Join us as we kick off EVMC 2021 Virtual! Find out what to expect during this years virtual EVMC, what we have been up to and what's next for EVMC!
Speakers: Kirk Wingerson, VP of Agenda (EVMC), Jessica Runyon Hartwig, VP of Sponsorship (EVMC), Paul Bee, VP of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (EVMC) and Vanessa Kromer, Past President (EVMC)
Moderator: Dave Redelberger, President (EVMC)
This session will lay the groundwork for fostering a truly inclusive workplace and will discuss best practices on how to diversify your organization.
Speaker: Ann Jackson, Chief People and Culture Officer (Oak View Group)
Moderator: Marissa Dionne, Senior Director of Marketing (OVG Facilities)
TikTok has taken the world by storm and is now a key part of the social marketing mix. As we return to live, this panel discusses how TikTok and music are intertwined and how it will play a role in moving tickets and continue to develop new touring artists.
Speakers: Adam Burchill, Head of Music, Canada (TikTok), Chris Anokute, Artist Manager (Young Forever, Inc.) and Billy Mann, Co-Chairman & CEO (Proof of Concept Media)
Moderator: Tatiana Cirisano, Reporter (Billboard)
As we welcome fans back to our venues, everything they need to come to an event will likely be in their mobile device. How do we communicate and encourage adoption of new practices and technologies including digital tickets, touchless entry, mobile apps for in-arena concessions and retail, use of digital and mobile payments and more? From Know Before You Go emails to QR codes on signs, we will discuss best practice to educating fans on their new journey in returning to live events.
Speakers: Steven Kargol, Sr. Arena Marketing Manager (Phoenix Suns Arena), Angela Miles-Powell, Regional Vice President, Venues & Promoters (Ticketmaster) and Kylie Hunsaker, Event Marketing Manager (Vivint Arena)
Moderator: Kelly McGrath, Director, Sales and Marketing (Xcel Energy Center)
Partnerships in the music space may not have grown as quickly as its counterpart in sports, but it has evolved to become an integral piece of the live landscape. When a time where live events were on hold, partnerships excelled and evolved. This panel will discuss this growth and how it is now such an important part of our industry, and ultimately, how these partnerships move tickets and are the next big marketing vehicle.
Speakers: Deirdre Molloy, Head of Brand Partnerships (Live Nation Canada), Alan Palmer, Senior Vice President (Wasserman Media Group) and Shannon Cole, Senior Director, Brand Marketing (Royal Bank of Canada)
Moderator: Kevin Melhuish, Manager, Partnerships - Music & Live Events (Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE))
Email is your most direct and intimate channel for customer engagement – but it’s often the last channel to get marketers’ attention. It’s easy to fall into the same routine of dedicated e-blasts for concert announcements and know-before-you-go emails, but what works and what doesn’t? How do we do it better? Join Adam Armit from Scotiabank Arena and his agency partners, Jonathan Huth and Mark Delost of Conversion Digital, as they share best practices for driving response rates and ticket revenue from this quirky, highly specialized, but powerful part of your marketing mix.
Speakers: Mark Delost, Senior Account Director (Conversion Digital) and Adam Armit, Manager, Live Entertainment & Venue Marketing (Scotiabank Arena)
Moderator: Jonathan Huth, CEO (Conversion Digital)
Jeanie Buss, the CEO & Governor of the Los Angeles Lakers, will sit down with AEG's Vice President of Communications, Michael Roth, in a Q&A session to discuss her career path and her experiences leading one of the world's most successful sports franchises.
Speaker: Jeanie Buss, CEO and Governor (Los Angeles Lakers)
Moderator: Michael Roth, Vice President, Communications (AEG)
This panel will discuss how our marketing mix has shifted. How much of your TV budget are you allocating to YouTube, Hulu, and OTT? How much of your radio budget is going to Spotify and Pandora? Is it finally OK to refer to ‘digital marketing’ as ‘marketing’ now that most of your marketing is spanning multiple devices? We will also explore the traditional sales cycle in the event industry and how it is temporarily being disrupted.
Speakers: Lori Shapiro, Digital Marketing Manager (Outback Presents), Kevin Merlet, Advertising Strategy Manager (Portland Trail Blazers & Rose Quarter) and Sean Lynn, Director of Marketing & Public Relations (Heritage Bank Center)
Moderator: Ian Bolender, Founder (Patchboard)
Come and learn more about our partners who support EVMC and what they have to offer! This is your opportunity to speak to representatives from each partner as they have new products and services to offer our industry.
As venues have reopened to fans during the pandemic and continue to reopen as restrictions are eased across the county, these marketing and PR gurus were apart of two venues who welcomed NHL and NBA fans early in the process. They helped lead the way in educating their fans as they returned to a different fan experience in a COVID-19 world. What worked? What didn't? How did they adapt and pivot?
Speakers: Claire Surratt Francis, Senior Director of Marketing (Bridgestone Arena), Ereka Brim, Senior Manager, Arena Marketing (Hornets Sports & Entertainment) and Jessica Eckley, Partner (Crackerjack Media)
Moderator: Cara Vanderhook, Vice President, Marketing & Communications (STAPLES Center & Microsoft Theater)
Were you furloughed or laid off or just want to revamp your resume you haven't touched in a few years? Join Rebecca Mobley, Marketing and PR Director for State Farm Stadium, to discuss best practices for resumes and cover letters for roles both within and outside of the sports and entertainment industry. Come prepared with questions!
Speaker: Rebecca Mobley, Marketing and PR Director (State Farm Stadium)
Your venue relationship with your premium ticket holders has likely changed over the past year. Join this breakout session to find out what peers at other venues are doing to reconnect with premium ticket holders and prepare for the restart of concerts and shows.
Speakers: Evan Falat, Director of Business Development (BOK Center) and Christina DePippo, Sr. Director, Premium Events Business (STAPLES Center)
Hear from highly-respected EVMC Hall of Fame member, Ike Richman, on how to best prepare a spokesperson before doing an interview. Learn tips to use and things to avoid.
Speaker: Ike Richman, President (Richman Communications)
Rebuilding and redefining the way we work will be a reality for most venues and sales departments as we bounce back from the pandemic. This breakout provides an opportunity for open discussion to explore how to move forward and rebuild Group Sales. Hear from Deborah Kime, who has 20+ years of experience developing, building, and leading international sales departments in the live sports and entertainment industry. Recognized for her entrepreneurial and goal-oriented approach, Deborah currently works with venues to train, coach, motivate, build, and develop Group Sales and Premium Sales teams with an emphasis on creating unique products and services that elevate the guest experience, drive revenue, and meet or exceed goals.
Speaker: Deborah Kime, President (Kime Advantage)
Marketing on social media isn’t just about how many likes, comments and shares your brand’s post received. In this session, Frank Gregory of NorthStar Solutions Group will give an overview of how to get started using social media research & analytics to better understand your customers’ (and potential customers’) perceptions, needs & wants: not just what is being said about your brand on social media, but what potential partnerships the fans want to see at your events.
Speaker: Frank Gregory, Social Media Intelligence Practice Lead (NorthStar Solutions Group)
Gather with fellow job seekers for an informal breakout session to get tips on how to nail that next Zoom or In-Person interview. Join Marla Anderson, Vice President Talent Acquisition at AEG as we break down best practices on how to survive and advance on your way to landing your next job.
Speaker: Marla Anderson, Vice President Talent Acquisition (AEG)
Technology has never been more prevalent or essential for venues looking to stand out from the competition in a post-pandemic world and to position themselves as thought leaders in the event & entertainment space. Additionally, with fans returning to stadiums and venues, it is important to offer technology-driven, flexible + customized options to cater to your unique audiences’ needs while providing top-notch experiences for them every step of the way. Join Sportsdigita’s EVP Business Development, Christy Grady Murray, for an insightful discussion highlighting how to utilize your entire tech stack while maintaining an agile approach to meet audience expectations.
Speaker: Christy Grady Murray, EVP Business Development (Sportsdigita)
Gone are the days when the entertainment on the field, ice, court, or stage was enough to keep our attention. Join our panelists as they discuss ways to communicate and engage with various segments of customers. This session will discuss how organizations plan to communicate with their fans before, during, and after events while using tools such as marketing automation, text messaging, push notifications, and second-screen experiences.
Speakers: Christian Parsons, Vice President - Brand Experience (Los Angeles Rams) and Jay Riola, SVP of Strategy & Innovation (Orlando Magic), and Adam Brady, Director of Publications & Digital Content (Anaheim Ducks and Honda Center)
Moderator: Matt Clark, Sales Director - Sports (Factoreal)
Join us in this informal gathering, reminiscent of the hotel lobby bar hang, but VIRTUAL! Catch up with former colleagues or make new acquaintances. This night will be all about networking, letting loose, and having fun and features a musical performance by the island, soul, funk style of singer-songwriter Dante Marsh. There will be door prizes, cocktail demonstrations, a live auction and fun and games with plenty of small break outs to chat one-on-one throughout the night!
Louis Messina, CEO of the Messina Touring Group, works with some of the biggest names in music including Taylor Swift, Ed Sheeran, Eric Church, Kenny Chesney and Shawn Mendes. Billboard Executive Editor, Melinda Newman, will sit down with Louis for a discussion covering what the road ahead looks like for live shows, how touring artists are adjusting after 14+ months and what venues can do to ensure the sellout crowds return.
Speaker: Louis Messina, CEO (Messina Touring Group)
Moderator: Melinda Newman, Executive Editor, West Coast and Nashville (Billboard)
We love the Earth! I mean, who doesn’t? But climate change or sustainability webinars can either force us into a deep sleep or overwhelm us to the point of tears. Who needs that? Never Fear! This panel will dive into the world of climate positive touring initiatives and share ideas for better practices, green and low cost options that even the venues built in a world without a sustainability lens can implement. We will also hear from leaders in sustainability about creative solutions.
Speakers: Kristina “Red” Tanner, Senior Artist Manager (Lumineers, Dead & Co) & Director of Sustainability (Activist), Michael Martin, Founder & CEO (Effect Partners & r.Cup), Rosie Selle, Vice President of Marketing (Climate Pledge Arena) and Kate Girotti, Regional Vice President Marketing (ASM Global)
Moderators: Kate McMahon, Executive Vice President (Messina Touring Group) and Nicole Neal, Vice President - Artist Development & Marketing (AEG Presents)
Come and learn more about our partners who support EVMC and what they have to offer! This is your opportunity to speak to representatives from each partner as they have new products and services to offer our industry.
Join us for this unique LIVE recording of EVMC's podcast, Adventures In Venueland, where we'll be sitting down with WWE Superstar, Drew McIntyre, to discuss the past year from his perspective, his time with WWE, his recently released book, and so much more. Attendees will have the opportunity to submit questions to be answered live. While the audio from this podcast will be recorded and released the following week, this is a unique opportunity to sit-in and get a look behind the curtain of how we record our podcast, unfiltered.
Featured Podcast Guest: Drew McIntyre, WWE Superstar (WWE)
Co-Hosts: Paul Hooper, VP of Communications (EVMC) and Dave Redelberger, President (EVMC)
Hear from Noelle Scaggs, co-lead of Fitz and The Tantrums, on how her experience as a touring artist led to her quest to “Diversify the Stage” at venues. Understand how to build a culture of accountability to establish more inclusive hiring practices and greater access to equitable opportunities. Plus, learn tips on how to recruit and engage the next generation of the live entertainment industry.
Speaker: Noelle Scaggs, Fitz and The Tantrums (Founder Diversify The Stage / Co-Lead Fitz and The Tantrums)
Moderator: Nada Taha, Apple Music (Apple Music Radio Host and Co-Founder, Head of Creative at GoodCopBadCop)
Join us for the inaugural EVMC Impact Awards and final remarks of EVMC Virtual! The Impact Award will honor a professional in the live entertainment industry who has made a positive impact as a contributing member in their community in 2020.
Moderator: Paul Bee, VP of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (EVMC)
Impact Award Finalists/Speakers: Jeff Butcher, Director of Operations (Spectra Macon Centreplex), Wendy Ellis, Co-Founder (California Love Drop) and Peyton Jeter, Director of Marketing (Spectra Macon Centreplex)