“Wow!” was the word for the evening at Sandy Lichtenstein’s Bar Mitzvah Celebration at the prestigious St. Andrews Country Club on March 8, 2008.

“Sailing Away with Sandy” was a very special theme for this young man. The guests were treated on arrival with glowing tiki torches and palm trees that lined the staircase to the cocktail room. Once inside the Club, the crisp royal blue, lime and white color scheme dazzled the eyes while the soft rhythmic sounds of the steel drum band, provided by ME Productions’ Entertainment Department, delighted the ears of each guest.

Sandy’s guests had a blast with the live crab races in the cocktail area. People were cheering and betting on which crab would win the race!

After cocktail hour, the Lichtensteins’ guests proceeded across a rustic wooden footbridge that traversed an actual “tidal pond.”

Once inside the ballroom, artistic backdrop panels of sail boats, set full sail in regatta mode, set the scene at the entrance. Lush foliage, sea gulls, buoys, dock pilings and lobster traps, gave the impression that you were at the seashore watching the boats race…

The ballroom was decorated in the same lime green, royal blue and white color scheme. White Chiavari chairs gave an “out doorsy” look to the room and complemented ME’s lush table linens. As an added touch, napkins were “French” folded and accented with a miniature white orchid blossom. “Exquisite!”

One of the highlights of the adult area were the custom logo Regatta Sail Boats that glided over a sea of wonderful blue and green premium blossoms elevated above the tables on tall glass cylinder vases filled with sea shells and blue tinted water. The additional drama of glass-enclosed hanging candles created a sensational effect. Every detail on the table right down to custom table markers were meticulously handled by the professional party planning and coordination of Skip Panse and the ME Productions renowned Floral, Production and Art departments.

The room was entirely draped in royal blue fabric from ceiling to floor. The ballroom ceiling was decorated with yards of white chiffon, accented with a multitude of Tivoli lights, creating a “crowning” effect.

A scenic backdrop of a setting sun on the ocean placed in the rear of the children’s area set the mood of a surreal seaside and three custom made sail boats with Sandy’s very own logo were placed in front of the backdrop to enhance the setting.

Sandy and his friends relaxed and “hung out” in his seaside lounge with leather sofas and area-pit seating groupings. Hightop cocktail tables surrounded by barstools were adorned with lighthouses and model sail boats to complete the look.

As additional entertainment area featuring foosball, air hockey, Black Jack and Texas Hold ‘Em tables was provided for the children. A terrific candy bar with both vintage and new candies was a big hit with the adults and the children alike.

Christine May, the catering director at St. Andrews, and her wonderful staff, made this event extra special with the personal, elegant, sophisticated touch that both she and St. Andrews are noted for. St. Andrews’ new Chef created wonderful dinner fare that delighted the guests’ palates.

The live and combined DJ music had the guests dancing and celebrating Sandy’s special evening to the fullest.

Congratulations Jeff and Barbara on your son’s Bar Mitzvah and Mazel Tov Sandy. Kudos Christine and St. Andrews. “Hats Off” to Skip and ME Productions on the Production of another sensational and creative event!

What a unbelievable evening. Ira and Wendy Paskow had the event of the season for their son Jordan’s Bar Mitzvah at Westview Country Club. Search lights spanned the sky announcing that this was the “In Spot” for the evening. From the time the guests exited their vehicles, the excitement ensued.

The Club’s bouncer, a former “Mr. Florida,” took charge of the kids. The kids got VIP Passes to the exclusive “Club Jordan” for this special evening. ME Productions entertainer, a Cher look-a-like female impersonator, welcomed the adult guests. Wendy was magnificent in a beautiful chiffon gown with a feathered bodice. She looked like a movie star!

The event, designed by Skip Panse of ME Productions, was a shining example of totally transforming a vintage venue into a “chic” South Beach club with strong overtones of the décor of the old Delano Hotel. The crisp white fabric dining alcoves accented with crystal chandeliers appointed with lots of tightly packed red roses was amazing. The ceiling décor and the black and white dance floor were stunning additions to the décor.

Guests’ jaws literally dropped when they entered the ballroom! Jordan and his friends had their own personal club with a wide assortment of activities and casino games. The adult cocktail space featured ME Productions all-new interior-lighted buffet tables. The “wow” of ME Productions’ acrylic high and low cocktail tables lighted with battery- operated LED lights helped to create this posh cocktail lounge that combined the past with the current “sleek and chic now look.”

A “highlight” of the evening was when the adult guests left the ballroom for a trip to the past into the “Paskow Disco.” The DJ had the guests shaking their booties long after midnight to the sounds of the likes of Gloria Gaynor and Donna Summer in a upscale club that Ira and Wendy had Skip create for their guests’ enjoyment.

This was a spectacular event. No stone was left unturned! The planning and execution of this event by Skip and ME Productions was flawless.

Congratulations and Mazel Tov to Ira and Wendy! Congratulations Jordan!

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