishing ‘Boundless.’
19-22 Think ISES
The latest news from the
International Special Events
Society.
27 Food for Fêtes
DIY dessert stations, Asian-
inspired treats and artisanal
cheeses chart a new course
for dessert.
On the cover: The stunning
‘Shanghai Silk’ Daffodil Ball;
read more on page 24. Photo
by Stéphane Poirier. Photo
at top by Nadine Froger
Photography. Photo at left by
Image Maker Photographic
Studio.
COVER STORY
11
14th Annual
50 Top Event Companies
It’s our annual look at the biggest players in
event planning. For who’s working on what
and a forecast of top trends, turn here.
23
Growing Your Gala
The brains behind five fabulous fundraisers
share their secrets of event essentials to
keep the funds flowing.
5. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
4
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THIS ISSUE09-10/15
31
DEPARTMENTS
31 Divine Decor
Today’s lighting designers create
wondrous new worlds. Here, design
work by Got Light; photo by Show
Ready Photo.
33 Rental Essentials
Is trying to salvage a low-ball bid
good business—or business suicide?
35 Classifieds
37 Advertisers Index
37 Marketplace
CONTRIBUTORS
Contributing editor
Susan Cuadrado looks
at how the DIY trend
is taking over dessert,
along with the brightest
ideas in event lighting.
Our art director,
Cheryl Prats, splits
her time between
Special Events and
a range of design
projects, both print
and online.
7. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
6
Mark Baltazar / Broadstreet
New York
Janice Blackmon / Janice Blackmon Events
Atlanta
Valerie Braun / Arena Americas
Chicago
Cindy Brewer, CMP, DMCP / LEO Events
Memphis, Tenn.
David Buckley, CSEP / AFR Event Furnishings
Pennsauken, N.J.
Patrick Cuccaro / Affairs to Remember
Atlanta
Kevin Dana / CORT Trade Show and Event Furnishings
South San Francisco, Calif.
Tracie Domino / Tracie Domino Events
Tampa, Fla.
Craig Erlich / Pulse 220
Detroit
Andrew Gerstel / Windows Catering Co.
Alexandria, Va.
Karl Heitz, CSEP, DMCP / The AXS Group
Denver
Lisa Hopkins Barry, CPCE, CMP / The Houstonian
Houston
L. Gene Huddleson / Detail + Design
Indianapolis
Steve Jaffe, CSEP / MMD Equipment
Orlando, Fla.
Cara Kleinhaut / Caravents
Beverly Hills, Calif.
Steve Kohn / CAD My Event
Edison, N.J.
Caroline Lett / University of Southern California
Los Angeles
La Randa Mayes / Supreme Court of the United States
Washington
Gwen McNutt / Comcast Cable
Chicago
Amil Mendez / Showtime Events
Crofton, Md.
Jon Michaels / Extraordinary Events
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
Kathy Newby, CERP / Stuart Rental Co.
Milpitas, Calif.
Rena Puebla / Coast Concierge Service
Costa Mesa, Calif.
Brian Richardson / L and A Tents
Hamilton, N.J.
Charlene Roth-Diddams / POP Kollaborative
Calgary, Alberta
Jim Sala / Classic Tents
Torrance, Calif.
Robin Selden / Marcia Selden Catering and Event Planning
Stamford, Conn.
Alison Silcoff / Alison Silcoff Events
Montreal
Anne Finzer Wadlow / CEO Corporate Event Organization
Edmonton, Alberta
Debbie Wood / The University of Texas at Tyler
Tyler, Texas
EDITOR’S PAGE
EVENTS AT THE EPICENTER
PhotobyNadineFrogerPhotography O U R A D V I S O R Y
B O A R D
As many of you will remember, face-to-face events took a beating during
the Great Recession. Travel was too expensive, staffing was too expensive—
and besides, all communication was going virtual, wasn’t it?
What a difference the years make. Today, face-to-face events are at the
epicenter of major marketing campaigns, as the big event producers we profile
in our annual “50 Top Event Companies” prove.
Events are no longer the “nice to have” add-ons to campaigns. Instead,
they are often the essentials of a marketing program. “Experiential marketing
is now in a place where events are no longer on the fringes of the marketing
mix,” says Jeff Kalpak, head of New York-based Barkley Kalpak Agency. “They
are the center of it.”
One big reason, of course, is the rise of social media. As many of us dis-
covered after viewing thousands of forgettable posts and tweets, social media
too often is just the channel, or as some commentators call it, the “dumb
pipe.” Without compelling content, social media is a frenzy of mindless mes-
sages, a lot of noise about nothing. Enter events.
Events, as they always have, provide irreplaceable interaction. As Mark
Baltazar, head of New York-based Broadstreet, puts it, “Attendees are gravitat-
ing toward events that provide community, human interaction and non-
digital shared experiences.”
Indeed, sophisticated event pros take the power of these social-media
mavens quite seriously. “We’ve had to legitimately shift our focus to the
attendees at the center of those experiences as influencers,” Kalpak says. He
describes them as “a savvy bunch with short attention spans and finely tuned
BS meters, armed with an opinion, a mobile device and followers.” Turn to
page 11 for the full story.
We’re also proud to bring you the smart thinking of five event planners
who create fundraising galas that keep on giving. We hope that our cover
story, which begins on page 23, will inspire you to try something new—or
stick with something traditional if that’s best—for your event.
And our sweet finale: a look at the DIY trend for desserts. Bring along a
blow torch to create the cutest mini baked Alaska ever.
10. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
9
Corporate Magic oversees the mammoth 150th anniversary celebration of the
Salvation Army where it all began—in London
Unlimited Spectacle at ‘Boundless’
SalutingtheArmy:Corporate Magic oversaw
a massive program of music, performers and
audiovisual displays for the 150th anniversary
of the Salvation Army. Photos here and lower
center and right by Graham Carlow; photo at
lower left by JimTempleton-Cross.
The world came to London for
five days in June, as the Salvation
Army celebrated its 150th anniver-
sary by bringing together repre-
sentatives from all the countries in
which the charitable organization
operates.
The Army, which was founded
and is headquartered in London,
hired Dallas-based Corporate
Magic to oversee the events.
Corporate Magic has a long his-
tory with the charity: “It all sprang
from our association with the
Salvation Army’s annual Red Kettle
campaign kickoff broadcast dur-
ing Dallas Cowboys Thanksgiving
Day games over the past 13 years,”
explains Stephen Dahlem, senior
creative director for Corporate
Magic.
The 150th event required a two-
year planning process. “Corporate
Magic orchestrated the entire
event, across five venues, from
conceptualization to forming the
teams that handled everything
from staging to lighting to AV and
video,” Dahlem says. The event ros-
ter included seven general sessions
in London’s O2 arena, a grand
march down the mall leading to
Buckingham Palace, an interactive
history of the Army, and perfor-
mances by 40 international groups,
ranging from the hula to Chinese
lion dancing.
The event team numbered more
than 250—nine from the U.S.,
including Christopher Laue, who
produced the opening ceremonies
for the 2012 Olympics in London,
and the rest local. All told, nearly
16,000 attendees from all 126 Army
countries marveled at the spectacle.
Corporate Magic keyed on the
event theme “Boundless”—a lyric
from a hymn written by the founder
of the Army. “We knew that we
could apply that message of
‘unlimited’ to all aspects of the
Army’s future,” Dahlem says.
He credits Corporate Magic’s
grasp of the Army’s mission as one
reason why his team won the bid,
saying Corporate Magic “completely
understood the importance of why
they gathered for this anniversary.”
Corporate Magic 1925 Cedar
Springs, Dallas, TX 75201;
800/275-7026; www.corporate
magicinc.com
11. A sly mix of vintage and
vamp, Sophie Parrott heads
up the Marvelous Vintage
Tea Party Co. Her Austin,
Texas-based firm specializes
in delivering over-the-top tea
parties for occasions ranging
from bachelorette parties,
including one for songbird
Kelly Clarkson, to corporate
events. The Marvelous Tea
team provides catering
services, decor, rentals, floral,
staffing and entertainment,
with an emphasis on creating
highly detailed, personalized
events. Packages range from
the basic “Simply Lovely,”
offering china, tabletop
decor, cake and staff, up to
the “Absolutely Bloomin’
Marvelous,” where guests
are treated to vintage china,
sterling silver flatware, cakes
and treats, lavish floral, and
a trunk brimming with hats
to try on. Additional services
include vintage hairstyling
and makeup sessions,
burlesque dancers and a
silhouette artist.
Visit www.marveloustea.com
PARTY FAVOR
BEE’S-KNEES TEAS
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the box for 750
Pickyourparty:The Marvelous Vintage Team team
creates custom tea parties—even underwater. Photos
by Waterloo Studio Photography, Bonnie Lauren
Photography, Flashpool Productions and Melanie
Grizzel Photography (clockwise from top left).
12. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
11
COMPANY CHIEF EXECUTIVE
AVERAGE
NUMBER
OF SPECIAL
EVENTS PER
YEAR
ANNUAL
REVENUE FROM
SPECIAL
EVENTS (2015
FORECAST)
NOTEWORTHY EVENTS TOP TRENDS
AgencyEA
Chicago
www.agencyea.com
Fergus Rooney 108 $27 million Along with expanding its own office space to a
total of 21,000 square feet, AgencyEA continues
to nurture its partnership with Hilton Worldwide,
working on the Regional Owner Connections,
America’s Full Service Summit, America’s Lodging
Investment Summit, and Hilton @PLAY.
“Context is king,” management says. “Technology—beacons,
geo-fencing, RFID, etc.—has allowed us to understand how users
consume content at an event.”
Allied Experiential
New York
www.allied
experiential.com
Matthew Glass 500 $10 million Allied has ventured beyond U.S. borders to produce
a global campaign with events in 17 different
countries. The company is also increasing work with
special markets, including Latino, African-American
and LGBT communities, management reports.
Keep your eyes open for increased use of wearable technologies,
virtual reality and social media, they say.
AMCI
Marina del Rey, Calif.
www.amciglobal.com
David Stokols 500 $125 million to
$150 million
Management points with pride to its new website,
new service offerings and expansion to serve 52
countries—all this year.
“Experiential is now accepted as a key and crucial practice to
achieve brand and sales success,” management says. “Procure-
ment has an equal seat at the table with marcom end-users.”
Ashfield Meetings
and Events
Ivyland, Pa.
www.ashfield
healthcare.com/
meetingsandevents
Gavin Houston 1,075 $142 million Highlights of the past year have included a re-
brand from Universal WorldEvents to better align
the division with its parent, United Drug; expansion
of the company’s footprint to San Bruno, Calif.; and
launch of sister brand Spark Thinking to broaden
event delivery capabilities.
“In general there is a big trend in the speed that technology is
adopted, and we expect ‘positioning’ technology to play a more
important role in enhancing sensory experiences and creating
more personalized learning journeys,” management says.
Automotive Events
Rocky River, Ohio
www.automotive-
events.com
John R. Thorne 133 $20 million The company specializes in the development
and management of “authentic” public relations
events, experiential marketing programs, and
motorsports events.
Management is looking toward a big launch for automotive and
telecommunications products in Thailand.
Awestruck Marketing
Group
Los Angeles, New York
www.getawestruck.
com
Lawrence Butler,
Robin Potash
80 to 100 $9.5 million For National Geographic Channel TV show “Life
Below Zero,” Awestruck created a SXSW experience
dubbed “Escape the Cold” that immersed consum-
ers in the harsh lifestyle of the show’s stars. The
footprint included 22-by-12-foot Arctic tents that
dropped temperatures inside by 20 to 30 degrees.
The continuing explosion of social media and new tech tools—3-D
printing, eye-tracking technologies, drones, etc.—calls for more
integrated platforms and bigger event impact, they say: “The rise
of this event technology helps event professionals get the most
out of our events while improving the overall experience for our
attendees-turned-participants.”
Balich Worldwide
Shows
Milan, Italy
www.balichws.com
Gianmaria Serra 7 $34 million This year’s event roster has included artistic direc-
tion of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2015, and concept
and supervision of the daily shows of the Tree of
Life—the icon of the Italian Pavilion at Expo 2015,
involving more than 1,500 shows in six months.
“The positive trend is that the audience demands more
involvement and participation,” they say. “Let’s say that the
entertainment market has become more challenging—innova-
tive concepts but above all the ability of delivering a strong
emotional-impact win.”
Barkley Kalpak
Agency
New York
www.bka.net
Jeff Kalpak 80 to 90 $13 million to
$16 million
Highlights this year have included the MasterCard
sales leadership meeting in Buenos Aires for 420
sales leaders from throughout the world, featuring
a dynamic in-the-round opening session.
“Experiential marketing is now in a place where events are no
longer on the fringes of the marketing mix; they are the center
of it,” management says. “We’ve had to shift our focus to the
attendees at the center of those experiences as influencers—a
savvy bunch with short attention spans and finely tuned B.S.
meters, armed with an opinion, a mobile device and followers.”
Broadstreet
New York
www.broadstreet.com
Mark Baltazar 29 $15 million “The frenzy to incorporate technology appears to be settling,”
management says. “Clients are asking for ‘selfie moments’—ex-
periences and personalities that provoke an automatic response
from attendees to snap a shot to post online. At the same time,
attendees are gravitating towards events that provide commu-
nity, human interaction and non-digital shared experiences.”
5OTOPEvent Companies
14TH ANNUALS S
The three C’s: context, content and creative. These are the keys to developing effective special events today, say these
big event companies in our annual report, a Special Events exclusive. While other professions struggle to create engag-
ing content to share online, the event industry has been sitting on a gold mine all this time. We extend the reach of in-
person events via digital media—touching the world while winning hearts and minds. EDITED BY LISA HURLEY
13. Event Companies
SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
12
BUCOM International
Chicago
www.bucom.com
Darlene Krammer 25 to 30 $10 million Company points with pride to its 28 years offering
logistics and creative services for corporate
events, meetings and incentives to “Fortune 500
companies throughout the world.”
Management notes these major trends affecting clients: Security
and travel advisories, tighter meeting-spend restrictions for
health care professionals, strategic meetings management
platforms, and “off the beaten path” destinations.
Corporate Magic
Dallas
www.corporate
magicinc.com
Jim Kirk 15 $20 million A 2015 highlight: Corporate Magic was chosen as the
event production company for the Salvation Army’s
150th anniversary. Nearly 16,000 “Salvationists”
from 126 countries gathered in London for a
week-long celebration while millions streamed the
proceedings online. See page 9 for the story.
“Interactive entertainment is trending toward a more unique,
personal and immersive experience,” management says. “As an
alternative to music entertainment, interactive team-building
activities reinforce the attendee becoming a meeting participant.”
Drury Design
Dynamics
New York
www.drurydesign.com
Jill Drury 15 $10 million to
$12 million
Busy this year with the IBM Interconnect launch,
IBM’s biggest customer event ever. The show
consisted of interactive touchscreens linked to a
massive center screen, and 15,000 interactive LED
wristbands linked across two venues.
On tap for 2015: More social integration within all aspects of an
event, shorter and more visual talks, and events that “blur the
lines” between main-tent sessions, expos and workshops into
single spaces, management says.
E=MC2
Calgary, Alberta
www.emc2events.com
Jocelyn Flanagan 100 $15 million A highlight of the last year: the company’s work
on the LIMITLESS gala for the Special Olympics
Canada, which was re-imagined to yield more than
$450,000 in net profits—double the results from
previous years.
Management points with pride to its government-issued safety
certificate and health and safety program; “Safe events will keep
our industry thriving,” they say, “and that is a trend we never
want to see disappear.”
Enterprise Events
Group
San Rafael, Calif.
www.eeginc.com
Richard
Calcaterra,
Matthew Gillam
86 $32 million The company notes its expertise since 1994 in
providing full-service, “world-class” global event
management to Fortune 500 clients, with programs
for from 10 to 20,000 attendees.
Big trends will be the continuation of integrated technology
solutions for strategic meetings management; providing ROI for
meetings based on data; the use of virtual reality applications
and devices; and events held in an “un-conference” style. The
bad news: “A difficult trend for third parties has been the lack of
availability and space from hotels and venues.”
Eventmakers
Toluca Lake, Calif.
www.eventmakers.
com
Guy Genis,
Mark Genis
50 to 75 $17 million Notable events have included Infiniti’s Go Zero
to Infiniti featuring Formula One drivers and the
Q50 Eau Rouge prototype debut in Austin, Texas;
Ubisoft’s Watch_Dogs media launch in Chicago; and
the ESPN Humanitarian Awards in Los Angeles.
Video mapping augmented with live entertainment is a exciting
trend in the industry, management says: “For the Azteca upfront
at the Best Buy Theater in New York, video-mapped
scenic elements on stage were combined with live choreo-
graphed dance numbers in sync with the video content.”
Eventum Premo
Moscow
www.eventum-
premo.ru
Alexander
Shumovich
52 $8 million Noteworthy events over the past year have
included the launch of the Volvo XC90 and Kia Sor-
rento as well as the Megaforum Oriflame for 7,500.
“A great trend in 2015 is looking for new innovative formats—the
merge of business, entertainment, sport, charity, artistic and cul-
tural events into new multi-format events,” management says.
EventWorks
Los Angeles
www.eventworks.com
Ted Bowers,
Janet Elkins
150 $9.5 million Highlights of the year have included EventWorks
turning a parking garage into a speakeasy with
a surprise reveal to inspire 500 executives to see
their properties’ possibilities in a new light, and
a custom, high-energy 1K “electric color run”
celebrating a client’s incentive travel program
while launching an energy drink.
“In food and beverage, it’s all about the South,” management
says. “Microbrewed craft beers are all the rage, and moonshine
is legal and hip again. In music, we see a trend back to classic
bands, ranging from Jazz Age elegance to indie folk and bluegrass
sounds that go perfectly with cornbread.”
Extraordinary Events
Sherman Oaks, Calif.
www.extraordinary
events.net
Andrea Michaels 40 $10 million to
$12 million
Busy this year with grand openings, including a
four-day event to showcase downtown Summerlin,
Nev., for 250,000 attendees. Also oversaw shopping
center openings in the U.S. and Canada, ongoing
events for longtime client Sysmex Corp., and
CEMEX’s annual bankers and investors meeting.
The past 12 months have seen the corporate event world blend
more with a “festival-style” environment for participants,
they say. “In addition, there has been more emphasis on
crowd-sourcing to be more inclusive and collaborative for each
participant, which gives companies more input from viable
resources and adds value to event expenditures.”
Feats Inc.
Baltimore
www.featsinc.com
Robyn Brenza 130 $11.5 million to
$13.7 million
Client work for Harvard Business School and
the Smithsonian Institution, among other top
universities and nonprofits, took the team to
five continents. Using a range of storytelling and
engagement strategies, “We helped National Acad-
emy Foundation introduce their new brand through
four plenaries and a motivating awards event.”
There’s a downside to social media: “One of the challenges we
see is people who believe they can multi-task while they’re at an
event, working to get that best shot or quote to tweet or text. As
a result, guests can miss the power of the experience,” manage-
ment says. “The more we can co-create events with attendees,
without losing what matters to our clients, the more likely we can
overcome the increasing levels of distraction that often prohibit
guests from really engaging at the event.”
Filmmaster Events
Dubai, Milan, Rome
www.filmmaster
events.com
Antonio Abete,
Piero Cozzi
39 $45 million Hands down, the highlight of the year has been
Filmmaster’s work overseeing Milan Expo 2015,
including the opening ceremony, they say.
FreemanXP
New York
www.freemanxp.com
Dan Hoffend 5,000 plus $250 million The event roster over the past year has included
work for Google, Cisco, Visa, Marketo, ExxonMobil
and Hitachi Healthcare, among others.
“FreemanXP has seen an increased demand for intelligent and
beautifully executed special events programs,” management
says. “As the integration of live and digital becomes increasingly
important, we feel data collection and analysis is a priority for
event marketers looking to make an impact. It is our belief that
technology doesn’t hinder face-to-face relationships, but rather
enhances the audience experience, and to that end, we’ve
launched our award-winning second-screen technology—FXP |
Touch.” Also big: “Tighter brand experience integration between
day and evening activities. Special events and headline entertain-
ment—which is back!—inspire emotional responses that connect
our clients and attendees through a shared brand experience, an
experience that must be aligned with business objectives.”
5OTOP Event CompaniesS
14. Millions of details. And not a one left to chance.
Bellagio can bring your gathering to life in exquisite style and with detail that only a
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of meeting space, we can accommodate groups from 20 to 4,400.
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9LVLWZZZIUHHSURGXFWLQIRQHWVHDQGFKHFNWKHER[IRU
15. George P. Johnson
Experience Marketing
Auburn Hills, Mich.
www.gpj.com
Chris Meyer 2,300 $275 million
plus
Longtime specialists in experiential marketing
oversees user conferences, brand-enhancing trade
show exhibits, and actionable sponsorships.
The agency is tracking several trends: the transformation of
“digital” as a separate category to one that is a natural part of
any experiential program; the use of social listening tools to
provide real-time adjustment of programs; the analysis of “big
data” to create actionable programs and better user-centric event
journeys; and the desire of clients for one-stop shops—that is,
agencies that can deliver strategy, creative, production, fabrica-
tion and analytics.
GMR Marketing
New Berlin, Wis
www.gmrmarketing.
com
Cameron Parsons 130 $10 million
to $15 million
(Special Events
estimate)
The team took over New York’s Times Square with
an actual tennis court for an Esurance-sponsored
fan festival to kick off the U.S. Open, and helped HP
connect with the filmmakers of tomorrow through
“Sundance House”—a robust hospitality/creativity/
content play at the Sundance Film Festival.
“While brands are devoting more money to sponsorship than
ever before, in many cases the big bucks they’re spending
primarily reach the relatively small amount of people who
are actually on the ground at live events,” management says.
“We’ve seen our clients putting a huge emphasis on high-quality
real-time content to capture and amplify the on-the-ground
excitement.”
Go West Creative
Nashville, Tenn.
www.gwcg.com
David A. Fischette 80 $14 million Besides moving its headquarters to Nashville,
Tenn., Go West also moved its other offices in L.A.,
Las Vegas and New York to new locations—“We are
now poised to better service our clients all over the
continental U.S.,” management says.
The trend in one word: Content. “So no matter how cool your
ultra-wide screen or your video mapping is, if you don’t have
compelling content that is both visually dynamic and effective at
communicating the brand and key initiatives, you have failed,”
they say.
Hargrove Inc.
Lanham, Md.
www.hargroveinc.com
Tim McGill 600 $60 million Hargrove “hit the ground running” this year
with key roles in inaugurations, including the
gubernatorial inaugurations in Oklahoma, Alabama,
South Carolina, Tennessee and Maryland. Also busy
with the White House Summit to Counter Violent
Extremism in Washington, the 2015 U.S.-China Stra-
tegic and Economic Dialogue, and the 2015 Global
Entrepreneurship Summit in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Event guests want environments in which they are immersed in
the organization and its brand,” management says. “They want
to be placed in an environment complete not only with social
media integrations, but also with face-to-face interactions.”
Henry V Events
Portland, Ore.
www.henryvevents.
com
Matt Harper 100 plus $15 million to
$16 million
“From Adidas Nations, Daimler–Freightliner
Inspiration and ATA Celebration Dinner, Knowledge
Universe’s National Celebrations to Tillamook’s Pop-
up Farmers Market, Henry V continues to deliver
amazing experiences,” management says.
Rising prices from venues and venue third-party suppliers are
an issue, management warns: “Careful contract negotiations and
fine line-item management are crucial in controlling expenses
for clients.”
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the box for 752
WEBB EVENT PRODUCTION
MAKE NO SMALL PLANS OR SMALL IMPRESSIONS
Go ahead and make plans. Any size plans. Because from the initial
concept to the final cleanup, Webb assures that the only thing
bigger than your event will be the impression you leave behind.
Contact Dave: 801-499-7801
eventproduction@webbav.com
www.webbav.com
EVENTS
5OTOP Event CompaniesS
16. Index
Bangkok
www.indexcreative-
village.com
Kreingkrai
Kanjanapokin,
Kreirngkarn
Kanjanapokin
71 $59 million The agency’s capabilities include event production
and design, online and interactive media, and
exhibition design and production.
InVision
Communications
San Francisco
www.iv.com
Rod Mickels 140 to 160 $57.5 million This year’s event roster has included the Genentech
NSM 2015, Cisco Velocity, EMC World 2015, Gartner
Symposium, Oracle OpenWorld, Cisco Partner
Summit 2015, Amway Achievers, Cisco Internet of
Things World Forum, Microsoft Global Exchange,
and Kiehl’s Sales Manager Conference.
The “Internet of things”—where everyday objects have Internet
connectivity—is becoming more prevalent at events. “We have
a newer generation of people who expect everything to ‘do
something’” they say. “You’ll see more interactive displays,
virtual reality, attendee-tracking/wearable technology, data
visualization, gamification, etc., at events.”
InVNT
New York
www.invnt.com
Scott Cullather 575 $50 million Busy this year with projects such as Equinox The
Pursuit, which not only cohered with the Equinox’s
branding but stood out amidst a busy SXSW festival
environment, and the GMNA Cadillac ATS-V regional
media drive.
InVNT will now produce programs for Time Inc.; “Leveraging
live media to complement traditional and digital advertising is a
growing trend in the marketplace, and one we can expect from
Time Inc. as it looks to [its] newly acquired InVNT to provide
expertise in live events.”
Jack Morton
Worldwide
Boston
www.jackmorton.com
Josh McCall 1,000 plus $100 million
(Special Events
estimate)
This global brand experience agency is known for
event marketing, promotional marketing, digital,
social and mobile communications, sponsorship
marketing and employee engagement.
Good trends: “We create experiences that strengthen the
relationships between brands and the people who matter most to
them. Creating a seamless experience between live and digital is
our continued goal.” Bad trends: “Not really—we’re optimists!”
JHE Production Group
Harrisburg, N.C.
www.gojhe.com
Jay Howard 300 $20 million This year’s event roster has included the Wake
Forest University “Wake Will” Campaign, NASCAR
Acceleration Nation, Pinehurst Concours d’Elegance,
and “BuzzFest”—the NBA Charlotte Hornets
welcome-home party.
“Partners are most interested in event experiences so people
connect with the event and the brand,” management says.
“Social media assists partners with this message. Consumers
are more likely to share on social media versus giving out email
addresses and phone numbers.”
JNR Corp.
Irvine, Calif.
www.jnrcorp.com
Jim Jalet,
LuAnn Jalet
45 plus $30 million A busy year with exciting headline entertainers and
one-of-a-kind activities for events across the U.S.
and around the world.
Management sees “a continuous demand for experiential el-
ements to amplify events,” which involves “fusing digital, social
and personal touches to connect with attendees.”
Live Marketing
Chicago
www.livemarketing.
com
Anne Trompeter 25 to 50 $10 million Specialties include trade show marketing, meetings
and events, interactive media, content develop-
ment, and staffing.
“From a 118-iPad wall that transformed four disparate groupings
into a single storytelling infographic, to interactive tablet tours
combining audience response and interactivity, we’re building
completely new ways to engage and tell stories,” they say.
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the box for 753
5OTOP Event CompaniesS
17. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
16
Luminous Experiential
MSL Group
Hong Kong, Singapore
www.luminous-asia.
com
Dave Low 50 $17.5 million This year’s event roster has included the Fidelity
Global Market Outlook luncheon, Hai Tong press
conference launch, CLSA Forums, City of Dreams
grand opening in Manila, Fortinet Fast and Secure
Conference, ANZ World Business Forum 2015, and
Audi Driving Experience 2015.
Technology is revolutionizing the event marketplace, with a focus
on delivering digital solutions alongside experiential ones for
a longer lasting campaign and amplification for the brand and
event key message, management says. “Gone are the days of
a simple themed gala or cocktail; now there is a reason behind
every touch point of the guest’s/client’s journey.”
MGM Resorts Event
Productions
Las Vegas
www.mgmresorts
events.com
Jim Murren 1,300 $16 million Highlights have included the Rock in Rio USA
partnership with MGM Resorts, held on a 33-acre
open-air venue on the Vegas Strip; and the Conven-
tion Industry Council Hall of Leaders event held in
conjunction with IMEX America at Mandalay Bay.
The good: Social marketing, technological advances, sophisticated
buyers and an increase in interactive event elements. And the
bad: Shorter and shorter lead times, along with tighter budgets.
Opus Events Agency
Beaverton, Ore.
www.opusagency.com
Grant
Hammersley
600 $41 million Busy this year with projects for Amazon, EMC,
Daimler and Alaska Airlines; the Alaska Airlines
event included a social media-based “photobomb”
campaign culminating in an “ultimate Portland
Timbers fan experience.”
“Brands are seeking ‘larger than life’ designs,” management says,
“transporting attendees via outsized wall-covering graphics, two-
story booths, neon lights, video mapping, and more.”
Pacific Event
Productions
San Diego
www.pacificevents.
com
George Duff,
Joanne Mera
840 $10 million The element of surprise is trending for clients, management says:
“We have been crafting reveals on a large scale with headliner
entertainment, down to smaller effects with lighting and rotating
set changes. Clients have been awed by the reaction of guests.”
Party Planners
West
Los Angeles
www.ppwinc.com
Patricia K. Ryan 25 plus $22.8 million Serving corporate events since 1981; famed for its
work with the NFL Experience.
Paulette Wolf Events
and Entertainment
Chicago
www.paulette
wolfevents.com
Jodi Wolf 75 to 100 $10 million PWEE has had a full slate of events this year includ-
ing the groundbreaking of the 1060 project for the
Chicago Cubs, product launch events for NetApp,
CDW and Cisco, along with a private anniversary
event featuring Maroon 5.
The big trend: events as communities. “Events are no longer two-
or three-day programs, but create a community that starts before
the event begins and continues well beyond the event to create
a broader footprint,” management says. “Planners must think
about a longer life cycle utilizing technology and social media.”
Pico Global Services
Ltd.
Hong Kong
www.pico.com
Lawrence Chia 330 $300 million “We diversified our service offerings into the
field of integrated marketing, allowing us to win
contracts with high-profile brands including Dow,
Li and Fung, and Yonex in China,” they say. Pico
also worked on Art Basel and Art Central in Hong
Kong; launch and promotional events for global car
brands including Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz and
Rolls-Royce; and the Argentina, Brunei, Cambodia
and Malaysia pavilions at Expo Milano 2015.
“With the linear customer journey now a thing of the past, brands
are becoming obliged to create omni-channel experiences for
their customers, allowing them to easily move between online
and offline experiences,” management says. “We’ll be seeing
much more of this in the future—‘buy now’ buttons on mobile
phone searches, short and snappy promotional videos on photo-
sharing apps, and ever-more engaging and creative O2O [online
to offline] campaigns. It’s an exciting time to be in this business!”
Podegiki
Moscow
www.podegiki.ru
Mikhail Voronin 150 $12.3 million The year’s event roster has included big events for
Bayer, Janssen and Svyaznoy.
Two big trends: Multi-format events and the focus on ROI. “Clients
want to know exactly how their expenses will be paid off,”
management says. “They require the calculation of performance
indicators and want them to be more predictable.”
Pulse220
Detroit
www.pulse220.com
Craig Erlich 135 $20 million “We are on an ‘anniversary’ tear,” management
says, with 100th anniversary events for Henry
Ford Health Systems and PriceWaterhouseCoopers
Detroit, 50th anniversary for Gatorade, and 30th
anniversary for QuickenLoans.
What’s hot: Technology integration into every aspect of the
event including before, during and after, with an emphasis on
the social media amplification opportunities that occur after the
event, they say.
Sequoia Productions
Los Angeles
www.sequoiaprod.
com
Cheryl Cecchetto 25 to 40 $12 million to
$20 million
This year’s event roster has included the Academy
Awards Governors Ball, Primetime Emmys Gover-
nors Ball, G’Day USA, Horton Plaza Park opening,
Special Olympics Opening Reception, and events for
the UCSF Medical Center and Goldman Sachs.
Drones are the new big thing in events, they say; “However,
personalized service and attention to detail are still the focus of
our management style. Incorporating a social media component
and bigger/better events for smaller budgets are still in vogue.”
Switch
St. Louis
www.liberateyour
brand.com
Mike O’Neill 8,220 $25.9 million This year the team produced Primerica’s biennial
employee meeting at the Georgia Dome and
NASCAR’s Sprint Cup Series Champion’s Week.
Management notes increased focus on quality of engagement,
measurement of reach online, social media interaction, and pre-
and post-event communication.
Tamar Productions
Chicago
www.tamar
productionsinc.com
Mary Ann Rose 120 to 150 $14 million Busy this year with the Magnificent Mile Association
gala and Chicago Police Foundation True Blue
event.
“Everyone wants to be high tech, but doesn’t want to spend the
dollars,” management says. “On the other hand, we’re seeing a
lot of the old-fashioned decor coming into play.”
TBA Global
New York
www.tbaglobal.com
Paula Balzer 100 $42 million Big projects this year have included the Connect +
Discover Summit for Stratasys and the OnePlus 2
global launch.
“Our clients are super-clear that their audience wants to be
participants; they want to be active listeners,” management says.
“How do we bring a process to the table that shifts the dynamic?
The answer is neuromarketing, using three simple questions to
put objective rather than subjective measurement in place. By
integrating breakthroughs in data, neuro and behavioral sciences,
we has been able to analyze millions of data points of individuals
all around the world, to come up with a cluster approach about
how to speak to an audience. We can now know exactly why
people like what they like and do what they do, and therefore we
know how to influence their behavior.”
5OTOP Event CompaniesS
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20. 2015 BEST CATERED EVENT
Sinners and Saints
Wendy Haralson
The St. Anthony Hotel
www.thestanthonyhotel.com
ISES Chapter: San Antonio
2015 BEST CORPORATE EVENT
UNDER $75,000 USD
White Hangar Lounge
Linda Cauiola
Canto Event Management
www.cantoeventmanagement.
com
ISES Chapter: Arizona
2015 BEST CORPORATE EVENT
$75,000 - $150,000 USD
Employee Holiday Celebration
Carrie Wosicki
Alex and Ani
www.alexandani.com
ISES Chapter: Rhode Island
-AND-
Megan Duclos
Alex and Ani
www.alexandani.com
ISES Chapter: Rhode Island
2015 BEST CORPORATE EVENT
OVER $150,000 USD
BC/Vancouver Night - Show Us
Your Adventurous Side
Keri Miller, CSEP
e=mc2 events
www.emc2events.com
ISES Chapter: Calgary
2015 BEST ENTERTAINMENT
PRODUCTION UNDER $25,000 USD
Circus Spectacular
Kevin Hall
Halls of Entertainment
www.hallsofmagic.com
ISES Chapter: Minneapolis-St. Paul
2015 BEST ENTERTAINMENT
PRODUCTION $25,000 -
$75,000 USD
Sailabration
Michael Brown, CSEP
Hello Las Vegas
www.hello-usa.com
ISES Chapter: Las Vegas
2015 BEST ENTERTAINMENT
PRODUCTION OVER $75,000 USD
An Evening in the International
Gallery of Arts
Debbie Meyers-Shock, CSEP
BRAVO! Productions
Entertainment Inc.
www.bravoentertainment.com
ISES Chapter: Dallas
-AND-
Mark Wells
Hello! Destination Management
www.hello-dmc.com
ISES Chapter: Orlando
2015 BEST EVENT DESIGN/DECOR
UNDER $25,000 USD
Cozy GLAM
Ken Kristoffersen, CSEP, CEM, CEC
POP Kollaborative Inc.
www.pophasawebsite.com
ISES Chapter: Toronto
-AND-
Bryan Bell
Décor More
www.decorandmore.com
ISES Chapter: Toronto
2015 BEST EVENT DESIGN/DECOR
$25,000 - $75,000 USD
Association Masters Wonderland
After-Party
Holly Loulan
Hello! Destination Management
www.hello-dmc.com
ISES Chapter: Orlando
2015 BEST EVENT DESIGN/DECOR
OVER $75,000 USD
Gilded Glory
Lynn Fletcher, CSEP
Lynn Fletcher Weddings
www.lynnfletcherweddings.com
ISES Chapter: Calgary
-AND-
Bryan Bell
Décor More
www.decorandmore.com
ISES Chapter: Toronto
2015 BEST EVENT FILMMAKING
Mandap Madness
Bob Ridge
IndyVisual
www.indyvisual.com
ISES Chapter: Indiana
2015 BEST EVENT FOR A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
UNDER $75,000 USD
Fall Scholarship Dinner
William Smiley, MBA
The Ohio State University
College of Food, Agricultural,
and Environmental Sciences
www.cfaes.osu.edu/development/
events
ISES Chapter: Columbus
2015 BEST EVENT FOR A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
$75,000 - $150,000 USD
Humanitarian of the Year
Trace Kingham
Kingham Signature Events
www.eventdesign.expert
ISES Chapter: Orlando
2015 BEST EVENT FOR A
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION
OVER $150,000 USD
5th Annual “Build the Center”
Benefit
Michelle Rathbun
Chromis Event Strategies LLC
www.chromisevents.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Washington,
DC
2015 BEST EVENT LOGISTICS AND
SUPPORT SERVICES
Three Guinness World Records
in 90 Minutes
Raymond Ramsay
Raymond Ramsay
Associates Inc.
www.raymondramsay.com
ISES Chapter: Orlando
2015 BEST EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY
Elevate: WestJet Christmas Party
Stephanie Leblond
Leblond Studio Inc.
www.leblondstudio.com
ISES Chapter: Calgary
2015 BEST EVENT SOLUTION
The 12th Man Lighting Spectacle
Niki McKay
Blue Danube Productions
www.bluedanubeproductions.com
ISES Chapter: Seattle
2015 BEST EVENT WITH A LEGACY
LIMITLESS: The Special Olympics
Canada Gala
Keri Miller, CSEP
e=mc2 events
www.emc2events.com
ISES Chapter: Toronto
2015 BEST INDUSTRY
CONTRIBUTION
Innovation in the Green Sector
of Events
Kate Patay, CPCE
Creative Coverings
www.creativecoverings.com
ISES Chapter: Las Vegas
2015 BEST INDUSTRY INNOVATION
SAP Innovation Express
Sameer Tobaccowala
Shobiz Experiential
Communications Pvt. Ltd.
www.shobizexperience.com
ISES Chapter: Member At Large
2015 BEST MARKETING/DESIGN
COLLATERAL UNDER $25,000 USD
Harry Potter Birthday Invite
Wendy Segal
Radius Event Design
www.radiuseventdesign.com
ISES Chapter: New England
THINK
ISES ...
ATHE PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE CR EATIV E EV ENTS PR OFESSIONAL, GLOB ALLY
Esprit Award Winners
Bimonthly Publication of the International Special Events Society . September/October 2015
Congratulations to all of the 2015 ISES Esprit Award Winners!
21. B BIMONTHLY PUB L ICATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPECIAL EV ENTS SOCIETY
INSIDE
ISES...
2015 BEST MARKETING/DESIGN
COLLATERAL OVER $25,000 USD
Navigate ’14
Nikki Armesto
Red Velvet Events Inc.
www.redvelvetevents.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
-AND-
Tracy K. Greene
Red Velvet Events Inc.
www.redvelvetevents.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
2015 BEST MEETING/CONFERENCE
PROGRAM OVER $250,000 USD
NADA is Driven Wild with
Exciting Innovative Experiences
Caitlin Alvarez
ACCENT on Arrangements Inc., a
DMC Network Company
www.accent-dmc.com
ISES Chapter: New Orleans
2015 BEST PUBLIC EVENT
Losar with His Holiness the
14th Dalai Lama
Jodi M. Collen, CSEP
Augsburg College
www.augsburg.edu/events
ISES Chapter: Minneapolis-St. Paul
-AND-
Seth Lienard
Augsburg College
www.augsburg.edu/events
ISES Chapter: Minneapolis-St. Paul
2015 BEST SOCIAL EVENT UNDER
$25,000 USD
Glamping
Morris Goen
Goen South
www.goensouth.com
ISES Chapter: San Antonio
2015 BEST SOCIAL EVENT
$25,000 - $75,000 USD
The Lake’s 45th Anniversary
Celebration
Johnell Huebner
Clearly Classy Events
www.clearlyclassyevents.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
2015 BEST SOCIAL EVENT OVER
$75,000 USD
Adriapalooza
Lori Hart
Silhouette Group
www.SilhouetteGroup.com
ISES Chapter: New York Metro
2015 BEST TECHNICAL
PRODUCTION
JUNO Gala Dinner Awards
Keri Miller, CSEP
e=mc2 events
www.emc2events.com
ISES Chapter: Vancouver
2015 BEST WEDDING UNDER
$75,000 USD
Falen + Paul Derby Inspired
Wedding
Matthew Trettel
The Wedding Guys®
www.theweddingguys.com
ISES Chapter: Minneapolis-St. Paul
2015 BEST WEDDING $75,000 -
$150,000 USD
Anne Marie and Jamie’s Tartan
Wedding
Deborah Elias, CSEP, CMP
Elias Events
www.eliasevents.com
ISES Chapter: Houston
2015 BEST WEDDING OVER
$150,000 USD
Black and White Tented Affair
Marianne Cafaro
Viva Bella Events
www.vivabellaevents.com
ISES Chapter: Cincinnati
2015 BEST ISES EVENT VOLUNTEER
COLLABORATION
ISES Live 2014 - Seattle
Claudette Bouton Pate
Goldner Associates
www.goldnerassociates.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Atlanta
David Doxtater
The Workshop
www.workshopevents.com
ISES Chapter: Seattle
Anne Finzer Wadlow
CEO Corporate Event
Organization Inc.
www.ceoinc.ca
ISES Chapter: Edmonton
Kathy Newby, CERP
The Stuart Rental Co.
www.stuartrental.com
ISES Chapter: Member At Large
Erica Prewett
A Big To Do Event
www.abigtodoevent.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Atlanta
Terry Shields, CSEP
Rosewood Mansion on
Turtle Creek
www.rosewood
mansiononturtlecreek.com
ISES Chapter: Dallas
Terry Singleton, CSEP, CDMP
CCP Events
www.ccpevents.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Atlanta
Tamra Sipes, CSEP, CEP, ECC, LCS
Platinum Travel Events
www.platinumeventsgrp.com
ISES Chapter: Seattle
Shelly Tolo, MPM
TOLO Events LLC
www.toloevents.com
ISES Chapter: Seattle
Kelly Treadway
EventCurious
www.eventcurious.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Atlanta
2015 BEST ISES TEAM EFFORT
UNDER $75,000 USD
2014 AFR Chicago Networker
Ryan Campbell
AFR Event Furnishings
www.afrevents.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Tracy Black
Kaiser Tiger
www.kaisertiger.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Val Braun
Arena Americas
www.arenaamericas.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Lisa Bryant
Food for Thought
www.fftchicago.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Erica Buss
Tasty Catering
www.tastycatering.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Erin Dahl Sellers
Revel Decor Inc.
www.therevelgroup.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Carey Smolensky
Carey Smolensky Productions
Presents
STORM Interactive Entertainment
www.cspworldwide.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
Derrick Valenti
Drape Kings
www.drapekings.com
ISES Chapter: Greater Chicago
2015 BEST ISES TEAM EFFORT
$75,000 - $150,000 USD
Ana Russell’s Wedding
Johnell Huebner
Clearly Classy Events
www.clearlyclassyevents.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
Carrie Beamer
Flora Fetish
www.florafetish.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
Luke Johnston
Whim Event Rentals
www.whimeventrentals.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
Leslie LaSorsa
Crave Catering
www.crave-catering.com
ISES Chapter: Austin
2015 BEST ISES TEAM EFFORT
OVER $150,000 USD
New Cancer Hospital
Grand Opening Celebrations
Tracy Moran, CSEP
Ohio State’s Wexner Medical
Center
www.wexnermedical.osu.edu
ISES Chapter: Columbus
Bill Ferguson, CSEP, CERP
Event Source
www.eventsource.net
ISES Chapter: Columbus
Nick Harper
Bartha
www.bartha.com
ISES Chapter: Columbus
Jenny James
Cameron Mitchell Premier Events
catering.cameron
mitchellpremierevents.com
ISES Chapter: Columbus
Melissa Johnson
Cameron Mitchell Premier Events
catering.cameron
mitchellpremierevents.com
ISES Chapter: Columbus
22. cTHE PRINCIPAL ASSOCIATION REPRESENTING THE CR EATIV E EV ENTS PR OFESSIONAL, GLOB ALLY
INSIDE
ISES...
As we begin a new
membership year, Jodi
Collen, CSEP, ISES
International president,
reflects on how the
association has been a
vital part of her business
life for the past 12 years.
There is no doubt that
ISES is an integral part
of my life. On a profes-
sional level, ISES has
enabled me to develop
my role and my network.
I can now work with col-
leagues across the U.S.
and source the best products and services from
suppliers that I know I can trust, because they
share the same values and ethics that I do. That
ISES does.
On a personal level, ISES has given me the oppor-
tunity to meet people I simply would never have
come across otherwise. People that I rely on for
advice, knowledge and connections. People from
all over the world. People that I have become
friends with for life.
As we continue to change and evolve as an
association, the last 12 months have been one of
the most successful periods for ISES.
We have increased our brand awareness and
achieved greater engagement within the indus-
try we support. The commercial and educational
partnerships we have developed have enabled us
to further expand our reach and influence. And,
our newly launched Global Partner Program has
surpassed all of our expectations, now bringing
additional revenue that we are investing back into
our association for the benefit of all our members.
Our level of engagement across the entire
industry means that as a community our voice
has never been stronger and influence never
greater. We are working hard to promote the
power of live events to ensure that our members
get the recognition they deserve for the amazing
work that they do.
In the last year alone, our public relations team
has been able to generate over $1.5 million in
media coverage. That’s another example of how
ISES is helping to promote our association, our
industry and everyone connected to it.
For those of you who follow ISES on social media,
we now have more than 40,000 connections
through our social networks. That’s another
powerful reason to be a part of this community;
we are now the most digitally connected
association in our sector. And, with over 1,200
new members joining in the last 12 months alone,
we are one of the fastest growing.
As we look forward to the year ahead, our evolu-
tion continues, with new programs and initiatives
focused firmly on delivering the greatest possible
benefit and value for our members.
For those of you that are part of this amazing
collection of people; thank you. We appreciate
your support for your association. For those of
you yet to discover ISES, please join us. It’s going
to be an amazing year!
Growing with ISES in the Special
Events Industry
Name: Jodi Collen, CSEP
Company: Augsburg College
Address: 2211 Riverside Ave.
Cb 64
Minneapolis, MN 55454-1350
Phone: 612/330-1107
Email: collen@augsburg.edu
Web: www.augsburg.edu
23. ISES EDITORIAL
TEAM AND STAFF
ISES Editorial Committee
Caroline Sewell
Volunteer Editor
Encore Events Inc.
Greater Triangle N.C.
caroline@encore-events.
net
Stacy Heit
America’s Promise Alliance
Washington, D.C.
Carol Roleder
Craig’s Crew Inc.
Los Angeles
ISES Staff
Kelly Mantick
Managing Editor
kmantick@ises.com
Kevin Hacke
Executive Director
khacke@ises.com
Kristin Prine
Operations Manager
kprine@ises.com
Lauren Rini
Senior Coordinator of
Specialty Programs
lrini@ises.com
Bree Burich
Senior Associate of
Chapter Services
bburich@ises.com
Natalie Kinsey
Member Services Associate
nkinsey@ises.com
330 N. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
312/321-6853
info@ises.com
www.ises.com
How Planning and Teamwork
Saved My Special Event
DID YOU
KNOW...
A little more than a year
ago, I started a fresh
chapter in my life by
launching Bobcat Event
Management Consulting.
Of course, what better way
to launch this enterprise
than with a special
combination St. Patrick’s
Day/Barbara Birthday
event for 200 of my
corporate and nonprofit
friends and potential
clients?
The planning, of course,
began months in advance.
Just as important, I work
with a diverse and highly
competent group of professionals who can always
be counted on to do whatever it takes to pull off a
successful event.
However, on March 16, I found myself in crisis mode
when the hard drive on my computer crashed. On
the eve of my big event, I had no access to all the
documents that I created for my extravaganza,
including the invitation list, run of show, press
release, the photos and designs for the exhibits.
Fortunately, among those diverse and highly
competent people whom I had attracted to my cause
was Ameer Ali, my computer god. After working with
me over the phone until 3 a.m., Ameer came over at
my house to conjure up those files.
In the meantime, my granddaughter, Val Dennis,
went onto my email and downloaded nearly every
one of the files that I needed. My longtime friend Pat
Howard updated the run of show and also got the
guest check-in process going.
Bobcat teammates Karen Glines and Catherine
Ndegwa updated the press release and pulled
together the press kits. My friend Debra Handley
prepared hospitality badges and packets, and my
friends Kathy Brandon, Delores Mars, Ernestine
Simmons and Ollie Stewart and my sister, Jackie
Williams, helped with reception and greeting duties
at the event.
When I showed up at 3 p.m.—just one hour before
the start of the party—I will never forget what I
encountered: perfection, or nearly so. And then I
thought to myself, well of course, it had all turned
out just right. Anyone who neglects to line up the
very best and most reliable associates—who can
deliver at crunch time—can’t possibly pull off an
event for the ages with the right touch. All the
planning, preparation and help of my associates
created an event that ended up being crisis-proof.
Name: Barbara A. Washington,
CSEP
Company: Bobcat Event
Management and Consulting
Address: 10829 Chase Park
Lane, Apt. D
Creve Coeur, MO 63141-5727
Phone: 314/478-2229
Email: bobcat_1955@
sbcglobal.net.
Web: www.bobcatevents.com
By Barbara Washington with Richard H. Weiss
24. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
23
Raising money is a tough job. Here, the brains behind five fabulous
fundraising galas share secrets on the essentials of their events and
how they keep the funds flowing.
By Lisa Hurley
HAVE A HEART
Tolo Events has worked on the
Pittsburgh Heart Ball, which
benefits the American Heart
Association, for 11 years. And
three things never change, says
Tolo Events president Shelly Tolo:
The ball is held in February, which
is Heart Month; the design fea-
tures the color red; and the menu
is heart-healthy. “The American
Heart Association publishes a tool-
kit called Healthy Workplace Food
and Beverage—even with a section
on receptions, galas and special
events—so we are able to provide
guidelines to the chef from the
beginning,” Tolo notes.
But Tolo has tweaked other
elements of the ball, including the
venue, ticket price, room layout and
entertainment lineup. “The most
significant change over the last two
years is really improving the quality
of the on-screen media content,”
she notes. “Everything is animated
and helps to provide guests with an
GROWING
YOUR
NightofDiscovery:The 2013 Discovery Ball
at the California Science Center let guests
dine beneath the space shuttle Endeavour.
Photo by Nadine Froger Photography.
COVER STORY
Gala
25. 24 SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
immersive experience during the
program and live auction.”
Change matters, Tolo says.
“Change for an established, well-
known community gala or ball is
essential for keeping it fresh for the
guests, continuing to fill the ball-
room year after year, and ultimately
raising more money,” she says. The
changes have paid off, as the Heart
Ball raised a record $1.2 million in
2015.
Tolo Events
www.toloevents.com
DISCOVER
SOMETHING NEW
Although the look of the Discovery
Ball, benefiting the California
Science Center in Los Angeles,
changes every year, the event’s
theme does not. The ball “tells a
story throughout the evening,”
explains Chris Scion, vice president
of food and event services.
For example, the 2015 ball cel-
ebrated the center’s new exhibit of
the Dead Sea Scrolls by transform-
ing the traditional venue—the
center itself—into various exciting,
exotic settings. The cocktail party
took guests back 2,000 years to the
caves of Qumran, where the scribes
of the scrolls hid them for safekeep-
ing. Dinner was held in modern-
day Jerusalem, thanks to stunning
imagery of the city projected 40
feet tall (see page 3 for a photo).
“For the after-party, we moved
guests outside to a Bedouin village
where they danced under the stars,
lounged inside tents and enjoyed
fire dancers,” Sion says. Changing
the theme each year “begs our
guests to ask the question, ‘What
do they have in store for us this
year?” she says.
Recent changes for the
Discovery Ball include updated
guest registration technology (“It
seemed almost prehistoric to con-
tinue to use printed guest lists,”
Sion says), increased ticket prices,
and higher levels of table sponsor-
ship, which has turned out to be a
great way to boost the bottom line
while holding the line on expenses.
California Science Center
www.californiasciencecenter.
org
COMING UP
DAFFODILS Guests can
count on many constant elements
at Montreal’s famed Daffodil Ball,
which benefits the Canadian
Cancer Society. It’s always black-tie,
it’s always a cocktail reception fol-
lowed by a dinner-dance, and it’s
always in April—because it always
features daffodils and daffodils
aren’t available later, says producer
Alison Silcoff. The daffodil is the
symbol of the society and forms
part of its logo. This event recipe
has worked since the first ball back
in 1994, Silcoff says.
Veteran event producer Silcoff,
who will oversee the ball for her
23rd year in 2016, has watched the
event grow from a lower cost affair
for the first years, which relied
completely on floral for decor (“It
Storyteller:The 2013 Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra gala
took guests on a journey through beloved storybooks (all
photos this page). Photos by Stephanie Strasburg.
26. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
25
was important to establish a fabu-
lously successful event rather than
make a big profit,” she says), to one
that now features elaborate themes,
from Madame de Pompadour to
Alice in Wonderland to the Great
Gatsby. The ball’s stunning look
has made it a repeat Special Events
magazine Gala Award winner.
The Daffodil Ball’s venue has
changed only once in the last 22
years—“when we outgrew the origi-
nal venue,” Silcoff notes.
Although the slow economy in
Quebec has pinched revenues, “The
ball consistently makes a profit of
more than $1.5 million,” Silcoff
says. “The event is still Canada’s
most successful cancer-related
fundraiser, in spite of considerably
increased competition. And despite
a difficult economy, it is still the
see-and-be-seen event of the year.”
Alison Silcoff Events
www.alisonsilcoff.com
MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC
For many fundraising galas, the
institution’s mission is the event
planner’s mantra. And for Shannon
Capellupo, director of events at the
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra,
that means showcasing the orches-
tra at the Gala Award-winning
Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
gala. With nine years working
on the event under her belt,
Capellupo notes that the single
most important part of the annual
fundraiser is the concert at land-
mark Heinz Hall, which is followed
by dinner. A pre-concert cocktail
hour kicks the evening off. “So
many new people are in attendance
from the some 950 event guests
that it offers us an opportunity to
introduce the Pittsburgh Symphony
Orchestra to new patrons, and pres-
ent our loyal patrons with an amaz-
ing, one-night-only experience.”
Eight years ago, the event team
made the decision to reach out
to a younger demographic with a
second, simultaneous event—the
Soiree. “This event has grown
over the years from 87 people to
a record-breaking 450 guests last
year,” Capellupo notes, and has
added an additional $150,000 in
revenue.
Instead of diluting sponsor sup-
port, the two events have boosted
it. “We’ve seen companies and indi-
viduals provide dual sponsorships
of both events,” Capellupo says.
“Companies are targeting junior
executives to invite to the Soiree,
who then get to spend the cocktail
hour mingling with senior-level
executives. We’ve also seen family
support cross between both events,
seeing parents and grandparents
attending the gala, and their chil-
dren and grandchildren at the
Soiree. This is only going to benefit
the long-term financial stability
TakingtheSilkroad:The stunning 2015 Daffodil Ball featured the
theme ‘Shanghai Silk’ (here, right). Photos by Stéphane Poirier.
Thebigchill:Winter came in July for
guests at Chicago’s 2015 Zoo Ball
(here, below). Photos by Alain Milotti.
27. 125 Taylor Pkwy.
Archbold, OH 43502
800.537.0540
www.biljax.com
of the event and organization as a
whole.”
Pittsburgh Symphony
Orchestra
www.pittsburghsymphony.
org
GETTING WILD AT
THE ZOO BALL Where
else to hold a fundraising gala for
a zoo than the zoo itself? That’s
the rationale behind the Zoo Ball,
hosted by the Lincoln Park Zoo in
Chicago. After guests experience
the beautiful grounds and ani-
mals, “It’s very easy to get them to
offer support through the auction,
raffle, and Fund a Need programs,”
explains Christine Zrinsky, vice
president for development at the
zoo.
It’s hard to beat summer in
Chicago, and that’s part of the Zoo
Ball’s appeal. The July event “is a
really a fun event—it’s held out-
doors in the summer, so the women
get to wear colorful and fun dresses
and gowns, and many of the male
guests wear white dinner jackets,”
Zrinsky explains. “And the gardens
are glorious—much more magical
than a hotel ballroom.”
Sometimes adding elements to
an event isn’t the answer; manage-
ment of the Zoo Ball has found
success in paring event programs
down.
“We tried a live auction about
15 years ago,” Zrinsky says, but,
“It was really hard to make it suc-
cessful in two big tents with 900
people in attendance. Instead, we
established it as a separate event,
held in November, so it doesn’t
compete with the ball but draws
a smaller but dedicated audience
to bid on 20 or so items. The ball
tends to raise at least $1 million in
gross revenue—this year was $1.2
million—and the live auction is
about $250,000. Both are fantastic,
fun and successful events that pro-
vide very significant funds to keep
Lincoln Park Zoo admission free.”
Lincoln Park Zoo
www.lpzoo.org/about-us/
womens-board O
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the box for 756
ThepulseofthePittsburghHeartBall:The 2015 Pittsburgh Heart Ball
featured a ‘Fire and Ice’ theme (here, left). Photos courtesy Tolo Events.
28. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
27
SWEET STATIONS Who
can pass up a choose-your-own ice
cream float bar or a customized
crème brûlée station? Indeed, DIY
dessert stations bring out the “kid
in a candy store” in all of us, and
are, hands down, the most popular
mode of dessert delivery at events.
“Guests love to choose from
a variety of different flavors and
either participate in finishing their
own dessert or watch a chef put
on the final touches,” says Debra
Lykkemark, CEO of Vancouver,
British Columbia-based Culinary
Capers Catering. The caterer’s
signature “Fire and Ice” station
features mini baked Alaskas on
a stick, which invites guests to
choose either a brownie or blondie
bite topped with a dollop of ice
cream, which the chef hand-dips
in meringue and then finishes with
a blow torch. Similarly, a create-
your-own petite cake station offers
up an assortment of
cake bites served with
various buttercreams
and ganaches, along with
garnishes such as raspberries,
hazelnut pralines, dulce du leche,
and dark chocolate crisps.
At the Royal Park Hotel in
Rochester, Mich., executive pastry
chef Mark Slessor puts the chill on
DIY desserts at old-fashioned ice
cream parlor stations, where guests
can create everything from brownie
sundaes and pie à la mode to ice
cream floats using regional sodas.
Additionally, a crème brûlée sta-
tion offers guests an assortment of
flavor infusions and toppings such
as lavender, salted caramel, orange
basil, and apple crumble streusel.
Jerry Edwards, CPCE, chef and
owner of Baltimore-based
Chef’s Expressions
Catering and Events,
puts the burn on
everything from the
traditional crème
to sugared bananas
over oatmeal, and salt-
and sugar-topped corn
pudding at his popular brûlée
stations.
FOOD FOR FETES
Creative, hands-on dessert stations, Asian-inspired sweets,
and artisanal cheeses take the dessert course down a whole new road
By Susan Cuadrado
Desserts Go DIY
Helpingyourself:From Culinary Capers
Catering, baked Alaska on a stick (here)
and DIY s’mores (below, inset). Photos
by Image Maker Photographic Studios/
imps.ca.
29. Make a difference.
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30. Therightbite:Guests at the Royal Park Hotel enjoy mini ice cream cones
(here, photo by Sam Sarkis) and pretty little pies (left, photo by Arising Images).
SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
29
HERBAL ESSENCE
Though not necessarily a new
trend, the addition of fresh herbs
and savory spices to desserts is
steadily increasing as desserts
become slightly less sweet (i.e.,
un-frosted “naked cakes”) and
more fruit-focused. “We are using
a lot more savory items when
making desserts,” says Gabrielle
Moes, owner and executive chef
at Ventura, Calif.-based Seasons
Catering, citing her Meyer lemon-
olive oil pound cake as example.
“And we are incorporating a lot of
herbs into our dessert menus,” she
says. “They add a different flavor
profile to the dessert.” Popular
requests include lavender panna
cotta, lemon grass ice cream with
palm sugar, and rosemary-infused
cookies. Slessor adds, “We like to
enhance our desserts with sweeter
fruits, such as pineapple and
mango, and use agave nectar or
honey. Fresh herbs and spices add
small notes of flavor.” Edwards puts
basil berry ices and tarragon and
orange pots de crème on his herbal
dessert menu, while Lykkemark
spices up a chocolate cherry whisky
cake with red and black pepper.
SAY CHEESE! Speaking of
savory, the beloved cheese course
is getting some well-deserved play
come dessert time. “I have noticed
more guests opting for cheese sta-
tions or cheese boards instead of
traditional dessert items,” says
Moes, who complements artisanal
cheeses with quince paste and
honeycomb.
Jennifer Naylor, owner of
Malibu, Calif.-based Jennifer
Naylor Catering and Special Events,
takes it a step further with her clas-
sic French-style cheese and dessert
cart service. “We do over-the-top,
multilevel carts, which we wheel
over to the guests’ tables,” she
explains. “Servers make plates for
them tableside, and guests are able
to try little slivers of cheese or mini
desserts, and enjoy multiple tastes
and flavors.”
FAR EAST TREATS
Admittedly when one thinks of
dessert, Asian isn’t exactly the first
cuisine to spring to mind. And
yet, dishes such as Naylor’s mini
ginger crème brûlée and chocolate
Sweettreats:Jennifer Naylor offers
an ice block of frozen treats (above,
photo by Isaac Hernandez) along with
tiny treats (here, right; photos by Incito
Photography).
31. RESOURCES
CHEF’S EXPRESSIONS
CATERING AND EVENTS
www.chefsexpressions.com
CULINARY CAPERS
CATERING
www.culinarycapers.com
JENNIFER NAYLOR
CATERING
www.jennifernaylor.com
ROYAL PARK HOTEL
www.royalparkhotel.net
SEASONS CATERING
www.seasonscateringca.com
spring rolls with salted caramel
dipping sauce, or Lykkemark’s
mango jasmine parfait with jasmine
tea custard, mango gelée, mango
coconut foam, sesame praline, and
gold-dusted custom fortune cookie
prove otherwise. “We are seeing a
lot of Japanese influence in our des-
serts,” adds Moes, citing the yuzu
fruit as a common dessert ingredi-
ent. “It’s a great substitute for tra-
ditional recipes that call for lemons
or grapefruit.”
ELEVATED ORIGINALS
Yet even among the exotics, there
is always room on the dessert plate
for traditional favorites,
dishes that have stood
the test of time and
only get better under
a creative pastry chef’s
hand. For Lykkemark,
it’s all about cream puffs
or, rather, “couture
cream puffs,” which are elevated
to elegant with two different fill-
ings—one inside and one piped
on top. Varieties include chocolate
hazelnut cream with chocolate
pastry cream, and strawberry
Chantilly with strawberry powder,
fresh strawberry, and basil crystal.
Slessor reinvents the cake pop with
a version that looks like a perfectly
decorated mini cake slice. Under
Naylor’s hand, a California staple—
the cinnamon sugar-dusted
churro—is made to order and
served with melted Mexican choco-
late dipping sauce. O
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the box for 758
Achillintheair:Chef’s
Expressions makes ice cream
tableside for guests. Photo
courtesy Chef’s Expressions.
32. SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
31
From high-tech video mapping to intricate architectural applications,
lighting designers create wondrous new worlds with light
By Susan Cuadrado
DIVINE DECOR
The Light Touch
Lovelight:From Images By Lighting, a stunning
party at Vibiana in Los Angeles (here, photo by
Yoshi Morimoto); an entrance at an HBO party
(below, photo by Gabor Ekecs); lighting a catwalk
(inset, photo courtesy Images by Lighting).
“Life is all about good seating
and lighting.”—Graydon Carter
Arguably, the same could be
said about special event design.
Purposefully designed and well-
executed lighting establishes a
mood faster and more effectively
than just about any other decor
element. “Lighting is the unifying
design element by which all other
decor elements are perceived,” says
Greg Christy, president/CEO of
Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.-
based Brite Ideas. “Without care-
fully considered lighting, any other
elements are inconsequential.”
Raymond Thompson, co-owner
of Los Angeles-based Images by
Lighting, explains, “It’s not just
about lighting some ‘thing,’
but creating a total enveloping
environment.”
MAKING AN
ENTRANCE First impres-
sions are everything, which is why
entrances and pathways need care-
ful consideration when it comes to
lighting. “I love to light
entrances with a
series of layers
of overlapping
texture,” says
Images by
Lighting co-
owner Curt
Stahl. “It
gives a sense
of importance
to the event.”
Jon Retsky, owner
and lead designer of San Francisco-
based Got Light, agrees, adding
pathway and landscape lighting
to the top of the “to light” list.
“These areas are not
often a first consider-
ation when planning an
event,” Retsky says. “But
the results can be stunning,
as well as utilitarian,” he says.
From the simple (staked camping
path lights, solar rocks, copper
hooks with dangling lanterns) to
the more complex (customized
33. 32
illuminated inflatables), pathway
lighting, he says, can have a huge
impact on overall event decor.
“Bold washes of light onto tree can-
opies, pattern washes inside pools,
and other landscape uplighting can
indirectly create an amazing back-
drop for outdoor events.”
MAPPING IT OUT The
marriage of lighting and video is
ever-evolving as lighting designers
seek innovative ways to transform
event spaces. “As we become more
visually sophisticated—content sur-
rounds us on a daily basis—there is
an expectation to incorporate this
into our events,” Christy says.
As example, he notes that an
ocean-themed event from several
years ago would likely have fea-
tured lighting fixtures with rotating
gobos to simulate water ripples.
But, “Today, we utilize lightweight,
bright and relatively inexpensive
video projectors to paint the space
not only with water ripples but
sea turtles and dolphins playing,”
Christy says. “This creates a much
more engaging environment, and
takes the decor to a more immer-
sive level.”
For the opening of the Los
Angeles art exhibit “Pacific
Standard Time,” Christy and his
team mapped the iconic façade
of the Getty Museum to illustrate
the significance of the exhibition.
Similarly, at a recent installation
at the California Science Center in
Los Angeles, Thompson and his
team worked with video mapper
Bart Kresa Design to re-create a day
in ancient Israel, using video map-
ping, pin spots, washes, break-up
patterns and color (see page 3).
Unlike wireless LED technol-
ogy, however, video mapping does
not come cheap. “The costs can be
quite expensive; however, it can
raise the design level of an event,”
Retsky says. “Whether it’s simply
kinetic video cut perfectly to the
architecture or façade of a building,
branding a building with video, or
making a room ‘disintegrate’ and
transform into an Egyptian tomb,
there is nothing more powerful and
energetic than using video as light,
and frankly, using video as a scenic
element to tell your story and
invite guests into a fully interactive
experience.”
IT’S A WIRELESS
WORLD Wireless LED light-
ing is still under the spotlight as its
applications for events continue
to evolve. “Wireless LED fixtures
allow the ability for easy color
changes, which enable events to
have transitions and mood changes
throughout the evening, as well as
more kinetic lighting treatments,”
Christy says. “And it’s opening
doors that were previously closed to
event designers. For example, pin
spotting in a private home several
years ago just didn’t make sense
because the look of the equipment
would outweigh the benefit. Now,
with wireless magnetic pin spots,
we can highlight in new ways and
in previously impossible spaces.” O
RESOURCES
BRITE IDEAS
www.bicts.com
GOT LIGHT
www.got-light.com
IMAGES BY LIGHTING
www.imagesbylighting.
com
Therightlight: Got Light uses light to
showcase the San Francisco Opera Gala at
City Hall (left) and the Carnival Gala at the
city’s landmark Grace Cathedral (right).
Photos by Show Ready Photo.
Worthasecondlook: Brite Ideas offers examples of
selective visibility with the use of gobos and texture
to highlight and focus attention (here, above).
Photos courtesy Brite Ideas.
SP EC IA LEVEN TS.COM SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2015
35. Conference: January 12-14, 2016
Exhibits: January 13-14, 2016
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Orlando, Florida
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price used to appeal to us before the frequency of it
increased and we realized that we were getting a repu-
tation of being the ‘fixers’ if something goes wrong.
Inevitably, these same customers that you saved will
come back to you and want you to do their next project
for the same low price again. This is just another reason
to stick to your business and pricing model regardless
of the situation. We are being asked to come in at the
last minute, with a full schedule of our own, rearrange
our delivery crews and schedules, rush a process that
should take weeks in preparation, and put our reputa-
tion on the line. The least the customer could do is to
pay us the amount we ask for. We would never penalize
a customer by charging them more for the same event
because we had the ability to. We demand a certain
return on our equipment, and I would rather turn the
customer down than have them feel we were trying to
take advantage of them.”
Dan Hooks, CERP, president, Party Reflections,
Charlotte, N.C.
POLICY MAKES PERFECT “I started a
pricing policy 10 years ago, and I’m pretty ruthless. I’ve
lost some clients over it but they all wanted to order two
or three days before an event, and that just made me/us
frantic. You earn the best price if you confirm 16 days
or more in advance. Less than that, my prices increase
50 percent, and nine days or less, my prices double. In
fact, yesterday a local rental company called. They had
ordered spandex from somebody, and [that company]
failed to perform. I told
them my prices, they
checked, confirmed.
They didn’t like the
price—they thought
it was high—but they
needed it. But it is
not my fault that they
choose an undepend-
able vendor who prom-
ised more than they
could deliver. After the
deal was completed, I
sent over my price list
and told them what
they could pay in the
future if they ordered
timely.” O
Bernie Gaps, owner,
Absolutely Fabulous!
Events and Productions,
Costa Mesa, Calif.
RESOURCES
ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS!
EVENTS AND
PRODUCTIONS
www.absofab.net
CHAIR DECOR ETC.
www.chairdecor.com
MM THE SPECIAL
EVENTS CO.
www.mmspecialevents.
com
PARTY REFLECTIONS
www.partyreflections.com
RENTALS UNLIMITED
www.rentals-unlimited.net
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the box for 759
specialevents.com
C L A S S I F I E D S
sellyourrentalco.com
BUSINESS SALE REPRESENTATION
TOP QUALITY USED TENTS
All tents manufactured by Anchor
Industries. All sizes and shapes
available. All conditions available. Inquire
about our tent- washing capabilities.
Please call Tim Frost, ext. 105 or Tom
Smith, ext. 141, at (203) 324-6222 or
email tfrost@stamfordtent.com
EQUIPMENT FOR SALE
Party and Wedding Rental
Equipment Building
and Inventory For Sale.
Owner Retiring!
Special Events on the Boulevard
Building $275,000
on a city block with plenty of parking.
Inventory $200,000
Location: SPECIAL EVENTS ON
THE BOULEVARD
2101 TEXAS BOULEVARD
TEXARKANA, TEXAS 75501
CONTACT: JANE AGAN
(903) 277-3161
(903) 794-2101
www.specialeventstxk.com
jane.agan@specialeventstxk.com
BUSINESS FOR SALE
37. Turn empty wine and liquor bottles into beautiful
lighted works of art. Simply insert the fairy
light string and battery holder through the top
of the bottle and press down on top to turn on.
Requires 3xAAA batteries, not included.
IN SEASON
STAR-STUDDED
LIGHT MY BOTTLE KIT
ENCHANTED ORNAMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Fortune Products Inc.
800/345-4833
www.fortuneproducts.com
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/
se and check the box for 762
Air Dimensional Design®
800/680-8865
www.airdd.com
Visit www.freeproductinfo.net/
se and check the box for 760
Artificial Ice Events
800/275-0185
www.artificialiceevents.com
Visit www.freeproductinfo.
net/se and check the box
for 761
Taylor Foam
866/236-3626 | www.taylorfoam.com
Visit www.freeproductinfo.et/se and check the box for 763
innovative Custom Branded
Charging Stations FOR EVENTS
CUSTOM FOAM DéCOR
Keep attendees charged up
and happy with Veloxity’s
custom branded cell phone
charging stations. Contact us
about a free trial or our price
match guarantee.
Veloxity
855/844-5060
inquiry@veloxity.us
http://veloxity.us
Visit www.freeproductinfo.
net/se and check the box
for 764
Foam table
decorations,
stage props, cake
dummies. You name
it, we can do it! No
job too big or small.
Call toll-free
1-866-236-FOAM.
Experience the latest
holiday photo op
attraction…the Enchanted
Ornament. Guests step
inside the 15’ ornament
and pose for a souvenir
photo.
Elegant and celebratory, an overhead blanket
of illuminated stars by AirDD® sets the perfect
atmosphere for holiday and gala events.
To advertise, contact Eliza Tano (424) 465-6601 or email etano@specialevents.com
38. ADVERTISERS INDEX
FREE INFORMATION FOR READERS OF SPECIAL EVENTS MAGAZINE
To obtain further information, go to www.freeproductinfo.net/se and check the appropriate box.
page no. reply no.page no. reply no.
A-1 Tablecloth Co............................ 40.... 856
www.a1tablecloth.com
Air Dimensional Design.................. 36 .... 760
www.airdd.com
Artificial Ice Events......................... 36 .... 761
www.artificialiceevents.com
Bellagio............................................. 13 ..... 751
www.bellagio.com
Bil-jax Inc.......................................... 26 .... 756
www.biljax.com
Blueprint Studios............................. 39 .... 765
www.blueprintstudios.com
Broadstreet ...................................... 15 ..... 753
www.broadstreet.com
CORT Event Furnishings ................ 2....... 745
www.cortevents.com
Current RMS ..................................... 18 ..... 755
www.current-rms.com
DNP Imaging .................................... 8....... 749
www.dnpphoto.com
FASTENation.................................... 5....... 747
www.fastenation.com
Feeding Children Everywhere....... 28..... 757
www.feedingchildreneverywhere.com
Fortune Products............................. 36 .... 762
www.fortuneproducts.com
Holo-Walls........................................ 30 .... 758
www.holowalls.com
Jomar Inc.......................................... 10..... 750
www.jomaronline.com
McCourt Mfg..................................... 35..... 759
www.mccourtmfg.com
Mercedes-Benz Sprinter................. 7....... 748
www.mbsprinterusa.com
Taylor Foam ..................................... 36 .... 763
www.taylorfoam.com
The Special Event 2016 .................. 34
www.thespecialeventshow.com
Treasure Island Las Vegas ............. 17 ..... 754
www.treasureisland.com
Veloxity............................................. 36 .... 764
www.veloxity.us
Webb 360......................................... 14..... 752
www.webbav.com
Wholesale Tape Supply .............. 5....... 746
www.wholesaletape.com
MARKETPLACE
CALL ELIZA TANO
424.465.6601
etano@specialevents.com
ADVERTISE HERE!
E V E N T E Q U I P M E N T
0LEASE REFER TO #ODE !- WHEN ORDERING
D E C O R / P R O P S
Our newest
item is a
Tuscan style
architectural
column with
Palm Top.
Available in
5 sizes from
4 ft. to 12 ft.
www.thecanvasnursery.com
For more
info call:
(800) 226-3335
S I G N S G R A P H I C S
