MTV 's party process Sitegeist
Blank canvas or pre-themed party venue? The answer was definitive for the MTV events team when they staged the after party for the MTV European Music awards 2007 in Munich. A blank canvas – and lots of it.
MTV’s Ben Hack decided that bigger was better when they chose two aircraft hangars usually used to store light aircraft as the party venue.
The space, which measured over 70 metres long and 60 metres wide with 10 metres of overhead space, created the perfect blank canvas for Hack and his creative team. The aerospace was surrounded by acres of Bavarian forest and woodland and was only accessible by transport giving the party a hidden venue feel.
Toilets, lighting, bars, sound and enough heating to blast the -2 temperatures, were brought in to create the ultimate backdrop for the after party. Creating the event took over five days of around the clock energy for a party that 3,000 people would remember as more than just a post show drink.
The artist stage was carried by 36 freight containers that when unloaded made up a massive LED infused stage, pulsating frame and lights that formed the performance space for acts such as New Young Pony Club (live), Klaxons (DJ set), Bugz In The Attic, Soundsystem, Riton & Horsemeat Disco Vs Toilet Disco.
Themed areas filled the hangars creating different areas for guests to choose from.
The Acid Croquet Lounge was created using a two tiered mezzanine level which was completely covered in Astroturf and furnished with neon garden furniture, neon painted tress, air stars and hundreds of neon butterflies.
The White Forest featured a UV white forest with white carpet and seating and Silver forest wallpaper filled with white trees and decorated with blue lightsticks. Court Ag47 saw a silver floored basketball court that acted as a seating area, complete with silver basketball hoops, silver beanbags, silver cushioned raised seating and a huge MIPIX cube suspended over the centre of the court.
Over in the Mexican Carnival Area, a 10m high Helter Skelter was the centre piece for Mexican themed bars, festoon lighting, oil drums and a secret hidden disco. The Helter Skelter had to be cut to size since its height took it through the roof.
"The EMA aftershow party 2007 was a 
mammoth undertaking and not without its share of challenges,” said Ben Hack. “To turn a disused aircraft hangar, deep in the forests of Bavaria, into a multi-level, multi-themed party venue required an extraordinary amount of planning from start to finish. Before we could even think about themes and entertainment the space needed to be made habitable and more importantly accessible for 3,000 people - transporting all the guests from the 2007 MTV Europe Music Awards in temperatures of -2 was certainly no mean feat. But, on arrival, guests were quickly warmed by the sight of giant hot-dogs, a tequila bar, a helter skelter and the New Young Pony club, amongst other attractions and despite the amount of work involved the event turned out to be unforgettable."
The event was sponsored by Sony Ericsson, EDC, Sierra Tequila and O2 who were creatively integrated throughout the event at the Flugplatz Schleissheim venue. Production for the event was designed by UK- based Design Arrival with technical production by MTV and a local Munich production company (GRAL).