Propped Up By Hollywood!

In Los Angeles, we are very fortunate to have prop houses that are tied into Hollywood and the studios. One of our favorites is 20th Century Props which has a number of amazing sets and props around which we've designed many successful and fun theme events for both our corporate and social clients.

This is from the Austin Powers films. How fun is this set of furniture? Notice the red lip couches from the movie?

Imagine having the egg that traveled through time at your next event!

And these photos are from the set of the movie Moulin Rouge. This is such a beautiful, lush set, perfect for adding to and accessorizing with guest tables designed with the same rich colors and decor.

I'll share more great Hollywood looks later this week!

Green Design

Call it Green Design, or Design Redux, but thanks to the green movement, we are all finding inventive ways to reuse, recycle and reinvent!

There are many areas in which AOO Events is going green at the office and our own lives, but at the event, it all begins at the center – of the table that is. When we can, we try to create centerpieces with eco-friendly props that can then be re-used but there are times when only a floral piece will do. For these time we try to use organic (and locally) grown flowers that are pesticide-free, bring in living plants when possible and add an element of surprise such as water that is recycled through the piece (really not a lot of water is used in these at all).

In this centerpiece we’ve used Springer rye which can re-planted, a box of tumbled river rock which can be used over and over, and organic hydrangea all styled in a mahogany wood box.

And at the photo at the top, we used natural pots which were retro-fitted with water pumps to create a fountain! The other floral and greenery was mostly organic and the gray linen (natural dye) made it all pop. The final touch? Mahogany charger plates that add a significant design element to the table setting.

Great Design on a Budget

Sometimes you have to get very creative when the budgets are cut. Fortunately I was able to transform the main ballroom at the Marriott Grande Lakes, Orlando, for a hospitality event during this year's Super Bowl with some age-old design tricks.

This is how the room looked only 6 hours earlier!

The installation was a bit tricky for a number of reasons, the largest being lack of time. But all that meant was that we had to be sure that every T was crossed and every I dotted.

Secondly, as there was no budget for a site inspection we were working with a little bit of the unknown. The solution to this was a meeting before the installation began with vendors and the hotel so we could all map out what we were going to do and where. During installation, everyone helped “move around the pieces” to ensure that every sponsor company had the presence it wanted.

THE LOOK

Using a sheer light gray fabric to divide the room, we projected a break-up pattern in cobalt blue coloring and projected a one-color gobo on top. With the drape used from floor-to-ceiling, this created a BIG effect.

To set off the blue color pallette that we utilized for this group of Pepsico products, we chose dramatic red floral. The floral needed to last for about five days so we chose tropical flowers such as ginger which we knew was hearty enough to make it for that long without going bad.

A well-placed pool table can help to complete a look. With just the right accent lighting to make the pool table stand out from the surrounding décor, we were able to create another point of interest.

G Whiz! Invite Them In

How inviting is this? And branding? Forget about it!

Now, this is more like it !

I know we all like to pay attention to the details that are at the event, the ones that we think the guests will remember the most. And rightly so. However, the entrance into an event must also be given important consideration. It truly is like an invitation -- it sets the tone and is yet another branding opportunity.

In the case of the G Lounge, created for Gatorade at Super Bowl this year to promote the company's launch of "G," we created this entrance completely on site. The metallic luan is easily bent and we simply attached it to the existing metal facade. The best part about this was that even people who were not going to the lounge were introduced to the new G logo.

The "G" Spot

"The G" at Super Bowl -- After AOO Events

The first part of this year has been so busy with travel, seminars, conferences and events that I haven't had time to share some of AOO's latest designs with you. So belatedly, I you the "G." This can either stand for Gee Whiz, or Gatorade. Come to think of it, they are one in the same when you consider the space we had to transform within a budget and what we did with it.

The backstory -- Gatorade is in the process of rebranding itself as "G" in order to widen its market by breaking away somewhat from a name that has become synonymous with sports.

To help it do this during the Super Bowl media events in Florida this year, we created an art gallery setting from these humble beginnings ....

The G at Super Bowl -- BEFORE AOO Events

With budget being a more prevalent issue this year than in the past, we found creative ways to get a dynamite look. For instance, the hardwood floors are actually parquet dance floors from a rental company. While it was being installed, almost everyone had something to say about this unusual choice of flooring. Most of the comments ran along the lines of "Is there going to be dancing?” Strangely no one could see that this same dance floor used wall-to-wall can also be a great hardwood floor in an event space. That is, until it was fully installed and looking fabulous!

The addition of a 12-foot brick wall in the center of the room completed the loft look and was also my choice for the product display of the new “G” bottles.

To the right and left of the brick wall we installed two white walls where the artist known as SwankOne created paintings of contemporary athletes on site while attendees watched. Later, these same athletes were interviewed by the press in front of their own portrait which were hung on the side walls which had been finished with a neutral backdrop of gray velvet draping.

To completely bring this all full circle, the rapper, Common, created custom narratives of the art pieces and the “G” moment that anyone viewing could hear from the individual stereo at the base of each painting. http://www.common-music.com/

DesignDawgs At OC ISES

PROFITABLE CREATIVITY

In Orange County last night, speaking to ISES members at that chapter. I had been invited by Jean Vivrette to speak about walking the tightrope between profitability and creativity.

The site itself was interesting. The meeting was held at The Pacific Edge Hotel in Laguna Beach, a beautiful wedding and social event site right on the beach.

What was in the Dawg bowl last night? A robust discussion on the economy and how to create big looks inexpensively. One of my go-to ways for this is lighting as you can see in the photo in this post from the preview of Street Kings.

Other discussion topics included how to draw the line between being profitable and being creative. We talked about making one main focal point, making the room more intimate with fabric and using selective lighting (the dark is your friend) and employing bold colors and patterns. Engage all five senses. And create a dynamic color palette with one neutral base color and pair it with a color that POPS!

My quote of the day: Bold color is a feast for the mind.

Cool Ideas from the Show Floor

It's all about color this year! Meridian tables from Cort

We've reached the end of a long week and I'm finally getting back to normal after the Catersource / Event Solutions show in Las Vegas. Going through my "bag of tricks" from the show floor, I've come across a couple great ideas to share with you.

Color that POPS!

There is nothing subtle about color these days and to that end I found these plexi table covers at Cort Event Furnishings. The collection is called Meridian and the exciting feature of these (in addition to the eye-catching colors) is the rim of the tables seems to glow.

A Really Hot Idea!

Finally, a way to make patio heaters look great. Classic Party Rentals showed these patio heater covers that keep guests hot and the event cool.

BRANDED!

From left to right -- Scott Barnes, Debbie Meyers, me, David Fischette

Just got back from Las Vegas and another speaking engagement! This time it was for the Catersource / Event Solutions 2009 Conference & Tradeshow.

We didn't have a talk show set as you saw in the last posting but the format of the "Dave Merrell Tonight" talk show with me interviewing each guest still worked beautifully. I love it because the panel is so at ease. The topic was branding a product, service or message through an event -- very important in these days when every event must have a purpose.

First, I talked to Scott Barnes, Special Events Manager from Cashman & Associates in Philadelpha. He showed photos from several amazing events, my favorite being how an event for a high-end luxury hotel that wanted to instill its brand message into its diverse group of employees. Everyone from the bartenders to the valet car parkers were feted in the same style as if they were a guest at the hotel. The event crossed all boundaries of language and culture and made everyone really understanding what they were "selling." Great concept, great event!

Next up was Debbie Meyers, CSEP, a designdawg guest blogger (see January 21, 2009) and owner of Bravo! Entertainment in Dallas, Texas. While Debbie has some very far out entertainers in her repertoire I think everyone liked the simplest concept the best -- dancers who dance in silhouette (be it in front of the sun for outdoor events or behind a screen) and finally come to rest in the form of the client's logo. Simple, effective, memorable. What could be better?

Finally, it was time to interview David Fischette from Go West Events & Multimedia in Westlake Village, California. My favorite effect that David shared with the audience was a three-screen reveal of a logo suring which dancers literally "threw" graphics to one another on each screen. To be believable, the choreography had to be absolutely precise. Audiences literally looked at the client's logo for the full performance, etching it in their memory. Only David could pull this off!

Great work everyone!

And now, after being on the speaker circuit for the past two months, all I can say is: "Where can we take our traveling Dave Merrell Tonight road show next?"