ME Productions congratulates our entire team on these spectacular events, in particular sales managers Dominique Donofrio and Jennifer Freedman, and Creative Director Jef Hernandez:

Fast cars, good food, and hot entertainment were the name of the game during Ford Championship Weekend (November 15 - 18, 2007).

Sports Illustrated Invades SoBe
Over on South Beach, members of the racing community, celebrities, and athletes partied Miami-style with Sports Illustrated at The Fifth before heading off to the track for the weekend to witness the finale of the Nextel Cup Series.

ME Productions transformed South Beach’s the Fifth into Club SI to jump-start Ford Championship Weekend.

ME Productions transformed the venue into the specially branded “Club SI.” They began outside by adding Club SI signage and gobo lighting to the side of the building, along with four Ford production vehicles, both on the red carpet and suspended on ramps above it. Inside, guests walked through a fog screen and into the venue’s intimate bilevel space. The Fifth’s high-energy bartenders served drinks below So Cool Events’ suspended ice sculpture of the club name while caterwaiters served assorted hors d’oeuvres, courtesy of the club.

“We used a lot of red, orange, and yellow hues to convey a fiery inferno, yet chic theme”, said Jennifer Freedman of ME Productions.

The Miami Heat Dancers were among the many notable faces at Club SI.

Miami’s DJ Irie and guest DJ Funkmaster Flex entertained the group, remixing dance favorites as the Miami Heat Dancers, in Sports Illustrated attire, performed atop illuminated acrylic columns throughout the space. Guests were also treated to a special performance by the Wallflowers, which served as the climax of the evening.

It’s Miller Time
Up the beach from Club SI, ME Productions once again transformed one of SoBe’s best venues with bevy of branding. Mansion played host to more than 400 people to celebrate “Miami Lites,” an event campaign developed by ME Productions after being recruited by GMR Marketing, Miller Lite’s alliance marketing agency.

New Century Dance Company dancers in spandex racing-themed costumes and Miller bikinis performed for guests.

Inside the nightclub, ME hung 12 giant air-filled spheres from the ceiling, onto which they projected custom-made graphics that changed colors throughout the evening. The team also constructed a 30-foot projection wall around the DJ booth that featured Miller graphics and racing clips.

Throughout the night, guests sipped their Miller Lites while lounging on white couches (on which branded Miller Lite pillows had been placed) and off-white, branded plexiglass high-top tables illuminated with LEDs. Performers from New Century Dance Company danced atop Mansion’s platforms. Eggwhites Catering served sliced prime rib, boneless pork loin, sliced marinated chicken, and more.

ME Productions strategically placed flat-screen monitors throughout Mansion, which continuously played multimedia clips from both Nascar and Miller Lite commercials.

Further up the beach, at Trump International Sonesta Beach Resort in Sunny Isles, the Miami Lites Weekend continued poolside. Guests entered the pool area through a checkered-flag-inspired entryway and were greeted by a racing model perched on a branded Miller cube waving flags.

Catering stations provided by the Trump International Sonesta Resort were outfitted in black-and-white checkered stretch spandex and featured hubcap centerpieces and orange traffic cones.

Various branded seating areas, catering stations with tropical fare, and portable bars were placed around the perimeter of the lagoon-shaped pool-onto which a Miller logo was also with gobos. The 400 guests chilled out to reggae band the Monarchs.

ME Productions is now offering all of the speakers and entertainers on the rosters of the International Speakers Bureau through its website www.meproductions.com. ME customers can book any of the ISB’s talent with one call to a designated ME Productions staff person, who will assist with the booking and answer any questions.

The ISB Roster offers hundreds of speakers and entertainers, from comedians like Jay Leno and Howie Mandel to inspirational speakers like Lance Armstrong, Erin Brockovich and Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York. The ISB network features speakers and entertainers in the fields of:

• Celebrities/Entertainers (including comedy, hypnotists, jugglers, emcees, musicians, etc.)
• Motivation/Inspiration
• Current Trends
• Economics
• Health/wellness
• Politics
• Sales/Customer Service
• Sports
• Technology/Science
• Terrorism/Homeland Security
• University/Education

“We are very excited about expanding our services to include this impressive roster. Now, in addition to our own network, our partnership with ISB greatly expands our reach into the entertainment world opening access for our clients,” said ME Productions President Jim Etkin.

“How can anyone top this?!” was the exclamation from guests at the Bat Mitzvah of Lara Kay, youngest daughter of Dr. Bill and Mrs. Lynn Kay. This exquisite Bat Mitzvah was held at the beautiful Woodfield Country Club in Boca Raton on Saturday December 1^st 2007.ME Productions staff, under the close direction of Skip Panse, Executive Sales & Events Manager, began this elaborate decorating feat two days prior to the event date! The planning of this event took months of meetings with Dr. Bill and Lynn Kay, countless hours of building props, designing custom décor and site inspections.

As guests drove along the holiday-lighted, palm-lined boulevard that leads to the Club, orange and fuchsia lights set the clubhouse ablaze as a group of young men twirling and spinning signs directed the vehicles to the porte cochiere. The guests exited from their vehicles and stepped onto a custom white carpet, stenciled with Lara’s name and a custom logo that ME productions had created just for Lara. Four giant dance platforms were rocking with talented break dancers from M Three Productions. Guests then entered the venue through a giant boom box entrance that was created especially for this event. The valet area was lined with panels of graffiti filled brick walls.Inside the lobby, tall back-lit light boxes presented six sensational photos of Lara in vintage gowns that once belonged to her grandmother. These photos were created by Lara Stern of Fotik Photography.

The children proceeded to their cocktail area on the first level where “Peanut Butter,” the renowned face painter and his staff, painted both the children’s and adult’s faces. Carnival booths and activities such as live crab races, slot car races and pop-a-shot basketball, surrounded Lara’s posh lounge that featured a tropical “virgin” cocktail bar complete with custom light-up drink glasses that were imprinted with Lara’s logo. White yucca palm trees with orange and fuchsia ostrich feather tops decorated the cocktail tables in the children’s area. The kids had a blast!!!

The adults ascended the staircase to the cocktail area on the second floor. This area was decorated with a network of silver trusses, revolving disco balls, near neon lights, intelligent moving lights, stretches of spandex illuminated with custom gobo’s and shimmering curtains of beads. The effect was mesmerizing. A looped track movie with sound featuring Lara was projected on a spandex screen at the top of the stairs. The guests were astounded.

The adult cocktail area was entirely draped from floor to ceiling with lush black crushed velvet drapery. Accented around the top of the drapes, yards and yards of orange and fuchsia organza created a gorgeous valance. Hightop cocktail tables were decorated with balls of orange and fuchsia roses that surrounded French shaded bistro lamps. Chef Bart created a dramatic ice bar that was filled with cracked crab claws and the largest shrimp that we had ever seen!

Some of the caterer’s cocktail fare was presented to the guests by two “living tables,” built around bejewelled and feathered models, dressed with fabric to look like grand ball gowns. These beautiful women glided through the cocktail area offering delicious hors d’oeuvres. The cocktail revellers spilled onto the Veranda where a terrific Latin band with salsa dancers entertained. Guests selected the premium wines from a wine tasting bar.

The gasps were audible as the guests entered the grand ballroom. The walls were draped in white crushed velvet. Yards and yards of white organza and Tivoli lights were draped from the ballroom ceiling. White spheres were suspended from the ceiling throughout the ballroom. Amazing lighting effects filled the guest’s eyes. The elevated dance stage was connected to the club’s regular stage by a railed cat walk that enabled the kids to get from the “posh” white-on- white leather lounge (created by M E productions) on the existing stage to the raised dance stage. “Sugar Bones” was the DJ/ MC for the evening and had all the guests shaking their bon bon’s till well after 1 a.m. The Music and dancers were awesome. The “highlight” of the evening for Lara was a guest appearance by the current top of the chart rapper Flo-Rida! Dr. and Mrs. Kay had arranged for Flo-Rida to come as a surprise for Lara. What a treat it was! The videographer caught the surprised look on Lara’s glowing face!

It is weeks later and people are still talking about the centerpieces and the room environment! Some featured giant mirrored acrylic musical instruments surrounded with a pave’ of orange, burgundy and fuchsia premium blossoms. These centerpieces towered 7 feet over every other table. They emanated from a base container that was covered with glistening CD’s “fish scale style.” Surrounding the entire setting, a myriad of glass-enclosed votives and floating candles rose from a bed of rock candy illuminated by pink and orange LED lights. The alternating centerpieces presented in the same color and flower scheme were gigantic 5-foot diameter balls of flowers that hovered above the tables. Keeping the tables uniform, these centerpieces were also surrounded by the illuminated rock candy, votives and floating candles. Fuchsia and orange custom Payette studded linens were accented with custom charger plates, and custom crystal stemware. Cushioned “Crystal Ice” Chiavari chairs were wrapped in organza chair ties, each adorned with “tussy mussy” styled bouquets of flowers that matched the centerpieces. Again culinary genius Chef Bart created a steak filet and lobster dinner that could rival any of the finest restaurants in the country.

Lara’s Candle Lighting featured a beautiful arrangement of fondant-covered cakes that matched the color scheme. These whimsical cakes aligned in a pyramid style took up an entire buffet table and each held a candle for Lara’s honored guests. At the end of the evening, each adult guest received a wonderful cake to take home. The children were given custom logo sweat shirts and gift bags to carry all of there winnings and treats from the carnival booths.

Gifts for the children were provided by ME Productions’ Premium department.

Hats off to everyone who contributed to this wonderful event!

Skip Panse

ME Productions

More Pictures of Laura’s Musical Moment

Bar Mitzvah of Chad Kramer

December 1, 2007 was an amazing evening at Temple Beth Emet for the Kramer family! The Kramer’s and their guests were celebrating Chad Kramer’s Bar Mitzvah.

When Mitch and Evie Kramer selected a Martial Arts theme for their son, they came to event designer Skip Panse at ME Productions to plan and execute the event.

From the moment the guests exited their vehicles at the Temple, everyone knew that something very special was in store for them…….

The guests walked a plush red carpet lined with flaming tiki torches that led from the valet area to the front doorways and through the lobby to the sanctuary for Havdallah Services. Custom yarmulkes were provided through the premiums department at ME Productions and were presented to the guests on Asian-style tray as they entered the Synagogue.

The Bimah was decorated with magnificent floral arrangements that helped to create an elegant ambiance that Skip had created for the rest of the evening. Chad did a wonderful job reading from the Torah. During cocktail hour, the lobby was transformed into a plush lounge for the adult guests. The guests left the sanctuary to indulge in the amazing fare that Rene’ from Haute Cuisine had created. They were greeted by two costumed geishas as they entered the space. The geishas, who were provided through the entertainment department at ME Productions, mingled among the guests and signaled the end of cocktail hour by striking musical wind chimes. How very elegant!

The children exited the building after services to go to their cocktail space in a huge white tent that ME Productions provided. The tent was filled with games and activities that occupied the children for not only the cocktail hour but for the rest of the evening as well. They had a sensational time!

The Ballroom was transformed by Skip and his ME staff into a magical dining area with Asian-inspired décor combined with the special “Delano Hotel” influence.

The adult area was separated from the children’s area with a wall of white organza that had several openings enabling the children to come on and off the dance floor while maintaining a feeling of exclusivity for them. Hightop tables, sofas, interior lighted mahogany tables with cushioned benches and lighted bars gave the children’s area a rich masculine look amidst the all-white backdrop.

The adult tables were uniquely decorated with two separate table designs. Some tables were square, some were round. The square tables were set under an organza “dining alcove” that featured a sparkling beaded chandelier suspended from the overhead structure. Stunning premium white flowers, acrylic rods and Asian lanterns on the table were accented with a myriad of candles set into a bed of rock salt crystals. The round tables were decorated with Asian Soji screens that surrounded a tall glass vase filled with curly willow branches that were hand appliquéd with white orchid blossoms. Exceptional white blossoms, cylinder vases with floating candles, glass enclosed votives and rock salt crystals finished the base of each setting.

The entire ballroom was draped from floor to ceiling with white velour draperies. The ballroom ceiling was decorated with yards and yards of white organza accented with a multitude of Tivoli lights and giant white, air-filled spheres. The entire look was mesmerizing and the gasps of the Kramers’ guests as they entered the ballroom were audible. The adult guests also had access to an elegant all-white lounge area where they could have a cocktail and conversation.

Skip worked closely with the Kramer’s and Haute Cuisine on the Presentation of the food so that it matched the overall décor of the evening. Chef and Rene’ rose to the challenge and outdid themselves.

Chuck, Haute Cuisine’s noteworthy Maitre’d, remarked that one would never know that this was Temple Beth Emet’s ballroom. He was astonished on how Skip and his staff had transformed it so beautifully for the Kramer’s special evening!

DJ Galaxie from Atlanta” and the M Three dancers had the guests shaking their booties until parties end.

This was certainly the “event of the season” at Temple Beth Emet.

Hats off to Skip and everyone from ME productions for a totally creative event and memorable event and mazel tov to Chad and the Kramers on this special occasion!