Our superpanel of 2017 IEBA Industry Award winners contemplates the year in live entertainment and weighs in on trends and issues to watch during our 2018 Conference. Headline topics include record-breaking box scores, consolidation, and the lack of diversity in the industry.
Panelists:
Ed Warm, Joe’s Live (Club of the Year)
Jim Cressman, Invictus Entertainment Group (International Buyer of the Year)
Lucy Lawler-Freas, Fox Theatre in Atlanta (Theater of the Year)
Adam Kornfeld, AGI (Agent of the Year)
Moderated by Renee Alexander, Minnesota State Fair (Fair Buyer of the Year)
Sponsored by Variety Attractions
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Did we answer 2017’s wake-up call? Are new technological solutions marketed in the name of innovation, convenience, and protecting purchasers really improving CX? Are we rewarding fans for being fans or just putting their purchasing skills to the test? Are we evolving beyond combating abuse of our systems and getting back into the fan business?
Since the internet reshaped the ticketing business, it’s been a constant arms race with scalpers and their bots. At the same time, artists have struggled to reconcile the laws of supply and demand with public perception. Until we can address both, the biggest issues in event ticketing will remain unsolved. Tech investments are empowering artists, promoters, and venues with tools and products to protect the ticket and identify and engage real fans. We’re building a better onsale with waiting rooms, more strategic presales, and targeted fan offerings. But will we make fundamental changes to the way we do business and stop selling tickets to anonymous people on a first-come-first-serve basis, at below market value?
Panelists:
Jim Bilus, Ticketmaster
Mike DuCharme, AEG Presents
Michael Marion, Verizon Arena
Kristina “Red” Tanner, Activist Artists Management
Moderated by Pam Matthews, IEBA
with open bar & local fare plus live performances by Joyce Irby & Klymaxx and Parliament-Funkadelic presented by George Clinton
Sponsored by Ticketmaster
Great artists inspire us to think in ways we’ve never thought before, and stir in us powerful feelings from the past. Each of our panelists has spent her entire career believing this and chasing opportunities to prove it.
Agents Power Panel is our annual chat with some of the industry’s most influential players and this year’s session features four of the most visionary and optimistic people in the business. As women in senior leadership positions, their experiences give them a different lens. That’s invaluable.
Success is a moving target, and the factory line approach to managing talent never works. These agents manage talent at different times in different ways but always with originality, tenacity, empathy, and passion.
Panelists:
Corrie Christopher Martin, Paradigm Talent Agency
Samantha Kirby Yoh, WME
Allison McGregor, CAA
Cheryl Paglierani, UTA
Moderated by Ali Harnell, AEG Presents
Did you come this far to only come this far? Jesse Itzler doesn’t think so. And he’ll coach you to your potential– whatever your goal or challenge may be – and help you break self-imposed limitations.
“We only get one shot at life,” Itzler says, “And we focus so much on our resumes. Goals are not just work – they are our lifestyle for the duration of time it takes to achieve them. But what if we flipped that model upside down and built the life resume we always dreamed of? What if we could land our dream job or get that promotion we always wanted because of our experiences? What if we felt more alive at work and with our family because of how we lived our daily lives?”
Itzler is the best-selling author of Living with a SEAL: 31 Days Training with the Toughest Man on the Planet and Living with the Monks: What Turning Off My Phone Taught Me about Happiness, Gratitude, and Focus. He started two companies and sold one to Warren Buffett and the other to Coca-Cola. He wrote and performed the NBA’s Emmy-winning “I Love This Game” music campaign and the popular New York Knicks anthem “Go NY Go.” When he’s not running ultra-marathons, eating vegan food or being a dad to his four kids, Jesse can be found at Atlanta Hawks games, where he’s an owner of the team. He is married to Spanx founder Sara Blakely.
The working lunch, elevated to a networking event. On the menu: focused lunchtime conversations at a table of specially-seated conference attendees who share your interests.
An RSVP is required for this event. RSVP instructions will be sent to registered conference attendees via email.
Sponsored by College Park Center and Texas Hall Performing Arts Center
Our accomplished team of experts returns to IEBA to offer facts and perspective on the legal stumbling blocks in today’s touring industry. We will revisit the widely-misunderstood concept of “additionally insured” and specifically consider cases of sovereign immunity. Security and liability are always on the agenda. New this year will be our examination of employment discrimination, standards of ethical conduct and employee rights, the Equal Pay Act, and First Amendment Rights.
Panelists:
Jason Bernstein, AEG Presents
Brent Daughrity, Anderson Benson Insurance
Tim Epstein, Duggan Bertsch, LLC
Berkeley Reinhold, Business & Law Office of Berkeley Reinhold
Moderated by Pam Matthews, IEBA
Sponsored by 191 Touring
Marketing in a multichannel and multiscreen world means engaging with consumers on their terms —when they want, where they want, and how they want. A message must be optimized across multiple outlets, formats, devices, and data triggers. Now is the tipping point in the customer engagement revolution.
Leading marketers understand the unique emotional component to live entertainment. Utilizing existing technology, we can reach fans effectively and authentically. This is especially important today as consumers have increasingly higher expectations and an ever-dwindling level of patience for disconnect. And it’s critical to remind ourselves that as consumer behavior evolves, our marketing must evolve with it.
Presented by Joyce Szudzik, AEG Worldwide
Sponsored by Scotiabank Arena
Always a lively discussion, this year’s installment tackles topics ranging from video requests (cell phone, archival, and more) to the perplexities of promoting “private” events (when does internal becomes external?) and buying outside your comfort zone. As this important market continues to develop and broaden, so do the challenges as well as the opportunities.
Special surprise performance immediately following.
Panelists:
Michael Boltzman, AEG Presents
Denise Kirk, Brattle Entertainment
Jonathan Martin, ShowTec, Inc.
Moderated by Jim Lenz (TKO) and hosted by Robert Norman (CAA), Chris Burke (Paradigm), Greg Janese (UTA), Natalka Dudynsky (ICM Partners), Travis Wolfe (APA), and Ryan Jones (WME).
Sponsored by Integrity Events
This special session focuses on three key areas of interest: customer-obsessed service standards that prioritize safety, courtesy, and efficiency; laws and government policies that affect a myriad of fair processes; and unique entertainment programming that wows guests and keeps them coming back year after year.
Panelists:
John Harms, Great Jones County Fair and Iowa State Fair
Tom Hirsig, Cheyenne Frontier Days
Nicole More, Wilson Events, Inc.
Kathleen O’Leary, Wisconsin State Fair
Moderated by R.J. Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Group
Sponsored by Minnesota State Fair
Sponsored by Sony Music Nashville
Sponsored by Gold & Gold Productions
We all play a role in keeping each other safe. This community can and should include local authorities, artist and promoter representatives, venue staff at all levels, and fans. When security becomes a hands-on, we-see-you experience that connects and engages all parties, we humanize the live event experience and turn to each other for guidance and support. More than a Do’s and Don’ts list, our panel of frontline leaders open an honest dialogue about best practices, resources, and tools needed to create a coordinated approach to security plans that are relevant and effective.
Panelists:
Rachel Bomeli, Fox Theatre Atlanta
Bredan Buckley, Nationwide Arena and Schottenstein Center
Carl Monzo, National Event Services
Moderated by Jeff Nickler, BOK Center
Sponsored by Trixstar Productions
In a more perfect world, PROs would treat event professionals like valued customers. In turn, those event professionals would possess a clear understanding of music licensing and enthusiastically support the economic welfare of songwriters and composers. Easier said than done. At the heart of the problem is trust and confusion.
With our legal expert, we will survey copyright law, review the narrow list of licensing exceptions, and discuss the right of public performance in real-world terms. We’ll provide a guide to the latest developments in music licensing, including information on newcomers Global Music Rights and SoundExchange.
Presented by John Beiter, Attorney at Law
Sponsored by Choctaw Casino Resort
Family entertainment offers the chance to wow a multi-generational audience by bringing fan-favorite fantasies to life — from both established mainstays and emerging brands. This breakout session lays out strategies for building, selling, and marketing family productions and examines what’s on the horizon for this beloved genre.
Panelists:
Kim Bedier, Tacoma Venues & Events
Tracey McFarland, InHouse Booking
Justin Paquin, KOBA Entertainment
Aaron Zimmerman, Tobin Center for the Performing Arts
Moderated by Craig Newman, APA
This presentation takes a keen look at the key terms that makeup a formal offer and the legal language you will encounter in agency agreements. With real world examples and lessons learned from decades of experience, we’ll take a deep dive into force majeure, inclement weather and cancellation, and what you can do to protect your event from these issues.
Presented by R.J. Romeo, Romeo Entertainment Group
Sponsored by VSU Multi-Purpose Center
Agents Alley sponsored by Chesapeake Energy Arena
Promoters Alley sponsored by SMG
In March 2018, Forbes took a good look at KAABOO and they liked what they saw: “KAABOO has weathered the inevitable growing pains that have crippled many music festivals … the organizers have built on the success of their prior years by scrutinizing the guest experience and striving to improve all aspects of the festival.” KAABOO’s slogans tell their story: “Quality live entertainment designed for your comfort … created by music lovers for music lovers … an experience designed for adults … a curated feast for the senses.” But the real story of the festival is inherently more interesting. It’s one of clarity of vision and a team passionately dedicated to the philosophy behind it.
Panelists:
Jason Felts, Chief Marketing + Brand Officer
Roger LeBlanc, Lead Talent Buyer
Suzanne Bowman, Senior Advisor Business Affairs
The touring business has changed. Entertainment conglomerates operate in all areas of the live space. Block buying is common at all levels of touring. The line between hard ticket and loss leader is blurred. Radius clauses are a reality. Even the legal language we use has become elaborate and stringent.
Casino entertainment is one of the more complicated subsets of our business, but we should not allow nuances to become obstacles. To remain successful, casino professionals must adopt a holistic approach, functioning as a proactive, collaborative, and essential piece of the industry landscape.
Panelists:
Brad Coombs, Meridian Entertainment
Steve Gaches, WME
Leslie Goodwin, C3 Presents
Nate Herweyer, Paradigm Talent Agency
Gary Olsen, KSP / In Stride Entertainment
Moderated by Robyn Smith Levi, Boyd Gaming
Sponsored by Houston Productions
Much has been said about the nation’s focus on energizing small city growth and the philosophy of localism. The little town blues may be real, but America’s smaller communities are far more diverse – and have far greater potential – than is commonly believed. The power of community self-reliance is unlocked through relationships and is ultimately about celebrating local culture and local identity to strengthen the fabric of the place you call home.
Standing in stark contrast to localism is the one of the biggest stories in live entertainment – consolidation. Countless music careers are built and supported by independent buyers & promoters and in small cities and towns. Yet much of the focus is on the 79% of all worldwide concert tickets that are sold by two companies. When you toss in sales from their partners and controlling interests, the number jumps to a whopping 97%. Where does that leave the remaining 3%? What are the winning strategies for independence in action? How have community-oriented economic leaders flourished by leveraging the tools and resources of human capital, resourcefulness, and an entrepreneurial spirit?
Panelists:
David Fitzgerald, DCF Concerts
Jered Johnson, Pepper Entertainment
Beth Paul, Bon Secours Wellness Arena
Stephanie Rivas, Wagner Noel PAC
Moderated by Travis Janovich, Etix
Sponsored by Etix
There are no hard-and-fast rules about how to win the entertainment business but the simple truth is this: people get tapped for coveted promotions, high-profile projects, and prestigious positions because they’re widely known for being great at what they do. Which begs the question: what can I do to hone my craft and solidify my reputation as an expert and a leader?
If you’re looking for a playbook for success, you could take a page from our panelists’. Each has made significant career moves – steps up within their own companies and also leaps of brave faith to new pastures. From experience, they know impactful moves require great timing and the ability to recognize opportunity. They join us to tell their personal stories of moving up, sideways, and even backwards – all in the hopes of inspiring you to take stock of your career development, test the boundaries of your comfort zone, and live your best life.
Panelists:
Michael Bryan, CAA
Lenore Kinder, Paradigm Talent Agency
Adam Weiser, AEG Presents
Moderated by Ross Marshall, 191 Touring
Sponsored by Neste Event Marketing
hosted by Mike Super
2018 Hall of Fame Inductees: Bonnie Brosious, Bonnie Sugarman, Ray Shelide, and Lynyrd Skynyrd
Sponsored by TaxSlayer Center
