BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #274 — Wednesday, 05.30.12
++ Sponsored by Check In Easy: iPad Guest List & Event Check-In App ++
Compiled today by Chad Kaydo in New York
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
TODAY'S CALENDAR: H.S.M.A.I.’s Meet West begins in Anaheim (through Thursday)
* INCOMING *
1. VISA'S SOCIAL OLYMPICS STRATEGY: AdAge talks to Visa C.M.O. Kevin Burke about the credit card brand's sponsorship campaign for the 2012 games, which have been dubbed the first social-media Olympics. The central idea is "Cheer"—as in cheering for athletes: "As part of the online cheer effort, fans have been asked to upload a text, photo or video cheer they've created for the athletes. Visa's Facebook page will serve as the global hub of the collection of consumer-submitted cheers and athletes' responses, as well as behind-the-scenes videos of the athletes' stories and training. Fans can also submit 'one-click cheers' online or via mobile on social media including YouTube or through partner sites such as Yahoo and Sports Illustrated." http://bit.ly/LCKG5K
2. INSTAGRAM IN DEMAND: Speaking of social media (and aren't we always?): Adweek: "In the wake of Facebook’s purchase of the popular photo platform for a cool $1 billion, a growing number of marketers have been trading perks—cash, trips, swag—to a coterie of widely followed smartphone photographers in exchange for snapshots broadcasting products or events." Barneys, Delta, and Volvo have hired big-on-Instagram photographers to shoot events. http://bit.ly/LSDkur
Speaking of Instagram: We're posting real-time photos from events there. Find us under bizbash_news: http://instagr.am/p/LOuH4tohX9/
3. RED BULL'S LATEST: Forbes: "Red Bull has just [shown] sponsors how they can put the spotlight on pro gamers and immerse their brand around an event made for streaming, but certainly open to the TV spotlight. With fans driving hours, crossing state lines and international borders, Austin, Texas became an eSports epicenter Memorial Day weekend, at the first ever Red Bull Battlegrounds invitational pro-video game tournament. … The 5,000 on-site spectators were treated to the intimate, premiere setting of Texas’ renowned live entertainment venue, Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater which was transformed into a high-tech spectator arena for this world-class event." There's a video too: http://onforb.es/JOqMlC
More on Red Bull, from our Event Innovators 2012 package: http://bit.ly/KHU3Qr
4. PICNICS DOWN: The Chicago Tribune: "The number of company picnics across the country is declining. Nationwide, only 55 percent of companies hosted one in 2011, compared with 64 percent in 2007, according to a study by the Society for Human Resource Management. And many companies that still have picnics have scaled back on the size of the event." http://trib.in/KYKvP4
5. APPLE ANNOUNCEMENT: The tech company announced it will kick off its Worldwide Developers Conference at the Moscone Center in San Francisco on June 11 with a keynote event. Naturally, rumors are swirling about what C.E.O. Tim Cook might announce. MSNBC: http://on.msnbc.com/N66t4Z
++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: CHECK IN EASY: iPad Guest List & Event Check-In App ++
Discover the iPad guest list and event check-in app used by the top event planners at Google, Tory Burch, the Guggenheim Museum. Check In Easy eliminates the hassle of paper guest lists and makes check-in lightning fast and super-easy. Try it free today! www.CheckInEasy.com
* ABOUT LAST NIGHT: HUDSON RIVER PARK GALA *
From editor in chief Chad Kaydo: The folks behind the Hudson River Park gala in a large tent on Pier 26 last night had two things working against them: 88-degree heat, followed by rain. Working in their favor: two people onstage who can be light and funny without trying too hard, host Gayle King and award presenter Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Everything moved fast, and the dinner program wrapped at 9:31. (Cocktails started at 6:30.)
On the style side: Matthew David Hopkins of 360 Design Events filled the tent with nods to the many uses of the park, including row boats hanging overhead and centerpieces that incorporated running shoes and bicycle wheels (which looked much classier than that sounds). Dogs, basketball players, and waiters-as-runners also made appearances. Pictures on our Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/#!/BizBash_News
* INTERNAL NEWS: L.A. READERS’ CHOICE AWARDS *
Voting is now open for the Los Angeles edition of the BizBash Readers’ Choice Awards. You can vote for event pros in categories including Event Producer of the Year, Corporate Event Planner of the Year, and, new this year, Fund-Raising Event Planner of the Year. The winners will be announced at BizBash IdeaFest Los Angeles at the Los Angeles Convention Center June 13. See the list of finalists and vote here: http://bit.ly/iCBl5Z
* BETTER LATE THAN NEVER *
This is almost a month old—sorry—but it's so useful, here it is anyway: a infographic comparing user activity on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest, including the number of users, how long they spend on each site, and demographic info: http://bit.ly/JxVobB
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: One Mission's Kids Cancer Buzz-Off is Sunday at Gillette Stadium.
North Shore Pride will hold its first gay pride celebration and parade in Salem June 30.
Gillette Stadium and Kraft Family partnered with the New England chapter of the National Association of Catering Executives Feeding Our Neighbors Initiative to donate unused food from events held at the stadium to those in need.
CHICAGO: The women's board of the Boys & Girls Club hosts its summer gala at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel Friday.
Ava Anthony of Live Event Productions is producing a book signing for the band One Direction in the parking lot of Old Orchard Shopping Center in Skokie Saturday. Organizers expect 10,000 fans, and 500 guests who purchased the book last week will get to have their books signed in person.
The Paws for Life 5K "Charlene's Run" is June 16 at Lisle Senior High School.
The Chicago Tribune: "The city has chosen 15 eateries that will serve dishes for one day each, a new addition to this summer's Taste of Chicago. The 'pop-ups' will help the city to bolster and diversify the Taste menu even as Mayor Rahm Emanuel shortened the duration of Chicago's annual signature festival [from ten days to five] in the face of recent revenue shortfalls, which he said were unsustainable." http://trib.in/Kr4usx
LAS VEGAS: The World Series of Poker has opened at the Rio with more than 2,000 players buying in. 8 News Now: "For serious poker players, it's like Christmas and the Olympics combined." http://bit.ly/KP2XMq
LOS ANGELES: The Hollywood Museum will celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s birthday and the 50th anniversary of her death with “Marilyn Monroe: the Exhibit," which will open with a red carpet reception May 30.
Filter and Original Penguin have teamed up to launch a monthly summer music series, which will kick off June 2 with a performance by Nite Jewel along with DJ sets by Coco Morier and DJDK.
Malin Akerman and Amy Smart hosted "Ciroc Cabana Club" Saturday at Skybar at the Mondrian. Artist Christopher Siff created a step-and-repeat for the event, meant to celebrate the brand's partnership with Art of Elysium.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI: The Miami Herald looks at the Brickell dining scene, including the rumor that famed California chef Thomas Keller is scouting his first Miami location in the area. http://hrld.us/KS07rA
Design Miami/Basel is June 12-17. Programming highlights include galleries from established and emerging talent, design performances, and the W Hotels Designers of the Future Award.
NEW YORK: Tommy Hilfiger has signed a sponsorship deal with the Golf Club at Chelsea Piers. WWD: http://bit.ly/KHUryn
This year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair drew 26,388 attendees—a 4 percent increase from last year—to the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center May 19-22.
Wisconsin-based company Karl’s Event Services recently set two Guinness World Records for the largest tent and stage. Both were installed for the Frieze Art Fair in early May.
The New York Botanical Garden will host its annual Conservatory ball June 7, sponsored by Chanel.
Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO: Organizers expect more than 50,000 hair and beauty industry professionals will attend the Premiere Orlando International Beauty Event, Saturday through Monday at the Orange County Convention Center.
Orlando-based Hard Rock International has created new menu items for all the Hard Rock Cafes in the United States, including cajun shrimp and poached pear salad, and several types of barbecue sandwiches.
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is September 28-November 12. New attractions this year will include TERRA Marketplace, serving an all-vegan menu.
TORONTO: Chef Tom Brodi has resigned from his headlining position at Toca By Tom Brodi at the Ritz Carlton, just one year after the restaurant opened. Post City: http://bit.ly/KQMDXD
Soho House Group announced that a permanent location will open on Adelaide Street in time for the Toronto International Film Festival in September. Soho House will also be sponsoring the V.I.P. party at the Power Ball gala on June 14.
Capitol Event Theatre is hosting an industry open house today, showcasing a new, off-premise catering company Capitol Event Catering.
WASHINGTON: Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House is finalizing a lease at CityCenter DC for a 17,000-square-foot restaurant, according to the Washington Post. http://wapo.st/LQcdAa
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 Rose Chevalier, Beth Kormanik, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: info.bizbash.com/callsheet.html
Advertise here: [email protected]
