E3 Group

Each month we offer a quick snap shot of what it’s like to work in a busy entertainment agency and production company. Here’s a quick round up of what’s happening in our departments.

E3 Artists

Our London based booking agents have had a busy start to the year. Booking requests for X Factor contestants from the 2009 series of the ITV show continue to flood in resulting in some high profile bookings with E3 Artist’s corporate clients.

E3 Events

E3 Events are currently collaborating with Midlands based event production company, DRP Group. Further details to follow next month.

E3 Costumes

Our costume design team are currently producing some eye catching designs to accompany our shows for tour operator giant Thomas Cook. The shows include pantomimes, West End style productions and cabaret.

E3 Production

Our production team have recently enjoyed success producing bespoke children’s entertainment shows for the theme park attraction Alton Towers. They are also currently training 2010 season entertainers for overseas productions.

E3 Careers

Our recruitment team are continuing to look for talented entertainment staff to join our overseas show teams. For further information, visit the E3 Careers section of our site.

For general information on E3 Group, visit our home page.

Happy New Year! As a new feature to the E3 Group blog, each month we will now bring you a snapshot of what it’s like to work in a busy entertainment agency and production company, with a quick overview from each of our departments.

E3 Artists

December 2009 was an incredibly busy month for E3 Artists; our entertainment booking division. Besides dealing with our regular clients’ Christmas entertainment requirements our agents were also inundated with requests to book 2009’s X-Factor contestants.

E3 Events

E3 Events, our London based corporate events division, successfully delivered a high impact entertainment extravaganza for Thomas Cook’s prestigious VI conference in December. Highlights included star performances from the Noisettes and the legendary ABBA tribute Bjorn Again.

E3 Costumes

Our costume designers are currently working on summer season designs for several of our major tour operator and leisure clients.

E3 Production

Our production show team are currently working on several brand new entertainment formats set to be piloted overseas in summer 2010. Keep posted here for further updates.

E3 Careers

E3 Careers are now recruiting professional singers and dancers to join our touring shows in the Mediterranean for client Hi! Hotels. For further information on our entertainment jobs abroad, please visit the E3 Careers section of our main site.

For general information on E3 Group, visit our home page.

The E3 Group team would like to say a huge thanks to all our clients, suppliers and associates for your much valued input into our business in 2009. Everyone at our head offices in London and Brighton including, David Hill; Martin Harrigan; Jamie Greaves; David Parker; James Hubbard; Dan Kujawski, Gita Wallis and Ryan Curtis would all like to wish you a Happy Christmas and prosperous New Year.

Here at E3 Artists, October is always our busiest month for dealing with our clients’ Christmas entertainment requirements. This year is no exception and we are currently working on several briefs with budgets large and small. We are often asked what can be acheived on a specific budget so to help answer this question, we’ve put together some party entertainment options:

Up to £1,000

For up to £1,000 you could hire a DJ plus x3 “Santa Shot Girls” (female models dressed as Santa’s helpers) to deliver drinks to your colleagues or guests whilst they enjoy the party. Not to be sexist, “Santa Shot Boys” are also available too!

Also within a £1,000 budget you could consider hiring a talented professional singer to perform a party set to backing tracks, a guaranteed way to get your guests on the dancefloor. This option would also leave room in the budget to consider some additional entertainment such as a close-up magician, or a “walking Christmas tree” to amuse your guests as they arrive at the venue.

Up to £2,000

For up to £2,000 you could create a great vibe with a 45 minute party-set performed by a talented professional singer followed by 3 hours of dance music from a top DJ. Also within this budget you could have x2 additional entertainment elements such as “Santa’s Shot Girls & Boys” pouring drinks and “walking Christmas trees” greeting your guests.

Alternatively for £2,000 you could hire a top quality four-piece party band supported by one or two of the additional elements above.

Up to £3,000

For up to £3,000 you could consider hiring a named DJ such as Pat Sharp, Kate Lawler or Danny Rampling to play a party set for the evening. You could also combine this with some unusual Christmas entertainment such as “The Human Reindeer“.

Up to £5,000

For up to £5,000 you could consider hiring a well-known vocalist or dance act from The X-Factor or Britain’s Got Talent to perform a special Christmas gig, supported by a DJ and some additional entertainment such as a magician or specialist act. Imagine “Stavros Flatly” in Santa’s garb!

Over £5,000

On a budget of £5,000 or more the sky is the limit in terms of what you can do. From hiring a celebrity singer to perform a vocal set to organising a 12-piece orchestral swing band to perform at your Christmas event venue. The options are endless!

For further advice on booking Christmas party entertainers, visit our main site here, or alternatively give our London office a call for an informal chat with one of our entertainment agents.

Wedding planners across the country are continually searching for unique entertainment acts to add an extra “wow” factor to their special day. Topping the list of the most requested acts to perform at weddings this summer are the Michael Jackson inspired dance act Signature and Britain’s Got Talent finalist Julian Smith. Due to the current demand for both acts, our entertainment agents are now advising our clients on an increase in their fees - previously estimated at around the £2,500 mark.

Booking requests for Signature have gone through the roof following Michael Jackson’s premature death last week. Clearly, many people are viewing Signature as the perfect act to pay tribute to the record-breaking singer. Saxophonist Julian Smith captured many hearts with his performances on the ITV talent contest and the volume of requests we’re receiving for him to perform at weddings are a reflection of this. Both acts can be booked by calling our office on 020 7836 4759.

It’s been a strange few days here in the E3 office; with the news of Michael Jackson’s premature death still reverberating. It goes without saying that the indisputed “king of pop” was an entertainment giant, and perhaps the only man in the world capable of selling out 50 concert dates at the O2.

Whilst also feeling the shock here at his passing we have also felt overwhelmed by the volume of enquiries we’ve received from our clients, wishing to pay tribute to Michael Jackson by organising themed events in his honour. Since Friday we have been inundated with requests to hire Britain’s Got Talent dance act Signature. The dancing duo caused a stir on the 2008 series of the show with their infusion of classic Michael Jackson songs and dance moves mixed with bangra. Tipped to support the now cancelled concert dates, many event planners are viewing Signature as the perfect act to honour his memory.

An extraordinary and controversial entertainer, possibly the most famous one in the world; Michael Jackson’s impact is demonstrated again through our clients’ desire to organise a fitting “farewell”.

Fees quoted by artist management companies to corporate event planners are on the rise in spite of the recession. The Telegraph reports today that a short set by Susan Boyle will cost in the region of £100,000 plus VAT. However, artist management companies are notoriously cagey when dealing with enquiries from individuals or groups they have not come across before. It is a common tactic for them to start with an astronomical quote; as this helps them to determine whether or not they are dealing with an experienced booker.

Here at E3 Artists we have forged a close link with Industry (the artist management company quoted in the Telegraph article) and many of the Britain’s Got Talent acts. We’re pretty confident we could have negotiated a much better deal for booking Susan than the one quoted above. As a dedicated entertainment booking agency, we book regularly on behalf of many of our major corporate clients. This gives us the leverage to negotiate lower prices. For further details see our ‘celebrity agents’ page.

The Dora Bryan musical spectacular was held yesterday at Her Majesty’s Theatre London, and was a huge success. After weeks of hard work organising the celebrity performances and musical production numbers, the E3 team had spent many an hour trying to get things just right on the night and all the dedication really paid off. This was the first West End show produced by E3 Group and there were a lot of new experiences involved including an army of fans camped outside the theatre awaiting the arrival of the likes of Brian Conley, Anita Harris Rosemary Ashe, Sir Cliff Richard and of course, the lovely Dora herself.

The show opened with Zoë Tyler leading the cast in their rendition of a classic from one of Dora’s many musical turns, Hello Dolly, before E3 Group CEO David Hill began his duties as compère for the night. Comedian Johnny Casson, West End Star Rosemary Ashe and new face of musical theatre Mark Joseph then took to the stage, followed by a fabulous performance form Anita Harris. Steve Hewlett, comedy ventriloquist added some variety to the evening leaving the audience in hysterics with his array of vocal skills. The lovely Linda Lusardi then introduced her husband and singer Sam Kane whose performance was as powerful as his voice. Stars of Last of the Summer Wine, Jean Ferguson, Juliette Kaplin and Liz Frazer then reminisced about their time on set with Dora before Bryan Conley dazzled the audience with a true variety act. Singing, comedy and even fire swallowing comprised the show performed by one of the true kings of cabaret. The E3 dancers brought the first act down with the number Comedy Tonight from A Funny Thing Happened on the way to the Forum, one of Sondheim’s greatest shows.

The second act kicked off with Sir Cliff Richard performing an amazing, intimate solo set. Just Sir Cliff and his guitar filled the whole stage while he displayed that unquantifiable ability to get everyone singing along, no matter the situation. This was then followed by a sixties themed section recapturing the mood and feel of the decade which produced Dora’s iconic film A Taste of Honey. Dominic Halpin and The Honey B’s, a stylish combo, provided the music. Rita Tushingham appeared to reminisce on her staring role alongside Dora in the movie followed by the keyboardist Bobby Crush and comedienne Mia Carla. The students from GSA then dazzled the audience with their rendition of Coffee in a Carboard Cup, a performance worthy of any West End Stage. Dancing on Ice Judge Robin Cousins and electric comedy keys player Kev Orkian followed. Jill Martin then delivered a few anecdotes about her time working with Dora before the all star finale, Before the Parade Passes By, once again lead by Zoë Tyler, supported by the GSA students and the fantastic E3 dancers. Overall, the event was a fantastic success and a real demonstration of E3’s ability to adapt their skills to produce and manage any kind of event on the largest scale.

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• Sir Cliff Richard Confirmed for Dora Show (e3grouponline.com)
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Tickets are still available for E3 Group’s one-off West End musical spectacular, celebrating the career of BAFTA and Olivier award winning actress, Dora Bryan OBE. The show will feature songs from musical favourites including Hello, Dolly, Showboat and 70 Girls 70 together with exclusive performances from Sir Cliff Richard, Brian Conley, Rosemary Ashe, Zoe Tyler and many others. The show will also feature a full supporting cast and a live orchestra.

Tickets start at £25 and are available through See Tickets on 0844 4124 657. Ticket sales will raise money for two charities close to Dora’s heart; the Variety Club Children’s Charity and the Alzheimer’s Society. A special £20-off discount is available on the top two ticket price bands for readers of this blog; call See Tickets and quote “Dora31″.

Dora Bryan is one of the nation’s most beloved stars of stage and screen. As Aunt Ros Utterthwaite she endeared herself to fans of Last of the Summer Wine and picked up a BAFTA nomination for her role as Dolly in Absolutely Fabulous. Before these memorable roles, Dora picked up a BAFTA for her scene stealing performance in A Taste of Honey and an Olivier Award for her turn in Harold Pinter’s The Birthday Party. All these accolades lead to Dora receiving an OBE in the Queen’s honours list in 1996, recognising her stellar contribution to British film, television and theatre. Dora’s life has certainly been eventful and not exactly what you would call smooth sailing. This excellent article in the Daily Mail served to emphasise this while extolling what a true talent to be admired Dora really is. E3 Group entertainment agency CEO David Hill, who is also Dora’s manager and close personal friend, decided that at the very least, Dora deserved an evening of entertainment to celebrate all her achievements. And so Dora was born; a Gala Charity Show celebrating the career of Dora Bryan OBE. David Hill commented on the celebration, “It is a wonderful opportunity to pay tribute to a very special lady and an incredible British talent.”

The event will be held at The Really Useful Group’s Her Majesty’s Theatre, London on the 31st May 2009. Dora herself will be the guest of honour at the gala show which will bring together many of her friends and fans for an evening of entertainment and reminiscence on the career of this highly renowned BAFTA and Olivier award winning actress. The evening will consist of performances and speeches from many of the famous friends Dora has made throughout her career which has now spanned seven decades. The show will be ticketed in order to raise money for a charity very close to Dora’s heart, the Variety Club Children’s Charity, whose dedication to helping sick and disabled children through variety entertainment has inspired the evening. The Variety Club’s Chief Barker, Kenneth R. Mustoe commented on Dora. “Dora Bryan is a true legend of the entertainment industry and has been a supporter of The Variety Club for over 30 years. We are extremely honoured that she has nominated us as the charity of choice for her well deserved tribute evening. This gift will make a true difference in the lives of sick, disabled and disadvantaged children and young people across the UK.”

Tickets are available to purchase through See Tickets and ticket enquiries can be made on 0844 4124 657 or through www.seetickets.com. The full line up of the evening’s entertainment will be confirmed shortly. Please don’t hesitate to contact E3 Group for any information pertaining to the show.

For more information on the Variety Club Children’s Charity please visit www.varietyclub.org.uk