Daily
Plan-It, a Jefferson City, Mo.-based special event and incentive
travel company, was selected by the state's Governor and First Lady to
coordinate the four balls and the family community events for the
Governor's Inauguration, held in January of this year. With less than
six weeks lead time, Jill Snodgrass, president of Daily Plan-It, and
her staff got to work designing the history-making events, which
collectively would host more than 10,000 guests and dignitaries.
The community activities were held after the
official swearing-in ceremonies at the Truman State Office Building,
and covered eight floors of space. More than 15
Missouri-based attractions were called in to participate in continual
hands-on activities throughout the day. Participants included the
Hallmark Kaleidoscope; Bass Pro Shop; the St. Louis Magic House;
Boeing, which provided a 30-minute IMAX movie, pilots and F-15 models;
the Negro League Baseball Hall of Fame; Six Flags; and the Walt Disney
Hometown Museum. An autograph room featured Missouri celebrities such
as St. Louis Rams' star Marshall Faulk, and St. Louis Cardinal legend
Ozzie Smith. Decor included balloon tubes artfully displayed in the
eight-story atrium, and looming cold-air inflatables at each entrance.
Four
unique balls were the center of the evenings' activities. The
traditional Inaugural Ball was held in the Capitol building's rotunda,
and included entertainment by the Tony DiPardo Orchestra, which
provided the ballroom-style music. Daily Plan-It
constructed a custom platform to house the band in a small alcove
under the stairs. Daily Plan-It also coordinated the logistics of a
grand march of more than 200 elected officials, which culminated into
the first dance by the Governor, First Lady and their two children.
Two
new balls were added to the inaugural events this year, held
underneath two 80-foot by 100-foot tents, provided by Traube Tent
Company, on the south lawn of the Capitol. In keeping with the day's
theme--One Bright Future, One Missouri--each ball
was designed to reflect the Governor's vision.
Challenges included removing nine inches of snow from the lawns prior
to the installation, and keeping the massive space warm. In addition,
the tents were used to seat 1,000 guests during the swearing-in
ceremony, which left four hours to install the tables, chairs, and
extensive decor. Eighty feet of marques tenting also was erected and
heated, by Aggeko, to ensure guests could flow freely between the
Capitol and tented balls, without enduring the 20-degree weather.
The second tent, host to the One Missouri Ball,
featured stage decor with a giant replica of the capitol dome flanked
by dogwood trees and sign posts listing Missouri's cities and mileage
from the state's capitol. Tables for eight were covered in dark green
tablecloths and a die-cut Missouri map overlay. The centerpieces
featured eight-inch terra cotta pots with neatly trimmed, growing
grass. Eighty Missouri cities were highlighted in street signs, which
were placed in the center of the pot, with ivy
entwined around their posts. White chairs completed the outdoor look.
Tent decor included ficus trees with twinkle lights and park benches,
as well as a cold-air inflatable of a hot-air balloon. About 200 feet
of blue cloud sike covered the tent walls, creating an airy, daytime
feeling. Intelligent light cast a fiery, sunny glow on the tent's
ceiling, which changed dramatically throughout the evening.
A
fourth ball, the Children's Ball, had never before been attempted, and
was created with the Governor's young sons in mind. As the 525
children arrived at the ball, they were greeted by a 20-foot dancing
air flame symbolizing the ball's theme, Our Children--Our Bright
Future. As they entered the venue, the children were entertained by
Gilliams' magic acts, an interactive DJ, and the Team 11 Dancers.
Themed activity areas were decorated and organized around the
perimeter of the room and included virtual reality and arcade games; a
video corner with a big-screen television, comfy pillows and
inflatable furniture; and a fashion salon for make up and manicures.
Children also could enjoy the Executive Closet for dress-up play with
theatrical clothing; a photo station for computer-generated
photos; a giant inflatable caterpillar slide; a coloring corner with
take-home books and an over-sized card congratulating the Governor;
and various hands-on activities from the St. Louis Science Center and
Hallmark.
Dining options for the children included a pizza
parlor that served more than 1,600
slices, and the Sundae Bar, which included a variety of self-serve
toppings, and served more than 36 gallons of ice cream. A child-sized
juice bar, complete with a lit-up top, little stools and custom neon
sign, offered everything from ice, cold milk and orange juice to other
decaffeinated beverages.
The 15 tables were covered in SculptChair's brightly
colored spandex covers, and black chaircovers completed the look. Each
table offered five color-coordinated bowls of popcorn, chips and M&Ms.
The centerpieces consisted of sparkling mylar
balloons and glow sticks. The walls, ceiling and dance floor were
bathed in lights and patterns using a combination of static and
intelligent lighting, gobos and liquid light from Audio Visual
Services Company. The grand finale consisted of a laser light show and
the blasting of two confetti cannons.
Projection screens with a live video link were
installed in each of the four balls so party guests could see the
children having fun, and vice versa.
Attendance at the official inaugural balls was
record breaking, estimating attendee counts as high as 15,000 people,
mainly due to the new and expanded venues designed by Daily Plan-It.
"We wanted something unique, fresh and different for
the inauguration of the first governor of the new millennium," said
the Governor and First Lady. "[Daily Plan-It] took our dreams and
turned them into a spectacular reality."
