Marketing Event articles from May 2008

Marketing Event archives from May 2008

Editor's Letter.(Editorial)(Excerpt)
May 14, 2008... What makes event marketing such a powerful tool is its capacity to work outside the box. This, coupled with the way it can influence people to do something they normally wouldn't do, shows it is far more resilient than when the last...

This month's go-to events.
May 14, 2008... Grand Designs Live Now extended to nine days, this year's Grand Designs Live London is heading to Excel from 3-11 May. Having grown in size, it will feature a number of interactive areas including The Bombay Sapphire Rooms, Celebrity Chef...

What's hot: Shining stars.
May 14, 2008... Rolf Harris pales in comparison to Michael Raivard's live gluing act, in which he creates a portrait in a matter of minutes using glue and glitter. Your guests will be impressed by the likenesses of famous people such as Ray Charles,...

What's hot: Simply adorable.
May 14, 2008... For a twisted take on burlesque, contact Blonde Productions and book all-girl glam-rock act Adora, who perform a mix of cabaret and seductive routines to their own tracks. You can either hire one Adora girl or have up to ten performing. ...

What's hot: Plate arrival.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Sometimes, humble sandwiches just won't suffice when you're trying to impress top-level clients at lunchtime. However, a new service from caterer Canapeum means an impressive array of canapes can be delivered to events on pre-prepared...

What's hot: Change of scenery.
May 14, 2008... Traditional forms of decorating or theming event spaces are set to be challenged, thanks to Ficklestix. The company specialises in producing vinyl wallscapes that can be stuck to any smooth surface and removed without causing damage. This...

What's hot: New heights.
May 14, 2008... Prove you are CSR savvy by hiring Greenpeace's skate ramp when entertaining guests with skateboarders. It is made from forest-friendly wood and was created in association with suppliers Heathensk8 and A Third Foot. The ramp is 32 metres...

What's hot: On good form.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... The time-consuming process of using Excel sheets to register guests' details could be a thing of the past thanks to Eazybook. Created by In Any Event UK, it allows each guest to access an online form - integrated within the event planner's...

What's hot: Second helping.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Re-create the childhood joy of seeing the ice-cream van by hiring quirky ice-cream tricycles from Ideas Box. You can choose from a 1930s Art Deco style or a 1960s yellow psychedelic version. There is an eclectic menu offering more than 140...

What's hot: Loving it.
May 14, 2008... Cabaret seems to be enjoying a bit of a revival lately, with many events using it as a key source of entertainment. One such act is burlesque dancer Gwendoline Lamour, and her two-hour show, A Night of Lamour, is available to hire for any...

What's hot: Two-step.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Let your guests either throw some serious shapes on the dancefloor, assisted by a pair of experts, or simply sit back and enjoy the talents of Strictly Come Dancing winner Matthew Cutler - who guided Alesha Dixon to victory last year - and his...

What's hot: Time is right.
May 14, 2008... TV commercials agency 2am has launched its own events arm, 2am Events. Work so far has included a stand at advertising organisation ISBA's annual conference on 28 February. The stand had a 1950s English home theme. www.2am.co.uk

What's hot: In at the deep end.
May 14, 2008... Add a bit of retro kitsch to your event with Sternberg Clarke's latest act, The 50s Synchronised Swimmers. Obviously the venue needs to have a swimming pool, which would make event spaces such as Shoreditch House and Haymarket Hotel ideal...

What's hot: So much at steak.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Never again will organisers draw the short straw and end up stuck flipping the burgers. Barbeskew has automatic rotating skewers that are battery operated and cook food evenly without burning. It also features two cage-rotating skewers for...

What's hot: Cymbal pleasures.
May 14, 2008... If your budget won't stretch to hiring Justin Timberlake to perform his beatbox act, contact Staar Productions' new signing Andy VP. The vocal percussionist performs a 15-minute show of human beatboxing that includes disco classics, modern...

What's hot: Combined effort.
May 14, 2008... String Diva is a group of young musicians who mix classical music with contemporary styles and extravagant stage productions. The latest addition to SMA Productions, the girls have performed with Broadway star Michael Crawford and at last...

Agencies: Account wins.
May 14, 2008... European Events has secured a prestigious contract to host summer 2009 events in the moat that surrounds the Tower of London. From June to July next year, a temporary structure will be erected in the North Moat and a garden reception area...

Agencies: Havas buys up agency Cake.
May 14, 2008... Independent UK branded entertainment agency Cake has been acquired by global media network Havas Media. Cake will join a roster of eight specialist branded entertainment agencies and continue to be managed by its founder and CEO Mike...

Agencies: Seventeen Events goes all-round ethical.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Eco-friendly event management agency Seventeen Events has stated that all of its events will now comply with the BS8901 standard for sustainable event management. The company, which was one of six groups to trial the standard last year,...

Agencies: Balance London launches events arm.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Integrated communications and PR agency Balance London has launched an experiential and events division. Balance Live will provide international and UK brand clients, as well as agency partners, with a range of services including event...

Agencies: Musical marathon for IMG City Showcase.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... IMG Mass Participation Sports has partnered with not-for-profit company City Showcase to create running and music event Run to the Beat. The event, which takes place on 5 October, marks London's first half-marathon and will cover a...

Agencies: Sledge poised to stage Nickelodeon event.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Nickelodeon UK's number one rating pre-school TV channel, Nick Jr, has chosen experiential agency Sledge to produce its fourth annual Jump Up event. Thousands of parents and children will be invited to enjoy the feature activity zones and...

Agencies: Live Nation promotes festivals in Scotland.
May 14, 2008... Live Nation and Denis Desmond's Gaiety Investments joint venture, LN-Gaiety Holdings, has acquired Gaiety's majority stake in leading Scottish promoter Dance Factory (DF Concerts) and its T in the Park festival. This year's festival will...

Exhibitions: IMIE bags new show sponsor ..
May 14, 2008... IMIE, British International Motor Show organiser, has secured Zurich Connect as title sponsor in a deal worth pounds 750,000. The home and car insurance firm will feature in all show communication and have a high-profile presence at the...

Exhibitions: ... but suffers a major blow with loss of BMW.
May 14, 2008... The BMW brand will not be returning to the British International Motor Show when it arrives at Excel London on 23 July. However, other brands from the BMW Group stable, such as Mini, will continue to have a presence. Motor Show...

Exhibitions: Clarion Events snaps up The Energy Exchange.(Conference news)
May 14, 2008... Clarion Events has acquired specialist conference organiser The Energy Exchange for an undisclosed sum. The move signals Clarion's strategy of building a global B2B conference business in specialist markets. The Energy Exchange specialises...

Exhibitions: Rights deal renames Nottingham Arena.
May 14, 2008... Nottingham Arena has been renamed after it brokered a four-year naming rights deal with radio station Trent FM. The CEO of the newly named Trent FM Arena, Geoff Huckstep, said: 'We are delighted to announce this exciting new development...

Exhibitions: Tudor quits Wembley for Ticketmaster post.
May 14, 2008... Wembley Arena's general manager, Peter Tudor, has left the events base to join Ticketmaster as senior director of group sales. Tudor, who was with Wembley Arena for ten years, said: 'It has been great to see the refurbishment of the arena...

Exhibitions: RSVP show announces a successful 2007 event.
May 14, 2008... This year's RSVP exhibition posted 5,551 visitors(pre-audit), a nominal increase on 2007's figure of 5,488. The show, which was held at the Business Design Centre from 2-3 April, was managed by Single Market Events. It attracted visitors...

Exhibitions: Double-whammy for De Boer with airshow work.
May 14, 2008... De Boer Structures is to provide the Farnborough International Airshow with its biggest-ever temporary structure. It will be the largest contract the agency has ever had in Europe. The structure, which will cover 92,000sqm of...

Exhibitions: Online scheme pushes Good Food ticket sales.
May 14, 2008... A new online scheme has helped BBC Haymarket Exhibitions sell more than 1,000 tickets for its BBC Good Food Show London. Taking place from 14-16 November at Olympia, the online system meant that tickets were on sale three months earlier...

Exhibitions: Showsec sets up school to train managers.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Event security company Showsec has launched a managerial academy to provide training for its staff. The year-long programme offers staff the chance to develop the knowledge, skills and experience required to become an effective operational...

Exhibitions: From the Show Floor.(London Book Fair group )(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Reed Exhibitions' The London Book Fair grew by 10% this year, covering 17,030sqm of space at Earls Court from 14 - 16 April. The London Book Fair group exhibition director Alistair Burtenshaw said: 'We were also 2.5% up on exhibitors. Both...

Exhibitions: Brits favour a return to Earls Court.(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... The Brit Awards will return to Earls Court next year, quashing rumours about a move to an alternative venue. The British Phonographic Industry's (BPI) decision to return to west London in February will mark the venue's 12th year as host. ...

Exhibitions: Lyons takes over as temporary MD at RHH.(Royal Horticultural Halls has appoints Maugie Lyons as acting managing director)(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Maugie Lyons has assumed the role of acting managing director at the Royal Horticultural Halls and Conference Centre (RHH) following Rene Dee's departure on 14 March. Lyons, who joined the venue in 1996, will also continue to fulfil her...

Exhibitions: EMC wins medical contract for airshow.
May 14, 2008... Farnborough International Airshow has awarded the Event Medicine Company a contract to provide medical services for the next three shows These will take place in 2008, 2010 and 2012. The contract covers medical services over a seven-week...

Exhibitions: SSL's pavilion proves a constructive hit.(Specialist Structures)(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Specialist Structures (SSL) produced the JCB Pavilion at construction show Conexpo, which was held at the Las Vegas Convention Centre from 11-15 March. The firm was commissioned by US-based agency The Production Network. SSL provided...

Exhibitions: CMP makes a success of nursing exhibition.
May 14, 2008... CMP Information organised The Care Show for the nursing and care home industry at Bournemouth International Centre from 1-2 April. It pulled in 150 exhibitors and 2,500 visitors. Features at the event included a Jobs Cafe and a Guide2Care...

Exhibitions: Association business.
May 14, 2008... The National Basketball Association (NBA) will host a leg of its NBA Europe Live tour at The O2 Arena on 12 October. The pre-season game will see Miami Heat and the New Jersey Nets go head to head as part of the EA Sports-sponsored tour....

Exhibitions: Industry bodies.
May 14, 2008... Lynn Felton, former director of the British Exhibition Contractors Association (BECA), has taken redundancy following the trade body's merger with the Association of Exhibition Contractors. The new body, called the Event Supplier and...

People: Promotion at BDC.(Bradley Cordes has been promoted to head of projects at the Business Design Centre)(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Bradley Cordes has been promoted to head of projects at the Business Design Centre (BDC). He will run the projects department and all operational services at the venue. Cordes joined the BDC in 1995 as conference co-ordinator. Other...

People: Appointment at Fresh RM.
May 14, 2008... Graham Lock has joined Fresh RM as event director of Wine+, following the promotion of Sue Woodward to managing director. Lock has previously served as show development director for Clarion Events NEC, and has worked for companies in the Middle...

People: Appointment at Surrey County Cricket Club.
May 14, 2008... Sarah Grey has been appointed by Surrey County Cricket Club as operations manager at the Brit Oval. Grey joins from Wembley National Stadium, where she has worked since March 2006. In her new role she will work closely with senior operations...

People: Appointment at P&MM.
May 14, 2008... Sarah Dunlop has been appointed account manager within P&MM's travel services team. Dunlop boasts 16 years' experience within the travel and event industry and was previously a lead agent at business travel house Carlson Wagonlit

People: Appointment at Indeprod.
May 14, 2008... Simon Calderbank and Ross Horne have been appointed by Indeprod as new business manager and new business executive respectively. Calderbank previously worked at The Escape Design as client services director Horne joins from HBOS, where he...

People: Appointment at Confex Group.
May 14, 2008... Caroline Bleasdale has assumed the role of sales manager at the Confex Group. She will be responsible for all of the sales activity surrounding its Event UK show, having already spent five years working in sales roles in the event industry

People: Appointment at Thorns Group.
May 14, 2008... Ross Pedgrift has joined Thorns Group's Camden Exhibition Services as sales executive. Pedgrift's previous experience includes sales roles within the travel and debt management industries. Carol Dickinson has also joined Thorns' Manchester...

People: Appointment at Corporate Innovations.
May 14, 2008... Kate Christensen has joined event marketing specialist Corporate Innovations as business development manager. Christensen joins from market research firm ACNielsen, where she worked on the Tesco and Unilever accounts for six years

People: Appointment at Hampden Park.
May 14, 2008... Bruce Ritchie has assumed the role of general manager for catering and business events at Hampden Park. Ritchie's previous roles have included general manager at Stirling Management Centre and events services manager at Gleneagles

People: Appointment at Sledge.
May 14, 2008... Linsey North has become a producer at agency Sledge. The former Jack Morton Worldwide producer has worked in event production for more than five years

People: Appointment at Motivcom.
May 14, 2008... Sue Farr has been appointed non-executive director on the board of agency Motivcom. Farr is currently executive director of Chime Communications, as well as a trustee of Historic Royal Palaces

People: Move of the month.(Interview)(Interview)(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Susan Stuart, events and marketing manager, Old Spitalfields Market - What will your new role entail? As the title suggests, the role encompasses events and the marketing aspect of the site. The former will include a wide variety of...

People: On the spot.(Interview)(Interview)
May 14, 2008... Nick Grecian, managing director, Gallowglass - What attracted you to your current role? Having been at Gallowglass in its early days and moved away, the opportunity to return and grow the company through its next phase, in a fun and...

Packages: Some new offerings, ranging from Hampton Court to Cowes Week.(Hampton Court Palace)
May 14, 2008... CORPORATE HOSPITALITY James Bond Exhibition With the next instalment of Daniel Craig as James Bond being brought forward to October, what a great opportunity to take part in all things 007 with the Imperial War Museum's exhibition For...

Venues: New and refurbished event spaces, including Kendalls and The Deck.
May 14, 2008... CARLING ACADEMY SHEFFIELD Where is it? On the site of the former Roxy nightclub, at 37-43 Arundel Gate, Sheffield. What is it? Academy Music Group's latest live music and club venue, which opened last month. What's it got? The...

Preview: Trade Show - London Launch Live.(Interview)
May 14, 2008... Taking place from 25-26 June at Earls Court 2. Inaugural exhibition has all the right ingredients. Celebrating London's diversity as a host city, new show London Launch Live 2008 will take place at Earls Court 2 from 25-26 June. A...

Campaign: Case study - Route master.
May 14, 2008... Easyjet's Fun Bus publicises new flights. - What does the campaign involve? The Easyjet Fun Bus was a concept devised by agency Beatwax and featured a branded double-decker bus, which travelled through the centre of Manchester for one...

Brand Watch: Case study - Virgin Radio.
May 14, 2008... The brand's activities have a personal element that connects guests to the station. Virgin Radio is one of the nation's favourite rock and pop stations, with more than 4.5 million listeners each month. Voted number nine in Brand Republic's...

Social Networking: RSVP 08.(exhibition at the Business Design Centre in Islington)(Brief article)
May 14, 2008... Celebrating the best of the creative events industry, RSVP 08 showcased an array of products and services, and held an after-party that was ideal for networking. RSVP 08 This year's exhibition was held at the Business Design Centre in...

Profile: Events Manager - Event architect.
May 14, 2008... Sharon Madden of Davis Langdon always looks to provide a professional service. Events are constantly evolving, a trend that Sharon Madden, events manager for construction consultancy firm Davis Langdon, is well aware of. 'When I started...

Showcase: Style in the city - Fashionistas flock to chic Birmingham.
May 14, 2008... The Sunday Times aimed to broaden the appeal of its Style magazine with a whole host of experiences throughout the city centre. - What was the event? The Sunday Times Style in the City Birmingham retail show, which took place from 3-6...

Showcase: Corporate Hospitality in action - Hand-picked.(McFarlane Billington Yachting)
May 14, 2008... Corporate hospitality offers guests an exclusive experience they won't forget. THE RIVIERA EXPERIENCE McFarlane Billington Yachting (MBY) provided The Riviera Experience corporate hospitality package for the British American Tobacco...

Showcase: Corporate hospitality - Kit List.
May 14, 2008... Four innovations that will make your hospitality event run smoothly. HAREM NIGHTS Theming can help guests to remember your hospitality. Harem Nights offers event organisers an Arabian Nights-themed Bedouin tent, complete with...

Showcase: Corporate Hospitality - Advice.
May 14, 2008... Three industry experts on the details that make an event memorable. THE AGENCY - IAIN EVANS, MANAGING DIRECTOR, ALEXANDER EVENTS 'An informative brief with clear budgets is a good starting point Information is key for an agency to meet...

Showcase: Corporate Hospitality - Liverpool.(Statistical data)
May 14, 2008... The vibrant city provides a cultural backdrop for events. With Liverpool as this year's European Capital of Culture, it is a good time to host corporate hospitality events in the city. A special treat will be The Liverpool Sound,...

Showcase: Trade exhibitions - Like-minded people.
May 14, 2008... B2B shows allow you to keep up to date with developments in your sector. SHEDS Dynamic exhibitions are the key to a money-spinning trade fair, so it's little surprise that a 30-strong gathering of property big guns formed the...

Showcase: Trade Exhibitions - Kit List.
May 14, 2008... Four suppliers who will help get your corporate message across. ALL BAGGED UP Enticing visitors onto your stand is only half the battle. Ensuring they remember your product or service when the show closes is the real fight Goodie bags...

Showcase: Trade Exhibitions - Advice.
May 14, 2008... Three industry experts on maximising returns from a trade show. THE ORGANISER - JON HUGHES, EVENT DIRECTOR, THE IN-STORE SHOW The In-Store Show is aimed at retailers, and everyone is focused on grabbing consumers' attention, developing...

Showcase: Trade Exhibitions - London.
May 14, 2008... Trade shows in London are backed by a host of high-quality suppliers. Behind every successful trade fair in the capital there is an army of suppliers pulling the show together. Brand Licensing Europe 2007 is a case in point. Being staged...

Showcase: Spring Fling - Music is the key for new Walkman.
May 14, 2008... Sony tuned in to the spirit of spring to launch its new Walkman in a disused warehouse in the middle of the City. - What was the event? A launch party for Sony's NWZ-A820 Walkman video MP3 player, Walkman Presents Spring Fling was held...

Advice Bureau: Field Marketing - More for your money.
May 14, 2008... Clients want a broad campaign that provides clear benefits, says Ben Lerwill. What's the secret of a successful field marketing campaign? A simple question maybe, but one that steers well clear of a simple answer. To start with, what...

Advice Bureau: Caterers - A flair for food.(Interview)
May 14, 2008... Six caterers talk about current trends and how to make your budget go further. COOKS & PARTNERS - What is your newest creation or service? A la Carte menus for events. Our clients and their guests have really appreciated this, and...

Trend Watch: Economic downturn - Era of innovation for event gurus.
May 14, 2008... A potential economic downturn means the industry is having to rethink its projects. Claire Bond discovers that this is releasing companies' creative juices. So far 2008 has made for rather gloomy press coverage. At every turn there's a...

Venue Files: Nightspots - Dusk till dawn.
May 14, 2008... Nine venues in which to host events when darkness falls. THE BIG CHILL HOUSE Where is it? Located on Pentonville Road, across the road from St Pancras station, King's Cross tube station and the rehoused Eurostar. What is it?...

Venue Files: The Midlands - At the heart of events.
May 14, 2008... Diverse venues in a central location make this a popular region. BLUU Where is it? Summer Row, on the edge of Birmingham's jewellery quarter What is it? A two-storey, design-led bar that offers an eclectic mix of food and drink. The...

Social Networking: Girl about town - Abigail Parties with the beautiful people.(Personal account)
May 14, 2008... As the industry's most notorious party girl, I like to think I'm something of an expert when it comes to events, so I was upset to find I didn't even get a place in Prestige Event's recent 'Top 30 People to Suck Up to in the Events Industry'...

Viewpoint: Comment - Marketing spend and incentive schemes are put under the microscope.(Viewpoint essay)
May 14, 2008... CLAIRE BOND. Last month's Bellwether report proved a less-than-heartening read. The Institute of Practitioners in Advertising's quarterly marketing spend survey provided results for the Q1 of 2008. It showed that, despite expenditure still...

Viewpoint: Blogs, blags and burning issues - Blogwatch.
May 14, 2008... http://www.eventia.org.uk/Latest_news/Izanias_blog Eventia's executive director Izania Downie, discusses the continued importance of CSR and highlights the trade body's new CSR web page and 'tip of the month'. Plans are also in the...

Viewpoint: Good/Bad.
May 14, 2008... The Event team on what's tickled or ticked them off this month. A GOOD MONTH FOR... - The events industry has recently been united by a number of good causes. Freelance logistics manager Howard Kerr, who has recently been diagnosed...