BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #238 — Monday, 04.06.12
++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++
Compiled today by Anna Sekula and Chad Kaydo in New York.
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* INCOMING *
1. COACHELLA’S NEW FORMAT: In an effort to reduce crowding, the music festival in Indio, California, expands from one weekend to two this year, kicking off this Friday. The L.A. Times: “In doing so, this pinnacle of cutting-edge, outdoor concerts has the potential to not only prove enjoyable again but also to morph into a much larger cultural event. By keeping top talent and fans in or around the vicinity for nearly two weeks, the festival will expand on its role as a trend-setter both musically and culturally.” But there’s also a risk: “The charm and eclectic nature of the festival could quite easily be crushed under too much of everything.” http://lat.ms/HlfZSh
2. NOKIA’S PUBLIC PLOY: On Friday night, the mobile phone brand made a big play for attention with a free Nicki Minaj concert in Times Square. Timed to the release of its new Lumia 900, the event took over Duffy Square and its adjacent pedestrian plaza, nine screens on the facade of surrounding buildings, and the Renaissance Times Square’s R Lounge for the V.I.P. viewing party.
However, Nokia’s move may not have been enough to mobilize consumers on Sunday. The New York Times: “Nearly all 39 AT&T stores within proximity of Times Square in Manhattan were either closed for Easter Sunday or did not answer phone calls. The few that were open did not have the handset in stock.” http://nyti.ms/I7NJPv
3. GOOGLE CRASHING CORRESPONDENTS’ DINNER? The search engine’s decision to host an event during the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner weekend has, apparently, ruffled some feathers. The New York Times: “A few media executives, still smarting over the leading role Google played in defeating antipiracy legislation this year, see the technology giant’s sudden presence as a victory lap.” http://nyti.ms/I7IVwI
4. ENTERTAINING LIMITS: A new proposal from the Obama administration could prevent lobbyists from hosting federal employees at conferences, movie screenings, and other events. But the move has been met by considerable backlash. Many contend imposing such rules would isolate regulators and is “dismissive of the role that industry experts can play in formulating sound public policy.” The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/Ij6Vbe
5. OVER-MARKETING FENWAY: The Boston Red Sox are promoting Fenway Park’s centennial in a big way, with events, a coffee table book, and even a musical tribute. However, in a blog post on fastcompany.com, ISite Design marketing consultant David Aponovich suggests the campaign needs to strike the right balance between celebrating the business and celebrating the fans: “Is it possible for authentic and desirable customer experiences to peacefully coexist with a highly profitable, marketing-driven machine? Or does all the effort at pointing out the specialness risk hollowing out the sincerity, leaving behind a Disney World-like shell of an experience that looks great, but loses the soul that made it special?” http://bit.ly/Hfpl0L
6. BUSINESS TRAVEL TRENDS: A report published by the U.S. Travel Association and travel marketing agency MMGY claims general business travel is recovering faster than travel for conference or convention purposes. Hospitality Net: http://bit.ly/IdvrxM
++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: EVENT LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE ++
The Event Leadership Institute is proud to provide the most progressive training and education for event planners in the industry, through on-demand video classes, biweekly webinars, white papers as well as interviews with industry leaders. www.eventleadershipinstitute.com
* INTERNAL NEWS: TORONTO READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS *
Nominations for the BizBash Toronto Readers’ Choice Awards end today at 11:59 p.m. E.S.T. This is your last chance to nominate your favorite greater-Toronto-area event pros and highlight their contributions to the industry. There are 12 categories, including Association Event Planner of the Year, Venue Manager of the Year, and Social Event Planner of the Year.
More information on the categories and nominations criteria as well as the submission form can be found here: http://bit.ly/GIwKBe
* LOCAL NEWS *
CHICAGO: The National Conference on Volunteering and Service heads to Chicago this year and speakers at the June 18-20 event will include actor Kevin Bacon, Chicago Bears defensive end Israel Idonije, and U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. Chicago Tribune: http://trib.in/I794vt
LAS VEGAS: Vegas Uncork’d by Bon Appétit announced a lineup of chefs for the “Celebrity Chef Poker Tournament.” The May 11 event at the Boulevard Pool at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas will include Bruce Bromberg, Scott Conant, Jose Andres, Stephen Hopcraft, David Myers, Anthony Meidenbauer, Jason Smith, Mary Sue Milliken, and Susan Feniger.
LOS ANGELES: The Muscular Dystrophy Association’s Labor Day weekend telethon moves from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. Washington Post: http://wapo.st/HDXbI1
Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel is opening its lobby with a new monthly concert series called Live From Loews. The events kick off April 27 with food, wine, and live music.
Hospitality vet Robert Earl debuted his newest venue Planet Dailies & Mixology101 at the Grove on Thursday. Jennifer Lopez and Cee-Lo Green were among the big names in attendance.
MIAMI: In honor of Earth Day, the Miami Science Museum will bring back its community-focused “Great Energy Challenge” event April 21. Teams of four compete in a series of challenges around the venue. http://bit.ly/yQ52zF
NEW YORK: As part of its 25th anniversary, the James Beard Foundation has teamed up with Silversea Cruises to host a 12-day sailing trip around Asia with chef Martin Yan. The 382-person Silver Shadow is scheduled to set sail September 23. http://bit.ly/Hr4kNA
ORLANDO: Four new attractions suitable for teambuilding programs are now open at Florida EcoSafaris at Forever Florida. The Rattlesnake is the country’s first zip-line roller coaster. The Panther Pounce is a 68-foot platform from which guests step off for a controlled fall. At the Swooping Crane, guests swing from a cable suspended 55 feet above the ground. The final new attraction is the Peregrine Plunge, where guests travel 30 miles per hour along a 1,300-foot-long straight zip line.
TORONTO: This year the Toronto International Film Festival will host two events aimed at young audiences. TIFF Kids International Film Festival April 10-22 is for consumers aged 3 to 13 and the Next Wave Film Festival May 10-12 targets 14-to-18-year-olds. Toronto.com: http://bit.ly/Ig2Fxc
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, Carla Warrilow in Toronto, and Anna Sekula, Beth Kormanik, and Rose Chevalier in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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