GARY MUSICK PRODUCTIONS

Sizzle Reel

2012-02-08T13:37:00.000-06:00

Check out our sizzle reel and our YouTube channel!

2012-02-07T15:17:00.000-06:00

David Patton produced the entertainment and decor for a conference last week for our client, Leading Authorities. GMP provided two giant guitars, two microphone podiums, country décor, and live entertainment featuring six singers/dancers. The show was a great success!

Now Available: New Giant Guitars!

2012-02-03T15:12:00.000-06:00

Here is a picture of our brand new giant guitars! These debuted at a show last week at the Sheraton Music City. They are slightly smaller than our existing set, with adjustable neck heights that make the pieces 12’ or 15’ tall (these are 12’ tall versions shown in the photo). These new guitars are designed for quick set up, and complement an entire group of musical themed props that are perfect for your next music-themed meeting or event. Give us a call us at 615.259.2400 for information on specially priced staging and prop packages for your next event!

New Giant Guitars!

2012-01-17T10:13:00.000-06:00

Coming soon! We're building a new set of giant guitars. These guitars are designed to fit in smaller ballrooms and will have adjustable heights- 12ft or 15ft. Check out these construction shots in different stages. We'll post completed photos after a show in a couple of weeks.

Pixel Mapping

2012-01-11T14:29:00.000-06:00

Jonathan Yeaworth, our GMP video guru, recently gave our staff an entertaining and informative presentation on “pixel mapping”- a video display technique that allows the projection of amazing images and animated graphics on scenery, general session stages, building exteriors, and even sandy beaches! Pixel mapping is the careful design of digital graphics to fit unique and unusual projection surfaces. This process helps eliminate scaling, distortion, or stretching of an image or video when projected onto a surface that is normally not intended to be used as a video “screen”. Pixel mapping allows us to turn ordinary stage sets into incredibly entertaining and engaging room environments that can constantly change to enhance the environment of any meeting or special event. We plan to use this technique during the opening ceremonies of a major convention slated for Atlantis this June. Watch for more info on pixel mapping as we integrate it into more upcoming shows! And, check out these links to watch a few samples of video mapping with amazing “wow” impact!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iutCPhQTo0A&feature=fvsr

http://videomapping.tumblr.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8IICGkOtJ9E

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSR0Xady02o

Christmas at the Galt House Hotel

2011-12-27T09:40:00.000-06:00

Our “Colors of the Season” dinner show wrapped up its second season at the Galt House Hotel! “Colors of the Season” is an integral part of the hotel’s fabulous “KaLightoscope” attraction. Thanks to the cast, crew, and GMP production team who made it all come to life. And a special thanks goes to our friends at the Galt House – especially Risa Garner, Terry Jenks, and Lisa Haller - for all their support throughout the project. We’re looking forward to making the holidays even more colorful in Louisville in 2012!

Galt House "Colors of the Season"

2011-12-21T11:11:00.000-06:00

Gary Musick Productions is producing Colors of the Season, a lively holiday show friends and the entire family. Filled with song, dance and laughter, this unique festive show is in its second season at the Galt House in Louisville, KY. Opening simply in the living room of a couple awaiting the holidays, the setting soon transforms into a magical world of lights, snow and festive color as the cast presents a joyous review of holiday musical favorites. During the trip to Santa’s Workshop, children stare in awe as toys come to life before them. By the time the beautiful “O Holy Night” finale, every heart will be warmed. This is the essence of the days all rolled together into one enchanting entertainment experience.

The show features a 10 person cast with special appearances by several talented young child performers from the Louisville area. Colors of the Season is part of the Galt House’s renowned KaLightoscope attraction and runs through Christmas eve.

This entire production, including cast, dancers, stage scenes and props, will be available for touring in 2012. Please contact us for details on presenting this show in your area.

"Best in Class" 2011

2011-12-15T15:02:00.000-06:00

GMP’s Gary Musick produced an event last week in Indian Wells, California, at the Hyatt Grand Champions. The three day educational conference celebrated “Best in Class” performance for our client’s management team. We provided stage design, lighting, audio, and video production for the conference event which included an opening night reception, several general sessions, and large break out meetings. The highlight of the event was the company’s “Best in Class” awards dinner which featured special recognition of the company’s top managers.

This was our third year working with the client, and our production partners, Jon Trujillo and Bill Apablasa of Blue Ink Writing. The show was once again a huge success!

Freedom Awards 20th Anniversary Celebration

2011-11-28T16:04:00.000-06:00

GMP Producer, Bert Hensley, was honored to produce the Freedom Awards in Memphis, Tenn. 2011 marks the 20th anniversary of the National Civil Rights Museum. In commemoration of this milestone, the museum honored twelve recipients with 2011 Freedom Awards: Danny Glover, Susan L. Taylor, Cicely Tyson, Kirk Whalum, Marva Collins, Hill Harper, Dr. Bill Frist, NAACP, Southern Poverty Law Center, Usher Raymond IV, Bill Russell, and Alonzo Mourning.

In addition to the recipients of the Freedom Awards, the museum honored seven icons of the civil rights movement which included Leola Brown Montgomery, Delores Huerta, Rev. Ed King, Rev. Samuel Kyles, Rev. James Lawson, John Seigenthaler, and Rev. C.T. Vivian.

With special musical guests James Ingram, Wendy Moten, and Kirk Whalum the Awards played to a sold out crowd at the Cannon Center. The special will air on PBS in 2012.

James Ingram performs.

New for the awards this year was a GMP recreation of the familiar Lorraine Motel sign which still stands in front of the Memphis motel where Martin Luther King was shot. The prop sign was used as the focal point of the show’s set. GMP scenic was responsible for the remainder of the set, as well as audio, lighting, recording, staging, and directing of the prestigious event.

Where in the World? Just Around the Corner!

2011-10-27T13:57:00.000-05:00

GMP producer Gary Musick is in Italy this week working on a show for one of our favorite corporate clients. Gary Musick Productions was selected for this project because of our long relationship with the client and our expertise in working with international events and cruise ship productions.

The client’s top sales people from around the world are sailing on the Regent Mariner to Corsica, Almafi, Sorrento, and a few other great destinations. The very talented Street Corner Symphony, a finalist on NBC’s “The Sing-Off,” entertained guests with a variety of pop and standards. It was a fantastic show!

The Regent Mariner

Street Corner Symphony

Gary Musick with Street Corner Symphony

Sorrento, Italy- 10/27/11

New GMP Trucks

2011-10-06T11:52:00.000-05:00

We're excited to premiere our two new delivery trucks. Each truck is a 24' box truck with Maxon Lift gates and Freight liner business class cabs. With our GMP logo on each side of the box as well as on the doors of the cab, we'll be delivering your production and scenery in style. Pictured here, in front of Nashville's Parthenon, is our amazing Scenic crew: (L to R) Eric Cardwell, Technical Director, Chris Lyle, Operations Manager, Jacob Driver, Load team, Gary Musick, President. (And we promise not to ever let Gary actually drive the trucks!)

AUDITIONS!

2011-10-05T16:54:00.000-05:00

Women's Half Marathon Series, Nashville 2011

2011-09-28T15:57:00.000-05:00

GMP producer Bert Hensley provided audio support for the Women's Half Marathon in Nashville Saturday for the second year. The Women’s Half Marathon Race Series is the largest in the country and benefits the YMCA of Middle Tennessee and other local charities. Congrats to the Half Marathon champion Candace Fredericks and to the 5k winner Catherine Peithman! The race was a great success thanks to a huge turnout and fantastic volunteers. A big thank you to Women's Running Magazine and all the sponsors. We look forward to next year!

Jo Dee Messina sang the National Anthem and ran the 5k.

Half Marathon winner- Candace Fredericks

5k winner- Catherine Peithman

NATD Honors 2011

2011-09-26T13:42:00.000-05:00

Nashville Association of Talent Directors (NATD) tapped GMP’s Bert Hensley to produce their inaugural NATD Honors Gala on September 14, 2011 at the famed Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. The event, which honored the contributions and careers of such notable figures as Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, Nashville Predators hockey coach Barry Trotz, Agency for the Performing Arts CEO Jim Gosnell, Conway Entertainment Group founder and legendary agent Tony Conway, and the greatest band in country music history, Alabama.

For the event, GMP produced a tribute video for each of the five honorees, which included career achievements, philanthropic contributions and personal testimonials from long time friends and colleagues. A few notable video tributes included messages from Betty White and Willie Nelson, and comedian Lewis Black brought the house down with one of his famous rants as part of his tribute to long-time agent Jim Gosnell.

GMP is proud to have been asked to produce this special new event, and looks forward to making this one of the entertainment industry’s must-have tickets in years to come.

NATD Honors, The Hermitage Hotel- Nashville, Tennessee

Alabama

Rod Essig and Karl Dean

Barry Trotz

Lewis Black and Jim Gosnell

Wine Down Wednesday

2011-08-31T15:54:00.001-05:00

Valerie Summers, our new VP of Sales and Customer Relations at GMP, invited the GMP team to Arrington Vineyards for an evening of award-winning wine, dinner, music, and fun! Arrington Vineyards, located about 25 miles south of Nashville, is one of the most unique attractions in the Nashville area and is a popular spot for corporate events and private parties. Valerie’s husband, Kip, is the vintner and co-owner of Arrington, and we were lucky to be given a personalized tour and tasting by the expert himself. Kip and Valerie’s partner in the venture is Kix Brooks, from country music's super duo “Brooks and Dunn.”

Our evening started with a tour of the facility, followed by a tasting of the winery’s wide selection of varietals, culminating with dinner provided by Stage Left Catering. We had a great time and thoroughly enjoyed our last company outing of the summer. Thank you to Valerie, Kip, and Arrington Vineyards for making it a special evening. Watch for upcoming Arrington Vineyards special event packages from GMP - it truly is an outstanding location for corporate events and gatherings of all kinds!

Kip explaining the bottling process.

Learning about the bottling process.

Grape crushing machine.

Wine tasting.

Valerie

Did You Know?

2011-08-03T11:38:00.000-05:00

Thompson Square, fresh off their debut album and single “Are You Gonna Kiss Me or Not?,” just hit the road with Jason Aldean. Thompson Square turned to Gary Musick Scenic to complete elements of their new set design. The GMP team built two 5’ tall x 8’ wide faux speakers that served as a base for oversized lips. We wish them great success with the tour!

Faux speakers for Thompson Square.

GMP has also recently created scenic elements for other artists and staging companies in support of tours for artists like Kid Rock, Brad Paisley, and The Misfits. Our Scenic department recently helped Accurate Staging with key elements of the design for the Kid Rock “Born Free” tour which included a carved eagle, two 30-foot-long rifles, and an oversized longhorn skull.

Carved eagle for Kid Rock's touring set.

Scenic elements at live show.

Premier Breakthroughs Staging

2011-06-22T13:05:00.000-05:00

Gary Musick Scenic provided the staging for client Premier, Inc.’s Breakthroughs Conference at Gaylord Opryland. This was the second time we have worked on this conference. The staging was both functional and decorative, including a 54 inch triangular thrust and a couple of catwalk awards risers with acrylic sidewalls. Congratulations to Premier on another great conference.

Big Machine Label Group CMA Music Festival Booth

2011-06-22T12:43:00.000-05:00

Gary Musick Productions designed and implemented the booth for Big Machine Label Group (Big Machine Records, The Valory Music Co., and Republic Nashville labels) for the third consecutive year, and once again pulled out all the stops in creating a very cool environment for fans to interact with some of the biggest names in country music. The Big Machine Label Group consists of Taylor Swift, Martina McBride, Reba, Rascal Flatts, The Band Perry and a host of other artists.

The design consisted of four zones- one featuring the customized Rascal Flatts Red Camaro, an LED wall displaying videos and other BMLG content, a step-and-repeat photo wall with customizable marquee, and a merchandise section.

GMP would like to thank our friends at Big Machine for allowing us to once again play a part in making their CMA Music Festival Fan Fair Hall booth an experience of a lifetime for the nearly 100,000 guests who converged on Nashville for the four-day festival.

2011 IASA Educational Conference & Business Show

2011-06-22T10:43:00.000-05:00

Gary Musick Scenic was proud to develop, build and implement this fabulous General Session Set for IASA. The IASA 2011 Annual Educational Conference and Business show provides the most comprehensive educational program and business show targeted for financial and technology professionals in the insurance and financial services industry. Thanks for partnering with us!

"Working with Fireworks"

2011-06-03T09:01:00.000-05:00

MEETING magazine’s article, “Working with Fireworks” explores the hurdles in achieving a successful pyrotechnics or fireworks show.

Canadian meeting guru Terry Cunningham approached Gary Musick to learn more about the planning process of an event with fireworks. Musick stressed the importance of knowing the state laws and fire codes, along with having the proper permits and insurance liability, among a list of other important considerations. For more tips on creating a successful fireworks show, click here to read the full article. http://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/naylor/MPTS0311/#/16 Pages 17/18

NDC Showtime!

2011-05-25T12:43:00.001-05:00

Gary Musick Productions had the privilege of working with NDC on their 2011 International Expo May 22-24 at the Renaissance Nashville Hotel. GMP producer Bert Hensley oversaw the production of a Hollywood themed event that captured the conference theme of “Showtime!”

Scenic elements included a Hollywood themed stage backdrop, large awards statues, gold picture frame screen surrounds, red carpet and rope & stanchion. An art deco style marquee greeted guests, along with a matching refreshment stand stocked with old school candy and popcorn.

Congratulations to NDC on a very successful show, and a giant thank you to the GMP scenic and design team for a job well done.

The Vinny

2011-05-25T10:59:00.020-05:00

GMP Producer Bert Hensley oversaw the production of two events for Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill at his annual charity golf tournament, The Vinny. On Saturday, a pairings party took place at the Embassy Suites in Cool Springs. The theme for the event was “Bling It On, Baby!” and the room was definitely “blinged out”. A giant diamond wrapped golf ball served as the centerpiece of the stage set, with mirror balls hung over head. Vince and the amazingly talented western swing band The Time Jumpers provided entertainment for the evening. The event raises money for the First Tee and provides scholarships to deserving individuals across Tennessee.

At the conclusion of the tournament, which features celebrities and PGA tour professionals playing along with junior players and guests, Vince and wife Amy Grant hosted a Celebrity-VIP party at their Nashville home. This casual event took place in a tent in the Gill’s back yard, and carried a 1950s Route 66 Diner theme. Complete with a rotating “Vinny’s Route 66 Roadhouse” sign at the center of the tent, the theme was carried through with neon signs, 1950s style cars, and diner booths for seating.

GMP would like to thank Vince Gill and the team of great people involved in making The Vinny such a successful event, and look forward to next year when the event celebrates its 20^th anniversary.

Pre-Con With a Twist

2011-05-11T11:31:00.003-05:00

Here's a very cool idea for all you meeting planners and facility event planners, brought to you courtesy of the Hilton San Diego Bayfront. Instead of staging another tedious facility pre-con meeting before your next large event, why not do the meeting while taking a tour through the venue!? It's a unique approach and highly engaging for the planner. Our Hilton Bayfront event manager, Heather Wellong, took our client (National Association of Electrical Distributors) on an informative, fun, and tasty back-of-house tour of the hotel's operations to personally experience the inner workings of this large and innovative property. From the reservations department, to hotel communications, to the amazing laundry operation, we saw it all! The well choreographed journey included brief tours hosted by department heads operating in their own backyards. Perhaps most impressive were our stops in the hotel's banquet and room service kitchens. In each area, chefs had prepared a sampling of the actual menu items to be served during the meeting along with favorites from the hotel's restaurants. This allowed the customer to converse with chefs about menu and presentation questions in a very personal and informative format. Of course the highlight of the tour was the pastry kitchen. The hotel's award-winning pastry chef had prepared an impressive chocolate and spun sugar interpretation of the client's logo surrounded by a stunning selection of pastries and desserts from the banquet menu. It was a brilliant way to end the tour!

The pre-con ended with the hotel GM and executive team hosting a brief pinning ceremony accompanied by refreshing smoothies served high atop the hotel's 30 story tower. Of course we eventually did go through the BEO reviews, but even that seemed less tedious in light of our insightful tour. My compliments to the Hilton Bayfront for creating an innovative approach to building customer relationships!

National Association of Electrical Distributors National Educational Leadership Summit 2011

2011-05-11T09:51:00.008-05:00

Several of our GMP team members spent the last few days in San Diego producing the National Electrical Leadership Summit for our long-time client, the National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED). The conference brings together top management from the nation's largest electrical distributors with the world's leading manufacturers of electrical products. The Summit was headquartered at the beautiful new Hilton San Diego Bayfront. The Hilton Bayfront is adjacent to the San Diego Convention Center and offers an amazing view of the bay area and the downtown Gaslamp District.

GMP worked with NAED planners Becky Burgess and Lesley Wall to create a dynamic environment for education, networking, and customer interaction through two days of general sessions, educational speakers, and recognition programs. We supported communication guru Stacy Brown's general session content with three wide-format projection screens used for video playback, live I-Mag, and Keynote presentations. The business session stage set featured large 16' tall sogi screen panels used for elaborate lighting effects that changed throughout the conference. NAED attendees represent cutting edge manufacturers of LED lighting products, so our technical approach incorporated (pun intended) the use of state-of-the art LED instruments. The closing awards banquet decor was also designed and executed by our GMP team, incorporating chocolate and copper linens with southwest-themed centerpieces that complimented the hotel's color palette. It was a beautiful night!

We always enjoy working with the NAED staff and members as evidenced by this being our 60th conference produced for them. In fact, the NAED management team surprised us backstage with a champagne toast in appreciation of our long and successful relationship. I was totally shocked and flattered by this awesome gesture! A heartfelt thanks goes to NAED for allowing us to support your efforts for so many years!

NAED meeting planning team Lesley Wall and Becky Burgess present plaque of appreciation to Gary at NAED's NELS event.

Eco Energy Best Cellars Benefit Another Success

2011-04-30T18:53:00.008-05:00

Monday night our GMP team produced the Eco Energy Best Cellars Dinner at Nashville's Hutton Hotel. The unique evening benefited the T.J. Martell Foundation's work in AIDS, cancer, and leukemia research. The Best Cellars exclusive guest list included many of the music industry's biggest celebrities along with Nashville's most celebrated wine enthusiasts. Hence the clever use of "sellers" (recording artists) and "cellars" (wine connoisseurs). Under the leadership of GMP producer Bert Hensley, GMP has provided decor and audiovisual support for this stunning annual event for the past 12 years since the event's inception. A special thanks goes to Executive Director Laura Heatherly, and title sponsors Jamie and Larry Beckwith. For more information on the work of the T.J. Martell Foundation, go to tjmartellfoundation.org

Here are some shots taken at Monday night's wine themed gala dinner.

Auditions

2011-03-08T20:18:00.000-06:00

Brentwood Star Gala

2011-03-08T16:05:00.000-06:00

Saturday evening, Brentwood/Cool Spring's premier social event of the year, the Star Gala, took place at the Embassy Suites in Cool Springs. The theme of the night was "An Evening at the Acropolis" complete with Greek themed props and food.

Gary Musick Productions own, Brandon Scott Thomas, was the scenic producer for the Star Gala. Kudos to all the crew for a great show and a lot of hard work!
Here are some pictures from the event--

Gary Musick Producer, Brandon Scott Thomas with wife, Sheryl and John and Melissa Lowry

One of our artists painted the Gala logo onto the header "An Evening at the Acropolis"

Brandon and Sheryl Thomas

It was a lovely evening. Thanks to Anna, Tressia, Connie and all those at the Brentwood Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce for asking us to be a part of this event. Thanks to all the Gary Musick Productions scenic crew and others for your hard work!

SAYING "THANK YOU" TO FIRST TENNESSEE'S STAR PERFORMERS

2011-03-06T09:59:00.009-06:00

The financial services industry has experienced incredibly challenging times over the past few years. One of our clients, First Tennessee Bank, has successfully returned to profitability in just two short years. FTB is an outstanding bank and is known for offering remarkable customer service. GMP is a customer of First Tennessee, and I can attest to the outstanding service we receive every day. The bank has found a way to reward its top employees who helped achieve a return to profitability through a recognition program called the "Horizon Awards". Over the past 3 weeks, the bank's top sales performers were honored at 5 Horizon Awards dinner events in the bank's key market areas across Tennessee. Our GMP team staged the production and decor for all five events, including audiovisuals, room decor, draping, centerpieces, linens and seating. All five events were identical in design and execution. This "road show" approach helped the client manage costs and control the quality of the events while offering an outstanding recognition experience to their top performers.

Here's what Connie Washburn, First Tennessee's event planner, had to say about the programs...

" I can’t thank you and your staff enough for everything. It’s always such a pleasure working with you guys. Everything you do is top notch and you make it fun along the way. Your professionalism and expertise in every element of the event planning is why I come back year after year. I’ve said it so many times but it’s so true – I wouldn’t even want to think about doing an event without you. I’ve gotten so many compliments on the décor and the event itself and I know that’s because of you and your team. We’ll have to get together soon to review everything and possibly lay the ground work for next year’s event. I’m already getting lots of calls and emails from a very excited sales force."

Thanks to Connie Washburn and First Tennessee for continuing to include us as partners in their recognition events. Their program is a model for maintaining employee morale and encouraging sales performance through special - yet affordable - recognition events.

Here are some shots from the Johnson City, Knoxville, and Memphis events...

Kid Rock's Touring Set

2011-01-28T15:14:00.011-06:00

Gary Musick Productions spread our creative wings a bit over the last few weeks having just finished the touring set pieces for Kid Rock’s Born Free touring set. The design was commissioned by our friends at Accurate Staging and featured the American Bad Ass eagle logo as well as two 24 foot long Winchester rifles that are flown over the stage.

Thanks to our Scenic Shop artists that included Keith Tucker and Dean Tomasek, technical design by Eric Cardwell, and carpentry and project oversight by Phil Barnes.

Tennessee Governor's Inauguration

2011-01-23T18:46:00.003-06:00

Gary Musick Productions is proud to have been engaged by Tennessee governor-elect Bill Haslam's Inaugural committee to provide production design for the recent inauguration. Led by producer Bert Hensley, the GMP design and scenic operations team put together a production design plan that "raised the bar" for future inaugurations.

Working under severe weather conditions the week of the inauguration, the GMP team implemented the design plan, which offered a modern take on the traditional Tennessee flag as the inspiration. Another component of the design was to create a look that built upward starting at the front of the stage with a tri-star custom stage wrap, up to a sleek lectern with the state seal, a three-tiered seating configuration, a backdrop behind the stage, and a “waving” flag, all framed by the Tennessee State Capitol.

The photos below show the stage set from a few different angles, including an aerial shot taken from atop the First Tennessee building. In addition to the Inauguration, GMP provided the décor for the Inaugural Ball, held at Gaylord Opryland. GMP would like to thank the Haslam Inaugural 2011 team for allowing us the opportunity to participate in this historical event.

JUST ANOTHER DAY AT THE OFFICE (NOT!)

2011-01-17T07:09:00.010-06:00

One of the most memorable experiences in our business is to create and install entertainment productions for new, state of the art, 5-star cruise ships. For the past 2 weeks, our GMP team has been in Genoa, Italy, doing just that for our new client, Oceania Cruises. Oceania is about to launch the MARINA, an amazing new 1200-guest cruise ship that will be making its inaugural voyage from the shipyard at Genoa later this week. The Marina is a beautiful vessel with elegant appointments and incredible experiences and destinations awaiting its guests. Following the launch of the MARINA, we will be installing new productions on Oceania's other 3 existing ships - the REGATTA, INSIGNIA, and NAUTICA. Needless to say, its going to be a busy spring!

New-builds are full of excitement, long hours, waiting for shipments to arrive, and construction challenges. We’ve experienced all that with the Marina. After days of patient waiting, last night we had sound, lights, costumes, and the band for the first time since arriving on January 3rd. We’re finally making great progress and our 6 new productions are coming to life! This is our sixth new-build, so we’re accustomed to the stress and chaos. Because as we’ve seen in past, the end result is worth it! Here are a few shots from the past 2 days.

Technicians have been working long hours to complete the lighting and sound systems in the theater.

A shot of the aft end of the ship bearing her name "MARINA".

This is the theater still under construction. Wide aisles and comfortable seating will make entertainment productions even more enjoyable for guests!

This is a shot of Bruce Stegmann and David Patton heading to the "office". The shipyard is full of hundreds of workers from around the world (literally) putting the finishing touches on MARINA. She's going to be beautiful!

GMP on the Road in Las Vegas

2010-12-31T11:21:00.008-06:00

The GMP team recently hit the road to Las Vegas to produce a major year-end conference for one of our clients. The 3-day program was held at the Bellagio Hotel and Resort and featured several general sessions geared toward the organization's conference theme of "Best in Class". Our clients included California-based "Blueink Writing" and "Travel Dynamic Group". GMP team members Gary Musick, Jonathan Yeaworth, Chris Lyle, Jacob Driver, Rob Dicken, Brandon Thomas, Sean Yeaworth and Johnny Jones provided direction, audio, lighting, and video support for the main tent events. This was our second time to work with this client and the program came off without a hitch! Congratulations to the entire creative and production team for another successful road show!

The General Session staging incorporated three AV screens for graphics, video rolls, and live image magnification. Special lighting effects were used to complement the style of the conference logo.

The opening night reception featured a Cirque theme and incorporated a number of amazing acts from the Las Vegas area. Aerialists, stilt walkers, contortionists, and strength and balancing acts performed throughout the evening. It was very cool!

GMP provided decor throughout the reception that included 17 private cabana seating areas. Each cabana was themed in a different color and included pillows and candy-based centerpieces in matching hues.

W.L. HAILEY & Co. Christmas Party

2010-12-13T10:30:00.000-06:00

GMP Producer, Brandon Scott Thomas produced a company Christmas party for W.L. Hailey over the weekend. Although the weather outside was frightening, the decor inside was so inviting! GMP partnered with Sheryl Thomas from Sheryl Thomas Florals to transform the DUREGO event space into a winter wonderland. The delicious catering was provided by Mere Bulles. The band was the "Party Cats" and they did a great job too.

Special thanks to Terry Beeler and Melissa Davis from W.L. Hailey for being so great to work with!

Here are a few pics from the night:

Sheryl is constructing her centerpieces

linens came from BBJ

These look great! Way to go, Sheryl!

cabanas went up with special Christmas candy dishes on the tables

The veranda room was set up as a mingling area

even the restrooms looked beautiful!

The band who was hired is called the Party Cats. They were really amazing!

GMP CREATES SET FOR TBN TELEVISION TAPING

2010-12-13T09:12:00.002-06:00

GMP Producer, Brandon Scott Thomas, captured these images last week during the television taping of "Broken". Last year, Darrell Vanzant asked Brandon to create the scenery for a tour he was doing of a musical based on a dramatization by the Young Life Organization. Later this year TBN expressed interest in taping it for television so Darrell called Brandon and we revised the set for TV.

The taping went well and it should air sometime toward the end of January. Kudos to the cast and crew and to Darrell for all his hard work. Check out his link for more information on this project and the cast. Click HERE for details.

Special thanks to Keith Brogdon for his design work on the scoreboard.

We Would Like to Thank the Academy

2010-11-17T15:15:00.017-06:00

Keith Urban

Martina McBride

Mel Tillis and Kenny Rogers

Earlier this fall, Gary Musick Productions worked with the Academy of Country Music (ACM) on production of the 4th ACM Honors, presented at Nashville's landmark Ryman Auditorium. GMP was tasked with putting together the Red Carpet arrival, where more than 20 media outlets interviewed honorees and presenters prior to the event. Additionally, GMP designed and fabricated the stage set for the awards show.

GMP Producer Bert Hensley spearheaded the project working closely with ACM Vice President of Logistics, Erick Long and Michelle Goble, Vice President of Membership & Events, and the show's producer.

Gary Musick Productions would like to thank the Academy for allowing us to play a part in the 4th ACM Honors.

For a great recap of the event, please view the video tagged in this post.
http://www.acmcountry.com/media/video

Dunkin’ Donuts Baskin Robbins Family Day event for T.J. Martell Foundation

2010-11-15T13:47:00.007-06:00

Gary Musick Productions is proud to have worked with the T.J. Martell Foundation, a long time client, in launching a new family-oriented event in Nashville- Dunkin Donuts Baskin Robbins Family Day.

This exciting new event took place at the Belmont Curb Event Center on Halloween, and was a huge hit among the hundreds of families who attended. The event was designed by GMP Producer Bert Hensley as a carnival / circus atmosphere, and featured corporate trick-or-treat booths, balloon artists, inflatable bounce attractions, larger than life themed scenic décor and a variety of entertainment.

Following a performance by Playing By Air, a juggling troupe, Capitol Nashville recording artist and star of Nickolodeon Channels’ iCarly, Jennette McCurdy took the stage for a performance that thrilled children and parents alike.

A big thank you to all the sponsors whose support made the event possible. All net proceeds of the event support the Vanderbilt Ingram Cancer Center- so it was “fun for a cause”. The response and feedback for this new event has set the stage for what is sure to become a Nashville Halloween tradition.

CHEMO DUCK GOES COUNTRY FUNDRAISER AT BERGER

2010-11-12T18:01:00.004-06:00

This past Tuesday night, our Berger Event Facility hosted the "Chemo Duck Goes Country" fundraiser. GMP producer Brandon Thomas help produce the event in conjunction with GMP client Brian Mayes. Here are excerpts from Brandon's review of the evening...

Last Tuesday night I helped produce a benefit for Lu Sipos's organization called "Gabe's My Heart". The event was called "Chemo Duck Goes Country" and it was a huge success. Gabe Sipos (8 yrs old and a cancer survivor) was the inspiration for this organization. He is in a movie coming out in January with Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw called "Country Strong". Red Carpet pictures with Gwyneth and Gabe taken this week in Nashville at the preview for the movie have now circulated all around the globe.

Celebrities gathered to raise money for Lu's organization and champion the fight against pediatric cancer. One of the best parts of the evening was getting to spend some time talking with Colin Raye. He is a pretty amazing guy. Very strong believer and encourager. I've always loved Colin but my love for his music was re-fueled Tuesday night. Incredible voice and gift...still!

Lu and Rob Sipos have quite a fire cracker on their hands. Gabe is Mr. Charm and worked the crowd like a pro. He is a great kid and a worthy opponent at thumb war. I didn't even let him win. :) I loved getting to know Gabe, Rob and Lu. They are one very special family. Kudos to everyone for a wonderful night...especially Brian Mayes.

And here is a post show comment we received from Brian Mayes, our client with the Nashville Publicity Group;...

Hey Brandon,

Thanks for your help with making the event so incredible...
On behalf of Chemo Duck, Collin Raye and Nashville Publicity Group, thank you.
The Berger is hands down the best event space in town.

Brian Mayes
Nashville Publicity Group

Red carpet and photo opp in front of the Berger...

Colin Raye performing on the Berger stage...

Chemo Duck mascot stuffed animals used at the auction...

IASIS HEALTHCARE 2010 CHAIRMAN'S AWARDS

2010-11-01T22:21:00.007-05:00

IASIS HEALTHCARE 2010 CHAIRMAN'S AWARDS

This weekend was a busy one for the team at Gary Musick Productions. On Thursday, we helped our friends at the COPPER KETTLE with the grand opening of their new facility in Columbia, Tennessee. The same night, we provided decor for a masquerade ball at Nashville's "Standard" club. Then on Saturday, we had the honor of producing the IASIS Healthcare 2010 Chairman's Awards at Nashville's Downtown Hilton Hotel. IASIS is one of the nation's leading hospital companies, with 19 facilities communities across the United States. The unique thing about the IASIS awards program is the purpose of the recognition. Rather than honoring outstanding business performance, the company recognizes those employees who have exhibited exemplary leadership in community involvement, social concerns, and charitable activities. I don't think I've ever seen award winners who were so truly appreciative of the recognition. Giving back is part of the IASIS culture, and their awards program certainly is a testament to their philosophy. This was our third consecutive year to assist with design and decor, technical production, and overall event coordination. Music was provided by the Scat Springs Band. Florals were designed by Jimm Wright, and linens were provided by The Graceful Table. Kudos to IASIS planner Lora Bateman-Lovell for creating another fabulous event!

Watch for several new posts coming up this week featuring Nashville's coolest family Halloween event, a fantastic art exhibition at our Berger event facility, and the first week of rehearsals for the cast of our "Colors of the Season" production for Louisville's Galt House "KaLightoscope" downtown holiday celebration!

The ballroom featured a stage flanked by elegant draping with dramatic lighting effects.

Colorful lighting effects and designs were used to create interest throughout the program.

The foyer became a comfortable lounge setting for guests to enjoy conversation and networking with fellow IASIS honorees.

Dramatic florals provided stunning visual impact to the event.

Four floor-to-ceiling faux window treatments with huge floral displays and dramatic lighting flanked the perimeter of the ballroom. It was a beautiful addition to the room decor!

BUSINESS MEETINGS WITH A COMFORTABLE TWIST

2010-10-27T15:48:00.005-05:00

Last week I was in Boston helping produce a new product introduction for one of our clients. Our goal was to create a comfortable, engaging, and innovative environment that would facilitate interaction between the client and their customers. The solution was to create an intimate lounge type setting using contemporary couches with fleece throws, leather lounge chairs, and leather and chrome bar-stools at bistro tables. We also used our sogi screens to help define the space and offer a projection palette for lighting. We also used a 3-screen video format with a center 16' x 9' projection screen for eye-candy and speaker support slides. It was an awesome look and a huge hit with the attendees. As usual, the big question is...what do we do next time to top that?! - Gary

The meeting incorporated seating for approximately 130 attendees at a combination of seating styles.

Three rear projection screens created a highly effective media presentation using a combination of Keynote presentations, videos, and animated backgrounds.

Grand Ole Opry 85th Anniversary takes the cake!

2010-10-13T14:18:00.012-05:00

Our scenic division was proud to design and build the Grand Ole Opry's 85th Anniversary Birthday cake. The cake was unveiled Saturday by Dolly Parton and Jim Ed Brown during the on-air Birthday Celebration. Happy Birthday Opry and here's to many more!

BUILD IT AND THEY WILL COME

2010-08-27T16:01:00.003-05:00

That’s what all of us in the Nashville Hospitality Community believe will happen when the new MUSIC CITY CENTER opens in 2013! Gary and several other leaders in the Nashville hospitality industry and business community were treated to the first overview and tour of the facility’s construction site this week. Its going to be amazing! The tour was hosted by the Nashville CVB’s Terry Clement, and featured a project orientation and overview by Larry Atema, the MCC’s construction project manager. The $585 million project is the largest construction project ever in Tennessee. Atema explained many of the unique features of the facility, including the Center’s 15-acre “green” roof and cutting edge glass curtain wall exterior. Watch for more news as construction moves forward...with Gaylord Opryland and the new Music City Center, Nashville is going to secure its legacy as THE place for meetings and conventions in the very near future!

IAAP BOSTON

2010-07-24T09:30:00.033-05:00

BIG WEEK IN BOSTON WITH IAAP!

Part of the GMP team spent the past week in Boston producing the 65th International Association of Administrative Professionals Educational Forum and Annual Meeting. This was our 17th consecutive year to produce the meeting, and it was another big success for the association. The convention was headquartered at Boston's Hynes Convention Center, located adjacent to the popular Prudential Center complex. Highlights included a supercharged keynote address from Vernice "Flygirl" Armour, and a spicy keynote presentation by Erin Brockovich (yes, THAT Erin Brockovich!). The opening night event featured a high energy sports themed party entitled "Take Me Out to The Ballgame", where the 1475 attendees came dressed in their favorite team's jerseys and danced the night away to one of Boston's top DJ entertainers. It was a blast, and a great way to start the conference.

The simple stage set was complimented by a new LED drape backdrop that was used to create elegant twinkling lighting effects in a myriad of colors. This new technology creates a similar look to fiber optic draping but at a fraction of the cost.

A big shout out goes to the IAAP convention team, especially Inge Hafemeyer, the association's meeting manager. Thanks for taking such good care of us once again this year! Also, a special thanks to IAAP's Cindy Long and Kathy Koopman who helped pull all of the scripts and visual elements together. Great job as always! Here are some shots of the meeting...

President Susan Shamali, CPS/CAP presides at Monday's general session.

Attendees participate in voting on the association's bylaws.

There were about 400 people on the dance floor learning the latest line dances from our DJ.

These folks love to dance!

Local decorator "The Prop Factory" helped with games and set pieces.
New LED lighting curtains made a perfect backdrop for the closing awards banquet.

Jonathan Yeaworth directed the live video elements of the general sessions.

Erin Brockovich delivering the closing keynote address.

THE BERGER OPEN HOUSE A SUPER EVENT FOR EVENT SUPERHEROES

2010-06-26T09:52:00.014-05:00

"THE BERGER" Open House...A Super Event for Event Superheroes!

GMP hosted a summit of Nashville's event planning superheroes Thursday night for THE BERGER event facility's open house. The Superheroes theme was the perfect backdrop to showcase Nashville's coolest new special event facility! The historic Berger is located in the heart of Nashville's thriving downtown area and is within walking distance of some of Music City's largest convention hotels. The unique space offers endless options for meetings, receptions, fundraising events, and parties of all kinds. Gary Musick Productions recently became The Berger's management company and will be supporting customers with a complete array of decorating, audiovisual production, catering and event planning services. We partnered with our friends from Copper Kettle Catering, The Premiere Event, and Garden Delights to create a spectacular event designed around a superhero theme. Thanks to everyone who attended and helped make this evening a super success!

Here are some shots taken just before doors opened....

LED lighting effects and special LED furniture created a striking look.

Cartoon superhero silhouettes and a cartoon version of the Nashville skyline were used as backdrops for the music room and stage.

Stunning tablescapes were designed by GMP's David Holloway.

A bubbling beverage fit for any Superhero!

The Berger boasts four unique spaces that can be designed to create a perfect flow for events.

Chef John (on the left) from Copper Kettle Catering presided over a pasta station that was a hit with our guests!

Centerpieces featured fresh flowers in a custom vase filled with glowing "kryptonite"! Our LED bench seating areas are perfect for receptions.

We're planning for The Berger to become a favorite music spot for downtown events and convention attendees. In fact, we're located just three blocks from Nashville's new MUSIC CITY CENTER!

DUREGO OPEN HOUSE A HUGE SUCCESS

2010-06-17T13:58:00.015-05:00

DUREGO OPEN HOUSE A HUGE SUCCESS!

This past Tuesday the Gary Musick staff and more than 150 special guests celebrated the grand opening of DUREGO EVENTS in Brentwood, Tennessee. GMP and Durego Lewis have joined forces to create the Nashville area's most prestigious event facility. DUREGO EVENTS was transformed into an elegant oasis of beautiful decor, comfortable furnishings, amazing music, and sumptuous cuisine. Many local GMP clients and top area meeting and event planners joined with members of the Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce to help with the ribbon cutting ceremony. A special thanks goes to Mere Bulles (catering), Jimm Wright Designs (florals), and Southern Events for partnering with Gary Musick Productions to make the evening so special. We've already received numerous booking inquiries for the facility this week and the future looks extremely bright! Watch for special entertainment events to be created by GMP especially for the Durego Events facility. This is the start of something big!

Durego Lewis, Gary Musick, members of the Durego advisory board and Cool Springs Chamber of Commerce cut the ribbon to commemorate our Grand Opening.

Several members of our GMP family were on hand to help with the event. Good looking bunch, huh?!

We created several intimate conversation cabanas with elegant draping and comfortable seating.

Guests enjoyed the soft elegance of the decor designed by our GMP staff.

Jimm Wright designed the floral arrangements for the party. They were stunning!

Our elegant fountain served as a stunning centerpiece for the event. Many guests thought it was a permanent feature of the facility. Great job by our GMP scenic and lighting team in creating a perfect look for the event!

GARY MUSICK PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH DUREGO EVENT FACILITY TO CREATE NASHVILLE's MOST UPSCALE EVENT VENUE

2010-06-12T19:45:00.013-05:00

GARY MUSICK PRODUCTIONS ANNOUNCES PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DUREGO EVENT FACILITY TO CREATE NASHVILLE's MOST UPSCALE EVENT VENUE!

GMP is delighted to announce the formation of a new alliance between our company and Durego Events, the Nashville area's newest upscale event location. The Durego facility has 8400 square feet of meeting and event space, with a large main room, a fabulous veranda, and a private green room area. Located at 1649 Westgate Circle in the heart of Brentwood's popular Cool Springs area, the facility has access to parking for 350 guests, a catering kitchen, and was designed to accommodate vehicles and trade show displays in a showroom format. The building was originally an upscale restaurant but was recently renovated to become one of Williamson County's only multi-purpose event facilities. Gary Musick Productions will be handling bookings for the facility as well as offering all aspects of decorating, audiovisual, catering, and event support services to its customers. We're incredibly excited about this new venture and look forward to helping it become one of Nashville's top meeting and event destinations! For information on booking Durego, contact GMP producer Brandon Thomas (615-259-7952), or any of our GMP producers. We're eager to show you why Durego should be your next event location!

This unique facility offers an elegant covered entrance surrounded by ample parking for 350 guests.

Durego has a catering area and permanent bar.

The main room's tile floors are specially built to accommodate heavy automobiles and other machinery.
Brides love the private green room area!

Durego's large open floor plan is perfect for receptions, weddings, themed events, business meeting, dances, gallery events. and corporate celebrations.

The private veranda is perfect for small groups and dinners.

Durego is becoming a favorite among brides looking for a luxurious reception experience.

CMA Fest Underway!

2010-06-09T23:27:00.008-05:00

CMA FEST Underway!

Our scenic crew started early this morning with the load in for a CMA FEST booth for Nashville's Big Machine Records. This is the third year we've created a booth for BMR which represents major artists like country superstar REBA McENTIRE and the recording industry's top phenom TAYLOR SWIFT. The booth was designed by Keith Brogdon in our graphics department and built by our scenic team lead by tech director Eric Cardwell. Operations Manager Chris Lyle and our ace scenic crew assembled on site. The project is coordinated by GMP producer BRANDON THOMAS for our clients Justin and Kelly from BMR. We'll post some more pics of the artists in the booth over the next few days...never know who you might see! Thanks to BMR for allowing us to be involved again this year.

CMA FEST is country music's largest celebration for the fans, with a week of fabulous concerts, autograph sessions, artist parties, and live music by the biggest stars in country music. This year is especially important to our home town as Nashville rebuilds from the devastating floods of last month. Downtown Nashville has made an amazing recovery thanks to the unequaled volunteer spirit of our Music City citizens. Come see us this week...its a BIG party!

Justin, Brandon, and Kelly in front of the booth in progress.

See anyone who looks familiar?

BIG Machine is BIG TIME!

Shoney's Event has Big Impact

2010-06-09T23:01:00.007-05:00

SHONEY's EVENT HAS BIG IMPACT

Nashville's Embassy Suites was the site of a contemporary themed dinner event for Shoney's Corporation tonight. GMP handled the design and decor for the event - and it looked GREAT! The project was spearheaded by GMP producer Brandon Thomas with a lot of help from our scenic team. Here are some shots hot off the camera...

NFocus Magazine Touts Gary Musick Productions for Outstanding Decorating Efforts

2010-03-27T19:40:00.003-05:00

NFocus Magazine Touts Gary Musick Productions for Outstanding Decorating Efforts with Heart Gala and Ballet Ball

NFocus Magazine is the leading social publication for Nashville's social and charity event scene. As you may remember from blogs over the past few weeks, GMP recently helped produce Nashville's Heart Gala and Ballet Ball, two of the top charity oriented social events in our area. The last two issues of the magazine featured articles on these events, and GMP received accolades for our efforts in decor and lighting for each. Here's a link to the article on the HEART GALA. Thanks to our friends at NFocus for the nice mention!

http://www.nfocusmagazine.com/2010-03-01/parties/everyone-lives-it-up-at-heart-gala/

NEW AV SCREEN WRAP AND THEME CONCEPT FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS

2010-03-16T16:56:00.003-05:00

NEW AV SCREEN WRAP AND THEME CONCEPT

FOR BUSINESS MEETINGS

We recently produced a meeting for a client in Dallas who wanted a high tech themed awards show that would appeal to a decidedly younger audience. The solution? We created a 9' x 16' AV screen wrap that looked exactly like the face of a "touch screen" phone. The AV wrap is designed for use with new high definition 16:9 format video projectors. The screen wrap was AWESOME looking, but the best part was the AV package we designed to go with it. The background for the slides looked like the apps used on today's touch-screen smart phones. Each app icon represented a different speaker or award segment in the show. As the speaker or award was introduced, the app would launch, turn full screen, then reveal a title graphic or series of speaker support slides. The graphics looked fantastic, and the animations and sound effects were so close to a real touch screen phone it was scary! This screen wrap is now available for use at meetings, along with a customizable AV package that can be tailored with graphics designed specifically for our client's use. This staging and AV package is visually stunning, and works well for any application where cutting edge and high tech looks are desired. A big thanks goes to our scenic, AV, and graphics team!

COMMODITY CLASSIC

2010-03-15T22:47:00.005-05:00

NITTY GRITTY DIRT BAND SCORES

WITH COMMODITY CLASSIC CROWD

Last weekend, attendees of the 2010 Commodity Classic convention in Anaheim were treated to a fabulous evening of music and memories with a concert by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band. This is the third year GMP has produced the show for the Commodity Classic. The convention is a consortium of growers from the major farm commodity industries - corn, wheat, sorghum, and soybeans. They are great people, and the really appreciate good entertainment.

NGDB was a huge hit with the attendees! Their career spans 5 decades with hits like "Mr. Bojangles" and "Fishin' in the Dark". GMP producer Brandon Thomas covered the show for producer Curt Wallen who was out of commission with a troublesome persistent headache. Thanks to Brandon for doing the honors!

Celebrity Summit Fond Farewell

2010-03-15T22:29:00.003-05:00

CELEBRITY SUMMIT FOND FAREWELL

We just had a cast changeover on the Celebrity Summit, one of the ships we've produced for the past 9 years. Every cast changeover is bittersweet as cast members who've come together as a professional family for six amazing months bid each other farewell. It is always a mixture of sadness and exhilaration when the cast completes their last performance. We received a really touching letter from our of our cast members leaving the Summit for the last time, and I thought it would be nice to share it with you. A huge "thanks" to all of you who have shared the stage of the Summit. Each of you has made us exceedingly proud.

MULTI-CITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM YIELDS NOTEWORTHY RESULTS

2010-03-15T21:29:00.012-05:00

MULTI-CITY RECOGNITION PROGRAM YIELDS

NOTEWORTHY RESULTS

The GMP team has been on the road for several days over the past month producing a series of employee recognition events for a major Tennessee-based corporation. Our client wanted to provide an elegant awards dinner and program to recognize top sales associates across the state. The challenge was to provide a memorable evening without incurring excessive travel costs for attendees. We worked with the company's event staff to design a "tour" approach that offered similar recognition experiences in five different locations from one end of the state to the other. This economical approach significantly reduced out-of-office time and travel and lodging costs for the company's 400 attendees. Our team was made up of a scenic technician, an audio/lighting tech, an AV specialist, and a producer/director. The program went off without a hitch in all five locations, and here are some shots to prove it! A big thanks to the staffs of the facilities who helped make the program so successful!

Each event featured black pintuck floorlength linens with black chair covers and silver bands.

Pale green square glass chargers gave the tables an elegant contemporary feel.

One of the most unique facilities used for the program was Chattanooga's historic Fairyland Club.

The tour closed with a final event at Knoxville's Convention Center.

AT THE BALLET

2010-03-06T20:39:00.004-06:00

EVERYTHING IS BEAUTIFUL AT THE BALLET

Tonight is the Nashville Ballet's "Ballet Ball", their annual celebration and fundraising gala. Gary Musick Productions' scenic team is handling the staging and much of the decor for the event. Here's a sneak peak that Bert sent a few minutes ago just prior to doors opening. Watch for more shots on Monday!

SKYPE - ALMOST LIKE BEING THERE!

2010-02-27T17:50:00.006-06:00

SKYPE - ALMOST LIKE BEING THERE!

We are in the middle of a five-city series of recognition events for one of our favorite long time clients. These dinner and awards programs honor outstanding performances by the top sales and service managers within the company. This week, one of the top winners who should have been honored live at the event in Nashville could not be there due to a prior commitment to a management training program in another city. The solution? We arranged a live SKPE session with the winner that allowed her to be part of the evening! As she was introduced, her live image appeared on screen to the surprise and delight of her co-workers. We worked with the client and the hotel to arrange a special audio and video feed that allowed her to see and be seen by her associates. It was a great success and worked perfectly. A special thanks goes to GMP production manager Jonathan Yeaworth for helping with the technical details. Here's a shot of her surprise "guest appearance".

NASHVILLE HEART GALA

2010-02-27T17:02:00.009-06:00

NASHVILLE's HEART GALA IS A BEAUTIFUL SUCCESS!

The Nashville Heart Gala is one of our city's most noteworthy charity events, and this year continued the American Heart Association's tradition of excellence with the success of the 2010 Heart Gala. The silent auction, dinner, and dancing event raises significant funds to support heart research and patient services for the American Heart Association. Gary Musick Productions has partnered with the Nashville Heart Gala staff for several years on the design, decor, and production of the event. This year, an Asian theme incorporated gorgeous linens and table decor with our huge Japanese lantern stage set pieces and dramatic lighting to create a stunning look for the event. Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center was once again the site of this year's gala. Highlights of the event included an authentic Chinese Lion Dance, several fabulous trips auctioned after dinner, and a moving testimonial from a young heart patient who received a heart transplant as a result of the work of the Association. Congratulations to the GMP producer Brandon Thomas and the Heart Gala staff and volunteers on the success of the this year's gala! Also, hats off to the staff of the Schermerhorn for their great work and cooperation - thank you to Allison Huber, Bruce Pittman, and Brian Doane especially. And thank you for allowing GMP to be part of the event again this year!

Laura Turner Hall just before doors opened to guests.

Table decor design was a collaborative effort between gala chairpersons, the Heart Gala staff, designer Amos Gott, and GMP producer Brandon Thomas.

Nashville's Schermerhorn Symphony Center offers a dramatic setting for any special event!

The Craig Duncan Orchestra provided music for dinner and dancing. They were a huge hit with gala guests!
Lead singer Denise Patton is the wife of GMP General Manager David Patton. What an incredible performer! Awesome...just awesome!

NAED in San Diego

2010-01-17T20:56:00.004-06:00

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS WESTERN REGION CONFERENCE - SAN DIEGO

This week we produced the National Association of Electrical Distributors Western Region Conference in San Diego. This was the second meeting of three regional conferences this year. The meeting was at the San Diego Marriott and Marina, one of the largest hotels in San Diego and a property we've worked in many times in the past. The setting is spectacular, and the weather was a welcome relief from the cold, rainy days we've been experiencing in Nashville. It was a great week, and we're looking forward to our next show in Marco Island next month!

Here are some shots from the General Session. This is a conference of about 500 attendees from the electrical products industry, including some of the world's largest manufacturers for electrical equipment.

Scenic Shop Diversity in Foam!

2010-01-14T10:52:00.010-06:00

Our Scenic Shop has many diverse disciplines for set and prop fabrication. Our Technical Director, Eric Cardwell, who leads our scenic shop, has the opportunity to work on some incredible set, prop and creative designs for our clients. The diversity of elements our creative teams design and create is extraordinary. One of the most interesting mediums that we use is bead foam to create 3-dimensional elements. Eric is currently leading a project to create an over-sized telephone prop, in which a young actress will be delivering her lines sitting in the hand receiver cradle. The pictures are showing our artist carving the telephone out of bead foam. You will find the pictures of this telephone coming to "life" over the next few days, culminating with the big reveal of the final piece by the end of the week.

What can Eric and our creative teams build for you?

London Auditions 2010

2010-01-09T11:54:00.004-06:00

LONDON AUDITIONS A SUCCESS IN SPITE OF THE WEATHER

Our cruise ship production team is in London this week on our annual audition trip. We are currently casting for NCL's JADE, GEM, and SPIRIT. We found some great talent, although the number of attendees was down from last year due to the treacherous weather conditions across Great Britain. Many of the trains leading into London from the north were cancelled over the past two days because of heavy snowfall. We head home tomorrow, and we're keeping our fingers crossed that we'll be able to get out. Many flights have been cancelled or are delayed. Here are some shots from the auditions...

These singers were taught a dance combination at callbacks to make sure they could handle the choreography in our shows.

This is a shot from the dancer auditions on Thursday. It was a workout for the 80 dancers who were taught several challenging combinations.

Dancers warming up before learning the first dance combination.

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

2009-12-26T22:02:00.005-06:00

VIVA LAS VEGAS!

We recently produced audiovisual and entertainment elements for a tremendously successful corporate conference at one of the major convention hotels in Las Vegas. This was one of of the more innovative and engaging shows we've done this year, primarily because of the creative use of entertainment throughout the show. After two days of general sessions and educational breakouts, the entire group came together for a final review of the meeting content. The audience had a chance to show their prowess in a fast-paced game show format loosely patterned after a Hollywood Squares format. The company's execs acted as "panelists", while "contestants" were selected at random from the audience. Questions covering the conference material were thrown out to the VIP panelists, and contestants had an opportunity to "agree or disagree" with the answers. The game was a highly effective way for the audience to review key information shared in the previous sessions. And it was BIG FUN for everyone! Give us a call if you'd like to learn how this game - or others - can be tailored to your meeting needs!

The above photo is a shot of the stage just before the session. The game involves 9 panelists at specially built colorful LED or Flat screen monitor desks, with contestants and the host standing at lecterns that house much of the electronics for the game operation.

"Rockaraoke" combines the high energy impact of a live rock band with the diversity and audience participation of karaoke. This event was so successful it had to be extended by an hour to accommodate everyone who wanted to be a star for the night. It was a huge hit!

Many of the guests even came prepared with wigs and costumes to complete their performances!

The final dinner featured and elegant dinner with amazing hand-made chocolate centerpieces. It was stunning!

Miracles DO happen!

2009-12-09T18:08:00.002-06:00

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN!

In our business, miracles happen every day. In fact, they are expected. However, its nice to get some feedback from clients who appreciate the extra effort required to make their events successful. This is an excerpt from a "thank-you" note from one of our clients today. Approximately 75 minutes before a major automotive corporate marketing event was to happen in a tent outside the client's national headquarters, the plan had to change due to inclement weather. They called one of our producers, Bert Hensley, to save the day. Here's the note...

"Hi Bert – just want to THANK YOU and your team again for helping us at the last minute today with the stage/risers. It was an amazing performance and demonstration of your customer-focused approach to your work. Not only did you deliver within an incredibly short time frame, you took the time to be on site and make sure that all went well."

Congratulations to Bert, Chris, and the GMP scenic team for making another Christmas miracle come true.

Yes, Virginia, there IS a Santa Claus!

Simple is Good

2009-11-09T21:00:00.009-06:00

SIMPLE IS GOOD

Tight budgets for business meetings are the norm these days. But that doesn't mean you have to settle for a ho-hum general session. Here are several stages we've done in the past few months that offered a theme appropriate stage set at very reasonable costs. Each of these sets incorporates audiovisual screens, simple sets and lighting effects that perfectly compliment smaller meeting budgets. If you'd like to learn more about our wide variety of business meeting production services and stage sets, contact one of our producers at 615-259-2400. We'll be happy to show you how "simple" can be a good thing!

NEW ORLEANS HOSTS NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS

2009-11-08T17:40:00.007-06:00

GMP & NAED GO TO THE BIG EASY!

Our GMP team spent part of this past week in the Big Easy producing the general session for the Eastern Region Conference of the National Association of Electrical Distributors. NAED is one of our favorite clients, and this was our 40th+ conference working with them over the past 11 years (we lost count, but I think that is close!) Like most association events this year, attendance was down from 2008, but the tone among attendees was cautiously optimistic. Keynote speakers shared thoughts on the economic outlook for the construction industry. It looks like recovery is going to pick up speed in 2010, although it appears the rate of improvement will be slower than any one would like. Our production team included Gary Musick, Jonathan Yeaworth, Jim Sheridan, James Davis, Johnny Jones, and Sean Yeaworth. Congratulations to Libby White, a new addition to the NAED communications staff. She's filling in for Stacey Brown who's out on maternity leave. Great job, Libby!!

One of the perks of working in New Orleans is the cuisine. We had dinner in the French Quarter both nights we were there. The food is awesome! Ask Jim Sheridan about the seafood platter he had...it was ENORMOUS! And a good time was had by all.

We created a simple set that consisted of a center AV screen flanked by four banners that reflected the branding used on the association's website.

LED floor mounted lighting bars were used to change the color wash on the set pieces.

We will use this same set in the next two NAED regional conferences. Graphic panels are very cost effective and can often be repurposed outside of the meeting environment.

Auditions

2009-11-05T10:09:00.002-06:00

GMP GOES TO BERMUDA

2009-11-02T11:52:00.019-06:00

GMP GOES TO BERMUDA

We had a great week in Bermuda at the beautiful Fairmont Southampton Resort. GMP provided two evenings of entertainment and decor for an incentive program hosted by one of our clients. The first night was a gala dinner featuring an amazing cast show specially written for our guests from around the globe.

. Music from Ireland, England, Canada, India, France, China, and Latin America were performed as a way to honor the attendees from these nations. Our scenic team created stunning backdrops featuring iconic scenes from more each of the 60 nations represented by the guests. Our fantastic variety band "Freeway" kept the dance floor packed til midnight.

The closing night event was a themed "A World Apart" and featured an all white party resembling some of the most upscale clubs in South Beach. Guests wore all white and literally "glowed" beneath the ultraviolet lighting in the ballroom. The highlight of the evening was a performance by "Boyz Ii Men", the most sucessful R&B group of all time. Boyz Ii Men performed a fabulous show and could not have been more gracious with our client and their VIP's. Our new friend "DJ Bubbles" finished the night with hot dance music that kept the party hopping all night!

GMP provided all production, entertainment, decor, and production management for the event. The evening - and the entire week - was a major hit! Thanks to our cast, staff, and the local vendors in Bermuda who teamed-up to make the show such a success.

IASIS HEALTHCARE

2009-11-01T20:38:00.006-06:00

IASIS HEALTHCARE CELEBRATES 2009 CHAIRMAN's AWARDS AT GAYLORD OPRYLAND

Gary Musick Productions was recently tapped by Nashville-based IASIS Healthcare to help with their 2009 Chairman's Awards dinner. This was the second year for GMP to work with IASIS. We provided a simple yet elegant stage set to enhance the company's annual employee volunteer awards. Employees from every department of IASIS' collection of healthcare facilities were nominated to receive the award for their volunteer efforts in within their communities. Their stories of personal commitment and humanitarian involvement were impressive and inspiring, to say the least. Producer David Holloway coordinated the event for GMP, and Gary Musick helped by MC'ing the show. Thanks to IASIS' Lora Bateman for allowing us to part of the celebration again this year!

September 13, 2009

2009-09-13T22:05:00.007-05:00

NASHVILLE AT THE CENTER OF HEALTHCARE DEBATE

Vanguard Healthcare and Rand Corporation recently staged a major healthcare summit here in Nashville. The program, entitled "Third Rail of Healthcare Reform", featured top healthcare professionals and political figures in an intelligent discussion of one of the most important issues in the healthcare debate - "cost control". Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen hosted the event and served as moderator for one of the panel discussions. Other participants included; US Representative Jim Cooper, former comptroller of the United States David M. Walker, President and CEO of Rand Corporation Jim Thomson, and several other innovative leaders in healthcare reform.

Gary Musick Productions was tapped to provide all production and event management services for the event. Acting under the direction of Vanguard's Danelle Cain and public relations firm Guerra, DeBerry and Coody (GDC), GMP producer Brandon Thomas lead our team in the management of the audiovisual production of the event as well as all logistics related to transportation, catering, printing, signage, parking, and staging design. We also provided the live webcast of the event, with participants logging on from more than 20 states and several foreign countries. The event was covered by several local and regional media outlets, including local television affiliates and newspapers. Congratulations to the entire team for an outstanding event on every level!

Here are some shots from the day...

Participants were bused from nearby LP Field. Parking in downtown Nashville was at a premium on the day of the event.

Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen hosted the event. Bredesen is currently one of the nation's leading governors in lobbying the federal government for healthcare reform.

Participants registering in the lobby of the Schermerhorn Symphony Center, the site of the event.

GMP provided 3-camera live image magnification throughout the event. A live streaming webcast was fed to the internet for hundreds of participants who watched around the world. This photos shows our custom audiovisual screen surrounds placed on the mainstage at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center.

Governor Bredesen moderated this engaging panel of national healthcare professionals.

Bermuda and Bill

2009-08-23T22:39:00.002-05:00

AND SO IT BEGINS...

I spent the last few days in Bermuda on a site visit for an upcoming show in October. I made the plans to go weeks ago before hurricane Bill was even a small thunderstorm off the coast of Africa. As it turns out, Bill became a major threat to Bermuda, and I was there in the middle of it! Here is a shot I took out of my hotel window on Thursday afternoon. This was one of the first bands of rain to come through. Pretty amazing to see how quickly things can change in a hurricane. I made it our on Friday afternoon just before the storm started in earnest.

I also had a chance to see the cast of the NCL Majesty while I was there. Hats off to all of them for the hard work they've done on the Majesty over the past few months. Nice job work, everyone! The show I saw was great! They have a couple more months to go before the Majesty is sold to another cruise line. They had to leave Bermuda a day early because of hurricane Bill.

Hope everyone has a great week!

Showtime In Minneapolis

2009-08-08T21:30:00.007-05:00

SHOWTIME IN MINNEAPOLIS

The GMP team recently spent a week in Minneapolis producing the 2009 INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION FORUM AND ANNUAL MEETING for the INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS. We've worked with IAAP for a number of years, and enjoy spending a week each July with planner Inge Hafkemeyer and the great IAAP staff. This year, the opening night reception featured a State Fair theme party, while the evening of entertainment included a fantastic performance by CIRQUE VOILA. The attendees really loved the awesome aerial acrobatic work and hilarious comedy performed by the troupe of internationally renowned cirque artists. The week was packed with business sessions, keynote speakers, educational sessions, and a trade show featuring the latest in office technology and services for today's administrative professional. Congratulations to IAAP for another successful year!

New York Auditions

2009-08-07T16:54:00.002-05:00

click on the text above to enlarge

Peterhof Palace

2009-07-31T22:07:00.009-05:00

ANOTHER AMAZING EXPERIENCE

I've been away from the blog for sometime now, but its only because we've been busy. I've been traveling a good bit this summer, including a trip to St. Petersburg, Russia, over the July 4th holiday. I had been there a couple of times before, but never had a chance to see many of the sites. This time we were given an opportunity to go on a tour of the Peterhof Palace. It is a beautiful place that's full of history from another time. I was surprised to learn that the Germans had destroyed the palace during the Nazi occupation in World War II. Fortunately, many of the artifacts from the Russian Czars were removed and hidden before the occupation. After the war, the palace was rebuilt using the original designs and construction techniques. The fountains are one of the most unique features of the palace. Each day at noon, a fabulous display delights tourists when the water flows through the elaborate system of pipes and ducts to bring the fountains to life. It was a great day, and it made me even more aware of the fantastic cultural treasures that await those who have the chance to see the world. Man, I love my job!

These are the fountains just before the water came on full force.

And here are the fountains after the water reached its full pressure.

June 17, 2009

2009-06-16T16:50:00.009-05:00

A FABULOUS AFFAIR

Last weekend, GMP producer Bert Hensley spearheaded a huge project for country music giant Barbara Mandrell and her family. It was the wedding of her son, Nathan Dudney, to his beautiful bride Hannah Menefee. Our experienced event production team turned Nashville's Rocketown into a spectacular showplace for the rehearsal dinner. In addition to the elegant and exotic themed decor, the flowers were grown AND designed by Barbara Mandrell herself, with a little help from her famous sisters. The arrangements were truly stunning! We offered her a job, but I think she thought it would be too much work. Seriously, they were gorgeous.

The next evening, Bert, Jim Sheridan and team turned the reception hall of Nashville's Cathedral of the Incarnation into an amazing wedding reception and dinner. The theme was RED - and we do mean RED! The bride requested that we transform the simple hall into a room drenched in vivid red fabrics and crimson lighting effects, and we did not disappoint. Music was provided by Burning Las Vegas, one of the country's hottest show bands. Both events were huge successes. Thanks to all of the GMP team members who helped make it a once-in-a-lifetime memory for all who attended!

Here are some shots from the rehearsal dinner...

And here are photos from the wedding reception at the Cathedral...

May 26, 2009

2009-05-26T21:04:00.004-05:00

TEARS AND CELEBRATIONS

Seventeen years of hard work, late night studying, hysterical laughter and great memories finally culminated in a night of joyous celebration last week when my youngest daughter, Eliza, graduated from high school. The ceremony was held in the world famous Grand Ole Opry House (one of the perks of living in Nashville!), and was filled with fond memories of the past and hopeful expectations for the many life adventures to come. Our whole family was there to help Eliza celebrate - even my parents who came down from Virginia. Most of our tears over her leaving were shed a few weeks ago during our church senior graduation dinner. So this week was mostly sweet and full of smiles. Her face in these photos says it all!

We love all our girls, and it was wonderful having them together again for the past week. Congratulations to all of you who have kids or brothers and sisters who graduated this month. Let the adventures begin!

I love this shot! This was taken right after her class marched in for the ceremony.

These are our three daughters...Anna, Mary Catherine, and Eliza. Mary Catherine will graduate from college at the end of June - whoo hoo! Anna will graduate from the University of Tennessee next year, and Eliza will be entering UT this fall.

Saturday, May 23, 2009

2009-05-23T19:43:00.009-05:00

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTORS

2009 ANNUAL LEADERSHIP SUMMIT

We just returned from producing the 2009 Annual Leadership Summit for the National Association of Electrical Distributors. The three day meeting was held at the Westin Diplomat in Ft. Lauderdale. The Westin is a fantastic convention hotel right on the beach -, and it even has a ballroom that overlooks the ocean. As with most meetings this year, attendance was down due to the economy. However, the NAED staff did an amazing job of creating a program filled with great speakers and presentations on everything from the economy to political issues impacting the electrical distribution industry. NAED is one of my favorite clients, and this was our 45th meeting to produce for the association over the past 15 years (I think that's right...I sort of lost track after awhile!). Here are some shots from meeting.

This was the general session set up just prior to doors opening.

Here's the awards banquet set up. Each year the association closes their convention by honoring the outstanding achievements of their members.

This is a close up of the third general session. NAED invited several industry professionals to participate in a panel discussion related to important industry issues from a political and legislative perspective.

This is the view from the balcony just outside the ballroom. This is the Hallandale Beach area in south Ft. Lauderdale.

Here's our production team and our clients on stage just after the closing session. We had a great week together!

Sunday, May 2, 2009

2009-05-03T22:37:00.008-05:00

PREMIERE AUCTION RAISES MONEY FOR THE FIGHT AGAINST CANCER

Last night, we produced Nashville's "Premiere Auction", one of the great annual events sponsored by "l'Ete' du Vin", the country's oldest charity wine auction. This is "l' Ete du Vin's" 30th anniversary year, and the Premiere Auction celebrated with a fabulous auction of wines, trips, artwork, jewelry and other items. Fourteen local restaurants provided incredible samples of their cuisine, while eight outstanding Napa Valley wineries showcased their vintages. This was our 10th consecutive year to produce the event, and it was another successful night for this great cause! We had a wonderful time working with the l' Ete du Vin staff; Mike Haney - Executive Director, Sara Moggio - Events Director, and Collin Husbands - Donations Director. GMC producer Brandon Thomas assisted Gary with the production and direction of the show, and Jim Sheridan and Jonathan Yeaworth managed the overall project. Special thanks to GMC staffers Keith Brogdan and Eric Cardwell for all the help with graphics and signage. Also, thanks to Marc Fragos and PSAV for assistance with lighting for the event.

The auction raised several hundred thousand dollars for the fight against cancer. Here are some shots taken at the event held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center...

Sunday, April 12, 2009

2009-04-12T20:13:00.022-05:00

NORWEGIAN GEM REHEARSALS UNDERWAY!

The new cast of the Norwegian GEM joined us in Nashville for rehearsals two weeks ago. They have been working hard on their first two shows and doing great! We got to watch them in a run of "Get Down Tonight" yesterday. This is a seventies themed show featuring all kinds of popular music from that decade. They had stepped up the energy and performance level considerably since seeing them at them end of their first week. NCL's Robert Hertenstein and some very special guests came to visit rehearsals yesterday. The cast bumped up the energy for the run through and made a great impression on our guests (I would tell you who they were, but we are sworn to secrecy for now!).

Here are some shots from last week's GEM rehearsal of another of their shows - "World Beat". Enjoy!

April 7, 2009

2009-04-08T21:04:00.003-05:00

SPIRIT CAST HEADS TO THE SHIP FOR NEW CONTRACT!

The new cast of the Norwegian Spirit left Nashville last week to begin a 6-month contract performing in the Caribbean. This is a another great SPIRIT cast - they're loaded with talent, energy and experience. And they'll have big shoes to fill, too. The outgoing cast of the SPIRIT got rave revues from our production team for their performances during the transition cruise. The Spirit is a ship with a great vibe, and I know this cast will have a blast performing there for the coming months.

This photo was taken at their cast dinner just before leaving town. Great rehearsals, gang! Now show us what you can really do!!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

2009-03-22T07:36:00.013-05:00

TIMELESS TREASURES

This weeks has been a peak experience for me. last Sunday, we had a day off from rehearsals on the Norwegian JADE, one of our cruise ships stationed in the Mediterranean. Since we were on a 2-day overnight in Alexandria, Egypt, we decided to embark on an adventure to Cairo. Mindy McLemore, Stephen Kummer and I took a 3-hour ride of a lifetime (and at times we thought in might be the end of our "life time"!) to see the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza. We've all studied the pyramids in history classes in school, but seeing them in person was far better than looking at photos in books. Standing at the foot of the pyramids was awe-inspiring. Standing next to the enormous stone blocks offered a sense of the scale of the thousands of stone blocks intricately cut and stacked to form the geometrically perfect tombs for ancient Egypt's Pharaohs. Unfortunately, the pyramids are not properly maintained, and their condition was disturbing. Hundreds of camel merchants, trinket dealers, and shady "tour guides" are more than willing to fleece unsuspecting tourists. It was a wonderful morning, in spite of those distractions.

Our tour of the pyramids was followed by a delicious traditional Egyptian lunch in one of Cairo's "American-friendly" restaurants. We were happy to see the menu was in English!. Later, we visited Cairo's ancient history museum. The museum houses the world's largest collection of precious antiquities from Egypt's ancient ruling dynasties. The collection includes the fabulous artifacts from the tomb of King Tutankhamen. In addition to Tut's iconic gold mask and sarcophagus, the exhibit includes thousands of priceless furnishings, jewelry, tools, statues, and household items placed in the tomb to insure the king's successful journey to the afterlife. It was simply breathtaking. This is a must-see if you have a chance to visit Egypt.

The incredible beauty of the museum was in stark contrast to Cairo's pervasive poverty. Abandoned apartment buildings and tiny roadside shacks were everywhere. The traffic on Cairo's crowded streets was oppressive - and scary! Thousands of taxi's, trucks, and private cars jockey for position with horse dawn carts and high-pitched motor scooters. We eventually found it was best not to think about our perilous situation - we trusted our driver, and he ultimately got us home safely. What a day!

Here are some shots taken during our journey. A huge thanks goes to JADE production manager Khaled Ali and his mother for making the arrangements for our day in Cairo!

This is the museum that houses the King Tut and ancient Egyptian antiquities exhibits. Fantastic!

The Great Pyramids overlook the city of Cairo. It was really interesting to hear the mosques broadcasting their services via loudspeakers across the city.

This is the view of the burial grounds around the pyramids.

This is the Pyramid of Khafre. The smooth stones seen at the top of the structure originally covered the entire monument. Many of these stones now lie as rubble at the base of the pyramid.

Its impossible to get a sense of the size of the structures until you stand at the base and look up.

Mindy McLemore and Stephen Kummer sitting at the base of one of the pyramids.

The Great Sphinx was a highlight of our trip.

Cairo is unlike any city I've ever seen. There were literally thousands of abandoned apartment buildings and homes all over the city. Most of these were inhabited by squatters.

The traffic in Cairo was frightening. If a highway had 3 official "lanes", the drivers found a way to make it 4 lanes. Meanwhile, the motor cycles and scooters would drive in between the cars. It was truly scary!

The most unique aspect of Egyptian traffic was the lack of crosswalks and traffic signals. As the locals told us, traffic signals, speed limits and other normal traffic controls are simply "suggestions". While traffic is moving at up to 50 miles an hour, pedestrians simply walk out into the moving traffic and weave through the cars to reach the other side. Even small children venture into the streets unsupervised to get to the other side. We were freaked out by the potential for killing someone. But no one seemed to mind. It is a way of life there.

Friday, March 20, 2009

2009-03-20T20:24:00.001-05:00

JADE UPDATE

Several of our Gary Musick Productions team members are out on the Norwegian JADE this week installing a new cast in the production shows. I got to see the opening of SHOWDOWN a couple of nights ago - it was awesome! The crowd loved the show, and the audience was totally pumped through the entire performance. The energy was fantastic! tomorrow night we open "SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE". I am still on the ship, so I can't upload pictures, but I will try when I get home. We also had the day off yesterday in Alexandria, Egypt, and Mindy McLemore, Steve Kummer and I had a peak experience touring the pyramids and Sphinx in Cairo. It was amazing, and very inspiring. Again, pictures will be posted when we're on land.

Hey, how about that stock market coming back! Let's all pray this is the beginning of the end of this present craziness.

Monday, March 10, 2009

2009-03-09T23:21:00.001-05:00

NASHVILLE PREDATORS STAGE "DISCO BALL" FOR CHARITY

Last night's “Club 501” Disco gathering at The Sommet Center Nashville was the 11th annual Predators Gala Foundation Event. The Foundation through its grant program supports kids and kids organizations all over Middle TN. Kudos to Foundation leaders Gerry Helper and Rebecca Ward and their efforts to raise money for these needy charities. Kudos also go to the players as they step up in unbelievable ways to help make this Foundation a success. This is the Gary Musick Company's 11th year producing the event for The Predators. GMC producer Curt Wallen and and our scenic team once again spearheaded efforts in designing and implementing the production. The evening included a silent auction, player introductions, special awards for outstanding Predators play over the past year, and dancing by our cast of red hot disco dancers. Thanks to everyone who made the evening a fantastic success!

March 8, 2009

2009-03-08T16:54:00.001-05:00

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A WEEK MAKES!

As a wrote last week, we recently had a late season snow storm in the South that blanketed Nashville with 1-2" of snow. Here are a couple of shots of flowers in my yard that I took then, and then shot again today. No doubt, spring has sprung! And that's a good thing.

Sunday, March 8, 2009

2009-03-08T11:41:00.001-05:00

"INFINITY" CAST COMPLETES FIRST WEEK OF REHEARSALS

The new cast of the Celebrity "Infinity" just completed their first week of rehearsals here in Nashville. Yesterday, they did a run of their Broadway show for us. In spite of a difficult week of travel delays, bad weather, and late arrivals, the cast did a fantastic job! This cast represents a perfect blend of returning performers and new talent. They have solid technique and outstanding performance skills. The audiences will love this cast!

Here are some shots I took during the rehearsal. I'm looking forward to seeing more of the Infinity run-throughs when I return from the "Jade" in a couple of weeks.