Event Planning Series: Extending The Life of Your Event with Photography

Choosing an event photographer and/or videographer can be challenging – they must be able to tell a strong visual story while capturing important moments. Photographer Zev Greenfield of Milk & Honey Productions outlines questions to ask and things to keep in mind when recording your next event.

Think Beyond the Moment

MAKE EVERYTHING EASILY SHARABLE
From signage to venue setup, make sure your event lends itself well to being photogenic and easy to share on social media. In this day and age, lots of photographers offer interactive photo-sharing technologies so attendees can share photos on-site during your event. If you want guests to share photos during the event itself, be sure to bring this up during your initial conversations to see if this is an option.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF GREAT PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEO TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF YOUR EVENT
Events are a huge investment, make sure to get the greatest return. Have compelling photographs and beautifully told stories on video to make the event memorable and engaging for guests who aren’t able to attend. Photographs can also help to increase interest in future events.

...FOR MORE TIPS, Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget
 

Q&A With a Professional

WHY INVEST IN VIDEO?
Video is often a second thought, however, people should consider using a videographer for any event where there’s a speech involved or a message being given to people. While it’s easier to upload and share pictures and videos, video captures words, emotion, movement and sound in a way that photography simply cannot. It takes skill and expertise to tell an event story. It’s easy to shoot images but to tell it in such a way where there’s a thought process, beginning to end, and also convey a message, that takes talent and experience.

HOW CAN GOOD PLANNING ENHANCE EVENT PHOTOGRAPHY?
Plan how and when you’ll use your event photos before the event. People often want photographs and video immediately. Go in knowing the timing you’ll need post-event and be clear about this schedule with the photographer.

...FOR MORE Q&A, Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget

Want to Learn More about Planning Your Next Event? Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget or Contact Us for an event consultation. 

Misty Copeland Performs at HELEN MILLS Theater as part of WSJ+ Event

This past Monday, December 1st, ballet dancer Misty Copeland joined Wall Street Journal subscribers at HELEN MILLS Theater for an exclusive performance and Q&A interview as part of the WSJ+ series. Wall Street Journal Senior Editor and Arts Reporter Pia Cotton led the Q&A (pictured below).

Misty Copeland was recently featured in the inspiring 'I will what I want' Under Armour commercial and is debuting this month as the lead in the American Ballet Theater's Nutcracker at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Her performance was simple and truly stunning. See below for a gif of the performance and more information about the Wall Street Journal Plus Series.

The Wall Street Journal's Speakeasy blog also produced gorgeous videos showing the performance and Q&A. Click here or on the image below for more information and videos:

About WSJ+: A new Wall Street Journal experience exclusively for subscribers. WSJ+ membership is a complimentary addition to your subscription and gives you a range of hand-picked offers and an enviable calendar of events. More here.

Planning a Performance or Other Theater Event? Contact Us for more information about the HELEN MILLS Theater or see here for more information.

Event Planning Series: Event Entertainment To Wow Your Guests

Entertainment can make the difference between a unique and memorable event and one that
guests forget once they step out the door. Never considered having entertainment at your event? Read on for recommendations and a Q&A from event entertainment expert Brian Rosenbaum. Brian is the President of The Entertainment Company and has 25 years of experience in the event entertainment industry working with 1,000's of clients.

Do Something Different

TAKE A RIDE ON THE MOBILE BANDWAGON
Encourage your guests to interact with the event by using mobile technology. Some ideas to consider:

1. Set up a projection screen with a twitter wall of live tweets from the event.

2. Set up a projection screen that displays photos taken at the event in real-time.

3. Set up a hashtag print station where guests can print photos from the event that they have posted on social media. This type of interactivity will keep your audience engaged throughout the event (as well as publicize your event on social media).

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX
Hire entertainers that your guests won't expect. Some crowd pleasers include dancers, acrobats, stilt-walkers, magicians, graffiti artists, and balloon artists. These entertainers will liven the vibe of your event, and make your event stand out.

...FOR MORE TIPS, Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget

Q&A with a Professional

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MOST UNCONVENTIONAL ENTERTAINMENT YOU'VE PROVIDED?
We’ve had aerial performers with high ceiling venues. We’ve also done indoor ice-skating for winter themes, complete with professional ice skaters doing performing a show for guests.

ENTERTAINMENT OPTION YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF?
Strolling performers are great when there are a lot of people at an event. These performers are like the street performers you see in New York City. They are extremely talented and will circulate throughout the room, doing a number of performances a night for small groups of people. They create intimate performances that don’t disrupt the flow of the event. 

...FOR MORE Q&A, Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget

Want to Learn More about Planning Your Next Event? Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget or Contact Us for an event consultation. 

Event Planning Series: How Furniture can Take Your Event to the Next Level

At HELEN MILLS, we work with talented event professionals every day. Over the coming months, we will be posting insights and interviews from some of the most experienced experts in the industry as part of our HELEN MILLS Event Planning Series! Please let us know your thoughts by commenting, sharing, or contacting us. 

Kicking off the Event Planning Series, Rhonda Cosaluzzo of AFR Event Furnishings spoke with us on how event furnishings may be just the thing for impressing guests and creating a one-of-a-kind atmosphere. Rhonda helped start AFR’s event furnishing business in NYC 7 years ago and has worked on events across the country from Miami to Dallas to Chicago to New York. Read on for highlights from our Q&A as well as top tips to consider when furnishing your next event. 

Essential Tips for Furnishing Your Event

MATCH FURNITURE TO EVENT GOALS
Before you decorate and design your event, know what you want your audience to do. Maybe they will be listening to speakers without much time for socializing. Maybe there will be time for networking and socializing before speakers. Or maybe you do not have presentations. All of these situations should factor into your decision of how to arrange the furnishings.

SAVE MONEY BY SPENDING IT ON SOMETHING EXPENSIVE
Take the "centerpiece" concept and apply it to the room. Instead of using 20 floral arrangements at $50 per table, sink all the money into one dramatic floral arrangement in the center of the room. People will not notice that you have scaled back on the tabletop pieces, but rather the extravagant piece in the center of the room could be a conversation starter.

...FOR MORE TIPS, Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget

Q&A with a Professional

MOST UNCONVENTIONAL USE OF FURNITURE?
With one of our trade show booths, we turned cocktail and end tables on their side and stacked them to make a beautiful backdrop. We stacked sofas to make an entrance to the booth. You always have to think outside the box in the event industry. We’re always experimenting in our warehouse. We all put our heads together and figure out what works. Some of our experiments have resulted in a few broken pieces but it’s worth it to try new things.

WHAT CHANGE ARE YOU CURRENTLY SEEING IN EVENT FURNISHINGS?
Many of today’s top companies like Google and AOL have gotten away from the traditional chairs and have gotten into sofas and little ottomans where people can put their feet up. The day of sitting in a conference chair is over. Companies are now focusing on creating a welcoming, social atmosphere at their events. It’s a much more casual atmosphere, with corporate and social events alike.

...FOR MORE Q&A, Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget

Want to Learn More about Planning Your Next Event? Download our eBook - Essential Event Tips You Can't Forget or Contact Us for an event consultation. 

4th Annual WEEN Awards Reception

This past Wednesday night, WEEN (Women in Entertainment Empowerment Network) hosted their 4thannual WEEN Awards reception at HELEN MILLS. There were about 200 women (and men) in attendance to celebrate some of the inspirational women within the organization.

WEEN is a coalition of women and men of all ages and races committed to supporting, promoting and defending the balanced, positive portrayal of women in entertainment and society. The honorees included Vashtie Kola, Jeanette Jenkins, MC Lyte, Lisa Price, Lynn Richardson, Sevyn Streeter and Angela Yee.

WEEN Award Winners

Here are some additional photos from their beautiful event:

VIP Seating

WEEN Awards

Flower Arrangement and WEEN Postcards

WEEN Step & Repeat with a Pink Carpet

To learn more about hosting your awards reception, please contact us.

Editorial Event: Wired Italia with The Society of Publication Designers

Join SPD next Wednesday, November 19th at the HELEN MILLS Theater for an event with David Moretti, the Creative Director of WIRED Italia. David will be talking about how he and his team come up with ideas and concepts for editorial and info-graphics design. You won’t want to miss it!

Doors will open at 6:30 PM and the presentation will start at 7:00 PM. For more information and tickets, please visit the event’s website here.

About SPD:

The Society of Publication Designers has been around since 1965 and its members consist of directors, designers, photo editors, editors and graphic professionals. It is the only organization that specifically addresses the visual concerns of print and online editorial professionals. For more information on SPD, their activities and volunteering opportunities, please click here.

Contact us for more information on the HELEN MILLS Theater for your next editorial event!

Master Class on Beacons & Geolocation Delves into Hot Tech Topics

On November 7, 2014, HELEN MILLS Event Space was home to The NYC Master Class on Beacons and Geolocation, presented by Gimbal, with supporting partner Application Developers Alliance. The day featured a number of speakers discussing the newest technologies and capabilities in the space, including founders and VPs from ShopAdvisor, Verve Mobile, Urban Airship, Spark Compass, and Control Group.

In addition to the talks, the event featured great branding in the form of exterior signage, standing banners, gobos, presentations, and of course swag items to take home.

About Gimbal: Gimbal, Inc. is connecting brands, venues, events and retailers with their customers in exciting new ways by providing leading-edge mobile technologies and solutions.  With advanced geofencing, the world's largest deployment of industry-leading Bluetooth Smart beacons, location-based engagement, analytics, unmatched security features and privacy controls, the Gimbal platform helps drive mobile app engagement and loyalty. Visit www.gimbal.com for more information. More Here.

About Application Developers Alliance: The Application Developers Alliance is a non-profit global membership organization that supports developers as creators, innovators, and entrepreneurs. We promote the continued growth of the industry and advocate on behalf of our members on public policy and industry issues. The Apps Alliance serves a growing membership of tens of thousands of developers and hundreds of companies including: mobile app publishers, platforms, wireless carriers, hardware manufacturers, ad networks, enterprise tools and service providers.

Looking to host a Tech or Other Event? Contact Us for more information about the HELEN MILLS Event Space & Theater.

Sci­‐fi Noir Short Film to Debut at Helen Mills Theater

Calling all film enthusiasts! Threshold Films will host the debut of their Sci-fi Noir Short Film "Selected" on Nov. 14, at the Helen Mills Theater. "Selected tells the story of a young man seeking revenge for the murder of his mother in a society with a crime-deterrent system that limits civil liberties. The film stars Tim Abell from “We Were Soldiers,” and “Soldiers of Fortune,” Ron Millkie of “Friday the 13th” and Zachary Karem.

The film debut is free to all invited - email zachary@thresholdfilms for your chance to attend. There will be a brief introduction and keynote about Threshold Films presented by the filmmakers. After the screening of the film, there will be a Q&A.

About Threshold Films: Founded in 2011 by Zachary Karem, Brennan Karem and Renes Rivera, Threshold films is a production company that specializes in independent film making as well as commercials, editing, and TV production. Read more on the "Selected" website or Twitter page.

Planning a Screening or Film Festival? Contact Us for more information about the HELEN MILLS Theater or see here for more information.