By Greg Flakus

One of the emerging trends is for venues to produce their own event. The traditional model is changing as more sales departments look to find new revenues by creating their own events.

We talked with three venue managers and asked them to tell us what they have learned from doing this at their venue.

Matt Gibson is the manager of the Spokane Arena in Spokane, Washington. In 2016 his staff working with their food contractor created a new event called the Spokane Brew Fest.

“We try to have an entrepreneurial spirit,” said Gibson. “Our board allows us to try new things and we knew the first year would be a struggle.”
Gibson said the biggest lesson learned in year one was that “it takes a while to get an event recognized.”

“We took a loss in the first year and we knew we would,” Gibson said.

The second event was held this August on the same site. Gibson said this year the arena was able to partner with a local non-profit and control costs. “From all we have been told an event turns the corner in the third year,” he said.

Does he have any advice for other venues looking to create their own event?

“Be sure you can plan not just for one year, but plan for three years,” he said. “Use the event to get more of the community involved.”

Tom Sessa has been at the Portland’5 Centers for the Arts for the last three years. Sessa was hired to look for and book shows, lectures, and other performances for the complex located in downtown Portland. Sessa came to the venue after 14 years as the manager of iconic Portland performance venue Aladdin Theater.

In his first year on the new job, he was able to add 14 events that were produced and presented by the venue. This year there will be more than 50.
What has allowed him to be so successful in just three years?

“Listening to our audiences and finding out what they would like to see,” Sessa said. “By doing this and looking for the kind of off-center or not usually the kind of show that would stop in Portland we can attract unique shows. We also are able to address inclusiveness and bring to the community many shows that are from smaller acts.”

Sessa mentioned one recent act as a big success. “We were able to bring Black Violin to our performance hall and sell it out,” he said. “It was great, because we were able to have them visit local schools while they were here for their performances.”

As far as lessons to share, Sessa said that “sometimes you book performances that may not be what your audience wants. Be sure to do surveys and talk to your current attendees. Be careful not to book some act because you like it.”

Sessa also said that the ability to do 50 shows has helped the Portland’5 with inclusion and also with the ability to be diverse with types of acts selected.

We also reached out to two fairgrounds, the Clark County Events Center in Ridgefield, Washington, and the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima, Washington, for their views on producing their own events. Both said they have done a few events on their own. Both venues said they did not create the events, but took over events that the promoter either did not want to produce any more or did not want to bring to their market again.

Both have taken over and produced two annual gift shows, as well as an antique and collectors show and a very good car show they have been able to grow.
When I asked them what made them decide to take over these shows they both shared that “attendance numbers in the past and the interest from current vendors at these shows” made the decision for them.

Greg Flakus is owner/principal of Gf Strategies, Inc., in Vancouver, Washington.

The Darwin Convention Centre was awarded winner of the Function/Event Caterer category at the 2017 AHA (NT) Australian Liquor Marketers Gold Plate Awards, held recently in Darwin.

The prestigious annual Gold Plate Awards showcase the best of the Territory’s restaurants and dining establishments, and recognize, promote, and reward

excellence and best practice in the hospitality industry. Finalists were assessed across a range of criteria, including menus, seasonal capability, quality of experience, and marketing of products.

Executive Chef Toby Beaton and his talented team offer a wide selection of function menus and signature dishes to suit different tastes and budgets and are always ready to create a bespoke menu to match.

“We have a talented team of chefs who are passionate about creating amazing food experiences for our clients,” Beaton said. “Everyone works very hard to deliver a five star service including all the chefs, kitchen assistants, stewards, supervisors, and food and beverage staff. It is a team effort.”

Dedication to excellence in food services is a priority at the Darwin Convention Centre. In 2016/17 the Centre delivered 94,000 meals with a 1:2 ratio for wait staff to table service and stringent management on plating to serving timings.

Convention Centre’s are expected to have outstanding food offerings and the Darwin Convention Centre is dedicated to a world-class service. Inspired by fresh local produce, tropical environment, Asian influences and creative presentation, Chef Beaton presents an inspiring and mouth-watering menu selection for guests’ culinary enjoyment.

“We are fortunate to work with amazing top-end produce including wild barramundi, tiger prawns, farmed saltwater crocodile meat, kangaroo fillets, exotic tropical fruits, and seasonal vegetables.” Beaton said.

IAVM’s thoughts are with all in the northern California region this week as wildfires continue to burn. While the true extent of the damage to the area is not yet known, 41 lives have already been lost, hundreds more are missing, and reports show at least 3500 homes and businesses have been destroyed.

A couple of our members have contacted us, or released statements, regarding venue updates:

“Our campus is good, so I’m feeling optimistic. Our team is working well to secure it.”—Judy Sakaki, President, Sonoma State University

“The main building, which includes the Ruth Finley Person Theatre, the Lytton Rancheria Lobby, the Carston Caberet and Fireside Room, as well as the box office area and conference rooms remain intact. However, we estimate approximately 30,000 square feet on campus, including schools, workshop, pavilion tent, as well as all landscaping and irrigation appear to be damaged.”—Rick Nolan, President/CEO and Paul A. Wilcock, Board Chair, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts

The impact of these devastating fires will be far reaching across the area, and many have not yet been allowed access to their homes or venues to assess damages, as of yet.

Our thoughts and prayers are with all of our IAVM family in the region, and we are here to assist in anyway possible. Please continue to reach out to us, or post updates on VenueNet, to let us know that you are safe.

 

Daktronics announced that the company has been selected by Turner Construction in San Antonio, Texas, to design, manufacture, and install a new multi-display system for the Alamodome. These additions are a part of overall renovations to the Alamodome in preparation for the City of San Antonio’s hosting of the 2018 men’s college basketball championships.

“It’s a pleasure to continue our long-standing relationship with Daktronics,” said Nick Langella, Alamodome general manager. “Our goal is to continually enhance the guest experience and the improved technology that Daktronics delivers will make every event even more memorable to our fans.”

The four main displays to be installed in the corners of the facility will measure approximately 33 feet high by 60 feet wide and feature 10-millimeter SMD line spacing – an increase from the previously-existing 16-millimeter Daktronics technology – to provide excellent image clarity and contrast with wide angle visibility.

The displays are capable of variable content zoning which allows them each to show one large image across the entire display or each display can also be separated into multiple zones. These zones can then show any combination of live video, instant replays, scoring and statistic information, animations, and sponsor advertisements.

A ribbon display will wrap around the seating fascia of the entire facility. It will measure 3 feet high by more than 1,868 feet long and feature 15-millimeter line spacing. This display will be able to show complimentary content to the main displays such as up-to-the-minute statistics and animations while also providing the opportunity to highlight sponsors throughout events.

“We’re proud to continue our long-standing partnership with the Alamodome, a facility that hosts numerous high-profile events such as the men’s collegiate national basketball championships in 2018,” said Dan Fjeldheim, Daktronics sales representative. “It’s a testament to our products and services when our customers continue to trust Daktronics for their high-profile events. We’re excited to see this project come together this year.”

Ticket industry veteran Fred Maglione is leaving TopTix/SeatGeek at the end of the month and re-launching his consulting practice.

Maglione is an accomplished ticket industry executive with more than 40 years of experience working with various organizations in the live sports and entertainment business. He specializes in helping business owners scale their enterprises as they develop strategies for fundraising, domestic and international sales, product positioning, management of acquisitions, or a successful exit. During his career, Maglione has been instrumental in helping company founders negotiate exits with a cumulative valuation of more than $130,000,000.

“I started with TopTix as a consultant to help the founders, Yehuda Yuval and Eli Dagan, develop their strategy for North America and explore the opportunity to raise additional funds to grow the business,” Maglione said. “As I learned more about the power of their technology platform SRO, I was hooked and came on full time as their Executive Chairman Americas.

“The goal was to either find a partner or strategic investor to help us grow the business. Mission accomplished with the SeatGeek merger this past April. Now that the dust has settled and the two companies are working as one, it’s time for me to move on and start my next project.”

“Fred played a key role in SeatGeek and TopTix coming together,” said SeatGeek co-founder Russ D’Souza. “Fred quickly saw the potential of SeatGeek Open and how SRO would complement and accelerate our strategy.”

“I’ve had an interesting and varied career in this industry, from working with venue managers to educate them on how and why to sell tickets on this thing called the Internet in the early 90’s to working with the Italian Lottery when they launched TicketOne (later acquired by Eventim),” added Maglione. “There’s a lot of value I can bring to the right organizations.”

In addition to TopTix, Maglione is the former CEO of Comcast Spectacor subsidiary New Era Tickets and FanOne Marketing, and held senior management roles, both domestically and internationally, with Tickets.com, Select Technologies, Globe Information Systems, and the Philadelphia 76ers.

Maglione can be reached at Fred@FredMaglione.com.