Walking the red carpet isn’t reserved just for celebrities… Imagine walking step by step through the flashing lights of the paparazzi only to find that the red carpet is actually the gown of a gorgeous woman! The Living Red Carpet is one of the newest trends debuting on both coasts. Acting as both entry piece and greeter, the living red carpet is a sure way to make any event memorable!
Feel free to email me for more information at sfoxman@contemporaryproductions.com
Who doesn’t like champagne falling from the sky? Imagine a beautiful dancing woman suspended in the center of a chandelier pouring bubbly for party-goers below. Add some lights, thumping music, a little more champagne… you get the idea.
This concept was originally created by famed designer Marcel Wanders (www.marcelwanders.com) and dance choreographer Nanine Linning. It is starting to show up at A-List parties around the globe, and who knows, maybe one of my events soon…
Feel free to email me for more information sfoxman@contemporaryproductions.com
On December 31, 2009, Contemporary Productions completed another successful year by producing one of their favorite events. For six years, Contemporary has been booking talent and co-producing First Night, located in the Grand Center district of St. Louis, MO. Many buildings in the area were glowing bright and vibrant colors, as strolling entertainment (such as a Hot Chocolate Wonder Bike, Mirror-Ball Men, and an Alice-in-Wonderland themed living table) strolled the streets of Grand, Olive, and Washington. For the first time ever, guests of First Night were able to enter through a giant “Welcome” arch, featuring clocks that fit in perfectly with this year’s theme of “Wonderland.”
Great entertainment featured thoughout the evening on the main stage, including Boogie Chyld’s Michael Jackson Tribute, Javier Mendoza, the Sean Holland Band, and the Tiny Cows. Preceding the fireworks at 9pm and Midnight, were America’s Got Talent alums, The Cadence, who entertained the countdown stage crowd with their high-energy percussion show.
Dean @ La Gra
La Gra means love so why not celebrate Valentines day with the one you love at La Gra. The Restaurant will be celebrating all weekend long with romantic live music and a Valentines day package for two from Friday 2/12 through Sunday 2/14.
The Valentines Day Package for Two includes one order of Bruschetta to share, Soup or Salad for each, an order of our La Gra Sampler Combo with a Lobster Tail to share and a bowl of our our special “Lovers Pasta” to share plus a bottle of house wine or carafe of sangria for only $59.00 per couple. They will be offering their regular menu as well. In addition to the great food, they will also have a great live music lineup for the weekend. Friday 2/12 and Saturday 2/13 Dean Christopher will provide musical entertainment. Enjoy the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr. as well as many other classic American artists performed by Dean.
To learn more about Dean Christopher visit : http://www.ratpackandmore.com
For La Gras Tapas reservations visit: ilovelagra.com
Many of our clients were looking for an entertainment act that could kick-start or end the evening with a BANG in 2009. In several of these cases we relied heavily on a former NBC “America’s Got Talent” finalists, The Cadence.
The Cadence is a six piece Stomp-style drum troupe out of Springfield, MO that creates heart pounding rhythmic beats with drums, oil barrels, pipes, paint cans, and anything else they can get their hands on. Most of their shows are choreographed to specialty lighting, lasers, and pyrotechnics.
Our clients raved about the troop and some are even planning their events around the band for 2010. To learn more about The Cadence, visit their website at http://www.thecadencelive.com/
For booking information contact: Brad Baker or Libby Papineau at (314)721-9090 or info@contemporaryproductions.com.
If you’re looking for a new place to check out live music for free, the Ritz-Carlton Lobby Lounge hosts some of St. Louis’ finest groups every Friday and Saturday night. There is no admission cost and the bands play from 9:00 p.m. – 12:30 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 22 – Arvell & Co.
Saturday, Jan. 23 – Hudson and the Hoo Doo Cats
Friday, Jan. 29 – Arvell & Co.
Saturday, Jan. 30 – Mystic Voyage
Friday, Feb. 5 – Arvell & Co.
Saturday, Feb. 6 – Pennsylvania Slim Blues Band
The Ritz-Carlton St. Louis is located at 100 Carondelet Plaza in Clayton.
On December 9, 2009, the employees of Contemporary Productions decided to give up their company Holiday party and use the money they would have spent to purchase clothing, household items and toys for a struggling family in St. Louis.
“We split into two teams… one went shopping at Kohl’s for all the items and the other began the wrapping process”, explained Libby Farmer. “And there was a lot to wrap!” Farmer added.
After researching several recipients in St. Louis Post Dispatch “100 Neediest Cases” website, the employees settled on one family that stood out from the others. A grandmother caring for her three grandchildren whose parents were absent from their lives. The grandmother suffers from multiple health issues as well as deep financial strains.
Each year, more than 10,000 families in need receive help from the 100 Neediest Cases program in St. Louis. Every dollar raised for the 100 Neediest Cases program goes directly to help people.
“A very important part of our culture at Contemporary is giving back to our community”, explains Senior Partner, Sam Foxman. “This idea came from the employees, and I am proud that they would rather help someone in need than have a party”, added Foxman.
Dozens of boxes full of items ranging from coats to shoes to toy cars were wrapped and sent with a poem written by Contemporary’s own Cindy Schroeder.
On December 5th, The Saint Louis Science Center honored the accomplishments of James S. McDonnell in a moving tribute event at the iconic St. Louis Planetarium. McDonnell, most famous for his aeronautical background and work with the Gemini project (second human spaceflight program of NASA), was given awards as well as video tributes.
Contemporary was hired to design and produce the gala event which had a “moon-themed” undertone as America celebrated the 40th Anniversary of the lunar landing this past July.
In the lunar spirit, guests arrived to a 75ft red carpet lined with glowing “moons”. Once inside, guests visited the moon-tini lounge where a 30ft glowing bar featured top-shelf libations. While in line for the bar, couples could have their picture taken “on the moon” with a moonscape mural in the background of each photo.
Upstairs in the Planetarium’s main room, the Carl Zeiss Company – famous for creating machines that project detailed images of stars and planets, gave a demonstration of new projection technology that will be featured in the Planetarium throughout the next few weeks. “From an event standpoint, The new Zeiss projections brought the visual impact of the room to whole new level”, explained Jeff Jarrett of Contemporary Productions.
As remarkable as the Zeiss projections were, they were not without challenges. “When designing this event, I knew the lighting plan could not compete or impede with what the Zeiss machine was doing on the ceiling,” remarks Contemporary’s Sam Foxman. “We had to find a way to dramatically light the entire room from the ground,” adds Foxman. The solution was a new product in event furniture called the “Ghost Table”. The Ghost Table is a 60inch clear acrylic table with a wireless LED lighting system embedded in the table’s pedestal. The result was a room full of light emanating from each table and fully controllable as to the color and hue.
Another part of the design incorporated the use of 4 computer controlled moving head projectors. These moving projectors were used to project large-scale quotes of James S. McDonnell as well as show the tribute films created for Mr. McDonnell on four points of the ceiling. The effect was dramatic to say the least.
For more on James S. McDonnell, visit http://www.jsmf.org/ or the Saint Louis Science Center at http://www.slsc.org/ .
Acclaimed Mexican cuisine chef and “Top Chef Masters” winner Rick Bayless made a special appearance at Schnucks Des Peres Market on October 10, 2009. Bayless’ appearance, booked by Contemporary, coincided with the grand opening of Schnucks’ state-of the art culinary school, as he spend four hours signing his cookbooks and posing for photos with fans and foodies. Bayless also spent the first part of his appearance teaching a small class how to cook simple Mexican dishes, including guacamole and chipotle shrimp.
St. Louis Symphony Orchestra 2009 Gala
From larger than life silouhettes of music’s finest composers to music notes covering The Coronado’s ceiling, Contemporary Productions created a memorable atmosphere for the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra’s gala “A Noteworthy Affair” on October 24. Using various types of lights, the team projected music notes onto the dark blue ceiling in the main ballroom, creating an effect that was reminiscent of a night sky. In a separate room, custom gobos of notable composers lined the walls. Guests finished the evening with music and dancing compliments of the Steve Schankman Orchestra. “A Noteworthy Affair” was the Symphony’s first fundraiser in a decade and they raised over $800,000. Contemporary Productions is proud to have been involved with such a great cause!
