Inspiring Entertainment

From a dramatic dance with water to comedic singing sommeliers, TTGassociations picks out some of the most fascinating entertainment ideas for meetings and events

Joseph the Sand Artist
Joseph Erwin Valerio uses his hands to draw on a flat glass covered with the finest sand imported from the UAE. His sandpaintings always weave stories and are themed, and can be customised to deliver the client’s message. Music can be incorporated to make the performance even more interesting.
What’s unique: Joseph, who has no formal training in painting and drawing but catapulted to fame on a TV reality show for talented Filipinos, realised his talent while sifting through dirt and sand when his home was destroyed by a typhoon in 2009.
Great for: Opening/closing ceremony, gala dinner, press event to highlight the key message
Contact: josephtheartist@yahoo.com;
(63) 09364140025; (63) 09179548275


Digital Water Curtain
With a stunning curtain of water cascading from the ceiling, this act can be synchronised with elegant dancers, a solo aerial dancer within the waterfall, or a vocalist or musician in tune with the flowing droplets. The Digital Water Curtain combines digital and water effects, and can be featured as an installation piece, or as part of a bespoke performance.

What’s unique: The performance is dramatic and injects an element of surprise into the event experience.
Great for: Opening/closing ceremony, VIP speakers appreciation dinner
Contact: Wildfire Entertainment, Singapore; email@wildfire.sg


Jeongdong Theatre
Jeongdong Theater, based in Seoul and Gyeongju, offers for hire a top traditional dance team, a samulnori (traditional percussion) team and an instrumental team. As well, the theatre opens its space for rental, providing technical prerequisites such as lighting equipment and green rooms for performers.
What’s unique: Event planners can bring a traditional Korean performance exclusively to their delegates at Jeongdong Theatre. Furthermore, the theatre is the founder of successful production brand Miso, which lends artistic flavour to the usual traditional performances.
Great for: Prelude to a keynote presentation, opening/closing ceremony
Contact: Jeongdong Theater, South Korea; jjoonwk@jeongdong.or.kr (Seoul); jys@jeongdong.or.kr (Gyeongju)

LED Monkey King
A spectacular fusion of technology, dance and Chinese culture, the LED Monkey King performance commands audiences’ attention with electrifying glow-in-the-dark costumes, precision beats and an amazing choreography.

What’s unique: As a beautiful amalgamation of western pop-culture’s Tron: Legacy and eastern classic, LED Monkey King is a glowing sight to behold.
Great for: Opening/closing ceremony, gala dinner, as a roving act for delegate interaction
Contact: @Dance, Hong Kong; dance@atdance.hk


Hyper Light Drum
This visually stunning performance is delivered by female drummers on LED water drums. Water splashes as the energetic routine gains intensity. The performance can feature up to 15 drummers, and the length of the show can vary according to the planner’s requirement.
What’s unique: All aspects of the performance can be customised, from the music (cultural to futuristic sound tracks) to the costumes, to be aligned to the theme of the event.
Great for: Accompanying act for an arriving VIP, conference opening
Contact: Hyperactive Entertainment, Malaysia;
info@hyperactiveentertainment.com.my


Luminatrix
The show brings fire, light, juggling, acrobatic stunts and dance together on stage for a performance delegates won’t forget.
What’s unique: Luminatrix is a fusion of contemporary dance and modern circus. Performances can be customised to include corporate branding, and can be delivered indoors or outdoors by two to 10 performers.
Great for: Conference opening, annual dinner, celebratory gatherings, award ceremony
Contact: Psycusix, Malaysia; psycusix@gmail.com

Grand Opera Thailand
Grand Opera Thailand was established in 2011 by British operatic impresario, Stefan Sanchez, who has been grooming Thailand’s young opera singers and launching them on international careers. The professional opera company has under its wings several groups and individual singers, allowing event planners to pick the one best suited for their event.

 

What’s unique: Grand Opera Thailand’s portfolio of performers is versatile. For a memorable experience, surprise delegates with a flashmob performance at an off-property dining venue.
Great for: Gala dinner, cocktail reception, networking party
Contact: PIGS Co, Thailand; david@pigsdmc.com


Geisha Dance Troupe
Dressed in vibrant kimono and obi belts, the Geisha Dance Troupe incorporates traditional Japanese and modern dance, as well as everything in between. The act transitions seamlessly from traditional moves accompanied by shamisen and taiko drums to contemporary steps driven by bass, pop and dance hits. The robotic routine of pop animation dance fuses ancient and futuristic Japan, as well as essences of the country’s manga culture.
What’s unique: The act leaves the audience in constant wonder and surprise about the moves that will come next. The audience can experience not only Japan’s rich cultural heritage but also its balance of old and new. Interactions with the audience through humour are also engaging.
Great for: Opening ceremony, VIP speakers appreciation dinner
Contact: Scarlett Entertainment; becky@scarlettentertainment.com


Musicland
Arriving guests are directed into a dimly lit area where a female dressed in an elegant lycra costume sits above head height, beckoning guests as they approach. With anticipation in the room heightened from the dramatic first encounter, the lights are dimmed further as patrons fill up the main space, which features high cocktail tables.

Spotlights then reveal the lycra-clad lady as an aerial hoop performer striking an acrobatic pose and then dropping head first to serve champagne. Described as “a bar except the service is upside down,” a host will also be on hand to ensure a smooth service.
What’s unique: Few acts command as much attention and intrigue especially at a welcome event. It’s also very social-media worthy, and a unique talking point that adds glam factor to a corporate function.
Great for: Welcome event, networking party, post-dinner before an event swings into party mode
Contact: Musicland, Australia; chad@musicland.net.au


Hikarie Light Painting
Japanese light painter Jinpei uses his original technique of swooping arcs of light on a wall-sized canvas in complete darkness to create “paintings.” From the “brushstroke” of each light, figures, landscapes and even symbolic imagery is layered on the canvas. The result is a living picture; one light fades and another is created, leaving the audience in a waking dream world. The technique is soon to mark 30 years of popularity, having been developed in 1989.
What’s unique: This form of painting inspires creativity in the audience as well as a sense of serenity and thoughtfulness.
Great for: Opening ceremony, awards dinner, VIP speakers appreciation dinner
Contact: Scarlett Entertainment; becky@scarlettentertainment.com

The Ultimate Champagne Dinner
The Ultimate Champagne Dinner is a gala dinner that features seven rare vintage champagnes paired with a curated musical programme of opera, jazz, classic vinyl pieces, dances, and Michelin-inspired dishes. The event ideally takes 12 to 16 guests, or up to 32 people, and can be executed in other destinations besides Thailand.
What’s unique: The idea, dreamt up by Athikom Jeerapairotekun, managing director of Thailand-based Premier Incoming Group Services – PIGS Co, is designed to be an experience for companies looking to impress the crème de la crème of their business partners.
Regarded as the Rolls Royce of dinners, the experience is best delivered in a fabulous venue, and PIGS Co is able to recommend unique and exclusive options such as Nai Lert Heritage Home in central Bangkok, The Slate in Phuket, 137 Pillars, or Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai.
Great for: Intimate client/partner appreciation dinners
Contact: PIGS Co, Thailand; david@pigsdmc.com


The Singing Sommeliers
A comedic operatic performance that keeps revealing surprises, the act begins with two professional wine guides who introduce themselves as sommeliers.
It soon becomes evident that the male guide is clueless about wine and goes on to compare a woman in the audience to a silky smooth Chardonnay, just before bursting into a song about how all women are like wine. The female responds with Carmen’s Habanera, but with a humorous English translation about men. She then bumps into an ex-lover in the audience and the fun continues, including an appearance by “Pavarotti” to inject further frivolity.

What’s unique: This flexible act combines high brow opera with tongue-in-cheek comedy, a stint of acrobatics and enough twists and turns that gives it a broad appeal, not just for opera lovers.
The show can be modified to suit both high-tech staged environments to more casual settings. This act cannot be duplicated because it is highly dependent on the chemistry of husband and wife duo Jon and Rebecca Bode.
Great for: Welcome dinner, intimate speakers/partners appreciation function, ice-breaker, pre-dinner event or just before dessert
Contact: Extraordinary Acts, Australia; info@extraordinaryacts.com.au


Magic Howard
Bringing his unique style of close-up magic to events, Magic Howard leaves the audience baffled and thoroughly entertained. As a resident in Thailand, he has performed on British TV and in Las Vegas; he has amazed royalty and Hollywood stars and is now entertaining corporate groups. He can do an hour-long performance or two slots of 30 minutes each, roaming through pre-dinner cocktails or on stage.
What’s unique: Howard’s light-hearted banter is endearing, and he is one of the most professional and entertaining magicians in town.
Great for: Intimate client/partner appreciation dinner, networking party
Contact: PIGS Co, Thailand; david@pigsdmc.com


JUMP
Put a smile on delegates’ faces with this upbeat and comedic performance. Combining oriental martial arts and acrobatics, JUMP is an original production featuring taekwondo, taekgyeon and other high-energy stunts.
The story begins as a family scrambles to clean up their home and train under their grandfather, an old-school martial arts trainer. He introduces a mysterious young man into his home, and this sets the family into a series of hilarious and clumsy antics.
What’s unique: With its action-packed sequences, JUMP injects good-spirited comic relief after a long day of meetings and activities. Delegates familiar with modern Korean drama series may appreciate its references to family soap operas, while other attendees can still roll with the punches and punch lines.
Great for: Welcome gathering, gala dinner, delegate networking
Contact: Yegam Inc, South Korea; ticketmaster@hijump.co.kr