Chicago Entertainment Archive - Prism Entertainment

Archive for the ‘Chicago Entertainment’ Category

A few words about making the most of winter then enjoying the Spring!

Posted on: March 8th, 2017 by mark60480

Everyone knows how hard the Chicago winters are. What helps us get through them, besides the pioneer spirit? You should embrace what you can’t change! That can mean getting yourself good, sensible winter gear & go ice skating, skiing, shovel your elderly neighbors driveway or go for walks in the many parks. There is also a wealth of fabulous entertainment to choose from, with seasons that focus on the cold months: Chicago Shakespeare Theater, the Joffrey Ballet, Broadway in Chicago, Chicago Symphony, Civic Opera Company, to name just a few. Outdoor activities help you physically & live theater tends the inner spirit.

All that being said, by the end of the long winter, we can’t wait for spring! If you’re planning an event, spring is a great time to schedule it. It’s easier & more dependable for guests to travel & people are ready to get out. For Corporate Sales Meetings, it’s a great time to motivate. You get a feeling of renewal & new enthusiasm.

Combining work with fun is also important. If Chicago is a destination for your company or corporate meeting, please consider providing entertainment, to enhance your goals & networking. Make that next Convention memorable for everyone attending by making it entertaining as well as informative!

Timing is everything! Think ahead for some wonderful Party Planning Options for the 2015 Calendar.

Posted on: March 5th, 2015 by mark60480

Sometimes, the calendar year does a beautiful thing. 2015 is one of those years. The Fourth of July is on a Saturday. December 25th is on a Friday. New Year’s Eve is on a Thursday. What does this mean? All three big Holidays make for four day weekends! It’s the ideal year to make Big Party Plans.

This year, if you are considering something outdoors for your summer Company or Corporate Event, there are a few things to think about. Weather is the most significant consideration. You should scout out facilities that includes the option of moving indoors, should the weather turn bad. Also, offering a place where people can go to escape the heat, if it proves to be an especially hot day. You may want to look at facilities that offer permanent tents, as do many Country Clubs & Hotels. Hiring tenting is expensive, but it’s a wonderful way to enjoy an indoor/outdoor experience, especially if you’ve chosen a beautiful park or garden location.

Of course, Entertainment is our specialty. If you’d like to do a large picnic, for instance, we have a host of Strolling Performers, such as Magicians, Jugglers, Stilt Walkers, Cirque Performers, Exotic Animals with handlers, to name just a few. They work throughout the crowd & can do Shows, as well. Many of these Performers are multi-skilled, so you get a variety of options from one person. If you’re planning on families attending, clowns are great fun & our Performers are also multi-skilled, perhaps offering balloon sculpture, juggling & magic. For stations, we can suggest Face Painting, Handwriting Analysis & Psychics.

For Musical Entertainment, you might want to choose a Show Band, which people can sit & watch perform. You may select a Theme & the music can compliment that, such as a 50’s-60’s, Disco, Las Vegas, Circus, Patriotic, 80’s, Country-Western, etc. There are endless possibilities & Musical Entertainment to match.

The Holidays are another source of Entertainment possibilities. What better way to show appreciation for your employees, than a beautiful Holiday function. Once again, Theming your event can add so much to the fun & participation. We’ve seen a large increase in the Casino Theme, where we bring in all the equipment & personnel to provide the full Casino experience, with the Entertainment to compliment the theme. It’s been a huge success.

Live entertainment elevates your event from the ordinary & makes for an unforgettable experience.

What makes your Gala special? Spend some, make a lot!

Posted on: October 30th, 2014 by mark60480

We are providing our Production Services for several major Fundraisers in the next couple of weeks. For most Foundations, there is a new committee each year, often times made up with volunteers. Our part in the planning is essential, as many of the committee members will have never planned a major event before & it can be daunting.

There is such intense competition for Fundraising dollars these days. It is critical that your Gala be the one that people put down on their social calendars each year as a “MUST ATTEND” because they had such a wonderful time. What is sometimes difficult for people to understand, is this simple but true axiom: you have to spend money, to make money. This is done through promotion, the event site, décor, food & entertainment. When all these elements are maximized, your event becomes the most important one of the season.

It may be painful to spend those dollars for a charity. Understandably, the whole idea is to MAKE money, not spend it. However, a good Planner can help you explore the most inexpensive ways to look expensive. That’s what an experienced Professional does. That’s why you call us.

Live Entertainment at your Holiday Event

Posted on: October 14th, 2014 by mark60480

It’s coming on the time of year when you may be thinking about thanking your employees with a holiday event. Do you remember Scrooge being visited by the Ghost of Christmas Past? One memory he returned to, was the night of Mr. Fezziwig’s holiday party. Even the embittered Scrooge could not help but delight in the joy of celebrating all the goodness that the holiday season embraces, expressed in the employer’s hospitality & appreciation.

We have provided entertainment year after year for many, many companies. It is something that the employees look forward to each passing season. It makes them feel appreciated & is a wonderful way to say “thank you” for their service.

Live entertainment lifts that celebration out of the realm of the ordinary & gives your employees a chance to enjoy each other’s company outside the office. It’s worth the relatively small investment & will be remembered by each & every one.

Working at two different Chicago Iconic spots on a Holiday Weekend!

Posted on: July 16th, 2014 by mark60480

When it comes to major, often times one-of events, you want the very best most experienced professionals available to help make it flawless. Would you use a surgeon who’d only done a few surgeries? A hairdresser that was just learning? An electrician who crosses random wires? & it’s not only what they do for you the night of the event, but how they can anticipate potential problems & head them off before they happen.

A perfect example was a large event we had at the Drake Hotel in Chicago on July 4th. Summer in the heart of the city is always hopping & holidays intensify this activity, especially if the weather cooperates & it’s a beautiful day/night. We need to be proactive, not only with the people working the event, but making sure our Clients inform their guests of parking options, traffic patterns, etc. All potential problems were avoided, by planning ahead.

On July 5th, we had a huge party at the Field Museum. We became aware of a gigantic Dave Matthews concert taking place the same night on Northernly Island, which shares all the parking with the Museum Campus. Not only was traffic nightmarish, but parking was unattainable. With the cooperation of the Museum, we were able to get our staff & guests in & oblivious to the traffic mess outside.

Our advice is not always heeded. A classic example was last year’s Holiday Light Parade. Our Client booked a hotel in the very heart of the Gold Coast on this night & we strongly cautioned them about the crowds, but they weren’t concerned; until 40% of their guests were unable to get to the hotel. All the streets in the neighborhood were closed. Guests were circling two blocks from the hotel for TWO HOURS. It was a shame, as it could have been avoided. But you know this, if you have experience.

Employ & LISTEN to your professionals.

On the loss of two dependable Corporate Entertainers – Mickey Rooney & John Pinette

Posted on: April 29th, 2014 by mark60480

It’s strange to link two such well known performers, separated by four decades in birth but weeks in death. We had the privilege of working with both these men in the past. Certainly, they were very different Talents, but they each brought joy & entertainment to their audiences.

We worked with Mickey Rooney (www.mickeyrooney.com) when he was in his 80’s & doing his One Man Retrospective. The staging was manageable & required some sophisticated backline A/V specifics. In regards to working with him personally, he was in every way the professional you would expect. You might imagine that, given his kaleidoscopic 70+ years of Show Biz history, he might have earned the right to be a bit grumpy. On the contrary, he was bright, sharp & energetic, treating the audience to the highlights of his inimitable career & paying tribute to the other iconic performers he had worked with, most especially, a loving homage to Judy Garland. We’re so proud to have included his iconic name to our company’s rich history of Name Performers.

John Pinette (www.johnpinette.com) was a different kind of “Star” & naturally, he would be. Although a veteran of television, movies & standup, he was comfortable to stand alone on the stage & just make people laugh. Of course, if you know his act, you know that most of his humor was self-deprecating & focused on his size & weight. The very thing that brought him fame & fortune, tragically did him in. Sadly, he had to cancel the last show for which we had him contracted. Two weeks later following that cancelled performance date, he passed away.

Both these very talented & very different performers will be missed.

Do you dream about the Stars? Are the Stars right for you? Part 2

Posted on: April 15th, 2014 by mark60480

Would you like to have a Star perform at your event? OF COURSE. Nothing generates more excitement, than an iconic performer at your Big Event. So, what is criteria number one? That would be budget. Establish your overall budget parameters for Entertainment & we can begin. Second of all, what is your audience demographic. It’s important to accurately target the taste of the majority of your guests. However, if you really like a Band or Comedian & you’re footing the bill, GO FOR IT!! Third, is your site. What are the strengths & limitations of the facility you’ve chosen? These are all considerations, when determining the right Attraction for your event.

What are some of the added expenses of booking a Name Star? Besides the asking price of any given Attraction, the extras can add up pretty quickly. Generally speaking, these include airfare(s), accommodation (usually premium), ground transportation, hospitality, sound, lights, staging, security & in many cases, labor. Does this all sound daunting? Well, it can be. However, when you use a reputable Production Company, all these things are negotiated & taken care of for you.

If you come to our company & express an interest in having a Name Entertainer at your upcoming event, we begin with a variety of suggestions, after determining what you like, can accommodate at your facility & what is within your budget. Comedians can be the simplest to produce with the fewest production demands. However, it’s critical that sound, staging, lighting, multimedia & other production aspects match the magnitude of your Star.

Musical acts can be much more challenging, but certainly can have a higher impact. It’s important that you have advice as to what kind of Show a given Band performs, whether they are suitable for the Corporate market & if they are a good fit for your circumstances. Many Bands bring their musicians in from multiple destinations, require specific rental instruments & travel with entourage. They may also require supplemental highly skilled local musicians. This all requires the tremendous expertise of the Producer. That’s why you use us.

Can you have Elton John, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Black Eyed Peas, Billy Joel or Maroon Five perform at your event? Yes. Do you need a reputable Production Company to make that happen? Yes again.

Do you dream about the Stars? Are the Stars right for you? What do you need to have Name Entertainment at your event. Part 1

Posted on: April 8th, 2014 by mark60480

Everyone knows about Jay Leno passing The Tonight Show baton this past month. http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/jay-lenos-long-goodbye-ready-or-not-its-time-to-move-on/2014/02/05/62454b36-8d19-11e3-95dd-36ff657a4dae_story.html I have great affection for Jay, having seen him doing Standup in Hollywood, when I worked out there thirty years ago. It was the golden age of Comedy Clubs & I scouted out talent at the original Improv. It was there I first enjoyed Jay, along with Jerry Seinfeld, Richard Lewis, Jeff Foxworthy & countless other Comedians who would go on to great careers.

Back in Chicago in the mid 1980’s, I worked hard to convince our Corporate Clients to spend $1500.00 to bring Jerry Seinfeld in for their event. They’d never heard of him & that was a lot of money for a non-name. Later, after the first season of “Seinfeld”, one of those Clients called me & said “You know, I remember you mentioning Jerry Seinfeld. I think we’re ready to book him for our company Gala. I’m looking back on your quote…$1500.00 right?” Comedy is not the only thing that’s all about timing.

It was with great pleasure that we booked Jay Leno for a Corporate Client the first time. Over the years, I have produced Shows with a lot of Stars. Most of them are extremely professional, but a few have been tricky. I would have to say, the one common denominator would be their desire for privacy. We always provide security, to this end. Each time we’ve booked him, Jay has been accommodating to our Client in a Meet & Greet, happy to take pictures with people & to sign autographs. Not only that, but he often disconcerts his Security Guard, by making himself known wherever he goes! We have so many funny stories involving him & Italian Beef stands. Luckily, we always use off duty Chicago Policemen as Security, so they know where the best stands are. Anyway, Jay Leno has always been a delight to work with & does the perfect Corporate Show: funny, clean & fast paced.

Of course, the first element of whether you can have Name Entertainment at your event is: do you have the money! You have to have a range of budget before we can determine who you can afford. Once we know that, we can deal with the next elements. Look for that in my next Blog.

Speaking of Speakers

Posted on: January 31st, 2014 by mark60480

Clients ask us about having a Speaker at a Corporate Event. Are they effective? Certainly, the right Personality can motivate, inspire & entertain, which is the goal of anyone planning a Special Event. Over the years, we’ve provided Politicians, such as Ronald Reagan, John Anderson, Gerald Ford & Bill Clinton; we’ve booked Journalists, Astronauts & Athletes. & of course, lots of Entertainers. Each one has had an impact of their own, but there are a few elements that we have learned are important, when deciding who you would like to invest in, for your event.

What do you want to accomplish? Do you want to entertain or inspire? Believe it or not, there are people that accomplish both, extremely well. Do you want someone who will interact with your people, shake hands & give you personal contact. Many celebrities are very shy or private & will not do any meet/greet. Your Production Company should know this & advise you.

Does the personality you’re interested in do this all the time? Many Celebrities are skilled in one area only & do not regularly do Speaking Engagements. You may like them on the screen, television or the field, but they might have no experience or skill at speaking. It’s very important to get good advise on this as well.

A final extremely important element in maximizing your experience, is the production aspects. Your Keynote Speaker needs to be presented properly, with the best possible staging, lighting & media support. When hosting in a major metropolitan area such as Chicago, you can take advantage of local “talent” & local Production Companies that have experience with this talent. Their recommendations go a long way in guiding you to the best personality & value, as well as coordinating production & labor.

All these things combine to creating a larger than life experience. Supported with the right production, you will create an incredible amount of excitement & wow your participants!

Having the Blues can be fun!

Posted on: January 23rd, 2014 by mark60480

Every big city has something that distinguishes it. What do people think of & want to experience when they come to Chicago? Deep dish pizza. Italian Beef. The Cubs. & of course, Blues. In fact, having the Cubs as our team has made us really understand the Blues! We have such a wealth of great Blues Bands here & they can be the core of a great party.

One very popular Corporate Networking Event, is to recreate a Blues Club. This can be done with an openhouse type of feel, where guests are drawn in by food & beverage stations & the promise of some great entertainment. This is accomplished with a club type atmosphere, which can be made even more enticing with something like Close Up Magicians working the room, along with perhaps Caricature Artists or Psychics. Then, the Main Stage entertainment performance takes over with short shows or vignettes, after which your guest can mingle again, but are encouraged to stick around “for the next set”.

This format is really effective & gives your people the Chicago feel, while still staying in your Hotel or facility & getting to know each other or making new contacts!

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Archive for the ‘Chicago Entertainment’ Category