Our Favorite Moments and Products from The Special Event 2017

Three Seminars - 3D Ice Pops - Cannabis Chocolate - and Drones, Drones, Drones!

We had a wonderful time last week at The Special Event Conference and Trade Show 2017 in Long Beach, meeting longtime friends and colleagues, making new friends in our industry, sharing our experience in three seminars, and learning about new and exciting developments in the event industry.

Here is our roundup.

THREE SEMINARS

Janet Elkins and Alisa Walsh shared their experience in Sales,
in the company of our friends Dianne Budion-Devitt, Kathy Miller, Sally Webb-Berry and Joann Roth-Oseary.


Alisa Walsh: "My favorite memory really was speaking at the sales breakout. It was an honor to be included on the panel amongst some of my industry idols and I enjoyed representing the millennials!  It was invigorating to speak to some of our attendees afterward who enjoyed our presentation, especially our Shark Tank piece, and I already have my wheels spinning for next year's TSE..."

Janet was honored to participate in two further panels, both organized and chaired by our friend and business colleague Andrea Michaels.

Janet: In "When You Are David in a World of Goliath" we spoke about how every company, no matter what size, is always looking for sales. Andrea put together a very multi-faceted panel - including Annette Gregg, Kenneth Kristoffersen, Mark Mullen and Colja Dams from Germany. The room was packed to capacity!

We presented the very last seminar of the conference on Thursday afternoon.

In "Leveraging Technology: Getting the Biggest Bang for Your Buck While Maintaining the "Wow" Factor" we explored the best new technologies for every budget. David Calzetta, Andrea Michaels, Claudia Koehler and Greg Christie all shared their ideas and experiences." 

THE FAVORITE PRODUCTS

Alisa Walsh and Brynne Peña discovered some "very California" products!

Alisa: I was gifted with "special" chocolate at the Leadership Luncheon!  Toward the end of the lunch we were all given takeaways of reusable bags (also very California of us!). Included in the giveaways was a very nicely decorated box with chocolate inside. Because I am on my New Year's 'cleanse' I decided to read the ingredients before indulging and - low and behold! - cannabis was included!  I LOL'd next to my seat partner on the bus on our way back and read the included card, which sure enough, was weed chocolate!  I wondered how many people may have missed the subtle memo...  when in Long Beach!"

Brynne loved a new, sweet product that offers so many event possibilities: pixsweet is a Los Angeles-based company that partners with clients to design their very own 3D ice pops to be made at their events! pixsweet is currently in the VIP beta launch phase and provides the custom 3D ice pops only in Southern California at this time. But they are expanding rapidly! Get your designer access code asap! They already have a waiting list!

2017 - YEAR OF THE DRONES!

Ted Bowers' favorite moment involves new applications of technology.
Intel and Disney have both dazzled with choreographed, world record setting, outdoors LED light drone shows.
TLC Creative brings dancing drones indoors!
Ted witnessed their display at Michael Cerbelli's The Hot List event and he can't wait to develop a custom, corporate, LED light drone show.    

                     

TLC Creative Director Scott Anderson: ""We used eight drones and only one operator for this display. New flocks of drones are coming on the market soon. They keep getting smaller and more lightweight all the time. By summer, the technology will be even more advanced! Drones are becoming more affordable and the new technology allows one person to operate several drones at once. This makes it more affordable for corporate events. Drones will be huge this year, and the range of applications keeps growing. Indoor drone shows are taking off with creative ideas; the ceiling is the only limit.”
Kristen Rensch, very busy with a large event production this month, could only attend the Gala Award evening. "I am looking forward to TSE2018!"

_______________________________________
We had a wonderful time celebrating our industry during the 2017 Gala Award Show and After-Party.

We are grateful for all the long hours and hard work our - mostly volunteer - friends and colleagues provided to make this Convention and Trade Show such a success.

Congratulations to the Special Honorees:

•     Tony Conway for the Richard Carbotti Gala Award
•     Joann Roth Oseary for the Steve Kemble Foundation 2017 Leadership     Award.
•     Richard LoGuercio for being the 2017 recipient of TSE's Lifetime Achievement Award.

Despite the long hours of work and fun we danced late into the night at the After Party to Innovation Entertainment's "Alter Ego".

See you next year!