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PORTS OF CALL
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Our client, Jani-King
Southwest, asked us for a "cruise" theme for their Awards
evening at the Scottsdale Hilton in Arizona. Avalon created
a cruise ship ambiance with a combination of decor and
entertainment, divided into two segments, a cocktail
reception with casino from 5-7pm followed by an Awards
banquet with an eight-piece show band from 7pm - midnight. A
special performance by "The Three Waiters," an act with
international flair and appeal, was most appropriate for
this theme and was a highlight of the evening. |
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The first "Port", France, complete with a replica of the
Eiffel Tower and a French accordionist, was located by
the entrance to the Hilton's tented Pavilion. The entry
area was adorned with sections of pierdocks, travel
trunks, life rings, a canopy, and a gang plank. Guests
picked up their Passports at a registration table. After
entering, Avalon replicated a ship's casino where guests
were presented with play money after showing their
stamped passports and directed to various games of
chance. |
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Vignettes featured different "ports" in strategic
areas. A "Big Ben" replica was the central attraction
complete with a London "Bobby" who randomly checked
passports. Other ports were Hawaii, complete with
smoking volcano and hula girl who distributed leis. The
isle of Greece, port of New York, and an English Castle,
guarded by a live Beefeater guard, were placed around
the Pavilion's perimeter. Cocktail rounds featured
nautical patterned table linen. A Cruise Director (DJ)
with blue blazer and white slacks played music
appropriate to the different ports and orchestrated the
casino play which featured black jack, craps, and
roulette. |
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At 7pm, guests travelled from the ship's casino to the
main dining room (Grand Ballroom). For the ballroom
entrance, guests passed through a facade of an
archaelogical dig (Egypt) complemented by a Sarcophagus,
Egyptian God cutouts, and an animated robotic
archaelogist to greet them. Inside, the stage treatment
was an elegant starlight curtain with lighted columns on
either side. Tables featured white (Imperial Stripe)
cloths. Centerpieces were clear bowls filled with water
and artistically arranged white gerber daisies and white
tulips. |
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| A giant cruise ship facade covered an entire
wall and featured flags from different countries. An eight piece
band provided dinner music and "walk-up" music for awardees. |
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Guests were delighted by "The Three Waiters," a take-off
on "The Three Tenors" where the singers are disguised as
wait staff and comedically introduce themselves to the
audience. Their finale included hits from Broadway and
traditional opera fare which led to a standing
ovation. After these formal elements concluded, our
"Cruise Director" DJ came back to dance the guests into
the wee hours. |
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| Avalon created and orchestrated this event
with decor, linens, centerpieces, audio-visual production for
both the show and awards portions, ambiance musicians,
characters, and show band, providing the guests with a unique
theme experience and the "trip" of a lifetime. |
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