Earlier this year, I was given the opportunity to transition from sales into an operational role, as the newest event coordinator at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, GA. My first task was to inform all of my inherited clients of our new security policy. I understood why we were tightening our security policies, but I didn’t fully understand why we would enforce such strict polices on all events happening in the facility. At the time, my events varied in size and type, but typically stayed in the sub 20,000 attendees- all day band or high school football type event. This is a story all about how my events got twisted upside down, so I’d like to take a minute, just sit right there and I’ll tell you how I handled my first security threat. (Yes, I went there and you’re welcome- that song will be stuck in your head the rest of the day).

My very first phone call was to one of our “legacy” events – meaning they had been a client and partner of the Georgia Dome for over 10 years…let’s just say that call did not go over well. They are a smaller, non-profit event with a tight budget and here comes the new girl talking about wanding, clear bag policies and bag check tent locations. These increases were not going to be cheap, and the client was not thrilled about their options (or lack thereof).

For the first time in the history of the event (country wide) we would be wanding every participant and inspecting every prop / instrument prior to granting them access into the facility. It was a large undertaking and something we had never attempted to accomplish before. I made two trips to their headquarter city to help prepare and iron out the details. There was major push back from the client who did not fully see the value in wanding participants, but in order to maintain the integrity of a “clean venue” we stood our ground.

Now, fast forward a few months to the day before my first ticketed event. We had just concluded the pre-event meeting and were walking around the facility when I received a call from my boss. This was not a normal Friday afternoon call- it was my first ever Code Red. I followed our security procedures, gathered my clients (a team of 20 or so), loaded them on golf carts and transported them to our gathering spot.

While awaiting further instructions, I received a call from another member of the group who was not yet in Atlanta. She was unaware of the situation currently happening, and informed me that the CEO needed me to call him immediately. I soon learned that the client had their own Code Red that involved the local FBI department. I was then dealing with two separate emergency situations with no clear indication of whether or not they were related (again, at my first ticketed event!). A few hours later we were given the all clear and the original threat was deemed invalid and unrelated to the event related threat.

That still left us with a real, event related threat. I made the decision to inform my main on site point of contact of the situation and instructed them as to how we would proceed. We started the day off as if nothing was lingering in the back of our minds. We tightened security, stuck to our policies and about half way through the event, we received a call from the FBI informing us that the threat had been located and we were no longer in danger – HUGE sigh of relief! Once I delivered the message to the client, she finally took a breath for the first time all day, and proceeded to thank me for pushing the additional security.

So what did this incident teach me about security in this industry? It taught me five things:

1. Remember to breathe since things can (and will) go wrong.
2. Internal threats are just as real as external regardless of the event size.
3. People tend to dislike change or the price tag they pay for security, but in the end are thankful.
4. Be kind, patient and appreciative of your security staff. Test them often, correct them when you can but acknowledge the good work they do along the way.
5. And most importantly- Canine Units are the best company if you are stuck in the screening area all day (how can you not be happy with an adorable Labrador Retriever sitting next to you).

_{Pictured above (Front row, left to right): Bill Flynn, Bruce Davidson, Ray Bloom (Back row, left to right): Brad Mayne, Larry Arnaudet, Eric Roszenberg, Richard Vaughn, David DuBois, Kevin Olsen}

How Prepared is the Meetings Industry for Elevated Threats of Terror?

Recently the International Association of Venue Managers (IAVM), the International Association of Exhibitions and Events (IAEE) and the Exhibition Services & Contractors Association (ESCA) came together to address the # 1 priority of our memberships.  The safety and security of our attendees, members, stakeholders, employees and the general public that attend meetings, conferences, conventions and exhibitions every day around the world. We all recognized the need to address this priority and the potential for greater collaboration. Given the current threat assessments provided by top security professionals, it became clear that our industry must establish national guidelines for convention centers and related venues around the U.S. and align ourselves with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Safety Act office. Being known as the Life Safety and Security experts in our industry IAVM was a strategic fit for leading this initiative.  Together with IAEE, ESCA and several industry executives the Exhibition and Meetings Safety and Security Initiative (EMSSI) was created.

Goal of the Initiative

EMSSI is the conduit for organizations and individuals to participate in the shared responsibility of addressing industry wide needs for safety and security.  EMSSI represents an opportunity for companies and individuals who have benefited from the industry’s growth to give back. The more organizations and individuals contribute to the safety and security of conventions centers and related venues around the U.S., insuring we have established industry wide security guidelines and smart practices, the greater the industry will prosper for generations to come.

The Current State of the Industry

Today, the Convention Industry Council (CIC) has estimated that meetings, exhibitions and business travel has an economic impact of $283 billion dollars, generating $44.9 billion in taxes and representing 2.3 million jobs.  We have seen unprecedented growth over the last 7 years and forecasts for the future remain strong.  It is vital that we maintain eternal vigilance in our efforts to protect this economic engine, and more importantly, to insure the safety of the millions of people every day that attend and serve this vibrant community.

Terrorist Threat Environment

We live in a very dynamic threat environment and DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) have expressed their continued concern about the potential for Homegrown Violent Extremists (HVE) — especially those adhering to the Islamic State’s (ISIL) violent ideology — to conduct attacks against a range of soft targets (e.g., convention centers) in the U.S. with little to no warning. They urge federal, state and local authorities, as well as private sector security partners, to work closely in their security planning and response protocols. They also highlight the continued threat we face:

• Islamist terrorists will continue to pose a significant threat to the U.S. and its allies— ISIL and its supporters have now been linked to 105 plots targeting Western interests globally.
• ISIL, al Qaeda, and other Islamist extremists have built a global network of sanctuaries they can leverage for directing and inspiring terrorist attacks.
• Radical Islamists are exploiting everything from social media applications, including encrypted technologies, to recruit adherents and conduct terrorist operations.

Given the ever-present threats we face from acts of terrorism and other emergencies; our industry requires a coordinated approach to protect our patrons, employees and economic resources that incorporates best-in-class security practices in collaboration with government partners. This is why EMSSI has created a public/private partnership that aligns convention center security guidelines with federal programs (National Preparedness System, National Infrastructure Protection Plan, etc.) and the Department of Homeland Security/Safety Act Office.  To learn more or to donate to this important initiative please visit us online. You can also see the EMSSI announcement by watching the video below (starting at about 1:10).

Here’s where we spotlight some of our favorite Instagram photos we’ve seen from the past week. The photos are from members and venues worldwide. If you haven’t followed us on Instagram yet, now is a good time. We may just include your photos in a future post.

By following us, you’re also entered into our monthly drawing where you can win such prizes as conference registrations, full-page ads in FM magazine, and textbooks. Congratulations to Abby Hunt, who is our recent winner. The next drawing will be November 7.

Behold, this week’s top five!

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Congratulations to IAVM member Brad Gessner, CFE, the senior vice president and general manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center – AEG Facilities. The Cal Poly Experience Industry Management Department named him executive-in-residence, November 6-8.

“I’ve had the pleasure of teaching as an adjunct professor and guest lecturing at the university level for many years, and feel it is important for us to share our knowledge and experiences with the next generation of hospitality professionals,” Gessner said. “I am honored Cal Poly extended this opportunity to me, and I look forward to sharing what I know and interacting with the students and faculty.”

Gessner will lecture in classes and meet with faculty, students, industry members, and the community to share his expertise regarding convention services, revenue generation, green practices, and sustainable programs. The public is invited to attend Gessner’s keynote presentation on November 7, at 6 p.m., at the Cal Poly Performing Arts Center Pavilion located in building 6, room 128.

The 2016 International Convention Center Conference (ICCC) is quickly approaching (October 27-29 in Pasadena, California), and one of our keynote speakers is Jim McCarthy, co-founder and CEO of Goldstar, the largest seller of half-price tickets to live entertainment.

McCarthy is an 18-year veteran of the Internet and e-commerce trade and has spent his entire career in high-growth businesses. He’s the curator and co-founder of TEDxBroadway, and he has presented at conferences around the world, including TED, SXSW, and INTIX. We’re excited to have him at ICCC, and we recently spoke with him about experiences in the industry.

IAVM: Your keynote at the conference will address emerging technologies and how they impact communications. Can you touch on that subject a bit and share one or two examples and how they’re affecting the industry?

Jim McCarthy: Every business, every organization now has to be living in the reality that what some people call Gen Y or Millennials have taken charge of the culture. As a Gen Xer, my group got skipped entirely, but we transitioned rapidly from a Baby Boomer culture to a Millennial culture in the last few years. That means the values and habits of Millennials are the default values and habits of our culture now. You can still market to the Boomer group, based on their values and habits, but that’s now a niche or a specialty.

IAVM: What are some live event or ticketing trends you’re most excited about and why?

JM: Ticketing, for the most part, is pretty boring. We’re going to get rid of “print at home” tickets hopefully in the next few years, which is good, and move that ticket onto your phone or something else you’re always carrying with you. Or, ironically, for those who want it, a big, beautiful souvenir ticket.

More importantly, for the content itself, I love the trend toward “total experiences.” This is where producers finally come to accept that it’s not just what’s on the stage (or field) that matters, but the entirety of what happens before, during, and after the event. Food is more important. Convenience is more important. Ways to connect the person to the event before and after are more important, and that’s pretty exciting when you see what somebody like Randy Weiner in New York (who produces Sleep No More and Queen of the Night) has done.

IAVM: How has your professional background prepared you for a role as CEO?

JM: I spent a lot of time in high-growth companies, running entire chunks of organizations and, for whatever reason, being given responsibility for big, new initiatives before I was CEO of Goldstar. Getting a general management perspective on business is very helpful, as is being in high-growth companies because you compress lots of experience in a short time.

It helps to be a founder of a company if you want a CEO job. 🙂

IAVM: Who has influenced you most in your career and how?

JM: I worked with some great people in my previous jobs in the Internet business, and I can name five or six people who had not only strong experience, and good insight into that experience, but the willingness to spend a little time helping me learn from them.

When I really think about it, though, I’d have to say my career has been influenced most by my co-founders of Goldstar, Rich Webster and Robert Graff. We’ve done so much together.

IAVM: Finally, you tweeted that your dream is to produce Godzilla, The Musical. Is that for real? I’d totally see that!

JM: Only if I could give the monster a big dramatic solo in the second act. I will probably leave the production of shows to the professionals, but you know, sometimes all it takes to be considered a producer is to write a check! Maybe I’ll be able to convince a real Broadway producer to do that someday. We’re going to need a big set!

Register now for the International Convention Center Conference.