Pride Organizers from around the world came together to celebrate the 40th Anniversary of InterPride as an organization. InterPride wanted to kick off their inaugural gala with a worldly touch, filled with pride, and brimming with talent, both recognized and performing. Taking place at the Avalon Hollywood on April 29th, roughly 300 people came together to kick off the Pride season and learn about the work InterPride does globally throughout the year. After mingling and enjoying some global ambient entertainment in the PRIDE LOUNGE, guests were invited into the main ballroom for dinner and a program. InterPride honored many LGBTQ+ icons and allies, received a proclamation from the City of West Hollywood Mayor, and closed out the night dancing to a Deborah Cox performance.
Categories: Production
Liberty Hill
The Liberty Hill Organization celebrated 40 years of their annual gala: The Upton Sinclair Celebration. They hoped to focus on their Environmental Justice initiatives as the event lined up so closely to Earth Day. In addition, they wanted to commemorate the 40 years of Upton Sinclair celebrations they have had to date.
The event took place from on April 19th, 2023 at the Skirball Cultural Center. After check in, enjoyed a nice reception with live music, a DJ, and a variety of food from around the world. The guests also interacted with various activations such as an interactive plant “LIVING” wall in which guests were encouraged to add a flower to the installation. Also on display were 7 fabricated trees that reflected the honorees and grantees of current and past. Giveaways included photos from the photo booth and step and repeat, branded seed papers, and screen printed tote bags.
The evening highlighted a lively program that included performances by the Syncopated Ladies tap group and a special moment of recognition for the honorees of the last 40 years.
Red Bull’s Dance Your Style
On April 1st at JJLA produced Red Bull’s Dance Your Style LA dance competition event at 930 Mateo, a warehouse venue in downtown LA.
Red Bull invited 14 dancers to compete in Red Bull Dance Your Style Los Angeles. The event featured a mixed style dance competition where performers of all specialties competed. The crowd would decide who wins via smart bracelets, and the winner of the competition would move on to compete in the Red Bull Dance Your Style National Finals.
In order to stay true to Red Bull’s brand guidelines JJLA lit the space up in red and blue lights and decor. We also vinyl wrapped a 92 foot long beam with RedBull branding, produced a custom Red Bull branded dance floor surrounded by risers, as well as a 60 foot long hedgewall step and repeat adorned with photos of all the participating competitors and talent.
The event flow started with auditions in the afternoon, followed by the main battle bracket competition in the evening, and climaxing with an after party in the night where guests were invited out on the dancefloor while the DJ kept playing. The space housed a retail section with pop up boutiques, an indoor bar, as well as food available in the outside food trucks.
A highlight of the night was the Dance troupe House of Ninja performing before the final battle.
As one of Red Bull’s two global dance events. JJLA achieved the clients expectations by branding everything within Red Bull guidelines and created an eventflow that was seamless and conducive to their dance community.
The event was well attended and the client was thrilled.
St. John’s Chautauqua Weekend Conference
JJLA produced St. John’s Health Center Foundation’s 44th Annual Chautauqua Weekend conference. The event brings together people from all branches of the organization, from physicians to organization leadership. JJLA helped St. John’s achieve their vision of an upscale, fun and educational weekend rife with history of the organization. The weekend took place at the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes from March 10-12th, 2023.
JJLA managed a large scale program of over 12 physician presentations and panels, interspersed throughout the weekend with meals and activities. JJLA helped organize on-site genetics testing, high end amenities, and delicious seated and station dinners washed down by thematic specialty cocktails.
The weekend also featured performances by Spanish guitarists, DJ Asha, and a percussionist. JJLA took the event’s theme of “Going Beyond” to heart in satisfying the needs of all areas of management: Guest Experience, Food and Beverage, and Engaging Programs.
This event was a success with large numbers of attendees attending powerful presentations about where the organization is today and where it can be tomorrow. Aside from a successful program, with JJLA’s flair, guests were up and dancing the night away after the days’ programs concluded.
St. Jude’s Legends for Charity
JJLA joined St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital for their annual superbowl fundraising event, “Legends for Charity”. This year, the event took place in the hustle and bustle of downtown Phoenix at the Hyatt Regency. JJLA tackled decor and vendor management throughout the ballroom and the VIP lounge. Taking inspiration from Phoenix’s modern desert atmosphere, JJLA procured decor that showcased succulent florals, wood panel walls, and ombre sand colored linens. JJLA also helped St. Jude’s brand the large space with gobos, signage, and specialty step and repeats. JJLA proudly sourced many local vendors to achieve the ambience the client was seeking.
OUTLOUD Music Festival 2022
Kicking off the City of West Hollywood’s inaugural WEHO Pride, JJLA produced OUTLOUD Music Festival 2022 from June 3-5.
In partnership with Twitch, the three-day festival featured a hybrid concert experience held in West Hollywood Park. It was broadcast globally on Twitch’s homepage, garnering a daily average of 10,000 attendees and over half a million virtual viewers.
Headliners of the event were Years and Years, Jessie J, MARINA, and Lil Kim with supporting performances by Dorian Electra, Cupcakke, a debut from POSE’s Angelica Ross and more.
OUTLOUD seeks to create a platform for LGBTQ+ and allied musicians, as these are the voices vital to uplifting our diverse and marginalized community. For this reason, OUTLOUD is active not only during Pride, but year-round.
OUTLOUD Music Festival featured two stages on its festival grounds: the Main Stage, featuring our headlining acts, and the Unity Stage, featuring drag performances from queens as fierce as Aquaria, DJ sets and extravagant dance numbers. The whole weekend was hosted by a diverse array of queer community.
OUTLOUD’s VIP Area provided cryotherapy, body massages, vitamin samples, and other spa treatments in a beautiful grass setting with a private bar. The space was filled with outdoor lounge furniture, large bean bags and Red Bull charging stations, encouraging guests to kick back and relax without worrying about missing a moment of fun.
The festival was blessed with several of LA’s hottest food trucks catering to every taste.
The Festival featured ADA accommodations which included wheelchair accessible viewing platforms and sign language interpreters.
OUTLOUD was covered by a variety of press outlets including KTLA, Billboard, and USA Today.
Equality California Awards 2022
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.
WEHO Pride
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.
OUTLOUD Spotlight
OUTLOUD Spotlight represents the next generation of up-and-coming Queer artists. In 2022, we featured 70 LGBTQIA+ live music performances, special guest appearances, and interactive games through a bi-weekly show for our Twitch viewers globally. Reaching 6.72 million live viewers in our two-year partnership with Twitch, OUTLOUD created a unique Queer space that otherwise would not exist and demonstrated the need for community-centered live music content.
As a part of closing out this year’s partnership, OUTLOUD Spotlight returns to hosting in-person live events. Through the annual OUTLOUD music festival and in-person Spotlight events, we reached over 30,000 LA-local community members and event attendees. Our irreplicable approach to live music and music talk content welcomes all walks of life to become allies and celebrate their identities. OUTLOUD is poised to expand its reach and programming variety further in 2023.
MLB AllStar Weekend
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: A Frieda and Diego Immersive Experience
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.
WHCHC 35th Anniversary Gala
JJLA came home to West Hollywood to commemorate the 35th Anniversary of West Hollywood Community Housing Corporation (WHCHC) and its accomplishments with an outdoor, celebratory fundraiser.
The evening began at The Lot in West Hollywood, with a view of one of WHCHC’s affordable housing buildings during a social cocktail hour. Guests mingled over specialty cocktails. Lounges were adorned with origami flowers created by seniors participating in WHCHC programs.
As cocktail hour wound down, guests turned the corner of the Writer’s Courtyard and served a delicious dinner created by Global Cuisine. After dinner, Patricia Arquette was honored for her community activism during a touching outdoor program, which shared her spotlight with at-home heroes: organization leaders and local West Hollywood residents.
Aids Walk LA
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.
Riot Games Official Tailgate Party
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.
St. John’s 80th Anniversary Gala
On October 29th, 450 foundation trustees, physicians, and supporters gathered at The Broad Stage located in Santa Monica to celebrate The St. John’s Health Care Foundation 80th Anniversary Gala. With the theme of Oak representing St John’s longevity, strength, and endurance, JJLA brought the vision to life through creative design concepts. Upon entering, guests were greeted with live trees decorated with glowing lanterns, colorful foliage and cozy seating banquettes where autumn inspired hors’ d’oeuvres were served.
Guests flowed into the theater for the show portion of the evening. Legendary sportscaster Al Michaels, The Ellen Show’s Kym Douglas and Saint John’s CEO Michael Ricks took the crowd through a journey of St. John’s past, present, and future achievements. A special message from Tom Selleck and a performance by Broadway star, Shoshana Bean concluded the programming on a high note.
Upon entering the terrace, speciality linens, subtle flickering lighting effects, and light hearted music reminded guests of having dinner at their local favorite bistro under the moon and stars. Encouraged to wander, guests could enjoy a smoked old fashioned at the speciality drink activation or take a photo at the leaf pattern wall. From the three course dinner encompassing an ode to fall flavors, to branded ice-cubes or an ’80’ made of foam to top their gourmet cappuccino, JJLA believes ‘it’s all in the details!’. Guests were brought through a journey throughout the evening leaving them with an unforgettable experience!
RedBull Halloween Party
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.
Harry Potter: A Yule Ball Celebration
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.
Pacific Bitcoin
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!
Ulta FLC
Beauty once again brought people together, in-person, for this year’s Ulta Beauty Field Leadership Conference held in San Antonio over the weekend. This much-hyped event came back bigger and better than ever before, allowing more than 2,000 Ulta team members to connect and engage with brands on topics such as brand awareness, new product launches, marketing and beauty education. JJLA had the opportunity to work with not one, but two iconic brands for this year’s conference – MAC Cosmetics and Paul Mitchell. Both brands have had such amazing success in laying the groundwork for beauty standards – we were thrilled at the opportunity to tell their story through booth design and innovation.
The inspiration of this year’s MAC Cosmetics booth was the launch of their MAC Stack Mascara, which promises buildable, clump-resistant mascara. Using the futuristic, innovative design of the mascara wand as a jumping point, elements of the design were incorporated into every feature of the booth from color, shape, vibe to even large-scale recreations of the impressive, never-before-seen mascara wand. Guests were transported into a futuristic setting with walls made of giant mirrored branded circles taken directly from the design of the mascara wand. In the center of the booth, four giant MAC Stacks were fabricated, each holding an iPad that provided the technology for guests to customize their foundation shades. These four larger-than-life MAC Stacks created a base for a colossus hot pink 3D printed mascara wand that rose to heights of over 9 feet tall. A giant LED screen provided the perfect backdrop for individual makeup counters, allowing MAC centric content and branding, which could be seen from all areas of the convention center. From the moment the doors opened, the MAC Cosmetics booth had lines of 20 people deep, eagerly awaiting to try out the innovative technology and sample the products of this truly, iconic brand.
Taking a cue from Mother Nature, this year’s Paul Mitchell booth was all about sustainability, simplicity, and technology with a focus on their Tea Tree and Clean Beauty products. However, there was nothing “simple” about this secret garden themed booth. From the floor to the walls, every inch of the booth was dressed with hand-picked florals and greenery. Each sense was stimulated with this booth design. Birds chirping and sounds of rushing water were piped into the sound system and scent machines were strategically placed, pumping in smells of lavender, eucalyptus and evergreen. As guests enter the space, a giant light up sign peaks out of the lush, overgrown plantings that reads “Beauty with Purpose” and that’s exactly what Paul Mitchell had in mind with this year’s message. With their commitment to combating deforestation, Paul Mitchell has agreed to planting one million trees by the end of 2022. JJLA worked closely with the brand to highlight this message, creating a story with elaborate set dressings, innovative technology and booth design. To address sustainability, the booth design can be broken up into a variety of different configurations, allowing the booth to be reused for multiple purposes. AR technology was brought in which transported guests to journey into the virtual world, pointing their phones around various activations within the booth. QR codes were used to highlight these different activations, allowing guests to learn more about the Paul Mitchell mission. On one side of the booth, a realistic, cut down tree was fabricated. As guests aimed their phones at the stump, a virtual, life-sized tree grew from the wooded remains.
Upton Sinclair Homecoming Celebration
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.
Center Theatre Group Gala
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.
DAP – Chase Gala
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.
Money Heist: The Experience
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”.
OUTFEST: The Legacy Awards Gala
Outfest, the leading LGBTQIA+ arts and entertainment nonprofit, hosted its 40th Anniversary Legacy Awards Gala on a warm Saturday evening in November. JJLA produced the milestone event centered around honoring those who have impacted the community.
Keeping the theme of ‘Bringing Fancy Back’ front of mind, JJLA created multiple event spaces and curated a menu for the evening with a keen eye for detail. Upon entering the event at the seven-week-old Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 400 guests were invited into a lush pre-reception space created on the Piazza. Home to an IMDb Photo Studio, Cadillac’s Escalade, and the sweet intro treats of WPK Catering, it was a classy introduction to the night!
Guests were then guided to the David Geffen Theater for the evening’s award presentations, collaboratively scripted by JJLA and Outfest. Along with honoring Victoria Alonso, Rain Valdez, Robin de Jesus, Neon, Jonathan Howard, Marissa Roman Griffith, and Alan Koenigsberg, there were special Broadway-inspired performances from Garret Clayton and a troupe of charismatic, dancers as well as a meaningful look back at the very first LGBTQIA+ march on Washington. JJLA was behind the scenes running the show, ensuring smooth transitions, overseeing the technical elements, and supporting the talent.
Following the program filled with a wonderful mix of celebration, pride, nostalgia, and powerful calls to action, guests were guided up to the Dolby Family Terrace for a specially-curated meal. JJLA turned the patio into a gorgeous lounge space where guests could take in the amazing views of the Hollywood Hills while enjoying a delectable dinner. It was the perfect environment for mixing and mingling, which was a priority for Outfest given how long it had been since many of the attendees had seen one another in person. Guests had the opportunity to capture their moments of togetherness at the IMDb photo studio as they exited the party.
JJLA was proud to be one of the very first event producers in the new Academy Museum space, bringing together friends old and new in celebration after a long Covid hiatus.
Electric Daisy Carnival
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!
EQCA EVENT SERIES
At the end of 2021 JJLA went on the road with Equality California’s annual Equality Awards Event Series. With over 900,000 members, EQCA is the largest statewide LGBTQIA+ organization in the United States.
Focusing on EQCA’s major donor markets across Northern California, Southern California, and Nevada, JJLA produced six reimagined Awards Shows, each with a focus on meeting fundraising goals and creating unique experiences in out-of-the-box hybrid indoor/outdoor venues to keep our LGBTQIA+ communities safe and healthy.
JJLA kept entertainment and community engagement top of mind by securing talented musicians and performers for each event , including pop artist VINCINT, RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 11 Winner Yvie Oddly, and American Idol’s Mikalah Gordon. Additional creative responsibilities included fully scripting each program and devising the Run of Show. On top of that, the JJLA team sourced all food and beverage, floral arrangements and decor.
The JJLA events team took pride in taking the concept of showcasing each EQCA region from just an idea to a fully formed, beautifully executed reality.
City Year Spring Break Live!
On May 2, 2021, non-profit City Year hosted their annual Spring Break event which celebrates their dedicated AmeriCorps members who stepped up for students during a time of enormous hardship, helping them achieve academically while also serving as a critical social lifeline. While the incredible work being done is always worth honoring, the 2021 event had an extra layer of poignancy given how AmeriCorps members stepped up for students ina time of enormous hardship, helping them achieve academically while also serving as a critical social lifeline during a pandemic full of isolation and uncertainty.
Mirroring the pivot to virtual in the classroom, City Year’s Spring Break fundraiser took place on a virtual platform, energetically blasting through the screen to provide an evening of music, inspiration, and fun. The free event featured musical performances by Miguel and guest appearances by actors Steve Yeun, America Ferrara, Regina King, Jesse Williams, and Sterling K. Brown who read beautiful “Why I Serve” pieces written by AmeriCorps members. Long-time supporter Octavia Spencer returned as host, sharing her love and dedication for the organization.
On top of countless sponsorship contributions, roughly 200 donors took advantage of the text-to-donate feature over the course of the one-hour show This resulted in over 1.6 million dollars raised for the nonprofit.
JJLA creative produced, directed, and edited the live event which can now be viewed on Vimeo. Check it out here.
Outloud: Raising Voices 2021
JJLA presented OUTLOUD: Raising Voices from June 4th-6th at the Los Angeles Coliseum, kicking off the first in-person Pride Month event of 2021.
JJLA knew the return to in-person events needed to be bigger and better than ever, so OUTLOUD teamed up with Pride Live’s Stonewall Day in conjunction with Adam Lambert’s Feel Something Foundation to create something truly special! To extend the experience beyond the Coliseum, JJLA partnered with Twitch to livestream the three-day music festival for fans all around the world. Additionally, each day, OUTLOUD introduced different LGBTQIA+ charity partners, helping to raise awareness and funds for these causes. JJLA utilized the Tiltify platform to make contributing a seamless process for donors.
Boasting over 4.8 million streams on Twitch, OUTLOUD: Raising Voices gained global attention with a captivating line-up that shone a spotlight on queer musicians. Headliners included Sofi Tukker, Hayley Kiyoko and Adam Lambert, with performances by Daya, VINCINT, Kim Petras, JoJo and a surprise debut performance by POSE star Michaela Jaé Rodriguez OUTLOUD strategically paired up-and-coming LGBTQIA+ performers in lineups with well established headliners, exposing them to new audiences and adding a layer of discovery to the event. Performers reflected the diversity of the LGBTQIA+ community through their varied ages, ethnicities, genders, sexualities, and music styles.
To engage virtual viewers, OUTLOUD: Raising Voices created an interactive hybrid experience with hosts DJ Hannah Rad, Ryan “The Slaygawd” Mitchell, and Shar Jossell connecting with Twitch viewers live from the Vizzy Stage. This incredibly entertaining trio responded in real time to viewer comments, music requests, and questions throughout all three days of the event. They interviewed performers and OUTLOUD special guests and the virtual audience was encouraged to interact with each attendee to expand the “in person” experience to at-home guests around the world.
JJLA was solely responsible for the entirety of the show’s production, and was honored to be a key part of bringing live events back to Los Angeles.
Red Bull Batalla
Over the last 14 years, Red Bull Batalla has grown into the leading global competition for Spanish freestyle rapping. Every year, Red Bull accepts amateur performers from all over the world and brings them into the limelight, providing an opportunity to be noticed and heard by millions! JJLA was asked to produce the USA National Finals on September 18th, 2021, as 16 competitors battled it out to be crowned the US National Champion.
In addition to livestreaming on Twitch and Red Bull’s very own Red Bull TV, the high-energy 2021 competition had a live audience – a first for the event! Working with two trusted A/V (4Wall) and Audio (MS Events) vendors, JJLA was able to bring the competitors and audience into The Cypher, a 30-foot, 360 Degree LED video ring, where the contestants went head to head. It was a massive production undertaking, and the combination of the live performances, incredible energy from the audience, and sizzling visuals combined to create a dynamic, adrenaline-fueled event consistent with Red Bull’s boundary-pushing brand. As they announced the winner, everyone was up on their feet, cheering for more!
It was a day filled with culture, entertainment and passion. Click the link to watch the full experience here.
DAP Health – Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
On Sunday, May 9th, 2021, DAP Health hosted its annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards virtually, broadcasting as a Mother’s Day television special on NBC Palm Springs for the first time in the organization’s 30 year history. In celebration of the successful “Hope Begins with Health” fundraising campaign, DAP Health highlighted leading humanitarians, healthcare workers, and heroes of the community, as well as local businesses and mother-figures for a powerful hour of inspiration focused on spotlighting the selfless efforts of healthcare’s finest.
JJLA creative directed, produced, and edited the show, including filming on-site with TV Personality and DAP Health Board Member Scott Nevins; interviewing DAP Health clients, employees, and community supporters; and producing in-studio performances with Sheryl Lee Ralph and Shoshana Bean. Working hand in hand with DAP Health, JJLA made sure that each element of the show illuminated DAP Health’s four pillars of service: Ongoing HIV Care, Access to Healthcare, Behavioral Health, and Coronavirus Testing. This expert attention to storytelling drove connection with the audience, streamlining DAP Health’s messaging and ensuring that each moment of the TV special had maximum impact.
To top it off, JJLA curated custom gift boxes for guests to enjoy the evening of the show at home. Gift items were selected from local businesses that have supported DAP Health over the years, creating the perfect virtual event viewing kit for an in-person tangible experience.
JJLA is so pleased that during a time when coming together in person was difficult, we were able to put our technical savvy to work, creating a virtual show that streamed across social media and a custom website in addition to airing on NBC Palm Springs. You can take a look at it here!
EQCA: Golden State Equality Awards
On Sunday, September 13th, 2020, Equality California hosted its first-ever statewide Golden State Equality Awards virtually. The evening began with ticketed guests receiving personalized Equality Awards Gift Boxes, complete with touches of California – including La Crema wine, a charcuterie set, a California-themed candle, and custom Golden State cookies.
In the week leading up to the show, guests were directed to a custom event microsite designed by JJLA, where they were asked to register for additional notifications of content release. Two days prior to the main show launch, five regional pages went live with a mini-awards program, highlighting the work of Equality California’s honorees in the cities in which their live events are typically held each year. JJLA produced and edited the five 20-minute programs that gave out local awards, thanked sponsors and teased the launch of the upcoming live Statewide program.
At 6pm sharp on September 13th, the Statewide Program began its livestream, highlighting inspirational and essential work that has been accomplished in the fight for LGBTQ+ Civil Rights and Social Justice work, while showcasing BIPOC and
Transgender Communities. Honorees included Norman Lear, Pete & Chasten Buttigieg, and the Netflix Original Documentary Disclosure. Speaker Nancy Pelosi honored the late U.S. Representative John Lewis, accompanied with a performance by Rufus Wainwright. Other musical performances included songs by Shea Diamond, Alex Newell, Robin S., Betty Who and Melissa Etheridge, all booked and curated by JJLA. The evening supported Equality California in its efforts to raise $1.75m for their continued integral work in the Golden State and on a national level.
JJLA produced, edited, and called the liveshow remote from their offices in Los Angeles. In addition, the team lead the charge on gift box curation and fulfillment as well as talent booking and full site design on a customized platform. Click here to view the full show and experience the custom built microsite.
Point Foundation
The Point Foundation, the nation’s LGBTQ scholarship fund, typically hosts a wide variety of events throughout their calen- dar year, ranging from potential scholar orientations, leadership information sessions, localized fundraisers, as well as two major galas in NY and LA.With COVID-19 causing event cancellations and much uncertainty for the remainder of 2020, The Point Foundation and JJLA quickly pivoted and began to brainstorm new ways to engage donors outside of the typical Zoom or Facebook Live fundraiser.
And thus,The Point Foundation University was born. Utilizing digital design and rendering services previously reserved for showing clients mock-ups of how an event might look in-person, JJLA helped to translate a virtual reality into a fully interactive fundraising tool.The plan was to launch 8 individual microsites that would allow for each of the small fundraiser markets to host their own, unique event. Guests would be emailed the link to peruse and would be able to pass the information on to any other potential donors they felt would be interested in learning more – widening the reach of an event that was typically held in a private home for 75-100 people.
OUTLOUD: Raising Voices
OUTLOUD, JJLA’s owned and operated event brand was set to launch as a live event series at in March 2020 at SXSW in Austin,TX.With the cancellation of the event due to the worldwide pandemic, JJLA quickly pivoted its event series to a digital platform, creating OUTLOUD: Raising Voices, kicking off
it’s series with its SXSW musical line-up on Facebook.The digital concert series would prove to be a success, garnering views and giving a platform to marginalized voices and a space for a community to come together during a difficult time in the world.
OUTLOUD: Raising Voices is a digital series celebrating the artistry, identity and inclusiveness of up-and-coming and established talent within the LGBTQIA+ community.
Each episode discovers and promotes emerging LGBTQ talent, dropping new releases, EPs and albums for some of the community’s biggest artists and allies.
Season One of OUTLOUD: Raising Voices premiered in June of 2020. With nearly 1M viewers throughout 9 episodes OUTLOUD was able to reach our audience through targeted ad buys promoting each episode. Using insights from our audience we also designed a campaign to increase the growth of the newly established community.
Destination Crenshaw
In celebration of one of the largest black communities on the west coast, Destination Crenshaw creates a central hub to showcase local education, arts and culture, history and community to a gentrifying neighborhood in South Los Angeles through 1.3 miles of outdoor exhibits. JJLA had the pleasure to curate multiple activations based on Destination Crenshaw’s four Organizing Themes: Improvisation, Firsts, Dreams and Togetherness, to enhance the overall event experience for guests including local celebrities including Issa Rae , LA City & Statewide leadership, and numerous investors.
The event began with the designing of the Groundbreaking Ceremony to highlight donors at the construction site to break ground on the renovation, and a gallery hedge wall to develop a title treatment for the event and the information desk. The activations delved into the overarching themes in the re-creation of two telephone booths for guests to share “Stories of Black LA,” through a recording session to share what makes Crenshaw home and to highlight the Dreams theme of Destination Crenshaw. An interactive push pin world map displayed the “Journey to Black LA” to display the theme Togetherness, and to show the migration from other parts of the world into Black LA. JJLA tied the event together by designing out the focal point of the event, the Sankofa Supermall – a compilation of local retail vendors, customizable screen printing by Supervsn and Destination Crenshaw branded apparel. With the purpose to cultivate pride to the community, Destination Crenshaw’s mission has just begun.
The Night Before
For the 18th annual Night Before benefitting the Motion Picture & Television Fund, JJLA partnered with Verizon Media Group to design and build out their activation booth for the soiree. The notable evening took place on the Fox studio lot the night before the Academy Awards, bringing A-List Hollywood talent together for a celebration while fundraising for MPTF’s important work assisting industry veterans during their retirement from the business.
The booth design took inspiration from the popular TV game show The Price Is Right, with the fabrication of a custom built Plinko board, allowing guests to climb up behind the 8 foot tall game, take a photo, and drop a puck – hoping to land in any slot at the bottom which contained a Yahoo! Brand for the opportunity to win prizes such asa branded Tile, a unique tech gift to help keep track of belongings such as keys, wallets, and cell phones.
Celebs who tried their luck included Tiffany Haddish, Marcia Gay Harden, Zach Braff, Brie Larson, Keegan Michael Key, and more!
Kimball Terrace at Sundance Film Festival
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.
Supercharged
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.
JASMIN Art Tour 2019
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 Holiday Party
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. 😉
RYOT Activation at Star Wars
Powered by Verizon’s 5G network, Ryot and JJLA produced and executed, what evolved into a main focal point of, Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Red Carpet Premiere After Party on Hollywood Boulevard. Attendees were given the opportunity to stand in line to interact with two red armor-clad First Order Sith stormtroopers in real time through an LED Video wall that could be viewed 100 feet away on the opposite side of the event tent.
While the actors were 15 miles away in Playa Vista, guests attending could see their movements on screen in the green room, as well as in their stormtrooper gear in 3-D while interacting with each individual who chose to participate. The purpose was to prove the real-time response of Verizon’s 5G network during a large scale event.
Private Wedding
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.
Saint John’s Gala
For Saint John’s 77th, the Foundation chose the theme of the Health Center. JJLA was challenged in taking what might be expected corporate colors of blue & orange to an elegant gala dinner. With a mix of luxe velvet shades of blue, accents of copper – the Beverly Hilton Ballroom was transformed. The perimeter of the room was lit with Revelry’s Light Box installations which brought warmth to the space and sparkled against the hammered copper chargers on the table. Seed Floral was inspired by warm fall colors that continued the copper & gold narrative.
The program of the evening was centered on – a Day at Saint John’s. This immersive look at the health center’s day to day activities – from a child being born, to life-saving surgery brought an urgency in pace and their cause. The stage design complimented the day, starting with a dusky early morning, to bright noon, and ending with an iconic Santa Monica sunset, bringing the show to a close.
Capitol Royale 2019
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.
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Internal Launch Party
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.
Korn album release event
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
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.
MAC Workshop – ULTA GMC Atlanta
Working with MAC, JJLA built and designed a booth that’s broke the mold of a stereotypical brand activation in the beauty and cosmetics industry. Taking inspiration from construction sites in the city and suburbs alike, our fabrication team built a colorful and vibrant trade show booth that accentuates bright blue, yellow, grey and gradient colors of pink and red. Making it a construction zone that shatters the label that construction is not only for men but that it can’t be fun, pretty, colorful, welcoming, and related to beauty. With the help of the MAC team this booth became the life of the conference giving conference attendees a reason to fall in love with MAC and reminding everyone that MAC stands-out in their industry for their forward thinking and changing social norms.
NY Pride
As part of the 2019 World Pride Celebration and the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots in New York City, NYC PRIDE selected JJLA to produce their flagship festival and concert, Pride Island. Pride Island is a 2-day high energy music and dance experience. As the producer, JJLA oversaw all event management, design, logistics, production supervision, concessions and security planning. The large-scale build, which featured a 5-story arch structure that towered over the Hudson River, was the largest of its kind in Manhattan. The event featured a two-tier VIP and cabana deck that helped to elevate the guest experience and cater to premium clientele while still providing plenty of space for festival goers to revel in Pride Celebrations. Over 7500 attendees per day celebrated this iconic anniversary which was headlined with performances by Grace Jones and Madonna.
LA Times Food Bowl Night Market
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.
Better Together – A Mother’s Day Celebration with Calia X mindbodygreen
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.