By Jennifer Norris, CVE, MFA

Join the Northern California Chapter of IAVM for a virtual education conversation with Metallica Production Manager, John “Lug” Zajonc, and San Francisco Giants Executive Vice President of Administration, Alfonso Felder, on Tuesday, September 29, from 3:30-4:30 PST.

After countless calls of ever-changing information and hypothetical situations planning for our return to events, we’re excited to bring you a session focused on lessons learned from unique “events” that have actually been hosted during the pandemic.

From Metallica’s secret concert filming for release in drive-ins throughout the country to the Giants’ modified baseball season, our esteemed speakers will share their experience planning and executing events these past few months. We’ll hear about what worked, what didn’t, insights on the future of our industry, and other valuable information relevant to all venue types.

*Registration is complimentary. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing instructions on how to join the Zoom meeting.

Following the session, there will be an optional social happy hour to help bring our Nor Cal community together.

To register for this informative and entertaining conversation, click here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Jennifer Norris, CVE, MFA, is Assistant Managing Director of the San Francisco War Memorial & Performing Arts Center in San Francisco.

By Paul Meena

I wanted to share a recent accomplishment of our Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, as it relates to continuing to be relevant during a pandemic. I believe that other performing arts centers will find this information useful for their own venues (especially the 5-minute “Making of” video).

This summer, our 6th annual Dr. Phillips Center Applause Awards honored excellence in high school musical theater and engaged 500 students representing 30 schools from throughout the region. The program normally culminates in a live performance showcase with presentation of top awards, including the selection of one lead actor and actress to participate in the national Jimmy Awards® competition in New York.

When COVID-19 canceled plans for the national and regional programs, we worked to keep those dreams alive and created a safe, reimagined ceremony. The performance included 120 top-scoring student nominees, scholarships for 42 college-bound seniors, extraordinary performances and Broadway actor cameos. Most of all, everyone remained healthy throughout the entire production: colleagues, crew, and students.

We give special thanks to our sponsor, AdventHealth, and additional supporters: TD Charitable Foundation, Chesley G. Magruder Foundation, Winter Park Publishing Company and SunTrust Foundation. We also had several generous donors contribute to scholarships for seniors whose last year in high school was impacted so greatly by COVID: Florida Theatrical Association, Publix Super Market Charities and Ernest Hardy, a founding donor of the arts center.

We have three videos to share with you …

Applause Awards trailer or sizzle reel (46 seconds)

Behind-the-scenes look of “The Making of the Applause Awards” (4:58)

Full Applause Awards performance (59:40)

Paul Meena is Vice President, Production, at the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida.

The Placer Valley Event Center, the centerpiece of the $47 million transformation of @the Grounds in Roseville, Calif., will become the Roebbelen Center under a naming rights sponsorship with the largest general contractor based in the Sacramento region.

Roebbelen Contracting Inc. was the general contractor for the 160,000-square-foot center that opened in February. The newly named Roebbelen Center – one of the largest meeting places in the Sacramento region – can accommodate major amateur sports competitions, large meetings, trade shows, concerts, and other events.

“We believe in the community and the center,” said Kenneth Wenham, President and Chief Executive Officer of Roebbelen Contracting in El Dorado Hills. “We greatly appreciate the special relationship that we’ve built with the community and Placer Valley Tourism, and we didn’t want it to end with the ribbon-cutting.”

The company’s name and logo – which incorporates a compass, trowel and broadax – could remain on the building and throughout @the Grounds until 2040. Financial terms of the sponsorship were not released.

“We were looking for a very special long-term relationship,” said David Attaway, Chief Executive Officer of @the Grounds and Placer Valley Tourism. “Roebbelen is a huge part of the community and has a tremendous sense of pride in the event center. They know the building better than anybody.”

Only a couple of the more than 400 arenas, stadiums and event centers nationwide have naming rights sponsorships with companies in the construction industry, let alone a general contractor. Sponsorships from banks and financial-services companies – such as the Golden 1 (Credit Union) Center and the SAFE Credit Union Convention and Performing Arts District in downtown Sacramento – are much more common.

Roebbelen Contracting’s high-profile sponsorship in the recently opened $34 million event center is a “good touchpoint” to connect with the fast-growing South Placer community, said Pat Nieser, Vice President of Corporate Partnership and Development for The Superlative Group Inc. The Cleveland-based company helped @the Grounds market the event center to potential sponsors nationwide. “The event center makes a lot of sense for Roebbelen – they put their name on their work.”

The Roebbelen Center will bring more attention to the company that has been the general contractor for dozens of major projects in the Sacramento region – including at Folsom Lake College and the recently completed renovation of the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) headquarters. The Roebbelen Center will also help the 350-employee company connect with job-seekers looking for new opportunities, Wenham said.

“It will lend some familiarity, and they can learn more about us,” he said. “With the sponsorship, we’re sending a message: we’ve been here for 60 years and we’re going to be around for many more.”

The Roebbelen Center is the latest major sponsorship for @the Grounds, formerly the Placer County Fairgrounds. In March, Consolidated Communications became the exclusive broadband provider, offering visitors and employees a high-speed connection from anywhere on the 61-acre campus. Consolidated Communications’ name can be found throughout @the Grounds, including on the digital marquees at the main entrance, in front of the ticket booth near the Roebbelen Center, and on Washington Boulevard.

The corporate sponsorships allow companies to connect with the estimated 160,000 people who will attend events held @the Grounds every year, from large sports tournaments and concerts to the annual Placer County Fair.

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many events to be canceled or postponed since March. But Attaway said organizers remain interested and are scheduling events at the Roebbelen Center, which can accommodate as many as 12 full-length basketball courts or 24 volleyball courts.

“The demand keeps going up,” said Attaway, adding extensive cleaning efforts and safety protocols are in place @the Grounds. “Organizers can’t wait to hold events here.”

Lisa Harrington, CEO of Abiding Strategy, Helps Navigate Change: Leadership Through the Storm

“The venue industry will lead the way into our recovery and heal the hearts of the people of this country ,as we are able to re-engage and begin rebuilding our economy.” – Lisa Harrington

Reengaging after a crisis is a leadership challenge that we don’t have to practice often. You can make the transition work in your favor. if you are prepared in advance. How can you handle your own stress, communicate with your crew, and deal with the unexpected circumstances that will impact the client experience? Readiness is the key to success!

Join us virtually October 26-30, 2020 for VenueConnect 2020 as we welcome Lisa Harrington, CEO of Abiding Strategy, as our conference opening keynote speaker. Lisa will guide us on how we can all navigate the current needs for change by using leadership to navigate the storm.

Don’t forget! Members who register before September 30th will be entered for a chance to win 1 of 10 American Express Gift Cards (value $50). Don’t delay! Register NOW for VC2020 Virtual!