Bon Voyage!

I will arrive at the subject of this week’s blog after explaining that I am often asked, “how did you get in the live event production business?” Without the benefit of limitless time, the short answer is, I love to travel...or at least I used to. One little known fact about my background is that I am the former owner of what at the time was the sixteenth oldest travel agency in the United States. This was a time when well-seasoned and highly experienced travel agents were in demand and the total facelessness of the current virtual travel agency was years in the future. Thank goodness I sold out before the fall.

All that said, my love for travelling led to like minded people which led to live event production in some of the most beautiful locations on the planet. After graduating from college, I continued my academic pursuits in earning the highest degree available at the time for professional travel agents and I became a Certified Travel Counselor. Where this is headed is, my love for travel and specifically cruising, is leading to an upcoming adventure on Norwegian Cruise Line’s Epic. Although you might think this is all about fun, and you’d be 80% correct, the reason we chose this cruise line and ship is because of their industry-wide commitment to live on-board entertainment. It looks like the sailing we chose is no exception.

The two groups onboard that I’m specifically looking forward to are The Blue Man Group and Cirque Dreams by Neil Goldberg. I’ve enjoyed The Blue Man Group for what seems like ages and have attended their UniversalStudios Florida show on several occasions. We’re looking forward to catching their act on the ship on night two of the seven nighter. To add to the excitement is the at-sea adaptation of the “part circus and part Moulin Rouge” circus style (sans animals of course) performances of Cirque Dreams. These are the two featured acts along with dozens more featuring everything from live calypso music by the numerous outdoor pools to the romantic ambience of a live piano set in the background of evening cocktails and the full moon at sea with the one you love.  We are really looking forward to witnessing some great entertainment while relaxing aboard one the newest of the NCL fleet.

I will follow-up with a post with our thoughts on the entertainment and the cruise experience...until then, go out and enjoy some live entertainment.

Bon Voyage!

The Florida Film Festival

As springtime rapidly approaches I thought it would be a great time to move away from the academic subjects of past and focus back on the live event scene here in the new and improved entertainment capital of the world. Because of its popularity and stature in the film entertainment industry I wanted to mention the Florida Film Festival as the topic of this update. This is the 22^nd anniversary of the festival and according to a recent article published by scriptmag.com, a division of the Writer’s Store, author Jeanne Bowerman ranks the Florida Film Festival in the Top 50 Film Festivalsworld-wide. Not bad for being based at the very trendy Enzian Theater in Maitland, Florida.

Sponsored by Full Sail University and others, the promotions are extensive throughout the region and the US. Roughly 170 films have been selected for this year’s festival and will be presented beginning April 5^th and continuing through April 14^th. As in years past, The Enzian has partnered with The Regal Cinema’s located in Winter Park Village to help present all the submissions. As with many film festivals the celebrations abound surrounding this event beginning with a huge Opening Night Party on Friday, April 5^th from 8p until 2a at the Enzian’s Eden Bar. The public is invited and tickets are still available for $100 per person.

The opportunity to be a part of the festival is available in the form of volunteering for the myriad of events that surround the event. From aspiring film students to entertainment entrepreneurs, the 400+ volunteer list for the main and ancillary events is big and there’s a need for those willing to put in some hard work for a great event.  Although at this posting we are a couple weeks past the application deadline for this year, you may want to follow-up to see if any positions are still available.

More on Business Planning

Recently, I was asked to assist a local company with cost estimates for an upcoming company wide special event and while doing some quick research I ran adrift of my mission. As is sometimes typical with my digging for facts, I ran across an excellent article and now, one of my newly bookmarked websites. I wanted to take a few minutes and share a great new resource with you.

What drew me to the article in the first place was that it is based in the published by a company named Smarta.com and is based in the United Kingdom. Here’s how their website describes their services;  “Smarta is the ultimate advice and networking resource for anyone starting and running a small business. Smarta provides independent, entrepreneur-led support and is backed by some of the UK's top entrepreneurs.” This is only the tip of the iceberg! What started with a quick scan of the article, “Why you need a business plan”, ended several hours later with a whole new respect for the team that developed this wealth of information. In the interest of full disclosure, Smarta.com's site is published in association with Natwest, a major UK based bank. 

According to a recent article published by printed.com, “This year, the Smarta 100 winners will be decided by an all-star line-up of judges comprising some of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs including Theo Paphitis from Ryman and star of Dragons’ Den; Rowan Gormley, founder of Naked Wines and winner of the Smarta 100 in 2011; Mike Soutar, founder of Shortlist and Stylist magazines; Thea Green MBE, founder of Nails Inc; and several other big hitters”. This is a very impressive line-up regardless of what country your business is based. 

Briefly stated, Smarta.com is a one stop, complete step-by-step guide to writing your own business plan. Smarta.com contains an extensive resource database and includes templates for both the text and financial portions of your business plan. This is a great resource to use when developing your plan for the first time, or updating one already in use. To enhance the motivation to create a successful business plan and therefore, a better chance at a success business, Smarta.com offers an annual ten thousand British Pound grand prize to the “most exciting and disruptive small businessesin the UK”. 

After a couple of hours of browsing through the easily navigated site, I had to think about business planning from an international standpoint after all, Smarta.com is based in the UK, not the US. I continue to be impressed to see that the concept of and the desire for formal business planning are universal. Being “just a kid with a dream” is only a start. Being “just a kid with a dream and a plan” is a better road to success.

Business Planning is Important

The importance of formal business planning cannot be over emphasized in today’s business environment. It’s usually after several failures or near failures that entrepreneurs discover the importance of having a formal business plan. Recently I had the opportunity to do some research on business planning and came upon some great resources that will help business owners with developing a formal business plan.

One of the first resources I discovered was an article written by Terry Berry and published at entrepreneur.com. Berry discusses in detail the 15 Reasons You Need a Business Plan. This article alone should convince every business owner to seriously consider the time and investment involved in preparing a formal plan. Berry is the president of Palo Alto Software Inc., based in Eugene, Ore., which produces business planning software. He is also the author of 3Weeks to Startup and ThePlan-As-You-Go Business Plan, published by Entrepreneur Press. In addition to this resource, entrepreneur.com has numerous resources including business plan templates to help business owners get started. All of these resources are free of charge.

Another great resource to get started with the planning process is the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA produces training courses and videos on numerous topics to assist entrepreneurs in being successful with their businesses. One such resource is a thirty-eight slide, narrated, self-paced, course titled, Howto Write a Business Plan that takes business owners from research and composition to editing and presentation of a individualized business plan. Similar to the vast resources available at entrepreneur.com, all of the reference and resource material on the SBA.gov website is free.

In a recent article, 10Top Reasons Why First-Time Entrepreneurs Fail by Martin Zwilling from Young Entrepreneur and published at entrepreneur.com, “statistics also suggest that the failure rate for new startups within the first five years is as high as 50 percent”. Of the top ten reasons Zwilling points out that the number one reason new startups fail is, “No written plan”.

Whenever you consider starting a new business or managing an existing one, the first step in a successful business journey is writing a business plan.

Orlando events at another best-kept secret – Mead Gardens, Winter Park

I’ve shared numerous venues in and around Central Florida that are some of the best kept secrets when looking to book unique locations for special events. Although some of my recommendations fall within the mega-production venues that can simply be found in first four pages of any Orlando events web search. Here’s another one of those locations that you may not have heard too much about, Mead Gardens, Winter Park.

Located a very short distance west of downtown Winter Park, nested within some of the most beautiful Oak hammocks in Central Florida, is a city owned and maintained botanical wonderland known as Mead Gardens. Named after the internationally known horticulturalist, Theodore Mead the garden was founded in the early 1940s. This is the perfect location to produce some of the most memorable events in the Central Florida area. For those with GPS capability, the physical address is 1500 South Denning Drive, Winter Park, FL 32789. The park is open to the public 365 days a year from dawn to dusk with plenty of free parking.

The garden is very versatile when thinking about producing events. Comprised of three separate facilities, the first venue can accommodate as many as 300 guests in the outdoor Ampitheater. In addition to the Ampitheater, there is an indoor, 3,000 sf. Winter Park Garden House that is also available for events. This facility is equipped with a full kitchen, including full size ovens, micro-waves, and 

-->refrigerator/freezers for catering almost any event. The Garden House can accommodate up to 175 guests. Also on-site is a covered picnic area that is ideal for children’s parties and family reunions.

In addition to the on-site venues, immediately adjacent to the gardens is a fourth venue that can be contracted for events. The Florida Federation of Garden Club’s facility is perfect for weddings, receptions, banquets, and any public or private functions. Contact and booking information is available on Mead Garden’s website. If you’d like to check out an upcoming event at the gardens, take a look at, "The Great Duck Derby". This event features a series of rubber duck races and a ton of free family activities on Saturday, February 23, 2013, from 10 am to 2 pm. The World Famous Peabody Hotel Ducks, which are an Orlando event by themselves, begin the festivities with a march to the Amphitheater at 10:00 am.

Now, get out there and enjoy some great Orlando events!

Firestone Live – A great venue to produce and see a live show

Image courtesy of Firestone Live

 

Now I know I’m really going to date myself, but I actually remember when Firestone Live was a Firestone tire dealership, hence the name Firestone Live. Firestone Live is located just north of Colonial Drive on Orange Avenue and offers several great options including ample free parking throughout the area. There are five distinctive areas not including an impressive entryway for promoters and guests to enjoy. In addition to the main room, there are four other vignettes that accent the main room. They include: The Upstairs Loft, The Den, The Patio, and of course for promoters and talent there’s The Green Room.

Similar to the large venues located at the theme parks, Firestone Live is fully equipped with all the audio, lighting, and video equipment needed for most touring acts. In addition to the plug and play convenience, Firestone Live has a full liquor license and can cater any menu from numerous eateries in the immediate area. Totally unlike the mega-venues located at the parks, Firestone Live offers a much more personal touch when doing business with promoters and guests. The entire staff is well-trained and very attentive to the needs of artists and promoters. This personal attention makes doing business with Firestone Live a pleasure. Here’s a quick look at Firestone Live’s January schedule.

Within a short distance north of Firestone Live is another one of Orlando’s best dining and entertainment areas, Ivanhoe Village. Bordered by several of Orlando’s most beautiful lakes, Ivanhoe Village has several great restaurants including Gargi’s Lakeside Italian Ristorante located directly on the banks of Lake Ivanhoe. If great Greek food is what you’re looking for you must try The Greek Corner located directly across the street from the lake. Both restaurants offer great food and the sunsets from their outdoor patios are nothing short of spectacular.

Image courtesy of Posh Orlando Venues

I hope you’ll take the time to check out some of the great entertainment opportunities Orlando has to offer. Now, go out and enjoy some live entertainment.

A great holiday season full of entertainment!

Beautiful weather is forecast for the upcoming weeks and there are hundreds of great events scheduled throughout Central Florida. In keeping with the ‘out of the ordinary’ theme in presenting events and entertainment, this holiday season is packed full of great things to do. Here are just a few of the attractions that are highly recommended that you probably did not see in the high-priced world of mass advertising.

If you like vintage aircraft, located about forty-five minutes west of Orlando, just off of I-4, is one of the nation’s largest private collection of vintage flying machines. Fantasy of Flight offers visitors the opportunity to get up close and personal with rare and, in some cases, one-of-a-kind airplanes. For those looking for a little more adventure, Fantasy of Flight has a 600-foot zip-line attraction named Wing WalkAir, which gives participants a chance to experience the thrill of wing-walking without all the danger. If the zip-line was not enough excitement, a little closer to Orlando is the indoor skydiving attraction named IFLY Orlando. So, if it’s the sensation of floating on air you’re looking for, these two Central Florida attractions make for a great deal of fun during the holidays.

If being on the water is more your style, there are two other Central Florida attractions that are great fun for the entire family. The first is a thirty-minute drive north to Mount Dora for Premier Boat Tours. Using large and spacious pontoon boats, the tour meanders through the Dora Canal and some of the most beautiful, unspoiled landscape in Florida. The second scenic boat tour, highly recommended, is headquartered in the amazing Blue Springs State Park just north of Orlando near Orange City. The wintering home for hundreds of Florida Manatees, Blue Springs is also the home of St. John’s River Cruises. Also using large pontoon boats that allow passengers room to move around, St. John’s River Cruises takes you back in time through the native flora and fauna that are only found in Central Florida.

With these best-kept secrets in mind, it is 82 degrees and a beautiful cloudless sky in the entertainment capital of the world – get out and enjoy all that Central Florida has to offer.

Couple of Great Downtown Venues

Located in the heart of downtown Orlando are two landmarks, well actually one landmark, and the next-door neighbor is a spin-off. Originally built as a Vaudeville theater in the 1920s, The Beacham has morphed into a movie theater, nightclub, and is back again as a great venue to host an event or perform in one. With a permanent stage, professional audio and lighting systems, VIP seating, full liquor license, and an audience capacity of over 1,000 guests, The Beacham is a great place to have a great time.

The Beacham’s next door neighbor and connected by an internal door is The Social and it is another great place to conduct an event. Offering the same amenities as its larger sister next door but with a smaller and more intimate atmosphere. Depending on the seating and catering arrangements, the audience capacity of The Social is between 350 and 400 guests. Of course, in addition to producing your own events at these two venues, they are also great places to see local and regional performers, along with small touring groups looking for more intimate locations.

There is ample parking located two blocks west in the city pay lots under Interstate 4. The convenience of these two locations continues with great restaurants within walking distance, including great sushi at Ichiban’s, and great steaks at Kres Chophouse, and Spice Modern Steakhouse. There is also excellent seafood at both Cevieche Tapas, and Cityfish, and for more simple fare, there’s the Wall Street Cantina.

To round out the convenience of downtown, there are also three great hotels in the immediate area. Starting with the Grand Bohemian Hotel, three blocks east, the Sheraton Orlando Downtown, which is four blocks north, and the Embassy Suites, located four blocks to the southeast. All three properties are excellent selections to make a visit to the downtown area complete.

For more information about producing events at the Beacham and the Social, check out the additional links below:

The Social Production Media Kit

The Beacham Production Media Kit

 

Reduce Risk with Education

At a recent gathering of fellow colleagues in the industry, the topic of legal liability started to migrate through the conversation. Throughout the afternoon, several business leaders discussed their experience with the litigious society that surrounds us and I was very impressed that the common theme in our talks was how, over the years of managing very successful careers, almost all of us have avoided lawsuits, both as plaintiffs and defendants. Certainly, over the years of producing, directing, performing, load-ins and load-outs, and the myriad of opportunities to get sued, none of us had to endure the expense of both time and money in a courtroom.

In avoiding exposure to liability, our group discussed the wealth of information available to entrepreneurs on the Internet that can help guide business owners and employees in making decisions and choices to reduce liability. The first asset that I recommended was a short video I’d seen several years ago on ted.com by internationally recognized law professor Michael Sandel titled, What’s the right thing to do? Professor Sandel is an outstanding educator that has the great talent of explaining very complex ideas and concepts in easily understood language. His concepts are simple and sound, making the right decisions in the first place greatly reduces future exposure to risk. Professor Sandel’s contribution to the subject is explained in detail in his book, Justice: What’s the right thing to do?

With more evidence of colleagues doing smart things with smart phones, it seems like everyone had a favorite learning tool that started their education in avoiding litigation. Numerous assets were shared and two I had never seen before really stood out in the crowd. Similar to the ted.com educational videos, iTunes has two great educational audio podcasts that I would recommend to everyone wanting to manage their exposure to risk. The first one is by Bob Ambrogi, in an interview with California entertainment attorney Gordon Firemark, on the subject of celebrity status and liabilities in managing individuals that attain that level of media exposure. This is a short, but very informative, segment from a series of interviews conducted by Ambrogi of several well know experts on entertainment law.

The second asset recommended by the group is also part of an audio podcast lecture series by Attorney Gordon Firemark on the subject of the JOBS Act and crowdfunding. Both subjects are current and relevant in starting a new business or expanding an existing one. Hiring employees in the current economic climate with the prospect of higher corporate taxes and mandatory healthcare coverage is a subject all business owners are interested in and this episode in the series has great information on reducing the potential liability during the hiring process.

These videos and audio podcasts offer a wealth of information about doing business in today’s litigious environment and how to avoid excessive exposure to risk. There has never been a time in history when so much information is readily available to us to assist in managing our businesses. Take advantage of these and other assets at every opportunity. Until then, go out and enjoy some live entertainment!

Legal Updates in Entertainment

I was perusing one of my favorite entertainment industry websites, hollywoodreporter.com and happened to migrate over to the Esquire tab for some up-to-the minute legal issues that may be interesting. Another reason I look there is because their blogs are always informative, relevant, and entertaining. The first article that caught my eye is the latest in the ongoing litigation involving LimeWire.com and end user file sharing. After reaching an over one hundred million dollar settlement with the RIAA, several Hollywood film studio conglomerates seized the opportunity of an earlier judgment and the recent RIAA settlement and filed a new round of law suits against LimeWire for copyright infringement.

Although industry analysts believed that with the overwhelming evidence and their past losses, LimeWire would seek a settlement rather than go through another costly trial but LimeWire appears to be drawing a line in the sand. According to the article, LimeWire is asking the court to force the film conglomerates to prove LimeWire facilitated infringement. Although this case and many others have proven that the RIAA and others can win lawsuits and recover some of the losses file sharing has caused but, when all the suing is complete and settlements made...file sharing may go down in history as the technical achievement that destroyed the recorded music industry.

The second article I thought was very interesting was regarding litigation between (William) Faulkner Literary Rights, LLC and Sony over the use of a quote from one of Faulkner’s books, Requiem for a Nun. The suit alleges that the quote, “The past is never dead. It’s not even past,” was used in the Sony production of Woody Allen’s film “Midnight in Paris” and spoken by actor Owen Wilson.  Faulkner Literary Rights, LLC claims that neither Sony nor Woody Allen sought or received permission to use that quote and therefore, Faulkner Literary Rights, LLC, incurred damages. In their response, Sony claims that since William Faulkner used the quote in a public speech, that it is classified as fair use and receiving permission was not required.

This is an excellent example of how complicated the details of copyright laws are and in this age of advanced technology and the ability to record everything almost all the time. Staking a claim on ownership rights is only going to get more complex in the future.

One final article I thought was really interesting was about a recent finding by the U.S. Copyright Office on exempting certain activities from being deemed illegal under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act's (DMCA) anti-circumvention protections. The jest of the article was that under a recent ruling the U.S. Copyright Office that it is no longer illegal to take a certain part of a DVD and "make use of short portions...for the purpose of criticism or comment" according to the article this includes use in “noncommercial videos such as remix or mash-up videos, documentary films, multimedia ebooks offering film analysis, and for educational purposes such as a film studies classroom.” Of course prior to this ruling media critics were becoming concerned that copyright owners would be able to prevent them from being able to use examples of works in negatively reviewing copyrighted material. With this ruling, educational facilities, both for profit and not for profit, will be able to use portions of protected works in educational surroundings without receiving prior permission.

This was a very interesting week with the legal happenings in the entertainment industry and these articles prove again that this industry, at least the legal side of it, is forever changing.

The Plaza Live – Great Venue to Produce Your Next Gig

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It seemed like a good idea to write about a single venue last time so I am continuing with that theme this week with another one of Orlando’s great local venues, this time it is The Plaza Live. The Plaza Theater was the original name when constructed in 1963 as a movie theater with extra wide aisles, freezing air conditioning, and state-of-the-art rocking chairs in two separate theaters. The venue remains an Orlando landmark.

After sitting dormant for several years the facility re-opened in 2002 as a live event production facility and renamed The Plaza Live. Dark during most of this summer

due to roof re-construction, The Plaza Live is back in action with a large number of great gigs booked throughout the remainder of 2012 and into 2013. Perhaps one of the best parts of The Plaza Live is that it is available to independent promoters for rent. The two theaters, appropriately named the Small and Large Theater(s) are accessible from a main lobby entrance. The Small Theater accommodates up to six hundred guests in a very intimate atmosphere and the Large Theater accommodates up to one thousand six hundred guests that includes a spacious balcony section.

Both theaters have permanent stages, high tech house sound and lighting systems along with the engineers to operate them. The total facility is versatile enough to promote everything from dance performances, rock and roll shows, intimate acoustic performances, weddings and school graduations. The Plaza Live also has a full liquor license and can provide a full range of catering options. Check out this link for venue rental prices and production specifications. Conveniently located just east of downtown Orlando near the intersection of Bumby Avenue and East Colonial Drive, The Plaza Live is close to great eateries, shopping, specialty shops, and offers almost unlimited free parking. If you’re thinking about your next gig you should be thinking about The Plaza Live.

Now, get out there and enjoy some live entertainment!

Harry P. Leu Gardens – Orlando’s Secret

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I don’t often write about a single venue but as we head into October and a little break in the heat and humidity I thought I’d share one of the ‘tourist capital of the world’s’ secrets. It’s Harry P. Leu Gardens located less than a mile north of the heart of downtown Orlando. This 50-acre former residence of local business leader H.P. Leu and his wife Mary Jane was donated to the city of Orlando in 1961 and is now open to the public for tours, special events, and rental for private events.

Having grown up less than 4 blocks from Leu Gardens I have seen it transform from what we used to call ‘the big house’ with surrounding gardens and orange groves to one of Orlando’s best-kept secrets. The beautifully landscaped gardens containing what seems like hundreds of different varieties of camellias unfold to a gentle sloping hill leading to the shores of Lake Rowena. Yes, that’s the lake across the street from Loch Haven Park! As you can see, this is truly in the heart of downtown Orlando. In addition to the gardens there is a museum that depicts life on the property in the early 1900’s when Orlando was just beginning to grow. Of course Orlando didn’t really catch on until the wide use of indoor air conditioning in the early 1950s.

With a break in the heat and the secret out, Leu Gardens is the place to visit if you want to capture the beauty of the natural side of Orlando. Special events are planned throughout the autumn months starting in October with Storytime, Date Night, Jazz ‘n Blues Stroll (my personal favorite), and of course Halloween week would not be complete without Ghost Stories at Leu Gardens. General admission is less than $10 dollars, parking is free, and I’ll let you in on one final secret...daytime admission is free on the first Monday of each month.

Harry P. Leu Gardens is a real crown jewel for the city of Orlando and I have certainly enjoyed it most of my life. The secret is out – the first Monday in October is tomorrow and admission is free, go enjoy one of Orlando’s secrets!

Interview with Pat Doyle - International Talent Booking

I recently had the opportunity to sit down for a few minutes and talk to Pat Doyle, owner of one of Central Florida’s busiest talent booking agencies, International Talent Booking located in Orlando, Fl. ITB has been in business for over thirty years providing talent of all kinds to the local and international marketplace. With this track record of successful accomplishments I thought Pat would be the perfect person to ask about negotiating agreements with all kinds of clients from performers to promoters.

My first question to Pat was; “As a talent broker you actually have to negotiate at least two agreements with each performance, one with the talent that you are acting as the booking agent for and one for the customer buying the talent services. How do you bring all the parties together?”

Pat Doyle: “The very first job as a successful negotiator is to establish the mutual benefit of consummating an agreement between all parties. Everyone has to be comfortable with knowing that his or her needs are being met. I try to build a relationship with the parties in order to understand those needs first and then offer solutions. Everyone has to benefit from the final outcome and that’s how to start the process.”

In furthering that subject I asked Pat; “So, without disclosing any trade secrets, how do you establish the opening offer of terms and conditions when negotiating with such a wide range of clients? Is there some standard that you use?”

Pat: “Absolutely, and the only trade secret here is establishing and maintaining the relationships that allow us to continue to be successful. In beginning negotiations with clients one of the earliest conditions we agree to is the objective standard we are going to use to determine many of the remaining terms and conditions of the contract. The great news is that literally thousands of talent contracts are signed each week in this industry and between union standards and past practices, establishing that standard should be routine. Determining the promoter’s budget and the talent’s perceived market value are the two standards much harder to establish.”

My final question to Pat was; “What is BATNA?”

With a slight chuckle, Pat Doyle: “BATNA, the best alternative to a negotiated agreement is what that acronym stands for and especially during the talent to promoter discussions, I make sure the talent I represent knows what’s at stake in case we are not able to reach an agreement. I most cases, promoters/customers will let us know what their budget is for a specific appearance and once all the ancillary costs are calculated, it’s the talent side we turn our attention to. I’ll be the first to admit that compared to thirty years ago, our current talent list has a much better understanding of the business behind the scenes than ever before. Being able to decide what happens if we are unable to reach an agreement is near the format of that understanding.”

These are great tips to remember when negotiating any agreement whether you’re the promoter or the performer. Knowing how to reach an agreement is one of the first steps to success!

A great summer of live events

It is a summertime full of live entertainment right here in the entertainment capital of the world Orlando, Florida and the surrounding area. Since our last update I attended the Lindsey Buckingham concert at the Plaza Live last week and it was a fantastic show by a very talented musician. I attended the event with a life-long friend that is an accomplished guitarist and it was great to see his reaction as Buckingham wowed the audience with some of his recent material and took many of us back in time with his Grammy Awarding hits from the ‘70s. One of my friend’s most memorable comments was, “this guy is a musician’s musician”. I guess that’s about the highest compliment you can pay a professional musician.

Speaking of the Plaza Live, I was checking their website looking for this weekend’s lineup and noted with pleasure that the Plaza Live will be temporarily closed beginning Monday, 8/20 for long awaited roof repairs to the sixty year old former movie theater. Their final concert before the renovation is a free gig this Sunday night. Plaza Live is a great venue offering a wide variety of live events that is building a loyal following among the locals. The Plaza Live will reopen in mid-September with what is sure to be a great rap-up to the summer of 2012.

In searching for activities for the weekend I stumbled upon what looks like my calendar entry for Saturday afternoon. Another local landmark, the Orlando Museum of Art is presenting the, ‘Southernmost Art and Literary Portraits’ photography exhibition by Orlando resident Jimm Roberts. The Orlando Sentinel reports Roberts’s presentation this way, “It’s an unparalleled collection of black-and-white photographic portraits by Jimm Roberts, the longtime Orlando resident who from behind his camera has created an archive of Florida’s cultural royalty.” Whether you are a Florida native, a transplant resident, or a first time visitor, this walk through a piece of Florida history sounds rewarding. General admission tickets are $8 with discounts provided to students and seniors and the exhibition runs through October 28^th.

On a related note, the Orlando Museum of Art is located just south of downtown Orlando at Loch Haven Park. Along with OMA the park is home to many other cultural attractions including, the Orlando Shakespeare Theater, Orlando Science Center, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Fire Museum, and the Mennello Museum of American Art. With this one stop you can spend all weekend enjoying live entertainment.

Take a look around and get out there and enjoy a live event this weekend.

Great events in Central Florida in August

It has been a great couple of weeks for live entertainment in the area and as the summer continues there are more great events to come. Although I did not have the opportunity to catch The Heart and Soul Tour last night at the Amway Center, several members of the production crew worked the show and the early morning report today was all good news. According to the crew, the show was almost sold out and one observer said that the audience was a great mix of parents with their adult children. Excellent marketing mix on this one!

In an ironic display of scheduling, happening this Tuesday night in the intimate surroundings of the Plaza Live for one night only, one show only is the truly remarkable talent of Lindsey Buckingham. For those not in the know, Lindsey Buckingham is the former lead guitarist for Fleetwood Mac who along with last night’s The Heart and Soul Tour opener Stevie Nicks, created some of the best sounds of the 1970s. The unorthodox playing style and dynamic vocals of Lindsey Buckingham will surely rock the house down in Orlando on Tuesday. Unlike the high ticket and concession prices at last night’s gig, Tuesday at the Plaza Live offers very reasonable prices, an intimate atmosphere, free parking, and a great little coffee house directly across the street named the Drunken Monkey for some refreshment before or after the show. Makes a perfect summer night out.

Like me, if waiting until Tuesday for some live entertainment is too long, tomorrow I’m checking out something I just heard of, Nerdapalooza 2012. They’re celebrating their 5^th anniversary this year and the event runs this weekend in downtown Orlando. According to a preview in the Orlando Sentinel, “Since conceiving the notion of a Nerdapalooza festival in 2007, founder John “Hex” Carter has taken the event to California and London, but seems to have established permanent roots in Orlando.” The event is three days and is located at the Beacham and Social clubs on Orange Avenue in downtown Orlando. I’m not really sure what to expect from a festival that is ‘everything nerd’ but one thing is for sure, almost any live event beats any virtual event any time, any day.

Now, get out there and enjoy some live entertainment.

Excellent Speaker - Simon Sinek

This week I had the opportunity to assist a local talent booking agency locate a motivational speaker for a leadership conference being held in Central Florida. After determining all the details I made a list of speakers that I had heard of or had contact with that would be a good fit for the client. I recalled a great presentation I had seen sometime earlier on Ted.com by Simon Sinek about how very successful leaders think and do things completely opposite from the rest of us.

Mr. Sinek has a very calm and compassionate speaking persona that draws the audience directly to his observations. Sinek, a graduate professor of communications at Columbia University and adjunct staff member of the RAND Corporation, has discovered a biologically based concept that drives each of us to make decisions in what he calls, “The Golden Circle.” Sinek describes how effective leaders all have one common trait regardless of what product, service, or message they sell or present. Sinek concludes that the common trait these unique leaders posses is their ability to master the concept that human beings, “don’t buy what you do, they buy why you do it.”

Sinek uses some great historical leaders to illustrate his point. Starting with one that would seem pretty obvious is the late Steve Jobs from Apple while others are a little more obscure leaders like the Wright Brothers. We may view the latter as inventors and innovators which of course they certainly were but, perhaps hidden in their glory of invention, the Wright Brothers where able to clearly relate exceptional leadership qualities in explaining “Why” they were working to create motorized flight and keeping the ‘what and how’ they were going to attain that as secondary messages. Sinek concludes his examples by quoting part of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s world famous speech in reminding the audience that after all, “Martin Luther King, Jr. started his speech with ‘I have a dream’, not I have a plan.” People have dreams and share dreams, that’s a much greater motivator than just following a plan.

Watching this presentation has helped me develop better leadership qualities in presenting my passion and compassion in producing the best events ever for my clients. Passion is contagious, and having the clients share the “Why” I do things has increased my business. I hope you get the opportunity take a look at the short video of Professor Sinek’s presentation. If the schedules work out, maybe I’ll finally get to meet him at the leadership conference.

International Special Events Society - Great for the Industry

The International Special Events Society (ISES) provides an unparalleled opportunity for the industry professional to gain insight to the Special Events industry and the other segments of the entertainment industry related to the production of live events. From small family events like weddings and anniversaries to international film and music award ceremonies almost every segment of the industry relies on special event professionals to present their brand in the best image possible. According to their official website, “The Mission of ISES is to educate, advance and promote the special events industry and its network of professionals along with related industries. To that end, we strive to…

▪ Uphold the integrity of the special events profession to the general public through our "Principles of Professional Conduct and Ethics"

▪ Acquire and disseminate useful business information

▪ Foster a spirit of cooperation among its members and other special events professionals, and…Cultivate high standards of business practices.”

Based in Chicago, Illinois, ISES is the international standard bearer for professional event planners with official chapters located on every continent worldwide. Education is a very important component of an ISES membership program; the society offers numerous special event industry recognized certifications to their members and the opportunity to participate in a myriad of educational conferences, seminars, webinars, and workshops to ensure their members maintain the high standards set by the society. This dedication is further evidenced by the opportunity of a student membership to the society for the very reasonable price of $35.00. This is a great opportunity for any aspiring student to establish contact with other industry professional around the world.

Education and industry certifications are not the only benefits offered by ISES. Other services offered to their members and the general public include the broadcast of current industry news, international, regional, and local political decisions that affect the production of special events, and annual awards ceremonies to recognize industry professionals that excelled in their field of expertise. Another ISES benefit to its members through subscription and the general public through both subscription and newsstand sales is their monthly publication of Special Events Magazine (SEM). This is how I was originally introduced to the Society and their impact on the industry. SEM is an outstanding resource for in-depth articles on the international happenings in the industry and almost as beneficial as the reporting is the international brand advertisements located throughout the publication. The powerful combination of education and access to competitive, international, state-of-the-art brands will help ensure the success of the committed special event planner.

A Great Summer of Live Events Ahead

We attended the World Ballet Competition’s production of All Stars of Dance at Orlando’s Bob Carr Performing Arts Center this past week and WOW is a good word to describe the experience. We had a great evening of dance by some of the best upcoming and current ballet stars from Cuba, France, Japan, Russia, and around the US. Congratulations to WBC’s Founder and Executive Director Vasile Petrutiu for a fantastic performance and thank you for bringing your international dance competition to Orlando.

We have plans to attend two great live events happening this week in Central Florida the first is tomorrow evening, Thursday, June 14^th on the Winter Park campus of Full Sail University. World WrestlingEntertainment (WWE) NXT and Full Sail University team up to present a great night of wrestling entertainment and the event is open to the public. This is a video taped event to be broadcast at a future date. The box office at Full Sail Live opens a 4p, doors at 545p and the show starts at 630p general admission tickets are $10.

The other event we have tickets for is the live production of Roger Waters: The Wall at the Amway Center in Orlando this Saturday night. Although currently persona non gratia with the remaining members of Pink Floyd this is certainly going to be a fantastic theatrical event with some memorable rock and roll music along for the ride. One interesting side note to this 2012 tour line-up is that Roger Waters (lead vocals and bass guitar) is joined on stage by his son Harry Waters playing keyboards. A couple of stage hands from my old crew will be setting up the scenic and we hope to have a few candid photos to share in an upcoming post. To see the set and scenic design of this truly unique show is an opportunity we don’t want to miss. The show is scheduled for 8p and tickets prices start at $60 and are still available.  

A fantastic start to a fun summer of entertainment, try to get out and enjoy some of it.

Central Florida Live Events for June 2012

What a great two weeks for live events it has been, I am officially re-naming Central Florida the live event capitol of the universe! The Orlando International Fringe Festival set several all time records for ticket sales, award prizes, and attendance. Much of the credit for this success goes to the Fringe’s new producer Michael Marinaccio who brings a great new look for this year’s event and a great outlook for future Fringes. This is one of those deals where I wish I could have cloned myself so I might have seen more of this outstanding event. Great job Michael and one of the best production teams ever!

On to the immediate future, this weekend is filled with more great live events, on Sunday I will be attending the World Ballet Competition’s production of All Stars of Dance at Orlando’s Bob Carr Performing Arts Center. Accomplished ballet stars from Cuba, France, Japan, Russia, and the US will be performing at this one night only, one show only event. Tickets start at just $25 and are still available. Bob Carr Performing Arts Center is an excellent venue to watch all kinds of events with ease of use in stage set and scenic design installation.

On the note of great presentation and production, I recently had the opportunity of touring a local museum that is the home of the world’s largest private collection of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s works of art. Located on the north end of Park Avenue in Winter Park is the Morse Museum of American Art. With the recent completion of a new wing, the museum is home for one of the most spectacular collections anywhere. The grandeur of the former Long Island, NY estate of Louis Comfort Tiffany Laurelton Hall is brought to life through the lighting design and support displays in the museum. If you are a lover of all things Tiffany, this is a great place to visit this weekend.

A lot of great live events in and around the area this weekend, make it a point to partake in a few.

Title: A Great Week of Entertainment Ahead For Orlando

         Although the drama certainly isn’t over, the shortened NBA playing season is history for the Magic, now we can shift our focus to one of Orlando’s really unique sideshows, The Orlando Fringe Festival.  This installment marks the 21^st in a long line of memorable events.  From the unique, to the classic, to the weird and the wacky – “The Fringe” has it all.  According to the Orlando Sentinel, the Orlando festival is the oldest in the US.  Who knew?

            All the action begins this Wednesday, May 16^th and runs for 13 consecutive days and ends on Sunday May 28^th. Total attendance numbers are almost impossible to estimate as many of the performances and events are non-ticketed and actual gate counts are not recorded. Suffice to say, all the events are well attended. One of the many great aspects of the management of the festival is the performance rating system to allow parents the opportunity to determine if the acts are suitable for younger audiences. Many kids events and family friendly performances are also scheduled throughout the event. Having attended numerous events in the past several years, I consider myself an unofficial “Fringer.” This is a great festival that steps right up to the boundaries in avant-garde entertainment.

            From the wild and wacky to the classic and beautiful, the Orlando Ballet’s performance of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is scheduled for one day only, one show only, this Saturday at 11am.  This would be a great opportunity to see a wonderful performance with the entire family.  I recently had the pleasure of witnessing the performance by our local company in the production of, Swans:Black and White and in one word, wow! If the performance of this adaptation of the classic Swan Lake is any indication, Saturday’s performance of, A Midsummer Night’s Dream is sure to impress even the newcomers to this segment of entertainment.  With matinee performances and very reasonable ticket prices – do yourself and a loved one a favor and go to the ballet, you’ll enjoy it.

            A great entertainment week ahead for Orlando and the Central Florida area, I hope you get out and enjoy it.