Call Sheet #312: Why Annual Meetings Must Change, Bloomberg's Convention Plans, Which Social Network Should You Focus On?

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #313 — Tuesday, 07.24.12

++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++

Compiled today by Beth Kormanik in New York
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* INCOMING *

1. SOCIAL MEDIA FACTS: Want to sound smart at your next staff meeting or cocktail party? Jeff Bullas collected 72 social media marketing statistics on his blog. "Wondering which social network is most effective at generating b2b leads? What marketing technique generates leads with the highest close ratio? What the best day of the week is for Facebook posting? Which U.S. city produces the largest share of 'pins' on Pinterest?" Read on here: http://bit.ly/OjJUK6

2. BATMAN MARKETING EFFECT: The mass shooting at a Colorado screening of The Dark Knight Rises is affecting another Warner Brothers feature, Gangster Squad, Variety reported. The period drama "featured a scene in which agents spray machine-gun fire into a crowded movie theater from behind the screen. Given the eerie association created by the Aurora shootings, Warner Bros. has since decided to remove the scene from the film, which opens Sept. 7, and is putting reshoot plans into motion." http://bit.ly/M5L3J5

3. SHAKE UP YOUR MEETING: Traditional corporate general sessions and monologue lectures are contributing to the decline of annual meetings and conferences. Here's how to change things up, starting with the destination city. Velvet Chainsaw: "Going to the same cities every year will only continue to attract the current crowd. Get out of the mindset that going to top tier cities will only distract your attendees from your event. If your conference provides a stellar experience, nothing will drag them away from it. Your admission that a city like Las Vegas or Chicago has too much to do is an admission that you’re annual meeting is not good enough to keep the attention of your attendees." http://bit.ly/PIHHrh

4. EXTRA, EXTRA: Bloomberg plans to have a bigger presence at this year's national political conventions. Daily Beast: "Bloomberg is unleashing a new daily magazine for the Republican and Democratic conventions. Bloomberg Insider is intended to compete with The Washington Post and Politico and show off Bloomberg Government, a subscription-only website geared toward lobbyists and government organizations." http://bit.ly/O3GRJx

5. OLYMPIC PIGGYBACKING: Brands don't have to be official sponsors of the Summer Games to take advantage of the massive TV audiences. Companies such as Royal Caribbean and Nationwide Insurance are launching new ad campaigns to coincide with the event. PepsiCo, for instance, had a sports-themed newspaper insert this weekend that featured its Pepsi-Cola and Doritos brands, a direct swipe at official Olympic sponsor Coca-Cola. New York Times: "The campaigns making their debuts come from two types of marketers: those that are official sponsors of the Games and those that advertise during the coverage on television and online but have no formal sponsorship ties to the International Olympic Committee or its United States counterpart." http://nyti.ms/QgU5o5

6. CAN JCPENNY BE APPLE? Following former chief marketing officer Michael Francis's departure in June, and just in time for back-to-school, JCPenney revealed its revamp at the Manhattan Mall in New York Monday. The concept, which was originally helmed by Francis, is part of C.E.O. Ron Johnson's efforts to turn stores into branded shops to provide an experiential hub for its consumers similar to Apple. Ad Age: http://bit.ly/OnPGbJ


++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: Event Leadership Institute ++

Check out our editor's collection of top-rated video chapters from our class library, and sharpen your event insight. Our Suggested Summer Learning compilation includes content from David Merrell, Jes Gordon, Mindy Weiss, Preston Bailey, Mary Wittenberg, Colja Dams and others.  41 minutes | 10 clips | lots of ideas 


* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: Kuoni Destination Management is producing a Mad Men-themed event for Carlson Wagonlit Travel tonight. The event is at Symphony Hall, and will have a lounge-style setup from Cort and entertainment from Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Swing Orchestra.

CHICAGO: Hash-House-a-Go-Go, a new Gold Coast spot, opens today. We featured the venue's private dining amenities in our recent roundup of new meeting spots: http://bit.ly/Qtkq11

The 1950s-themed Ed's Fest, hosted by Ed Debevic's, is August 11 at the eatery's Wells Street location. The family-friendly event will have a DJ, a dunk tank, costumed characters, and root beer floats.

Sarah Sackett is the newest addition to the Isabelli Media Relations team, overseeing the PR efforts for venues, including Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, Hotel Lincoln, and Henri.

LAS VEGAS: HeraldNet takes a look at how conventions held in Vegas often stay there: http://bit.ly/O0RpZG

LOS ANGELES: The San Bernardino Sun: "The buy-sell-trade event drew about 1,500 people to the two-day show, said Larry Briggs, president of the California World Guitar Show." http://bit.ly/NQnyPY

Alicia Mohr is leaving PMK*BNC in Los Angeles for an in-house PR and events position with FIJI Water and Justin and Landmark wines in New York.  She starts in early August.

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

MIAMI: Whole Foods Market—Coral Gables will host the food-truck-chef cook-off Fill the Grill throughout August. Participating chefs include Jim Heinz (Latin Burger & Taco), Robyn Almodovar (The Palate Party), Alfredo Montero (Mr. Good Stuff), and Eileen Andrade (Cubancube). They will have $20 to shop for ingredients and 20 minutes to prepare a summer meal on a grill.

Pridelines Youth Services, South Florida's oldest L.G.B.T.Q. youth services organization, will celebrate its 30th pearl anniversary August 18 at the Villa by Barton G. on Ocean Drive.

NEW YORK: Crains's New York Business: "The Drama League of New York will more than double its footprint in the city by building the Drama League Theater Center, the first rehearsal and educational complex in the organization’s century-long lifespan. The theater advocacy organization is headed just south of Canal Street, to 32 Sixth Ave. in TriBeCa." http://bit.ly/SQGCky

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

ORLANDO: Pirate’s Dinner Adventure opens its new show tonight. "Camelot Knights" is based on the ancient legendary romance of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere. The show includes a three-course meal.

TORONTO: The Right to Play tribute dinner takes place today at the Westing Harbour Castle. Some 1,000 guests will include members of the business and sports communities.

WASHINGTON: Cafe Dupont executive chef David Fritsche will present a three-course Julia Child 100th Birthday Menu August 15, as part of the national Julia Child Restaurant Week, August 7-15.

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, and Alexandra Brandt, Rose Chevalier, Julia Elstrodt, Beth Kormanik, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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

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