Team Spirit, June 2008

In planning this event, the clients wanted to create a feeling of team spirit to kick off their 2008 sales conference.  They wanted something casual and fun since the 200+ guests would just be arriving after a 5-hour travel day.  It was decided that a pep rally and collegiate theme party was the perfect fit.  Guests were told to wear their favorite college t-shirt, but no other details were revealed to them in advance.  Upon arrival at the cocktail party, Coach Pops Magee (actor Hardin Minor) welcomed them to the pep rally and cheerleaders passed out pom-poms, cowbells, and foam fingers in the company's colors of blue & white.  After all of the guests had arrived, Pops got the crowd going with some good old-fashioned rivalry pitting the blue team against the white team.  At the peak of the excitement, the cheerleaders held up a giant paper banner, the ballroom's side doors burst open, and the company's VPs ran through the paper banner amid cheers from the crowd.  They took the stage and gave a pep talk, welcoming everyone to the conference kick-off.  Meanwhile, a 40-piece marching band gathered in the service hallway behind the ballroom.  Onstage, the VP ended his pep talk with "We've got the pom-poms.  We've got the cheerleaders.  Now all we need is a marching band!"  With that cue, the drum line started and the Ballou High School Marching Band paraded into the ballroom much to the surprise of every guest.  

To close the pep rally and transition into the dinner/after-party, the Ballou HS Band returned to the ballroom and led guests to the other end of the resort where a collegiate theme dinner awaited.  Four buffet stations representing Virginia Tech, Harvard, The University of Hawaii, and Texas A&M featured different menu items.  (The colleges were chosen based on their location in the US and the varied cuisine that could be served.)  Four elaborate ice bars also represented each school.  Each ice bar contained the school logo, a martini luge, and a bar-top beer cooler.  Specialty martinis were created to represent each school in color and/or taste, and specialty beers that were local to each region were also served.  

A high-energy DJ played tunes throughout the evening, and activities included Texas Hold 'Em, ping pong, air hockey, and motorized keg races.  

Back to School  (from left) Two gobo light patterns were layered to create a collegiate scene on the ballroom's dark oak walls; College "frat" photos were altered to include the company VP's heads superimposed and a Greek letter ice sculpture carried out the theme; Buffet stations were topped with decor representing different college locales; The Ballou HS Marching Band entertained guests during the cocktail hour; Elaborate ice bars served beer and specialty martinis selected to fit the college theme.

Photos by Stephanie Drew