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Compiled today by Melissa Ward Schorsch in New York
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* INCOMING *
1. RETAIL THERAPY: Is Fashion's Night Out still the economic stimulus it was originally designed to be? From contributing editor Jim Shi: As retailers prepare for this year's iteration on Thursday, those that jumped on the initial bandwagon are at a crossroads: Are enough sales being generated to justify the expense of hosting a big fete? "It’s a tough sell to clients—there's no PR angle, no sales angle. I've never talked to anyone that had a great sales night on F.N.O.," says one influential event producer with an A-list roster of clients who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
See the full report: http://bizba.sh/OQ6x8G
2. STATE CHEF: The newest type of diplomat is that of a chef, according to a new initiative partnering the State Department and James Beard Foundation. To be officially announced September 7 at a State Department reception, the Diplomatic Culinary Partnership's mission is to “elevate the role of culinary engagement in America’s formal and public diplomacy efforts." The Washington Post: "The wide-ranging effort creates an American Chef Corps, a network of culinary leaders who could be deployed to promote U.S. cooking and agricultural products abroad. 'They might meet with an embassy, cook a lunch, post blogs or [write] articles, speak at events,' says Marshall, listing the many ways participants might engage." http://wapo.st/QiGc6p
3. V.M.A.s BUMP TIME FOR OBAMA: President Obama doesn't have to worry about people watching Taylor Swift instead of his speech this Thursday. MTV announced it will move the broadcast of the Video Music Awards to 8 p.m. E.S.T., so as not to conflict with the key moment of the Democratic National Convention's final day. The Associated Press: http://huff.to/Riwnlv
4. D.N.C.’S BIG TWITTER NUMBERS: In other Democratic National Convention news, Mashable reports: "Michelle Obama’s Tuesday-night speech about her husband and the Obama family at the Democratic National Convention drove 28,003 tweets per minute at its peak, nearly double the 14,289 mark reached by Mitt Romney‘s acceptance speech at the Republican convention last week. By the end of its first night, the Democratic Convention as a whole had sparked more than three million tweets, nearing the four million point reached by the entirety of last week’s Republican Convention." http://on.mash.to/OaH4f5
5. A DONE DEAL: Dick Clark Productions, known for producing big events like the Golden Globe Awards, which was started by its namesake founder almost 40 years ago, was sold to Guggenheim Partners. The deal was reportedly worth $370 million. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/Ojojll
6. FOX’S NO-PARTY POLICY: At the closing of the Republican National Convention last week, Fox News scored 9.1 million viewers—a two-to-one margin over other networks. New York magazine: "But despite the ratings dominance, Fox has a minimal public footprint at the conventions. While most news organizations throw open their doors to host parties and policy panels, Fox News is eschewing any marketing frippery. It's the networks that are the furthest behind that seem to be spending the most. CNN, which attracted just 2.3 million viewers last Thursday night at 10 p.m., spent a reported $2 million to run the packed 'CNN Grill,' which served up a gourmet menu to guests like Newt Gingrich and the correspondents for The Daily Show." http://bit.ly/Uq5ro7
7. CONVENTION RENOVATIONS: The Tampa Convention Center underwent millions of dollars worth of upgrades in the two years leading up to the Republican National Convention, and now meetings held in the 600,000-square-foot venue will benefit from those improvements. The center created a new fiber-optic infrastructure, upgraded its cellular network, and equipped all public areas with free Wi-Fi. The center also converted its video system from analog to digital, and expanded its green initiatives. During the convention, which wrapped up last Thursday, the convention center was the base for more than 15,000 members of the media from around the world. http://bit.ly/IaPp9e
++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: European fashion line Scott James, which just opened a Newbury street storefront, will host a Fashion's Night Out Party at the Emerald Lounge. Guests will receive a "fashion survival kit" filled with grooming goodies; there will also be a DJ and Bully Boy vodka cocktails.
Taste of the N.F.L. kickoff will take place in Boston’s Back Bay at the Galleria Atrium on September 12.
CHICAGO: The Holiday Inn Chicago Matteson Conference Center recently completed a major $12 million renovation and will host an open house and ribbon-cutting event to celebrate on September 12.
LAS VEGAS: Las Vegas Weekly: "A year ago, the Muscular Dystrophy Association announced a pledge total exceeding $61 million from its revamped fund-raising TV show ... That sum carried enormous symbolic impact: The $61 million exceeded the $58,919,838 pledged to the organization during the final year of the MDA Telethon at South Point in Las Vegas, an event that marked the end of Jerry Lewis’ tenure as host of the show." http://bit.ly/OK16rM
LOS ANGELES: As of Tuesday, Joey Kotick will no longer be with Wagstaff Worldwide as a full-time employee. However, she will return in November as a part-time consultant.
The Los Angeles Police Protective League’s Eagle & Badge Foundation gala will take place at the JW Marriott Los Angeles at L.A. Live on October 6.
L.A. Times on the FYF Fest: "When it works ... the results are glorious. When the results aren't so winning, the FYF Fest can feel as though it hasn't yet shed its more amateur roots, when FYF events were staged at random venues or festivals were planned without enough water for the 20,000 to 25,000 fans who would attend. By and large, this year's FYF Fest is a professional event, once again a party thrown in conjunction with promoter Goldenvoice." http://lat.ms/PCbEdm
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: McCormick Place in Downtown Miami is having its grand opening as an art lounge event space September 7. The event will include art, exotic cars, DJs, performances by Circ X, Life is Art, and food trucks.
Arsht Center hosts its 2012-2013 Box Office Opening Weekend with food trucks and entertainment September 7 and 8.
NEW YORK: KCD president Julie Mannion tells what prepping and planning for one of New York Fashion Week is really like. WWD: http://wwd.us/UrrMBR
Adweek: “As the official automotive sponsor of the N.F.L., General Motors’ GMC division is reinforcing its ties to the league with a two-day marketing blitz in Times Square. On Tuesday, September 4, and Wednesday, September 5, GMC will turn the Crossroads of the World into a sort of outdoor showroom, parking 33 Sierra pickup trucks on the broad traffic island set between West 47th St. and West 46th St. Each of the N.F.L.’s 32 franchises will be represented by a Sierra pickup, and the remaining truck will serve as a stand-in for the league itself.” http://bit.ly/T9MeZQ
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.
ORLANDO: Guy Kawasaki is the keynote speaker at the I.B.M. Smarter Commerce Summit, which opens today at the Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin resort.
TORONTO: The Hollywood Reporter is launching a video lounge at the Toronto International Film Festival that will serve as a V.I.P. hub for exclusive interviews. The lounge will be at Brassaii, a local hotspot, with interviews already confirmed for Matt Dillon, Christina Hendricks, Kristen Wiig, and Ed Burns. http://bit.ly/Q1qUzx
WASHINGTON: The reflecting pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial opened for the holiday weekend after being closed for a two-year, $34 million reconstruction. NBC Washington: http://bit.ly/RwyZR0
On September 7, the Washington Nationals will swing their best to "crack" the wall that will become a part of the new facility at the Children's National Medical Center, which will provide diabetes care and education.
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 Melissa Ward Schorsch 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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