Successful Meetings - April 2008 - (Page 42)

Planner’s Workshop more sense to pursue the performer with the most entertaining show. If you need to draw attendees, one of the late-night talk-show hosts can be a great way to go. But if you just need a great comedy performance, many of the up-and-coming comedians provide fantastic shows at greatly reduced price tags. Avoid booking a concert performer simply because they are hot right now. One of the most important considerations is how many songs your attendees will actually recognize. While it may be tempting to bring in a brand-new artist who is in the limelight this year, many of these newer artists just don’t yet have the same number of hits to play as bands with a few more albums under their belt. Don’t get excited about booking a band that has the biggest hit on the radio right now if they will be filling the rest of the set with songs people haven’t yet heard much of. Your audience will likely be happier if you choose an artist with many tunes that they can sing along with. If you have an international audience, your best bet may be “nonverbal” entertainment. There are more performers out there along these lines than you might think. Among the artists who may have great appeal to non-English-speaking audiences are Blue Man Group, Cirquestyle shows, and Riverdance. Finally, consider consulting with a talent expert. Work with someone who has secured many performers for a variety of types of events. While you may have three or four events a year with entertainment, an experienced talent expert will have dozens of shows a year with varying levels and types of performers. These people should be a great help in determining what type of performer, and exactly which artist, will be the best fit for your audience as well as your budget. Adam Kahan is an attorney who joined Empire Entertainment in 1996. Previous clients include NBC, Ford, and CBS; previous speakers and entertainers include David Bowie, Prince, and Robert Redford. He can be reached at adamk@empireentertainment.com or (212) 343-1645 ext. 230. Tools of the Trade BY VINCENT ALONZO GREEN BY THE BOOK Meeting Strategies Worldwide business principals Amy Spatrisano, CMP, and Nancy J. Wilson, CMP, have released their long-awaited book, Simple Steps to Green Meetings and Events: The Professional’s Guide to Saving Money and the Earth. The book offers a comprehensive, systematic approach to successfully greening all aspects of events. The authors make a compelling business case for environmentally responsible practices that include potential cost savings for both planners and suppliers. They also provide a template for integrating environmental thinking into event planning. The book encourages every meeting to become not just greener, but better. For more information visit, www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com. FORGET BUSINESS CARDS—HERE’S MY WEB PAGE Experient, a source for integrated meeting and event solutions, has introduced ExpoPURL, a trade show marketing program that will drive attendees to exhibitor booths through a series of personalized communications and a personal URL. ExpoPURL creates a personal URL—an interactive Web page—for each attendee that is targeted. The attendee receives an attention-grabbing direct mail piece with information about the exhibiting company and upcoming events and offers. The ExpoPURL page can include a marketing message, an informative questionnaire with a prize offer, and even allow the user to schedule an appointment at an upcoming event. For more information, visit www.experient-inc.com/expopurl. 42 mimegasite.com APRIL 2008 SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS http://www.meetingstrategiesworldwide.com http://www.experient-inc.com/expopurl http://mimegasite.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Successful Meetings - April 2008

Successful Meetings - April 2008 Contents Editor's Note Industry Trends Suppliers Events On the Record Suppliers Planner's Spotlight Technology Talk Personal Success Websites of the Month Food & Beverage On Site Professional Development On Site Pre-Event Professional Development Miforum Q&A Beyond the Flames Reservation for—21,000 Casino Riches Entertainment Jackpot Who Needs a Passport? The International Swing Around the World in 18 Holes Places & Spaces Denver Orlando Missouri Puerto Rico Show Special: Washington DC / Frankfurt, Germany Gurus

Successful Meetings - April 2008

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