1. SXSW UNDER SCRUTINY FOR DEPORTATION CLAUSE: South by Southwest is being criticized for appearing to threaten international bands that choose to play unofficial shows with deportation, after a musician canceled his festival appearance after tweeting a clause from his contract. The festival's managing director said the musician misunderstood the policy. USA Today: "On Thursday, musician Felix Walworth, who goes by the stage name Told Slant, announced he was canceling his SXSW appearance after reading a clause in his contract which threatens to report any international acts playing unsanctioned gigs to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. According to the excerpt in his tweet, 'Accepting and performing unofficial events may result in immediate deportation, revoked passport and denied entry by U.S. Customs Border Patrol (sic) at U.S. ports of entry.' The contract also bars international bands in the country on non-work visas from playing unofficial or public shows for the last six days of the festival. In a statement to USA TODAY, SXSW's managing director Roland Swenson said that Walworth's withdrawal was the result of 'a misunderstanding of our policies regarding international artists.' He explained that rising bands from other countries who play SXSW usually do so on non-work visas, saving the artists time and money. Swenson acknowledged that the contract language is being received differently following the election of Donald Trump, even though the controversial sections are not new. 'We understand that given the current political climate surrounding immigration, the language that was published seems strong,' he continued. 'Violating U.S. immigration law has always carried potentially severe consequences, and we would be remiss not to warn our participating acts of the likely repercussions.'" http://usat.ly/2m0k6wd
2. VIDEO WEDDING INVITES VIA MAIL ARE AN EXPENSIVE NEW TREND: While e-invites to weddings aren't uncommon, a new wedding trend—courtesy of a couple New York-based companies—involves receiving a video invite in the actual mail. The New York Times: The wedding invitation that captivated Mr. Kearney, a headwaiter at Craftbar in Manhattan, was a mailable video made by a New York company called Engaging Invites. Once the boxy, cardlike invitation is opened, a customized video, 30 seconds to three minutes long, starts up on a small screen and includes a request to attend a marriage ceremony. Video invitations sent via email are nothing new, but sending a video invitation by mail adds another elegant, and expensive, step to the process. 'When people see these invitations, you should see their faces,' said Dearrick Knupp, who founded the company with Ashley Heather. 'We’re not selling invitations. What we’re really selling is surprise and joy.' Spreengs is another New York company that offers mailable digital cards. The business is the retail arm of a larger company, PIM, that makes film brochures for companies, said Robbie Kory, the sales manager for Spreengs. Wedding invitations have so far accounted for a fraction of interest in Spreengs. 'But we’re watching sales go up as more people discover what they can do with video,' he said. Engaging Invites has not encountered a stampede of customers either. Mr. Knupp, who operates two other companies with Mr. Heather, thinks he knows why. The other challenge is price. Engaging Invites starts at $65 each, with a minimum order of 25. The price drops on a sliding scale, to $38 apiece for an order of 500. (That would be $19,000.) Other costs for design or video production may also apply. And each invitation costs $3.80 to mail." http://nyti.ms/2mLfqcd
3. MUSIC COMPANIES LAUNCH BICOASTAL CLASSIC ROCK FESTIVAL: The Eagles and Fleetwood Mac will headline a new bicoastal music festival, Classic East and Classic West, taking place at Citi Field in New York and Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles in July. Organizers, including C.A.A. and Live Nation, hope it will become an annual festival. Billboard: "Each festival will take place over two days with additional artists to be announced in the coming months. A number of big-time music companies are involved in the blockbuster concert concept including​ Azoff MSG Entertainment, Live Nation, the Oak View Group and CAA. Classic East and Classic West will be the first concert performance by the Eagles since the death of band founder Glenn Frey in Jan. 2016. The coast shows are the only dates Fleetwood Mac has scheduled for 2017, says a source. The classic-rock driven festival follows the success of Goldenvoice and AEG Live’s Desert Trip festival featuring the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Roger Waters, Bob Dylan, Neil Young and The Who, which did gangbusters business in October 2016—to the tune of $160 million in gross receipts. AEG officials have not announced whether Desert Trip will return to the Empire Polo Club in Indio, Calif. in 2017." http://bit.ly/2mjgRkC
* INDUSTRY NEWS *
The Event Leadership Institute has named Michael Granek its new president and chief operating officer. Granek previously served as academic director for the Event Management Diploma Program at the Art Institute of Vancouver and held the position of president of the Vancouver chapter of ILEA three times. The Event Leadership Institute, an organization in which BizBash is an investor, provides professional development courses and other education and training for event professionals. Its founder, Howard Givner, is moving to an advisory role.
Etouches, a global provider of cloud event management software, has acquired Loopd, an enterprise SaaS startup that enhances attendee experience through data-driven technology.
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Marriott International has announced a new corporate partnership with the N.C.A.A. across all 90 of the organization's championships. Along with N.C.A.A. March Madness, the multiyear partnership will include the N.C.A.A. Men's and Women's Final Four and all of the association’s championships, granting Marriott International marketing, media, and activation rights.
AUSTIN: Luck Reunion presented by Southwest Airlines will take place March 16 at Willie Nelson's "Luck, TX." The boutique music festival will feature performances from more than 40 artists including Willie Nelson, Conor Oberst & Friends, and Margo Price.
Index Fest, formerly known as Untapped, will kick off at the Austin American-Statesman on May 13. The craft beer and music festival will also take place June 3 at Panther Island Pavilion in Fort Worth, November 11 at Fair Park in Dallas, and at dates to be announced in Houston and San Antonio.
BOSTON: The inaugural Food Tank Summit Boston, "Investing in Discovery," will take place April 1 at the Tufts University Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy. The event will feature speakers and panelists representing farmers, policymakers, chefs, and more.
DALLAS/FORT WORTH: Trade show service and product provider the Trade Group has launched a new commercial graphics division.
KANSAS CITY: Visit KC has launched Spark, a Destination Management Company. The new for-profit entity will provide services including logistics planning, entertainment and venue sourcing, group tours, and V.I.P. experiences.
LAS VEGAS: Backstreet Boys debuted their premiere performance of the show “Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life" on March 1, marking the beginning of their exclusive Las Vegas headlining residency at the Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.
LOS ANGELES: The Tater Tots & Beer Festival takes place Saturday at Montecillo De Leo Politi Park. The event will offer eight tater-tot dishes and more than 40 beer selections.
The Jane and Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at U.C.L.A. will hold its biannual "Open Mind Gala" on March 22 at the Beverly Hilton, honoring Demi Lovato.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Mark Stephen Experiential Agency has opened a new Miami office.
NEW YORK: The official groundbreaking ceremony of the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center took place Wednesday. Expected to generate $393 million in economic activity, the expansion will include 90,000 square feet of additional exhibition space.
The filmmakers of Blood, Sand & Gold will host a treasure hunt in Central Park on March 11, to coincide with the independent film's premiere on March 9 at Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn. Treasure hunt clues will be available on the event's Facebook page.
The Village Voice's 10th annual Choice Eats food festival will take place May 19 at the Metropolitan Pavilion. The event will feature tastings from more than 60 New York restaurants and eateries including Ample Hills Creamery, the Handpulled Noodle, Harlem Shake, and Untamed Sandwiches. A portion of event proceeds will be donated to Slow Food NYC, a nonprofit aimed to counteract fast food culture.
Exhibit and event marketing company MC2 has appointed Paul Hammond as senior vice president of experiential design.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
TORONTO: The 21st annual Canada Blooms flower and garden festival will take place March 10-19 at the Enercare Centre. The nonprofit event, which is sponsored by the Garden Club of Toronto and Landscape Ontario, will celebrate Canada's sesquicentennial with "Oh! Canada"-theme events such as the Toronto Flower Show. The event is co-located with the National Home Show.
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With contributions from Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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