Trusted by Respected Institutions, Associations, and Corporations

OUR STORY

From the early 70s, Brian Winthrop had already worked in the entertainment, production, and food industries, giving him the experience and expertise to establish his company. In 1980, Winthrop and fellow agent Donny Epstein (Greater Talent Network) left New Line to found their own Epstein Winthrop International agency. After buying Epstein out the following year, Winthrop founded Brian Winthrop International (BWI). 

In 1983, BWI closed a $350K yearly sponsorship contract with Kodak, touring a special event entitled Earthwalk, which would eventually tour 400 college campuses. During this time, BWI also started touring Wild Video Dance Party (WVDP) to universities, high schools, and military bases. WVDP was such a big hit with over four million students attending at their respective schools! With initial sponsorship from Bose and features in several Billboard articles, the WVDP package was sold to Coca-Cola for $2.5 million with Panasonic co-sponsoring the tour by providing $1 million in equipment. As the firm tripled in size, BWI moved from event production in NYC at 1995 Broadway (Lincoln Center) to Stamford, Connecticut.

In the 1990s, WVDP entered the corporate market and was the closing-night entertainment event at the Pow Wow in Miami, the MPI National Convention in Chicago, two PCMA National Conventions in Scottsdale and Orlando, the Special Event Convention in Orlando and Miami, the NACE Convention in Chicago and the Event Solutions Convention in Washington, D.C. Winthrop also received his Certified Meeting Professional (CMP) from the Convention Liaison Council and his Certified Special Event Professional (CSEP) from ISES in addition to a two-year run as president of the Metropolitan New York Chapter of ISES, now ILEA, as well as publishing numerous articles on producing events and lighting.

At the same time, he partnered with his Swiss wife, Mariella, and founded Big Wave Event Productions, LLC, for event production throughout the state of Connecticut. They stopped representing acts and began to produce events in the university, association, corporate, fashion, benefit, and private party markets. Mariella specializes in design, and Brian is experienced in live production.

Today, Big Wave, one of the leading event planning companies in Connecticut, produces major events that provide clients with event management, layout, design, and state-of-the-art audio, video, lighting, and décor.

OUR MISSION

At Big Wave, the customer is number one. Our team is committed to quality with personal attention to every detail from inception to completion of each event. We continuously upgrade equipment to offer our clients state-of-the-art audio, video, lighting, and décor. The Big Wave team works tirelessly toward the overall success of each event.

Our mission is to incorporate all aspects of live event production to WOW all attendees and create memorable, enjoyable, and affordable events.We continually work to build and maintain strong business relationships. We realize that we can prosper and grow through excellent communication and mutual respect.

Our company has been, and always will be, based upon strong ethical business practices and is dedicated to only the highest standard of behavior in all areas. We feel obligated to support the local communities where we reside to build a good working relationship and contribute to worthy local causes. Furthermore, as good corporate citizens, we remain committed to protecting the environment by continually striving to improve the environmental responsiveness of our events.

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Much of the success of our events is due to our award-winning team. We approach each project with fresh, robust ideas to make it memorable and outstanding. We work with many repeat clients who trust us for stellar event production in NYC and Connecticut. We partner with them on presentation, appearance, planning, and taking the ultimate steps to ensure success on every level.

It has been an honor for us to be recognized by numerous industry accolades. We have earned special awards in technical support, room designs, best use of lighting, green design, and other ways that show off our innovative efforts. Our awards are third-party recognition of our winning approach to every event—from concept to finish—no matter how complex or detailed.

OUR TEAM

The close-knit team at Big Wave Events is responsible for our many successes over the years. We work together as one team, and everyone pitches in to help provide whatever is necessary. We are fortunate to have garnered a workplace philosophy that is so essential to making an event run smoothly. Every facet of production—from the most private wedding to a huge alumni gala—is equally important. Our staff exhibits some of the best qualities any event manager should have, including all of the following:
  • Interpersonal Skills
  • Flexibility
  • Energy
  • Creativity
  • Detail Orientation
  • Time Management Skills
  • Enthusiasm
  • Organizational Skills
  • Technical Knowhow

MEMBERS OF OUR TEAM

Brian Winthrop

President and Head Producer

Mariella Winthrop

Vice President and Head of Design

Evan Chrustic

Account Executive, Northeast Events

Andy Rougvie

Certified Rigger

Joseph Burns

Lighting Designer

Pete Wylie

Lighting Designer

Stephanie Paul

Event Planner

Frank Egan

Sound Engineer

Brian Mingo

Production Manager

Brian Jennings

Production Assistant

Sherri Albaugh

Décor

Josh Peters

Graphics/Video Engineer

Ed Berenhaus

Technical Director

Alex Pock

Lighting Designer and Robotic Camera Technician

Veronica Winthrop

Decor Assistant

Barry Soloff, MBA

Business Consultant

Brian Winthrop

President and Head Producer

Mariella Winthrop

Vice President and Head of Design

Frank Egan

Sound Engineer

Andy Rougvie

Certified Rigger

Joseph Burns

Lighting Designer

Pete Wylie

Lighting Designer

Preston Martinik

Video Technician

Evan Chrustic

Account Executive, Northeast Events

Brian Mingo

Production Manager

Brian Jennings

Production Assistant

Sherri Albaugh

Décor

Josh Peters

Graphics/Video Engineer

Ed Berenhaus

Technical Director

FAQs

I’ve had bad experiences with AV companies in the past; how can I trust Big Wave?

We understand the importance of trust and that’s why we’re so committed to delivering a positive experience for all our clients. Big Wave has a proven track record of successful events built on prioritizing transparency, professionalism, and customer satisfaction. We encourage you to read our client testimonials to hear about their experience and we’re more than happy to provide references.

It's my first time planning an event; where do I start?

Planning an event can be exciting but overwhelming, especially if it’s your first time. At Big Wave, we understand that every successful event starts with a solid plan. Our team of experienced event planners will help define your goals, target audience and budget to create a detailed event plan that includes timeline, venue selection, programming, catering, and AV requirements. Our goal is to make the planning process as smooth and stress free as possible to you by offering expert guidance and customizable solutions tailored to your event needs.

What if I don't have a big budget for events?

Big Wave understands that budgets vary and we take pride in creating impactful events while working within a range of budgets. Our team will work closely with you to prioritize the essential aspects of your event and find creative solutions that fit your financial limitations, making the most out of your budget without compromising the quality and effectiveness of the event.

How does your company compare to in-house AV companies such as PSAV/Encore?

While in-house AV companies offer convenience within specific venues, Big Wave brings several advantages to the table. As an independent event planning and production company, we can offer more flexibility in equipment and solutions (tailored to your event’s needs) at a lower cost than in-house AV companies. As a full-service event company, we can work across various venues, adapting our services for each unique space. Our personalized approach and attention to detail is what really sets us apart and we’re proud of that commitment to our clients.

How can I be sure that the event will run smoothly and there won’t be any missing/damaged equipment?

Our team at Big Wave takes meticulous care in planning, setup and testing to ensure that all equipment is functioning properly before an event. Even with thorough quality checks, things break on rare occasions, and we do our best to mitigate the risk of any technical issues/unexpected situations with backup equipment and on-site technicians for minimal disruption. We want your event to run as smoothly as possible from start to finish.

JOIN OUR TEAM

Big Wave is an equal-opportunity employer dedicated to providing our employees with a challenging and positive environment in which to work.

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