Jay Leno Tom Dreesen
The Dan Hayes Orchestra Nickleback
Beyonce Carrie Underwood
Dana Carvey Ray Romano
Earth, Wind & Fire The Spinners
Tim McGraw Rihanna

PRISM ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

Archive for the ‘Foundation Gala’ 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!

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.

What makes a Fundraiser successful? Stars usually makes people come out at night!

Posted on: June 11th, 2014 by mark60480

We were so proud to once again provide entertainment services for Make A Wish Foundation (wish.org) recently, which we have done for quite a few years. Over the years of our involvement, such Name Performers as Dana Carvey, David Spade, Martin Short & this year, Seth Meyer have performed to a packed house. Having a Star appear for your organization or foundation may just be the factor which makes people choose your event, in our challenging economic times.

Today, unfortunately, there is a tremendous competition for those charitable dollars. If you want to tempt the right people to your event, it has to be special & set apart from the rest. How do you do that, without spending more than you take in? That is the magic trick!

One way to circumvent the huge pricetag of the more irresistible Name Talent, is of course, to either find someone connected with your organization with a personal connection, or research Entertainers with a personal interest in your charity. That is somewhat obvious. Otherwise, a Production Company such as ours can help you to target Performers which would best impact your event & least impact your budget. For example, Comedians are in many ways the ideal Name Entertainment for Fundraisers. They have few production demands, can usually do the right amount of time for your format & they can generally be prevailed upon to do some personal meet & greet with your V.I.P.’s. However, it’s important to have good advice on what kind of Show your featured Artist does & whether that is appropriate for a general audience. Believe it or not, there are many well known performers that not only do not have material appropriate for your audience, but they may not even REALIZE what is acceptable.

Once your guests have (hopefully!) made generous donations, then enjoyed the Show, great dancing helps to unite the crowd & make them glad they came & want to come back the following year! The importance of enticing people to stay, when they’ve just sat through a meal, presentation & Show is paramount. This should be coordinated with your Production staff & Bandleader. Of course, having a fabulous Dance Show Band not only should convince your guests to enjoy the rest of the evening, but can also provide their own promotion of your event through their client following.