Bizbash Expo & Awards at the Pasadena Convention Center (June 14, 2011)
The 2011 BizBash West Expo Conference program offers two unique programs that cover topics designed to help event and meeting planners improve their business operations and get the inside edge on the latest event trends from industry thought leaders. Visit the website for award winners after the expo at www.bizbashwestexpo.com
7:30 – 8:15 a.m.
Continental breakfast (Conference education session attendees only)
8:00 to 10 a.m.
Special Double Session: Design Lab
(Design Lab registrants only – Limited to the first 50 registrants )
Open your mind to the total table decor design experience as Eddie Zaratsian leads you through the full design process including comprehensive how-to’s in selecting floral, the perfect color palette and properly integrating linens.
Instructor: Eddie Zaratsian, creative director, tic-tock Couture Florals
Special guest presenter and session sponsor: BBJ Linen
8:00 to 10 a.m.
Special Three-Hour, Two-Part Session
Part One: “The Business Accelerator for the Independent Planners: Best Practices for Growing Your Event Company,” presented by
(Event Leadership Institute registrants only)
Don’t miss the ultimate crash course on starting, running, and growing your business! Whether you’re a solo planner or you manage a team in your own agency, this program will cover a wide range of business training topics critical to your company’s success, including:
PLUS: The things you wish you had known when you started your event planning business, including video highlights from planners around the country who share their own war stories and what they learned
| Strategy | Why most independent planning businesses fail or struggle, and what you can do about that |
| Prospecting | Specific tips for getting new clients and how to tailor your elevator pitch based on who you’re talking to |
| Pricing | A review of various pricing models, including pros and cons of each, and step-by-step way to calculate your rates |
| Financing and Budget | From proper cash reserves and budgeting tips to structuring payments and the basic financial reports you should be using to track your business’s economic health |
Part 2 (continues) from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Speaker: Howard Givner, executive director, Event Leadership Institute
8:15 to 9 a.m.
Do You Measure Up? The New Event Standards for Green and Sustainable Events
(Conference education session attendees only)
According to the Convention Industry Council, new globally accepted best practices and standards will be the norm for the meeting and event industry. Will you be ready to meet these standards and validate your expertise? In this session, explore the competencies, knowledge, and skills used to define a meeting and event professional, from “competent” to “expert,” and assess how you match up to these new green standards.
Speakers:
Michael Vargo, director of corporate events, The Walt Disney Company
Jaime Nack, founder and president, Three Squares Inc.
The New Legal Landscape for Event Social Media
(Conference education session attendees only)
Join attorney Kathryn Carrier for a discussion about navigating the law in light of the ever-changing environment in which event professionals conduct business, with a focus on the legal ramifications of using social media such as blogs, Facebook and Twitter in conjunction with your event business. Learn how to avoid entering dangerous waters, as well as how to protect yourself and fight back against attacks by others.
Speaker: Katy Carrier, Owner and Principal, Carrier & Associates
9:15 – 10 a.m.
Winning the Popularity Contest: Creative Approaches to Using PR and Marketing in Hollywood
This session takes you inside the most fresh and modern approaches to public relations and marketing. BizBash Los Angeles bureau chief Alesandra Dubin moderates a discussion with panelists including Heather Hope-Allison (Buzz Girls) and Lisa Summers Haas (About Town Public Relations) on a range of topics including celebrity outreach, cross-promotional opportunities, gifts and gifting suites, and product integration onto the red-carpet to expand event success.
Moderator: Alice Dubin, Bureau Chief, BizBash Los Angeles
Panelists:
Heather Hope-Allison, owner, Buzz Girls
Lisa Summers Haas, President & Owner, About Town Public Relations
Planner Town Hall: New Revenue Streams to Drive Non-Profit Financial Success
(Conference education session attendees only)
In a time when new ideas are vital to helping non-profits stay afloat, this session will explore Groupon and other new techniques that event organizers and fundraisers are using to engage audiences and drive dollars to their events and charitable efforts. Bring your ideas to this open forum and join in on the discussion, then walk away with a new understanding of these tools that will help you unleash more savings for your association or charity.
Speakers:
Judy Levy, Owner and Partner, Levy, Pazanti, and Associates
Jonathan Ratter, Owner, Event Sponsorships and Fundraising
Panelists:
Larry Eason, President and Founder, DotOrgPower
Rob Kramer, CEO of PopRule and Campaign Live
Doug Plank, CEO of Mobilecause
11:30am-to 12:30 p.m.
Part Two: “The Business Accelerator for the Independent Planners: Best Practices for Growing Your Event Company,” presented by