Continued from previous page
The theater stage was lit, the audience quiet, and performers Alison Burns and Heather Krueger were belting out a tune from the Broadway sensation Wicked. It wasn't opening night: it was the beginning of the Tampa FunShop held inside the Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Shari Lynn Rothstein, BiZBashFla's associate publisher, then introduced the vendors responsible for putting the FunShop together. Interface Sound & Productions set up a screen so everyone could see the latest trends David Simpson, president and C.E.O. of Cozza Noztra LLC, discussed in the keynote presentation: "The Hottest Event Trends: What's Hot…What's Not for 2007."
Guests retreated to the prefunction area outside the hall to enjoy an hourlong networking break. Prestige Productions had a different theme for the area: Florida Crossroads. Custom-made freeway signs and traffic lights were set up along with four 12-foot-tall multicolored palm trees. Two caddy couches—a two-seat couch made to look like the back end of a caddy—in pink and white or red and black provided unique seating. The centerpiece was a red Corvette used as a buffet station, where chefs placed hot stacks of golden onion rings on the hood along with mini burgers and dishes with mustard and ketchup. Plates, napkins, and utensils were available in the trunk. Guests could also visit the concession stand to indulge in flavored popcorn and boxes of candy. If that weren't enough, waitresses dressed in poodle skirts served vanilla and chocolate milkshakes and a grown-up version of root beer floats made with vanilla vodka.
To go with the retro look, an actor from Wise Guys hung about and flirted with the ladies, much like The Fonz on Happy Days. Two tacky tourists from Wise Guys, dressed in bright
tropical-patterned outfits and equally brash personalities, helped welcome guests.
After the break, it was time to attend one of two event intelligence seminars. Vanessa Goyanes, managing editor of BiZBashFla, moderated a session titled, "How Did You Get That Event?" Panelists Marie Jones, sales manager of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa; Michael Day, creative director of Prestige Productions; and Jason Atwell, C.E.O. of Titan Audio Inc., discussed the ins and outs of getting your company selected to produce an event. Shari Lynn moderated the other session, "Why Should I Come To Your Event?," where panelists Laura Turner, director of public relations for WEDU-TV; Bill Sharpe, president of the Tampa Marketing Company, and Mary Lou Janson, an independent publicist, shared tips on how to use marketing and PR strategies to get the right attendees excited about an event and through the doors.
By the end of the sessions, everyone was ready to experience Florida Chic, an appropriate finale to the 2006 FunShop season.
Photos: Marc Auster/Christie's Photographic Studios Tampa
The theater stage was lit, the audience quiet, and performers Alison Burns and Heather Krueger were belting out a tune from the Broadway sensation Wicked. It wasn't opening night: it was the beginning of the Tampa FunShop held inside the Louise Lykes Ferguson Hall at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.
Shari Lynn Rothstein, BiZBashFla's associate publisher, then introduced the vendors responsible for putting the FunShop together. Interface Sound & Productions set up a screen so everyone could see the latest trends David Simpson, president and C.E.O. of Cozza Noztra LLC, discussed in the keynote presentation: "The Hottest Event Trends: What's Hot…What's Not for 2007."
Guests retreated to the prefunction area outside the hall to enjoy an hourlong networking break. Prestige Productions had a different theme for the area: Florida Crossroads. Custom-made freeway signs and traffic lights were set up along with four 12-foot-tall multicolored palm trees. Two caddy couches—a two-seat couch made to look like the back end of a caddy—in pink and white or red and black provided unique seating. The centerpiece was a red Corvette used as a buffet station, where chefs placed hot stacks of golden onion rings on the hood along with mini burgers and dishes with mustard and ketchup. Plates, napkins, and utensils were available in the trunk. Guests could also visit the concession stand to indulge in flavored popcorn and boxes of candy. If that weren't enough, waitresses dressed in poodle skirts served vanilla and chocolate milkshakes and a grown-up version of root beer floats made with vanilla vodka.
To go with the retro look, an actor from Wise Guys hung about and flirted with the ladies, much like The Fonz on Happy Days. Two tacky tourists from Wise Guys, dressed in bright
tropical-patterned outfits and equally brash personalities, helped welcome guests.
After the break, it was time to attend one of two event intelligence seminars. Vanessa Goyanes, managing editor of BiZBashFla, moderated a session titled, "How Did You Get That Event?" Panelists Marie Jones, sales manager of the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa; Michael Day, creative director of Prestige Productions; and Jason Atwell, C.E.O. of Titan Audio Inc., discussed the ins and outs of getting your company selected to produce an event. Shari Lynn moderated the other session, "Why Should I Come To Your Event?," where panelists Laura Turner, director of public relations for WEDU-TV; Bill Sharpe, president of the Tampa Marketing Company, and Mary Lou Janson, an independent publicist, shared tips on how to use marketing and PR strategies to get the right attendees excited about an event and through the doors.
By the end of the sessions, everyone was ready to experience Florida Chic, an appropriate finale to the 2006 FunShop season.
Photos: Marc Auster/Christie's Photographic Studios Tampa
Alison Burns and Heather Krueger sang a tune from the Broadway sensation Wicked.
The networking break featured a crossroads theme, and Prestige custom-made signs to go along with it.
Caddy couches and multicolored palm trees gave the room a retro look.
The center's catering team served golden onion rings and mini burgers on a red Corvette.
Everyone mingled and enjoyed the retro surroundings during the networking break.
A concession stand provided multi-flavored popcorn and boxed candy.
Wacky tourists from Wise Guys helped welcome guests.
David Simpson, president of Cozza Noztra, discussed upcoming trends in the keynote presentation.
"Why Should I Come to Your Event?" panelists offered attendees practical advice on how to get guests excited about events.
"How Did You Get That Event?" panelists discussed the ins and outs of getting your company selected to produce an event.
