Call Sheet #300: Coachella Threatens to Move Concert, Bing's Odd Product Placement, Last Chance to Design the Olympics Opening Ceremony

BIZBASH CALL SHEET — #300 — Friday, 07.06.12

++ Sponsored by Event Leadership Institute ++

Compiled today by Beth Kormanik in New York
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 * INCOMING *

1. FAN VOTE: Baseball is embracing Twitter in its Final Vote campaign, which allows fans to select two players to its annual all-star game, this year in Kansas City July 10. New York Times: "The Twitter voting — via posts that include the designated hashtags for the 10 competing players — will be conducted during the final four hours of voting. … The compressed time period for voting also works in favor of social media assuming a greater role in Final Vote, though it still means that teams must scramble to create campaigns that last three days to drum up votes for their eligible players." http://nyti.ms/MX53M6

2. SPIDEY PRODUCT PLACEMENT: Fans of the new Amazing Spider-Man are complaining about what they feel is a poor integration of the search engine Bing. Huffington Post: "At the crux of the matter is the fact that [Peter] Parker is a teenage science nerd. Fans of 'Spider-Man' claim it's unlikely someone like Parker would use Bing, and point to other not-so-subtle moments in Microsoft's promotion of the search engine. It's generally agreed that this 'Bing it!' moment in Hawaii Five-0 is most egregious." Watch the video online: http://huff.to/PeJ8Sb

3. COACHELLA TAX TUSSLE: Local government has backed off a plan to tax tickets to the Coachella festival, which had prompted promoter Goldenvoice to threaten to move it to another city in 2015. Daily Beast: "[Councilman Sam] Torres finally said he would 'suspend' his tax bid, because of the potential economic damage if the festival relocated. Coachella sold $47 million in tickets last year and brought more than 50,000 visitors to the community." http://bit.ly/PjFKWo

4. CALL FOR ENTRIES: Ever dreamed of producing the opening ceremony for the Summer Olympics? Or doodled ideas while watching the show? Here's a chance to show off your design chops: We're inviting event designers, producers, marketers, and other creative industry professionals to submit their concepts for the event—ideas for entertainment, set/stage design, lighting, special effects, social media approach, and other components. We'll publish a selection of our favorites on BizBash.com. More details here: bizba.sh/LwKXrs


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

The Event Leadership Institute is looking for an Executive Assistant. Join the team helping to shape the future of event education and make a difference in the future of your industry. Apply here: www.EventLeadershipInstitute.com


* IDEAS OF THE WEEK *

Here’s a look at 9 steal-worthy ideas we spotted this week, including ESPN's stunt-laden X Games in Los Angeles, a patriotic promotion for Tide in New York, Cosmopolitan en español's 40th anniversary beach bash in Miami Beach, a playful TechWeek in Chicago, and Olympics-inspired teambuilding programs. bizba.sh/NshfC5

* LOCAL NEWS *

COAST TO COAST: To build the iconic department store into a global brand, Harrods owner Qatar Holdings is planning to open Harrods hotels in New York, Paris, and London. Bloomberg Businessweek: http://buswk.co/NpENYj

Ticketbud has relaunched its self-service ticketing system that allows organizers to sell event tickets online.

BOSTON: With the Boston Marriott Long Wharf's "Hot on the Harbor" promotion, planners who complete a site tour this month or next will be entered to win a weekend getaway on the wharf.

CHICAGO: Culturadar.com will host a launch party for its Chicago edition on Thursday at the Public Hotel.

Emily Giffin will launch her newest novel, Where We Belong, with a dessert reception at Saks Fifth Avenue August 2.

LOS ANGELES: One day after the California ban on the production and sale of force-fed foie gras went into effect, a Canadian duck-farming trade organization, a New York producer of duck delicacies, and a Los Angeles restaurant group joined forces in a lawsuit to overturn it. San Francisco Chronicle: http://bit.ly/M2cqn4

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: Bamboo Miami will host “Doggies and Divas,” a fashion show featuring dogs dressed in styles by Kiki Hamann Canine Couture, July 17, during Mercedes-Benz Swim Week. The event benefits he Humane Society of Greater Miami’s PetNet. http://hrld.us/QKKSAU

The Palm Beach Zoo Gala and Dinner Dance is scheduled for January 18 at The Mar-a-Lago Club. Tickets are on sale.

Palm Beach County Convention and Visitors Bureau has promoted Yvonne McGill to senior manager of destination services, which supports the global sales team including groups, meetings, and convention sales, and leisure travel sales.

NEW YORK: Classic Party Rentals and Flowerful Events are hosting a showcase event July 11 at the Flowerful Events Showroom in Eatontown, N.J.

Pete Wells, restaurant critic for The New York Times, gives his take on five-year-old barbecue joint Hill Country, praising the flatiron district restaurant as "a state-of-the-art Manhattan homage to the preindustrial craft of Texas barbecue." New York Times: http://nyti.ms/MLZO2D

This summer will see new for-profit music festivals, including the CBGB Festival which started yesterday, and the Catalpa festival on Randalls Island that takes place later this month. New York Times: http://nyti.ms/PleQhX

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

ORLANDO: The Orange County Convention Center is getting new leadership. Orlando Business Journal: http://bit.ly/RlYkeM

TORONTO: Toronto Public Library will host free author readings, lectures, and other arts and entertainment events throughout the month at several of its branches.

WASHINGTON: The Miss United States Pageant moved its national pageant this year from Las Vegas to Washington. The finals competition is Sunday at the Washington & Lee Performing Arts Center.

Stella Artois will host the “Taste of Belgium” at the East Lawn at the Yards Park from noon to 7 p.m. July 21, in celebration of Belgian National Day.

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 Alexandra Brandt, Rose Chevalier, Julia Elstrodt, Beth Kormanik, and Anna Sekula in New York.

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

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