PRISM ENTERTAINMENT NEWS

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.