June 15, 2015: Apple Shifts Thinking on Competing Events During W.W.D.C., Tech Company Lets Users Customize Audio at Events, JetBlue Surprises New Yorkers in Billboard Stunt

1. APPLE SHIFTS THINKING ON COMPETING EVENTS DURING W.W.D.C.: In years past, Apple pressured San Francisco hotels to refuse booking competing events during the company’s Worldwide Developer Conference, but now it has warmed up to the idea of being the driver for a larger scope of events. Macworld: “This week, running alongside WWDC, were not just various parties and get-togethers sponsored by various groups, but actual conferences running in parallel with Apple’s conference–and while they weren’t exactly endorsed by Apple, neither were they crushed like a bug so that Apple could be the only game in town this week.” http://bit.ly/1FiykHD

2. TECH COMPANY LETS USERS CUSTOMIZE AUDIO AT EVENTS: Live Nation, Universal Music, and WME are among the investors in Doppler Labs, which creates a product that allows users to customize the audio at live events. Hollywood Reporter: “Doppler's ‘bionic ears’ feature two wireless buds that allow a listener to ‘control and personalize’ a live audio environment, an innovation that's well-suited for concerts and live performances. The idea is to let the user effectively make a personal ‘mix’ of whatever he or she is hearing.” http://bit.ly/1TntUKn

3. JETBLUE SURPRISES NEW YORKERS IN BILLBOARD STUNT: An interactive billboard from JetBlue gave passersby more than they bargained for when the interaction became increasingly personalized. Creativity Daily: “The billboard, placed in New York's Chelsea district, invited pedestrians to choose from a variety of topics, press buttons and hear a series of apparently robotic, pre-recorded answers about JetBlue from what appeared to be a video of a crew member on the screen. Nothing particularly exciting about that — but she then started to comment in real-time on what they were doing, saying and wearing. Eventually the real-life crew member stepped out from behind the screen.” http://bit.ly/1FJF02N

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON:  Boston 2024, the organization aimed at strengthening Boston’s bid for the 2024 Olympic Games, has proposed using Dorchester’s Harambee Park as an Olympics venue. The Boston Globe: "Relocating the event from the world’s wealthiest university [Harvard] to a gritty nonprofit bordered by public housing developments is part of a strategy by Boston 2024 to shake off criticism that it is a pet project of the city’s downtown elite.” http://bit.ly/1L3utmQ

CHICAGO:  Imerman Angels will host a 5K Brunch Run on July 11 at Montrose Harbor. There will be an on-course nonalcoholic mimosa station and a Belgian waffle station from Blue Plate Catering past the finish line.

LAS VEGAS:  Life Time Athletic Summerlin will host the Poolapalooza pool party on June 27 at the club’s outdoor pool.

LOS ANGELES:  The nightlife spot Bootsy Bellows Los Angeles reopens Tuesday following a renovation.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  High Heels & High Tops, a benefit for the 3G Project’s Camp 3G, will take place June 20 at Fusion Cafe. Guests compete in a shoe competitions—one for high heels, one for high tops—and solicit votes from other guests.

NEW YORK:  Mary J. Blige will perform at a free, private concert on Liberty Island June 21 as a prelude to the Budweiser Made in America festival, which will take place in Philadelphia over Labor Day weekend. Fans can enter for a chance to win tickets on Budweiser’s website.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

TORONTO:  Gusto 54 restaurant group has launched a new catering division, Catering Kitchen.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  WipeoutRun DC, a 3.1-mile obstacle course, will take place June 20 on the festival grounds at RFK Stadium.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Anna Sekula in New York.

BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.

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