October 6, 2016: Women Are Dominating Virtual Reality Creation, Vice-Presidential Debate Draws Low Ratings, Taylor Swift's AT&T Deal Includes a Pre-Super Bowl Concert

1. WOMEN ARE DOMINATING VIRTUAL-REALITY CREATION: The technology industry is notoriously male-dominated, but when it comes to the creation of virtual reality—which is becoming increasingly commonplace at events—women seem to be running the show. The Cut: "Virtual reality is still in its infancy, but is expected to be a $150 billion industry by 2020. And because the technology is so new, and so different from anything else happening in Silicon Valley, female creators have gotten a rare opportunity to start from a level playing field. Virtual reality is so new that it has 'no formalized industry, and therefore no industry hierarchy, making it particularly welcoming to outsiders and newcomers,' explains Julia Kaganskiy, director of the New Museum’s New Inc. incubator, where Zec is a fellow. 'Effectively everyone is a newcomer, and there are virtually no insiders.' There are women in VR panels, conferences, support groups, and mentor relationships. Four of the 11 virtual-reality projects in the New York Film Festival’s Convergence division, which focuses on VR and immersive storytelling, were created by women, and Convergence programmer Matt Bolish says in the five years of the program, 'women have not only been at the forefront as creators, but as producers, writers, and financiers.' And at the New Frontier VR exhibition at Sundance this past January—the program’s tenth anniversary—a record 13 of the 32 lead artists on VR projects were women. 'This is really a powerful medium and we have to make sure we do better this time,' says Kamal Sinclair, who directs the New Frontier Labs program. 'We saw how women dropped out of computer science in the early ’80s. They were there in the beginning. How do we make sure we learn from those missteps?' … The subject of empathy comes up a lot when discussing the possibilities and the limits of virtual reality: the possibility of using a digital world to communicate an experience that’s foreign to the viewer, the limits of how authentic that experience can actually be. It is true that virtual reality, more than any other medium before it, is provocatively immersive. If the real world refuses to listen to women, artists are saying, they’ll build a new virtual world that will." http://thecut.io/2dfzfmv

2. VICE-PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE DRAWS LOW RATINGS: In stark contrast with the first presidential debate between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, the vice-presidential debate between Democratic senator Tim Kaine and Republican governor Mike Pence brought in notably low ratings. According to Nielsen, the debate drew 37 million viewers, making it the least-watched vice-presidential debate since 2000. The Wall Street Journal: “The figure, which includes major broadcast and cable networks, may be adjusted slightly when Nielsen reports the final tally later on Wednesday. But the number suggests that Tuesday night’s matchup was the least-watched vice-presidential debate since 2000, when Dick Cheney and Joe Lieberman brought in 29 million viewers. NBC led the broadcasters with about 7 million viewers on Tuesday night, compared with about 6.5 million tuning in on CBS, 6.15 million on ABC and 2.2 million on Fox. Among cable networks, Fox News won with about 6.1 million viewers, while CNN drew in 4.2 million and MSNBC generated 3.1 million viewers. While the numbers were down from other vice-presidential debates in recent history, this election cycle has been a boon for TV networks’ ratings overall. After a closely watched primary season and highly rated conventions, the first of three duels between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump broke the presidential debate viewership record when 84 million people tuned in last week. The vice-presidential contest was thought to be less of a marquee political matchup. It was certainly less anticipated than the debate between Joe Biden and Sarah Palin in 2008, which brought in 69.9 million people, making it the most viewed of any vice-presidential debate in history.” http://on.wsj.com/2dw2UtH

3. TAYLOR SWIFT'S AT&T DEAL INCLUDES A PRE-SUPER BOWL CONCERT: Pop star Taylor Swift has signed a multi-year deal with AT&T, which will include headlining a pre-Super Bowl concert. Billboard: "Announced on Tuesday, the partnership will feature content and performances by Swift, including a headline spot at the AT&T DIRECTV Super Saturday Night concert taking place in Houston the night before Super Bowl LI. The Feb. 4 concert will mark Swift's first time performing as part of the festivities around the big game. AT&T said the Saturday night event will be held at a new, custom-made 64,000 square foot venue in Houston. Fans will have access to tickets through a series of exclusive promotions and campaigns. More details on the multi-year relationship will be announced soon, but AT&T hinted that the Houston concert is just one of "many opportunities" planned for the coming months." http://bit.ly/2doP6Vf

* LOCAL NEWS *

AUSTIN:  The Sportscar Vintage Racing Association's U.S. Vintage National Championships will take place November 2-6 at Circuit of the Americas.

CHICAGO:  The National Museum of Mexican Art will host a citywide Day of the Dead celebration on November 1. The museum and surrounding area will feature visual displays inspired by the holiday, in addition to 75 ofrendas (altars) showcased at Harrison Park created by community members and local artists and organizations.

LOS ANGELES:  The International Myeloma Foundation's 10th annual Comedy Celebration will take place November 5 at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre. The event, which benefits the Peter Boyle Research Fund and supports the Black Swan Research Initiative, will be hosted by Ray Romano and feature performances by Bill Burr, Jeff Garlin, Kevin Nealon, Fred Willard, and more.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  Shake a Leg Miami's 25th Anniversary Art of Sail Fundraiser will take place October 29 at Historic Coastguard Hangar in Coconut Grove. The event will include a fashion show, live entertainment, cocktails, and cuisine.

Nascar champion Kurt Busch, four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel, and Indianapolis 500 winners Juan Pablo Montoya, Tony Kanaan, and Ryan Hunter-Reay are among those who will be participating in Race of Champions Miami at Marlins Park on January 21-22, 2017. It will be the first Race of Champions held in the United States since the event launched in 1988.

NEW YORK:  Housing Works, a nonprofit that aims to end homelessness and AIDS, will host its interior design benefit event, Design on a Dime, Thursday through Sunday at Brooklyn's Industry City. The event, which features 20 room vignettes created by Brooklyn interior designs, is sponsored by Elle Decor, Benjamin Moore, Aviation American Gin, and Owl's Brew. The event is produced by Mark Stephen Experiential Agency.

ABC News anchor Elizabeth Vargas will be the keynote speaker at the New York Press Club Foundation's 24th annual Conference on Journalism, to be held October 29 at New York University's Kimmel Center. The event, sponsored by MetLife, will include panel discussions and the New York Journalism Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.

The United Nations Development Programme's inaugural Global Goals Gala, "A Night for Change," will be held on December 5 at Phillips.

Riviera Caterers has hired Tyler Lyne as executive chef and chief operating officer.

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

SAN DIEGO:  Univision and Fusion Media Group will host its RiseUp As One concert on October 15 at the Cross Border Xpress. The Sprint-sponsored event, which aims to celebrate diversity, unity, and music, will feature performance from Andra Day, Miguel Bosé, Los Tigres del Norte, Alejandro Sanz, and more.

TORONTO:  The Great Hall's British restaurant and pub the Bristol is being remodeled into a German-style beer hall. BlogTO: http://bit.ly/2dtTOOy

VANCOUVER:  Fairmont Pacific Rim will host the 12th annual Culinary Apprenticeship Dinner on November 17. The event will feature a dining experience inspired by Vancouver cuisine, which will be cooked by apprentice chefs from Fairmont Hotels in the Pacific Northwest.

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

JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com

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.

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