1. AMERICAN MUSIC AWARDS OFFER BRAND PROMOTION AND POLITICAL COMMENTARY: Sunday’s American Music Awards offered a balanced mix of celebrities promoting products and commenting on the political state of the country. Los Angeles Times: “But as the highest-profile ceremony since this month’s earthquake of a presidential election, the AMAs—broadcast live on ABC from the Microsoft Theater in downtown Los Angeles—also offered an irresistible platform to any celebrity who’d spent the previous week and a half itching to say something about Donald Trump. The most vivid commentary regarding the controversial president-elect came from Green Day, the veteran Bay Area punk band that performed its song ‘Bang Bang.’ The lead single from the group’s politically inspired ‘Revolution Radio’ album, it’s already a pretty heated number, with words that seek to get inside the head of a mass shooter. … Yet the show’s typically harmless co-hosts—model Gigi Hadid and comedian Jay Pharaoh—went sharper, cracking jokes about the Electoral College, Melania Trump’s plagiarism and the president-elect’s inability to ‘tell what color’ Bruno Mars was. ‘So I can’t deport him,’ Pharaoh said as he impersonated Trump. Mars himself opened the show with one of the evening’s most appealing bits of good-times escapism. Performing his shameless retro-R&B hit '24K Magic,' the singer paused the song for a Michael Jackson-ish dance break that made clear how completely he’d digested the last half-century of pop music.” http://lat.ms/2fjlMgZ
2. SNAPCHAT SPECTACLES A HIT WITH MARKETERS: Snapchat’s new Spectacles, which became available to the public more than a week ago, is a hit so far with marketers as brands and agencies including VaynerMedia and Sour Patch Kids have already tested out the new product. Digiday: “The pair of sunglasses can take 10-second videos from the point of view of the wearer, which the wearer can then upload to Snapchat. When played on Snapchat, the videos can be viewed both horizontally and vertically capturing the full range of the circular lens. And when the videos are shared to other platforms, they show up in a new circular format. ‘It’s an extremely engaging experience to watch circular video on your phone as you can view different parts of the video vertically versus horizontally,’ said Ben Benrubi, associate director of global partnerships at VaynerMedia. ‘Not only are Spectacles fun, but they are functional—they give us the opportunity to tell stories in a completely new and unique format, especially in first-person point of view.’ VaynerMedia picked up five pairs of Spectacles in Venice Beach, California, on Nov. 10, and helped Sour Patch Kids and Esquire Network post videos to their Snapchat accounts. The agency filmed a 90-second video of a motorcycle ride to promote the network’s show ‘Wrench Against the Machine.’ VaynerMedia also created its own version of the ‘mannequin challenge’ video using the glasses. Ned Lampert, creative director at Space150, said that Snapchat Spectacles are a big opportunity for brands is natively bringing a new perspective and first-person narrative to the fore. Snapchat reps have been pushing the spectacles aggressively, bringing them to agencies, including BBDO and Big Spaceship, to demo them for planners and technologists.” http://bit.ly/2fiuaNT
3. TICKETMASTER TO REFUND KANYE WEST CONCERTGOERS: Ticketmaster is refunding concertgoers who attended Kanye West’s Sacramento tour stop, after he went on a 15-minute tirade about politics, Beyoncé, and Jay Z before walking off stage. The Fader: “After concluding his speech by dropping his mic (and, according to attendees, performing just three songs in all), West walked off stage and abruptly ended the show. In the video footage of the speech, concertgoers can be heard becoming increasingly irritated and calling on West to get back to the music. Once he left the concert entirely, fans became irate and earlier today #KanyeIsOverParty began trending on Twitter. And now Ticketmaster has apparently given into attendees who want their money back: According to ABC 10, the company is now issuing full refunds to those who attended last night's show. Note: This is the second time refunds have been issued for a Saint Pablo tour show. Earlier this fall, the rapper cut a concert in L.A. short after he began losing his voice.” http://bit.ly/2fjqsDS
* LOCAL NEWS *
BOSTON: Mandarin Oriental, Boston, will host its Holiday Cake Decorating Workshop December 10. The hands-on class will be led by pastry chef Robert Differ.
CHICAGO: Marcus Hotels & Resorts is launching two experiential attractions: EscapeHouse Chicago, opening today at at 54 East Ontario Street, challenges people to solve puzzles to escape from the location; while the SafeHouse, opening in January at 60 East Ontario Street, has a spy theme.
The Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago's Junior Board hosted its 10th annual Charities Royale Casino Night at the Chicago Cultural Center's Preston Bradley Hall on Saturday. The event had "A Night in Monte Carlo" theme.
HOUSTON: Quest Events has opened its 21st location in Houston at a warehouse north of the downtown corridor.
LOS ANGELES: House of Blues Anaheim, which is set to open February 28, has announced the first set of artists who will perform at the venue this year: Social Distortion will headline shows for the nightclub's first two nights. Other artists to perform in subsequent nights include Billy Idol, Wu-Tang Clan, Daya, Common, and Santana.
For information on upcoming events in Los Angeles, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/losangeles
MIAMI/SOUTH FLORIDA: The Henderson, a Salamander Beach & Spa Resort, has opened in Destin. The resort, which is owned by Dunavant Enterprises, has 170 guest rooms, a nature-inspired spa, gulf-to-table cuisine, an octagonal bar with panoramic gulf views, a rooftop terrace, two outdoor swimming pools, and nearly 3,000 square feet of meeting and event space.
The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Naples has completed extensive renovations done with input from golf star Jack Nicklaus in collaboration with architect John Sanford. The Nicklaus redesign of the course began in April, and the course is now open and fully operational.
NEW YORK: For World AIDS Day on December 1, there will be a public dedication ceremony of the newly completed New York City AIDS Memorial, located at Seventh and Greenwich Avenues. The hosts of the ceremony are New York City AIDS Memorial Board of Directors and representatives, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, the New York State Department of Health, and the End AIDS NY 2020 Coalition.
Aloft Long Island City-Manhattan View, the first Aloft location in Queens, is now open. Owned by Select Development and managed by Real Hospitality, the 176-room hotel has a rooftop terrace and 1,000 square feet of meeting space.
Design and production company Ovando has appointed Dominique Dejardin as director of client experience.
For information on upcoming events in New York, visit Masterplanner: http://www.masterplanneronline.com/newyork
ORLANDO/CENTRAL FLORIDA: The 64th PGA Merchandise Show will take place January 24-27 at the Orange County Convention Center. The show will have more than 1,000 exhibitors and an education conference with more than 40 seminars.
SAN FRANCISCO: The fifth annual Fillmore Holiday Marketplace will take place December 10 at the Fillmore Heritage Center.
The 16th annual SF Sketchfest, presented by Audible, will take place January 12-29 at 20 venues across the city. The event will have more than 200 comedy shows from performers including Jeff Goldblum, Megan Mullally, Chelsea Peretti, Rachel Dratch, and Phoebe Robinson.
La Tavola Fine Linen Rental has opened a new 1,600-square-foot showroom in Sacramento.
TORONTO: Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has named David Oliver vice president of development for Canada.
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Noble Investment Group has purchased the Embassy Suites by Hilton Tysons Corner in Vienna. The 234-suite hotel has 1,700 square feet of meeting space, and will undergo a comprehensive renovation to its guest rooms and public areas.
YOUR NEWS: What are you doing? Tell us: [email protected].
JOB BOARD: Post a job or find a job: http://jobs.bizbash.com
With contributions from Jenny Berg in Chicago, Alesandra Dubin and Claire Hoffman in Los Angeles, Mitra Sorrells in Orlando, and Carla Hay, 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.
Feed the Sheet: [email protected]
Subscribe: www.bizbash.com/bizbashdaily
Advertise with BizBash: [email protected]
More in New York
Most Popular
