Some "Ideal" Entertainment for Your Next Event!

Welcome to "Feature Friday!"
This week's hot pick: Ideal Ensembles

Ideal Ensembles is a group of musicians, string quartets & trios, specializing in writing arrangements of your favorite music for your wedding, anniversary party, corporate event or special occassion. When it comes to popular songs they strive to preserve the sense of the original while adding their own artistic twist. Their repertoire ranges from classical music, to The Beatles, to U2, to Billy Joel and more!

What's so ideal about Ideal Emsembles, you ask?

All of Ideal Ensembles performers are active performers in and around New York City. They are classical trained musicians and composers with extensive backgrounds in the arts and symphony's. They've perfomed in many of New York's famed hot spots including Cipriani's, the Central Park Boat House, Tavern on the Green, Oheka Castle, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and countless others!

We asked owner of Ideal Ensembles, Yury Shubov, to tell us a little about himself and how he got his start in the entertainment industry and here's what he had to say:

"I was born in Odessa, Ukraine and began studying violin at the age of 5. 

I was a member of several youth ensembles and performed on

Ukrainian television as well as in a variety of venues including The Odessa Opera House. After moving to the United States, I continued my music education through private study and at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts in New York City and then at SUNY College at Fredonia. I was the concertmaster of the College Symphony Orchestra, the Chamber Orchestra, and was frequently invited to play with the Fredonia Chamber Players (currently known as the Western New York Chamber Orchestra.) Additionally, I led a string quartet that was often referred by faculty to couples looking to hire wedding musicians. After graduation, I returned to New York City and quickly integrated myself into the music scene.

As a wedding musician, I’ve worked for top music contractors and have performed for many high-profile clients. I play an average of 40 weddings a year. Every wedding brings the new challenge of creating the perfect ambiance for each individual client, a challenge that I am always happy to accept."

What type of services are available for events?

String quartets (2 violins/viola/cello) and trios (2 violins/cello or violin/viola/cello) are their primary focus, however, virtually any instrument can be substituted or added to an ensemble.

Duets and solo performers are also available.

Can I afford a string quartet or trio for my event?
The answer is YES!!!
Ideal Ensembles rates are more than affordable for your next event! Trios range from $600 - $900 for 1-2 hours, and Quartets range from $800 - $1200 for 1-2 hours.
(Note: Prices listed are as of 12.1.10 and are subject to change in 2011. Additional travel rates may apply based on location of your event.)

Contact Information:

For more information or to book Ideal Ensembles for your next event, contact Yury Shubov at info@idealensembles.com or 917.754.1938

Website: http://www.idealensembles.com/

Facebook: Ideal Ensembles

Twitter: @idealensembles

Linked-In: Ideal Ensembles, LLC

The team at C. Brower & Co Creative Events can't wait to work with Ideal Ensembles at our next event! Maybe I can get them to work on a Lady Gaga arrangement for me! Do I hear Paparazzi or Poker Face anyone?

See you on the next Feature Friday! In the meantime don't forget to become a blog follower and join us on facebook and twitter @BrowerPower!

Have an "event"-ful weekend!
Hugs and kisses and holiday wishes!
Christine

It's All About YouBooth!!

Welcome to our next segment of “Feature Friday!” This week’s hot pick is the YouBooth from 5th Avenue Digital.

What is a YouBooth, you ask?  

YouBooth is a new streamlined and modern version of the old-fashioned photo booth.  5th Avenue Digital has deconstructed the old kind of photobooth, taking away the walls so people can move around freely in front of the camera. It’s a great entertainment element for corporate or social events – fun, interactive, and instant gratification as guests can have their photos printed out instantly to take home! What a great party favor for guests to walk away with at your event!

Ummmm…. what happens if my guests leave and forget to take their photos?

No need to worry because the folks at 5th Avenue Digital have got that one covered! They can send you the links to all your event photos so your guests can have copies for their website or photo albums or just to share with colleagues, family and friends.

What does C. Brower & Co love about the YouBooth?

Besides the fact that its tons of fun (and our design and production team loves fun!), we love that the YouBooth is compact and attractive, just like a piece of modern furniture. It’s a beautifully varnished birch wood chest with a plexiglass top, roughly the height of an average adult. For event designers there is nothing worse than having your guests walk into an event tripping over tripods and large set ups and gadgets that stick out like a sore thumb. YouBooth takes care of all that mess and blends right in creating an aesthetically pleasing look that draws people in because all the elements (camera, printer, paper) are self contained in the booth, giving a clean silhouette. Unlike traditional photobooths, this one is free standing with no cramped seating to squeeze into. You just stand in front of it, press the foot pedal and voila! Out come your photos!!  Pretty cool, huh?

Corporate clients – listen up! Social clients –you too!

YouBooth is available with a custom photo template that allows for branding for corporate events, or commemoration for weddings, Mitzvah’s, Sweet 16’s or other social occasions. The photo format can also be customized and programmed to deliver a series of images – two, three or even six images per sheet, in color or black and white and branded with your logo or message. In addition, YouBooth images can be simultaneously shown on large screens around the venue so everyone can share in the fun! Check out the latest video of YouBooth in action at the New York Methodist event at LaVenue. YouBooth was such a big hit that its line was bigger than the one at the bar!

What else is so fab about YouBooth?

YouBooth comes with a great prop kit which allows people to do more than just stand there and pose for a photo. The props bring out a sense of play and silliness that makes for more fun and engaging photos. Props can include empty frames in various sizes and paper lips and mustaches for all the masquerading fun! But -- here is the best part about YouBooth that I love (and my team knows how impatient I can be!), YouBooth prints out photos within 10 – 15 seconds for instant gratification! And, no event is too big for YouBooth – this powerhouse of a machine is capable of printing 550 4x6 photos or 330 5x7’s before needing a change of paper so it can run for hours and hours unattended.

Can I afford YouBooth for my event?

You betcha! You don’t need a huge entertainment budget to have YouBooth at your event. It’s reasonably priced and provides such a great entertainment value for your event that you may even want to order two for your larger corporate or social event! 

I cannot wait to put YouBooth into my own client proposals!  To find out more about pricing, give my friends at 5th Avenue Digital a call at 212-741-6427. Owner Elizabeth Beskin and Director of Sales Beth Baynum will be very happy to assist you!

I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s Feature Friday!  So you don’t miss out on any future Brower Power Feature Friday fun, join our blog or follow us on facebook and twitter!

Have an “event”-ful weekend!!!
Hugs,
Christine