Gala en Blanc
Urban Sprouts
Experience Outline
Urban Sprouts brought their interpretation of Diner en Blanc to St. Louis, Missouri as Gala en Blanc. Over 600 people gathered in Kiener Plaza dressed in their best all-white attire as they celebrated their way to raising nearly $300,000 for the school’s tuition assistance program. The event was emceed by Jami Dolby, and featured live entertainment by DJ Nune with Root Mod and Billy Gritz. Guests were additionally engaged with strolling characters, a cigar lounge, and dessert carts.
Environmental Design
Creating a vibrant aesthetic on an urban blank canvas utilizing lighting, decor, and signage.
Technical Direction
Unconventional spaces need careful attention to production elements to ensure guests can adequately see and hear, all while helping set the tone of the evening.
Budget & Timeline Management
Though this isn’t the flashy side of event production, keeping a close eye on an evolving budget and managing a fluid timeline is of the utmost importance.
The
Challenge
Designing a Unique Event in a Unique Space during a Unique Time
When Gala en Blanc 2021 was announced, the response was overwhelming. GEB was returning after a year off due to the pandemic, and people were eager to get out of the house. Guest safety was mission critical.
Additionally, this was the second time this event was hosted in this space, so we needed to refresh the event design while wading through venue construction that would’ve possibly been ongoing on event day.
What’s the Spark?
The Big Blue Point of View
Sometimes people are afraid to step out of their comfort zone and venture into the unknown. Urban Sprouts was a true collaborative partner that was unafraid to try unfamiliar things. Their vision and passion for their children helped push this event to a new level.
Kevin Smith, Managing Partner
The
Outcome
Pushing the Limit and Setting Records
There was a major push to make the event visually stunning, and to engage the audience so they would leave buzzing about the event. Naturally, this was a very important aspect, but at the end of the day, fundraising and raising awareness for the school was of the utmost priority.
This event set a new attendance record, and beat previous years’ fundraising goals, while leaving guests feeling inspired and ready to support Urban Sprouts in the future.
From the Client Team
What Our Partner Has to Say
“Magical” is the single word I would use to describe Big Blue Spark. From the idea phase to the day of the event, Big Blue Spark creates magic. The team’s vision, creativity, and experience are a rare combination and necessary for successful events. We tried doing events without Big Blue Spark… and they all lacked SPARK!
Ellicia Lanier, Founder/Executive Director, Urban Sprouts Child Development Center