Event planners know all too well the power of first impressions. So when the opportunity arose to submit bids for the 2016 Democratic National Convention Welcome Party—with an expected attendance of up to 9,000 people, including celebrities, politicians and delegates—two Philadelphia firms that are competitors decided to team up to present one of the biggest portfolio-boosters of their careers.
The strategy worked. Perfection Events and Stockton & Partners Meetings and Events landed the gig out of more than 35 bids that were submitted from companies around the country. Keeping it local both theme-wise and business-wise was exactly what made the evening a resounding success.
The theme was the best of local art and culture in Pennsylvania, and to pull that off for 9,000 people, the planners of both firms decided it was best to separate the event between two iconic Philly institutions and utilize local talent to its maximum potential. The renowned Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, famous for its appearance in the legendary stairs scene in Rocky, were the settings for the unforgettable parties.
“I met two senators at the event, and they told me this was the first time they had been to a convention kickoff party that felt like a party,” said Kate Stockton, president of Stockton & Partners.
She and her partner, Jennie Udell, vice president of the company, planned the event at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, while Mazda T. Miles, president of Perfection Events, spearheaded the event at the Kimmel Center. All three women collaborated on how best to bring the theme to life at both venues.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s East Terrace was transformed into an outdoor festival-like ambience with a giant open-air tent that afforded views of the skyline, while inside, guests were treated to the historic aura of the museum as well as its vast art collection.
“There was so much positive feedback about walking into such an important building for this city,” Stockton said. “I think there was a lot of immediate excitement.”
The event included a local caterer, Starr Events; 38 individual local restaurants, several of which were small startup businesses; and nearly 40 entertainers.
“We wanted to express the diversity of talent available in the city,” Stockton said. “We had Philadelphia High School for the Creative and Performing Arts, a beloved Philly funk band called the Urban Guerrilla Orchestra, and a jazz sextet with Larry McKenna, one of Philly’s beloved sax players.”
Over at the Kimmel Center, diversity was also in the air, as well as great feedback, according to Miles.
“One couple said it was one of the best welcome parties they had ever attended,” she said. “A local media person came up to me and said, ‘I can’t believe you have seamlessly activated every single space in this center.’”
The event utilized all of the halls at the Kimmel Center and included several other stages on various levels of the facility. Nearly a dozen local acts performed, including several grassroots groups that were part of the event’s focus on authentic Philadelphia. Among the performers were Sheryl Lee Ralph, Marian Hill, DJ Aktive, DJ King Britt, Laurin Talese, Philadelphia Heritage Chorale (directed by Dr. Donald Dumpson and headlined by Kathy Sledge of the Sister Sledge), Philadanco! and Fuse Vox.
“I have to give props to our sound company, Nu Millennium Audio Visual Systems,” Miles said. “They were geniuses—the brains behind creating literal pockets of entertainment without real walls.”
Garces Events was the main caterer, and nearly 20 local restaurants were also featured, as well as local beer from breweries of the Pennsylvania Brewers Association.
“From a career standpoint, this is definitely the feather in the hat,” Miles said. “It was a level of complexity that really tested all of our chops.”
