FASHION WEEK at Bryant Park

For those of you didn't know, last week was Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week showcasing designer's Fall/Winter '09 Collections.  Being such a huge deal in New York, the occasion required an army of production, PR, and security people, among others, to make it all happen.  So, not only did my company (MKG Productions) run some of the fashion shows, but we also got invited to them!

Friday Night-

Alexander McQueen VIP Shopping Event:  This was essentially a pop-up store filling a large warehouse in the West Village.  (**Pop-up stores are a very popular marketing strategy used during fashion week, especially.)  The space displayed the new McQ F/W '09 line for viewing AND for purchase! There was a star-studded VIP shopping night on Friday before it opened up to the public on Saturday and Sunday.  Luckily, we had the chance to get on that list so some co-workers and I, plus a few friends meandered through the collections enjoying free drinks (hot apple cider brandy, yum!!), hor-dourves and catching a glimpse of celebs such as Whitney (The City/The Hills), the cast from Gossip Girls and Amanda Bynes.

Saturday Night-

Monarchy Fashion Show: Your typical fashion show... short and stylish with lots of designers and celebs.   But, honestly, I can't see why anyone would wear some of the things they design... way too weird!

Sunday Night-(Work) Tim Hamilton Fashion Show: 

(<--- me & designer Tim Hamilton himself!)

This was a long day of set-up, lighting schedules, cue changes, moving, lifting, receiving and maneuvering  around too many European male models in a not so spacious backstage, which would've been MORE than fine by me if they were say... 5-7 years older!! (darn!) 

All in all, not a bad weekend!  :)

p.s. click on the event titles for links to articles, video & photos!

My First Event with MKG!

February 9th, 2009

I experienced my first MKG event last Monday at the MAC Cosmetics (Kabuki) Presentation held in the Union Square Theatre.  They pulled me on board last minute (2 hours before doors open) to help with the production team and run-of-show.  I feel like this event was a great starter for me since it wasn't too intense, as far as production goes, and it didn't ever get hectic or stressful, unlike most of the events I've done in the past.  

The event was a debut of their newest cosmetic line called 'MAC Pro.'   Make-up artist, Kabuki, gave a make-up presentation, which was the main focus of the night followed by a champagne cocktail reception on-stage afterwards.  Our production team was responsible for the installation on the MAC graphic wall and stage set design; overseeing the lighting and AV set-up and programming; music and video rehearsals; run-of-show & load out and the end of the evening.

I had a great time working on this, especially because we were able to watch the actual make-up presentation, which was amazing! After researching more of Kabuki's work since the event, it realized that the 'looks' he demonstrated weren't as intricate and intense as the looks he's known for designing (check 'em out at http://www.kabukimagic.com).

Here are the 3 models from the presentation with their new Kabuki look! 

REALizing...

First and foremost, I want to take a moment to reflect on where I currently stand in life.  This is almost surreal to me, that I am on the brink of beginning my career and embarking on my next, and very different, stage of life.  It is this time that I have looked forward to and imagined for so long and now all I can think about is how fast it came and I can't decide if I'm more excited for the journey or more worried about how I'll fair in the 'grown-up' world stuffed with responsibility, self-sufficiency and work.  I now empathize with the author of the famous Toys 'R' Us jingle, "I don't wanna grow up, I wanna be a Toys 'R' Us kid," because when I compare my childhood and adolescence to what lies before me, I now truly appreciate how 'good I had it,' as my parents would say.  Hindsight 20/20, proven true as always.

So, one year ago, if you were to pose the question, "Where do you see yourself one year from now?" you would've gotten a simple textbook response of, "I see myself graduated, starting a new job hopefully in my field of choice and possibly thinking about getting my Master's degree."  If you were to tell me that I was going to be living in New York City, 3,000 miles away from everything I've ever known, I would have dismissed you with a laugh and told you that you obviously didn't know a thing about me.

Now I sit here in my apartment, in New York City, 3,000 miles away from all that is familiar to me, and I'm laughing.  I still feels so unreal and un-like me, yet it fits...?  

I'm amusingly terrified to think about January 2010!  Where in the world could I be?  ANYwhere.  Doing? ANYthing.  

At this moment, I can't pinpoint anything that far ahead so my strategy is to follow the open doors.

MORe SooN! <3