Event Gallery – Monte Carlo Gala
Monte Carlo Theme Company
The Contemporary team was privileged to produce this gala for a nonprofit organization in February 2013. The client requested us to create a one-of-a-kind event with a Monte Carlo theme. We transformed the Chase Park Plaza with custom new props and decor pieces, amazing live entertainment in every room and a breathtaking performance by Escala!
Entrance Treatment Company
What better way to establish a Monte Carlo-themed party than by having guests enter through the doors of the world famous Casino de Monte Carlo? This entrance-way flat was created by using a high-resolution photo of the legendary casino with separate “welcome” panels branded specifically for the client’s organization.
Photo-Op
Upon entering the Chase Park Plaza, guests were invited to pose behind a real F1 race car for souvenir photos. This custom backdrop was created in-house using authentic Monaco Grand Prix posters from the 20th century.
Registration
Guests entered into Goldfinger’s Vault for registration and table assignments. This one-of-a-kind space featured several custom props. We built two registration tables out of “gold bullion bars” with a glass top. The walls were draped in shimmering flash-gold Mylar. Finally, the room was walled off with two “steel and concrete” walls including a full sized vault door.
Interactive Entertainment
No room was without live entertainment. We provide themed performers that engaged guests throughout the evening. This Goldfinger Girl greeted everyone who entered the vault with a glass of champagne from her dress. After leaving the vault, guests were greeted by Monte Carlo casino showgirls in authentic outfits with extravagant feathered headpieces.
Martini Lounge
This space had several custom elements including light boxes featuring specially commissioned illustrations of several of the famous actors who portrayed James Bond. They all held event branded playing cards, foreshadowing the casino games to come. We also built two distinctive illuminated bars for the area with LED glorifiers lighting the martini glasses. Check out the beautiful Bond Girl who interacted with guests throughout the night from a giant martini glass.
Wall (Pre-function Side)
This is one of the largest and most impressive props we’ve created for an event. Rather than use the hotel’s air wall, we built this 80 foot long prop to separate the pre-function areas from the ballroom.Each side of the wall was themed differently. The pre-function side featured three light boxes with vintage Monte-Carlo posters and event and sponsorship branding. The wall allowed us to “flip” the room during dinner. We closed the doors, pulled the drapes and snuck in casino gaming tables without the guests having a clue!
Wall (Ballroom Side)
This is the other side of the wall as viewed from inside the ballroom. We themed the room to look like the courtyard of the famed Palais Princier de Monaco. To support the illusion, we fabricated an exterior wall with three dimensional balustrades at the top. We finished the wall with a detailed stone mason finish and added planter pedestals in between the french doors.
Ballroom
Here’s a great example of how lighting and simple decor can instantly transform a large space. Floral and fauna shaped light patterns, crushed metallic green table linens and elegant white floral arrangements helped reinforce the palace garden/courtyard theme. In the back, you can see the full expanse of the palace wall.
Living Statue
Our astonishing living fountain rounded out the palace garden theme in the ballroom. This living statue slowly moved between classic poses over the course of the night. Guests were amazed when they realized that the fountain was alive!
Stage
These custom flats featured artwork created in-house to resemble a balcony overlooking the Mediterranean sea. We attached the flats to three rolling stage risers. Upstage placement made it possible to hide the Fabulous Motown Revue’s instruments. Once it was time for the band to perform, we simply rotated the flats and the band was ready to perform instantly! This is a great example of how top-notch event design translates into unique solutions. We were able to have a decor piece function as a stage and eliminate awkward downtime between presentations and entertainment.
Escala
We had the pleasure of bringing Escala from the U.K. to perform following dinner and presentations. This electric string quartet became an overnight sensation across the world after appearing on Britain’s Got Talent. Guests were awed by exciting renditions of classical songs and powerful performance of Paul McCartney’s “Live & Let Die” and Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir”.
Escala Facebook
The Fabulous Motown Revue
Following a breathtaking performance by Escala, the Fabulous Motown Revue took to the stage. Now celebrating their 25th year, this 16 piece band had guests flooding the dance floor with all of the Motown, RnB and Disco hits including “September”, “I Will Survive” and many more.
Casino Games (Pre-function Room)
Following dinner, guests were invited to open up secret envelopes they had received during registration in Goldfinger’s Vault to find $5,000 in client-branded play money. Guests left the ballroom to discover that the prefunction rooms had been transformed into Casino Royale complete with video slots, blackjack, roulette and craps tables.
Casino Games (Regency Room)
The Regency Room became an upscale space for guests to try their luck at craps and roulette. In the top photo, our decor seamlessly blended in with the room. All of the gold walls were built to fit the space with elegant moldings and red velvet drape. The wooden bars in the center of the room were custom made for the event to match the elegant atmosphere.