This week’s spotlight of recipients in the IAVM Foundation’s inaugural class of 30|UNDER|30 are asked, “What do you look to take away from VenueConnect?”

McKell Bennett
Assistant Marketing Director
Adam Center – University of Montana
Missoula, Montana

“I hope to further my knowledge within the venue industry and build on the networks I previously made by being a student intern in 2014. I also hope to gain valuable life lessons that I can continue to pursue year after year as a professional.”

Jacquelyn Holowaty
Vice President, Ticketing
Spectra Venue Management
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

“I look to take away from VenueConnect a networking capability of people I’ve never talked to and ideas they have I’ve never even thought about and being able to share those ideas and examples in what I’m doing on a day-to-day basis. Also seeing technology I’m not aware of or haven’t been a part of, as well as management styles, such as how people my age are managing up or managing the millennials.”

Jena Schaafsma
Assistant Director, Event Booking and Marketing
MetLife Stadium
East Rutherford, New Jersey

“I look forward to networking with people from the industry and other venues. There’s actually a limited amount of people who do what we do, so to be in a room full of others and converse with them and share best practices, new ideas, and the latest trends would be pretty beneficial.”

Caitlin Volpe
Event Coordinator
AT&T Performing Arts Center
Dallas, Texas

“VenueConnect for me is always an exciting experience not only because of the knowledge you gain through the different sessions but also through the networking of professionals that goes on throughout the conference and trade show. There are always ways for your venue to improve, so I hope I take some insight back to Dallas with me that I can apply to my venue. Another thing I love about attending VenueConnect is the interactions the students have with the professionals. Being a past student volunteer, I hope I can enlighten or give advice to those student volunteers attending the conference this year.”

We aired our third episode of The Venue last Friday, but if you missed it, no problem. We recorded it, and you can listen to the above audio of it.

On this episode, we were joined by our guest host, IAVM Chair Kim Bedier, CFE, and we discussed a variety of topics, such as SMART goals for part-time/front-of-house employees, John Oliver’s editorial on publicly funded stadiums and arenas,VenueConnect, and bacon-flavored seaweed.

Thank you for listening, and thank you to Kathy Summerlin with the Saenger Theatre in Pensacola, Florida, for joining, too, on the live broadcast.  We broadcast The Venue every fourth Friday of the month, and you can still listen to the first episode and the second episode.

Miah Moore (right) and the 2015 VMS interns.

When I applied for the VMS internship, I didn’t realize what a great opportunity IAVM was offering student members. I have been to other conferences that focus on my interests in the business and had always walked away feeling like I didn’t make a good impact on the people who were in attendance or felt that I wasn’t worth talking to. Even before arriving in Wheeling, I had a few individuals reach out through social media and via email congratulating me on the award and welcoming me to IAVM as a member. This really caught me off guard in a good way.

I had no idea what a great opportunity being a part of VMS was going to be or how willing the students and board members would be to talk to us interns. We were all greeted with smiles and friendly conversation about what they have done in the industry and what we interns hoped and dreamed to do with our careers. We were given plenty of opportunities to meet board members and teachers through luncheons, dinning out in Wheeling, and a dinner as well as breakfast with the board of regents. With over 300 in attendance at VMS, the networking opportunities were endless and allowed us interns to maximize our networking opportunities and meet people where our interests lie in the entertainment industry. Not only that, but we were able to sit through all the classes offered and learn about different and important aspects that drive the industry to positive outcomes. I myself learned about architecture; food service management; enhancing the experience with live events; marketing, advertising, and PR; making and delivering the deal; creativity in the workplace; event management; controlling costs; media relations; leadership and image; tort law; and seven elements of formulation.

I’ve had a particular interest in festivals and had this dream of working in this part of the industry for the last few years. I was able to meet a few individuals who play a big part in this area of the industry. Not only did they educate and share their stories but they also met with me in hopes of helping connect me with the right individuals so that I may get experience and even land a job after graduation. Individuals who aren’t even a part of the festival business reached out and said if I ever need anything or if I think they could help me in any way, that I could get in contact with them and they would help me in any way possible. Hearing this from people I had never met before that week was the best feeling in the world. It made me feel appreciated and helped me believe that people are starting to see that we are the future. Applying for the VMS internship is the best time I’ve ever spent and the best decision I’ve ever made. I want to encourage any students reading this to apply. Take the time and apply for all of the opportunities because I promise you that you WILL take something away from your experience. You won’t regret it.

I want to send a special thanks to Greg Wolfe, Jason LoRusso, Jason Rittenberry, and Mark Herrera for making us interns feel welcome and giving us the experience of a lifetime!

Please visit the IAVM Foundation page for more information on upcoming scholarship and internship opportunities.

Manchester United and FC Barcelona are playing against each other in a sold-out International Champions Cup match on July 25 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, and NextVR will broadcast it live in virtual reality. Cameras will capture the game from five vantage points on the field and then live stream the footage to fans, press, and VIPs in the stadium, along with select locations worldwide.

“We are excited to partner with RSE Ventures and the International Champions Cup on this incredible tournament,” said Brad Allen, executive chairman of NextVR. “We are putting fans in places where they would never be able to access in a stadium seat – a groundbreaking event for the world of soccer.”

Unlike conventional broadcast platforms, NextVR says virtual reality transports fans to the field where they can follow the action up close. The virtual environment allows viewers the freedom to look around the stadium in any direction at any time.

“Virtual reality will give fans the opportunity to experience live sports like never before,” said Matt Higgins, co-founder and CEO of RSE Ventures. “The International Champions Cup live-stream of the Barcelona vs. Manchester United match will provide a glimpse of what is in store.”

NextVR previously used its delivery platform with the NBA, NHL, MLB, U.S. Open, and partnered with FOX Sports earlier this year to broadcast the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series in California.

Highlights from the soccer game, will be available soon on NextVR’s portal for use with any virtual reality device, including Oculus Rift, Sony Morpheus, Samsung GearVR, and HTC Vive.

(h/t: Gary Singh. Image: Levi’s Stadium)

If you’re a Young Professional and are planning on attending IAVM’s VenueConnect conference and trade show in Baltimore next week, NOW is the time to plan ahead to make the most of your experience! VenueConnect offers all venue managers multiple educational, networking, and socialization opportunities, and the professional benefits for Young Professionals can be profound. Take time now to examine all that VenueConnect has to offer to ensure that you are making the most of your time in Baltimore!

EDUCATION

VenueConnect offers such a diverse array of educational seminars, panels, and classes. Check out the schedule ahead of time so you can plan out what topics apply the most to your current job, career interest, or areas of weakness that you are seeking to improve. The VenueConnect schedule contains seminars on topics that range from industry technical expertise to developing your arsenal of leadership skills. Be sure to check the schedule for classes recommended for Young Professionals. Also, or the first time in 2015, IAVM is offering the UpStart program for young professionals and students to build and expand professional relationships and to interact with and pick the brains of venue management leaders. If you are interested in UpStart and have not yet registered, please email Taylor Daniel at Taylor.Daniel@iavm.org as soon as possible to guarantee yourself a spot. Opportunities for young professionals like this do not come about often, so make sure to maximize your return on investment by participating in seminars and programs like UpStart as much as your schedule will allow.

TRADE SHOW

While as a Young Professional, your position may not hold a lot of purchasing power, be sure to stop by the floor of the state-of-the-art VenueConnect Trade Show. Part of knowing and understanding the venue management business is knowing the state of the tools and technology of our trade. VenueConnect will have it all on the floor (literally) in Baltimore for you to peruse and ask questions from the exhibitors in attendance. You will never know when the knowledge and ideas you see at the Trade Show will come in handy in your job or further down the road in your career, so make the most of the Trade Show floor experience while in Baltimore. A special perk to take advantage of at this year’s VenueConnect Trade Show is the opportunity to have your professional headshot photograph taken, so be sure to come prepared to take advantage of this added benefit.

CAREER RESOURCES

Young Professionals will find many career resources at every turn at VenueConnect. The IAVM Career Resource Center will feature the opportunity for Young Professionals (and others) to post their resumes, review the job board for current job postings, as well as the chance to post jobs if needed. Mark Gnatovic from SearchWide will be on hand to review your resume and to offer tips and advice on ways to ensure that your resume is top-notch, so be sure to bring copies of your resume with you to Baltimore.

NETWORKING

Perhaps one of the largest benefits Young Professionals in our industry have to gain from VenueConnect is the benefit of networking with your peers within the venue management industry while at the conference. Whether in seminars, on the Trade Show floor, or between events in the hotel or convention center, take the time to get to know those who work around you within our profession. Not only will you gain industry insights and have the opportunity to exchange ideas and best practices for your career and facility, but you will also make contacts that you will be able to rely upon down the road. Having a network of colleagues that you can turn to when a problem comes up in your building can prove to be invaluable as your career progresses. No one quite knows what it is like to experience a job in a career field as specifically-diverse quite like members of IAVM; don’t let this opportunity to learn from them pass you by! VenueConnect offers fun ways to network, from the Trade Show reception, the Venue Industry Awards Luncheon, and the Legacy Project, which offers the opportunity to give back to the community while networking with other venue professionals! (Not signed up for the Legacy Project yet? No problem! Email Taylor Daniel at Taylor.Daniel@iavm.org!) Not only will you develop professional relationships at VenueConnect, but also lifelong friends.

In a nutshell, the time you spend at VenueConnect will last only a few days. The long-lasting effects of your investment in the experience will last throughout the course of your career and lifetime. Taking a few minutes now to chart your course through Baltimore will pay off many times over once you arrive in just a few short days!

(Image: Visit Baltimore)