There was a lot of news this past week. Here are some stories that caught our eyes.

SXSW Probably Isn’t Going Anywhere – But Big Changes Loom
—Billboard
“A new report, commissioned by SXSW from international design and event firm Populous, is causing ripples this week because of a recurring theme: the suggestion that the massive Austin-based festival could, if certain suggestions aren’t implemented, solicit bids from other cities to host the event. ”

Why MLB Really Wants You to Have WiFi and a Smart Phone at the Ball Game
—New York Business Journal
“A lot of baseball’s plans to target, retarget and build relationships with its fans depends on a digital connection, so count on much better WiFi league-wide sooner rather than later.”

A Call for an End to Panels
—Amplify
“We’ve been conditioned to believe that they’re necessary for conferences. That we as professional industry folks can only meet if it’s done on a regimented agenda of keynote speeches and expert panels…”

Treating Music Fans as Customers
—Forbes
“Smart rockers have known all along that the fans are the ones who buy the records and the tickets. Without the fans, there would be no concert. And especially as rock n’ roll fans get older, they may be physically unable or psychologically unwilling to be treated more poorly at a rock show than anywhere else.”

PDF: How Can Your Venue Increase Revenue?
—Ungerboeck
“Nine tips to buing a profitable event business for your venue”

(photo credit: gak via photopin cc)

Deadline to submit nominations for the 2015 Charles A. McElravy Award is Nov. 14, 2014.

The Charles A. McElravy Award may be awarded annually to a Professional, Honorary, or Retired member of IAVM who, in the opinion of the Board of Directors has made the greatest lifetime achievement to the welfare of the association or profession.

The following criteria are established for the McElravy Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been a Professional, Honorary, or Retired Member of the IAVM in good standing for at least fifteen (15) years total (though not necessarily consecutively).

2. The nominee needs to meet the minimum service to IAVM requirements for Honorary Membership, but is not required to be retired. The following criteria must be met for a member to be eligible for consideration for Honorary Membership: 1) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Annual Conferences (VenueConnect) during the past 15 years; 2) Attendance at no fewer than five region meetings during the past 15 years; 3) Service as chair of at least three international or two region committees during the past 15 years; 4) Service as: Director of IAVM or officer in a region at least once during the member’s tenure with IAVM or b) Program chair for an IAVM venue-specific or specialty meeting during the member’s tenure with IAVM or c) Member of Board of Regents, Board of Trustees, or Board of Governors during member’s tenure with IAVM.

3. Any member in good standing may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).

4. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination letter.

5. No Chairman of the Board (or Past President) of IAVM is eligible for consideration until the third Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.

6. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to IAVM President and CEO Vicki Hawarden, CMP, and submitted to Rosanne Duke electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 14, 2014. If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Duke at 972.538.1025.

Deadline to submit nominations for the 2015 IAVM Foundation Legacy Award is Nov. 14, 2014.

The IAVM Foundation Legacy Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Trustees to an individual or organization who, in the opinion of the IAVM Foundation, has made a significant financial and/or non-financial contribution to benefit the mission and objectives of the IAVM Foundation. The Foundation Executive Director will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Legacy Award nominees:

1. The nominee may be from any membership category of IAVM or from outside of the association in a related field.

2. Any current or past contributor to the IAVM Foundation may make a nomination, which must provide, in writing, specific examples of the nominee’s outstanding contributions to the IAVM Foundation.

3. At least three letters of recommendation must accompany the nomination.

4. No Chair of IAVM or Chair of the IAVM Foundation is eligible for consideration until the third VenueConnect following his/her term of office.

5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).

6. Nominations must be submitted to the Director of Governance & Operations no later than Nov. 14, 2014.

7. The award may be given posthumously.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to IAVM President and CEO Vicki Hawarden, CMP, and submitted to Rosanne Duke electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 14, 2014. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Roger at 972.538.1009 or Rosanne Duke at 972.538.1025.

Deadline to submit nominations for the 2015 Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguished Allied Award is Nov. 14, 2014.

The Joseph J. Anzivino Distinguish Allied Award may be awarded annually by the Board of Directors to an individual currently or previously employed by a firm that is or was an Allied Member in good standing. The president and CEO will provide evidence the nominee meets the criteria.

The following criteria are established for the Anzivino Award nominees:

1. The nominee must have been an IAVM member for at least ten (10) years total, which need not be consecutive.

2. Any member may make a nomination, which must provide a minimum of three examples of the nominee’s exemplary service and contributions to IAVM and/or the industry (for example: leadership, accomplishments, professional service/activities, projects/results).

3. The nominee must have served IAVM by: 1) Attendance at no fewer than six Annual Conferences (VenueConnect); 2) Attendance at no fewer than 10 Region Meetings; 3) Being chair of at least two IAVM committees or sub-committees; 4) Being a member of IAVM Board of Directors, IAVM Foundation Board of Trustees, Board of Regents, or Board of Governors during the members’ tenure with IAVM; 5) Being a member of an IAVM program, campaign, or task force/committee.

4. No Chair of the Allied Committee is eligible for consideration until the second Annual Conference (VenueConnect) following his/her term of office.

5. Previous recipients are ineligible (and may be found on our website under Legacy of Leaders).

6. The award may be given posthumously.

7. Selection of recipients will be made by an 80 percent vote of the Board of Directors; recommendations to the Board of Directors for nominees shall be made by the Allied Committee.

The nominations and letters of recommendation should be written to IAVM President and CEO Vicki Hawarden, CMP, and submitted to Rosanne Duke electronically. The nomination letter and all letters of recommendation must be received by close of business Nov. 14, 2014. If you have any questions, please contact Rosanne Duke at 972.538.1025.

UK Theatre just announced the nominees for the 2014 UK Theatre Awards. Established in 2005, the awards recognize successful management in performing arts organizations throughout the United Kingdom. This year’s nominees include:

The Renee Stepham Award for Best Presentation of Touring Theatre
• Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury
• Sadler’s Wells Theatre
• Shakespeare’s Globe

Achievement in Marketing
• Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
• mac Birmingham
• Queen’s Theatre, Hornchurch

Theatre Employee/Manager of the Year
• Hedda Beeby – Watermill Theatre, Newbury
• Mary Elliott – Theatre by the Lake, Keswick
• Henny Finch – Headlong Theatre
• Alice Saunders – The Courtyard, Hereford

Promotion of Diversity
• Hackney Empire
• Liverpool Everyman & Playhouse
• Watford Palace

My Theatre Matters! UK’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award
• Clwyd Theatr Cymru
• Newcastle Theatre Royal
• The Watermill Theatre
• Theatre Royal Plymouth
• Wales Millennium Centre

For the My Theatre Matters! Award, more than 49,000 public votes were cast and 256 venues were in competition.

“It is has been wonderful to see the votes flooding in for this year’s Most Welcoming Theatre Award,” said Julian Bird, chief executive of UK Theatre. “Theatres play vital roles at the heart of our local communities, and this award gives audiences the chance to shout about how much they value the work of their local venue.”

The awards ceremony will take place October 19 in London’s Guildhall.

(photo credit: jacqueline.poggi via photopin cc)