Call Sheet #360: Events in a Tech-Driven World, Advertising Week App, Debate Watch Parties With Biden

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #360— Monday, 10.01.12

++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++

Compiled today by Melissa Ward Schorsch in New York
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* INCOMING *

1. THE TECH EFFECT: In advance of his presentation at the Event Innovation Forum in New York October 24, author and Wired magazine editor Bill Wasik—who also created the first flash mob—talked to associate editor Mitra Sorrells. Two highlights from the Q&A:

On the impact of online interactions on events: "If you get comfortable with the idea that the event isn’t just a stand-alone goal in itself and is embedded in this giant universe of digital connections that happen before and persist afterward, then it can be really positive. It can make people’s experiences richer and more persistent. A lot of things that are messy about real-world events become less messy when it is an augmented event and people have access to technology. It puts the attendees in more control."

On the power of events in a technology-driven world: "The events are the thing that can’t be commoditized. You can’t download them. The fact we can do more and more online doesn’t make that any less true."

The full story: bizba.sh/UBZ4w7

Register for the Event Innovation Forum: http://bizba.sh/SblYZy

2. DEBATE PARTIES: For Wednesday's debate between President Barack Obama and Mitt Romney, the Obama campaign is planning more than 3,200 watch parties around the country. Supporters who attend said parties will be privy to an exclusive livestream chat with Vice President Joe Biden following the debate. Huffington Post: http://huff.to/VWpA5W

3. AD WEEK APP: Advertising Week in New York starts today. To make attendees seem smarter, agency Colle+McVoy created an Advertising Week Question Generator. Adweek: "The app automatically generates awesome questions for you to ask after each panel by randomly cobbling together a beginning, a middle and an end from intelligent-sounding prewritten segments...It's uncanny in that almost every combination sounds like something someone in advertising would say. Whether this makes you sound smart or not, however, is anyone's guess." http://bit.ly/UyxpMC

4. RED CARPET BALLETS: Ballets and operas are often thought of as stuffy events, but Monday's New York City Ballet opening night gala drew 1,200 guests and raised $6.2 million thanks to a more splashy entrance. The company's board of trustees, which includes Sarah Jessica Parker, built buzz and drew younger attendees by placing a red carpet front and center, making the evening just as much as a fashion frenzy as about the ballet itself. The New York Times: http://nyti.ms/QtIsFw

5. FLIGHT CUTS: While the nation's largest airlines are seeing more profits this year than they have in years past, about $5 billion in 2011, they've cut back on flights to do so, reports a study by the Office of Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation. To save money, some airlines have cut nearly 3,000 flights a day that are less than 500 miles long, making Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, and Memphis the hardest cities to travel to. Los Angeles Times: http://lat.ms/SfQbwC

++ A WORD FROM OUR SPONSOR: Event Leadership Institute ++

Webinar: Tuesday, October 9 | Storytelling: The Magic of Disney | with Robert Gilbert, executive chef, Walt Disney World Resort. Learn the secrets of Disney’s approach to creating events with impact.

* INTERNAL NEWS: ELECTION SURVEY *

We're asking readers to share their take on the 2012 presidential race for an upcoming story. Take our short and sweet five-question survey. Come on, speak up—it's all anonymous! http://bizba.sh/SkkXy9

* LOCAL NEWS *

BOSTON: Eastern Standard, which offers private dining, will celebrate Oktoberfest October 1-31. Specialties on the menu will include house-made German sausages and German beers by the liter.

CHICAGO: In celebration of its 10-year anniversary and newly refurbished studio, DBY Events & Invitations is hosting an event at its storefront location on October 16.

LOS ANGELES: The L.A. City Council has approved plans for the Farmers Field N.F.L. stadium downtown, which will be financed by AEG. The construction of the stadium will be contingent on the city getting a football team. Curbed: http://bit.ly/UUwhaP  

Last weekend Hollywood's wax museum Madame Tussaud’s unveiled a new figure: a completely lifelike model of John Travolta as character Danny Zuko from Grease.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://masterplanneronline.com/losangeles

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Regalia Limited Edition Living is hosting the fifth annual Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Fest October 12-14.

NEW YORK: On October 2 the New York Rangers’ Brad Richards is bringing his foundation to New York for a fund-raising event at the Hotel Chantelle.

Local event listings from Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork

ORLANDO: Walt Disney World will celebrate the 30th anniversary of Epcot on Monday. The Orlando Sentinel: http://thesent.nl/PeoH3W

TORONTO: IMG Fashion recently announced the lineup of designers for the World MasterCard Fashion Week in August 2013. The Huffington Post: http://huff.to/S7ePiJ

WASHINGTON: In an effort to boost the local housing market, Wells Fargo is bringing its CityLIFT program to Washington and Prince George’s County. The event will take place October 5-6 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Daily Finance: http://aol.it/RYaRJl

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, and Melissa Ward Schorsch and Anna Sekula in New York.

BizBash Call Sheet is the must-read daily digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.