High school graduation is a time for celebration, but for the three graduating classes of 2013 in the Moore (Oklahoma) Public Schools, this Saturday’s ceremonies will be raw with emotion as the city south of Oklahoma City copes in the aftermath of the Monday, May 20 EF5 tornado that claimed the lives of 24 and injured hundreds.

The graduations for Moore, Westmoore and Southmoore high schools will take place as planned on May 25 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City in what will surely be a challenging day in many respects.

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It was an early morning breakfast in Phoenix at the 2011 VenueConnect, an occasion marked to welcome new members and new attendees to the IAVM annual conference and trade show.

After a series of speakers gave talks about IAVM, the program in Phoenix and how those new to the Association and industry could best benefit from their time at VenueConnect, it was time for Erin Jepson, director of events and patron services at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas and a wily veteran attending her second conference, to get up and speak.

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Every day, public venues around the nation assume responsibility for the safety of tens of thousands of people who walk through their doors to experience exciting live entertainment, events and conferences. While safety planning is not a revenue driver for venues, the results of the efforts, if put to the test, have huge implications. This information from a recent IAVM VenueDataSource report serves as a benchmark for venues assessing safety and security activities and opportunities. The complete report can be purchased here.

For venues unable to commit a significant amount of time and money to safety planning, developing a comprehensive action plan may seem like a daunting task. IAVM has numerous safety and security resources available to venues, such as conferences, courses, webinars, and reports. IAVM strives to help keep venues informed and connected, and we hope the information provided here is valuable to our member venues.

The Emergence of the Intelligent Venue
–Populous

Innovation in stadium design is driven in particular by the impact of technology affecting both the venue design itself and the fan experience. Emerging technology is having an all-encompassing impact on stadium design: venues are operationally smarter, they are more sustainable and they ultimately offer a far more engaging, social fan experience. Stadia have to continue to innovate to entice people to gather and share experiences in person at the venue, experiences that they cannot get in the living room at home or at the pub with friends.

The continuing competition with the in-home experience is the driving force behind the emergence of the intelligent venue. There is a critical balance between the in-game experience and the remote experience in order for both to coexist. Designers and venue owners are now looking to augment the in-stadium experience through cutting edge technology providing access to unique information and unique experiences. I believe there are three areas in which the stadium of the future can be smarter: Continue Reading →

The above title is a quote by William Butler Yeats. His immense contributions to the literary world resulted in a Nobel Prize in Literature, clearly illustrating Yeats’ exemplary efforts to move the literary profession forward. Likewise, many venue professionals and educators take a similar, passionate path when passing down their expertise to the next generation of venue managers. For these individuals, venue education isn’t about filling the pail, but instead, it’s about igniting the passion for all things venue management.

Venue education can take many forms and be found in many places, not just at universities, but inside the venues themselves. Some lessons are even delivered through dynamic engagement programs offered by allied members and affiliated corporations.

IAVM’s Venue Education Award is one of five Venue Excellence Awards the association bestows each year to denote the industry’s most dynamic and exemplary organizations. The Venue Education Award recognizes the generosity of those outstanding organizations who strive to pass along their venue knowledge and help others navigate the venue landscape. The Venue Education Award can also honor an individual who is actively involved in the education and continuous development of the venue management industry.

We recently spoke to Doug Booher, director of the Indiana University Auditorium –  the winner of the 2012 Venue Education Award. “We were excited about the opportunity to apply for the award and be able to recognize the accomplishments of the students and honor their work in their roles inside our venues.”

We hope that you’ll take the time to apply for the 2013 award to be presented at IAVM’s annual conference in New Orleans on July 29. The Venue Education Award nomination forms are due Friday, May 24th.

Please email your completed form to Greg Wolfe at greg.wolfe@iavm.org