July 28, 2016: D.N.C. Draws More Ratings Than R.N.C., New York Circus Staple to End Public Performances, Abrupt Cancellation of Industry Conference Leads Speakers to Plan Free Virtual Event

1. D.N.C. DRAWS MORE RATINGS THAN R.N.C.: The Democratic National Convention has drawn bigger ratings than last week’s Republican National Convention, as more than four million viewers watched the first two nights of the political event. Advertising Age: “According to Nielsen live-plus-same-day data, the first two nights of the DNC have delivered an average crowd of 25.3 million viewers across ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox News Channel and MSNBC, a tally that marks a 21% advantage over the 21 million viewers who watched the opening rounds of the Republican National Convention. Midway through the four-night event, the DNC is also besting the GOP confab in terms of the number of demographically desirable viewers it is reaching. Thus far, the DNC is averaging 7.9 million adults 25 to 54 years old per night, which translates to a 6.7 rating and represents a 39% lift versus the RNC's 5.68 million/4.8 rating. … While advertising in live news events tends to skew heavily toward pharmaceutical spots and over-the-counter anodynes, clients are mixing it up a bit with the broadcast portion of the DNC. Along with the inevitable buys from the likes of Pfizer, Bayer (Aleve, MiraFiber) and GlaxoSmithKline (Breo), the network DNC coverage has been supplemented by spots for Subaru, Mazda, E-Trade, Sonic Drive-In, Viking Ocean Cruises and Paramount Pictures' upcoming small-budget U.K. import ‘Florence Foster Jenkins.’ On the cable front, pharma for the large part has given way to an array of categories, including automotive (Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Honda, Volkswagen, Buick), financial services (American Express, Fisher Investments), restaurants (McDonald's, Red Lobster, Panera Bread), packaged goods (Great Grains, Planters, Hebrew National) and studios. Along with the aforementioned Paramount release, moviemakers that have bought time in DNC cable coverage include The Weinstein Company ("Hands of Stone"), Universal Pictures (‘Jason Bourne’) and CBS Films (‘Hell or High Water’).” http://bit.ly/2aycz4K

2. NEW YORK CIRCUS STAPLE TO END PUBLIC PERFORMANCES: A New York staple for more than 35 years, the Big Apple Circus has announced it won’t continue its public performances for the upcoming holiday season because of low funds. The New York Times: “Last month, Big Apple started an emergency fund-raising drive, saying its finances were in so much trouble it would have to shut down if it did not raise $2 million fairly quickly. Its administrators went beseechingly to big donors who had come to the aid of the circus in the past while hoping that a moneyed newcomer might come along and write a single big check. A crowdfunding campaign was begun as well. But ultimately the circus fell far short of its goal, raising only $900,000. Despite its reputation and position in the city’s cultural firmament, many New Yorkers never realized that unlike Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey, which is run by an entertainment conglomerate, the Big Apple is a nonprofit institution. Begun by the creative, well-educated vagabonds Paul Binder and Michael Christensen in the 1970s, the circus was founded with a Robin Hood spirit that some families would pay full price; those lacking the means would pay nothing. Over the years, the organization went further, holding special performances for blind, deaf and autistic children. It also started to run community programs — sending vaudeville acts to nursing homes and clowns to hospitals to amuse very sick children. … The troubles at the circus began, in large part, after the 2008 financial crisis, with a drop in the private performances banks used to hold for employees during December. Despite the rebound on Wall Street, the money never made its way back.” http://nyti.ms/2ab3utO

3. ABRUPT CANCELLATION OF INDUSTRY CONFERENCE LEADS SPEAKERS TO PLAN FREE VIRTUAL EVENT: Less than one month before it was to take place, the Future of Events conference in Amsterdam has been cancelled due to what conference C.E.O. Steven Wickel described in an email as “very low ticket sales.” The event had been planned for August 22 to 24 and was described on the registration website as an event to “provide event professionals with the tools to develop their personal and professional competence by providing new techniques, creative ideas, and innovations to make future events game-changing.” More than 40 speakers were listed on the website, including BizBash C.E.O. David Adler, Fast Traffic Events & Entertainment C.E.O. Frank Supovitz, Liz King of Liz King Events, Corbin Ball, Dahlia El Gazzar, and many more. In the hours after the announcement yesterday, Gazzar, King, and Aaron Kaufman, president of Fifth Element Group, made the decision to keep the spirit of the event alive by hosting a free virtual event August 23 titled [CTRL] + [ALT] + [DEL]. Details are still being formulated but in a news release the organizers say they have already confirmed that several of the original conference speakers will participate. The event will be accessible online and with viewing at venues in New York, Amsterdam, and others to be determined. Details will be shared on the event’s Facebook page as they develop: http://bit.ly/2avtkvC

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST:  Epson will host its annual series of Epson Integrator Certification Expos from August 10-October 12. Venues include the Prairie Stone Ballroom at the Marriott Chicago NW, the Garden Ballroom at Philadelphia Hilton City Avenue, and the Centennial Ballroom at Marriott Atlanta Century Center. 

AUSTIN:  Fairmont Austin has appointed Thomas Voss as managing director and Nenad Praporski as hotel manager. The 1,048-room hotel is slated to open summer 2017. 

DALLAS/FORT WORTH:  The fifth annual Chefs for Farmers will take place September 23-25 at Arlington Hall at Lee Park. Supporting local and regional farmers, the event is sponsored by Whole Foods, Patron, the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau, and more. 

LAS VEGAS:  Caesars Palace will celebrate its 50th anniversary August 5 with a pool party hosted by Gordon Ramsay and a public fireworks display. Tony Bennett, Howie Mandel, Wayne Newtown, and more will headline the anniversary gala on August 6.

LOS ANGELES:  The California Beer Festival is slated to return to Frank G. Bonelli Park in San Dimas on September 10-11.

For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

NEW YORK:  The Campbell Apartment in Grand Central closes today, as the owners of the classic cocktail bar were outbid when the lease was up for renewal. New owner Scott Gerber of the Gerber Group has not yet announced plans for the space. 

This year’s Dolly Parton tribute event Dollypalooza will take place September 3 at Le Poisson Rouge. 

For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Disney is offering a new private tour at Animal Kingdom for groups of 12 people. The "Savor the Savanna" tour is a two-hour ride at dusk through the park's 110-acre wildlife reserve that is home to giraffes, lions, wild dogs, and more. Guests also stop for a dinner of African-inspired tapas in the middle of the savannah. 

PHOENIX/SCOTTSDALE:  The Saguaro Scottsdale will debut newly renovated guest rooms and 12,000 square feet of meeting and event space in October. Event spaces include the 7,649-square-foot Agave Ballroom and Patio, which features fire pits and outdoor dining and entertainment areas. 

SAN DIEGO:  The 24th annual Taste of Downtown, sponsored by Makers Quarter, will take place September 15. The event will feature food from eateries throughout the Gaslamp Quarter, Core District, and East Village.

TORONTO:  The 41st annual Toronto International Film Festival, which takes place September 8-18, has announced its lineup. This year’s gala films include Oliver Stone’s Snowden and Rob Reiner’s LBJ, and the festival opener will be the remake of The Magnificent Seven. 

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, Jill Menze, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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

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