New York, New York: End of Year Party

For their annual end of year function, “wow us” was the simple brief we received from our favourite client. We love the creative flexibility they always give us – which leaves us to do what we do best! We won an award for last year’s event too.

“New York is always a good idea” – and the bold inspiration behind our theme for this year’s event. The allure of the Big Apple is felt the world over – a city with a unique style all of its own. From its unmistakable skyline and vibrant nightlife, to the many landmarks and icons that give the city its legendary status, it was the perfect place to base our event entertainment around.

The first requirement was to make sure that guests were given a fully immersive New York New York experience. On arrival, they were greeted by a gorgeous art deco New York skyline which provided the perfect backdrop to the evening’s festivities…and the living “Statue of Liberty” statue on hand for a warm New York welcome.

Immersive is what they wanted, and immersive is what the client got. Just as in legendary Times Square restaurant Sardi’s, caricatures of showbiz celebs (interspersed with some of our client too 😉) lined the walls of our Sardi’s imitation restaurant – with a caricaturist on hand to give guests their very own personalized caricature works of art.

The classic 50s NYC ‘Stardust’ diner was done up in monochrome pastel pinks and blues with checkerboard tabletops and floor and classic pull up diner stools lining the counter. Pop up performances by the Jersey Boys and the RollerBoys (yes, complete with roller skates!) enthralled guests throughout the evening and had them bopping away to cult classics by Buddy Holly, Frankie Vallie and the Four Seasons and Elvis.

Live cooking stations gave guests a variety of food options, ranging from authentic Japanese hibachi, taco and mini hotdog stations, to the more thematic Italian cuisine. We made sure the New York styled cocktail bar stood out with backlighting that enticed guests from across the room, yet still had a low-key New York “underground” feel to it.

What New York City event would be complete without a touch of graffiti? The walkway to the outdoor “Central Park” area (and to our quintessential New York busker – who blew everyone away with his vocals!) was lined with a graffiti floor and map of New York City, and Instagrammable “I ♡ NY” backdrop.

And we haven’t even touched on the entertainment elements, which we outdid ourselves on, if we do say so ourselves 😉 Roaming entertainment options included a live Statue of Liberty, a roaming popcorn girl dispensing of…you name it, popcorn, and roaming “taxicab” girls, further immersing guests in a New York vibe. B Boys delighted guests with their parkour-style tricks and energetic dance moves.

The “Times Square”-themed ballroom showed distinctive visuals and videos reminiscent of those on display in Times Square on the paneled LED screens, and colourful lights pulsed with vibrancy. High back chairs and a black and white monochrome dance floor completed the New York look. Guests were treated to a compelling performance by the RollerBoys, who had changed from their “diner” outfits into suave black-tie ensembles. A well-known DJ had guests grooving into the wee hours of the morning.

There’s an energy in New York unlike any other city in the world…and we have no doubt that guests left the party with a small part of New York firmly entrenched in their hearts. In the words of the client:

“Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event. It was very different and very unique and the compliments we have been receiving from the staff certainly reflects that. So thank you!”