PR Smiths: Decibel Management Picks Up PRSA Silver Anvil

COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY

For the part it played in the production and tour events for the DoubleTree by Hilton Little Things Project, Decibel Management was awarded with its second Silver Anvil by the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA).

The Little Things Project saw DoubleTree by Hilton ask its customers about the little things that made big differences to their stay in the hotel. The project gathered more than 5,000 responses that spoke of the importance of local bargains, ability to recharge electronics, free Wi-fi and DoubleTree by Hilton s famed chocolate chip cookies. Following this research, the hotel went on the road for a 50-city tour to share these little things with people across the nation.

The campaign met with rave success wherever it went, which was shown in the PRSA Silver Anvil in the Marketing Consumer Services- Travel, Tourism, and Hospitality category for the DoubleTree by Hilton s Little Things Project Brightens Travel Experiences Nationwide tour. This was truly a team effort from all sides including DoubleTree by Hilton with Ketchum, Gensler, Digital Royalty, OMD, Decibel Management and Laird.

DoubleTree by Hilton, Ketchum and the Little Things Project  also won 2 Bronze Anvils in the Media Relations Consumer Services, Travel and Tourism/Hospitality and Social Media, Consumer Services categories. The campaign also won an Award of Commendation in the Creative Tactics, Consumer Services category.

Decibel Management is proud to be awarded the PR industry s highest honor for the second year in a row. A big thanks to the entire team, and certainly looking forward to working with this group again!

Decibel Red Carpet Premiere Event

BACKSTAGE, COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS

Fleishman-Hillard DC and their ONDCP team tasked Decibel to create a red carpet entrance for a press event. This was for the winner of the MTV Unwasted Weekend Challenge.  Decibel traveled to Essex Junction High School in Vermont to turn an Auditorium into a traditional red carpet event. It was a privilege for the team at Decibel to be part of this amazing evening dedicated to the members of the Essex CHiPS program for high school students that stay above the influence of drugs and alcohol. The evening started with the students, parents and speakers having pictures taken on the red carpet. The evening also included speakers from the Essex CHiPS program, the director of the Above The Influence Campaign and the students that created the winning video. Take a look at the video they produced.

Winning Video Entry

Stage Set- Andr Ch nier

EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS

This is a bit out of the norm for a dB Blog post, but thought it was worth sharing. I don t know many details, but this is a stunning stage set and production on Lake Constance in Austria. Love the creativity and talent shown here. Thanks to Gizmodo (by way of WSJ) for finding the photo.

We have included some additional information from their site: http://www.bregenzerfestspiele.com/en/node/1686

Andr Ch nier
Opera in four acts by Umberto Giordano
Opera in four acts, sung in Italian.
Music by Umberto Giordano. Libretto by Luigi Illica.
Premiere on 20 July 2011 9.15 p.m., Seeb hne

Duration: 2 hours without break

France in the year 1789. The aristocracy revels, the people groan. And between two stools stands the poet Andr Ch nier. Cherished by the rich for his moving verses, in his heart he remains a revolutionary.

Andr Ch nier, the most famous work by the Italian composer Umberto Giordano, is a brilliantly vivid historical drama and a human tragedy of shattering intensity. Set against the background of the French Revolution, the opera has strong appeal both as a passionate love story and as a historical thriller. Andr Ch nier is based on the life of a real historical character, a French poet who got caught up in the turmoil of the French Revolution, frst as an ardent supporter and then as a victim, mercilessly persecuted and ultimately sent to the guillotine.

Giordano s music is charged with a furious enthusiasm and stirring emotions. Historical dances and marches from the time before the French Revolution can be heard in the opera as well as classic Revolution­era songs including a ira and the Marseillaise.

The composer incorporated historical dances and marches from the time before the French Revolution in the operatic score, along with classic revolutionary songs like a ira and the Marseillaise. Together with rousing arias and thrilling duets they lend a unique flavour to the opera.

It seems as though  Andr Ch nier was composed especially for the Bregenz Seeb hne. The opera presents a perfect mix of ingredients for the venue: a thrilling story and four strong characters, caught between the excesses of the Ancien R gime and the terror of the French Revolution. There is Andr Ch nier, an idealistic poet, and his adversary Carlo G rard, once a servant and now a revolutionary ringleader. And there is the young noblewoman Maddalena, who is feeing from the rebels, aided by her maidservant, who sacrifces herself as a prostitute in order to support her mistress fnancially. Giordano s music is verismo of the very highest calibre and drives the high­voltage plot forward with breathtaking speed. Artistic director David Pountney

Further performances
July 22, 23, 24, 26, 27, 29, 30 and 31 9.15 P.M.
August 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20 and 21 9.00 P.M.

The Italian composer Umberto Giordano and his librettist Luigi Illica translated the name of the French revolutionary and eponymous hero of the opera, Andr Marie Ch nier, into Italian. The French male first name Andr became the Italian male first name Andrea which is why the opera is entitled Andrea Ch nier in the original. The Bregenz production uses the historical figure s correct name for the title Andr Ch nier (the second name, Marie, is omitted). The revolutionary and poet was born in 1762 near Constantinople, today Istanbul, and was executed by guillotine in Paris in 1794.


TEDx Amsterdam and Mobile Event Apps of the Future

EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, TIPS & TRICKS

Although first appearing on the scene only recently, event apps are quickly becoming a staple of large event management today. Given how cavernous some conference centers can seem, or the immense scale that industry events can take on, having a helping hand on a smartphone can help attendees integrate with the event and interact with each other in a more meaningful (and creative!) way.

Event Management Blog: Mobile Event Application Development Ideas

Recent and super awesome example of this? The TEDx Amsterdam application designed by Frog Digital (kudos!). If you re planning on having an application developed for your event, we ve got a few ideas for you:

Keep it Simple!

All good apps are clean easy-to-use and don t overdo the features. Figure out the five most useful features your attendees may need, then hone that list down to three and build that.

Choose the Right Developer

You ve got an event to plan, and not a lot of extra time to devote to app production oversight and debugging. Getting an experienced application developer will set you on the right track from the get-go. (No idea where to start? Check out theymakeapps.com or call us.)

Provide Instructions

If you re going to make a mobile event application available, be sure to provide instructions on how it s intended to be used. You might do this via seminar or info packet.

Ideas: Personal Touches

Especially at larger events, the goals and agendas of each attendee will be vastly different. You might consider adding a scheduling function to your event app design to allow customized itineraries.

GPS Function

If your event is multi-locational or big, consider make your app GPS compatible as an alternative to you are here paper mapping. People will get lost in a closet, if you let them. So don t let them. GPS will only work in a big space, though as of today s technology, it s accurate to about 500 feet, so if you re working within a small space it won t do you much good. In that case, a get directions function could substitute.

Daily Alerts

Dedicated apps may be a nice alternative to SMS updates for attendees. Personally, we think SMS can get a bit annoying, as it s hard for the receiver to filter incoming messages by relevance. Business and political executives are already bombarded by texts and emails, they don t need an additional communications backlog. But if you build a messaging system into your app, event data can be accessed and processed in context, turning an annoying interruption into a relevant reminder.

More Facade Projection and Mapping

BACKSTAGE, COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, TIPS & TRICKS

Another Lyon Festival of Lights (F te des lumi res) has concluded. I am a big fan of the festival as well as the fa ade projection and fa ade mapping that has become ubiquitous with the celebration. Each December, I look forward to seeing the displays and designs that are produced for the 4 day event. 

This year, it was an experience, rather than breakthrough content that we were most excited about. The installation and design was from a French company called CT Light Concept. In the 2nd  arrondissement of Lyon a square called Place des C lestins is home to the theater in the video below. (Quick aside, the square is located on lands once owned by the Knights Templar). Instead of simply having festivalgoers watch a presentation, CT Light Concept took fa ade projection and fa ade mapping to an interactive level, a pinball game that users can control. The only piece that would have been great to see added was a high-score list on the fa ade, but I am sure that folks had a blast nonetheless.

I thought this was a very unique and interesting installation. You can view the video by following the link here.

Urban Flipper Video on YouTube

National Small Business Week 2011- Registration

COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS

Registration for the 2011 National Small Business Week is up and running. You can register for the event by visiting the NSBW registration page here. More info after the jump.

If you are in DC the week of May 16-20, this is a great opportunity to network with other small businesses, learn about SBA programs from the source and hear from some fantastic speakers. Every year since 1963, the President of the United States has proclaimed National Small Business Week to recognize the contributions of small businesses to the economic well-being of America. As part of National Small Business Week, the U.S. Small Business Administration recognizes this special impact made by outstanding entrepreneurs and small business owners. In 2011, National Small Business Week will honor the estimated 27.2 million small businesses in America. Small businesses are major contributors to the strength of the American economy. More than half of Americans either own or work for a small business. They also create 60-80 percent of new jobs in the country. Small businesses drive innovation, create 21st century jobs and increase U.S. competitiveness.

Expect the best, prepare for the worst: bulletproofing your event

EVENT INDUSTRY

Every event organizer knows that feeling: You ve made the last phone call, you ve ticked off the last item on the checklist, you ve made sure that ambitious trade show booth will actually fit in a 10 10 square and you ve done it all while bringing your event in under budget. Now all that s left is to sit back and watch everything run itself.

Hah, just kidding.

In event management, despite the best planning, changes, mishaps, and the unavoidable sometimes happen, and they seem to invariably happen two minutes before showtime, and just as crew is donning their headsets. Maybe the hotel freezer broke and the desserts have melted, maybe the toilets back up, or an unintended power issue arises and the fuse blows right before the main networking session. You can t predict every problem, but we believe an event planner isn t just paid to create an event, we re paid to make the event as stress-free as possible for the client, and that includes becoming an expert in putting out fires. In an industry where excuses don t fly, we ve found these tips useful when bulletproofing our events.

Build it into the budget Set aside a chunk of your operating budget to give you some room to maneuver, and make sure that uh-oh money is sitting there until the event has wrapped. Happily, it s rare you ll need to use it, but when you do need to buy 800 mini chocolate pies at the last minute, it s a lifesaver.

Beef up your black book Have multiple suppliers ready to meet each of your needs. Most of us repeatedly work with a series of vendors we like and can trust to get the job done, but they have their uh-oh moments as well, and if you ve got good contacts or a backup on speed dial, it s that much more likely that you can save the day and work the magic your clients expect from you.

Know who does what Make sure you ve been introduced to all they key people. Who s the contact for the building maintenance crew? Who can you contact during the event in case you need sign-off on a decision?

Create swift lines of communication Make sure you can get in touch with every member of your staff quickly and efficiently so your team can respond to problems before they get out of hand.

Have a solid starting plan In live events, these situations happen. They happen on every event. Have the strongest plan you can for what you know. Having this in place allows you the time and ability to handle the new pieces that come your way.

Flash Mob

EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, TIPS & TRICKS

I love to highlight events that just work. A simple, yet focused idea that is met with seamless execution can have great results. These don t have to be expensive, or overly planned. I also like to give recognition to my hometown when I can.

The Winston-Salem Symphony pulled off a great promotional event a few days ago by performing a piece in the Belk s Department store. While this was not your traditional flash mob, it still holds as a great example. I am sure they worked with the mall and Belk s prior to the flash-mobbing as it would be quite hard to sneak in a piano AND a timpani. Even though they tipped their hand to the location, it was on message for their group (to promote their upcoming performance of Handel s Messiah) and brought attention into the store itself. This is a great example of using a flash-mob event to reinforce your brands message.

Winston-Salem Symphony s Handel Flash Mob

National Mall: Keep off the grass

EVENT INDUSTRY

This piece from Liz Farmer at the The Examiner came out yesterday and details some of the changes that we will be faced with in working on the National Mall.

While the NPS is planning on re-sodding and adding irrigation, they also plan to fence off the entire area to visitors and tourists between events. They are also reducing the size and number of total events on the grounds.

While this was a unanimous vote from the committee, I am very interested to see if it will warrant public outcry from visitors, locals and taxpayers. There is a big debate in the iconic National Parks about use and rights (snow machines in Yellowstone, etc), but this is first time I can remember a park being restricted from walkers, runners, sunbathers, and picnickers. It will be fascinating to watch this unfold.

By Liz Farmer

It may be America s front yard, but that s not stopping the National Park Service from fencing it off.

The Park Service wants to enclose the National Mall s grass squares that run down the center of the Mall between the Washington Monument and the Capitol to protect the annual beating the turf takes.

The enclosure is part of a new plan for the Mall that is designed to limit wear and tear on the high-traffic grounds as well as provide more public amenities for the more than 25 million people who visit every year.

NPS spokesman Bill Line said Thursday the fence would be taken down for protests and special events but otherwise would remain up year-round to allow the ground to recover.

That means residents and tourists must take their sunbathing, picnics and pickup games elsewhere. Line said there are other open spaces on the Mall like by the Washington Monument where people can do those activities. Also, the NPS supports softball fields, volleyball courts and a rugby pitch near the Mall.

There s a balance there, he said. That would be an area that would be fenced off, except for First Amendment events, so as to purposefully keep the area green as best as we can.

The plan for the Mall was approved unanimously by the National Capital Planning Commission on Thursday and also includes a plan to limit the space protest organizers and event planners will have to work with. To protect the row of elm trees standing between the pedestrian pathways and the museums, tents and other event equipment will be limited to the center grass area.

That means events like the July Smithsonian Folklife Festival, much of which is set up in the shaded section of the Mall near the Smithsonian Metro station entrance, will be moved to the unshaded center.

The plan also calls for pedestrian pathways to be paved and an irrigation system to be installed below the entire surface of the Mall. The center grass panels would be dug up and replaced with new soil and sod.

The majority of the Mall is so densely compacted with foot traffic it is more highly compacted than concrete, Line said. So hence, not a big surprise that it s difficult to grow grass.

The plan also calls for improved amenities for visitors such as more bathrooms and concessions stands. The Washington Monument also would be reopened in the evenings throughout the year.

Linking the Mall to different forms of transportation like the D.C. Circulator bus and the new Capital Bikeshare program are also in the plan.

*Photo by flickr user Yotut

Holding Press Conferences: 5 Ways to Impress the Press

EVENT INDUSTRY, TIPS & TRICKS

Press conferences are a dime a dozen these days, and any client can put a banner up, call a couple of local rags and plug an event. But this is a critical moment of the event management process, when the people with the power to come into contact with your big plans, and yet even long-time pros overlook or fumble the details. Check out these tips from Decibel to create a press conference that helps the press help you:

Lose the attitude You ve been working hard and for the last few months, this event has become your whole world. But just because you care doesn t mean the press will you ll still have to sell your idea. Be humble, and let your genuine excitement about your upcoming event shine through.

Background matters Great. Another photo of five suits sitting at an IKEA table in front of a white wall, or worse yet, a wrinkled vinyl backdrop. You don t have to go all glitzy, but eye-catching visuals are more interesting to look at (and subsequently, to photograph), so they can do half your legwork for you before the press asks the first question.

Event Management Blog: How to Hold a Great Press Conference Event Management Tips
Yawn! The Beijing 2008 Olympics Wushu (Martial Arts) announcement

Event Industry Blog: Political Event Management Press Conference Management Company
Nice stage set-up by the Daily Mirror

Pick your pinch hitter The person behind your new product launch or initiative may not be the best person to present it. Better to brief an engaging speaker, expert, or insider (ideally someone with a touch of charisma and a sense of humor) on something they may not be familiar with than watch an executive send journalists to the land of nod.

Patience, patience The media doesn t owe you any favors, they will probe, they will pry, they will find the angle you don t want. Meet negativity with positivity and keep control of the discussion. This is especially true in political event management where controlling the story is paramount.

Make it easy early Sending out a press release too late, like a day before the event, is a nail in your coffin as it catches journalists off-guard. Get the key info out there several days in advance, follow up with phone calls to the main outlets and dangle the opportunity of exclusive access to get them on board. The press are busy people, so make sure the materials you provide include quotes, a high-res photo or two, and a bullet-pointed list of the key points for a quick and easy read.

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