PLUS INSIDE: BOB HIGA • BRONKAR LEE • THE PHAT PACK • OZ • AND MORE
POST CONFERENCE COVERAGE OF THE 2012 AEP WORLDWIDE SIGNATURE EVENT Guest contributor, Albert Reynolds, offers you an unbiased inside look at the 2012 AEP Showcases from solo performers, emcees and featured groups. And it seems it may boil down to the good and the better.
A look behind the scenes at AEP’s General Session Producer. Not only is he an excellent magician but he is also an exceptional producer. Whether your next event calls for some unbelievable stunts or someone to manage your program, Higa might just be your ticket.
Perhaps the most anticipated showcase of the 2012 AEP Conference was Alter Ego and it delivered exactly what their promo claimed. This is an amazing show and the full version not only includes hit after hit but 95 costume changes. Sit back and take in our conversation with their agent and the principals of the show. It’s extraordinary. Check out the video at americanentertainmentmagazine.com
One of the most pleasant surprises of the AEP Showcases was the Phat Pack. Just when they had been pre-judged as just another Rat Pack group, they light up the stage with amazing vocals.
AEP Changes The Way You Look At Entertainment
t was quite an experience for those of you who attended the Second Annual AEP Signature Event this past October in Las Vegas. With the additional of some key players on the National Advisory Board who were active in helping to select showcasing artists, there was a dramatic improvement in that portion of the 2 1/2 day conference. The conference calls involving the board has led to even more enthusiasm regarding the future of AEP and how it can impact the entertainment industry. There was a renewed belief that we need to grow this organization but at the same time being extremely mindful in maintaining the “professional” standing that it’s name implies. One of the challenges facing any “new kid on
the block” is trying to find an appropriate time slot in which to schedule your meeting.
The first year (2011) we were faced with not only trying to avoid major conflicts with NACA, APAP, IEBA, MPI, Special Events as well as regional conferences but staying away from religious holidays.
This past year, that challenge was even more unavoidable, so in its on-site board meeting, the NAB suggested that the conference be moved to mid June. At that point we were confident we could not only avoid any serious conflicts with other conferences but major commercial and religious holidays as well. Plus we felt we could get a better room rate for our delegates. Little did we know that in the conference wrap-up with Green Valley that a
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monkey wrench would be thrown into those plans. Allegedly, GVR had already made a decision to close the Ovation Theater which had housed our showcases and turn it into a Bingo Parlor. As a result, Leona Plaugh, our executive director has been busy (and with the help of member agents), asking for bids from other properties the Las Vegas area.
We are hoping to have some offers to discuss with the NAB prior to the holidays and engage their assistance in finding just the right home. If you should have any ideas you would like to share with her, please feel free to contact her at (803) 782-1947 or leona@aepworldwide.org
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T he Wor ld’s Only Rhythmic Juggling Beatboxer It’s hard to find an act that experienced entertainment professionals haven’t seen before, but every now and then one comes along with a new take or twist that gets us all excited again. Often the hybridization of multiple talents brings about this result. We’ve all seen eyes roll when someone mentions a juggler, calling to mind the stereotypical goofball in a bow tie often associated with the likes of mimes and hack ventriloquists. But, for those of us who have seen truly talented jugglers (that are usually pretty decent comics too), we know that there is great entertainment value to be had in the art form.
Enter Bronkar Lee, who’s not only a talented juggler, but a musician at heart. He’s got a new twist on an old art form you’ve got to see, because Bronkar isn’t just a juggler, he’s a beat boxer as well; and instead of tossing his balls up, he throws them down. Pounding them rhythmically against a resonating mic’ed box on stage, he bounces the balls in cadence with the beats he’s spouting vocally. It’s a strangely symbiotic and mesmerizing experience and when coupled with Bronkar’s wit and personality, is a uniquely entertaining experience. Bronkar is the world’s only rhythmic juggling beat boxer. “I started out as a drummer,” he says. “I have always been into rhythms and beats, so I got into beat boxing sometime after. People that I hung out with and performed for seemed to really dig that so I got really good at it – enough that I could show up to real music gigs and sit in with bands on rhythm as a drummer on a microphone.”
It was some years after that Bronkar stumbled across juggling, but it still took a while for the two hobbies to merge. “I got into juggling a few years later and was immediately taken with it, as I had always been fascinated with anything that had to do with hand-eye coordination. I was an avid athlete, especially as a tennis player. So, when I picked up juggling, I immediately got it and it felt like home.” Naturally, the first things Bronkar began juggling were racquet and tennis balls. “That’s what I had around, so I started juggling them, then I was bouncing them off the floor and walls.’ It was some time later in a conversation with his Mom that she suggested he merge the two talents together. “It took a while to figure out. At first we had the idea of juggling the balls by bouncing them off my drum set, but the surface area was too small and it didn’t seem to click. I finally invented my own box for the stage (in it’s 16th generation) that I mic. With a headset mic on, I can beat and bounce in sync.”
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It’s unique and exciting performance, and Bronkar’s youthful energetic looks and charming personalty seal the deal. For info: Danny Bergold at About Entertainment at (424) 201-5428 or dbergold@about-entertainment.com
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Discovering
n this day and age when we are all so obsessed with productivity and multitasking, perhaps the answer is not to continue to find ever more tools and resources (distractions) to put to our disposal, until the toolbox is cluttered and confusing, but to use a better tool that can do more for your business in less steps.
We’ve all got split attentions, and it has been proven that most multitaskers are actually less efficient instead of more. We are pulled in too many directions. As entertainment professionals, wouldn’t it be great if there were a resource that condensed the toolbox’s contents while expanding it’s abilities? Enter Oz.
Oz is the brainchild of Carmen Tomasseti, long time musician, producer, agent and entertainment professional. He saw a need some years back and decided to sit down himself to try and address it. “Oz is the only software that you need to run an entertainment booking business, whether you are a supplier of talent or a buyer. Basically, rather than having a series of different software applications making you jump from platform to platform throughout the average day, it is a single interface you can operate through for everything from contracts to scheduling to follow up with clients.” The system got a resounding welcome at the 2012 AEP Signature Event in Las Vegas in October, with many members interested and sev-
eral already jumping on board with Oz on the spot based on Carmen’s 15 minute presentation and system demonstrations that laid the convincing evidence before their very eyes. Early adopters of Oz have been not only impressed with the system’s capabilities, but also with it’s ease of use. “I am hearing people say “Oh wow, this is so simple to use!” so it can be not only a single place to handle all of your business needs, but it’s also very intuitively designed.”
Carmen dials in more precisely, explaining that this system literally covers your entertainment booking business from A to Z, and at a price that doesn’t exclude the many smaller firms that operate in our industry at just $125 per user. “To be more specific, it touches on every aspect of the business, from when a phone call comes in and you are considering either selling that person entertainment or booking it from them, to the actual booking, into the collection of the money, the fulfilling of the job, to all of the planning and the follow ups afterwards. When I say it’s the only piece of software you’ll ever need for booking, Oz truly can deliver on that promise.”
Another great thing about Oz is it’s ability to integrate also with existing softwares you may already be comfortable with and not want to let go. “When I say it is the only software you need to run your business, that applies directly to the
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booking end of your business. It does some amazing accounting things, but when it comes to paying your rent, that’s left up to Quickbooks. Everything that is related to an event, or related to booking a specific act can happen within Oz, and then Oz can talk to programs like Quickbooks, or say Google calendars.” Communications are such an important part of the process, and keeping things organized can be difficult across platforms. Oz also works with Gmail and other service providers, as well as native email desktop programs like Outlook and Mac Mail. “Oz can work with all of those systems, but it also integrates with the two. It leaves the user with the decision as to whether they want to have a web-based email system or keep things on the desktop. Either way, Oz collects that information for you. So, many of the emails you send will be in Oz, because Oz ties into those systems.” The capabilities of this system could never fit in this article, and a true picture of it can’t be painted in print. Head over to www.oz.cto.com to get a more tangible idea of what the system can offer, check out some tutorial videos so you can see it in action and even download a trial of the software. To learn more, give Carmen a call at 917400-1781 or carmen@cto.com about his “Total Obsession With Efficiency” and find out about the program he has invested over 5000 hours of his personal time into.
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ALTER EGO
RON PEARSON
BRUCE IN THE USA
RESTLESS HEART
By Albert Reynolds Showcase Photos by Ian Kirby
For the most part, my regular job is to critique my client’s events and give them an honest appraisal of all the good points and areas that I saw that did not hit the mark. As a writer, I have to use a little more diplomacy, so here you will hear from me more good things than bad. That being said, AEP’s second generation of showcases were a pleasant surprise, by far exceeding its first year.
Let me step back for a moment. The 2011 Showcases were superbly produced as were this year’s. A lot of credit has to go to Rick Stowe with EastCoast Entertainment and Barbara Banta,with the help from a few friends. The Ovation Theater fit the needs of this association like a glove and provided exceptional production benefits that would have possibly been out of reach had this newly started organization been forced to build complete production in a ballroom.
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While I enjoyed the first afternoon showcase, it did not come off quite as polished as the three that would follow. It lacked continuity that Mike Rayburn, Ron Pearson and Vince Morris would bring to the table as emcees. As is often the case, when you have one agency sponsor an entire showcase, there can be some diversity missing. All six acts were music and the showcase needed another genre to break up and liven up the mood. But, the musical styles were different enough and there was talent in
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RESTLESS HEART
THE PHAT PACK
THE EDGE EFFECT
RESTLESS HEART
the room. Because of the wide range of buyers within the AEP network, it will be possible to find work for these acts.
Tuesday evening brought to the stage several anticipated acts. Craig Neier’s Bruce In The USA shared much of the attention of the buyers as did Restless Heart and The Edge Effect. The “Bruce” show was a realistic rendition of “The Boss” and the high energy of this show should attract business from almost all sectors of the AEP audiences.
After over three decades together with the original cast, Restless Heart turned on the hits. This is obviously a very bookable act and the price is reasonable. There seemed to be some sound issues during a small part of this performance where for a short time the vocals were somewhat muffled. But I think buyers were enthused and motivated. While there were a few a capella acts that would perform during the conference, The Edge Effect caught the early attention. I thought their performance
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was spot-on and I like the fact that these guys can perform a show that includes some instrumental back-up to get a fuller feel of their vocal talents.
One of my biggest surprises was The Phat Pack. I had already written this show off as just more of the same old thing. I could not have more wrong or more impressed. When they started belting out songs that were familiar and others that were unique and written for them, I got goosebumps it was so good.
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VINCE MORRIS
RECYCLED PERCUSSION
NICK PIKE
MIKE RAYBURN
Mike Rayburn was the emcee for this Tuesday Evening Showcase and not only did he do a stellar job and was highly talented but he engaged the audience. This guy is the quintessential professional.
Rounding out this showcase were The Jumpers Orchestra, Dirk K and Steve Solomon. I will start by saying that I have seen Steve before and this seemed to be an “off” night for him. I think he still went over well to buyers, especially
those who didn’t know him, but I think you’ll find his show is a lot better than this sample divulged.
I felt the Jumpers hit the mark for their segment and if you want a good mix of Rock, pop and swing, they delivered. There was a lot of energy on the stage. Dirk K came off as an extremely talented guitarist and his vast skills were evident even in only 15 minutes. This should be considered especially by theaters.
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Wednesday afternoon’s showcase was led by Ron Pearson who proved to be a masterful emcee. This is one of the more diverse solo performers I have seen and he was the perfect choice. One of the most respected a capella troupes in the corporate arena, Vox Audio, did a superb job with a high energy segment. This is a fine-tuned, extremely experienced and versatile show. You need to check out these folks as they switch their songs from one lan-
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TIM RUSHLOW
JUMPERS ORCHESTRA
VOX AUDIO
TOM COTTER
guage to another. It’s an excellent twist.
what would happen next.
Mitchell Zeidwig blended the work of a precision pianist with outrageous comedy in the vein of Victor Borge. He was close enough to the audience that members were standing up to experience
And this showcase’s much anticipated closer was Recycled Percussion. Described as Blue Man Group on steroids, these guys had the audience in awe as they performed music from some remarkable items.
And on the same showcase was yet another group with a similar name – Vox Indigo. This was an impressive vocal show with four beautiful ladies and a guitarist.
The Beijing Trio brought a touch of the arts to this audience of buyers as they performed traditional Chinese music on vintage instruments.
My biggest comedy surprise was Vince Morris. I had seen him years earlier and knew he had a future in comedy, but as emcee of the final showcase, he was funny, inspirational, engaging and the glue that held the showcase together. Superb is the word that comes to mind. He was a last minute replacement for Jen Kober who got a television part. He talked “with” the audience and not “at” them. When extra time was needed between acts, he stretched with appropriate material.
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THE STANDARDS
ZEIDWIG BRONKAR LEE On the same showcase was the fourth, and final, a capella act showcasing this year – The Standards. This young group of five brothers are phenomenal artists. These guys know how to put on a show. Their voices blend seamlessly giving the audience an unanticipated range of sounds and vocal effects. This last showcase also allowed audiences to be exposed to two entirely different variety acts.
Nick Pike was a one-man show of juggling, acrobatics, comedy and more. He was one of the Quarter-finalists on “America’s Got Talent” and is recognized for the difficulty of some of his stunts. Bronkar Lee is touted as the World’s Only Rhythmic Beatbox Juggler. What starts out as simply another juggling stunt turns into something that had the AEP audience in awe.
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And represented by the same agency as Restless Heart was Tim Rushlow from Little Texas. This was a taste of his personal one man show. Like many other country music artists, it gives the audience an intimate look at the guy behind the hits. Tim has been part of the sale of more than 11 million records, including the ballad “God Blessed Texas.” It is very difficult for an artist to deliver all his well-known hits in 15 minutes but this was an excellent sample.
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VOX INDIGO
STEVE SOLOMON
BEIJING TRIO
ROMANTICO DUO
Now, we are down to the act that I thought was the most impressive of the conference and one I was completely unfamiliar with until I heard the buyers chatting with anticipation of this show.
Montreal’s Alter Ego kicked butt. From the time they took the stage until the time they stopped (30-minutes here but the show can go up to 90 minutes I am told), it was a non-stop journey of the most celebrated hits from the best of the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and today.
The show is advertised as having an MTV feel to it and it delivers what MTV used to be.
Alter Ego is so versatile that you can use it as a stage show or for a party where everyone wants to dance.
Their promo says the full version has 95 costume changes. I was so enamored by what was taking place on stage, that I never thought to count the costume changes but there were a lot of them
just in this showcase – elegant costumes, trendy costumes, costumes with lights and those that glowed. This show is professionally done and intricately choreographed and if you missed it, I think the video will appear on the American Entertainment Magazine website. But this is something you need to experience in person to get the full experience and understand the level of creativity involved.
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MICHAEL BARIMO
QUATTRO FOUR DIVO
DIRK K
POP FUSION
JESSICA D AND EYE CANDY
MOTOWN IN MOTION
That’s my brief wrap-up of the Second Annual AEP Showcase Experience.
Unfortunately, rumors reflect that The Ovation Theater that has housed this event for the last two years is scheduled to close at the end of this year. With all its state-of-the art sound and lights and full production crew, The Green Valley Resort’s owners have allegedly decided to convert the structure into a Bingo Parlor. However, I believe the AEP National Advisory Board has supported having the
conference remain the Las Vegas area and the search is underway for a new facility with a similar look and feel that was experienced at Green Valley.
According to AEP partner, W.C. Kirby, that task is not as easy as one might imagine. “We require a fair amount of space compared to the number of rooms we have booked up until this point. Obviously growth will help us in the right direction but the hiccup is the showcase venue. There are relatively few properties that have a showcase room the size of The Ovation that is fully
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equipped with the production we need.
“Leona (Leona Plaugh, partner) has put a considerable amount of time scouting properties and we have a host of agencies, producers and friends helping us with the search.”
Because of the venue change, no date has yet been set for the 2013 Conference but the majority of the board has recommended mid June to avoid conflicts with other organizations and holidays.
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Recycled Percussion Pumps The Audience.
Recycled Percussion pumped out an electrifying showcase at the 2012 AEP Signature Event, proving once again why they were a 15 year staple in the campus market, placed third on “America’s Got Talent” (the highest ever ranking for a non-singing act) and continue to headline in their own theatre SIX nights a week at the Tropicana in Las Vegas.
Justin Spencer and crew hammered out cacophonous beats, grinding guitars and high energy audience interaction the entire time they were on stage. Even the jaded group of veteran entertainment professionals at the AEP conference were up and cheering by the end.
The group began with a high energy drum routine on their now well-known go to instruments: whatever junk seems to be laying around at the time. Trash can lids, plastic buckets and various and sundry items were scattered about the stage. The two featured drummer led the audience through a call and response routine, getting everyone involved, and then divided the room into “red” and “blue” sections, creating a friendly rivalry for who could cheer the loudest.
In a stirring remix of The Beatles “Eleanor Rigby” the group took the theatre dark and whipped out the side grinders, applying them artfully to empty 50 gallon drums, showering the stage with 10 foot geysers of sparks. Out came a pair of 20 foot extension ladders, and inhumanly the drummers climb in, around, on and dive through the metal rungs, all while keeping up their furious brand of music.
In all, it was an adrenaline charged set that everyone enjoyed and the group proved to the room that they are a serous consideration for your next event, whether a buyer for theaters, corporate dates, casinos or any other date for an audience that wants to seriously rock. Zach Radoski at ICM represents Recycled Percussion, contact him at 310-550-4049 or zradoski@icmpartners.com for more on bringing the band to your next explosive event.
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AN AEP CONTRIBUTING PRODU Before we get started telling you about how amazing and wonderful magician and speaker Bob Higa can be for your next event, we must stop for just a moment to offer a deep and heartfelt thanks. American Entertainment Magazine is the official publication of the Association of Entertainment Professionals, and in fact partners in the organization, hence the amount of coverage we are offering on the conference and it’s members. Both of the first two conferences have been wonderful experiences at awesome venues. The showcases were great and so were the sessions, but none of it would have been possible without three people that AEP and AEM owe much credit to. Check out next issue for features on showcase producers Rick Stowe of EastCoast Entertainment and Barbara Banta of Bantamonium, who both made the showcases turn out amazingly, this year and last.
Right now though, we need to give a huge thanks to Bob Higa, who made the incredible and informational educational sessions possible. Bob produced these session rooms at absolutely no cost to the association, and they were vital to the success of our conference. For the AEP members reading this, PLEASE help us in supporting Bob by hiring him to do a fantastic job producing YOUR event, or entertaining at it. Read on to see what makes him so great at what he does.
The real strength of the programs Bob offers is his ability to make the connections of an event in a business sense for his clients, using magic. “My goal is to understand each of my client’s programs, their audience and what they want to achieve out of their particular meeting. I come from the hospitality industry and I think that my business background lends itself to understanding exactly what needs to be accomplished to help a client reach every single one of their event goals.”
Bob’s core show options focus on task oriented goals, not on particular prepackaged shows or sets of tricks he tries to push. “Customizing and changing the program by delivering crafted messages for each audience, and moving and changing the piece of magic I do depending on what the situation requires is my specialty and something that I love to do. It is always changing and keeps me forever passionate and excited.” Bob can do each piece customized for you from the humblest card trick to the grandest illusion, and if need be he can do it quickly. “I can generally look at a client’s wishes, demographics and requirements and fit a custom show together with only about a days notice. This is of course if there are no specialized illusions.”
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Want a specialized illusion? No problem, as long as you give Bob enough lead time. “If we want to make something really spectacular and special happen that takes fabrication, usually the lead time will need to be a couple of months, but in that time we can make just about anything happen.”
Bob has been doing this for well over 20 years and has learned how to quickly adapt to every new situation, and how to perfectly blend in with any corporate culture or environment. He’s turned a Ferrari into a Mini Cooper, made forklifts disappear and made CEOs and VIPs change places, vanish and be produced in the most creative ways. He is the consummate professional who knows every in and out of making your event a hit.
As we mentioned in the intro, Bob is also a very accomplished producer. This enables him to not only work for your event in this capacity if that’s where he’s needed, but gives him even more insight as an entertainer into exactly what both client and producer are looking for. Give him a shout at 847-5282928 or bob@bobhiga.com for more information on how your event experience can be improved through the Magic of Higa.
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UCER
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This section is devoted to functions and business relations among the AEP Membership. It allows us to show you some of the unique opportunities that exist from conferences, social gatherings and business done among the membership through the AEP Member Network.
Embracing The Next Generation: A session that dealt with the transition to a new generation of buyers and agents featured Troy Pederson, Casting Director for Disney, Joseph McGibboney, Program Coordinator at Florida Gulf Coast University and Barbara Meyer, President of Admire Entertainment.
Joseph McGibboney explaied his view on why campuses are extremely important in discovering and supporting a new generation of entertainment.
What’s Hot: Nancy Hays, President of Nancy Hays Entertainment along with Dorene Collier, President of Event Show Productions talked about current trends in the entertainment industry along with panelists Scott Gartner from AEG Live and Deborah Smith, Executive Director of The Newberry Opera House.
Nancy Hays hosted an anticipated session on WHAT’S HOT which included a diverse panel and interesting statistics.
Showcase Attendance was consistently good as AEP tauted an excellent roster of acts. This year buyers were seated on the floor close to the stage which made every seat in the house a good one. Even though the bar in the back was open, buyers remained attentive throughout each event.
Meet & Greets: After each showcase there was a Meet & Greet where buyers could talk one-onone with acts and agents. Food was provided.
JOIN YOUR FRIENDS AT AEP: ANNUAL RATE $199 Buyers/Campuses • $399 Agencies
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Membership is open to any buyer, artist or agency involved in any of these segments of the industry: Campuses, Corporations, Producers, Special Events, Performing Arts, Fairs & Festivals, Parks, Casinos, Facilities, Cruise Lines, Military Events or Venues. Membership is for one full year and includes Conference Discounts.
Scott Gartner, from AEG LIVE, discussed how his agency helped determine WHAT’S HOT. Agencies strive to give their buyers what they want.
Buying In The New Age: Steve Bailey, Executive Director of the Grand Opera House, Jackie Knobbe, Senior VP for Comedy at APA, and Vice Chair Doug Hall discussed buying entertainment in an ever changing economy. They each offer their own perspective and open the floor for other ideas.
Steve Thomas, president of EastCoast Entertainment took part in one of the many lively interactive discussions that are part of each session.
Buyer/Agency Panel: One of the most popular sessions at the conference included Mark Felix from Drury Design Dynamics, Zach Radoski from ICM, Jim Lenz from Paradise Artists and Jackie Knobbe from APA. Each discussed how they work with clients and then buyers on the floor openly asked questions.
Doug Hall, from TalentPlus and new Vice-Chair of the AEP National Advisory Board always livened up the discussions on current issues.
Meet & Greets are not only a chance to discuss buying opportunities with acts that you have just seen but perfect photo opps. Here Nicole Bernardi and Mark Howell share the spotlight with Craig Neier and Heidi Francus of Craig Neier Associates and two stars from Bruce In The USA.
CALL LEONA PLAUGH (803) 782-1947 or leona@aepworldwide.org
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Story & Photos by Ian Kirby See The Video at: americanentertainment magazine.com
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his year, there were so many incredible acts at the 2012 AEP Signature Event in Las Vegas, with such a wide variety of talent that it’s a bit hard to rank the artists in any sensical way. Across the board however, attendees were uniformly BLOWN AWAY by Alter Ego. The name of the act couldn’t be a better fit, as viewers are not only treated to hearing a huge mash-up of the best songs on radio for the last 40 years, but are sucked into an extrasensory user experience by seeing the acts come to life in front of their very eyes in every way imaginable. From look, sound, personalities, dance moves and signatures of your favorite artists, this act brings to life memories that everyone in your audience can appreciate. This is not just an act or a show, it is an experience. While we were fortunate enough to enjoy a 30 minute showcasing set at AEP, clients who hire Alter Ego are going to be mesmerized by the level
of talent, logistics, technical proficiency and professionalism involved in this act.
The following is not a typo: in a standard 90 minute feature-length performance, the 10 performers in Alter Ego (including 5 female singers, 2 males and 3 musicians) make 95 costume changes during their show. Yet, despite not having any unnecessary or cumbersome shipping or travel requirements, this group shows up with almost 100 different costumes to transport you and your audience through a smashing musical review covering 70‘s disco, 80’s rock, 90’s pop and the current hits of today, including Lady Gaga, The Black Eyed Peas, LMFAO and more. Enough of the rambling description, take a look at this exceptionally well done video and see for yourselves how well put together an act this is. http://bit.ly/alterego2012 The principle players and even the master mind of
the project sit down after an incredible showcase for AEP talent buyers to discuss how the idea of this organizational and logistical monstrosity came to be, and how it is quickly becoming the premier party act for private dates both in the United States and Canada. Gig Xifaras is their U.S. and corporate agent and has sought to bring the group to the forefront in the U.S. over the last year. Casey Boyle is the group’s international agent and has been working with them since 2007, when he booked them in Asia at Sand’s Casino Macau. Stephane Tremblay is a producer in Quebec and seems to be the nucleus of the group. Marilou, one of the female lead vocalists, fills in some details he humbly leaves out of his introduction. “He’s more than just a producer,” she says. “He does everything. He drives us, helps us with costumes, books the group, works on the music, choreography, he is a man that does pretty much everything in the
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business you can think of (laughs).”
With us also are Ali and Charles, performers as well. “Stephane is also responsible for the concept of the band itself,” Ali adds. “The show that we present to everyone was worked from the ground up by his ideas.” These ideas are what makes Alter Ego the act you’ve always wanted to book. “I just want to stress, this is such a unique concept in and of itself,” Gig says. “When you think about there being 10 people on the stage at any one time, how much energy and action there is, coupled with the fact that they are flying through these high energy songs at a breakneck pace, there is so much
calist, and then a female was added and it grew over time from there. We added dancers, and then the dancers started singing. The formation became what it is today with seven singers and three musicians.”
The act began as a cover act, knowing what it was and what it could do well from the outset. “It was a 5 piece Top 40 band,” Charles says. “The intention was to please as large an audience as possible, which started in clubs mostly in Montreal. Slowly the show started spreading.” One thing that sets this act apart is the level of commitment they’ve risen to in
assessment. The act isn’t necessarily about trying to make dead-on impersonations, but the energy of the show coupled with the pace make it a sensory experience, and there are so many “different acts” coming through that one is willing to suspend their disbelief, even for just a moment. Like at a great magician’s show, the audience accepts the fantasy and enjoys the illusion for the time they are there, even if they consciously know they are not seeing the “genuine article.”
Alter Ego may not be made up of the genuine articles in a celebrity sense, but there is no doubt these folks are the real deal when it comes to enter-
There is no break between songs for costume changes, these sets roll on for 70, 80 or 90 continuous minutes.
going on with the dancing, costume changes, great music and powerful vocals, that this is an experience that just isn’t found anywhere else. They move so fast that each song lasts only between a minute and two minutes and each one includes a costume change, some of which are pretty elaborate. It’s not only a spectacle to watch, but clearly a logistical feat that these folks were able to put this together to run so seamlessly. It is nonstop. There is no break between songs for costume changes, these sets roll on for 70, 80 or 90 continuous minutes. It’s an unprecedented act in my experience and one that I was thrilled to become a team member of.”
A key point to recognize about this band is it’s constant evolution. This is not an act that will walk in this year with the same set they played 3 years ago. As music changes and the band grows, so does their repertoire and they are always striving to refine and improve what began with more humble origins. “The band actually started off very small,” Marilou says. “In fact, Stephane was the drummer at that point. It began with one male lead vo-
order to bring the characters they portray for life. You can find many acts that will play covers, some of them proficient in mimicking the originals in one way or another, but Alter Ego combines as many elements of the original act as possible to bring them to life. Not just sound, but look, movement and feel. “As the years went along and the band grew,” Stephane adds, “and the concept changed into what it is now, we all gained a lot of confidence in the product we have. The idea of costume changes took us the first step, but one crucial aspect of the show we have not yet mentioned is the personification of the characters portrayed on stage. We don’t just work with the performers to look or sound like, say Michael Jackson, but to take on the personality and characteristics of that talent as well, even if it is only for a couple minute segment. The idea is that when they see Michael Jackson, or Cyndi Lauper or Billy Idol or Lady Gaga, the audience sees and feels a bit like they are being taken back through time and watching that actual artist.” Anyone having seen the AEP showcase would probably agree with this
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tainment. With a group of extremely talented (and lovely!) singers, dancers and musicians and a team of top notch producers and agents behind them, Alter Ego is taking the events industry by storm.
They have many possible uses, of course helping to create a one of a kind experience for any corporate or special events audience is their bread and butter, but this act’s possibilities have an array as wide as that of our readers. Just think of how well tribute acts have done in every market. PACs and casinos face the challenge of bringing in performers with marquee value, if they can’t sell tickets or attract patrons they are wasting their money, but shows with marquee value don’t come affordably. Why not consider an act that you can promote as performing ALL your audience’s favorite songs, no matter what their age? It’s like having dozens of tribute acts rolled into one, which nearly any demographic can enjoy. Give Gig Xifaras a call at 650-3487972 or gig@aecsf.com to discuss the possibilities and figure out how Alter Ego can help you knock the next one out of the park.
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If there is a recurring theme in this issue, it’s centralized foremost on the great showcasing talent of AEP, but if there is another prevalent theme, it would be the focus on acts who at first glance may appear to be just another take on the same old song and dance, but look closer and you’ll find a one-of-a-kind. Like Bronkar Lee, the juggler who does more than just that; Alter Ego, an entirely new level of party band, and presenting The Phat Pack, one fresh and unique show that is not what you might expect at first glance.
This is not yet another take on The Rat Pack with a Frank, Sammy, Joey and Dean, but a delightfully satirical original show based on the cliche´s, stereotypes and commonly held conceptions about lounge acts and Las Vegas entertainment.
The cast of this brand new show (still in it’s first year-grab it while it’s fresh!) not only has a great familiarity and chemistry in their stage presence (built through a history performing together), but a very impressive resume to boot, since the place they did that performing together was on the Las Vegas strip in The Venetian Resort & Casino’s “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular.” Needless to say, this is an extremely talented group of guys, who now have teamed up with some brilliant writers to offer a unique experience. It’s like being in the classic old Las Vegas, except the show is all brand new. Bruce Ewing takes the lead in an interview with AEM, not long after their well-received AEP showcase. The first thing one needs to know about this show is that it’s not the typical Vegas lounge act. “That was really our purpose from the beginning,” Bruce says. “We had a few things in mind that we wanted to see happen. There are many male trios out there that we consider more legitimate ‘singing’ groups and they are really wonderful but...sometimes take themselves a bit too seriously. We just wanted to create something that would still feature great singing and good music but would also be a lot of lighthearted fun as well. That starts off with our very first number, which was created just for us. It’s goofy and fun.”
It really is. The AEP crowd definitely enjoyed it and it’s clearly a tongue-in-cheek poke at themselves and their generation, which is right up the same alley as many corporate demowww.americanentertainmentmagazine.com AMERICAN ENTERTAINMENT MAGAZINE, 2012 POST CONFERENCE ISSUE, 27
graphics. “We really like to have fun at our age and with our peers right now. The fact is that we are all 50 years old and that is really where our careers are now, taking the opportunity to look back at where we’ve been. There is a lot of fun, good comedy and goofiness in the show.”
The Phat Pack has a completely original show with their own writers, so you’re not just going to see your standard act of covers and impressions. These guys are again, a tribute to the ideals and era that The Rat Pack came from, not a Rat Pack Tribute act. They aren’t personifying the originals, they each exude their own unique personalities and lines. “We have a writer, Keith Thompson, who wrote a few original pieces for our basic show and he has offered to write with us again if anyone needs anything special or we have custom requests. With enough notice, we could definitely develop a show with special material to fit someone’s product or theme.” The Phat Pack is still within it’s first year of performing, so hire them and your group could be one of the first to have this kind of custom Vegas experience! “We have spent the past
six to eight months putting our basic show together and getting it up and on the road. We look forward to gaining more experience with clients in many different markets, and learning to address the specific challenges they each face in their events.” All the members of the band have spent years performing either on Broadway or on the Las Vegas Strip; The Phat Pack was a project and opportunity that let them finally step outside the structure and direction of shows where they were small cogs, and create something all their own to drive the machine. “We wanted to take control of our own performances, do the music we wanted to do, and just have fun singing the music we love singing and share a great time with our audiences. “What we have developed here in Vegas is a 75 to 90 minute show and in the next few days we are signing a contract with a casino here for at least a three month stay, which is obviously great for us. It will give us a chance to get our show in front of a ton of audiences and have a place to be seen regularly so that we can build a reputation and presence in the industry. It will give us a place that prospective
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clients and buyers could come and see the entire show for themselves if they are trying to figure out what they want.”
In the end, the ultimate goal is the release of creativity, and being in a market where they can perform their own show (casinos, PACs) or help a client create their own (corp, assoc, special events) is exactly where they want to be. “Our whole point in putting this together was to keep being creative. We have all come from long runs in a show, which is such an amazing gift in the career of a performer, but it also can feel constraining and stifling. We love creating. We are excited about it and it’s what we want to do. We want to keep changing the show, updating it and collaborating with as many people as possible to make it something really great. BOOK IT! Apart from being incredibly talented, which we can attest to, The Phat Pack is clearly a conglomeration of true professionals, who will work with you to make the absolute best out of their performance at your event. Contact Cynthia Harris at Classical Entertainment at 702-558-2973 or classicalent@me.com.
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THE SENSATIONAL HIT FROM THE 2012 AEP CONFERENCE
A Show that was born on the LAS VEGAS STRIP in 2004 and debuted at the Aladdin Hotel & Casino’s majestic “V Theatre.” This show is comprised of experienced and legendary performers that have suspended the disbelief of even the toughest skeptics. They have been met with critical acclaim from the Stone Pony and Asbury Park to large theatres and performing arts centers across the country where sell-out crowds are on their feet from the first song to the last.
MICHAEL DUBOIS
SOLO CIRCUS
Gerry McCambridge
THE MENTALIST
THE BRONX WANDERERS
FINIS HENDERSON A Talented Performer And Masterful Imitator
7 BRIDGES
The Ultimate Eagles Experience
ZEIDWIG
An Acclaimed Musician, Composer And Comedian