Archive for the ‘Planning Tips’ Category

Fife & Drum for Corporate Event at Smithsonian

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014
Fife & Drum

Fife & Drum Trio at the Smithsonian

Fife & Drum Trio

Fife & Drum Trio at the Smithsonian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fife&Drum AmHist

Fife and Drum Trio at American History Museum

A Fife & Drum 3-pc Band performed for a corporate event at the Smithsonian’s American History Museum in Washington, DC.  A perfect patriotic setting for an Americana theme, the two fifes and drum were dressed in appropriate attire representing Colonial America.  Whether for a reception, leading guests from location to location, or as featured entertainment for the evening, this adds a spirited atmosphere for a special event.

Specialty groups, such as a Fife and Drum Ensemble, Mariachi Band, Dixieland Band, Flamingo Trio, or Folk Ensemble, make a special event truly unique, adding flair to the theme for the event.  Olivera Music Entertainment offers all types of specialty ensembles, along with a complete selection of soloists, small ensembles, dance bands, and national acts with full production.  Give us a call to discuss your ideas for your next event.

Olivera offers signature customer service

Wednesday, March 5th, 2014

Olivera Music Entertainment is pleased to offer this article, which outlines our signature customer service.  It is from the Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce Business Guide for 2014.

OLIVERA MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT   It’s Still Fun

HOME-BASED BUSINESSES play an important role in the overall economy of Loudoun County. Indeed, home-based businesses like Olivera Music Entertainment, the Chamber’s 2012 ‘Home-Based Business of the Year’, represent about 30% of the Chamber’s membership. These small firms, with no more than one employee other than the owner/couple who started the idea, are scattered throughout Loudoun County, mostly invisible on tree-lined neighborhood streets in all the villages and towns that make our part of Northern Virginia special.

Connie Olivera, a professional pianist, and her tuba/bass player husband Kevin, started their music booking agency in 1987. Connie explained that she and Kevin have been operating their business since the day they decided there was a demand in the Greater Washington area for a service-oriented music entertainment agency. “We were (and still are) professional musicians and we knew several musicians and the corporate clients who hired talent for their events,” explained Kevin Olivera, “so we started to match up the talent with the clients. For the past 26 years, we have been successfully brokering music talent for our clients from our home in Ashburn.

The new Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg and the National Conference Center in Leesburg are two of the Olivera’s many Loudoun County clients, but their long list of satisfied clients includes most of the major corporations and organizations located throughout the Greater Washington area, including both the Republican and the Democratic National Committees; they arranged the musicians for the Official Inaugural events for both of President George W. Bush’s inaugurations and have performed for President Obama.

When we interviewed Connie and Kevin Olivera in October 2013 for this special profile, they had just completed a successful event at Mount Vernon – the opening of the new Fred W. Smith Library for the Study of George Washington. Kevin explained how Olivera Music Entertainment has worked with the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association for many years. When the Association began to plan this special opening event for their exciting new library, they called on Olivera Music Entertainment to provide and manage the music entertainment. “We worked with them for sev- eral months, helping them plan how music would be an important part of the festivities, especially for the Gala celebration,” said Connie Olivera. “We arranged a fife and drum unit to greet the guests, plus an 8-piece swing orchestra for cocktails, dinner, and dancing. We also booked a strolling string quartet for the luncheon the following day, held after the official grand opening.”

“As with most of our clients’ special events, the Association looked to us to help make music an integral part of the grand-opening event. We are known throughout the entertainment industry in the Greater Washington area for our expertise and hands-on management of the music entertainment for special events,” Kevin explained.

In addition to working closely with their clients, about 50% corporate and 50% social, such as weddings and bar/bat mitzvahs, Olivera Music Entertainment also distinguishes itself by the way it works with musicians. “Too often,” Kevin said, “musicians are left guessing about the necessary and basic arrangements of an event. That does not happen when they work with us.”

Several days in advance of every event, whether that’s a wedding for 500 guests at one of Washington’s grand hotels or a cocktail party at the boss’s home for twenty of their employees – and every other event that needs music entertainment – the office sends an email to the performers with precise details on the event – when to arrive, where to park, contact names and phone numbers, the performance times, special music requests – no detail is left out of the email.

Both of the Olivera’s mentioned their special relationship with the pool of more than 1,000 musicians and musical groups they regularly work with. As Kevin noted, “Our musicians appreciate how we make it possible for them to concentrate on what they do best, entertaining our clients. We take care of our musicians. As professional musicians ourselves, we know how important that is. We also know that if we take care of them, they will, in turn, take care of our clients. The musicians perform for other booking agencies and they tell us no one else does what we do – for them as musicians and for the clients for which they perform.”

2014 Business Guide
OLIVERA MUSIC | SUCCESS STORIES

Business Support is Essential for a Healthy Community

Tuesday, September 17th, 2013

US Flag

Olivera Music Entertainment has a strong commitment to give back to those who support our communities.  Business support is essential for our community to thrive and prosper.  Over the past 27 years we have donated over a quarter million dollars to numerous community and non-profit organizations and events, including the following:
Active Duty U.S. Military Personnel
Alexandria Convention & Visitors Association
American Red Cross
Ashburn Farm Barracuda Swim Team
Barns at Franklin Park
Blue Ridge Hospice
Committee for Dulles
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Disabled Veterans of America
Dulles Area Association of Realtors
Dulles Regional Chamber of Commerce
Executive Women International
Fauquier Chamber of Commerce
Fauquier Hospital
Fauquier Springs Country Club
Fight for the Child
Final Salute
Folger Shakespeare Library
Food & Friends
George Washington University, Loudoun Campus
Hunt Country Celebrations
Inova Alexandria Hospital
Inova Health Foundation
Inova Loudoun Hospital Foundation
International Special Events Society, DC Chapter
Junior League of Northern Virginia
Leesburg Rotary
Leesburg VFW
Let’s Help Kids
Loudoun Abused Women’s Shelter
Loudoun Area Agency for the Aging
Loudoun Arts Council
Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association
Loudoun Country Day School
Loudoun County Public Schools
Loudoun County Chamber of Commerce
Loudoun Community Free Clinic
Loudoun Heart Association
Loudoun Hunt
Loudoun Interfaith Relief
Loudoun Symphony Association
Loudoun Therapeutic Riding
Loudoun United Way
Loudoun YMCA
Manassas Battlefield Trust
March of Dimes
Middleburg Classic Horse Show
Middleburg Tennis Club
Montgomery Hospice
National Building Museum
National Museum of American History
National Steeplechase Association
Oatlands
Operation Second Chance
Paralyzed Veterans of America
Potomac Riverkeeper
Rotary International
St. David’s Episcopal Church
Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
Smithsonian Institution
Thomas Balch Library
Tigerlily Foundation
Town of Leesburg
Virginia Hospital Center
Virginia Opera
Virginia Therapeutic Riding
WETA
Wolf Trap Foundation
Together, we can make a difference!
Please support your community!

 

Music Entertainment for a Corporate Dine Around in DC

Friday, August 16th, 2013

NRenwick GalleryLincolns cottage

 

AmPharAscnNational ArchivesSmithsonian Castle

Music entertainment for a corporate event in DC involved not one, but thirteen different locations, simultaneously.  The variety of music entertainment included five soloists (piano, guitar, DJ), one jazz duo, five jazz trios, and four classical trios.  Support staff included four on-site coordinators brilliantly maneuvering amongst the sites, along with several audio support staff.  The sites included:

As you can imagine, logistics for this type of an event with various music entertainment groups are extensive:

  • Security information needed to be completed and submitted several days in advance.
  • Most locations required audio support, with over 20 staff on-site for set-up and monitoring the events.
  • All events started at 5:30PM, during the peak of rush hour.
  • Parking details at each site were arranged and confirmed.
  • Equipment load-in details sometimes included loading-in the previous day, with a secure storage room arranged.
  • Equipment arriving day of and thru a loading dock at each site was scheduled with several vendors sharing the loading dock.
  • Electrical access at historic sites can be challenging; we were prepared with extra equipment and accessories available.

The music entertainment was enjoyed by all and was the ‘Life of the Celebration’ at each site.

Tip #10 Let’s Celebrate!

Monday, July 1st, 2013

 

Jamey Turner, Glass Harp
Memory of African Culture
Balilaika
Scottish Pipe Band
It’s time to celebrate…..You need entertainment…..What to choose?  Do you “Try something new”, or go with “Something tried and true”?

Try Something New

Have fun!  Be creative!  Celebrate!  But be sure to work with a producer who is knowledgeable about the logistics of the performance.  Here are a couple of “new” ideas to consider:

  • A Video Jockey (VJ)    

Imagine a DJ with videos projected on large screens.  With large scale events, the equipment required is already in place.  The VJ displays videos to create an energetic atmosphere for revving up the dancing!

  • “Rhapsody America” Patriotic Show

Not your usual patriotic show, but one which uses a costumed narrator, a show band, three vocalists, a violinist, and a kids choir.  Showcasing patriotic-type music thru the years in a compact show, you will be brought to your feet and singing along to “Proud to Be an American”.  For added effect, a Fife and Drum Band can provide cocktail music and parade you into dinner.

Something Tried and True

There are truly “new” ideas, but there are also ways to use a past idea in a new way, such as using a new theme or decor with songs to match.  This provides something new and interesting with the assurance of success.  Here are some reliable favorites:

  • A Top Dance Band

There are several top notch dance bands from which to choose.  They vary by size, music selection, instrumentation, and price.  They keep your event alive with energy and excitement!

  • Headliner Acts

These performers continue to perform because they are great – and a reliable solution for a special event.  There are many choices – let’s discuss the best option for your guests, and we will provide several suggestions.

RECENTNEWS

    • Olivera featured in Loudoun Magazine

      Our feature article appeared in the Dec 16th issue of the Loudoun Magazine by the Loudoun Times Mirror. Check out our Blog to see the article.

      Dec
      14
    • Helen Hayes Awards Sets a New Standard

      The Olivera Quartet was instrumental in the re-vamping of the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards last evening, completing 50 presentations in 78 minutes.

      Apr
      7
    • OME wins international award!

      We received an 'ESPRIT Award' from the International Special Events Society for 'Best ISES Team Effort, Budget over $200,000', an international award which draws entries from the 52 ISES chapters around the world.

      Aug
      25
    • All News

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