JJLA went on the road with Equality California’s annual Equality Awards Event Series to round out the end of 2022. Focusing on the major donor markets across Northern California, Southern California and Nevada, JJLA produced six reimagined Awards Shows – focusing on meeting fundraising goals and creating unique experiences in out-of-the box hybrid indoor/outdoor venues to keep our LGBTQ+ communities safe and healthy as a main priority.

JJLA kept entertainment and community engagement at top of mind, but helping secure talented musicians and performers, including The Aces, Michaela Gordon, and performers of Asia SF for donors to continue to support and be passionate about the organization and its efforts to continue to exceed fundraising goals for years to come.

JJLA produced the City of West Hollywood’s Inaugural WEHO Pride Street Fair which took over the city’s two main streets in the heart of West Hollywood – San Vicente and Robertson Blvd. – over the course of 3 days. The free street festival surrounded the OUTLOUD Music Festival event happening in West Hollywood Park. The event was attended by over 50,000 people daily.

The fair included over 35 community vendors and nonprofits such as the Los Angeles LGBT Center and Trans Latin@ Coalition. The event also featured over 20 sponsor activations by Sydney World Pride, Aids Health Foundation, and our presenting sponsor, Nissan.

Hulu enhanced our space with an expansive Ferris Wheel activation, as well as a special activation that prompted event-goers to share their coming out stories on thoughtfully designed and placed lockers, promoting their LGBTQ+ series Love, Victor.

The Pride on Robertson Stage featured rising artists in the community including singers, drag queens, and DJs.

Aids Health Foundation provided free testing on site.

The fair had a dedicated sober zone, Sizzle, which was filled with on-theme vendors.

JJLA organized the inaugural PRIDE Parade for the City of West Hollywood on Sunday, June 5th 2022.

The mile long parade stretched over the iconic Santa Monica Blvd. strip in the heart of West Hollywood and was attended by over 100,000 people.

The Parade was graced by stars such as Janelle Monae (Grand Marshall Icon), JoJo Siwa (Next Gen Icon), MJ Rodriguez, and Cardi B.

It was broadcast live on KTLA and hosted by Karamo of Queer Eye.

100+ floats from organizations such as Rocco’s, Mickey’s, Channel Q, Human Rights Campaign, the WEHO fire department as well as local LGBTQ+ and allied businesses.

JJLA knocked it out of the park, organizing 4 days of after-party events for MLB’s sponsors and guests as All Star Week returned to LA, at locations throughout town.

Saturday kicked-off the celebrations with a poolside soirée at Hollywood’s Highlight Room.

On Sunday, JJLA introduced MLB’s newest All-Star event concept, Draft After Dark, at the Novo Theater following MLB’s draft. The afterparty hosted over 1200 people and featured interactive performance artists, live glow-in-the-dark painting, delectable food and signature cocktails, as well as DJ sets from Hannah Rad, Asha and Coco & Breezy.

Monday evening, sponsors were invited to the Hotel Figueroa for a cocktail party celebrating the release of MLB’s documentary The Captain, presented by Capital One. Highlights of the event included tequila tasting, cigar rolling, and an appearance by Derek Jeter.

The festivities concluded Tuesday at Spire 73, atop the Intercontinental Hotel for a wind-down post-game celebration.

Mexican Geniuses conjures a fully immersive experience from the lives of the two most successful North American surrealists of the 20th century. The works and worlds of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera are brought to life through mixed media, projections and VR, in this towering retrospective.

Guests enter “Diego’s Workshop” through a life-sized recreation of its iconic façade and are dwarfed by larger-than-life reproductions of his famous skeletons and paper mâché sculptures. The space is replete with furniture and objects from both his and Frida’s lives. A massive projection wall spans the length of the room and animates a time-lapse detailing the creation of one of Diego’s most famous murals.

Another space recreates Frida’s kitchen, where guests can read her recipes, hold her kitchen tools, and feel what it was like to be in one of the artist’s favorite and most intimate places. Reproductions of her work inspired by the culinary culture of Mexico adorn the walls and shape attendees’ understanding of how the artist saw the world.

In the massive projection space, a multimedia journey composed of Frida’s art and elements of her life’s story envelop the audience, who are invited to kick back in beanbags and take-in her unbelievable journey.

The work of these artists is further transformed by an original VR experience, wherein guests can virtually interact with the art.

In 2022, APLA Health tapped JJLA to execute their annual AIDS Walk LA on Sunday, October 16, 2022. The walk returned to West Hollywood Park and Santa Monica Blvd., following a few years of hosting in downtown LA. After hosting West Hollywood Pride in the same location a few months prior, this was a walk in the park for JJLA. The year’s slogan was ‘Be All Over It’, which was brought to life with extra large lawn letters, stage branding, flag posts, and an interactive wall for attendees to write and let the world know what they ‘Are Over’.

With 10+ vendors and 3 food trucks on display, the day was set-up so attendees could return to the park to connect with other health organizations and enjoy the outdoors, before and after the stage presentation and 1.6 mile walk.

We brought in our go-to, high-energy DJ Asha, who got the crowd moving before the stage presentation. CEO of APLA, Health Craig E. Thompson; Chief Marketing & External Affairs Officer, Craig Bowers; local political staples; and the high-profile Congresswoman Maxine Waters all graced the stage with important and touching messages regarding public health.

After closing the stage, Representative Waters kicked off the walk, led by a band through the crowd, first heading east down Santa Monica Blvd., turning the corner at La Cienega and heading back west on Santa Monica, down to Doheny and back on Santa Monica east toward the park.

Overall, JJLA provided event production services encompassing vendor sourcing & coordination, crowd management, safety & emergency preparedness, client & sponsor relations, stage lighting & audio design, event concept & guest experience design, show running & stage management.

For the League of Legends World Championship Semi-Finals in Atlanta, Georgia, Riot games wanted to give their fans an All-American Kickoff!

JJ LA transformed Centennial Olympic Park into a League of Legends fairground. The takeover was complete with League of Legends-inspired carnival games that handed out one of a kind World Championship merch as prizes for fans to take home. Cosplayers dressed as the video game’s favorite characters greeted fans who spent the night enjoying some of Atlanta’s renowned food-trucks, music, and art.

The evening was punctuated by performances from dancers, a drumline, and one of Atlanta’s hottest DJ’s, DJ Jazzy T. 

As the sun set, the lights came up on SkyView—Atlanta’s 200-foot-tall Ferris wheel—looming over the park, sporting the Riot Games logo to celebrate the main event.

JJLA brought the scare factor to never before seen heights at the annual Red Bull Halloween Bash, held at their corporate headquarters in Santa Monica. This fan favorite event came back bigger, better and scarier than ever, allowing their over 400 employees a chance to walk the runway, showing off their spooky costumes in a Halloween fashion show. Guests also enjoyed a performance from award winning mentalist and magician, Rmax who wowed the crowd with his mind reading skills, incorporating the Red Bull brand into his set. Pumpkin bowling, an inflatable jousting arena and spine-chilling set decorations scattered their parking lot, while guests enjoyed various food trucks and Red Bull themed drinks.

Beginning November of 2022 and running through January 2023, JJLA partnered with Fever and Warner Brothers to bring to life the inaugural U.S. Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Experience. Fans of the franchise and those unfamiliar with the brand were invited to attend an evening full of food and programmed festivities.

Each experience lasted 2-hours with multiple shows each day. Up to 100 guests were encouraged to dress in full wizard-robes—via invitation after purchasing tickets—and participate in the magic of each Ball’s activities.

Upon arrival, guests entered through house-crest-clad gates to a foyer full of floating candles, as if Dumbledore enchanted the space himself. Those filing in could quickly grab a specialty Hogwarts-House-inspired cocktail at any of the 3 full bars, before making their way into the ballroom, where witches and wizards would soon gather for the first of many magical moments.

Each evening opened with a warm welcome from Hogwarts’ hosts who entertained guests with a dance, and then encouraged them to learn the choreography as well. The rest of the ball was filled with engaging activities such as a Hogwarts House dance battle, a fashion show for guests to show off their best ball attire, and glimpses of the majestic Ice Castle, all culminating with an enchanted indoor snow-fall. Each show ends with a name-drawing from the Goblet of Fire which determined which four guests would be crowned the Yule Ball Champions.

Overall the Yule Ball was a huge success having a massive social impact. In addition to the millions of views videos from the event gained on social media, the experience received 4.7 stars out of 5 on Fever’s website.

SWAN’s Inaugural 2022 Pacific Bitcoin Conference was a 2-day experience which took place November 10th and 11th in Santa Monica Airport’s Barker Hangar.

This dynamic conference hosted a thousand guests, and featured the Hard Money Main Stage, with tiered GA and VIP seating. The premium indoor area for VIP ticket purchasers, sponsors, and speakers included photo moments, lounge seating, charging areas, a concierge desk, a hosted bar, and coffee station.

Secondary programming was hosted in the proprietary Swan Dome and on the custom Bitcoin basketball court.

Activations at the experience included booths with Bitcoin-specific vendors & exhibitors, food trucks, an arcade, and the Magic Money Basketball Court featuring the Bitcoin Classic tournament.

The 2-day program included talks with over 80 Bitcoin industry experts, culminating in a conversation with business mogul Michael Saylor.

The event’s success already landed Pacific Bitcoin 2023 a spot as one of the top 7 Bitcoin Conferences to attend in 2023 by cryptonews.com!

After two years since the flagship event was last held, Liberty Hill Foundation and its supporters gathered on the evening of Thursday, April 28th to celebrate the Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration at Skirball Cultural Center, with JJLA by their side as their new production agency.

Liberty Hill wanted to showcase their event in a new way, welcoming back their donors and community leaders. Instead of the traditional seated dinner, the organization wanted to highlight its history and pay homage to the continued battle for social justice and equity in Los Angeles. Above all else, they wanted to give their audience an opportunity to see one another, catch-up, and inspire change.

Guests began the evening with by strolling through a mixed-media art walk which celebrated Liberty Hill’s 45 years of change. Images and videos along the art walk captured key turning points for Liberty Hill in each decade. A hedgewall photo opportunity featured oversized ‘LA’ letters with images from a variety of historical victories and moments showing the transformation of Protest to Power.

Additional activations included a live art piece titled the ‘Justice 4 All Wall’, from local non-profit Arts Bridging the Gap. Guests added their vision for a just future to the art piece by coloring in the gaps or writing a message. Meanwhile, painter Amani Holbert, created a stunning live mural which was later auctioned off to benefit the organization. Live entertainment included DJ and musician, Spencer Ludwig.

At the end of the dinner reception, guests entered the Guerin Pavilion. The show program kicked off with a live performance by local legends, Ozomatli, who later returned to closeout the program with two more hits. Along with the premier of their Justice United: The Fight for Home video, the program honored the Liberty Hill founding family, The Meltzer- Sieroty’s, the Los Angeles Dodgers Foundation, and ended with an impactful keynote speech by Assembly Member Isaac Bryan after an introduction by Senator Holly Mitchell.

Bryan reminded audiences that gathering together again was cause to celebrate – a true homecoming – but that the fight for social justice was far from over. The impact of the evening’s program truly resonated with the audience and many stayed after the show to mingle with friends and colleagues. JJLA was proud to have helped design and execute an important evening such as this – one that benefitted and spotlighted the amazing work being done in our own backyard.

A Night [On-Stage] at the Theater

JJLA was proud to partner with new client Center Theatre Group to help produce their return to live events – the first gala to take place since 2019. This year’s gala theme was “Stories Unite Us”, celebrating the art of storytelling and those who tell it best and the one-night, immersive theatrical exploration took place on the Ahmanson stage. Guests began their evening with an outdoor cocktail reception. After checking-in, guests found themselves among some bars and seating vignettes that were pulled from the CTG prop and set house. The 360* Photo Booth was designed to look like a star’s dressing room – filled with unique props and costumes. During the reception, guests were also entertained by The Dave Stephens band, playing a combination of Broadway classics and some instrumental jazz. Guests began to hear live stage manager calls, asking guests to take places on the stage, as their performance was about to begin. The stairs down to the main dinner area was the stage door entrance, typically reserved for performers and crew. Once backstage, guests found more decor, props, and a behind-the-scenes experience of entering the stage as a performer, with the curtain down. The stage was dressed minimally with tables, raw linens, and matte black flatware. Lighting illuminated the gargantuan fly system and the majority of the theater was bare and raw. As guests began to take their seats, they continued to hear the Stage Manager calling the show – from light changes to speaker announcements. Upon finishing the welcome remarks, the room was transformed into a vibrant, beautiful dining hall with a change of lighting, delivery of festive feather centerpieces, the addition of a theatrical backdrop, and the lowering of beautiful, over-sized chandeliers into the space. During dinner, up-and-coming playwrights stood and read pieces of new work, with their narration creating change in the lights, sound, and scenery. The final transformation of the space revealed a mysterious and illuminated space, filled with haze. Tony and Grammy-winning Broadway star and original Dreamgirl, Jennifer Holliday took the stage to close out the show. The theater curtain was lifted and the house was illuminated prior to a magical feather drop to end the evening. Other special guests who participated in the show included Phylicia Rashad, Michael Urie, Steven Weber, and Bill Irwin.

The theme of this year’s Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards was “we’re going to gala like never before” and the team at JJLA helped DAP Health do just that. Instead of heading indoors for a traditional ballroom event at the Palm Springs Convention Center, the nearly 1000 seated dinner was outside, under the stars with the San Jacinto mountains acting as the perfect backdrop. Instead of walking on a red carpet – guests saw blue, honoring all the healthcare workers for their hard work during the pandemic.

Coming together for the first time in over two years, the reception was extended so guests could reconnect over drinks, enjoy music by Spencer Ludwig and Italian themed appetizers, provided by Lynne Toles’ Savoury’s Catering. No longer the formal plated dinner, instead guests enjoyed a delicious meal out of a bento box. This went hand-in-hand with the more relaxed feel of this year’s Chase and also helped the bottom line. A custom sticker on each box read “Fun Food Funds Care” which allowed DAP Health to use the savings from a traditional plated meal to go towards programs and services the nonprofit provides to its clients.

A gala wouldn’t be complete without entertainment and JJLA certainly delivered. Our host of TV, film and Broadway star Michael Urie hilariously guided guests on a journey, introducing them to some of Broadway and music’s most talented. Tony Award nominee Max von Essen kicked off the show with a medley of Broadway show tunes with legendary Broadway pianist, producer, and actor Seth Rudetsky on the keys. The lights provided by Ultimate Lighting went green as diva Eden Espinosa hit the stage, belting out “Defying Gravity” from her iconic role of Elphaba in Broadway’s Wicked. Lastly legendary, multi-platinum R&B artist Deborah Cox got everyone on their feet dancing, as she tore up the stage with a mixture of Broadway and dance hits to close out this fabulous show!

The year’s Chase Awards raised over $1.4 million dollars for the Coachella Valley’s leading healthcare resources.

In collaboration with Fever and Netflix, JJLA produced, managed, designed and directed Money Heist: The Experience, in Miami and New York. Based on the Netflix hit series Money Heist, over 20,000 guests were recruited to pull off an international heist in this site-specific adventure.

This fully immersive and theatrical experience ran like an amusement park ride, with a new show beginning every 12 minutes. This allowed for The Experience to accommodate up to 1,000 guests per day. Guests were led through the show by 8 characters played by 40 actors who rotated through the shows. The storyline, which was based on the television show, included action scenes, hostage-like scenarios and even a love-story. This required an ensemble of versatile performers, so the first step for JJLA in realizing The Experience was building an acting company from the ground up that could handle the unique needs of the show.

Once casting was complete, JJLA’s focus turned to creating the physical world of Money Heist: The Experience, including venue, set design and theatrical production. JJLA carefully selected notable locations to create the perfect environment to house the immersive experiences. In Miami, the Alfred Dupont Building, a historic 17-story Art Deco skyscraper equipped with a 2,000 square foot bank vault, became home to The Experience. Not to be outdone, Brooklyn’s Experience was created in the historic One Hanson Place, Brooklyn’s clock tower – formerly the Williamsburg Savings Bank – and home to a 60-ton vault.

With one month to go before Opening Day, JJLA’s fabrication team went to work transforming the spaces into 9 playing areas, each designed to captivate guests from the moment they stepped in the door. Immersive elements played out all the way through The Experience, including the finale: an escape-room-like scenario where guests had to find their way to the hidden vault without getting caught.

After successfully “escaping,” guests were welcomed into a Grand Ball with themed cocktails and photo opportunities staged and created by the fabrication team.

JJLA’s combination of live theater, immersive production elements, and large-scale fabrication created an experience that left superfans of the show energized and feeling connected to the world of Money Heist.

With Miami shows through October of 2021, and Brooklyn shows extended through April 2022, Money Heist: The Experience was named Number One by CNN on their list of “the best immersive experiences around the world you need to visit”.

After a two-year pandemic hiatus, Insomniac’s Electric Daisy Carnival came back in 2021 celebrating its 25th Anniversary with gratitude and joy! The annual flagship 3-night EDM festival was held at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway and welcomed 150,000 eager attendees, aka the festival’s dedicated “Headliners,” who enthusiastically celebrated a return to in-person connection and creativity..

JJLA was commissioned to design and outfit the Artist Compound + Lounge, the Maverick VIP Helipad Lounge and the VIP Shuttle Lounge. JJLA embraced the challenge of creating multiple destination spaces with different aesthetics across the festival. Combining production artistry and efficiency, JJLA divided and conquered the load-in in just under a week, despite the “October surprise” of 50+ mph winds..

The 2021 Artist Compound + Lounge created a private space for festival talent to relax, get inspired, and experience the whimsy of the festival both pre- and post-performance. After spending time in their comfy, decorated dressing rooms, artists could stroll the Compound Courtyard + Lounge which featured not just one, but three photo-worthy moments designed to capture the ‘The Artist Grateful Lounge’ theme. A larger-than-life Grateful Guy, a cozy Grateful Wall, and a moveable Eye Guy who changed locations daily encouraged post-worthy moments, continuing the festival’s creative direction while providing ‘wow’ factors.

Artists were cared for on all levels in the Compound, which featured stunning, panoramic views of the entire festival! After entering through the Liquid Lounge and grabbing a drink, they could explore the Noom Lounge for tasty treats or get a quick trim in the Faded “barber” Lounge. Another unique element of the Compound was ‘Paz’ Bedroom,’ a fabrication of CEO Pasquale Rotellas’ bedroom that showcased Insomniac TV interviews with world-famous DJs. They could also celebrate the release of EDCs ‘World Party’ at the Roblox Activation. Once ready for their sets, they could visit the OM Lounges ‘IV drip + massage’ before heading down to their stages to perform…or stop there on the way back for a post-show pick me up.

JJLA was grateful to be a part of the Insomniacs’ return to the desert, creating more magical moments fusing nature and technology under the electric sky at EDC Las Vegas!

Our Sundance journey began when a major brand engaged with us to create a multi-day activation at Sundance Film Festival. The brand’s intention was to be a high-level festival sponsor and create a space for a consumer engagement, talent photo studios, panel discussions and evening receptions. From our experience at Sundance in previous years, we had insider information on a brand new event space that has never been used in Park City, and were able to contract with Kimball Terrace in the summer while our client was finalizing their sponsorship deal with the Sundance Institute.

As the fall approached, plans suddenly changed, and for unforeseen circumstances decided to abandon their Q1 experiential plans at Sundance, as well as their overall event sponsorship, obviously causing a lot of alarm not only for our agency, but for the Institute itself. Despite the setback, we were equipped with a new venue in the center of the festival and wanted to see if we could parlay the change in plan into a multi-day event series for multiple clients.

Many brands, films and studios are looking to produce smaller-activations at Sundance that aren’t produced over multiple days but the chances of being able to do so on Main Street, and the costs, prevent that. We decided to adapt our space into a communal opportunity for brands – providing a base-level design and functionality that could easily adjust between receptions, panels, studios or networking lounges. We amortized the cost of the space over the first weekend of the festival to provide a turn-key, affordable solution for brands looking to host a simple one-off event in a central location. The concept sold, and we were able to engage brands Quibi, Hulu and Outfest in hosting their events.

Quibi, the short-form, mobile streaming video platform founded by Jeffrey Katzenberg, spent the day at Sundance discussing the platform and it’s content, before allowing 300 lucky invite-only guests to preview several of it’s new shows for the first time. JJLA transformed Kimball Terrace into part screening room, part reception area, where guests grabbed a cocktail and “quick bite” before cozying up in the screening room lounge to enjoy a show – anywhere from 6 to 20 minutes in length. Katzenberg and Quibi CEO Meg Whitman were among the guests while DJ Michelle Pesce entertained the post-screening crowd.

Hulu’s highly-anticipated original “Hillary,” a 3-part documentary series following the life and career of Hillary Clinton and the 2016 election, made it’s debut at the festival. Hulu and our event production partner Swisher Productions hosted the series premiere afterparty at Kimball Terrace in a reception-style set up that allowed for easy gathering and mingling with guest-of-honor Hillary Clinton. The installation of rustic walls featured a gallery of iconic images of HRC and allowed the space to feel intimate and special for the 150-person event.

The LA-Based LGBT oriented film festival OUTFEST has long produced their annual “Queer Brunch” – a gathering space for LGBTQ and allied festivalgoers, at a destination off the beaten path. For the first time, the LGBT community had a central presence on Main Street with the creation of OUTFEST House. OUTFEST hosted a day-long event series at Kimball Terrace that began with the traditional brunch and morphed into an afternoon of intriguing panel discussions from buzzworthy queer films making their Sundance debut. The filmmakers from the documentary “Welcome to Chechnya” and the cast of the trans film “Disclosure” were some of the highlight moments of the day. The filmmakers from Disclosure hosted a pre-screening reception to end the day with the lively crowd. Over 650 attendees enjoyed OUTFEST House throughout the day.

Finding a great space in the heart of the festival was a mix of timing, luck with a little industry-know-how. It was exciting to have the opportunity to unveil a new space that festivalgoers were enjoying for the first time. It’s our goal to work more closely with the Institute to reserve the space for official partners in future years but allow for the same open format of multiple brands working in a well-designed, flexible space.

JJLA transformed City Market Social House in downtown LA for participants excited to be Supercharged at the annual Supercharged Summit hosted by Kwanza Jones.  Guests were greeted at check-in where a custom double sided wall was installed by the JJLA team. One side was the backdrop for check-in while the other side was a step & repeat, allowing everyone to have their photos taken.  This full day event included various speakers discussing topics followed by breakout sessions where participants were able to have a more interactive experience. Custom fabricated wall panels divided the room creating a more intimate feeling during the break out sessions.  Several activations were set up throughout the space for attendees to participate in.

JJLA worked with Rogers & Cowan and the newly launched JASMIN brand on creating a unique and interactive traveling art exhibit. Using inspiration from the JASMIN brand and modern contemporary art galleries, JJLA built a massive 2 story structure made up of 3 8’ x 50’ containers. The exhibit took you on a journey that started off with a kiosk that allowed users to enter or pick a “Power Word” that best defined what makes them so strong. This word would show up on the wall behind them along with other users “Power Word’s”. After walking through a LED light tunnel attendees would be transported into a contemporary art gallery which featured art collaborations between JASMIN and artists RAPHAEL VICENZI, ALBERTO SEVESO, & HUGO VALENTINE. They would then be able to experience the jasmin.com mobile site on massive touch screen panels. The interactive tech gets taken to a new level of creative when they get to experience an influencer’s dream photo-op that featured a LED wall backdrop with floating touch screens that allowed users to touch any one of the screens to change the overall theme shown on the screens. After enjoying all the art and interactive moments guests could walk up the stairs to a second story lounge area where JASMIN hosted live panels, cocktail parties and influencer launch parties. The initial tour and special attraction kicked off in Fall 2019 with a 3-city PR launch to Las Vegas, Los Angeles & Miami and will embark on a greater US tour in 2020.

Warner Music Group hosted their first West Coast Holiday Party! Attendees across of their record labels were in attendance, which required a two-venue takeover: Sunset Room and Lé Jardin in Hollywood.

The first, Le Jardin, was transformed into a warm holiday lodge. As guests entered Le Jardin, they were greeted with holiday themed specialty cocktails, tray passed hors d’oeuvres, and a grand grazing table of charcuterie and cheeses. JJLA’s winter cabin vibe using was created with flocked Christmas trees, one 12’ high, wood communal tables, buffalo plaid, and a whole lot of winter greens and pinecones! Guests enjoyed a custom holiday gift with screen printing, and set intentions for 2020 with a DIY Smudge Stick Station.

Curtains were then drawn back to reveal a lit tunnel to guide guests into the second space – WMG’s Winter Wonderland. As soon as guests walked in, Warner Music Group’s blue logo was everywhere, and a Centerpiece. Guests were immersed in this room of icy blue with oversized hanging ornaments in blues, silvers and golds, giant oversized wreaths, and falling snow projected on the walls.

Not only was snow projected – but JJLA even made it ACTUALLY snow on the Sunset Room’s patio! A vignette of a custom built replica of the WMG Water Tower and flocked pine trees served as a beautiful backdrop for everyone’s holiday photo. Guests also enjoyed activations by Dirty Cookie, and a Custom ‘Drink-O’ wall at the bar.

The party ‘went Platinum’ with WMG Recording Artist Wale headlining. The night was definitely one worthy of the billboard charts. 😉

It’s not often you see JJLA associated with weddings, but this event was a three-day destination spectacle filled with distinctive design, custom fabricated elements and an impactful guest experience. The weekend kicked off with an irreverent take on a “rehearsal dinner” – aptly called “Roasts & Toasts.” The Comedy-Central-Roast inspired evening featured a built out stage set where the couple’s good friends and family shared funny anecdotal stories. A welcome red-carpet, photo booth, Mediterranean-inspired buffet, gelato and cake station and custom video packages kicked off the wedding weekend in style. On wedding day, the couple’s overall inspiration derived from a custom Donald Robertson sketch the famous artist provided. JJLA pulled elements from the invite look into all aspects of the main event. Elegant florals and lantern elements lined a simple, yet refined, ceremony. As the event progressed, the design elements were amplified: A gold room for cocktail hour, a dinner reception for 280 with custom bars, lounges, elegant tablescapes, a custom, seamless dance floor and a large stage with a concert-quality lighting and video package. Guest attractions included dessert stations and donut walls, live dancer entertainment at surprise moments, a vintage airstream photo booth, and billboard sized cut-outs of the couple as photo opps. Pop Star Betty Who ended the night with a surprise performance before guests moved to an 80s themed after-party featuring a tasty spread from Wendy’s! The weekend ended with a recovery pool party on Sunday, Bikinis & Martinis, where the theme from the weekend was tied together. Weddings aren’t always synonymous with JJLA, but creating once-in-a-lifetime memorable moments are, especially in larger-than-life ways.

Capitol Records hosted their second annual music and tech festival to promote “Music on the Move” by bringing together industry creators and innovators.

The three day festival consisted of incorporating a 24-hour hackathon for entrepreneurs and coders, information panels with leading figures in the entertainment and tech industries, new artist showcases, wax fair and merch pop-ups, event partner expos and numerous food and beverage vendors.

With the release of the globally-renowned video game, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Activision celebrated by hosting an internal launch party for its employees who had been creating the project for almost a year. JJLA transformed a local bar and its adjacent parking lot into a military base allowing guests to feel as if they were in the game themselves. With sand colored turf, sandbag arches and cocktail tables made out out of shipping crates and oil barrels, it was impossible to not get lost in the theme. Challenged with an abnormally cold night in Venice, JJLA used the weather to its advantage and created additional decor with flame showing heaters, hinting at a war zone. 

Upon arrival, guests were gifted with boonie hats and faux beards to dress themselves as main character, Captain Price. Activations were on brand including a cigar rolling station and a 2V2 pop up which allowed employees to play each other live in front of the entire party for the first time. In addition to these, JJLA took the modern from Modern Warfare and upped the Photo Booth experience with a night vision 6 second video op for guests to share to social media. JJLA takes pride in supporting local businesses. With the being said, while guests sipped on COD themed cocktails, they also enjoyed food from neighboring restaurants. 

Set on the famous Abbott Kinney Blvd, under a perfect Venice sunset, it was memorable night to celebrate the team at Activision.

Elektra Records engaged JJLA to create and execute a release event for Korn’s latest album, The Nothing. Our team developed a visual production based on Korn’s “Nothing Man” character adorning their latest album cover, which informed the visual aesthetic of the activation.

A small group of super-fans were treated to an immersive pop-up show in an intimate film studio in Los Angeles to mark the launch of Korn’s latest album entry.

The event included an aerialist performing above the band (depicting the Nothing Man) dramatizing each of the group’s songs for a one-of-a-kind experience.

US Pizza Festivals is committed to bringing people together who share a love for PIZZA – and JJLA absolutely supports that commitment. Since 2017, JJLA has brought this event to life in both Boston and Los Angeles. The 2-day pizza-lovers event showcases over 30 pizzerias, including authentic pizzaiolos from Italy, serving up nearly 100,000 slices to eager pizza aficionados. The 2-day festival features live entertainment, beverage gardens, live entertainment, cooking demos and a vendor village. JJLA coordinated all event and production management, helping to expand the event across the country helping to develop the brand into a nationally touring festival.

Over the course of five nights, Food Bowl Night Market allows us to celebrate LA’s diverse food scene held in Downtown Los Angeles’ Grand Park. Each night features dozens of food vendors, pop-ups, chef collaborations, art installations and live music curated by the Food staff of the Los Angeles Times. There is also an elevated ticketed theme area, that hosts specialty food & drink vendors, lounge areas and celebrity chef guests.

JJLA was tasked with elevating the guest, food and sponsor experience while also providing cost savings to our client. From unique photo installations, a curated approach to creating guest gathering areas, and an enhanced and expanded VIP program including partnerships with LA’s top chefs, JJLA’s partnership help to raise the bar of excellence propelling Night Market as a sought after and top event amongst LA’s growing foodie scene.

Mindbodygreen teamed up with Carrie Underwood’s athleisure brand CALIA to kick off a wellness Mother’s Day Celebration that included activations, mindful meditations, and fitness sessions. The multi- city event series began in New York city and wrapped up in Chicago. The morning started with refreshments and light breakfasts bites, both events featured family fun activations including DIY Floral Stations, Mindful coloring walls, to a Thank you Mother’s Day card station. Once guests settled in, we started with a family intention- setting with Ellen Vora, M. D. followed by fitness sessions led by Lauren Roxburgh. The event wrapped with a wellness swag bag full of goodies for mom along with a special gift for kids to enjoy.

Deadline Contenders moved its annual day of television panels and new show previews for Television Academy members to the famous Paramount Studios backlot. To end the day-long conference, Hulu hosted a cocktail reception and dinner just outside The Paramount Theatre. The event kicked off with a full-service buffet and bar decked out with Hulu and show-inspired décor.

JJLA designed the space to provide beautiful vignettes and cocktail lounges on the patio and lawn creating phenomenal photo opportunities for the attendees and stars of the shows, which included four new Hulu Originals premium light boxes that illuminated the path to a custom dye-cut Hulu logo, floating in the center of Paramount’s fountain.

Food and beverage was provided by LA-based caterer, The Food Matters, who provided passed hors d’oeuvres, dinner buffets and dessert stations. Attendees spent the evening talking about the launch of these upcoming shows before receiving their gift bags.

Commemorating the 20th Anniversary of Equality California and its accomplishments, JJLA was tasked with producing a five-part fundraiser series commemorating the 20th anniversary of Equality California and its accomplishments. Organizers presented Equality Awards to community activists and civic leaders in honor of their contributions to the state’s eclectic LGBTQ community, at artfully executed celebrations in Sacramento, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles and Palm Springs where these events were carefully curated in unique venues to show appreciation for the eclectic state of California and its queer communities. Local artists from each community were incorporated in event programming, with a focus on LGBTQ talent. RuPaul’s Drag Race star Carmen Carrera, the world’s only trans woman soprano opera singer Brianna Sinclairé, pop artists Jason Mraz and Kim Petras, and the Sacramento Kings marching band. JJLA also partnered with sponsoring brands to activate photo booths, specialty drinks and after party designs, including WeedMaps, Tito’s Vodka, and Southwest Airlines. Through months of hard work and diligence, JJLA assisted in meeting and exceeding Equality California fundraising goals to support activism for years to come.

For the third year, JJLA produced Cadillac’s Pre-Oscars dinner, a celebration of ABC Television and Cadillac’s long-standing Oscars partnership. In homage to Cadillac’s unveiling of their new campaign “Keep Rising,” signaled by the blue “steps” from within the Cadillac shield, JJLA selected a private residence in the Hollywood Hills overlooking all of Los Angeles as host. The event showcased all four of Cadillac’s top of the line vehicles, from the CT6 Sedan to the Escalade. Hues of blue and gold trademarked the aesthetic with bountiful florals. Actor Constance Wu was the event’s special guest, sharing her own story of “rising above” throughout her career. Guests dined on a three course menu from Curtis Stone.

The Los Angeles Times brought a slice of California sunshine to this year’s Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT! The LA Times Studio provided an escape from the crisp mountain air where actors and filmmakers alike visited a one-of-a-kind portrait and interview studio.The custom-built space inside Chase Sapphire on Main included a snowy Boomerang video station, a portrait studio, and a cozy interview lounge where some of Sundance’s premier talent dished about their latest projects. Visitors this year included Zac Efron, Lily Collins, Julianne Moore, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Awkwafina, among many more. With its exterior drawing inspiration from the classic movie theatre marquees and an interior designed to give subtle nods to the media team’s Southern California roots, the LA Times Studio became a priority destination for creative minds attending this year’s festival.

Utilizing the iconic backdrop of the infamous Capitol Records building on Vine, Capitol360, hosted its 2nd Capitol Royale Hackathon event. This 2-day Hackfest brought together software developers, acclaimed producers, songwriters, and influencers in a challenge to incubate new waves of music-related products, services, and content that re-imagine music consumption and discovery.

The convention opened with world-renowned technology gurus and mobile app designers who dished words of wisdom and presented new innovations to attendees. Sponsors included Verizon, Twitch, and Spotify among many other companies who are leaders at the intersection of music and tech. Teams of attendees then brainstormed ideas and worked overnight to develop their ideas in the realms of music-related technology, services, and content before presenting their completed concepts to a panel of renowned judges 24 hours later.

It wouldn’t have been a JJLA event without some cutting edge live entertainment and design elements. Musical artists Tycho, James Davis, and 3LAU closed out the weekend-long event. Dramatic lighting and a futuristic stage design captured guests’ attention and completed the space.