Here’s one for history buffs: Renovation done at Rome’s Colosseum revealed red seat numbers. The seating system, according to Discovery News, was similar to how venues operate today.

“The 50,000 spectators had a ticket that said which numbered gate arch they were supposed to enter,” monument director Rossella Rea told Discovery News. “Inside the arena, there were other numbers to help people access their seats, which were assigned according to social class.”

Fans entered 76 public numbered (using the Latin alphabet, such as X, L, and V, for example) entrances and four special, un-numbered gates.

“Two were reserved to the emperor, senators, magistrates, wealthy patricians, and the Vestal Virgins, priestesses responsible for maintaining the sacred fire within the Temple of Vesta,” reported Rossella Lorenzi for Discovery News. “A gate was used for the dead—gladiators and wild beasts—while another was used by gladiators parading prior to the beginning of the combats.”

The seat numbers were cared in stone then painted red so people could easily see them from far away. The whole process allowed smooth and quick seating for thousands of fans.

What’s that saying? The more things change, the more they stay the same?

(photo credit: stevenJcarroll via photopin cc)

Volunteers are at the heart of what we do, and it is only because of the time and knowledge our volunteers contribute that we are able to fulfill our mission. We hope, therefore, that you will consider responding to this Call for Volunteers.

As a volunteer, you will be making a difference to this industry and giving back to other members. We hope you will also get value out of your service, making connections with other IAVM leaders, and learning about the issues that face us all.

IAVM has two types of committees: board committees and management committees. A board committee helps the board do its work—of oversight, strategy and member engagement. Management committees help IAVM’s management do its work, of meeting the board’s goals and effectively operating the association to the benefit of our members.

Here is the list of opportunities available, and the volunteer roles and responsibilities for each. To volunteer, please follow the link to complete the survey and tell us where your interest, skills, and abilities will allow you to make the greatest contribution. You may indicate your interest for no more than three committees, so please make sure that you rank your choices with 1 being your highest preference. Please note that all committee assignments are for one year, but you may continue to serve for multiple years on one committee by responding to the call for volunteers again next year. Also, given the level of interest in service, we can generally only place you on one committee, with some exceptions, such as the Industry Affairs Advisory Council, which is partially filled by specified representatives (chairs of the sectors, for example).

This year, we are also seeking representatives (1-2 from each state) that are interested in ticketing legislation issues and are willing to actively advocate for IAVM and Fans First. You may request to represent your state as well as serve on another committee within IAVM, and you will see that the survey separates these two areas of volunteerism.

The deadline to respond to the Call for Volunteers is February 27, 2015; appointments to board committees will be made by the First Vice Chair, while appointments to management committees will be made by the CEO in consultation with the committee chairs and vice chairs. Volunteers will be notified of their committee assignments by the end of March.

IAVM welcomes your expertise and commitment to our active and talented group of volunteers. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Rosanne Duke.

U2 started off playing small venues. So did Belle & Sebastian, the Cure, the Police…you could literally add hundreds of big-name acts to this list. Small venues are the proving grounds for building audiences and polishing performances. It’s important, then, that they continue to operate, and that’s why the Music Venues Alliance in the U.K. was formed. The alliance—representing more than 100 music venues—will focus on creating policies that offer a more sustainable future for music venues.

“AC/DC, The Who, Talking Heads, Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Keane, Mumford & Sons, The Vaccines, The Libertines, Anna Calvi all relied on London venues to find their fame and fortune,” UK Music CEO Jo Dipple said in a statement. “As a result, they became part of a phenomenon that creates £3.8bn for the U.K. economy and defines us all around the world. The U.K. has an incredibly strong music heritage. It must have an equally strong music future. Our venues are a vital part of this.”

The alliance will have the Music Venue Trust work on its behalf at a national level, lobbying and campaigning to protect and assist it, including sitting on the UK Live Music Group and being the voice of venues at UK Music.

“We are delighted to start 2015 with such a positive opportunity for London music venues to discuss their needs,” said Mark Davyd, CEO of the Music Venue Trust. “The small venue circuit has come under a number of different pressures in the last few years, and cultural and city planning are key elements of a comprehensive action plan that is needed to ensure that the U.K. continues to enjoy the best live music circuit in the world, producing some of the best artists in the world. It is important to emphasise the role that these small venues play in the ecosystem of British music, providing the first performance platform for writers and musicians. This is the grassroots and bedrock of the U.K. music industry, which creates thousands of jobs and is one of our biggest export earners. These venues are the research and development department of that success.”

(photo credit: benmatthewreyes via photopin cc)

I do love a good large-scale projection, and the Toronto Maple Leafs produced one on the ice at the Air Canada Centre last week that’s pretty cool. Take a look at it in the video above.

Microsoft unveiled its HoloLens product during its Window 10 event. I’m sure you’re saying, “Oh great, another virtual reality device.” That’s where you’d be incorrect.

“Microsoft’s glasses are different from Oculus Rift goggles, which promise to transport you to a different world and open up numerous possibilities for film, TV, sports, and other entertainment,” Nick Statt reported for CNET. “HoloLens uses a technology called augmented reality, which overlays images onto real life and lets you interact with them.”

See, totally different.

The company is focusing on HoloLens as a new way to play video games. But Statt found something more practical for the device.

“Perhaps the most stunning demo, however, was the most practical: Skype’s videoconferencing software,” Statt reported. “Microsoft had us repair a light switch by video chatting with someone using a Microsoft Surface Pro 3 tablet. Their face bobbed in front of my line of vision while I received instructions. To help us maneuver around the various tools, the Microsoft employee was able to draw on our line of sight in real time, using arrows and rudimentary diagrams to describe the best way to position electronics and how to piece everything together.”

From a venue professional perspective, imagine using HoloLens to interact with seating set-ups or safety procedures or facility construction. Go on. Imagine the possibilities.

(Image: Microsoft)