February 2012
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MCVB welcome to AIME
The Mural Hall at Myer Melbourne is definitely one of the most fabulous event venues the city has to offer. So it was great to be back there again tonight for the MCVB AIME welcome cocktail party. The cocktail party is always an opportunity to catch up with previous AIME contacts – media, buyers and MCVB staff.
So what did this have to offer as a networking cocktail party? As stated, the venue...
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January 2012
9 posts
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RiverCat will not get you home from Parra Opening...
According to the Sydney Festival getting to the Parra Opening Party on Saturday “There’s buses, trains and ferries running to Parramatta. The RiverCat is a great way to get there”
What they don’t tell you is that if you want to come home on the RiverCat you will have to leave the event by 7 PM as the last ferry leaves 4 hours before the event finishes! Duh!
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The Trocadero Dance Palace - Festival First Night
Last year I attended the Trocadero Dance Palace in the Sydney Town Hall and had a great time. So I was excited that it was to come back for the Festival this year. However I was disappointed to discover that it would not be held in the Town Hall again this year (in fact I don’t think there are any Festival shows in the Town hall this year - is it closed?)
Instead a large stage was set up...
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The Elizabeth St stage - Sydney Festival First...
My favorite spot at the Sydney Festival First night turned out to be the Elizabeth St stage.
I happened by during the afternoon when the stage was being set up and was mightily impressed by the huge skyhook from which dangled a trapeze rig. Excited!
However it never appeared during the night. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the Festival’s insurer would not cover the Public Liability...
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Sydney Festival First Night - a punter's...
Just a few observations by me from a punter’s point of view - with pix (because I do)
Love the concept of blocking off Elizabeth Street…
… and Macquarie St…
… which gave some performers the opportunity to put the hat out as they warmed up.
However the use of Police horses in such a dense crowd seemed a bit of overkill. OK, I know they are well trained but they...
December 2011
2 posts
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The most anticipated industry card of the year
I always look forward to the annual Christmas Card from PJSE.
Robert Palmer eat your heart out!
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A few thoughts on the EEAA conference held at SCEC...
The very entertaining MC, James Valentine introduced the conference as an analysis of the media all around us and how it impacts and interacts.
Joyce DiMascio has been with EEAA for around five months now and sees her role as building a stronger voice with a more compelling story for the association.
DiMascio reiterated that “the power of face to face meetings is more compelling than ever”.
Matt...
October 2011
3 posts
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MONA FOMA 2012 launch in Sydney
Tonight the chilly weather in Sydney was a bit like that in Hobart. So it was a perfect night to launch MOFO 2012.
A couple of months ago I visited MONA for the first time. I spent about four hours in the gallery and needed at least another four to see the whole gallery. I am definitely hooked on what this wonderful gallery has to offer.
MONA FOMA (or MOFO) is the music and arts festival that...
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Event Awards a sellout, but you can catch it live...
The Australian Events Industry Night of Nights is a sell-out for the third year running. Tickets were withdrawn from sale on Friday night after all 450 seats for the Gala Night at in the Grand Foyer of Allphones Arena, Sydney Olympic Park were sold. But thanks to the magic of wireless internet provided by Big Air, and with the help of StreamGate, the evening will be web-streamed live on the...
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Meat Loaf barbequed on Twitter
Over the weekend the battle of the football codes was fought out in the twitterverse. Who would have the best Grand Final entertainment?
The commentary around the AFL was almost exclusively about the performance of Meat Loaf – which was universally bagged.
Typical comment - To be fair to #meatloaf, it’s very hard to sing and chew gum at the same time.
One of the problems of having a high profile...
September 2011
3 posts
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Queuing for Fashion's Night Out
Fashion’s Night Out appears to have become a night for queuing in central Sydney. Trying to navigate Pitt St Mall was more like getting around the Easter Show as kids queued up or free fairy floss, ice cream and cup-cakes. Not too sure what any of that has to do with fashion, because too much of it will just make those girls then have to then diet to fit into the fashions.
There was also the...
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Another arena name change
Just as I was getting used to the Sydney SuperDome being called Acer Arena they have changed the name again. I’m going back to SuperDome.
And I’m sticking with Olympic Stadium for whatever that is called this month. And Docklands Stadium.
Thankfully the Melbourne and Sydney Cricket Grounds are still the MCG and SCG respectively.
I do understand sponsorship - but naming rights is...
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Sydney Masonic Centre shows off
Last night the Sydney Masonic Centre hosted a hundred or so industry buyers who had a look at just what the venue has to offer - 16 different spaces are available and some of the theatre spaces (temples) are fascinating.
The SMC provided the catering (along with French wines) and Moreton Hire dressed the foyer while Onstage Entertainment kept people amused.
Brad Blaze managed to splash lots of...
August 2011
4 posts
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ClubMEA at Sky Venue
An excellent networking function at Sydney Sky Venue last night courtesy of Trippas White Group. The city turned on a spectacular evening to view from 300 metres above the CBD.
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Dramatic video of Indiana State Fair stage...
Catastrophe struck the Indiana State Fair on Saturday, where a 60mph gust of wind brought down the concert stage where the country music duo Sugarland was about to appear.
Salient lessons here for all event managers staging outdoor concerts.
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Cadel Evans is not a hero!
However he is a “Sporting Hero”!
So why do I bring this up?
It is in response to an article by Mia Freedman in last weekend’s SMH about an incident on a TV show that she appears on with someone called Karl Stefanovic.
In brief, the discussion was about the efforts of Cadel Evans winning the Tour de France and Mia’s indifference to that achievement.
I’ll just quote this section from her article...
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From white to black, the Gala is back!
Back in February I was on the AIME media tour that took in the soon to be reopened Myer Mural Hall. This is one of the most stunning venues in Melbourne and the ISES Melbourne chapter have snared it for their annual gala dinner – that is impressive. I’m going, who else will I be seeing there?
From white to black, the Gala is back!
Friday 19th August Like a classic Melbourne bar hidden down an...
July 2011
3 posts
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RSVP Melbourne Party After Dark dissapoints
The RSVP Party After Dark parties have become something of an institution – so why did Melbourne’s latest party not live up to previous ones?
The location was perfect – the balcony area in the Royal Exhibition Building above the trade floor. During the day there were tantalising glimpses of the bump-in from the show floor.
The design worked well – including some welcoming arches, scattered...
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New Qantas luggage rules
What is it with Qantas and their new luggage rules?
I used to travel with a couple of bags weighing around 10 - 12 kilos each. Now I’ve got to put it all into one bag. On a recent trip that bag (the biggest I could buy that suits the luggage dimensions) weighed in at 22.7 kg.
So how long will it be before the luggage handlers (and passengers) start complaining about all the heavier...
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Forum to discuss a new convention centre for...
The NSW Government is preparing to call for expressions of interest to deliver a new international, multifunctional convention, entertainment and exhibition facility at Darling Harbour. A forum is being held on Friday 8 July to provide industry with details on the scope and objectives of the project, development opportunities and indicative milestones. Information provided at this briefing will...
June 2011
7 posts
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10K and counting for The Three Waiters
Catching up with Mark Bradley at RSVP Melbourne. I remember when The Three Waiters started in 1998 (I was working on one of their earliest events) and I was at The Special Event in New Orleans when he launched into the USA in 2001.
Now Mark tells me that they are counting down to the 10,000 performance of The Three Waiters show worldwide.
They have now performed in 76 countries with...
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Free Wi-Fi roll out is underway in exhibition...
MCEC launched their free Wi-Fi at AIME in February this year and now SCEC have announced that Wi-Fi will be free from July 1st.
It’s not that long ago that an Internet connection for a trade stand at these venues cost about the same as a year long subscription to a fixed line ADSL connection.
Thanks to Leigh Harry for getting the roll out started and may it continue and may the bandwidth...
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NEWS FROM THE DIAMANT HOTEL CANBERRA
Update from Paul Fischmann on the Diamant Hotel, Canberra following the recent fire at the adjacent Acton Hotel.
A major blaze occurred in the building adjacent to the Diamant Hotel Canberra. The fire was wildly reported in the media as involving the Diamant Hotel, however I am happy to advise that while the adjacent building has been badly damaged by the fire, the Diamant has suffered only...
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Checking out the Hotel Urban in St Kilda
Last weekend I had some work in Melbourne CBD but opted to stay at the Hotel Urban in St Kilda (well OK I was doing a story on the hotel).
Normally I wouldn’t stay that far out of the CBD so I was surprised at just how easy the access is - the 96 tram is almost express from Fitzroy St to Spencer St as it runs along the old St Kilda rail corridor. So I was able to get to/from the city in...
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Twenty years of NSW Talent Development Program
A great sopurce of talent for events over the years has been the NSW Education Dept. Talent Develpment Program which was started by Mary Lopez twenty years ago.
The program launched the careers of many including Human Nature, Paulini, Angus and Julia Stone, musical theatre stars Lucy Maunder (Dr Zhivago), Amanda Harrison (Wicked) and Trevor Ashley (Hairspray), composer Gavin Lockley and country...
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MEA go behind the scenes of Vivid
Good session last night with Brenton Kewley from Events NSW along with Anthony Bastic, Laura Roberts and Peter Loxton form AGB Events. Have a story coming soon in ASE, in the meantime you can check out some pix on my photo blog
May 2011
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NAVA analysis of the budget →
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TV screens on Qantas 737
Travelled to Adelaide last weekend with Qantas. Sat in the very last row of the 737 and was intrigued by the TV screens - they were all different colours ranging from blue to green with many variations in between - pale blue, sea green, blue/green, grey/green, grey/blue, yellow/green and even an Aurora Australis version.
And what’s with the toilet paper floating around in the on Q promo...
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James Packer takes aim at Australian tourism.
Interesting article in the Fairfax media - James Packer on Australian tourism. One very pertinent statement re state/federal approach to tourism that is very appropriate to Business Tourism. So how about a united approach instead of Sydney and Melbourne in particular competing for the same business?
Packer believes tourism is so vital that the Council of Australian governments (COAG) needs...
April 2011
9 posts
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Monday at Bluesfest
Bob Dylan Day at Bluesfest (but more on that later)
one of the great innovations at Bluesfest is the way you can sit at these undercover tables and still see and hear the shows
Like Michelle Shocked - who set up her little campfire…
so she could tell lots of campfire stories
and belt out a song or two.
The Peter Rowan Bluegrass Band…
also shared stories
and belted...
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Sunday at Bluesfest
No rain yet.
and what an entertainment line-up - but first some shots from around the grounds
OK park in there…
programmes, get your programmes here
and yep, they were at Bluesfest
the collection continues to build (and it hasn’t rained)
but here is a wet spot
sensible footwear - even for fairies
and the fashion conscious
the bar staff are now over half way
...
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Saturday at Bluesfest
the grounds are starting to dry out - must be due for more rain….
Little Feat attracted an audience of baby boomers
so of course I loved it…
for some reason this gen X dude spent the whole time recording the back of the head of the guy in front of him - probably on youtube now
Last week the ABC showed Paper Giants which included the shooting of Cleo’s first centrefold...
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Grace Jones at Bluesfest
The bitch kept the audience waiting for 45 minutes and was totally unapologetic when she finally turned up…
while waiting the audience amused ourselves with balloons, slow hand claps and booing. Those who stayed that is, because many got fed up and left.
then the black drape that was shrouding the stage dropped and the audience was bathed in blue light…
…and high up the...
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Friday at Bluesfest
OK - I didn’t make it to day one.
So here are some of the highlights from my first day at #Bluesfest Byron Bay.
First up - plan how the day will pan out
If that dosen’t work - do a crossword
get a good seat
and make sure you get a good view
well then get closer
to see C W Stoneking - very droll
Bob Abbot with the Green Machine
Lisa Hunt chanelling Aretha...
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Outstanding Contribution Award to Sandra Chipchase
At last night’s MEA Awards Sandra Chipchase (CEO of MCVB) was honoured with the industry’s Outstanding Contribution Award
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William O'Toole update from Saudi Arabia
I have just returned from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia working with Deloitte Touché, process mapping events for an international development bank.
It illustrates how many companies realise their events are the public face of the organisation and far too important to leave to day to day operational management. In this case the bank has numerous events in 56 countries and the divisions did it all their...
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interested in hosting students for Entertainment...
Youth Connections has the contract from the NSW Department of Education to facilitate work placement opportunities for Year 11 and Year 12 students (in the northern Sydney region as well as on the Central Coast), who are including a vocational subject as part of their HSC.
You might be interested in hosting students for Entertainment and/or Events Management.
Program summary:
1. ...
Plans for massive convention centre in Canberra... →
March 2011
4 posts
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Please look out for stolen computer equipment and...
My #canberra office was broken into on Wednesday and my desktop computer and backup drives were stolen. I’m hoping friends out in twitter land can keep an eye out for the equipment as it has 5 years worth of work stored on it. Definitly discovered that it is not much use keeping backups in the same room.
Also taken (I guess to carry the stuff) was a calico conference bag (like a...
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Flashmob or Cashmob?
According to Wikipedia - A flash mob (or flashmob) is a term coined in 2003 to denote a group of people who assemble suddenly in a public place, perform an unusual and sometimes seemingly pointless act for a brief time, then disperse, often for the purposes of entertainment and/or satire.
Flash mobs are organized via telecommunications, social media, or viral emails.
The term is generally...