1. HAS SXSW LOST ITS RELEVANCE?: South by Southwest, the fast-growing festival in Austin, Texas, may be a boon for brands, but Marc Ruxin claims the event is not "the D.I.Y. mecca it used to be." In a column for TechCrunch, Ruxin, the C.E.O. of music discovery app TastemakerX, says, "What began as a music conference/festival has become a carnival of hype and ambient noise. Tech companies large and small slog it out on the streets of Austin trying to break out or expand their lead. There are panels throughout the week that very few people seem to attend, and parties that almost nobody seems to be able to get into. ... SXSW is an exaggerated ground zero for understanding the intersection of technology, youth culture, and the evolution of media." http://tcrn.ch/Z1xrhL
2. RICHARD BECKMAN TO REVIVE FASHION ROCKS: Richard Beckman, who left Prometheus Global Media last year, is launching a new business, but it's not in publishing. According to WWD, Beckman's new company, to be known as Three Lions, will produce "televised event shows" and is "starting with the licenses to revive, with Academy Awards producer Don Mischer, Fashion Rocks and Movie Rocks next year." http://wwd.us/YsM8il
3. GREAT GOOGAMOOGA MIGHT EXPAND TO CHICAGO: After the launching the first Great GoogaMooga festival in Brooklyn last year—and promising a better experience for this year's run in May—the organizers are apparently in talks to create a Chicago offshoot. RedEye Chicago: http://trib.in/10UwvQW
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Boston Ballet's Balanchine Ball takes place on April 20 at the Castle at Park Plaza. It will be followed with an after-party featuring music from DJ Nathanael Bluhm.
The Boston Fashion Awards will take place at the Back Bay Events Center on April 28. Net proceeds will benefit Dana Farber & the Jimmy Fund.
CHICAGO: Christopher Clinton Conway stepped down as executive director of the Joffrey Ballet last month. Now, he has been named vice president of development at the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California, where he will oversee fund-raising and donor activities. He will begin his new job on April 16. Crain's Chicago Business: http://bit.ly/11cBn47
DENVER: CORT Event Furnishings has opened a new distribution center in Denver to meet the growing trade show and event furnishings demand in the surrounding areas.
LAS VEGAS: Huffington Post: "There is a kind of irony in the fact that Las Vegas, Nevada—located smack in the middle of the Mojave Desert—hosted an event for One Drop, a nonprofit whose mission is to 'ensure that water is accessible to all, today, and forever.' But, as dry as the desert may be, Las Vegas was a fitting place to hold this most spectacular evening." http://huff.to/129Akkg
Successful Meetings: "Its 2012 trade show at the Las Vegas Sands Expo and Convention Center was good not only for exhibitors and attendees, but also for the environment, according to the IMEX Group, which yesterday released the audited sustainability results from IMEX America 2012." http://bit.ly/YMZb0r
In its 28th year, the Nightclub & Bar Convention and Trade Show wrapped on March 21 with 37,740 attendees, an 11 percent increase in attendance. The show also saw a 10 percent increase in new exhibiting companies, with nearly 700.
LOS ANGELES: Grammy-winning singer Fergie will be among the honorees at the Logo "NewNowNext" awards at the Fonda Theater in Hollywood April 13.
"Music Matters" is the theme of the 17th annual "Erasing the Stigma" awards presented by Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services. The luncheon and ceremony is slated for April 18 at the Beverly Hilton.
Boutique Beverly Hills hotel Sirtaj has officially opened, as has its on-site restaurant and bar, P.S. Beverly Hills, led by executive chef Wes Lieberher.
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Florida Renaissance Festival began March 30 and will run through April 14 on Saturdays and Sundays. The weekend event is held at Cauley Square Historic Village and features historical reenactments, rides, games, and workshops like medieval cooking, renaissance dance, and staged combat. http://hrld.us/15ZQVHx
NEW YORK: Bailey House's 30th anniversary auction and gala, held March 28 at Pier 60, raised $500,000.
Experiential event company Magnetic Collaborative formally opened its doors yesterday. The agency, which focuses on the development and execution of live brand experiences and already includes Samsung, Google, and HBO among its clients, was founded by partners Rick Rathe, former president of Rathe Productions and owner of New York's Gotham Bar and Grill; Brian Schultz, former head of live events at Crispin, Porter & Bogusky and digital ad agency R/GA; Geoff Renaud, previously C.E.O. of Radar Entertainment; and Glenn Marck, founder of IM Design Firm and owner of Jack Russell Group.
Bestek Lighting and Staging provided the lighting, staging, and special effects for the annual New York Yankees homecoming dinner last night.
BBJ Table Fashions is opening an office in New York at 7 West 34th Street. The launch event is April 30, from 4 to 7 p.m.
ORLANDO: The 22nd annual Florida Film Festival is April 5-14 at the Enzian Theatre in Maitland. The event will commence with the Eye Opening Night Party at Enzian and Eden Bar, which will feature dinner from local restaurants and cocktails. http://bit.ly/21MtsZ
TORONTO: Design Hope Toronto's annual Art Auction is April 5 at St. John's Parish Hall. The event will be hosted by CBS's Ash Tomlinson and feature silent and live auctions and a raffle. Proceeds will go to the Parkdale Activity-Recreation Center and Edmond Place, a housing project for those with mental illness. http://bit.ly/11euNKr
WASHINGTON: Yesterday's Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House saw chef Anne Burrell prepare a broccoli rabe pesto with spicy Italian sausage at the cooking station, sports stars like Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson and Nascar driver Danica Patrick play with kids in an activity zone, and YouTube "Kid President" Robby Novak introduce the Obamas. USA Today: http://usat.ly/10sdFwK
The Southwest Waterfront Fireworks Festival is April 6 at Southwest Waterfront. The event, which is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival, will include live music, water activities, and a fireworks finale. http://wapo.st/YrR0nC
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With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Jenna Berris, Beth Kormanik, Lauren Matthews, and Anna Sekula in New York.
BizBash Daily is the must-read digest of event industry news from BizBash.com.
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