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June 14, 2016: National Pride Events to Increase Security, Why the Summer Olympics Will Be More Affordable, 'Voice' Contestant Tragedy Sparks Fan Interaction Debate at C.M.A. Festival


1. NATIONAL PRIDE EVENTS TO INCREASE SECURITY: In the wake of Sunday’s mass shooting at a gay nightclub in Orlando, L.G.B.T. pride events across the country this month are beefing up security. NBC News: “From New York City to Boise, Idaho, emergency meetings were held and phone calls made Sunday as news spread of the shooting at an LGBTQ nightclub in Orlando that left 50 dead, including the gunman. ‘Everyone was literally dialing each other at the same time,’ said Sam Singer, spokesperson for the 46th Annual San Francisco LGBT Pride Parade. ‘The San Francisco Police Department has always been very helpful, and we will work very closely with them to ensure public safety at all events.’ San Francisco Pride is one of the largest in the country, with over a million people expected to attend the two-day event. On the other side of the country, organizers of the NYC Pride March had no plans to cancel any of their events, and planned to continue working with their partners in the New York City Police Department to ensure the safety of all of their participants, according to its official statement. Organizers of smaller Prides events across the country were also making security a major priority. Phil Cobucci, president of Nashville Pride, expected up to 20,000 people to attend the city's two-day event later this month, which will include a festival and a concert.” http://nbcnews.to/1Om8b6r

2. WHY THE SUMMER OLYMPICS WILL BE MORE AFFORDABLE: Factors like political turmoil and Zika have caused many Americans to lose interest in the Rio Olympics in August, which means that for those who still want to attend, airfare and hotel bookings are likely much cheaper than they were for previous Games. The New York Times: “A recent survey of travel agents by the travel technology company Trisept Solutions showed that 63 percent had seen less interest in these Olympics than in previous destinations like London and Beijing, with 88 percent stating that they had not seen an increase in interest in traveling to Rio for the Games. Numbers may be down, but this means that those who do decide to go can find many ways to save money, even with less than two months left. The strength of the dollar (now worth about 3.4 Brazilian reals, compared to 2.26 two years ago at the time of the Brazil World Cup), coupled with Brazil’s economic recession, means that prices have dropped significantly for visiting Americans. When it comes to getting to Rio, airfare is still affordable. ‘Airfare has consistently been much less expensive than for the World Cup, and even less expensive than New Year in Rio,’ said Julia Carter, the director of sales at Brazil Nuts, a United States-based tour operator specializing in South America. Saving more on airfare might mean missing the beginning of the Games, but it could still be worth it. Aislyn Greene, the South America editor at Afar magazine, said that deals kick in if you’re willing to arrive after the opening ceremony. ‘What we discovered is that prices dropped after Aug. 7 by about $300, so that’s one way to get a good deal: Go early or late. Another option, if you really do want to go to the opening ceremony, is to fly into an alternate airport like São Paulo.’ … When it comes to finding a hotel, it’s mid-range or below at this point, with the five-star properties fully booked. But Ms. Carter said that prices for three-star hotels are dropping. To save even more, look to AirBnB, which is an official sponsor of the Games and which announced that it would have 25,000 accommodation options available.” http://nyti.ms/1PqMOMa

3. 'VOICE' CONTESTANT TRAGEDY SPARKS FAN INTERACTION DEBATE AT C.M.A. FESTIVAL: After former Voice contestant Christina Grimmie was murdered by a fan at a merchandise table in Orlando last week, attendees of the C.M.A. Festival in Nashville, which took place June 9-12, began to ponder how safe artists actually are during the fan interaction portions of country music festivals. Billboard: "Although the CMA Festival outgrew its roots as the Fan Festival of yore and long since moved from the old fairgrounds to tonier digs downtown, it’s never outgrown its legend as the place where Garth Brooks once signed autographs for 23 hours straight. Uniquely among genres—except maybe in the reality-show genre, if that gets its own musical category—country is the only one where one-on-one accessibility is assumed to be part of the implicit contract between fans and artists, at least with acts anywhere short of the superstar level, and maybe even then. The deal is that the performers are Just Like You, and there’s nothing about a recording contract that allows anyone to get so far above their raisin’ that they can’t meet the folks on the other end of the exchange. If anything were to put a crimp in that accessibility, it could create the impression that by isolating themselves these stars, too, have given into a celebrity caste system that would seem like the very antithesis of country. 'Stopping meeting the fans would hurt the artists as well as the fans,' said Emilie Marchbanks, manager of Brandy Clark, who released a new album Friday and did several performances or fan events over the weekend. 'What happened in Florida is really scary, because Brandy signs at the merch table every night, and that’s something that gives me pause as to moving ahead for a little bit. But you want to shake as many hands as possible because every one of those people put gas in your tank. It’s the thing that’s most unique to Nashville and to country. So, fingers crossed we can figure out how to fix it.'" http://bit.ly/1PXNBK2

* LOCAL NEWS *

ATLANTA:  Amplify Decatur Music Festival will take place Sunday at Marta plaza.

BOSTON:  The Catered Affair has launched a new website for its event venue the Harvard Art Museums.

CHICAGO:  Stage 773 will host the fifth annual Women's Funny Festival from Thursday to Sunday. The event will feature 400 artists performing in 83 shows.

LAS VEGAS:  InfoComm, which took place June 8-10 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, had its largest show on record with 1,000 exhibitors, 211 new exhibitors, and more than 12,000 attendees.

Britney Spears has added new dates for her “Britney: Piece of Me” show at the Axis at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino. New shows include dates between October and February.

LOS ANGELES:  The Taste food and beverage festival, presented by the Los Angeles Times, will take place September 2-4 at Paramount Pictures Studios.

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

MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA:  The fourth annual Pink Flamingo Awards, which benefit the L.G.B.T. Visitor Center in Miami Beach, will take place September 22.

Menin Hospitality will manage the Mondrian South Beach.

NEW YORK:  Central Park Conservancy's 11th annual Evening in the Garden will take place June 22. The event will feature food from SoomSoom, Ocean Prime, and the Masalawala; cocktails from Riviera Imports; and brand presence from J.Crew and Manhattan magazine.

The Rubin Museum will host its annual free summer block party on July 17. Inspired by the museum's exhibition "Nepalese Seasons: Rain and Ritual," the event will feature Nepalese-inspired festival activities, art-making, food, and outdoor yoga.

The Association of Fundraising Professionals' New York City chapter will hold its annual 2016 Fundraising Day on Friday at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The Long Island Convention & Visitors Bureau and Sports Commission has launched its latest marketing campaign, which includes a new advertising creative, a redesigned website, and a new visitors guide.

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

ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA:  The Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel will begin a $5 million renovation of its 329,000 square feet of meeting space at both the Swan and Dolphin hotels this summer. The renovation will include updated carpet and paint and the installation of new technology. The work is scheduled to be completed in December.

SAN FRANCISCO:  The 42nd annual Castro Street Fair will take place October 2.

TORONTO:  Drake General Store will open a three-floor, multi-purpose flagship store on July 5 at West Queen West. The store will be used for events including workshops, screenings, rotating pop-ups, live music, experiential activations, and a Crows Nest Barber Shop nook to launch the new Weekend Warriors summer campaign.

WASHINGTON, D.C.:  Events DC is exploring the idea of virtual reality headsets for sales meetings. Washington Business Journal: "The conventions and sports authority, which administers the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, RFK Stadium and several other venues around the District, purchased three of the Samsung Gear VR headsets and produced a roundup reel of recent events to show prospective clients the venues in action." http://bit.ly/1XkMJkQ

The Kennedy Center announced that comedian Bill Murray would recieve the 19th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The prize will be given at a gala performance on October 23 and will be taped for broadcast nationwide.

YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected]

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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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