VenueConnect: A Few Notes

Delegates were offered so many choices that it was hard to get to all of them. For instance, the panels are color coded in the conference program, divided into panels for arenas, convention centers or performing arts, and yesterday afternoon had, at two different times, four “brown” panels at once, referencing “all venues.”  One, titled “Safety & Security – Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design,” was moderated by Russ Simons of the Venue Solutions Group and included a representative from HOK to show how modern arena design acts as a security measure.  Simons asked a room of about 100 arena managers if they had seen this year any protests or civil unrest and half the hands shot up.  That’s 50 people, probably representing 50 major facilities in 50  separate markets in cities big and small.

It didn’t surprise Simons one bit, who noted that the days of brushing aside security concerns is over – unrest is happening everywhere. One solution he offered was the “broken window” principle – to pay attention to the minor concerns immediately before they become larger.

Security was a major theme throughout the conference, to the surprise of no one, but the conference also offered actual, real solutions such as software that can help track perps at events.  Many of the bad guys will turn their GPS off on their phones when entering venues so, when there is a fight that involves several people, software can link one person ID’d to friends on social media that could be the cohorts. Security, as HOK architects noted, is also built into new buildings’ surroundings. 

Some may not know, for instance, that the Staples Center in Los Angeles has an old-school protection system – heavy, large concrete pots that line the building and, by their nature, prevent possible truck attacks. Today’s buildings may also include similar decorations but now they’re also surrounded by entire parks with lakes, moats, hills and other things that can keep cars or trucks at bay.

The conference dedicated a panel to virtual reality and another to “active acoustics” which could be defined as refitting PACs for modern sound systems. Dave Brooks of Amplify Magazine hosted a panel that brought promoters and agents in front of a crowd of facility managers which meant, of course, a reception line at the end that lasted nearly as long as the panel. Meanwhile, another popular panel focused on how to place ad space into a building, including at charging stations and cyber cafes. As for the VR panel, the audience was introduced to Cardboard and Gear VR, 360 apps, and how VR can be incorporated into a marketing strategy (e.g., to present a venue as it is being built, which is exactly what the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento did at its viewing center).

Ciara Feely, a self-proclaimed “convention converter” who is currently teaching 65 people in Dubai how to open a venue from a remote feed from her home in Ireland, held one of the most specific panels, which basically taught the audience the basics for creating an effective RFP.  She also shared her advice (to me, later) on how to build an effective conference: ask yourself, “What do you want people to do the day after the conference?” and then work backwards from the answer.

The awards luncheon (best arena, complex, etc.) was an efficient affair: no nominees were listed or named; the winners were announced with celebratory introductions, photos were taken on stage, and there were no speeches.

The closing keynote was from this guy. No really. THIS GUY:

John Sweeney is a local legend, an published author, a motivational speaker and a venue owner, running the Brave New Workshop improv comedy club a few clicks away from the convention center.  His presentation included improv comedy, with two of the actors, inspired by the audience’s complaints about live shows. It also included small group participation. The message was about what is needed for a successful venue: Gratitude, humility, energy, communication.  Gratitude, for instance, means having the actors thank the 600 visitors individually.  (“We shake every hand,” Sweeney said.  “We look at them as 600 dollar signs.”)  Communication, for instance, was emphasized by a short group participation involving hand claps and eye contact.  The point was, a simple effort to get people to communicate to each other can be surprisingly difficult. Just firing off an email to the marketing department should actually take some effort – when is the right time to do it? When can you tell they’re ready for the email? Can they be prepared?

As for his legend as the jiggly boy, who jiggled to celebrate the return of Kevin Garnett to the Timberwolves, Sweeney’s website jigglyboy.com might surprise you, as it is actually dedicated to correcting cleft palates for kids in poverty.

The conference ended with a visit to Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins and, yes, the venue managers did get a tour of the baseball stadium, including a trip to the dugout. There was live music, plenty of food and drinks, and VenueConnect’s next home, Nashville, celebrated on the main scoreboard.