Coming up with a new theme for the 34th annual One of a Kind Christmas Show and Sale, which runs through December 7 at the Direct Energy Centre, doesn't quite call for a Christmas miracle—just a marathon brainstorming session. "It is definitely a challenge [to keep it fresh]," show manager Patti Stewart said Thursday during an interview at the media preview for the consumer gift show. "We are called the One of a Kind Show so we have to be new and fresh and unique. Every year after the show we sit down and we brainstorm."
A series of window displays—each filled with a range of products like toys, clothing, and home decor items—highlight the theme this season, which is holiday magic. "When I was a kid it was really exciting to go downtown and see the windows at Eaton's and Simpsons. So we thought, let's recreate that," said Stewart, who's been producing the show for the past 20 years. "I always think, 'Oh, I've seen everything.' But there's always something new that blows my mind. That really is the thing that makes the show special."
FROM WASHINGTON If Washington rental company executives know one thing, it's that Inauguration Day tends to be nippy. People wear overcoats, and once they're inside, they need a proper place to park them. With some four million spectators expected to attend the swearing in of President-elect Barack Obama and hundreds of parties taking place in the days leading up to the big event, January 16 to 20 is
shaping up to be the biggest event week the city has ever seen, and that means an unprecedented number of coat racks will be needed.
Inaugural party orders are still being formed, and rental companies expect that in the next week they will have a far better idea of just how many glasses, tables, and carriers they will need. But they are not taking any chances that coat racks will be an issue this year.
"Coat racks are always the biggest thing at inaugurals," said Peter Grazzini, owner of Perfect Settings, who has eight or more major events on the books, as well as 40 to 50 parties in offices along the Pennsylvania Avenue parade route, with 200 to 500 people at each. He has purchased 250 new racks to add to the 185 in stock and has 200 on hold out of state. "And I don't really know if that will be enough," he said. Anticipating a run on glassware, Perfect Settings has added 20,000 all-purpose and 20,000 wine glasses to its inventory.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSInauguration 2009,
Barack Obama
Anyone who has arranged a dinner for 800 would surely agree the task can involve an inordinate amount of planning. But when that dinner involves 23 locations and 23 different chefs—followed by a cocktail party for 1,600 people at the Royal Ontario Museum—the planning process requires “an almost military hierarchy,” says David Vallee of David Vallee Entertains, who planned Bloor Street Entertains. The 12th annual fund-raiser for the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (Canfar) took place Wednesday.
"It requires an extreme amount of pre-planning," said Vallee, who has been involved in organizing the event for the past four years. A committee of venue coordinators, each responsible for overseeing four to six venues, and an event manager at each dinner location ensure the event runs smoothly. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t challenges. "Every year is challenging with this event because it is such a 24-headed monster," he said, noting that recruiting chefs and securing venues is a process that begins in April.
CTV has cancelled its corporate holiday party, scheduled to take place December 18 at the Guvernment & Kool Haus, after the network cut more than 100 positions last week, reports Mafalda Caruso, CTV's director of special events. "Due to the layoffs that happened last week, employees didn't feel right in having a party this year, so we cancelled," said Caruso, who planned a Doctor Zhivago-themed party for the broadcaster's 3,000 employees last December. According to The Toronto Star, the changes primarily affect the broadcaster's music and youth channels—MuchMusic, MuchMoreMusic, and MTV Canada. —Susan O'Neill
The opening-night party for the Interior Design Show—running February 5 to 8 at the Direct Energy Centre—will adopt an aMUSE theme. Faulhaber PR told BizBash that the launch of the 11th annual show will highlight "clever gastronomical creations and ingeniously delivered amuse-bouches." Scavolini, Dekla, and House & Home Media are presenting the event. (IDS marked its 10th anniversary this past February with a "Decadence"-themed party featuring a host of performers, including opera singers, burlesque dancers, and 30 live statues.)
The cocktail reception will provide an expected 5,000 guests with an opportunity to mingle and preview installations and exhibits like 5X5—presented by Samsung and The Globe and Mail and featuring five spaces designed by 64th and Queen, Castor, Earth Inc., Taylor Hannah Architect Inc., and Tomas Pearce Interior Design Consulting Inc. The Crystal Clear exhibit, presented by Audi and Azure, will showcase six installations featuring Swarovski Crystallized Elements by the likes of Brothers Dressler, Giannone Associates, and Jacques Bilodeau.
While the economic crisis south of the border has led to the cancellation of countless holiday parties, it seems many companies in the Toronto area aren’t letting the current climate stop them from throwing celebrations for employees and clients this year. Granted, some firms have told us they don't want media coverage of their parties this season. But others are being upfront about their plans.
Pricewaterhouse Coopers will host a "Fire and Ice" theme party for 3,700 guests at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this coming weekend. “We’re transforming a trade show floor into a really cool party,” said Jodi Spivak, operations manager with Roni Feldman & Associates, which is planning the event.
FROM NEW YORK Gawker released a copy of an invitation to Bauer Publishing's holiday party, "Bauer on Broadway," last night. While the New Jersey-based magazine group may be one of just a few going ahead with celebrations, the event is strictly for employees only—unless, of course, those employees are willing to pony up the $175 fee to bring a guest.
Following the R.S.V.P. deadline of December 1, planners at Bauer will announce whether attendance will permit extra guests, and staffers interested in bringing a date will have the opportunity to pay the hefty price tag. The cost for the December 11 Broadway-themed covers food and drink at Weehawken's The Chart House and the chance to sing show tunes with a live band. And since advanced notice seems to be the theme of the celebration, song requests must also be submited 10 days beforehand.
Tourism Toronto is promoting the experience the city offers to delegates attending local meetings and conventions in a new guide designed to help planners organize events in Toronto. The 213-page booklet, entitled "Toronto: Destination Planner", includes information about meeting venues, accommodations, meeting services, and sports facilities throughout the city. An About Toronto section also offers a rundown of what to see and do in neighbourhoods like Little Italy and the Beach.
"We've tried to tell the story about the fact that we have this great cultural scene happening," said Tara Gordon, Tourism Toronto's vice president of meetings, conventions, and incentive travel sales. "It's not necessarily about the nuts and bolts of the city as far as getting your meeting here. It's 'here's the experience we're going to offer your delegate' ... it appeals to the emotional side." The guide will be distributed to members of the Professional Convention Management Association and will be launched online in 2009.
"The Most Interesting Show in the World" Photo: David Ditzler
FROM NEW YORK For most brands, mobile marketing efforts don’t typically involve circus-like attractions, but beer promotions leave generous room for whimsy, so that’s exactly what Dos Equis did earlier this fall when it kicked off “The Most Interesting Show in the World” tour. A night of comedy, dance, feats of strength, and illusions, the show re-imagined vaudeville for capacity crowds in 14 markets. The effort kicked off in San Diego in October and concludes in Philadelphia next month.
The Heineken USA-owned beer turned to experiential marketing agency Mirrorball to translate its “The Most Interesting Man in the World” campaign—a series of ads about an individual dispensing sage advice to curious beer-drinkers—from a character to an event. Mirrorball developed the idea of creating a showcase for the types of performers this man had come across in his imaginary travels and enlisted New York-based Randy Weiner, creator of "The Donkey Show" and managing partner at New York City performance venue The Box, to write and produce the show.
READ MORE RELATED TOPICSDos Equis,
Heineken
Motorola's Innovation Center Photo: Northlight Studios/Michael Moenning Photography
FROM CHICAGO "There's a thin line you have to toe when planning corporate events," says Michael Mach, the senior program manager of global event marketing for Motorola Inc., who planned a conference for 350 suppliers from 14 countries last Tuesday and Wednesday. "You want to make your event nice and professional, but you don't need the gold lamé napkins. You have to be a good custodian of the budget you have." So at last week's event, Mach aimed to strike a balance between creating a "nice" event and portraying a responsible image of the company by taking advantage of Motorola's in-house facilities and serving locally sourced meals.
Mach describes the conference as "an opportunity for suppliers to meet C-level [Motorola] executives, ask questions, and discuss best-business practices amongst themselves." Wednesday's activities started up with a 6:30 a.m. breakfast at the Westin Northwest Chicago—a hotel chosen for its proximity to O'Hare airport—and spanned the entire day with presentations, lunch, breakout sessions, an award ceremony, a Q&A, and a cocktail reception. But before guests headed to the hotel, Mach wanted to give them an opportunity to tour Motorola's Innovation Center, which is located within the company's Schaumburg headquarters and which hosted a welcome reception and dinner on Tuesday night.
