November 3, 2017: Airbnb Plans to Expand Live Music Program, Petition Aims to Ban Casey Affleck From Presenting at Oscars, Museum Drops Brett Ratner Event After Sexual Harassment Claims

1. AIRBNB PLANS TO EXPAND LIVE MUSIC PROGRAM: Airbnb has announced plans to expand its live music program—which includes hosts holding concerts in their living rooms. Variety: “AirBnB is best known as an alternative to traditional hotels, connecting people who rent out spare rooms and apartments to travelers. However, the company has long had grander ambitions, and launched a new offering called ‘trips’ about a year ago. AirBnB trips allow consumers not only to book a place to stay, but also activities, including guided city tours, lessons in urban gardening, pottery classes, and more. Music was part of these trips or experiences from the start. In March, AirBnB signaled that it may have bigger plans for the segment when it unveiled what it calls ‘Music Experiences.’ AirBnB initially launched these music experiences in 13 cities, including London, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Barcelona, and Tokyo. Part of that rollout were so-called living room concerts — intimate live gigs held in the homes of AirBnB hosts. Now, the company is apparently looking to take this format much further, writing in its job listing that their music operations lead will be tasked with building ‘a global operation to scale Living Room Concerts.’ AirBnB initially launched these living room concerts in cooperation with Sofar Sounds, a startup backed by Richard Branson.” http://bit.ly/2h7oUjV

2. PETITION AIMS TO BAN CASEY AFFLECK FROM PRESENTING AT OSCARS: A director has launched a Change.org petition seeking to ban Casey Affleck from presenting at next year's Oscars. Earlier this year, the actor—who's been accused of sexual harassment—won the Oscar for Best Actor. The Daily Beast: "Filmmaker Cameron Bossert is making a name for himself with his petition for the Academy to disinvite Casey Affleck to this year’s Oscars because the actor was accused of sexual harassment in 2010. Its signatory count ballooned from 500 to over 8,000 on Tuesday when media outlets began writing about it. As the most recent best actor recipient, Affleck is slated to present the best actress award this year in keeping with Academy tradition. 'With so many credible accusations against him, the Academy should take action against Affleck and ban him from participating in the ceremony,' the petition reads. When Bossert writes 'so many credible accusations,' he’s referring to sexual harassment allegations made by two women who worked for Affleck on his 2010 'mockumentary,' I’m Still Here. Affleck denied the allegations at the time and threatened to countersue before reaching a settlement with his former employees. Bossert, 33, credits comedian John Oliver for inspiring him to create and begin circulating the petition two weeks ago, when Oliver sarcastically congratulated the Academy for expelling Weinstein but not other convicted and alleged sexual predators like Polanski, Cosby, and Affleck." http://thebea.st/2gSM3Tp

3. MUSEUM DROPS BRETT RATNER EVENT AFTER SEXUAL HARASSMENT CLAIMS: A museum in Miami has canceled an event featuring Brett Ratner, after six women accused the filmmaker of sexual harassment. Page Six: “Miami’s Jewish Museum of Florida had planned a Q&A with with Miami native Ratner and documentarian Billy Corben for January 2018. But Page Six is told that the museum called it off after six women accused Ratner of sexual harassment or misconduct, as reported by the LA Times. Ratner has ‘categorically’ denied the women’s accounts. On Thursday a spokesperson for the museum told us, ‘We had a verbal commitment from Brett several months ago but not a final agreement. In light of recent developments we will not be having this event. We are hoping to reschedule Billy Corben with a different guest.’” http://pge.sx/2gYxMEQ

* LOCAL NEWS *

LAS VEGAS:  Clarion UX—formerly Urban Expositions—has appointed Desiree Hanson vice president of fashion events, focused on the Womenswear in Nevada Portfolio. Hanson will oversee sales, marketing, and management fuctions for the semi-annual Womenswear in Nevada apparel trade show, which is held at the Rio Hotel & Casino. The next edition will take place February 12-15, 2018.  

LOS ANGELES:  Chefs Bryan and Michael Voltaggio, in partnership with United Talent Agency, have opened Strfsh—a fast-casual concept featuring fresh fish sandwiches—at the Gallery in Santa Monica.

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

NEW YORK:  Num Pang Kitchen has launched a charitable fund-raising collaboration with rapper/chef Action Bronson and chef Mario Batali, which runs today through November 17. The restaurant chain, which offers Southeast Asian-inspired sandwiches and bowls, will serve a Puerto Rico Pang sandwich and Puerto Rico Bowl. One-hundred percent of profits will be donated to the Food Bank of Puerto Rico.

Futures NYC, LDJ Productions’ in-house start-up accelerator for live event technology, has announced its first investment in Candy Lab AR, which offers location-based augmented-reality technology. 

The 81st Annual Fashion Scholarship Fund National Merit Scholarship Awards will take place January 9, 2018, at the Marriott Marquis. 

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

TORONTO:  Writers’ Trust of Canada will host its 32nd annual gala fund-raiser on November 7 at the Ritz-Carlton. The event will honor more than 50 writers and announce the recipient of the $50,000 Writers’ Trust Fellowship. 

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Mexican Cultural Institute’s Day of the Dead Gala will take place Saturday at the institute’s headquarters. The black tie- and masquerade-optional event will feature a live mariachi troupe, a Day of the Dead altar, and a Mexican buffet. 

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With contributions from Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Beth Kormanik, Michele Laufik, and Ian Zelaya in New York.

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