Glass Packaging Institute 2012 Annual Meeting
COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS
In November we travelled to Naples, not just for the perfect weather, but for the 2012 Glass Packaging Institute s Annual Meeting. This was our first year planning this event for GPI and it was a successful event as well as a successful meeting for the members.
According to the Glass Packaging Institute, it is
The trade association representing the North American glass container industry. Through GPI, glass container manufacturers speak with one voice to advocate industry standards, promote sound environmental policies and educate packaging professionals. GPI member companies manufacture glass containers for food, beverage, cosmetic and many other products. GPI also has associate members that represent a broad range of suppliers and closure manufacturers.
Members went on a golf outing at the beautiful Naples Grande Golf Course and their accommodations were provided by the Waldorf- Astoria Naples. Members attended meetings regarding the upcoming trends and topics within the glass industry, cocktail receptions by the pools, and dinners all hosted by the outstanding banquet staff at the resort.
We produced the event from start to finish. We developed, maintained and monitored custom online registrations for the members. Decibel also designed graphics and gifts given to attendees, including custom USB drives for the members. We coordinated all of the banquet needs for the meeting, and facilitated all guest accommodations.
Next November we will be travelling to Sonoma, California for the 2013 GPI Annual Meeting.
National Book Festival Load In
COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, TIPS & TRICKS
Load in for the 2011 National Book Festival began today. Thankfully the weather held out and we were able to get a great start on the week. Some photos of the build are below
As mentioned above, here are some photos of our Monday progress. Got a number of tents up and began the decor install. Great work by Select Events, Legacy Scenic and Productions and EventEQ, and a big thanks to Fleishman-Hillard and the Library of Congress for the event. We are hoping to post more photos throughout the week as the event shapes up. Check back to check out our progress.
Nomadic Display Instand Pop Up
COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY, TIPS & TRICKS, TRADE SHOW
We just heard some great news from Nomadic Display and wanted to pass it along. They are reducing the price of some of their most popular Instand Pop up display units for Q1.If you are in the market for a new Instand, Pop up, or table top display, this is a great time to pick one up.
It looks like the prices will hold until April 30, 2013. We love the 8 Fabrimurals, and many of our clients use them for small events, press conferences and fund raisers. There are actually three of these fabric ones included- the 8 , 5 and a table top version. Take a look at the models and pricing below and drop us a line if you are interested.
Custom Trade Show Booth Install
Custom Trade Show Booth Install
Just wrapped up a custom trade show booth install at Hilton Worldwide for the DoubleTree by Hilton brand team. Check out the photos below and in dB gallery for some behind the scenes looks at the build!
Thanks to the team at Gensler for the design and concepts, as well as DoubleTree for the creative space. We loved working on this project. Hope everyone enjoys the cookies!
Facade Mapping and Facade Projection: Washington, DC
EVENT INDUSTRY, FACADE MAPPING, LIVE EVENTS
Many of our clients are exploring the use of facade mapping and facade projection for their own events and activations. We have seen this technique used at product launches and festivals around the world and around the nation. I have not seen many examples of facade mapping in Washington, DC, so I was particularly excited when I heard that one of our vendors, EventEQ, was working as part of a team to do just that. I have included a great photo here and you can check out the video below.
EventEQ provided the video projection technology at the National Portrait Gallery for the HITT Contracting 75th anniversary celebration. We all know it takes a number of great companies to pull this off and the Hutchinson Design Group (producer) and BARTKRESA (projection design) did a great job leading the project. For a bit more information on the technical side, there is a great article about the system here.
National Mall Restoration Update
COMPANY NEWS, EVENT INDUSTRY
I wanted to share a great piece on the restoration of the National Mall that appeared in todays USA Today. Click Here for the full article. This will absolutely impact events and work moving forward.
By Wendy Koch, USA TODAY
Washington Monument and the U.S. Capitol,
Murray Cook kicks the concrete-hard dirt
on the National Mall and shakes his head.
who has traveled the world building baseball
fields. If you can t grow grass here, it s sad.
He looks at the hundreds of chairs set up for
a college graduation and predicts that when
it rains, as forecast, the area would become
be a muddy mess. We can make this better,
and we will.
The upcoming makeover, including new
grass and monument repairs, is no minor
feat. The National Mall the site of
presidential inaugurations, Martin Luther
King Jr. s I Have a Dream speech and political
rallies is the country s most visited park.
Each year, it receives 30 million visitors,
more than Yellowstone, Yosemite and the
Grand Canyon combined, and holds at least
3,000 permitted events.
says Caroline Cunningham, president of the
Trust for the National Mall, a non-profit
group raising money for its restoration. She
says the soil is now so compacted, after
thousands of events and pickup softball
National Park Service can t just lay down sod
and hope it lasts.
Also, because the park service has lacked
funds, she says the front of the Jefferson
Memorial plaza built on pylons has
sunk 8 inches in the past two years, the Tidal
Basin s sidewalks are cracking, and the
Lincoln Memorial s Reflecting Pool leaks 50
million gallons of water annually. She says
the foul, non-circulating waterways caused
the deaths of about a dozen ducks last
summer at the foot of the U.S. Capitol.
The 684-acre National Mall, largely designed
by Pierre L Enfant in 1791, has begun a
multiyear restoration that includes new
walkways, trees and visitors centers. The
trust aims to raise half of the estimated $700
million cost, of which $400 million is
considered deferred maintenance.
Starting anew
Cook is the project s grass guy. Since working
as a teenage groundskeeper in
1974, he has had a passion for ballfields and
has spent decades developing them,
including for the 2000, 2004 and 2008
Olympics.
Still, the National Mall is a challenge. There s
nothing like this in the world, says Cook,
president of Maryland-based Brickman
Sports Turf, citing the Mall s phenomenal
use. He says the foot traffic far exceeds that
of Disney World, where he has also worked.
It s one of the hardest areas in the country
to grow grass, he says, noting Washington
is too hot in the summer and too cold in the
winter for many grasses.
It s a lot more complex than it appears on
the surface There s a science behind
growing grass, adds Suzette Goldstein,
project manager for HOK, an architectural
firm that has designed the new lawn.
Cook and Goldstein consulted scientists
before deciding on a deep underground
layer of soil and sand, as well as a mixture of
tall fescue (Wolfpack, Firenze and Turbo) and
Kentucky bluegrass seed. For irrigation, the
site will have pop-up sprinklers fed by four
massive underground cisterns that will hold
a total of 1 million gallons of water.
So far, the project only has money to do
three of the National Mall s eight center
grass panels and two of its cisterns. This
first phase is set to start late summer.
Some of the Event Industry s Most Unique Bookable Artists
EVENT INDUSTRY
You remember when you were in high school, and people used to ask you what you wanted to do for living, and you could only really think in terms of the major job groups you d heard of? Lawyer, doctor, astronaut. And then you graduated, and suddenly you meet people with jobs like user experience researcher and grant writer and you wonder how those people even knew those job titles existed. Event artists are kinda like that. Auctioneer? Really? That s a thing I can hire?
Vanessa Thanos, Auctioneer
Yes, that is a thing you can hire. Man, some of these guys get into auctioneering as a side gig, something to fill the holes between bit parts on network TV. Not Vanessa, though. Vanessa is auction-specific. She is full-on, 100{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} auction-dedicated. Starting out her career on her parent s Christmas tree farm, this lady has intered at Christie s in Beverly Hills and Sotheby s, and is a graduate of the Missouri Auction School (that s a thing, too), and a member of the National Auctioneers Association. She will get your fundraising benefit stuff sold, by jove.
Mystery Productions, Acrobats
No mucking around here: this is one of the top event performance troupes in the United States. You need someone to do aerial rope dancing? Check. How about someone to hang upside down from the chandeliers and wiggle around in a leotard? Done. Belly dancers? Fire eaters? Insane Venetian costumes? Yup, yup and yup.
Dan Meyer, Sword Swallower
Dan Meyer thinks swords are super delicious. And he s not picky: this guy ll nosh down on daggers, light sabers, rapiers, broadswords, multiple swords at the same he ll do it in front of anyone, anytime, anywhere. On top of fairs and festival bookings, Dan has also done some motivational TEDx talks, underlining just how possible the impossible can be.
Dan Clairmont, Square Dance Caller & Instructor
No, silly, you can t have any old jerk up there yelling do-si-do your partner round over and over. You need a guy with line dancing experience. A guy in a real cowboy hat who can give the whole thing some authenticity, get the first timers pointed in the right direction, and make the shy ladies at the back join in.
Travis Allen, Elvis Impersonator
Sometimes, there s nothing for it: you just need The King. And when you need The King, you call Travis. Travel Allen is one of the most booked Elvis acts on Gigmasters, specializing in Young Elvis, and has some heavy entertainment credentials. Based in Las Vegas (naturally), Travis is also available for travel.
America s Finest Estates for Corporate Events: Six of the Best
EVENT INDUSTRY, TIPS & TRICKS
For a country falsely rumored as having only a little history, the range of architecture displayed in America s estates is pretty staggering. From Louis XIV-style palaces to Tudor homes and Southern mansions, the US offers event managers some wonderful, lavish environments for upscale events. These are just some of our favorite estates that provide a real mixture of charming authenticity and originality.
Oheka Castle
Built by financier Otto Kahn near the Hamptons in New Jersey, Oheka Castle might make passers-by imagine they ve been teleported to Versailles. Its gloriously maintained European gardens are perfect for a post-dinner amble. The inspiration for the Great Gatsby s mansion in the recently released movie, Oheka Castle figures among the cr me de la cr me of estates for hire in America.
Abbey Estate
The Abbey Estate in Montecito, California knows its own worth, selling itself as the best place for weddings and corporate events in the state. Commanding amazing views of the surrounding countryside, the stately home, complete with ivory columns, lend an atmosphere of real flair and class.
Meadowood
Spread over 250 acres of land in California s Napa Valley, the stunning Meadowood resort has refined hosting luxury events to an art form. Catering to up to 250 guests, Meadowood can handle much of the legwork for event organization, offering activities from golf and tennis to a spa and wine classes.
Briarhurst Manor
Briarhurst Manor blends old mountain homeliness with lavish attention to comfort. Located in Manitou Springs, Colorado, and named among America s Top 50 Romantic Restaurants by Open Table, Broadhurst prides itself on creating the perfect atmosphere for everything from fundraisers to company trainings and even murder mystery dinners.
Castle Ladyhawke Estate
Apparently, this castle was not named for the awful Michelle Pfeiffer fantasy movie of the same name. The Ladyhawke Estate has authentically rebuilt a Scottish castle in the lap of the Tuckasegee River in North Carolina. Allowing a true fairytale setting for the more whimsical among you, it even contains a medieval village. Be warned though, alcohol is not provided.
Paradise Point at Kailua Bay
A corporate retreat to Hawaii? One of President Obama s favorite holiday sports? What s not to like? Nuzzled by crystalline waters lapping at its doorstep, the beauty of this Paradise Point resort cannot be accurately conveyed in photographs. Tired of cardboard cut-out conference centers all scraping to put together a good time? This will blow them out of the water.
Throwback Thursday: 6 Incredible Vintage Crowd Shots from Large-Scale Events
EVENT INDUSTRY
Event managers respect a sizable crowd the way survivalists respect a rattlesnake treat it firmly, but don t scare it, and don t get complacent, or it might sink two inches of fang into your leg. In wrangling large-scale events we depend heavily on the help of technology can you imagine dealing with this kind of turnout without the help of mobile phones, walkie-talkies, computerized ticketing?
Staring at these pics, we re faced with bazillions of unanswered logistics questions about historical events. How did advanced ticketing work, and could you get another set of tickets if you d lost yours? Were newspapers and posters the only way to promote your event, and if so, how much did it cost to print and distribute them? And is there such a thing as a turn-of-the-century Porta-potty?
Spectators
This incredible panorama is far too wide to be shown clearly in this narrow space go here to see the full picture. Created in 1919 by Charles F. Allen, this picture shows thousands up thousands of attendees gathered to watch a boxing match.
Soldiers
We don t know very much about this striking image, except that it was estimated to be taken in 1942, near the start of WWII. The source of the picture is telling: it was provided to the Library of Congress by the U.S. Army s Office of War Information, Overseas Picture Division.
Citizens
The multitudes gather outside the White House for the 1921 U.S. presidential inauguration of Warren G. Harding.
More Citizens
Here s another presidential shot from a little further down the line: Herbert Hoover in 1932.
Patriots
In this 1918 picture, Douglas Fairbanks, a popular movie star at the time, speaks on the steps of the U.S. Treasury Building in New York city in support of Liberty Bonds.
Sports Fans
A whole lot of people took themselves out to the ballgame at the 1925 World Series, where the Pittsburgh Pirates beat out the Washington Senators.
Look Behind You, Mr. President: 5 Examples of Political Campaign Event Backdrops
CAMPAIGN, EVENT INDUSTRY, LIVE EVENTS, POLITICAL
2012 Democratic National Convention
Campaign and Convention event production in American presidential races revolves around key themes that nobody ever strays too far from. In terms of substance, candidates may be far apart, but for style- flag and country are mainstays on both sides.
Let s take a look at the set design of the 2012 Democratic National Convention. This is actually a nifty piece of political event management. When the cameras are zeroed in on speakers, the backdrop of American flags is all the cameras will pick up. However, when zoomed out, the Obama campaign logo is placed at the center of an array of American icons such as the Statue of Liberty and Mount Rushmore. The presence of the Washington Monument may not have helped the Democrats shake their inside-the-Beltway reputation, but all in all, a very solid piece from the team at Tribe, Inc. They are a mainstay for the DNC production design, as well as a ton of top tier concert and event design (SuperBowl, Ultra Music Fest, Etc).
2012 Republican National Convention
Another example of political campaign production gone right. The message here could initially seem far more direct. An American flag takes up the entirety of screens that make up the set, reinforcing the GOP s patriotic credo. But look closer and you will see the entryway beneath which speakers enter and exit. The entire ensemble has the air of a modern-day Roman archway, adding a subdued but powerful Hail to the Chief touch. This set was developed by the design team at Jack Morton, and was a great pairing of warm wood material and cutting edge video production.
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff Campaign Event
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff is in a tough spot as she runs for re-election. She first won by riding on the coattails of former President Lula, who stepped down with 80{04d9822e7d95da125d508d8e1efbcf2edc79acd8aec1f0bbdcbd6a6f684f9bb3} approval ratings. Dilma has not maintained these levels of support, with accusations of corruption culminating in nationwide protests earlier this summer. But her political campaign this year has seen her reinvent herself in just the right way. By holding this sort of street campaign event, she maintains a leadership image while rebranding herself as regular folks . The use of just her first name and her face are enough to draw a connection to voters in Brazil who like to feel their leaders are not above them.
China s Politburo Standing Committee
How aptly named is the Standing Committee? This was how the Communist Party of China chose to introduce 1.4 billion people to their new leaders. While the CPC has never been known for its sense of political flair, this was actually a very finely crafted performance. It showed the world a unity of leadership and promised a continuation of political strategic planning, warning reformers that a break with traditions of the past was not on the cards. And get a load of that traditional Chinese art on the backdrop: a majestic touch of cultural heritage.
Marine Le Pen, Front National Campaign Event
A simple political message is easy to reinforce with a simple political image. While the policies of Marine Le Pen, leader of the French extreme right Front National, may seem repugnant, her populist image and firebrand rhetoric have galvanized millions. A campaign event backdrop of French flags and the Eiffel Tower rising into the sky are all she needs to hammer home the anchor of her political campaign image: she is Marianne 2.0, the revolutionary emblem of France reborn.
