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Dîner en Noir Organizer Rules

Dîner en Noir (#DEN) is an international community of events that are brought to life by thousands of individuals all over the globe — which calls for some ground rules. Below, you’ll find a set of rules for organizing a DEN event, from start to finish. These rules are non-negotiable and mandatory for all event organizers—because it’s both our job and yours to maintain the integrity of the #DEN vision.

Index

Event Basics
Licensing Basics

Branding + Naming

Sponsors + Funding

Media + Distribution
Web + Social
Uploading Talks

Event Basics

#DEN Mission & Event

  • Dîner en Noir (#DEN) events are member-only, fully curated, 3-part, black attire fine dining experiences held in secret locations in cities across the globe.  #DEN's mission is to address the structural & financial inequities of arts programming, small business development, and health and wellness education in the vulnerable & under-served communities of our Host Cities.​

 

#DEN Event Format:

  • Modeled after a concept designed by Dîner en Noir Worldwide Founder & President, and veteran event producer Howard Nelson Cromwell, the #DEN event format, will usually consist of three parts: an Aperitif Cocktail Welcome Reception, Seated Dinner, and Digestif "After-Dîner" Party.  The event will usually have a series of short, carefully prepared talented performances on a wide range of genres and end with a dance party.

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Spirit & Purpose:

  • Your event must maintain the following #DEN spirit & purpose:

    • highlighting/promoting the talents of local artists

    • utilizing the services/products of local small businesses and offering vendor & business partnership opportunities at #DEN Events

    • bringing awareness to health and wellness issues & disparities directly affecting our communities.

    • financially supporting front-line arts programming, small business development, and health awareness/delivery non-profit organizations/programs in our Host Cities with our #DEN Community Awards

  • Part fully immersive dining event, part art & business networking opportunity, part health information resource, and part community fundraiser, #DEN Events are a chic and memorable way to support the local community.

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Attendance:

  • #DEN Membership is required for any guest to register and attend a #DEN event.

  • There is no maximum number of attendees that can attend your event.

  • Only primary license holders who have attended a qualifying #DEN event in person may organize an event with more than 1000 attendees. The primary license holder is the individual whose name is on the application form.

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Duration:

  • Your event may not exceed eight hours in length unless otherwise noted for your event type (does not include set up & breakdown. 

 

Introduction Video:

  • The official #DEN introduction video must be played at the beginning of your event so that the audience understands the #DEN concept and our mission (coming soon). 

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Quality Control:

To ensure quality control of the #DEN brand and events, first-time organizers are required to abide by the below:

  • The organizer must be a reputable event producer or have experience producing large-scale events.  

  • The organizer must have hired/working with a public relations/marketing firm with experience in high-end luxury events, hospitality, restaurant/dining, or charity/fund raising events.  

  • The organizer must have a volunteer management system.  

  • Dîner en Noir Worldwide corporate management team member(s) are required to be in attendance for all first-time Dîner en Noir organizer's events to ensure events abide by licensing agreements, policies & rules.  The cost of travel & accommodations for the corporate management team member(s) (no more than two) will be the responsibility of the organizer if the event is located more than 2 hours from our Washington, DC headquarters. Two corporate visits are required:

    • First visit will be during venue visits, caterer's tastings, & member's meet & greet.  

    • Second visit will do during the weekend of the event.

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Performer Copyright:

  • Every performer's content must comply with copyright law.

  • Artists must inform you beforehand of any third-party material that will be used in their performance and seek written permissions to copyrighted materials when applicable.

  • #DEN cannot assist with this process nor act as a consultant on individual cases.

Anchor 1

Licensing Basics

Anchor 2

License Holder:

  • #DEN requires the license holder to be the primary organizer of a #DEN event. If this is found not to be the case, #DEN reserves the right to revoke, or not renew, a license.

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License Location:

  • #DEN allocates one location-based license series per applicant.

  • You must live in the city for which you are applying for a license.

  • Your #DEN event must happen in the city for which you received the license.

  • #DEN events do not travel—a #DEN license series is valid for one city.

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License Term:

  • #DEN license is valid for a year (365 days) from the Effective Date of the license agreement.  You must produce your #DEN Annual Event and any Salon Events within that year. You must re-apply for each subsequent license.

License Relinquishment:

  • #DEN licenses are exclusive, non-assignable, & non-transferable —#DEN Events can only be produces by the license holder. If you want to relinquish your license to allow another organizer to have it, you'll need to notify us first. The new licensee will need to fill out their own application.

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Releasing Digital Properties:

  • If you decide not to renew your #DEN license after your #DEN event, or #DEN does not renew your license, you must relinquish any use of any #DEN domain name and any social media properties back to Dîner en Noir Worldwide corporate. Licensees are forbidden from creating social media accounts, purchasing any #DEN related URLs, creating any #DEN related emails accounts or any other digital properties. 

Branding + Naming

Anchor 3

Naming:

  • Because #DEN events exist to serve their communities, each event is named after its unique location, such as a city, neighborhood, or street.

  • #DEN event names must comply with the guidelines laid out in Naming your event and are granted at the discretion of the Dîner en Noir Worldwide corporate team.

 

Name Usage:

  • You must always refer to your event with the full name your license was approved for in all copy, messaging, logos, etc. For example, if your licensed name is "Dîner en Noir - Philadelphia", you may not refer to your event as "Dîner en Noir - Philly" or any other variation.

  • You should always refer to your event as Dîner en Noir, EventName, not simply “Dîner en Noir”.

  • Your event name should be written as Dîner en Noir, EventName with the "D" & "N" capitalized, and an accent over the "î", and attached to your License Location-based name.

  • Name abbreviations and variations are not allowed.

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Dîner en Noir Events Are Independent

  • Because Standard #DEN events are stand-alone events, they may not be combined with or integrated into any conference, ceremony, event, or curriculum.

  • Standard #DEN events cannot be co-branded: you may not connect the  #DEN logo/identity/name to the name of another organization, non-profit, corporation or other entity.

  • You may not present your #DEN event as being organized by other entities or positioned as one of their offerings.

Dîner en Noir Brand Positioning:

  • Make clear in all communications that your event is a Dîner en Noir independently organized event — and is not a Dîner en Noir Worldwide (Corporate) event.

  • You should never communicate “Dîner en Noir is coming to (my city)...”

  • Make clear that you are a Dîner en Noir - EventName organizer, and not an employee of Dîner en Noir Worldwide, the company.

  • Ensure that all of your staff, performers, community partners, etc, abide by these guidelines as well.

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Dîner en Noir Logo

  • You should never use the Dîner en Noir standalone logo in any communications or branding.  Always use the logo with your Event Name that was approved in your license agreement.  Never design or create any Dîner en Noir logos.

 

#DEN Hashtags

  • Organizers are encouraged to create a social media hashtag for your event.  The "#DEN" in the hashtag and the first letters of the unique identifier should ALWAYS be capitalized with the Event Name of the unique identifier being lowercase. ("#DENDallas, #DENLosAngeles).

Sponsors + Funding

Anchor 4

For Profit Event:

  • #DEN is not a nonprofit organization but a for profit community-based fundraising benefit with the goal to generate as much revenue as possible.

  • All #DEN events should allocate a specified percentage of its net profits to be donated to a local benefiting partner nonprofit organizations.

 

Admission and Fees:

  • Registration fees for #DEN Events are set by the Host-Organizer and in accordance with Dîner en Noir Worldwide guidelines. Standard Event Registration Fee should go towards the event production and operating costs.  Registration must be for two (2) people unless otherwise approved by Dîner en Noir Worldwide.  Event registration may only be done via the Dîner en Noir main ticketing site via your Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] event registration page "www.DinerenNoir.com/uniqueeventname-registration".  Check your event type for details.

  • The Membership and ticket Transaction Fees go directly to Dîner en Noir Worldwide corporate headquarters and are used to cover the inherent costs of training, support, and technical services to all Host-Organizers globally to assist them in the production of their events.

  • Revenue from #DEN Event registrations & #DENStore sales minus ticket Transaction Fee and 20% License Fee will be dispersed to organizer weekly via means agreed upon by Dîner en Noir Worldwide and the Host-Organizer (Licensee).  

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Fundraising and Crowdfunding:

  • Host-Organizers cannot organize separate ticketed #DEN-branded fundraising events or use crowdfunding platforms -- such as IndieGoGo, Kickstarter, or other local platforms -- to raise money for any aspect of a #DEN event.

 

 

Performer Fees and Ineligible Speakers:

  • In very limited situations, #DEN Events may pay performers but many never charge performers.  Given that #DEN Events are community fundraising events, there should be NO COMPENSATION offered for performers.

  • Sponsors of your event can never speak from the stage. See Sponsorship rules for more.

  • Host-Organizers may serve as sponsors for their own event granted the appropriate sponsorship fee is paid.

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Eligible Sponsors:

  • Host-Organizers may not approach any sponsors that fall under our prohibited sponsor or prohibited industries lists.

  • Host-Organizers may contact any prospective sponsors not included on lists prohibited industries lists without prior approval from Dîner en Noir Worldwide, however, all sponsor MUST be approved by the corporate office.

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Creative Independence:

  • Sponsors must have no creative control or influence over your #DEN curation.

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Sponsor Logos on Stage:

  • Sponsor logos cannot be displayed on any #DEN stage. You can thank your sponsors in a slide, but the logos cannot remain on the stage for more than a few seconds—or be in any Official event photos.

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Products and Giveaways:

  • You may give away or sell #DEN branded products/merchandise during your event and during the period of your license; however, they MUST be approved by corporate, contain your unique event name, year and/and hashtag, (not the generic “Dîner en Noir” logo), and only sold via the #DENStore.

Media + Distribution

Anchor 5

Press Releases:

 

News Media and Your Event:

  • If you are interviewed for broadcast TV, radio, or new media, clearly state that your event is a Dîner en Noir, unique event name event, and explain what that means (it is independently organized, etc.). Represent yourself as the organizer of your specific Dîner en Noir, unique event name event.

  • Dîner en Noir Worldwide corporate staff should be the sole spokespeople for Dîner en Noir and the Dîner en Noir Worldwide national events program as a whole. Please ask all journalists and/or bloggers to be respectful of the difference between the Dîner en Noir Worldwide and Dîner en Noir, unique event name brands. The "unique event name'' in ''Dîner en Noir" stands for "independently organized events." Inform all media that any headline or text which implies "Dîner en Noir" is coming to [location] is misleading. Any inquiry regarding Dîner en Noir should be directed to: Dîner en Noir Worldwide Corporate Media Liaison, HNCAgency@hncent-inc.com.

  • Members of the press are not allowed to film or videotape your #DEN event.  Once event videos are edited & approved, organizers can share with the media.

Content Beyond the Stage:

  • #DEN organizers should not make content that attempts to represent the #DEN Worldwide events program or official #DEN Worldwide events program platform.

  • Organizers may create audio and video content specific to thier Dîner en Noir, unique event name event. Any content - whether audio or video - including documentaries - must abide by the following:

    • No use of the Dîner en Noir and/or plain Dîner en Noir logos without your unique location qualifier

    • No remixing or re-editing of Dîner en Noir events

    • No filming is permitted inside the event except the filming of your #DEN event; the only film crew that is allowed into the #DEN event is the designated crew recording for the official #DEN event video.

    • Media can shoot b-roll of guests walking in the event, but not inside the event.

 

Creative Commons:

  • Photos of  Dîner en Noir, unique event name must be released under a creative license ("Personal", "Commercial" or "Extended Commercial"), so they can be freely shared and reposted.

 

Rights to Distribute #DEN Event Excerpts:

  • You can use up to a 60-second excerpt from a #DEN event for video or audio content, including documentaries, promo videos, TV segments, and podcasts with prior written consent from #DEN Worldwide corporate office.

Web + Social

Anchor 6

Website Domain:

  • Organizers are forbidden from purchasing a domain name or create email addresses with the event name as #DENWorldiwide will supply organizers with these. The URL of your website's homepage will be the name of  Dîner en Noir, unique event name event and will be an extension of our main www.dinerennoir.com site (e.g. www.dinerennoir.com/dallas)

 

Website homepage: 
Your site's homepage will include the following:

  • A visible link, on your event's homepage, to the #DEN National Events Program.

  • Language that describes:

    • What is Dîner en Noir, unique event name

    • Le Dîner en Noir’s mission is to promote the city's business, hospitality, and arts communities by uniting friends and strangers alike from diverse backgrounds for a night of elegance, great food, music, dancing and communion at our unique events. Founded on a concept of inviting and partnering with local businesses,  to come together, pull resources and promote t community involvement, Dîner en Noir has become both, a networking opportunity for its guests, as well as a chic elegant way to support the local community. In the spirit of Dîner en Noir,  #DEN has created a national events program which is a community of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a #DEN-like experience. Our event is called Dîner en Noir, [unique event name], where unique event name = independently organized #DEN event. At our Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] event guests will experience the beauty and value of some of the city’s unique hosting venues by participating in the unexpected. Beyond the spectacle and elegance of the 3-part event itself (Aperitif Cocktail Hour, 3-Course Dinner & Digestif After-Dinner Party), our guests will take solace in knowing that they are brought together from diverse backgrounds by good taste and a love of the cities dining & arts community. Dîner en Noir encourages our guests to engage one another, knowing that they are taking part in a truly magical experience. Dîner en Noir Corporate provides general guidance for the #DEN National Events Program, but individual events, including ours, are self-organized.

  • Text in the footer that states, "This  Dîner en Noir, unique event name event is operated under license from  Dîner en Noir Corporate."

 

 

Website content:

  • Your site needs to include information about your Organizing Host, Table Hosts, Group Leaders, Performers, date of the event, the price of tickets, additional info. 

  • Sponsor or partner logos or names may not appear on your site's homepage. Instead, create a separate page dedicated to your sponsors, and link to the page from your home page navigation bar. Anywhere it appears, the sponsor's logo must be smaller than your Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] event's logo.

 

Social media profiles:

  • Social media properties, such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, will have names that mirror the official, licensed name of your  Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] event and will be created and supplied by Dîner en Noir Corporate.

  • Organizers must use the officialDîner en Noir, [unique event name] event logo as your social media profile image (including but not limited to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram). Dîner en Noir Corporate will give organizer/proxy admin rights to these accounts.

  • If there is an "Info" tab, include the "About Dîner en Noir" and "Dîner en Noir, [unique event name]" copy.

  • Rules regarding naming, sponsorship, and branding apply to all social media platforms.

 

Sponsors on event social media:

  • Mentioning of your event's sponsors on social media accounts—including but not limited to Twitter, Facebook, or a blog can be done up to once a week. This also includes sharing or re-posting content originally shared by sponsors.

  • Sponsor names/logos may be included in the footer of your email newsletter but may not be integrated into content or other parts of your communications.

 

Email list:

  • Never use your Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] customers email list for any purpose other than communicating information specifically about your Dîner en Noir, [unique event name]event.

 

Uploading and crediting photos:

  • Official photos from your Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] event must be uploaded to social media accounts and must contain Dîner en Noir, [unique event name] logo watermark. 

  • When posting photographs anywhere social media, clearly credit the photographer in the metadata, captions and tags.

  • Do not put text or other labels onto your photos.

  • Do not superimpose your photographer’s information or logo on the photos.

Uploading Dîner en Noir Event Videos

Anchor 7

Editing #DEN event videos:

  • #DEN events videos should not exceed FIVE minutes. Any video exceeding 5 minutes submitted is subject to review by the Dîner en Noir Corporate team and may not be published to the official Dîner en Noir YouTube channel.

  • The videos should not have any text or images superimposed on any main part of the video. This means no event logos, videographer logos, watermarks, subtitles, text or other labels.

  • Title of the video is required to be in the following format: Dîner en Noir, [unique event name][4 digit year], Official Video (example: Dîner en Noir, Washington, DC 2017, Offical Video).

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Recording and sharing content:

  • You must record all mainstage content (live talks, performances, etc.) on video

  • All of your speakers, performers, and other stage presenters must sign our #DEN Release Form, giving Dîner en Noir and others the right to edit and distribute video of their presentation or performance.

  • Please keep all releases for your records, and send to #DEN only upon request.

  • After your event, you must make your videos accessible to #DEN and the public by uploading them to the #DEN Media Uploader via Dropbox, which ultimately posts to the #DEN Youtube channel.

  • Talks from Internal or Business #DEN events should not be uploaded to the #DEN YouTube channel or be distributed publicly.

 

#DEN Videos Video Sequence: 
All #DEN videos must be edited in the following sequence:​​

  • Pre-roll that includes general event intro graphics, the #DEN event logo, event date, event location, and event homepage URL all together should not exceed 10 seconds. Any video with pre-roll exceeding 10 seconds submitted is subject to review by the #DEN Corporate team and may not be published to the #DEN YouTube channel. (required)

  • Event B-Roll (required)

  • Post-roll event graphics with names of event hosts, special that to each group leader, table leader, table host, venue, city, entertainment/performers, service providers, etc. Sponsor slides and event graphics at the end of the video should not exceed 15 seconds when used. Any video with post-roll exceeding 15 seconds submitted is subject to review by the #DEN Corporate team and may not be published to the #DEN YouTube channel.  (required)

  • Sponsor slide that includes Special Thanks to National and Local Sponsors and THANK YOU to all guests.  (required) 

 

 

Sponsor logos on videos:

  • The sponsor slide may be static or contained in moving graphics/credits

  • No commercials are allowed. 

  • If you have both National and Local Sponsors, you must feature all National Sponsor logos first, then all Local Sponsors after. You may not feature different sponsor logos on different videos.

  • Video and production companies who are paid to produce the content cannot be credited on the sponsor slide or anywhere else in the video. Sponsored production may be credited in the post-roll of the video.

 

#DEN YouTube channel:

  • #DEN events videos should be uploaded to #DEN Dropbox Media Uploader for sharing from the official #DEN YouTube channel through an embed or link.

  • #DEN event videos cannot be uploaded to any other platforms or channels. Organizers may not share the video file with anyone or entity other than Dîner en Noir Corporate; instead, the link to Youtube video should be shared.

  • Adhere to YouTube's Terms of Service and Community Guidelines with every video sent for uploading to the #DEN YouTube channel.

  • Before you upload any video, you must confirm that all the images, music and video clips used in your video are cleared for distribution on YouTube. Securing rights to any copyrighted materials are entirely the responsibility of the #DEN event organizer.

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