Empire Delivers Donald Fagen, Michael McDonald & Boz Scaggs - The Dukes of September Rhythm Revue for a Very Special Birthday Celebration
When a private client wanted to deliver a special surprise for a family member’s 50th birthday, they turned to Empire Entertainment to book and produce an unforgettable concert. The intimate birthday event, for just under 100 guests, would take place in a tent on a tennis court situated on the grounds of the family’s newly-completed waterfront home in the Northeastern United States. The entertainment initially requested was Steely Dan. Steely Dan was not available but fortunately Empire was aware of an extraordinary new tour featuring principal performers: Donald Fagen (Steely Dan), Michael McDonald (Doobie Brothers) and Boz Scaggs. Entitled the Dukes of September Rhythm Revue, the tour featured these three musical legends performing with a band composed largely of musicians from Steely Dan’s band. Empire was able to quickly book this tour and worked closely with their road and production management to create a production scenario that could be achieved in the intimate backyard space in a residential neighborhood.
The event featured a cocktail reception, seated dinner and a series of toasts and speeches. During the final speech at dessert, the evening’s host introduced the band and a scrim was drawn aside revealing the band to a completely surprised birthday honoree and audience. The band then launched into an 80 minute set of hits from all three of the principals that included “Reeling in the Years,” “FM,” “Taking it To the Streets,” “Lowdown,” “Shakedown Street,” “What a Fool Believes,” “Rock Steady,” “Peg,” and “Love Train” among others. Knowing that the client loved Steely Dan’s music growing up, Empire worked with the band to ensure that several of their hits and those of Donald Fagen’s solo career were included in the set list.The audience stood and danced throughout the concert and during the final encore the band invited the birthday honoree onstage to join them for their bows. The client was ecstatic. In addition to booking and logistics, Empire handled all technical production and stage management of the project working closely with event planners D&R Events and Stamford Tents to ensure a smooth experience from load-in to load-out.
Empire is a leading producer of unique, private events.
Guests received their first taste of technological innovation at registration, where they were welcomed by name on a reactive LED screen installation covering the full width of the entry wall. A large lunch café was created with a décor scheme that incorporated custom-built, ceiling-high steel LED frames draped with foliage to create smaller, intimate restaurant-style spaces that displayed both technology and nature.
A series of breakout sessions presented content targeted to attendees’ varied interests, while imagery displayed throughout the venue showcased real-life applications of how products designed to empower developers help to unleash the power of data and reimagine possibilities that will improve our world.
Every element of Microsoft Connect(); from registration, breakfast and keynote, to lunch and evening cocktails, were custom-designed to communicate exacting brand messaging and to deliver a high-touch guest experience to this important audience. The keynote and breakout sessions were livestreamed through an onsite studio built for this purpose and content was watched online by millions around the world.
Empire is proud to collaborate with Microsoft on this annual, top-tier business communication event.
To view excerpts of Connect(); 2017, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/connectevent
