Around the Clock, Our Sales Rock!, June 2008--2009 EVIE AWARD WINNER BEST CORPORATE EVENT & BEST EVENT DESIGN/DECOR

With the sweet sounds of juke box music playing in the background, Chip Dipsworth—the most gosh-o-golly wholesome soda-jerk in town—greeted guests as Bobbie-Sue and Mary-Lou—two “live table” servers with bouffant do’s—served up Chocolate Milkshake Martinis and Root Beer Floats.  So began the 50s-inspired party for a corporate group last summer.

 
A Drive-In backdrop was selected to fit the theme, polka dot gobo patterns highlighted the walls, and tables alternated with black and pink linen with polka dot overlays.  Chairs were covered with white spandex and pink and black sashes.  Centerpieces included upside-down poodle skirts and oversized record labels.  The menu cards at each place setting were handmade from recovered “45” records with the conference’s theme logo on one side and the “Mom’s Monday Night Dinner” menu on the other.  Old-fashioned menu items were selected including Tomato Soup, a duet of Pot Roast and Honey Ham, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, and Rolls.

As the dinner began, the lights went down, and Frankie Fontaine, the evening’s emcee, welcomed guests to American Bandstand’s evening under the stars.  He then introduced lip-synching buxom bouffant girl group “The Fortunettes” who performed a musical number.  Frankie returned a bit later to take a walk down memory lane to the halls of Rydell High School.  A video montage led into a movie clip leading into the final musical number from Grease.  At the end of the clip, the lights came up on Danny and Sandy (two of the company’s execs) who performed the song amid laughs and cheers.  Frankie and the girls came back one last time to perform with the help on audience volunteers “auditioning” to be the girls’ new lead singer.  As guests were distracted with the rousing entertainment, hotel staff pulled the airwall behind guests for the night’s big reveal:  the company’s yet-to-be-seen VP dressed in a special costume.  As the final Fortunettes’ performance came to an end, the sound of a motorcycle engine caught everyone’s ear, and Frankie directed guests’ attention to the back of the room.  In the next moment, the Happy Days theme song began, and a spotlight came up on the VP in black leather sitting atop a tricked-out Harley as "The Fonz."

Additional lights came up to reveal “Hot Rod’s Garage,” a 50s muscle car nightclub after-party.  A professional hula hooper in Marilyn wig and patent leather garb and two mechanic hotties dancing to the DJs tunes atop twin dance floors covered with steel decking.  The entire perimeter was draped in black fabric, and a selection of 50s hotrod themed gobos were projected throughout.  In the background a Roadhouse backdrop was flanked by two 57-chevy car bars.  Behind each bar, metal shelving held gas cans, oil funnels, and barware, of course.  Highboy cocktail tables featured red sequin overlays, and chrome barstools with black patent leather seats provided a place to sit.  Additional seating included 4 oversized black leather ottomans, and rolling garage stools around lowboy cocktail tables.  Additional cocktail tables were made from recycled oil drums with glass tabletops.  Red roses in small tires served as centerpieces.  Green screen photos were set up with photo scene selections and costumes:  leather jackets, sunglasses, and mechanics’ coveralls.  An ice cream sundae station was set up to fit the theme; silverware was placed in shiny red toolboxes and chocolate candies shaped like wrenches, spark plugs, and bolts were available for toppings.  Black and white photos of 50s-era garages and fueling stations showed the 1950s price of gas, sodas, and more. 
  
                   

Photos by Stephanie Drew and Rachel Wagner-Hutchison