• Projects
  • Reel
  • Capabilities
  • About Us
  • Press
X close search

How New York City’s Parks Set the Scene for This Year’s Robin Hood Gala

With help from Miley Cyrus and Dave Chappelle, New York’s largest single fund-raiser generated $54.5 million to fight poverty in the city.

As guests walked through a heart-shaped portal into an idealized version of a New York park, they were stepping into an event that stands out among galas for its scope and vision.

The Robin Hood Benefit, held May 15, sets itself apart in a number of ways. There’s the obvious difference in its size and impact, drawing some 3,700 guests to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and raising more than any other benefit in New York—this year, $54.5 million for its mission to fight poverty in New York. It also bucks certain gala traditions—for example, declining to set up a press wall for the business titans, politicians, celebrities, and other guests to pose for photos. With a powerful and well-connected board that covers the operating costs, it can draw A-list talent like this year’s Miley Cyrus, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Martin and Jonny Buckland of Coldplay.

The evening’s theme was “love and leadership,” celebrating its donors’ love of New York and introducing the organization’s new C.E.O., Wes Moore, said Lindsay Carroll of Robin Hood’s events and productions team.

That theme was translated into the event design from David Stark Design and Production, which created a lively New York City park in the cocktail space with a Sherwood Forest twist. Bars and signage were inspired by park architecture, and fabricated trees were topped by flowing fabric canopies in shades of green suspended by airline cables. Familiar landmarks like Bethesda Fountain in Central Park were recreated and enlivened by costumed salsa dancers, while roller skaters entertained guests from the main stage. Catering stations included classic food carts, and park benches provided seating.

“The idea of the evening is to look at the parks of New York,” Stark said. “Those are common spaces we all share regardless of where we’re originally from or which neighborhood we live in. Entering into a park setting in cocktails allows us to share and be in a communal setting.”

Other thoughtful touches set the stage. The perimeter of the room evoked the city’s skyline—a first for Stark rather than “living in a black void” with draping. The lighting progressed throughout the evening from late afternoon to the golden hour to dusk to nighttime during the performance from the Coldplay duo.

A “love and leadership parade,” with a 100-piece marching band, balloons, and other props, led guests to the dining room, which was set with the stage in the center. The program opened with remarks from New York governor Andrew Cuomo. Next was a video about Robin Hood’s mission, which was produced to take full advantage of the 20 movie-theater-size screens along the perimeter of the room. At times they showed the same image; other times different images appeared on individual screens. Other highlights of the program—known for surprise performances—included remarks from television personality Michael Strahan, a two-song set from Cyrus, and a set from Chappelle, who mixed observations about race and poverty with jokes about President Donald Trump and the gala guests themselves. Chappelle stayed on stage to welcome former executive director David Saltzman and new C.E.O. Moore.

Following a live call for donations submitted via email, board chairman Larry Robbins revealed the final fund-raising total. Guests then returned to the cocktail area for a concert by the Coldplay duo, who were joined for some songs by DJ Samantha Ronson.

“We find that we spend time and energy and effort into doing this beautiful cocktail space,” Carroll said, “So any excuse that we could repurpose the space we will take advantage of.”

One thing the organization did not bring back this year were its two concerts aimed at younger patrons, last year held on the same night at different venues. “We feel like we have a strong message that evening at the benefit itself,” Carroll said. “It was little bit of an experiment. We’ll revisit going back to it, but we wanted to stay focused on our big event.”

**Nimblist provided technical design, lighting design and technical production for the 2017 Benefit.

Source

BIZBASH

Date Published

May 25, 2017

Author

Beth Kormanik

Events. Environments. Experiences.

Water Week is here! If you’re in Lancaster check...

Open
Water Week is here! If you’re in Lancaster check out @lancasterconservancy for all the activities and fun to be had while raising awareness about why we need to care about having clean water💧If you are somewhere else, talk to your local conservancy about how to start your own water week! We’d be glad to lend a supportive hand in gettin you started!
We are so happy to have worked on this project with the talented and generous folks at @itsmodernart @atomicdesigninc @taittowers. 

#waterislife #cleanwater #watershed #themightysusquehanna #staynimble #nimblist

How do you turn 79,200 sq of empty space ...

Open
How do you turn 79,200 sq of empty space @javitscenter into a high end dining and entertainment venue for 3000 attendees? Check out the @bizbash article for a peak behind the scenes of last weeks @robinhoodnyc Big Fundraiser (Link in Bio) Spike, who lead our amazing production team, knows that it takes an army of Partners, Collaborators, Vendors and Friends:

2XD, @4wall, @allaccessstaging,@allmobilevideo,@atomicdesigninc, The Baghera Group, @christianhibbardlighting, @clairglobal, Casey Cooper, @dapper.productions, @david_stark_design, @debbie_fife, @degacatering,Device Management Services,@dimitricarpet, @dixongrace,  @drapekings,  @eliteinvestigationsltd, Event Associates, @fiurproductions, @theflug, @fusetechnicalgroup, @janinedevito, @javitscenter, @jetwavewireless @joebay_ld, @kevlawmac, @kkpearl66,  @_lindsssc, @littlelites2, @lssmedia, @lumentechinc @mattyworldfamous, @michaelfiur, Lauren Quinn, @partyrentalltd, Pentwater Productions, @peraltapro, Pete's Big TVs, Precise Prompting, @productionsonpoint, @quixotestudios, @round_angle_design, @sarahogleby, @sgpsshowrig, Synoptic, @taittowers, Theatrical Resources, @theodoreleejones, @unionsqevents, United Rentals, @unitedsiteservices, @veronaproductiongroup, Emily Wilson

Photos Courtesy of Robinhood 
Drawings by Nimblista @jonathanhollinger

A week ago tonight was another amazing ...

Open
A week ago tonight was another amazing collaboration with our friends @robinhoodnyc and @david_stark_design along with so many other incredibly talented people to put together this glorious event. Beautiful from the inside out. $126 million was raised to fight poverty in NYC and we couldn’t be prouder to be a part of it. 
.
.
.
#robonhood #bigbenefit #fightpoverty #liveshow #livemusic #productionlife

After weeks of programming, we kicked off Pearl ...

Open
After weeks of programming, we kicked off Pearl Jam in San Diego with our partner in crime @kkpearl66 
📷 @kkpearl66 
.
.
#pearljam #rockandroll #livemusic #entertainment #lightingdesign #stagedesign #nimblist

Happy Earth Day 🌎Nimblist is proud to be ...

Open
Happy Earth Day 🌎Nimblist is proud to be working with @lancasterconservancy to help raise money and awareness on the importance of saving and restoring land so that we may live a better quality of life as well as help protect our animal and plant friends from harm. Check out the soothing sounds  and visuals of the live bird cam on YouTube that we helped install a couple of years ago.
Everything we do as a company is hyper focused on ways to lessen our impact on the environment. We’re learning new and innovative ways every day and helping and encouraging clients to leap into making choices to help lessen our footprint on gigs. Gigs come and go, but we only have one earth 🌏
.
.
.
#earthday #lancasterconservancy #nimblist #greeneconomy #regenerative #gigging #greengig #lighting #production #design #environment

After months of designing, planning, coordinating,...

Open
After months of designing, planning, coordinating, and days spent programming and coordinating visuals and lights with music, we kicked off in Omaha to a sold out crowd, pumped and ready. One highlight was JBJ honoring the strength and resilience of the Ukrainian people and spreading awareness about the horrific situation with his song “We Dont Run.”
🙏🏼❤️🙏🏼
.
.
.
#bonjovi #bonjoviforever #bonjovi2022tour #live #music #livemusic #design #light #video #art

Happy Tuesday 🌟Come on in the way back machine ...

Open
Happy Tuesday 🌟Come on in the way back machine with us…to 2002 Bon Jovi’s Bounce Tour where we worked with Boris @taittowers to make these automated, satellite dishes that we projected video onto (projection mapping before it was a “thing”. Imagination leads to reality with the right team! 
#bonjovi #nimblist #live #music #livemusic #bouncetour #bonjovimemories

And we’re off…Maxwell’s The Night Tour is ...

Open
And we’re off…Maxwell’s The Night Tour is officially live and kickin! See ya on the road 🙌🏽 #maxwell #livemusic #thenighttour #nimblist #ontheroad #randb

On this day in 1962, Jon Bon Jovi came into the ...

Open
On this day in 1962, Jon Bon Jovi came into the world ❗️And on this day in 2022, the test build and programming for JBJ’s new tour commenced. Happy 60th, Johnny! We can’t wait to rock with you again real soon.  #jonbonjovi #jbj #livemusic #bonjovi #happybirthday #rocknroll #80sicon #lightingdesign #stagedesign #videodesign #production

Oh what we wouldn’t do to be in this energy ...

Open
Oh what we wouldn’t do to be in this energy again! El Tucán Club, in Miami was such a fun project
We love lighting sacred spaces😊  #nimblist #nimblista #lightingdesign #entertainment #dance #music #fun #eltucanmiami #sacredsoace

We’re still in the ❤️zone with this sexy new...

Open
We’re still in the ❤️zone with this sexy new single that @maxwell performed on Valentine’s Night @colbertlateshow featuring our fam @latinawebb on vocals @lindastrawberry who directed the gorgeous visuals. 
.
.
.
#nimblist #maxwell #off #thelateshow #sexy #lightingdesign #videoart #getinthemood

We had these gorgeous inflatable figurines built ...

Open
We had these gorgeous inflatable figurines built for Smashing Pumpkins— inspired by Oskar Schlemmer’s Triadic Ballet & conceived by multitalented artist @lindastrawberry 🍓 
.
.
.
#smashingpumpkins #livemusic #concert #lightingdesign #stagedesign #productiondesign #entertainment #nimblist #collaboration #staynimble

…and our other half : LA, DC ( but in FLA ...

Open
…and our other half : LA, DC ( but in FLA ❗️🌴)and AZ
Stay Nimble & Happy Friday Everyone❗️ 
.
.
.
#nimblist #nimblista #staynimble #crew #la #lancaster #dc #az #lightingdesign #lightworker #stagedesign #entertainment #live #music

Hey Hey! The (East Coast) gang’s (mostly) all ...

Open
Hey Hey! The (East Coast) gang’s (mostly) all here! DC and West Coast beaming in. Can’t wait till we all meet In person again 🙌🏽
.
.
.
#nimblist #gang #nimblista #livemusic #stagedesign #lightingdesign #concert #festival #production #meetyouatthegig #giglife #bts

Who’s ready for the weekend?🙌🏽⭐️
...

Open
Who’s ready for the weekend?🙌🏽⭐️ 
.
.
.
#greenday #hellamega #livemusic #touring #gigging #entertainment #lightworker #paintingwithlight

Hey Hey, can you guess the venue ?
.
.
...

Open
Hey Hey, can you guess the venue ?
.
.
.
#gigging #nimblist #behindthescenes #guessthevenue #livemusic #entertainment #music #rocknroll

Have a great weekend everybody!
Photo by ...

Open
Have a great weekend everybody! 
Photo by @davidbergman 
.
.
.
#flashbackfriday #bonjovi #tour #design #livemusic #entertainment #stagedesign  #lightingdesign #video #nimblista

Nature inspires us every step of the way at ...

Open
Nature inspires us every step of the way at Nimblist. We create impact for amplification of your energy, cause, show, and artistic creation, but feel very strongly about lessening our impact on our environment.  Photo by: @das_bodies 
.
.
#nimblist #nimblista #reducereuserecycle #nature #environmentdesign #inmorewaysthanone #treesarepopstarstoo

Front of House Friday. Let’s Take a peek behind ...

Open
Front of House Friday. Let’s Take a peek behind the scenes! 
.
.
.
#behindthescenes #fbf #live #music #livemusic #frontofhousefriday #takeapeek #beck #coachella

Way Back Wednesday ⭐️In honor of Coachella ...

Open
Way Back Wednesday ⭐️In honor of Coachella announcing their new lineup for 2022! ⭐️Here’s Ice Cube @coachella ⭐️ Hope everyone’s having a good (Wednes)day 
.
.
#icecube #cube #coachella #itwasagoodday #live #music #livemusic #nimblist #nimblista #wbw
Load More

© Nimblist 2022. All Rights Reserved

  • Projects
  • About Us
  • Capabilities
  • Press
hello@nimblist.com