1. PRESTON BAILEY ON CLIENT PRESENTATIONS: On his blog, the event designer offers a few tips for event florists and designers when formally presenting their ideas to clients. "Be mindful of the emotional responses that are often created by these situations. This is the first time a client will receive a glimpse of what their wedding or event will look like, and likely the first time it will seem real to them ... Though they may or may not love the initial designs, giving them options has made my job a lot easier." http://bit.ly/10EAjBI
2. GE CAPITAL TRIES ADVERTISING BUS TOUR: Turns out, bus tours are not just for consumer brands. GE Capital is promoting its lending to midsize businesses with a six-month roadshow across the country in partnership with Slate.com. New York Times: "At each stop, the roadshow will host different events, like town hall discussions, conversations with the city’s mayor, and visits with middle-market businesses. In Kansas City on Monday, for example, there was a meeting with Mayor Sly James and a town hall session with GE Capital employees, while the Chicago visit on Thursday is to include a discussion moderated by Jacob Weisberg, chairman of the Slate Group, and featuring Mayor Rahm Emanuel and economist Austan Goolsbee, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers during the first term of the Obama administration." http://nyti.ms/12e0nXe
3. COMPANIES GIVE CONFERENCE ROOMS CLEVER NAMES: Naming conference rooms is not just for hotels. Companies, too, come up with clever or head-scratching names through employee contests, crowdsourcing, and other strategies. Ad Age: "Nike pays homage to its own products, naming conference rooms after sneakers. … Twitter has been known, unsurprisingly, to name its rooms after birds. At Square, every one is named after a famous Square. At Apple, it's been said that the conference rooms are named after a mythical land, known as Disney." http://bit.ly/13eETMr
* LOCAL NEWS *
COAST TO COAST: Starting May 23, the Global Corporate Challenge—a workplace health and wellness program—starts its 16-week virtual walking journey to help employees become more active by taking 10,000 steps a day. It adds elements of competition and gaming: teams of seven employees each receive two 3-D accelerometers that use the same motion-sensing technology found in smartphones to accurately track their daily activity. The more active the team, the more rewards it receives. Employees have 12-month access to the GCC Web site and additional initiatives such as GCC nutrition assessments and advice, individual challenges, and route mapping. www.gettheworldmoving.com/
BOSTON: Produced by Bryan Rafanelli, Boston Bites Back is May 15 at Fenway Park. Aiming to raise more than $1 million for the One Fund benefiting victims of the marathon bombings, the event will offer chefs' tastings, cocktails, and an auction.
The United Way gala is May 18 at the Revere Hotel's Space57. Geared toward young professionals, the event will have an Old Hollywood theme; partial proceeds will support marathon bombing victims.
CHICAGO: One Million Degrees' Food & Wine event is May 31 at Bridgeport Art Center. The evening will include cocktails, small plates paired with wine, a seated dinner, and a dessert reception; featured chefs include Ryan McCaskey and Thai Dang.
Katherine Anne Confections will host a Mother's Day truffle-making party Saturday. The afternoon event will include scones, finger sandwiches, and mimosas, and attendees will leave with four truffles they created.
LAS VEGAS: Andre’s Restaurant & Lounge at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino has announced the return of its wine dinner series, La Joie du Vin.
LOS ANGELES: Adam Levine will receive the President's Award at the 61st annual BMI Pop Awards on May 14.
Cara Zizzo joined Fingerprint Communications, working with clients like SBE and Zing Vodka.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA: Reed Travel Exhibitions has appointed Jacqui Timmins as the new director for the Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo and the China Incentive, Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Miami magazine is hosting the reopening of the Sony Store at Aventura Mall this evening. DJ Supersede and DJ Artime will spin, and other event details include cocktails by Tequila Herradura, digital sketches by Erin Una Chainani, and bites by Sweet & Tipsy Cupcakes.
Villa Azur is hosting a Great Gatsby-themed dinner party Thursday with period attire recommended. The event will have Gatsby-inspired entertainers, vintage model cars, and live music and a DJ spinning music from the present day to the Prohibition era.
NEW ORLEANS: Brad Weaber will be the new executive vice president of the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau beginning August 1.
NEW YORK: Blue Hill in Greenwich Village won the award for Outstanding Restaurant at the James Beard Foundation Awards gala Monday evening. Check out the other award recipients here: http://nydn.us/16T7Bpc
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Disney’s Hollywood Studios will host Star Wars Weekends May 17-June 9. The event will include themed shows, presentations, parades, and celebrity appearances.
TORONTO: The North by Northeast Music Festival and Conference is June 10-16 and will take place at several venues in the area. The event will feature a film festival component, an interactive conference, and performances from as many as 950 bands. http://bit.ly/YDwHWo
WASHINGTON: Ford’s Theatre announced that Betsy O’Brien Anderson will join the company as director of development in June.
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Jenna Berris, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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May 8, 2013: Preston Bailey on Client Presentations, GE Capital Launches Bus Tour, Companies Give Clever Names for Conference Rooms
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