What does it feel like to be part of the team that produced President Barack Obama’s inaugural activities?
“It was an overwhelming experience,” said Charlie Jones, partner in the Austin-based promoter/production company C3 Presents. “It was much bigger than an event, and we’re honored to have been a part of it.”
Beginning with Sunday’s HBO-televised “We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration At The Lincoln Memorial,” C3 had a hand in producing several of the major events of President Obama’s inauguration.
“We Are One” featured Beyonce, Mary J. Blige, U2, Garth Brooks, Sheryl Crow, John Mellencamp, Usher, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen, James Taylor, will.i.am, Stevie Wonder and many others (Billboard.biz, Jan. 16). The special was produced by the Stevens Company in association with Don Mischer Productions, with C3 handling behind-the-scenes production services.
The company also provided production and support service throughout the entire National Mall for the inauguration, served as the event production service provider for the Inaugural Parade, and provided event production services for the swearing-in ceremony yesterday.
“I think we were selected [for the inauguration] because of our skill set and our work ethic, and I would put our team up against anybody, anywhere,” says Jones, admitting yesterday, in particular, was tough on the C3 staff. “We had a couple of guys that we physically broke and had to put them on a plane and send them home.”
C3, whose principals include Charlie Jones, Charles Attal and Charlie Walker, is the producer of Chicago’s Lollapalooza and Austin’s Austin City Limits Festival, and also produced Obama’s election night rally at Grant Park in Chicago back in November. C3’s relationship with the Obama campaign began back in the primaries with C3 producing outdoor rallies in Texas.
The above photo was taken directly behind the Lincoln Memorial after the kickoff concert as the Obamas greeted various parties following the event.
“We had the opportunity to be the last people in line,” says Jones. “We presented him with a guitar signed by all the artists, which [the Obamas] were touched by and happy to see. I think they were somewhat surprised that that they were going to receive this guitar to go in their new house.”
Other live event producers in D.C. for the inauguration included Live Earth CEO Kevin Wall and local independent promoter I.M.P.
Ricky Kirshner and Glenn Weiss/White Cherry Entertainment were executive producers of last night’s Neighborhood Inaugural ball, televised on ABC.
Venues included such traditional rooms as the Warner Theatre, Verizon Center, Kennedy Center and the 9:30 Club and non-traditional venues including memorials, museums, hotels and art galleries.
The 9:30 Club hosted four shows connected with the inauguration, with such acts as T.I., Wyclef Jean, Moby, and a Rock The Vote inauguration night concert featuring Michael Franti & Spearhead, Grace Potter, Talib Kweli and Dresden.
“It was great having D.C. as the center of attention for a while,” I.M.P. president Seth Hurwitz, owner of the 9:30 Club, observed. “Now could they please all go home so we can drive downtown again?”
