EBE EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT’S NEW DIVISION PLANS PARTIES THAT ARE SERIOUS BUSINESS

PHILADELPHIA – Today’s corporate parties are becoming more like live productions, complete with video feeds, dramatic lighting, music and other special effects that come together to make a lasting impression on the clients, employees and donors who attend. And with any live production, it helps to have an experienced stage manager behind the scenes who knows how to orchestrate memorable moments.

Enter EBE Events and Entertainment.  With a new corporate event planning division, the Philadelphia-based entertainment provider will become a one-stop shop for local and national companies and organizations that want not only top-notch entertainment, but a point person who can plan, organize, coordinate and execute the entire event.

Elaine T. Igoe, director of EBE’s corporate event planning division, has become that point person, and is ready to serve clients who might not be event planners – and even those who are – to design an event with a significant “wow” factor.

“Sometimes clients come to us without any type of event-planning expertise and need help because they have been asked to organize a conference or trade show for their companies. Other times, professional event planners need our help because they simply can’t do it all, or they might not be familiar with the amenities in the area,” said Ms. Igoe. “We can help pinpoint what they want and make it happen.”

Ms. Igoe begins by meeting with clients to determine their needs, their budget and the ultimate goal of their function, which could be a convention, trade show or holiday party. From there, she creates a timeline of the tasks necessary to reach that goal. Her duties could include everything from finding the perfect venue and coordinating the lighting and video production to providing registration services and on-site management and entertainment at the event.

“We want people to know we can do it all,” she said. “Even when we may not be able to provide a particular service, we know exactly who to go to when clients have specific needs. We are then able to orchestrate communication and coordination between multiple vendors, such as decorators, caterers and entertainers, to ensure that everyone is working together and shares a common goal – making the client’s event a success.”

The decision to begin offering event planning services was a natural progression for EBE, since the company already trains its band leaders to become experts in controlling party flow. In addition, the company provides many of the enhancements and amenities that are being sought by today’s corporate clients.

Marilyn Cohen, who serves on the Cooper Hospital Women’s Board and is the co-chair for this year’s 84th Annual Cooper Hospital Charity Ball, said EBE’s expertise has been critical for her Dec. 8th event.

The theme for the ball is “Moonlight Serenade,” and lighting will be critical to helping create the right mood. But setting the right mood can be challenging in a venue with 15-foot windows, said Ms. Cohen, so she is relying heavily on EBE for production expertise.

EBE will also be providing the musical entertainment and dancers to get the crowd moving, and distributing sound and hiring caricaturists for the event. The company’s connections to area vendors and its familiarity with the venue have been helpful to Ms. Cohen.

 “Elaine is an excellent sounding board for ideas,” said Ms. Cohen. “It’s truly a collaborative effort.”