HGP is proud of the creative and cost-effective solutions we have developed for our clients. Our strategic approach to your meeting objectives not only doesn’t cost more, it can result in major cost savings. Take a look at these effective real-life examples:
- Leading U.S. Bank and Lender Semi-annual Sales Meeting
Client: Leading U.S. Bank and LenderAudience: 1,000 at 3 consecutive sales meetings in different cities
Challenge: Bring together 3 recently-merged banks’ sales forces – each with distinct corporate cultures and compensation programs.
HGP Solution: To begin to build their trust and confidence, address the sales forces’ merger anxieties upfront, head-on, and with humor.
With a Broadway-caliber cast, we created a West Side Story styled parody with three rival gangs (the banks) each arguing why they were the strongest. The audience realized the merger would increase their competitive advantage in the marketplace and more opportunities for them. Each “gang” also voiced concerns and fears that might be felt by the sales force. Acknowledging the ‘800-pound gorilla’ in the room at the start of the meeting enhanced the attendees’ readiness to listen and learn because they saw that Management recognized and appreciated their issues.
- Major Restaurant Chain Thematic Video
Client: Major Restaurant ChainAudience/Event: Thematic Video for 1,000 Franchisees/Managers at Convention
Challenge: Reinforce “Making History” theme without focusing on looking backward
HGP Solution: Produce a video centered on the company’s commitment to continual improvement and innovation, using “historical” moments only in the context of creating an even brighter future. Extensive footage would be required to ensure comprehensive coverage of the many ways the company continues to “make history”. To stay on budget we used existing photos/video, video crews local to the desired shoots, and convened other interviewees at corporate headquarters to be videotaped on the same day. While the 11-minute video was originally produced to be seen by the company’s convention attendees, its audience has been significantly expanded via DVD duplication, website and social networking postings.
- Pacific Rim Forum Culminating Gala at International Trade Forum
Client: Pacific Rim ForumAudience/Event: Economic and political leaders from 20 Pacific Rim countries at International Trade Forum Culminating Gala
Challenge: To complement conference themes while appealing to a culturally diverse and sophisticated audience
HGP Solution: East Meets West on Broadway, a signature production created exclusively for our client, featured Tony-Award winner Lea Salonga (star of Miss Saigon) representing the East, and Steve Barton (star of Phantom of the Opera) representing the West. The stellar concert with full orchestra featured East/West themed Broadway songs, resonating with the audience who recognized themselves in the songs. Given the highly sophisticated audience, it was especially gratifying to receive a standing ovation.
- Leading Direct Selling Company Annual National Conference
Client: Leading Direct Selling CompanyAudience/Event: 1,000 Distributors at 20th Anniversary National Conference
Challenge: One month out, company’s financial situation threatens event cancellation.
HGP Solution: HGP proposed strategic ways to reduce the production budget and still deliver key messages and project a celebratory 20th Anniversary mood.
To preserve the originally-proposed creative theme which spanned the 20 years from MTV to “You Tube”, a cast of 4 was reduced to one singing VJ/Emcee. Using the company’s sales force to join the fun onstage saved money and created high-energy audience participation. HGP produced a poignant and humorous video from the client’s 20-year archives, and for the awards, we substituted professional entertainment with a staff/sales force talent show, followed by a rousing round of “The Singing Bee” and dancing to music videos (tied to the Conference theme) on the IMAG screens.
We were gratified to hear our client tell the attendees from the stage, “HGP is incredibly creative, resourceful, and an absolute joy to work with. No matter what the challenge, they make things happen; and they’re able to turn on a dime with outstanding grace.”
- Major Insurance Association 3-Day Annual National Conference
Client: Major Insurance AssociationAudience: 3,000 Insurance Executives
Meeting/Event: 3-Day Annual National Conference
Challenge: How to deliver excitement to attendees at the opening and closing, while tying to the Conference Theme
HGP Solution: For this long-term client’s conference in Nashville, HGP engaged local (read “cost-effective”) resident and headliner Lee Greenwood to open the meeting, not only to sing the National Anthem and his own God Bless the U.S.A. but to share how that year’s Conference theme “Character and Confidence” resonated with him personally. The attendees rose to their feet in appreciation.
For the closing celebration, HGP brought the sights, sounds and tastes of Tennessee to the guests with fully-customized décor, interactive attractions and entertainment that featured a fiddle prodigy, line dance instructor, trick roper, dance band, and the “King” himself. Local artisans shared their woodworking, weaving and sculpting talents, and enthusiastic guests made their own CDs at a client-branded “Recording Studio”.
- Leading Health Network Company Annual Convention
Client: Leading Health Network CompanyAudience/Event: Annual Convention with 500 Distributors
Challenge: Reduced budget required alternative to Opening Session talent or new video.
HGP Solution: Determined to open the Convention with fun and excitement, HGP conceived a fast-paced weight-loss parade where each attendee had their moment in the spotlight to announce how many pounds they had lost on our client’s program. This was preceded by a video “bumper” we created from existing footage (saving shooting costs). The total weight loss awed even the company’s executives and all the attendees were inspired by their collective accomplishments. Their enthusiastic camaraderie and appreciation for the program set the ideal tone for the balance of the sessions. To close the Convention, we staged a cost-effective “…’s Got Talent”, as distributors sang and danced for their colleagues, technically supported by the HGP team as if they were celebrity performers.
- Major Financial Institution Annual President’s Club Recognition Event
Client: Major Financial InstitutionAudience/Event: Annual President’ Club Recognition Event with 600 Top Achievers.
Challenge: Produce an exciting yet cost-effective awards event aboard a cruise ship.
HGP Solution: HGP designed and produced a fully-customized yet cost-effective awards program by strategically using the ship’s onboard talent and resources. In advance of the event, on their one day in port, Harris Goldman interviewed the ship’s performers, band leader and technicians to evaluate talent resources and determine how to rehearse and perform a custom awards event, while at sea, that would not conflict with their regular cruise line duties. One month later when the honorees boarded the ship, so did just one cabin’s worth of HGP personnel who rehearsed and ran the show. Aside from the heavy seas which threatened to topple the tall crystal awards, it was smooth sailing for all and HGP was reengaged to produce the following year’s program in San Juan, again using a winning combination of local talent and key HGP team members.