April 26, 2016: Crowdsourced Questions a Possibility at Presidential Debates, How Marketers in Brazil Are Building Excitement for Olympics, the Party Planner for Queen Elizabeth Shares Her Tips

1. CROWDSOURCED QUESTIONS A POSSIBILITY AT PRESIDENTIAL DEBATES: When it meets next week to discuss possible format changes for the four general election debates this fall, the Commission on Presidential Debates will consider adding crowdsourced questions. One of the main goals of the discussions will be to determine how to incorporate social media questions into the debate moderator's role. Politico: "'We have had over the years what we call the town hall formats. So we’ve had a format in which average citizens ask questions of the candidates,” said Mike McCurry, White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton and co-chairman (along with former Republican National Committee chairman Frank Fahrenkopf) of the commission. 'But social media gives you many more possibilities to engage more people in that sort of conversation.' … One of the possibilities the commission is watching is the 'open debate format' proposed by the bipartisan Open Debate Coalition, in which the questions are crowdsourced. Everyday voters submit questions in advance, with the moderators choosing from the 30 questions with the greatest number of votes. One aspect McCurry is worried about is the audience. He noted that the audiences in the primary debates have become active participants, booing and cheering as though they’re at a rally. That won’t fly at a general election debate; McCurry said there’s a long-held belief that general election debates should be held in a nonpartisan environment." http://politi.co/1NtpCRO

2. HOW MARKETERS IN BRAZIL ARE BUILDING EXCITEMENT FOR OLYMPICS: The Rio Olympics may be just four months away, but Brazil's excitement about the games is wavering due to the impeachment of a president, the Zika virus, and an economic recession. But the marketers paying $420 million to sponsor TV Globo, the country's major broadcaster of the games, are looking to build enthusiasm. Advertising Age: "About 96 million Brazilians watch Globo every day, and the network has been bombarding them with content and ads for the last year aimed at creating an Olympic spirit that connects everyone. In fact, the slogan is 'Somos Todos Olimpicos' (roughly, 'We're All Olympians'). The six sponsors, paying $70 million each for an Olympics package that includes a vast number of ads and mentions on TV and Globo.com, are Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Fiat, Nestle, Bradesco bank, and wireless provider Claro. With every Brazilian an Olympian, every occasion can be celebrated with an Olympics-themed ad, from children going back to school to International Women's Day. In a Happy Birthday spot for Rio de Janeiro, athletes and Olympics fans applaud the city's anniversary." http://bit.ly/1SFv7vM

3. THE PARTY PLANNER FOR QUEEN ELIZABETH SHARES HER TIPS: Lady Elizabeth Anson has been in the event planning business for more than 50 years, and her clients have included her cousin Queen Elizabeth II, as well as Tom Cruise and the Rolling Stones. While Anson couldn't reveal details about her next big event—the Queen's 90th birthday celebration—she did offer some planning advice on invitations, tables, seating arrangements, and more. The New York Times: "The invitation sets the tone. If you have a cheap-looking invitation, she says, 'you imagine there’s going to be acidic wine and miserable food.' Simple and elegant are preferable to invitation one-upmanship: 'Someone wanted me to do ‘save the dates’ with Swarovski crystals costing no less than 2,500 pounds a card, and that’s just vulgarity,' she said of the cards that would cost nearly $3,600 each. For Americans, she admits to occasionally using Paperless Post. … Seat all the bores together. 'They don’t realize they’re the bores, and they’re happy,' she says. 'It’s my biggest tip.'" http://nyti.ms/1MTg7Lu

* LOCAL NEWS *

AUSTIN:  The ninth annual Levitation music festival, which takes place Friday to Sunday at Carson Creek Ranch, has partnered with VRLIVE to live stream festival performances in 360-degree virtual reality.

BOSTON:  Zootopia, a benefit for Zoo New England, will take place at Royal Sonesta Boston Hotel on May 7. The evening will include cocktails, silent and art auctions, dinner, and dancing. Guests are encouraged to wear animal-inspired attire.

CHICAGO:  Cruz Blanca—a brewery, tap room, and taqueria concept from chef Rick Bayless—will open in the West Loop on May 5.

LAS VEGAS:  Elton John has announced new performance dates for his show, “The Million Dollar Piano,” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The new dates fall in October 2016 and February 2017.

LOS ANGELES:  Cancer Support Community Benjamin Center's annual Gilda Award Gala will take place May 13 at InterContinental Los Angeles Century City.

More than 800 all-ages attendees came out for Safe Kids Day, presented by Nationwide, at Smashbox Studios in Culver City on April 24. The event raised awareness and funds to support the work of Safe Kids Worldwide.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The iHeartRadio Summer Pool Party will return to the Fontainebleau resort on May 21 with performances by Flo Rida, DNCE with guest Hailee Steinfeld, Tinashe, Kygo, Jason Derulo, and more.

NEW YORK:  Richard Gere will host Carnegie Hall's 125th anniversary gala and benefit concert on May 5. The event will feature performances by cellist Yo-Yo Ma, violinist Itzhak Perlman, singer James Taylor, and the Orchestra of St. Luke's.

The American Federation of Arts' spring luncheon will take place May 17. Anne Pasternak, the Shelby White and Leon Levy director of the Brooklyn Museum, will be interviewed by Studio 360 radio show host Kurt Andersen.

Lincoln Center's Midsummer Night Swing 2016 season will take place June 21-July 9. Events will include silent discos and nights focused on a variety of dances.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  Turtle Fest is a new interactive exhibit at Sea Life Orlando.

Zombie Outbreak is a new 9.400-square-foot attraction on International Drive that's described as a "real-life video game."

SAN FRANCISCO:  Aina, which serves Hawaiian-style brunch, will open in the Dogpatch on Wednesday. Menu items include Portuguese doughnuts filled with guava custard, and salmon with black quinoa and slow-poached eggs.

TORONTO:  The Toronto Fashion Incubator "New Labels" Event takes place on May 3 at One King West.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Dave & Buster’s has opened a 40,000-square-foot location at Ritchie Station Marketplace in Capitol Heights, Maryland.

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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and 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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