Category Archives: Concerts

Event Industry News: Billboard Music Awards, Event Tech, QSR trends, Tumblr

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Bruno Mars opens with newest hit “Treasure” (photo taken from Billboard)

Billboard Music Awards: The 2013 Billboard Music Awards was full of fun: confetti, balloons floating through the air, laughs, falls and flashing lights. With Tracy Morgan as host and a smooth flow of performances and award presentations, the night was an overall success. Selena Gomez, who performed at the L.A. County Fair in 2010, sang her latest hit and Carly Rae Jepsen from the 2012 Fair made an appearance on camera. Additional guests included Chris Brown, will.i.am., Justin Bieber, Nicki Manaj, David Guetta and winner of the Billboard Icon Award: Prince.

Event Tech Circus Winner: A few months ago we gave the heads up on Event Tech Circus, a new event conference bringing event organizers, tech companies and investors together. The Amsterdam-based event came to fruition this past week with all eyes on Conferize. The conference app was chosen as “best startup” out of the 13 companies that presented during the conference.

QSR: Square–the nifty credit card reader that allows customers to swipe their credit cards directly onto an iPhone, iPad or Android device might be entering the food industry in mass quantity. JStarbucks was one of the first QSRs to adapt the trend in late 2012. Jack Dorsey, co-founder of Twitter and Square is heading the initiative. A fixed 2.75 percent swipe fee is the only charge restaurant and food truck services need to worry about and eliminates the complications of additional fees from different banks.

Social media – Tumblr, meet Yahoo: Yahoo! has officially purchased popular blog site, Tumblr for $1.1 billion. While this means major bucks for the social media platform, a number of users are less than pleased about the transaction. Despite Yahoo!’s promise “not to screw it up,” the community is still wary.

Event Industry News: Eventstagram, CicLAvia, Stagecoach and the Lemon Festival

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…And we’re live: Eventstagram, a live Instagram feed for events (think Tweetdeck for Instagram) has officially been adopted into the Wayra family. What does this mean for the rest of the event world? It means that Evenstagram (less than a year old) could soon be the answer to engaging event guests and aggregating live visual content, not to mention a practical and visually pleasing piece of decor for your venue. It’s a slideshow of your event, during your event, created by guests, curated by you. Worth trying out or at the very least, keeping an eye on.

I want to ride my bicycle: Last Sunday marked the 6th successful CicLAvia event. The Los Angeles take on a Colombian tradition opened a car-free 15-mile stretch from downtown to Venice Beach, allowing cyclists of all ages to enjoy a sunny Sunday ride from city to the sea. As Los Angeles continues to fight traffic and pollution (no easy feat; we are America’s most congested city), it will be interesting to see how much traction events like CicLAvia will gain. Currently only three days out of the year are scheduled for such events in the city–there are only so many days a car-dependent culture can take of massive street closures. CicLAvia has been met with high success. The average number of participants is 100,000.

Stagecoach: Southern California went a little country this weekend at the annual Stagecoach Country Music Festival. As soon as Coachella hipsters cleared the scene, a wave of cowboy hats and boots, Daisy Duke shorts, beer and guitars came roaring into the desert. Country music lovers enjoyed the sounds of Lady Antebellum, Dierks Bentley, Norah Jones and Trace Adkins among others all weekend long.

G’bye Gibson: The curtain falls on the Gibson Amphitheater to make way for Universal Studios Hollywood’s newest project: The Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Upland Lemon Festival: The Upland Lemon Festival hosted large crowds this weekend as the city celebrated with carnival rides and games, lemonade, food trucks, live entertainment and pie eating contests. You can check out photos of the event on the Facebook page.

L.A. Weekender: Upland Lemon Festival, foodie heaven and artist paradise

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The theme for this week’s L.A. Weekender is: free. Spend more time than money on this weekend’s itinerary. Whether you’re hanging out in the Inland Empire or enjoying a day on the Westside, there is plenty to do:

Image taken from coverbooth.com

1. Upland Lemon Festival: Carnival rides and games, live entertainment (is that Queen Nation and DSB I hear?) and all things lemon are happening in Upland this weekend. Grab your family and friends and enjoy a warm afternoon strolling through Crafter’s Village, hopping on a carnival ride or two and enjoying a slice of lemon pie. P.S. It’s free!

2. Brewery Artwalk: The world’s largest art complex is only open to the public twice a year and this weekend marks the first of 2013. Check out the works of more than 100 artists and purchase a few paintings if the mood strikes.  Admission and parking are free.

3. Bite Flite: Our friends at L.A. Foodie are hosting quite the event on Saturday. Bite Flite, happening at Culver City’s Bar & Garden, invites guests to an evening of beer samples paired with a number of delectable hamburgers and desserts. Foodie heaven. Each guests receives a tote bag full of goodies too. While this event comes with a price, it’s only $15. Not a bad way to spend a Saturday evening!

4. Mom and Pop Up Shop: For nearly a decade, Etsy has been a virtual alternative to craft fairs, offering an online storefront for designers, thrifters and crafters. The site transforms from virtual to tangible at this weekend’s Mom and Pop Up Shop. A one-day-only collaboration with permanent San Pedro marketplace Crafted, the pop-up shop boasts more than 50 artisan vendors inside the Port of Los Angeles’ World War II–era warehouses. (Need we mention that admission is free?)

We hope you enjoy your weekend! Check back here on Monday for photos from the Upland Lemon Festival!

Event Industry News: Coachella Round 1 – Success or a failure?

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coachella 2013Photo taken from Pretty Much Amazing

Coachella Round 1: The first weekend of this year’s music festival wasn’t quite up to par compared to last year. True it’s hard to beat a 2Pac hologram but when a headliner fails to draw crowds, it’s an issue. Still, Coachella is always a good time and the highlights were plentiful with a night of Phoenix and a surprise appearance by R. Kelly alongside solid performances by Blur, The Postal Service, Grizzly Bear and the Local Natives among others. Perhaps the biggest excitement was over a group that wasn’t even performing: Daft Punk.

Trend alert: Would you pay for a restaurant ticket? Most of us don’t think twice about cancelling or failing to show up at a restaurant. On the other side of the hostess desk it’s a whole different story. Now restaurants are taking matters into their own hands, creating a solution to the problem…and shame tweets are only the beginning. Trois Mec, about to open in Los Angeles has adapted a ticketing system where guests must purchase their tables in advance. The cost includes food, tax and tip so that diners need only to sit, enjoy their meal and walk out after. Several high-end restaurants have already adapted this form of payment though some owners hope to see the system trickle down into even the smallest of restaurants.

Sip, swirl and tweet: Breaking away from traditional wine tasting, Canada’s Open Wines invited guests to sample wine … and enjoy a full-fledged party. Partnering with Narrative PR and Bensimon Byrne, the wine company encouraged guests to “#BeOpen” and participate via Twitter to access all the event happenings. Using wristbands and smart phones, guests were encouraged (via tweets) to check out various games, treats and other stations in the venue.

Ah, Youth: A recent survey conducted by Piper Jaffay reports that Facebook and YouTube are losing popularity with teens. And considering how teens are responsible for $819 billion in consumer spending, marketers need to start finding new ways to influence these youths. The same survey revealed that social media still influences consumer purchasing decisions. So the question now is: which platform to target next?

Technology: CNet wrote a lengthy but eye-opening article on the innovation of smartphones and just where the technology is going, how it’s coming together and what that looks like for us.

Introducing the LA Weekender: 5 Events to Check Out

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Welcome to the first L.A. Weekender post on Fairplex Insider! Check back on Thursdays for our round-up of weekend fun.

Spring is in the air which means you have no excuse to be hiding indoors! There are plenty of happenings this weekend. So many options, so little time. Luckily for you, we threw together a flexible itinerary of activities to explore if you are so inclined…

Photo taken from Things To Do In LA

1. Poolside, YACHT – Because we don’t shun the hipsters around here, we are absolutely highlighting the fun in the sun happening at Santa Monica Pier on Saturday afternoon. Dynamic duo Poolside are busting out their jams, which match the laid-back Southern California vibe we all embrace. YACHT compliments the tone of the day with some fun jams of their own. If good music, happy hour cocktails and a stroll on the pier is your thing, buy tickets and make your Saturday worthwhile.

2. Beauty & The Beast: This tale as old as time is at the Pantages Theater this weekend. Don’t miss the chance to relive this classic film brought to life on stage!

3. Wildflower Festival: No better way to enjoy spring than a stroll through nature’s beauty! Take your significant other or your kids (or both!) and enjoy the colorful array of flowers featured at the Rancho Santa Ana Botanical Garden. All activities are free with garden admission. 

4. It’s Time For Dodger Baseball!: It’s no surprise that opening day (April 1) will see a packed-to-the-max Dodger stadium but it’s not too late to catch the last pre-season game! Watch the Dodgers vs. the Angels this Friday night with the fam, or purchase (any) remaining tickets for opening day’s Dodgers vs. Giants mayhem.

5. Pomona Art Walk: Venture out to the IE this Saturday night to explore a different side of Downtown Pomona at the Art Walk where more than two dozen galleries feature hundreds of artistic pieces. Grab some dinner at a local restaurant and stroll on over to this free event.

Check back every Thursday for a weekend full of fun!

Event Industry News: The Grammys — rain, LED dresses and talent, event tech and bar trends

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Mumford & Sons, Album of the Year "Babel" (heyreverb.com)

The Grammys: Last night the ever-diverse Staples Center transformed from the Lakers’ home arena into the 55th Grammy Awards ceremony. The focus was equal parts awards, talent and technology. From Taylor Swift’s circus-themed opener (“We Are Never Ever, Ever Getting Back Together”) to Best New Artist fun.’s phenomenal performance of  “Carry On” (it rained on stage, people) to Carrie Underwood’s dress all the way to the Bob Marley tribute, this year’s show was an inspiring mixture of talented performances, flawless technology and well-deserved winners. A full list of winners and a re-cap of the night is available here. And let’s not forget the after parties…

Social Media/Technology: Facebook will potentially allow users to purchase tickets to events on their site.  Flickr is back, apparently. Only time will tell if it’s the next Instagram or the next Myspace. BizBash introduced five new event technology tools ranging from speaker-to-listener interaction, on-the-go convenience and virtual seminar assistance.

New York Fashion Week: On the other side of the nation, New York Fashion Week (NYFW) has so far been a success, despite the weather.

The 90s called and they’re thirsty: Mixology is the norm but who says “le art” of flair bartending should take a back seat to culinary cocktails? Flair bartending–flipping glasses and liquors in the air to create your drink–peaked in the 90s and is frowned upon in mixologist circles but who’s to say it needs to stay a thing of the past? There are whispers in the industry that the “F word” might be making a comeback.

Event Industry News: All about the Super Bowl

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nytimes.com

The Game: Super Bowl XLVII was both bizarre and wonderful. The Ravens won but the 49ers gave em’ a run for their money. This isn’t a sports blog so I’ll keep it brief: Ravens murdered the Niners in the first half and Jacoby Jones turned on beast mode and scored a touchdown with a 108-yard return in the second half. Then the blackout happened and the Niners revived with an incredible comeback because they are the Niners and they don’t do things like throw a big game away. Unfortunately for them, the Ravens, known all season for their strong defense weren’t about to lose and with a final score of 34-31, an explosion of purple, football players and Ravens quarterback Flacco’s choice words, the Super Bowl came to an end, leaving fans of both teams satisfied with a great game of football. For a more detailed re-cap click here.

The Blackout: Last week I posted a blog about throwing a Super Bowl party and making sure no tech issues got in the way. Little did we know the party foul to end all party fouls would happen at the SuperDome itself… In  the 34 minutes of 0 commercials and an overload of boring, the Twitterverse had plenty to say about it.

The Commercials: The general consensus is that they were lackluster this year but there were some undeniable “greats.” The Washington Post gave their “Top 5″ and between old people being awesome with Taco Bell, SamSung’s smart dialogue and the Budweiser Clydesdale commercial with all the feels, I would have to agree. 

mashable.com

The Beyonce: Half-time show = success. As someone who adores this music goddess, I personally was blown away by Beyonce’s stellar voice, spicy moves and the light show that may have been responsible for the blackout in the second half of the game. Coupled with a mini-reunion of Destiny’s Child, the 12-minute performance was spectacular. BizBash compiled the opinions of several event professionals.

Regardless of whether you watch the Super Bowl for the game, the commercials or the half time show, every element of the event was one to remember. And lest blacking out makes us forget, NOLA did an excellent job of hosting Super Bowl festivities and giving the players and the fans a lovely taste of Southern hospitality.

Event Industry News: Super Bowl Sunday, SAG awards, Twitter videos get racy

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dialglobalsports.com

This week the event industry is popping on both sides of the U.S. Between Super Bowl Sunday weekend and awards season in La La Land there will be plenty of parties, after parties and ceremonies to keep the event industry pros going at full speed.

Super Bowl Sunday: It’s game day for more than just the Ravens and the 49ers as New Orleans plays host to several events. Big brands are preparing big parties for the weekend including DirecTV, Maxim, GQ, Budlight and an assortment of liquor brands. Themes include Mardi Gras, going Greek (gods and godesses… not frats) and festivities in all manner of manors and mansions.

And in 2014: New York is going all-out for the Super Bowl next year (hosted at MetLife Stadium) complete with Super Bowl Boulevard spanning Broadway for 10 blocks.

Inside L.A.: On the west side of the nation Hollywood is in the thick of their biggest event season of the year. The Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Awards happened this weekend followed by a jovial after party with all the fixins: Dance floor, private alcoves, smoking tent, food buffet and celebrities and press for days. It’s not slowing down in L.A. anytime soon; the Grammys and the Oscars are right around the corner.

Social Media/Technology: Last week Twitter bought an app called “Vine” which allows users to post 6-second videos in a tweet. Fun, simple, easy-to-use. It’s essentially Instagram on crack. Of course, the problem lies in that all tweeters can use the app. And publish all things inappropriate… in video form… in a matter of seconds.

Check back here every Monday for more on event industry news.

Three Helpful Tips for Booking Entertainment

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Every year guests look forward to the concerts and live performances at the L.A. County Fair.

There is a lot that goes into choosing the entertainment. The selection process includes themes of the Fair, uniqueness of act, pricing, availability, and logistics.  Most stages and attraction areas are themed or take a specific direction so the entertainment needs to fit.

Whether it’s a one-day event or a month-long extravaganza, there are several important factors to keep in mind when scouting for entertainment. Fairplex entertainment & attractions supervisor Christy Enderle stopped by and gave us some of her best tips:

1. Always be on the lookout. You never know where the next big thing is going to be. Sometimes it comes from an EP from an unknown band. Sometimes it’s when you’re at the local bar with your friends on a Friday night. Sometimes it’s at another event.

2. Know your audience. When deciding the entertainment for the L.A. County Fair, Christy chose groups that would appeal to every audience. Radio Disney up-and-coming favorites, Earth Wind & Fire, The Wanted, Journey and Queen cover bands and multiple other acts were included in the 2012 line-up.

3. Do your research. The first step in any of these situations is to get a promotional packet on the group, which includes video or CD, photos, description of the act, their website and their daily rate. Knowing exactly what you are receiving will prepare you as negotiations and contracts begin.

At the end of the day, entertainment is for the audience. Keeping their preferences and personalities will help you to fine-tune your ears (and eyes!) to what to look for.

 

Caged Ink Leaves a Mark on Fairplex

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caged_ink_resized1Caged Ink. Ya gotta love the name of this event. Billed as “something that has never been brought together under one roof,” it’s a combo tattoo, extreme sports, paintball, battle of the bands, trucks, BMX, FMX, and surf shops. (Surf shops?) They’ve even thrown in an MMA Cage Fight. Not my thing, but hey, there’s stuff here for everyone’s taste. I can tell you from my preliminary visit Friday afternoon when things were just getting started that it promises to deliver all of the above and more for just $20. Is it an accident that this is all happening on the anniversary of Woodstock? I think not. (Note: If Woodstock is ancient history to you, remember that Woodstock is the reason you have events like Caged Ink now: nearly 400,000 college kids and about 30 bands did things that upstate New Yorkers have not imagined since. Totally epic.) So come on down.
Caged Ink
Saturday 1 - 10 p.m.
Sunday 1 - 9 p.m.
Fairplex 4 and grounds
Park at Gate 9 on White Ave.
One Day Admission: $20
VIP pass: $100 (all events + VIP room and afterparty)