Super Duper Events

A Pair to Remember

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:54:00 +0000

I am interning at Easter Seals as a Special Events/Development Intern. With this position I will assist the Director of Development and the Development Team with the planning of Easter Seals’ signature event, A Pair to Remember. I will also aid with fundraising, donor identification and recruitment, strategic planning and other development goals for the Central Florida region of Easter Seals Florida. I am really excited about the experience I will gain, which will help me in achieving my ultimate goal of becoming a Creative Director.

A Pair to Remember is a unique event created for women who adore shoes! Top designer shoes, like the ones you can't pronounce, will be part of a live auction at the event. A Pair to Remember is a really big fundraiser and that money will help in Easter Seals' mission to serve children and adults with disabilities and special needs. The event happens in Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach.

This non profit organization has found a great and creative way to raise funds and awareness for disability services. I already love to volunteer so I find it really awesome that I'm getting the experience in special events but also assisting in a great cause.

Graduation Slideshow

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 05:23:00 +0000

Here's a slideshow from my graduation! Can you spot the number of times I'm in it?

Thanks to the photographer Ed :)

Industry Trend Or Not...I graduate!

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 20:34:00 +0000

Can you believe it?! I still cannot. In two days I graduate with my Master of Science degree in Entertainment Business! A year has already gone by and everyone is commenting “didn’t you just start yesterday?” The fact that I was adamant about not going back to school after my Bachelors, it’s crazy that I’m here. I would like to thank Professor Evans who changed my mind back in my undergrad, who stressed and kind of forced her class to continue their education. Even though I took a year break from then, one of my goals was to obtain my next degree before the age of 25. Praise the Lord it has been achieved!

Now that I will be looking for employment, the things that I will have to look at is how trends are affecting the industry I want. I would love to work in live special events, such as launch parties, award shows, fashion shows, and the likes. According to an article about the evolution of the industry, Elle Magazine executive director said, “Each year it gets harder to impress people. The audience is much more knowledgeable, and you really want to stand out and keep them wanting more,” and “You have to overdeliver.”

The biggest trend is brand marketing, which is huge in this industry. Many companies use events as part of their marketing campaign. Hopefully I can take advantage of this. I took a digital marketing class and I think I am someone with crazy ideas already so it might work out. Another interesting trend is making Special Events smaller. Most of us are used to the big spectacles but it seems that lately the idea is “To focus not on quantity, but, rather, quality, and create a more personal experience for guests.” The intimacy factor makes patrons a part of the experience. This is refreshing actually because producers will not necessarily have to worry about the numbers as a measure of how successful an event was.

What’s the Alternative?

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Fri, 30 Nov 2012 18:53:00 +0000

For many people, the nation’s economy is still greatly affecting them. And for those who have a deep desire to start a business but don’t have the funds, where can they look for that? Credit interest rates are high, loan rates are high, investors want a lot of equity, and there is so much risk out there. Luckily, there are some alternative ways to receive funding. Alternative funding can be compared to a cash advance essentially. The Corporation for Enterprise Development (cfed.org) helps low and middle-income households get to programs that will help them get to a path of financial security. The opportunities made available through CFED are access to the resources that will help you build your assets. It’s policy agenda focuses on financial assets and income, businesses and jobs, housing and homeownership, education, and health care.

Another company that helps create opportunities for entrepreneurs is the Association for Enterprise Opportunity (microenteroriseworks.org or aeoworks.org). Through them you are able to find a mentor and network with other small business owners. There’s been a trend recently that you may have heard of, Small Business Saturday, which is essentially about shopping at your local small business to contribute to the economic growth of the nation. AEO basically functions as such by promoting this interaction between owners. It has a green initiative to help the environment as well as save on costs for small businesses.

Both websites of these Alternative Funding Organizations have links to all the initiatives, policies, and programs that they are offering or making users aware of as a resource. Most requirements are that you must be within an income range to obtain help from these organizations. These sites have the links to the sites where you would apply so the requirements of those specifically may vary. However, I recommend both as a good central point to help you financially. They provide a huge network, which just like in entertainment, you need!

Fashion Show Recap

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Tue, 30 Oct 2012 17:46:00 +0000

So the Park Avenue Fashion Week event I volunteered for was ah-mazing! My classmate and I helped out with the food and beverages department of the fashion show. My station was serving drinks to the patrons and I had fun talking to and serving them. I even developed "regulars" where I knew exactly what they wanted. This department was headed by the owners of Maxine's on Shine, two very knowledgeable and fun people to work with. The show itself was the longest fashion show I’ve ever seen but it was still very good and I thouroughly enjoyed myself and it seemed that everyone else did too. There were plenty of clothes and models. My station partner was a mother of two of the models and she was a blast to work with. Her daughter actually was on a season of Project Runway as a model and I believe one of the designers from there had a collection in this show. Regardless, the greatest part I got to witness was at the end of the wedding dress scene. As the last model was walking, her boyfriend got on stage and proposed! It was perfect and she said yes! I didn't get to take many pictures since I was working, but the set up and energy reminded me of why I want to be a Creative Director.

My classmate and I at breakdown

I even met the director of a past event I volunteered for and chatted up a bit for next years production.

Make sure to check out my upcoming events tab!

How Invested Are You?

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 15:57:00 +0000

The entertainment industry forever contains “newbies” but there are few, in comparison, those who are considered experts in the field. Those who have been there, and done that, and gone through the mistakes and successes of being in the industry and still matter. Well, despite whatever industry you are in, your hope is to last and hopefully be able to guide others. Many goals are to start up a successful business but to do that, one must have a good business plan that he/she can take to investors. Two men who are considered experts when it comes to business plans are Chuck Blakeman and Kevin Hartz.

Chuck Blakeman is an entrepreneur and business mentor, he has his own business that provides tools for business owners to make money in less time. He is interesting because he believes that a new company does not need a business plan. Instead, they should be out doing rather than wasting time planning. In an interview he shared that vision, speed of execution, time in market, and business maturity date are the key components for a business owner. His reasoning for these are “you get what you intend, not what you hope for.”

Chuck Blakeman

Kevin Hartz is the founder/CEO of Eventbrite, an online company that helps people discover, create, and promote events along with ticket sales. According to AngelList, most of his investments are in social media platforms, the most popular being Pinterest. Hartz, in a Forbes article talked about how he likes to invest in companies that have smart and driven entrepreneurs, attacks big markets, and make their services available on multiple platforms. He learned these from his own company so it is understandable that he would look for the same characteristics when investing in a start-up.

Kevin Hartz

Both investors are obviously very knowledgeable but different in their approach to business plans. When looking for an investor, your passion must be high to attract them first, then the logistics.

Are You On The Market?

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 05:04:00 +0000

I read this really great article on event marketing with the digital world and I highly suggest you read it too. Essentially, it describes the relationship between the two as not being a very good one. The computer is a great communication tool, but with event marketing who is going to be carrying a laptop around? A computer/ website is useful up to a point, before and after an event but then is just about completely useless at the very moment of a special event. As the article describes, marketing is lost since…“The time period missing is the event itself -- the time when consumer interest is naturally at it’s highest. This is prime time to advertise, update, publicize, and inform.”…

Here comes the cellphone to the rescue. The mobile phone offers various interactive methods and it is almost guaranteed that whoever walks through the doors to an event has one. Because of this, event organizers can engage with the audience and extend revenue opportunities. This interaction of the person with their cellphone brings up the world of Web 3.0, which is the personal web and mobile data. Here, event organizers can create mobile programs that provide schedules, branded updates, exclusive access, seat arrangements, registration, and may be even used as a pass for entry! “Event-based mobile media access keeps it personal, practical, and direct.“ as explained by the author. This mobile application should be combined with other campaign tactics such as kiosks to gain more PR opportunities.

exinary.com

This new century approach is able to catch an event’s audience much better than traditional methods of interaction. Those methods include prior promotions, kiosks, tents with laptops, and more. As I stated in my previous post, I am traditional therefore personal interactions would matter to me at these functions, which is something that was not brought up in this article at all. Word-of-mouth is still the top marketing strategy with high credibility and costs nothing. Even so, the combination of all these elements will greatly aid the special events industry.

Is It Real?

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 17:46:00 +0000

What is a live event? It is a function where one is able to feel the action and have a connection with others they may not know. It is an experience. Many of these events are set for certain times of your life, such as prom. The experience from that can affect you for your whole life. There is actually an Experience Industry that plays on points in our lives. But with world modernization there is a shift in how things are done. A lot of things within the entertainment industry are being substituted for a digital experience. But is it possible to do that with a live event?

ABC News has come with a new ipad application called the ‘New Live Event Experience’. It will take you inside the 2012 Political Convention for both parties. The elements included are multi-streaming, social media feed, and expert commentary ALL on one screen. The app originally did not have this update but since refreshing in June, the total user engagement has increased by 57%! The new combination of these elements provides an overall experience for the consumer. Being as there are no tabs to flip through, the goal is to cater to our senses at once.

Some may argue for this due to sold-out or even international events. I am traditional so this does not appeal to me even if I cannot attend the actual event. I think there is a future for this since it exists but for me it depends on the event. One where there isn’t much interaction or input such as the political convention can be viewed through new ipad applications such as this, but a concert where you are immersed in the production might be hard to accomplish. It does worry me though how it will impact the live event industry.

Sidenote: go out (double meaning) and register to vote!

Mag App

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:16:00 +0000

About a year ago, I used my frequent flyer miles to subscribe to five different popular magazines. I didn’t have enough to actually book a trip so I didn’t want to waste them when I had this option. So far, I have read 1 out of the 40 or so that are laying on my coffee table or in the magazine racks. They really are just for show now. The fact I haven’t read any has nothing to do with the magazines themselves since I chose which ones I wanted because they interested me. It might be because I’m too busy since only when I have real downtime will I pick one up. So far the only person who really reads my magazines is my cousin when she goes on a road trip, so they have a purpose. However I’m really glad I didn’t have to pay because boy would that have been a complete waste of money.

Somewhat unrelated but it is, I have Netflix. I can go a month without watching anything just because I’m not really a TV person but I know I will make up that month subscription fee maybe the next month by watching a couple. So how this relates is there is an application, which is like Netflix but for magazines called NEXT ISSUE. The way it works is that “[Android] tablet owners can essentially pay $10-$14 a month for all the magazines that they want to read”. There are also individual magazine (and issues) subscriptions too from $2-$10. The application hopes to add more social and personalization elements that are seen in many new digital products. NEXT ISSUE was recently made available on the iPad too, so now more consumers have access to all these wonderful magazines they may not have known about before.

I see this application reducing stagnant issues around the house. NEXT ISSUE is putting hundreds of magazines in your hand without the clutter. It will even include international titles when it expands. I see specialty magazines becoming a part of the collection, which would aid me since lately I've been doing a lot of research in possibly starting up a magazine dealing with the special events industry.

Held Liable

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:39:00 +0000

Within all the realms of entertainment, there are many apparent and hidden liabilities. Liabilities are hindrances. Hopefully companies take insurance to avoid the mess that they can cause for their business. Due to my interest for events, I checked out some podcasts that detailed some so I could get a better understanding of how they can apply to my future business. The first one I looked at was Entertainment Law Update Ep 12 by Gordon P. Firemark, Esq. It caught my attention because he spoke on theft of ideas. The example was about a script that was pitched and apparently became the base for The Last Samurai movie but not credited. The court dismissed the claims because there was not substantial similarity of the protectable elements. Since I want to do concept/theme development (which encompasses a lot of ideas being thrown), I learned from the example how pitched ideas could be seen as bordering infringement. I could apply this knowledge by just being weary of copyright infringement from whatever should inspire me.

The next podcast I listened to was by the same gentleman, about Fair Use. It tied in with what I was just reviewing. Certain materials can have a limited use but may be seem as being in competition to or infringing. The case he looked at was about a play and music and the court saw it as fair use. Fair use can be arguable as it looks at competition and some things do not have a market. I could apply this to my event business by understanding how material is classified as being used to advance. This would help me protect myself and my business so that we never see a court.

Now something I would love to work on is a fashion show. This interview was really fun to listen to and I got a lot of information. A liability for a new business starting out is proper use of funds. I learned from this podcast the importance of proposals, as the event director was able to get a venue for free by showcasing the benefits. It also stressed how WHO you know helps out a lot. A good tip from the podcast was to update your advertising rather than presenting it all at once. This way you have a better return on investment as people know ahead of time of events. It also talked about how to keep outside vendors specific to what they need to know as those could be other liabilities.

Case of the Ex(ample)

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 14:11:00 +0000

The entertainment industry can be just as dirty as it is fun. Despite the common thing of it being about who you know, there is also a lot of detailing and unfortunately for some, a lack of detail. Within the particular field I want to work in, that being events, there are issues that I would love to avoid…

I believe that many events are centered around themes so this case surprised me. In early 2011 an event planner was threatened with a lawsuit due to event decor being similar to the Oscar's ...now this wasn't her trying to pass off as the actual event so I find it odd. She ending up settling but infringement is certainly real. I honestly don't know how that works with so many themes and ideas being recycled within the entertainment industry. It is advised that those dealing with events should have intellectual property lawyers who can find and clarify anything that may be infringing.

Another case brings in the topic of emotional distress for a couple’s wedding planned by a celebrity wedding planner in 2010. These types of events are very satisfaction based which already are “iffy”. According to the couple there was intentional sabotaging by the planner, which included him not attending the wedding and this case actually went to the Supreme Court! According to the planner, there were unmade payments and he was advised by the bride's father to not attend. Weddings are already stressful, so the couple seeking punitive damages for "severe emotional distress" makes this story quite interesting.

Now though I hardly drink I am interested in alcohol. Weird. But whatever event I would work on would most likely be catered to adults and therefore alcohol would be provided as part of the social aspect of it all. I never saw myself being responsible for others other than morally but there are recent laws that put liability on you for the actions of said others. Earlier this year a case of an unfortunate accident of a teenager shows how the property owner and host were blamed. Confusingly enough, the persons in question were Jessica Simpson and her father (not the entertainer) who were not seen as liable. Depending on the jurisdiction however can make a difference, but this informed me of how important it is to get event liability insurance.

Here is a great short video about the social host liability pertaining to FLORIDA…

Looking at these cases, I see that a lot have to do with avoidance…

Can you handle it?

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 03:42:00 +0000

There are many types of management and sometimes, a lot of times actually, they intertwine and have to work with each other. This title of managing means guiding, directing, overseeing, studying, identifying, planning, and whatever else you see fit. There’s product and artist management but I am interested in event management, seeing as how what I want to work with is live events. However, there will be products, services, projects, artists, etc. that will be showcased at an event. Whether it be a small meeting or large concert, something is being exhibited, and there is someone or a team that is in charge of making sure it is displayed correctly. The responsibility of representing and selling something (whether it is tangible or not) is a skill not everyone holds. That is why most often it is someone else who holds the position. Whether we know it or not we have held this position before though. Granted it probably was on a small scale such as maybe having the responsibility of managing your time.

In the entertainment industry you may be placed in the role of making sure everything runs effectively. It takes great experience and dedication to be able to manage something in this field. A lot of people will count on you to get them or a product in the spotlight. There will also be frustrations. I have a friend who is a manager for a national drugstore and when he expresses his frustrations for his store I can only imagine the frustrations in the entertainment world. The expectations of being a manager are really high and there has to be a certain level of commitment. In my last post I interviewed an artist manager and he stated that the interests of his artist was his number one goal. If you find it important, you will be able to make others find it important. That is what I believe makes an accomplished manager.

Do We Have A Deal?

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 14:55:00 +0000

The other day I had the pleasure of interviewing Bryan W., a coworker of mine who is also a professional in the entertainment industry. He is in the business of Marketing/PR and holds the title of Owner Operator and Artist Manager. Though I am more interested in live events, I figured I should interview him about what he does to get a better understanding of the inner workings of the industry. I also know that our focuses within the industry intertwine. Bryan goes to small live entertainment venues in Orlando to find the artists that he represents. If he likes someone, he approaches him or her and that is when the collaboration process begins. Negotiations and deal making is something that happens a lot in entertainment business regardless of what field you focus in.

When I met with Bryan I asked him how long he has been in this industry, which he told me was six years. He added that he has been in sales for 20 years and that the experience from sales greatly helps him now. Bryan regularly negotiates about dollars, percentages, albums, royalties, etc. with music artists. I asked him how he separates the person from the problem when he goes into a negotiation and he told me by rapport building. He explained how this is important in maintaining a positive negotiation and understanding each other’s needs. Bryan went on to mention that before an actual meeting, a phone call is made to build this rapport and from there he extensively researches the person he will be negotiating with. I then asked how long does his negotiations usually last and Bryan told me that he’s had it go from an hour to a week. Those that take long are people that are being hardheaded and in those situations he brings in a mediator. These responses provided a good insight on the general run-through of a negotiation but I wanted the good, bad, and UGLY.

Unfortunately I didn’t really get any ugly. I excitedly asked Bryan about dirty tricks, such as lies and pressure, does he use them in the negotiation room? Bryan assured me that he doesn’t but is great at spotting them from the other party. He defines this ability as being one of a good negotiator He told me that he actually says at the beginning of his meetings, “[let’s] be honest, don’t play games”. Bryan also mentioned how it would be no problem for him to get up and end the meeting if he senses that dirty tricks are being employed. He said that this is “a sign of what will happen later, which breaks the trust.” Bryan is looking out for the artist’s best interest so he never takes them into a negotiation because he doesn’t want them to be associated as being the bad guy if a deal with a label is not taken. In cases like this, I asked Bryan if he has a BATNA to which he responded he usually has three backups. This helps him know the value of the negotiation he is currently in.

The interview with Bryan was helpful because I learned about doing RESEARCH! This was something he reiterated quite often in our interview. Bryan said it’s important to not be caught off guard and research allows one to know a lot of details about somebody. I also learned from this interview to have backups, not just one but at least 3. The entertainment industry is always moving so it’s best to be able to move right with it. Regardless of ‘who you know’, deals are going to be made and they will require some negotiating.

If you are in the Orlando area looking for an artist manager, just let me know and I will get you in contact with Bryan W.

Picture This

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Tue, 15 May 2012 16:15:00 +0000

This past weekend I volunteered with Snap! Orlando, a photography celebration that showcases amazing works of national and international photographers. The main event took place in a warehouse in Downtown Orlando. I worked Friday, which was the opening night of the art exhibition and also Saturday, which was a continuation but included a fashion show. I really enjoyed helping out with the event but how I found out about this event was through a friend via a social media network the day before! The event opened my eyes to spectacular works including a live work done entirely by the use of a Sharpie marker up against a 20-foot wall (as shown in the picture below). I was more wide-eyed because the event gave me an idea of the kind of things I could work with since I want to be a Creative Director for live events and productions.

I also realized that I should start getting into photography more. It’s something I enjoy doing as a hobby every now and then but since I don’t own a fancy ultra expensive camera, I don’t think I can convey that artistic side of me to others when those around me look like real photographers. A book I am currently reading for class is Rich Dad, Poor Dad and the author talked about how “fear” is the most powerful emotion that prevents us from achieving success. Another chapter of the book expressed how we should want to know a little about everything; this is something I tell people but many things cost money and that financial fear is what holds many, including myself, back from doing it. I like how my weekend experience and my class readings tied in so perfectly.

Overall, this event was a joy to work with and I plan to do this event again next year. I also hope to find more treasures like this that I can volunteer with that will give more experience and allow me to explore the city of Orlando more.

Not So Funny Fee

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Thu, 03 May 2012 04:52:00 +0000

This past weekend I attended a comedy show at The Improv Comedy Club in Orlando. I was excited to go see Lil Duval, a comedian from Jacksonville who I have been following since his 2005 Coming to the Stage days, AND it was only $20! Anyone who knows me knows I’m cheap, so for a well-known comedian to be that price I had to hop on. I’ve caught him on television and the Internet and gotten a good laugh but the real experience (and low price) was my driving force. So I proceeded to go to the website and purchase my ticket. I forgot there was a dreaded convenience fee...darn.

In terms of live entertainment, the expenses put into putting on the production aid in determining the ticket price. Online registration and event ticketing systems most certainly charge for its service so these fees are passed onto the patrons, which can range upwards to double digit numbers. What I would appreciate is a bundling or lowering of these fees for multiple tickets. I bought two, one for a friend of mine, and spent more than I originally got excited for. Unfortunately there are not many of us who can get out of these fees. Unless we go to an actual ticket box.

Ticket purchasing isn’t the only place where we see these fees; they may be attached to other bills we pay. Some have deferred it if you enroll in automatic payments so I wonder if this or something similar will work with online ticket purchases to live shows. Maybe if you are a member of the site? With the takeover of technology, I’m slightly confused as to why they are taking advantage even though this is the way a large majority of people make purchases now. Other than that tidbit, I thoroughly enjoyed the show.

Speak No Evil

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 19:06:00 +0000

Speakers provide a lot of insight from their experiences and have something important to say but most are boring let’s admit. As I was searching through TED.com, which is a site devoted to ‘Ideas Worth Spreading’, I was hoping to find something about creativity and directorship. I found many interesting topics but the story by Gary Vaynerchuk kept my attention while delivering a great message. In his motivational speech he explained how his business came about. He worked with the family business of selling wine for seven years but then decided he wanted to do something else. That is when he came up with Wine Library TV in which he educates people on all aspects of wine. It is now a very large community. This may not sound interesting but his delivery was amazing! He kept it very real through humor and cursing, which is something I appreciate, and you can check out his speech below. I promise you you’ll enjoy it. No matter what career path you want to pursue, there were a lot of great points made in that speech.

His approach to business storytelling has led Gary to be featured on many various media outlets. This particular speech essentially was about doing what you love and not making excuses. One must have two things he said, patience and passion. There are so many people who are doing things they hate and not asking themselves “what do I want to do?” He explains that on building your personal brand you must listen to your users and care about your user base but you have to start with YOURSELF. He advises however that if you do not believe in your personal brand, to get out of it.

In his speech, he pointed out that “legacy is greater than currency”. Gary wants his family to be proud of him, which is exactly how I feel about my Dad. I believe that in today’s society a lot of people do things just for the money. Too many are willing to throw their pride or ethics away for it. His speech gave me a better understanding of going after what you want and utilizing your time to do what you enjoy. He showed that you could build your brand equity after hours (after working your regular job) if you want to succeed. In other words, position yourself to succeed.

Guilty by Association

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 17:26:00 +0000

Connecting with an industry trade association is a great way to network and stay current as a professional. Their impact on the industry can be more than you realize. The live entertainment industry is what I want to get into, as my goal is to be a Creative Director working with events and productions. After doing some research I discovered one association that caters to this field, the International Special Events Society (ISES). This professional association’s vision “Dedicated and Educated to Deliver Creative Excellence and Professionalism in Special Events” is a great summarization of what it offers.

This certified organization brings people together and gives them the opportunity to network and collaborate. Small businesses are able to help each other and develop a relationship whether they are a novice in the industry or a veteran. The chapters are spread throughout a couple continents and my very own city of Orlando has a chapter. This is understandable, seeing as how this city is a tourist hotspot filled with special events. The organization also works with schools and their programs that are industry related. ISES is the only association that represents creative people in events. They allow the sharing of failures as a learning opportunity. Because this is a young industry, ISES gives its members the ability to position themselves as credible in their field. All this information can be retrieved from the short film video on the association’s website.

It would be wise of me to join this association or another one that relates to build up my network of those who are doing what I find enjoyable. The members of the International Special Events Society all encompass different aspects of special events, from technical to marketing to photography and catering. ISES has a great career center that connects its members to new employment opportunities. This organization is important to my industry because it has put together everyone and everything that one would need to put on a production. Thanks to organizations like this, the live entertainment industry can continue to learn, grow, and thrive.

Pick Your Direction

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 21:22:00 +0000

So earlier his week, my aunts went to San Antonio, Texas to visit my cousin. They did the common tourist type stuff but what I’m pretty sure I would have done had I gone, is engage in one of the biggest displays of music, film, and interactive activities just under an hour and a half away in Austin, Texas. From March 9-18, South by Southwest (SXSW) was holding their annual conference and festival. SXSW is a company that plans and puts on trade shows and other events. The website SXSW.com has all the details and schedules of the event. The website even has a guide for first-timers.

Some parts of the event are free and some need registration that includes costly fees. This is an event you would definitely have to save up for. This huge project used an airline style type of pricing. The closer it got to the event, the more the price increased. This helps with the budget of putting on such a big event. It also is an incentive to get customers earlier so that an estimate of how many will be participating can be calculated. The first SXSW was held in March of 1987 with 700 attending, and last year’s had nearly 20,000! The many sponsors also aid in the costs while also promoting their own brand.

There are three different portions to this festival, they includes Film: showcasing new directorial talent, Interactive: all about new technology, and the Music: new and featured artists. The uses of social networks help in promoting the festival as well as updating and introducing new things with Facebook, Twitter, and the official YouTube channel.

Hopefully I can save up to visit my cousin next year and attend this event that happens every spring. The fact that it’s a huge regional event that attracts people from all around the nation is an example of great past execution.

All-Star Mass Appeal

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 06:03:00 +0000

This past weekend, the city of Orlando hosted the NBA All-Star weekend for the second time after 20 years. From February 24-26, there was a list of different events and parties to account for the thousands of people who would be attending. A guide of the different events was available at http://www.orlandoallstarweekend.com/ .This was definitely a weekend of spending and Orlando profited greatly. Considering that many of the seat tickets ranged from $25 to upwards of $500 for actual NBA All-Star events, there were parties downtown going for much more. Many prominent artists came for this big event and even hosted, for example Drake, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, R. Kelly, and many more. I actually attended two events and luckily for me, I only spent a total of $5 (that was my weekend highlight). On Thursday night I attended a party hosted by DJ Kid Cupri and DJ Biz Markie. I registered on a complimentary guest list a week before so I didn’t pay a dime since I got there right before 11pm. On Friday I attended the BBVA Rising Stars Challenge at the new Amway Center that featured the Rookie and Sophomore Classes battling it out. I saw Blake Griffin of the Clippers do what he does best, dunk. I saw Jeremy Lin of the Knicks, who became a star overnight essentially and even artist Wale as a spectator on the sidelines.

*My friend and I with Blake Griffin inside the Amway Center (really a cut-out of Blake)*

This past weekend is an example of something that appealed to the masses. Sports is something that brings people together and all over the world there were those anticipating this weekend. In my first post I stated that I wasn’t a sport fanatic but the collective energy brought about by an event like this made me enjoy it. With the amount of people that traveled and met in a centralized location, the crowd control provided by Orlando’s police was exceptional. For events such as these, the security and safety of the special guests and the patrons are of high importance. In this WFTV article, the project manager explained its importance in the weekend’s preparation. The structure of a huge project like this requires a huge team that can maintain control.

Changing with the Times

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 20:40:00 +0000

Many of us have most certainly heard the phrase “the only constant in life is change” or a variation by Greek philosopher Heraclitus. In the entertainment industry, providing quality services is one of the top priorities. With that there has to be a flexibility to adapt to sudden changes in event production. This may be seen as risk management: the identification, assessment, and prioritization of possible risks but there are some things that are just unforeseen.

Tonight, the 54th Grammy Awards will air on CBS. This ceremony recognizes outstanding achievement in the music industry and also features performances. Many artists see this as the highlight of their career to receive such an award. Yesterday, Whitney Houston, a recipient of 6 Grammys suddenly passed away at the age of 48. A social media network is where I learned of this tragedy. But within hours after the confirmation of her death, executive producer of the show Ken Ehrlich announced that singer Jennifer Hudson, who received her first Grammy award from Whitney Houston in 2009, would perform a small tribute to Houston at the ceremony. It has been said that it will be a simple tribute. One of the biggest productions in the music industry, the Grammy has managed to pay respect by tweaking its show in honor of Houston. The award show has shown its ability to adapt to sudden changes through this course of action. For any event, there should be room for any possible change as that can sometimes mean the difference between a successful and flawless event or an imperfect faulty event.

Now with just hours remaining before the 54th Grammy Awards, we are all awaiting the tribute to the legendary Whitney Houston. Having sold millions of millions of albums, she was truly an icon in the music industry and an inspiration to many of today’s artists.

R.I.P. Whitney Houston.

Events and Productions

noreply@blogger.com (Ana D Best) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 00:44:00 +0000

Events and productions have many genres, just like music. They entice different audiences and satisfy different needs. There are different types of events, they include: celebratory, educational, promotional, and commemorative. Examples are trade shows, corporate meetings, conferences, concerts, fundraisers and etc. Regardless of the type, the purpose is usually universal: to physically put on something or showcase an occasion.

The entertainment industry is a huge driving force in today’s society. Media has risen especially due to technology and the break down of certain barriers. People want to enjoy life and be entertained. That includes being with a group of people partaking in something that they all consider fun. Events provide an outlet for those commonalities. Whether you know it or not, there is always something going on. I’ll try to let you know of a certain event for every post I make.

So what’s the biggest event going on today? Super Bowl XLVI! It’s February 5 and The New England Patriots are going against The New York Giants. So much preparation and money went into this and you can believe that a lot of money will come out of it too. If you went shopping lately, there had to be advertisements everywhere and sold out pizza and chips and beer. Whether you are a sports fanatic or not *raises hand* it will be hard to not be affected somehow. For instance I got awesome deals on frozen pizza because of the super bowl. The Super Bowl itself and its sponsors offers prizes and giveaways so it was a mini win to me. This event isn’t just a football game; it is a major production that includes a concert and philanthropy too.

Events are meant to be impactful and the different medians that contribute to it make it a lasting one.