Entertainment Planning

Planning entertainment for Corporate functions brings into play a different dynamic that for Social functions. The politics for one thing are much harder to understand. June 23 of this year we will provide an entertaining after dinner Show for State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. in the Gold Room of the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel.  Planning this event, client considerations included; 1) what was chosen on past occasions; 2) what fit best with the company culture; 3) how dominant and frequent would the entertainment be experienced. In such situations when predictions are anything but certain patient and consistent followup with the client serves to produce the best possible outcome. In this case after half a dozen suggestions with web site samples and a decision making process lasting several weeks it was decided that 'The Singing Waiters' would work best for this company event. 

My agency offers a twist on this typical operatic production. The five performers are disguised as waiters who dabble at table service during the meal only to reveal their true selves around desert time stepping up onto a stage for a rousing vocal harmony Doo-wop styled 45 minute show complete with an acrobatic rap number. Brings the diners to their feet every time. 

The year to date has seen its usual variety of events needing our agency entertainment: some early weddings, one at the new Fairmont Heritage Place in Ghiradelli Square; a few 'wedding proposals' from a new York Planner specializing in staging these surprise moments at unique locations in San Francisco complete with music; Boulevard Restaurant with an exuberant  group of Spanish diners; The Western Athletic Clubs member's socials at a new location in Ross; The Disney Museum with their themed open houses; The Nat'l Parks Conservancy with music at various 'trail heads'; and of course the San Francisco Fairmont Hotel with half a dozen corporate events. 

We will again be supplying an audio Soundscape in June for a local DMC company with inbound bused groups to a private ranch in San Geronimo.  Their theme is 'Cowboy' as expressed through music of all kinds to be played on each bus.  Duck for cover.

Planning weddings with music can be a fun process (for this agent anyway) knowing that in the end sound brings so much pleasure to an occasion like this. Challenges are never in short supply with both wedding and corporate events given unique personal taste (not always discernible), logistical hurdles and the decision making process which depending on the number of participants can be quite unpredictable. Looking forward to the rest of the season with music.

2012 was yet another period for helping people with music and entertainment of many kinds at weddings and corporate events in the Bay Area. Some of the Napa wedding sites get more challenging with each passing year. Due not only to their remoteness but also the unpredictable weather, both the guests and the musicians are never fully sure what to expect once on site. Last minute tenting and protecting onstage music gear from dampness is often of critical importance. During these times working with experienced Wedding Planners who know the site logistics and have the full confidence of their clients makes our job as entertainment providers much easier.

The requirement for site Liability Insurance is an ever present need. Especially in San Francisco Hotels the monetary parameters for coverage continue to be beyond the reach of individual bands and their leaders. My music agency stays abreast of these stipulations though recently at one site asking for $10 mil. coverage I had to draw the line!

Another highlight of 2012 was providing a video 'Soundscape' for Googles December holiday party at the Computer History Museum in Mt. View. Here an entire room was dedicated to a seafood buffet. While 2000 guests enjoyed the seafood they also viewed its origins in unfolding dramatic sea life on a
9 X 12 foot screen accompanied by a engaging contemporary sound track. Heightened sensibilities of taste and sight for sure.

Heres the 'Ocean' Soundscape: 12 min.
https://vimeo.com/52167211

Here's a short video documentary on the site installation itself:
https://vimeo.com/56394621

For 2013, looking forward to finding more interesting Music, Dance Bands and creating custom Soundscapes for the public at large.

A New Year

The year 2011 contained many interesting corporate and wedding events with music and entertainment: Booking highlights include: a few brand new Dance Bands; new String Quartet arrangements in the pop/rock styles; a Gospel Choir; Oracle and Google employee holiday parties. There was the placement of various World Music groups. Pick a country: Mexico, France, Latin America, Hawaii, the American South, etc. . I also provided five custom 'video' Soundscapes for Blue Shield's all day Wellness conference. Another joy was placing a piano and soprano duo performing light opera excerpts in a local San Francisco boutique hotel for half of the year.

Now its on to 2012 and looking forward to more musical challenges...

New Soundscape Video: 'Spring'

May 3, 11:00-12:00 at The Bently Reserve in San Francisco the wedding trade group WIPA hosts a luncheon using my Video Soundscape 'Spring' as an ambient, background experience. It will be shown on a 7 X 10 foot sceen in the main hall. One can preview it here:

http://vimeo.com/22357732

new entertainment

New entertainment service: 'Soundscapes'. In 2010 these have proved quite popular at various events (see "Clients") on the web site below. So much so that we have created an exclusive website for them. A new feature of the service is the video component to complement the custom sound portraits. Soundscapes are rented for installation at corporate and wedding events. We also design them for a custom event theme.

http://www.soundscapeimages.com

September 18-

'The Big Wedding Event' for which I booked a variety of talent at San Francisco City Hall has come and gone. Just for the musical element, this lead time constituted 8 months of planning accumulating hundreds of documents, e mails and files. It was a crowning career achievement for many vendors. The bride is from Thailand, age 30; the groom an investment banker from England, age 60. Both reside in the SF. On the 'day of', the wedding planner had a staff of 16 all sporting head sets, the florist for her installation a staff of 35. I was the music booking agent of record with a second agent in from Los Angeles. One band was "California", the official 9 piece house band for 'American Idol'. The featured Show band was the 6 piece "Village People" with three original members. The ceremony included a 10 piece Brass Choir in the Rotunda's first balcony. The 25 piece Thai orchestra and costumed dancers originally contracted for the event had to be cancelled due to visa issues in that turbulent country. That element was replaced by a Bangkok CD and indigenous furniture! With many challenges met along the way the 'day-of' was actually quite flawless!