Call Sheet #264: Dems Short on Convention Budget, Big Business for Hispanic-Owned Marketing Firms, Paramount Takes Cannes

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #264 — Tuesday, 05.15.12

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Compiled today by Beth Kormanik and Anna Sekula in New York
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TODAY'S CALENDAR: Clio Awards in New York, Upfront Week continues in New York

* INCOMING *

1. CONVENTION CASH: The Democratic National Convention is short more than $20 million on its $36 million budget, Bloomberg reports. President Obama has pledged not to accept corporate donations—the traditional source of funding—so convention planners are turning to labor unions and individual contributions. "But they have been told to expect, at most, $4 million from organized labor this year, less than half of the $8 million the unions contributed four years ago." http://bit.ly/J6bU5A

2. CULTURAL MARKETING: Hispanic-owned marketing agencies "have grown in size and scope as corporate and institutional brands increasingly target the growing U.S. Hispanic population," according to the Miami Herald. "Hispanic-owned marketing agencies in South Florida rank among the nation’s largest" and count among their clients the U.S. Navy and Dunkin' Donuts. The purchasing power of Hispanics will be among the topics at a conference held this week in Miami by C.N.C., an organization formerly known as the Cuban National Council. http://hrld.us/JXoJLD

3. PARAMOUNT PROMO: The movie studio found its method of choice to advertise its films at the Cannes Film Festival, even those not screening at the event. The Hollywood Reporter: "Paramount has adorned the entrance of the famous Carlton Hotel with floor-to-ceiling renderings of [Sasha] Baron Cohen as The Dictator's Admiral General Aladeen, ruler of Wadiya. And on Wednesday, Baron Cohen will show up in character at the Carlton for a stunt and press conference." The studio also is using the luxury hotel's facade to promote G.I. Joe: Retaliation and One Shot. The hotel's pier has a billboard for DreamWorks Animation and Paramount's Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted. http://bit.ly/JC9toD

4. DRINKING UP: Events surrounding last week's Manhattan Cocktail Classic included a 1920s-themed kickoff gala at the New York Public Library, plentiful libations, and new technology. Huffington Post: "This year the MCC partnered with tastingtable.com to provide Near Field Communication wrist bands (the future is now, people) so that the 3,500 party-goers could track all the cocktails they tasted." http://huff.to/Jf6MdY

A panel at the event shot down classic drinks that trendy bartenders have been trying to bring back. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/Ko1JJx

5. BROOKLYN-BOUND: ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live will travel to the East Coast for the first time when the comedian brings his show to the Brooklyn Academy of Music October 29-November 2. He said he plans to focus on the borough, including the arrival of the Brooklyn Nets N.B.A. team. New York Post: http://nyp.st/JwUGMv

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* ABOUT LAST NIGHT: UPFRONT WEEK, DAY 1  *

Yesterday, NBC and Fox opened Upfront Week (the annual four days in mid-May when the big broadcast networks pitch their slate of new shows to the advertising community in New York) bringing straightforward, if not traditional, presentations to storied venues. The events bore all the hallmarks of what buyers and ad execs have come to expect: high-ranking brass talking ratings stats onstage interspersed by songs, dancing, and comic numbers by talent from hit shows. NBC made the most of its chosen space, Radio City Music Hall, bringing performances by Smash's Katharine McPhee, Leslie Odom Jr., and Megan Hilty, The Voice winner Jermaine Paul, and a full gospel choir. Fox opted for comedy, kicking off its effort at the Beacon Theatre with a skit that saw stars from The New Girl interviewing potential roommates, actors from the network's other shows.

In the evening, NBC entertained the crowd at Del Posto, while Fox returned to Trump Wollman Skating Rink in Central Park for its post-show reception. The latter was a lively affair, packed to the gills with chatty agency reps, upbeat tunes spun by a DJ, and an impressive spread of food—the highlight of which was a wide selection of doughnuts that had plenty of guests popping them in their bags for later.

The staging at Radio City Music Hall for NBC's presentation: http://bit.ly/KKht7Z

What Fox's show at the Beacon Theatre looked like, from Brian Stelter of The New York Times: http://bit.ly/JRLtfm

A look at Fox's packed party: http://bit.ly/IVKqua

Here's a Storify roundup of yesterday's events, which we will continue to update throughout the week: http://bizba.sh/JgryFR

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: Legal Harborside will team up with the Nature Conservancy to celebrate World Oceans Day with a benefit June 5. The rooftop event will offer seafood and cocktails.

CHICAGO: Express will host "Rock the Sidewalk," an outdoor fashion show in front of the Bean at Millennium Park, May 25. The event will promote the retailer's fall collection.

Sidney Frank Importing Company will launch a vodka, American Harvest, with an event at Ivy Studios June 4. Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs is the special guest.

LAS VEGAS: Gordon Ramsay Steak is now open at Paris Las Vegas. It's the chef's first restaurant in town.

Trade Show News Network: "Held May 7-11 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the 23rd annual [Lightfair International] attracted more than a projected 20,000 attendees and more than 500 exhibitors spanning 200,000-plus net square feet of exhibit space." http://bit.ly/J4Sy0B

Ashli Kimenker will leave Kirvin Doak Communications after this week. She'll move to the 9Group as its new public relations manager, working on all of its venues at The Palms.

LOS ANGELES/SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: A groundbreaking ceremony this morning will fete the Anaheim Convention Center's construction of the 100,000-square-foot Grand Plaza, an open-air meeting and event space slated to open in January.

The Los Angeles International Wine and Spirits Competition will take to the Fairplex Pomona Wednesday-Friday.

L.A. Times: "The art of meat cutting is being revived in L.A. It's part of the know-your-food trend." http://lat.ms/KadcXm

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Conca D'Oro Restaurant & Pizza in Hollywood, known for hosting private events, is closing June 2.

The Miami Herald rounds up other restaurant closings and what may open in their place: http://hrld.us/JeExvW

NEW YORK: The New York Corporate Social Media Summit is scheduled for June 13-14 at the New Yorker Hotel, bringing together more than 200 global marketing and communications vice presidents from companies including American Express, Diageo, Citi, McDonald's, and Gap.

Great Performances will cater Extra Mooga, the all-inclusive food and drink portion of GoogaMooga, a food and music festival Saturday-Sunday at Prospect Park.

Canard Inc. will cater the 45th anniversary gala of the South Street Seaport Museum May 23. The event will start with a reception at Pier 16 and move to the museum for dinner.

Esprit Events executive chef Guy Vaknin is one of 18 chefs featured on Fox Hell's Kitchen, which premieres June 4.

TalkPoint announced the launch of Convey, a self-service webcasting tool, with demonstrations taking place today and Wednesday at the Streaming Media East conference.

Job alert: UBS is hiring a director of event planning, a director of event operations, and a senior event planner to work in its Weehawken offices. Send resumes to [email protected].

Circle Line Downtown will host the ISES Networking Event tonight on the Zephyr.

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

ORLANDO: TV personality Mario Lopez will host the Runway to Hope spring fashion soiree Saturday night at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando. More than 50 children who are current or former cancer patients will serve as fashion models.

Downtown's Lake Eola will host a two-day extreme water sports festival in September, coinciding with the Surf Expo trade show at the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando Sentinel: http://bit.ly/J5DqjD

PALM SPRINGS: Socialize Palm Springs, a division of Abel McCallister Designs, opened last week with an event at the former Frank Sinatra estate known as Twin Palms. L.A.-based Patina Restaurant Group chef and founder Joachim Splichal catered, and Patina will be the official caterer for the new company.

TORONTO: In celebration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Prince Charles and Camilla will watch Victoria Day fireworks in Toronto May 21, before heading to Saskatchewan. The official itinerary of the Royal Tour: http://bit.ly/KWXTCR

WASHINGTON: The Perennial Garden Party is Wednesday evening at Woodrow Wilson House, featuring a silent auction, live music, cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres in the Wilson House garden, and a competition for best spring hats.

Washington Business Journal: "Fairfax County and George Mason University will host the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Summit for U.S.-India Trade & Economics May 22-25. It is third time the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce summit has been held in the U.S., and the first one held outside of New York City." http://bit.ly/KmWLfX

"Family Weekend" for L.G.B.T. parents and children begins Thursday with meetings with members of Congress and an ice cream social, with Friday and Saturday events focusing on sightseeing and social gatherings.

The Library of Congress will honor former Brazilian president Fernando Henrique Cardoso with the $1 million John W. Kluge Prize for lifetime achievement in the study of humanity at a ceremony July 10 in the Library’s Thomas Jefferson Building.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]. 



With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Anna Sekula, Beth Kormanik, and Rose Chevalier in New York.

BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com. 

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