You, as an IAVM member, are our most important asset. Without your commitment to the association and to the venue management industry, we wouldn’t be here. Because of your support, we are featuring member profiles in our I Am Venue Management series.

If I wasn’t doing this I’d be a: High School Drama and/or English Literature Teacher.

Most impressive person I’ve ever met: I met Adam and Jaime from MythBusters backstage at work not too long ago. I spent a long time talking to them about building a t-shirt cannon for one of their upcoming live shows. That’s probably my biggest “star-struck” moment.

I unwind by: working out at the aerial gym.

On my desk right now: are lots of toys. I have Legos, figurines, and an electronic cat bank. If anyone is ever having a bad day, I invite them to sit in my chair and use the cat bank. It looks like a cardboard box. When you put a coin on top of the box, a cat comes out and steals your money. It instantly makes any bad day better. I even have a stash of change specifically for use in the cat bank.

My favorite IAVM program/conference/event/session I ever attended was: Jason Robert’s keynote speech at VenueConnect this year. His Build a Better Block program is amazing, and I found his whole approach to life very inspiring.

If I were on the other side out on the arena field concert stage I’d be an: aerial artist!

One trait an up-and-coming venue manager should have is: an eagerness to learn.

One of my goals for this year is to: help my department grow.

I plan to help elevate the profession: by always showing professionalism, patience, kindness, and humility.

Where do you see new growth opportunities in the profession? Technology is becoming more prevalent and constant in all our lives. I think we will start seeing more and technology incorporated in our live experiences. We, as an industry, need to embrace the prevalence of technology in our patrons’ lives. I think we will start seeing more incorporation of their devices into our events.

How do you stay current with industry trends and developments? Read, read, read, read, read.

Who are three people you’d invite to a dinner party and why? Do they have to be alive? I would love to spend time talking to Andy Warhol, Salvador Dali, and Pablo Picasso. I would want to hear from each of them where they found inspiration for their art and what the meaning behind some of my favorites are. If they have to be living… I’d say David Sedaris, Agusten Burroughs, and Neil Gaiman. All three of them have stories to tell. I would sit and listen to them share.

Ashley Keen is the technical director/production manager at the Mesa Arts Center in Tempe, Arizona.

(Image: Orange Photography)

Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) won’t begin playing in Major League Soccer until 2018 or 2019 as an expansion team, but that hasn’t stopped them from planning one of the premier soccer venues not only in the U.S., but the world.

Recently, LAFC ownership, staff, and Gensler held a Stadium Design & Programming workshop with their future supporters to receive feedback on what they are looking for in their stadium. Included in the workshop were discussions on the design of the supporters’ section and entrance, pre-game festivities outside the stadium, mobile apps, as well as other in-stadium technology.

Read more about the Stadium Design & Programming workshop hosted at Gensler’s L.A. office here. (I’d like to remind you that Gensler is currently working with IAVM on our brand evaluation, too.)

Additionally, in the recently published “LA 2024 Olympic Bid,” the new stadium would serve as the aquatics center, spending US$100 million on the temporary pool as you can see in the renderings.

With new soccer specific stadiums popping up all over North America annually, will you find yourself working in a soccer venue in the near future?

(Images: LAFC Facebook)

George Wein turned 90 years old on October 3. Wein, the founder of the Newport Jazz Festival, is considered a genius in the industry for his success in organizing and booking music festivals. His age, though, hasn’t stopped him from attending his own festivals.

“If I don’t hear the music, I don’t know what my festival is all about,” Wein says. “So I have to hear the music.”

Wein talks about the jazz and folk festivals he curates in the video above from NPR. Take seven minutes and watch a great piece about an even greater person.

Just like last year, October 10 is International Stage Management Day.

The day celebrates stage managers and the work they do to ensure smooth operations. Past ways companies have celebrated stage management day have been letting stage managers take over social media feeds, catering special lunches for them, and promoting them in programs.

“It seems to be a chance to network and celebrate all the backstage really,” Andy Rowley, executive director of the Stage Management Association told The Stage last year. “Stage managers are such a lynchpin backstage that they could hardly do it without all their colleagues—so it’s becoming more of a celebration backstage full stop.”

Please let us know how you’re planning on celebrating International Stage Management Day this year. If you want to follow the celebration on Twitter, the hashtag is #StageMgrs15.

(Image: University of the Fraser Valley/Creative Commons)

These are selected news articles that showed up in our inboxes on Monday morning that we want to pass along to you.

Congress Ready to Ban “Pay for Patriotism” Salutes at Sports Events (NJ.com)
“The bill also seeks a study of all existing sports sponsorships and advertising deals.”

Donald R. Seawell, Founder of Denver Center for the Performing Arts, dies at 103 (7News Denver)
“He was first to bring the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) to America. In 1962, he directed and presented the RSC production of The Hollow Crown on Broadway and on tour and, in 1964, to celebrate Shakespeare’s 400th Anniversary, he imported the RSC’s King Lear and The Comedy of Errors, which opened the New York State Theatre.”

Kentucky International Convention Center Reveals New Design Plans (WLKY.com)
“The new designs for the convention center focus on adding more exhibit space, renovating meeting rooms, and a re-designing a 40,000 square-foot ballroom — all within the building’s existing footprint.”

Independence Events Center to be Renamed Silverstein Eye Centers Arena (KSHB.com)
“…the deal will bring new exterior and interior signage and a new partnership with the Missouri Mavericks and Missouri Comets.”

Contemporary Services Corporation Partners with American University (PR Newswire)
“CSC’s services for American University, a client since 1985, are provided under the direction of Jordan Tobin, assistant athletic director for facilities and operations.”

(Image: The National Guard/Creative Commons)