Snap “Finds his Feet” in Fashion at the Diana Awards

Livestock sent Snap to a very different kind of creative event last week involving fashion, singers, philanthropists and some very inspiring young people.

Snap finding himself in the luxurious realm of cupcake world.

At Jolouse nightclub, Mayfair, Snap found himself at the second annual “Finding your feet” Fashion show organised by Jane Larbi. The event was supporting the incredible work of the Diana Awards, a charity set up in 1999 in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales.

After a short bit of conversing with some of the arriving guests outside, Snap was soon inside the club and mingling with the crowds of philanthropic guests, models, fashion students, and oh yes, Sinitta, 80’s pop icon and Simon Cowell’s right hand woman, Ambassador of the Diana Awards.

Sinitta and her nice cleavage!(photo not taken at awards!)

It didn’t take long before Snap had tracked down Maggie Turner, CEO of the Diana Awards to find out more about the evening’s entertainment what the Diana Awards were all about?

Maggie Turner CEO of Diana Awards meets Snap over a nice glass of Chardonnay.

Snap discovered that the Diana Awards are all about celebrating the amazing achievements of inspirational young people who defy expectation and challenge the negative stereotypes that are so often associated with them. Gaining an award will represent the beginning of a lasting relationship with the charity, which Maggie says is like a family. Once an award has been achieved, the individual is supported by the charity in fulfilling their true potential for themselves and their communities through the charities alumni programme.

Snap was unable to hold Maggie’s attention for too long, before she was snapped! (bad joke ed.) away to more important tasks of announcing on stage the live charity auction. Main prize of the auction was a private mentoring session with Diana Award Ambassador Sinitta. Sinitta did well to sell her auction prize by offering anything from singing lessons, to guiding a best mans speech to more lucrative exploits of mentoring someone for the X factor! The auction livened up considerably with wealthy Dads and Mums competing for the X factor tutoring session for their kids. Or were they seriously considering it for themselves?!

During the evening Snap was fortunate enough to meet one such award holder, Dionne Campbell. She blew Snap away when she told her story of becoming one of the very early Diana Award winners 10 years ago. Dionne was enormously proud of her award, which she won for her work in helping people who had been sexually abused. She now works as Senior Commissioning Officer for Camden Council, working in sexual health for young people. Snap finally grasped the importance and value of such awards, when meeting people like Dionne, who 10 years on is still very much a part of the family, and has clearly become successful in her role within her community and beyond.

Dionne with Snap and an intriguing meeting with another gingerbread man owned by Dionne. As it turned out, the 2 G-men were related - long distant related cousins no less!

At last, the main focus of the evening’s entertainment was announced. The ‘Finding your Feet’ Fashion show began. Finding your Feet (FYF) is a project conceived by Jane Larbi, a Diana Award holder from 2008. The focus behind FYF is to promote young, talented designers, and provide exposure for their designs by holding fashion shows giving them opportunities and experiences to show their collections alongside fashion heavyweights. At this year’s FYF Fashion show, Nicole Farhi, the thriving fashion business was offering one candidate the opportunity for a 3-month work placement in their press and marketing department. Livestock also really values the experiences and skills that can be offered to internships and regularly holds intern programmes.

Jane Larbi, founder of FYF and organiser of this years fashion show at Jalouse nightclub, Mayfair.

Rather sulky model wearing designs from Kalin Blajeva - young womenwears designer based in London, fashion graduate from Kingston University.

Rather saucy model, making a splash for the cameras wears designs by Sophia Anastasiou, fashion graduate from Central Saint Martins.

During the fashion show a number of live musicians sang and played alongside the catwalk. Snap managed to get a quick interview from Sharon Rose, up and coming R&B, Funk singer from Essex. Snap said he had a lovely chat with Sharon to find out more about her musical career. Sharon said she was not currently under management and not yet signed. Snap couldn’t believe why no record company hadn’t approached Sharon yet and strongly suggested she find a good manager to represent her.

Sharon and good friend with Snap, looking happy

Soon after his advisory talk with Sharon, Snap went back to mingling with the crowd and after an attempt to give Sinitta a quick snog (Snap got sent out of the VIP area very quickly after that), the fashion catwalk finished and the party music began. Most of the guests went on their way leaving the fashion students, models and those that didn’t have to get up early for work the next day dancing on the catwalk. Snap was about to have a quick boogie with some delightful Russian model, when he was whisked off by World Fashion TV for a rapid interview in the men’s toilets? It must have been the celebrity attention he was drawing earlier that night that gave it all away! Better luck next time Snap!

A very successful evening, with lots of lovely, REAL people, opened Snaps eyes to the world of altruistic merits. Livestock really loves to support and engage in such philanthropic events and hopes to be able to support the Diana Award scheme again.

The Diana Awards was established in 1999 to act as a lasting legacy to Diana Princess of Wales’ belief that young people have the power to change the world for the better. The Diana Awards has 3 award schemes: The Diana Award for exceptional individuals, The Diana anti bullying Award and the Diana certificate of Excellence for inspirational groups. For more information about the Award schemes go to http://diana-award.org.uk/

Brandy and Snap go barmy with the Correspondents in Bethnal Green

Brandy and Snap were both thoroughly excited to have the opportunity to explore the creative links between what we understand as diagnosed madness with myth of the “mad artist” at Barmy (no pun intended) Park Festival. In their profession, B and S have often privately spoken to me about their fear of going mad in a world they feel is surrounded by complete madness! I mean talking, dancing gingerbread men? Genius or completely insane!

Livestock is very familiar with the tortured genius. We work with many of them!

Brandy in a sea of breasts? Um.. does wonders for childhood traumas!?

Being invited by old friend Imogen O’Rorke, curator of the show, both Snap and Brandy gained some valuable insight into the often prejudiced world of mental health.

The festival featured a mix of artists, some with mental issues, some not. However the event aimed at promoting artists with mental health difficulties and featured poetry readings from mental health charity, Core Arts. Special guests of the evening were my favourite summer festival band, the Correspondents.

Revealed… the breasts are floating in a silver cross pram. Brandy is getting comfy. Title of piece before Brandy got on board - 'Untitled', Elizabeth Manchester



Snap is unsure about the Klan, but felt the urge to see what the experience of standing next to such a vast object might feel like for him? It would surely trigger his size complex at the very least! Title of piece before Snap took centre stage - 'Hide' by Dermot O'Brien

An unusual experience in the men’s toilets, led Snap to explore what it means to be in a wheelchair next to a face with no torso. Title of piece before Snap went to investigate - 'Asylum Inmate' by Elizabeth Manchester.

Brandy looking very dapper in Mr Bruces’ (Correspondents) top pocket. They make a fine pair!

Added to the intriguing art sculptures and installations, the boys got their dancing feet in action with a superb treat of gallivanting around the dance floor to the splendid music of the Correspondents. Not only is Mr Bruce a snappy dresser, his stealthy footwork gave Brandy and Snap a run for their money. They told me: ” Wow Mr Bruce is a fast and furious dancer that can wake up anyone’s appetite for outrageous footwork! We thought we would both have heart attacks by merely watching him move!”



Mr Bruce form the Correspondents had us all dripping with sweat.

Fancy footwork and leg wear Mr Bruce – from the Correspondents.

The Correspondents are made up of band members Mr Bruce and Mr Chuckles who have collaborated to revamp vintage sounds for the modern ear. Resuscitating sampled relics with squelchy synths over dusty drum loops they’ve depicted the trials and errors of Love, Lust and Loss over foot-tapping toe curling "get your brogues on" dance floor Electro Swing.

At Livestock we like to work with bands of a individual style like the Correspondents, tailoring it always to our clients needs. Equally we have a diverse selection of bands ranging from supplying the best tribute bands EVER to more specialist musicians/bands.



New friends. Eden, detective, taxidermist and Land Lord of infamous members bar, the Fox and Cutless.

Barmy park was a 14 day festival of art, poetry, performance, dance, music and madness at the Bethnal Green Library, which interestingly enough stands on the site of what was a notorious private madhouse for 200 years! An innovative micro festival, it surely made waves in raising awareness of mental health illness in our society today.

Livestock is always interested in an arts event, especially when there is a more altruistic focus.

Disclaimer – Our photo captions of the art depicted at the Barmy Park festival are purely our interpretation with the addition of Brandy and Snap in the final piece. We have detailed the original title after our captions. We in no way wish to offend any of the artists or belittle their work with our interpretations.

Brandy and Snap go to Hospital!

It’s been a while since our last bloggers, Brandy and Snap got their delicate paws on the old word processor. Perhaps it might have something to do with an overload of parties over the last few weeks, and a little incident of overdoing it on the dance floor?!

The last 2 weeks have seen a megafull of parties from fashion week at Burberrys, The Hospital Club, a barmy mad Arts fair in Hackney to a rockin gig in a tiny village hall in rural Sussex. Although Brandy and Snap are on holiday this week (recuperating from their recent activities), they have promised to tell all in their blogs over the coming weeks.

1st up is Brandy and Snaps' visit to the Hospital. No, not that kind of hospital, a visit to the Hospital Club, famous members club for the creative industries, set up by Dave Stewart of Eurythmics fame 6 years ago. Livestock bloggers were invited to the Wolf and Badger Graduate Design Awards, to be entertained with a diverse and unusual selection of performances. Very Donnie Darko, the boys loved the surreal events of the night.

Friendly art director Emily takes a shine to Brandy, or is it Snap?

Livestock gets involved in many events which require friendly art directors to make up our team of professional and enthusiastic creatives.


A surreal performance of moving human grapes!… Surreal…

Unusual performance is one of Livestock's trademarks, so it’s nice to see that the boys know where to look for these kind of acts! Our database is full of unique and eclectic talent in these categories.

Some quirky design graduates at the party

Um..tiny weenie cakes on our hosts hands. Designed for instant eating!

Donnie Darko’ish freak!

Thoroughly enjoying snooping around the club to investigate the other member’s rooms. Note the rather oversized light in the Library, gave Snap a bit of a scare!

The Hospital club has many floors, including games rooms, excellent restaurant, bars, and library. It is also equipped with TV studio, recording studio, film screening room and gallery. All available for hire, or for use by the Artists in Residents Programme.

A good old British game of ‘dance ’til you drop’! Snap seems to have got a good deal here up in the eves of this contestants number!

A fine night of arty, surreal and good ol’ fashioned British games made Brandy and Snap feel really at home in the lavish furnishings of the Hospital Club.

The Hospital club is a members’ only club for people that work in the creative industries. It also runs a philanthropic department that is focused on supporting the careers of emerging creatives. At Livestock we also like to nurture our talented performers. So this year we have nominated Simon, our new aspiring multidisciplinary poet for the amazing opportunity of a residency at the Hospital club. We will be supporting him all the way.

Viktoria Modesta show case at Hoxton Bar and Grill

After a hectic week celebrating fashion week, Snap was a bit delayed in getting last weeks blog out to us. Oh well, I'm sure he flirted with lots of gorgeous models!

In London’s electric and edgy East side, we sent Snap to visit the future sound of London for the Viktoria Modesta showcase. Snap grasped this intriguing opportunity by the mits to see what the future of art/fashion and music had in store for him.



An inspiring night of challenging new performance with a New York vibe, guests from the fetish scene to the fashion scene celebrated the culmination of these different genres in a line up of unique and stylish performance artists with some sexy urban edge.

Snap finds himself in the inner circle of Daniel Lismore, London’s most creatively dressed man.


Snap nearly had it when he challenged a very tall model who had a taste for tiny gingerbread men!


Can you guess who this sexy, diva aerialist is, showcasing her new disco, dayglo hoop show?
Livestock works regularly with the best aerialists on the circuit, so we are always up to date on the new shows in town.


Button fetish, very NY and Trash dancers get their thing on

The evening presented a collective of avant-garde performance, hybrid pop, and trash dolls that Snap hasn’t seen since the 80’s. He was delighted to see the influence of Grace Jones and all those angles with this young crowd of fashionisters.

Hybrid pop performer fancies a bit of snap, crackle and pop

Final act of the night Viktoria Modesta performed live, captivating the crowd with her magnetic stage presence, strong eccentric vocals and glamorous star quality.

A rising star of London’s fashion & underground club scenes VM is very much creative pioneer and trendsetter who has already established a successful career as model, muse, alternative Icon and stylist. She is the face for fetish club Torture Garden and has performed at London’s fashion week. As well as writing her own music, she has also collaborated on music projects with musician/producer Nik Hodges.

Livestock really supports the fusion of artistic expression in fashion, music and visual art. That is why it is so important to us to offer the best in cutting edge talent to our clients.

Out and about with Brandy and Snap - Livestock New Recruits!

Brandy and Snap are back!! Returning from their summer break, our old friends Brandy and Snap, International dance performers extraordinaire have delighted us by offering to become our first Livestock celebrity reporters whilst they are here in the UK. So here’s a selection of their reports in our new weekly ‘Livestock gets out there’…..

Hot act – one to watch!!

Our gifted new reporters Brandy and Snap have been getting out to the cool, intimate corners of the city’s most celebrated venues to review a selection of great London performance, keeping Livestock abreast of all the new HOT talent in our backyard - ouch!

Kookball comedian with Brandy

Kookball comedian and evil twin brother of Russell Brand shows us what a nutter he is by picking up Sailor Jerry and celebrity Livestock reporter Brandy after his raucous performance in Madam Jo Jos.

Brandy met this energetic and bizarre new off the wall act at a cabaret event in Madam Jo Jos. Brandy told us - “This guy rocks! A contortionist and escapologist are just a few of his skills. His real skill is in creating an atmosphere of complete lunacy, which infects your mind and leaves you questioning whether your sane world exists. I loved him! His freaky tricks of dislocating his shoulder and other back bending tricks are just a vehicle for him to be a showman for his screwball comedy”. Apparently he has amazed Ant and Dec and Simon Cowell called him “cool and funky” in Britain’s Got Talent. Livestock is really looking forward to working with this dude and can’t wait to get him out to a whole new audience.

Miss Lamour

This sailor themed cabaret was orchestrated by the delightful vintage burlesque performer Gwendoline Lamour and West End Songstress and compere, the Divine Miss Em. The alluring and beautiful, Miss Lamour was the star act of the night. She charmed her audience with a glamorous, traditional fan dance to give us all a taste of elegance. Livestock works regularly with the best burlesque performers in town, whether its neo burlesque or vintage. It’s great to see the new acts from our burlesque artists, so we can always offer a variety of the best quality burlesque shows to our clients.

More to come, when Snap got snapped!!

Vintage at Goodwood - The New Festival of Britain

This August I had the opportunity to get out my well pressed 1940s army uniform for the first of what plans to be an annual music and fashion festival, Vintage at Goodwood. Set on the glorious Goodwood estate, I embarked on what was described as a "festival celebrating 5 decades of british cool. Think of Vintage at Goodwood as the new annual Festival of Britain. Whether your thing is Swing, Rockabilly, Mod, Soul, Funk, Disco, Ska, Electro, Burlesque, Film, Art & Design, or you just want to dress up and get an authentic ‘flat top’ and make-over for a day, Vintage at Goodwood is a visual, responsible, aural and sensual, a big family dressing up box, a collectors dream and a joyous creative feast for all ages". Vintage of Goodwood.


This really was a festival all about the best of Britain. Alongside a number of music stages, with a line up of a host of cult figures including Sandie Shaw, the Faces and the Damned, there were 5 curated spaces packed full of entertainment, dedicated to the decades from the 1940s to 1980's. The festival also brought in the Goodwood festival of speed and Goodwood Revival crowd who show off their vintage cars each year. So we got to see some fantastically amusing vintage vehicles from 1930's campers to pod like 1960s cars. The central focus of the festival was the creation of a vintage high street, with make over rooms, tea rooms, pubs, cinema, design museums and market stalls of the best vintage clothing sellers all under one roof.

What I really liked about this festival was not only the celebration of Britain, but the solidarity of all the social tribes that have been cultivated in Britain since the 1st World War. Vintage brought in all generations. Truly authentic, it was great to see performers from burlesque, big band, 1950s rockabilies, wall of death motorcyclists to classic 1980/90's DJs, such as Graeme Park and Andy Weatherall. Livestock Productions, London based entertainment company, shares a similar ethos, boasting an eclectic mix of brilliant talent. With their experience in themed corporate events, it’s great to know that there is access to these kinds of acts should our events require an injection of ‘Cool Britannia’!. The punters really made the effort, with amazing detail of vintage outfits showing allegiance to the decade of choice. It was amusing to see 1960s flower girls in the elegantly lavish 1940s' Tanqueray Torch club, alongside smartly dressed men and ladies dancing to the charleston. I loved the great sense of humour that pervaded throughout the weekend with the wonderful members of the 'Chap magazine' playing their eccentric games of 'throwing the cucumber sandwiches on a china plate'. That can only be a British invention!

Most popular era's seemed to be 1940's and 50's. Although there were good representations of all eras. My only problem was trying to change quickly from one era to the next! Couldn't really be done more than once in an evening, unless of course I had a Jeeves!


Founded by Wayne and Gerardine Hemingway and teaming up with Lord March of the Goodwood estate, this was a festival not only educational, but an event that transformed in the evening to a highly energized party of what makes the best of British cool. It would appeal to anyone interested in design, art, film, music, fashion and vintage clothing.

Indeed one of my favorite festivals of 2010. I will be back again next year, dancing on the tables in the Festival of Britain pub with Jeeves in toe!

With heaps of press and over twice their estimated ticket sales, Vintage at Goodwood demonstrates that there is a real interest and demand to revive our creative cultural heritage. Vintage is here to stay!

http://www.vintageatgoodwood.com/home.aspx

Livestock Productions also currently offers decade specific entertainment for corporate and private functions, so check out the site at http://www.livestockproductions.co.uk

NEW OPERA HERO @ SHUNT... WHAT YOU THOUGHT!

New Opera Hero (NOH) enjoyed a hugely successful run at Shunt, London Bridge, London at the end of May 2010. Since then many of you have contacted us at Livestock to express your unadulterated enthusiasm about the show and also to enquire about when you will next have the opportunity to see another NOH performance. Some of you have also asked whether NOH can be adapted to suit your corporate/promotional/festival entertainment needs: the answer is YES of course!

If you are interested in exploring this avenue please contact info@livestockproductions.co.uk with NOH in the subject box or call us on 020 74880567


As for future ticketed performances of NOH: plans are afoot for NOH to hit Germany next… watch this space or go to http:/www.livestockproductions.co.uk for more information on NOH’s German tour

We look forward to updating you on all future developments associated with this ground-breaking show. Here’s a selection of our favorite reactions from events and entertainment industry professionals:

'The 3D technology used in the show was very interesting to see in action - there is great potential for the development of this in future shows and I look forward to see what emerges.'
Becky Burchell, Camden Roundhouse

“The New Opera Hero was mind-blowing, creative, inspirational and very forward thinking. Lyrics jumped into life with such a profound effect that I was left spellbound”.
Paul Swaby – RAH Productions Agency

‘The fusion of different types of projection, lighting, audio, live musicians and living breathing people made the event multi-media in a way that I have never seen before. I was blown away by the intensity of the show.’
Steve Smith – Ear To The Ground

"Truly amazing technology with the scope to do mindblowing things with super advanced visual technology all nicely packaged into a show by innovative band New Opera Hero. It has to be seen to be believed..."
Alice Faivre – Production Assistant, Bestival

‘It was a live multimedia experience beyond anything I'd experienced outside of an Imax cinema. You could tell the audience really engaged with it from the cheers and spontaneous applause throughout what was a whole heartedly blistering performance. The potential is phenomenal. As it is with the style of music and visuals it's ideally suited to a festival or art crowd but I see tremendous opportunity for developing it for a wider audience too.’
Trevor Lock – Comedian

‘I thought that NOH were fantastic. Their ability to mix cutting edge technology with live music and performance created a really exciting show. They are unique in every sense of the word. Please let me know when they are performing again as I definitely want to see them again.’
Ryan Roche – The Media Services Company

LIVESTOCK PRESENTS NEW OPERA HERO (NOH)

NOH AT SHUNT, LONDON

20th, 21st and 22nd May 2010

Holographic music performance for Shunt launch


Securing the unique opportunity of a four week residency at Shunt, New Opera Hero have created a new Electronic Concert Installation especially designed to use state of the art holographic projection technology.

New Opera Hero consists of a group of dynamic musicians and artists led by Steff Ungerer and Michael Wilson, whose previous credits include work for the National Operas in London, Tokyo and Hamburg as well as providing exciting visual shows for established acts the Pet Shop Boys, Lady Gaga and Asian Dub Foundation.

This is an intoxicating multi disciplinary concert installation. Connected by new interactive technology, the show moves between music genres from opera to electronica and beyond.

For a better understanding of just how innovative and original a show NOH is please go to:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=araX9oePdak

New Opera Hero made an impact last year when they performed their first Classical Concert Installation at the Royal Opera in Liege, Belgium in front of thousands of people.

For more information on bookings please contact: info@livestockproductions.co.uk /
+ 44 (0) 207 488 0567 - www.livestockproductions.co.uk

The 3D Revolution: Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?

The 3D revolution: Why be ordinary when you can be extraordinary?
We’re in midst of a 3D revolution. With 3D exploding onto the scene with the unprecedented success of the ground-breaking movie Avatar, and Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland closely following suit, the world of entertainment has truly become multi-dimensional.

Have you considered how to 3D enable your event, or even move into the realm of 4D as interactivity continues to grow as an integral part of our event experience? 3D technology is now literally at your fingertips and available through Livestock to apply to your event.

For example:

Augmented reality is just one reactive technology that can be used to create a unique element of interactivity within events.

Livestock Event Case Study
Sci Fi themed event created by Livestock. Guests were sent tickets that resembled boarding passes to gain entry to the ‘Space Ship’ (the venue). On entering they held the company logo printed on the ticket to a small camera and screen interface which formed part of the design of the entry pod. The technology recognised the symbol printed on the card and triggered an animated sequence visible to the viewer on the screen in place of the ticket.

The majority of the animations were Alien characters who welcomed the guests to the event, but a selection of the boarding cards had a variation of the logo printed on it which resulted in a special animation appearing where the alien character told the bearer of the ticket to claim their prize at the bar (in this case a bottle of champagne). These prizes were not random, but were awarded to employees who had exceeded their sales targets that year.

This technology can be used as an integrated part of live entertainment, conferences, product launches, viral and marketing promotional campaigns

http://livestockproductions.co.uk/talent/augmented-reality

The following companies have used the technology with excellent results:
BMW (award winning campaign)
BBC
United Emirates
Launch of O2

Livestock – The 3D Events and Production Company

Broadcasts coming soon...
• 4D installations using stereoscopic filming techniques
• Interactive Real Time Avatar Installation – interactive booth that allows guests to choose and become a character for a fun and virtual experience
• Convert your promotional material to 3D and all your products/services to explode onto the scene

For more information or to speak to a Livestock representative on what 3D technologies can do for you and your event please call + 44 20 7488 0567 - or go to www.livestockproductions.co.uk