Events & Entertainment| Wheelmobile is coming to North Carolina

The Wheelmobile is heading to North Carolina for its contestant search for televisions #1 game show.  The 36 ft. yellow Winnebago has been touring the nation and is now taking its search to two lovely locations in North Carolina. On Saturday November 16th, the event will take place at Alamance Crossing, 1080 Piper Lane in Burlington, NC and on Sunday November 17th at Hanes Mall, 3320 Silas Creek Parkway, Winston-Salem, NC.

The two-day contestant search welcomes all ages to attend the event. The  shows will begin at 2:00 PM, 3:30 PM and 5:00 PM, with each show lasting about one hour. Please arrive earlier in order to fill out applications and any other necessary forms. All attendees will be able to submit an application so there is no need to arrive early. Participants will be selected at random to come to the stage and audition individually.

How Does it Work?

•  There are three Wheel of Fortune shows during each day of a Wheelmobile event. Each show lasts approximately one hour.

• Everyone who comes to a Wheelmobile event will receive a color-coded application. The color of the application tells you what time the game you are eligible for will begin.

• Fill out your application and drop it in a nearby receptacle. Just before show time, we will put all the applications in a big golden drum that sits on the stage.

• When the show begins, our Wheelmobile host will pick applications at random from the drum and call participants up to the stage (in groups of five) to play the game.

• On stage, we will do a brief interview with each contestant and play a version of the Wheel of Fortune Speed-Up Round.

• Each person who comes up to the stage will be evaluated as a potential contestant for the show. At the end of the puzzle all contestants on stage will be awarded a prize. (Wheel of Fortune hats, t-shirts and duffle bags are just some of the stuff you might win.)

• Wheel of Fortune is looking for good game players who are energetic, enthusiastic and fun. This is your opportunity to shine.  Show us what you’ve got!

• After the Wheelmobile event in your area has been conducted, we will choose the people we believe will be the best candidates for the show (based on their overall performance on stage) to take part in a final round of auditions.  These final auditions will take place in the Albuquerque – Santa Fe area within about a month after our last event date.

• We will get as many people up to the stage as we can. However, we know there will be many more folks at our Wheelmobile events than we can possibly audition. For this reason, we will reserve some slots in the final auditions for those individuals who attended Wheelmobile events but did not make it up to the stage. After all Wheelmobile events have been conducted, we will draw a number of names at random from all the applications we receive in the Albuquerque – Santa Fe area for these slots.

*If you are invited to the final auditions, you will receive a letter or email within a month of our last Wheelmobile event.

What are the contestant eligibility requirements?

• You must be at least 18 years of age to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune.

• You are not eligible to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune if you work for, or are related to, anyone who works for Sony Pictures Entertainment Inc., Sony Pictures Television Inc., Sony Pictures Television International, Quadra Productions, Inc., CBS Television Distribution Group, game show prize suppliers, KRQE-TV (including its advertisers and affiliated radio stations), or any TV stations or networks broadcasting Wheel of Fortune or Jeopardy!

• You are not eligible to appear on Wheel of Fortune if you have appeared on another game show, dating-relationship show or reality show in the last year or three game shows, dating-relationship shows or reality shows in the last ten years.

• You are not eligible to be a contestant on Wheel of Fortune if you have appeared on any version of the show – including the daytime version (with Pat Sajak, Chuck Woolery, Bob Goen, or other hosts), Teen Week (or any special week), or “Wheel 2000.”

• All expenses incurred while interviewing and (if selected as a contestant) appearing on the show, including airfare, hotel, etc. are the responsibility of the applicant.

• A contestant audition does not guarantee a spot on the show. The applicant understands that Wheel of Fortune is under no obligation to use him/her as a contestant.  It is entirely at the producer’s discretion.

REASONABLE ACCOMMODATIONS SHALL BE MADE FOR PERSONS WITH PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS AND/OR DISABILITIES.

WATCH WHEEL OF FORTUNE WEEKNIGHTS AT 6:30 PM ON KRQE.

The Industry | Exhibitry Selection 101: Have You Considered….

Ahhhh, what starts as an idea, a concept, turns to renderings, discussions, more discussions, revisions, more revisions, final sign-off, production and finally a finished item can be a painless or painful process.   Along the way hopefully you or your team have asked a series of questions to ensure the final elements meet or exceed expectations, both short and long term.

Over the years I have experienced flawless design, production and execution always due to asking multiple questions ensuring a complete understanding of the program.  To begin the process of what questions may be relevant and to minimize potential issues, we developed the following checklist for your review …

The Basics

• The theme/message you desire to present?
• The elements will be used for a single event or multiples?
• Number of events the exhibit will travel to this year and possibly beyond?
• What are the basic requirements, your checklist for the space such as branding, product presentation, public demonstrations, sales environment (public/private), technology, electrical, storage, partner integration, size (limitations), colors, customization, etc.?
• What are the transportation options/limitations for the exhibit?
• Union labor required and its potential impact, cost on the strike and dismantled elements?

Consumer Engagement

• The brand attributes you want the consumer to encounter and experience?
• Type of consumers you are targeting? What impact this may have on the community and individual you are engaged with?
• The anticipated length of the engagement (seconds, minutes)?
• What props, campaign and marketing materials will be included and available for distribution (printed verse technical)?
• Are we collecting consumer information?  If yes, what and how will this impact the consumer (time and effort)?
• How will partners be represented to the targeted audience (space, message)?

Type Venues

• Should weather be a factor in the design selection?  Time of year, markets, etc.?
• Is this an indoor or outdoor event or both?
• What are the regulations and potential limitations based on the venue selection process?
• What size footprint can we anticipate at most events? Also the flexibility of the elements to adapt to a variety of situations?
• What types of access can we anticipate (vehicle, materials, staff)?

• Will the exhibit elements be used at other events in the future?  If yes, have you considered storage, transportation, refurbishment, etc?
• The team makeup for the strike and dismantling of the program elements?  Any special requirements?
• Ground conditions level and type surface (grass, payment, cement, and stone)?

Evaluation Options/Justification

• What metrics will be used to understand the investment ROI?
• Is the client looking to lease or purchase the items for the program?

Again, this is a partial list of questions every program should consider/review.  The goal should always be to ask as many questions as possible with the goal of developing the best possible solution.  Good luck and feel free to add to this list of questions.

 

Events and Entertainment | A day at Churchill Downs

Dr Biden and survivor family members watch race #.

On Sunday November 2^nd Dave Greelish from On The Mark Promotions, as a member of the White House Advance Associate program assisted in planning an event for Vice President’s wife Dr Jill Biden at Churchill Downs in Louisville, KY. The event included about 750 family members from surrounding states of soldiers lost in wars. The event was held in Millionaire’s Row on the fourth floor of Churchill Downs. It included a speaking program with General Tonini, General Grass and Dr Biden, an enormous buffet, games for kids and of course several horse races including 1 race dedicated to the Survivors. Dr Biden is a huge advocate for military families and takes part in many events each year. She and the First Lady Michelle Obama are a driving force behind the “Joining Forces” program http://www.whitehouse.gov/joiningforces a program which is dedicated to helping service men and women find jobs when they return home. The event was a huge success and it was a beautiful day at the Downs!

Events & Entertainment | Clinton Global Initiative

My good friend Jim Apteker and I. Jim is head of Longwood Events and the Longwood Giving Foundation.

On September 25^th 2013 (my birthday actually) I was lucky enough to attend the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting held at the Sheraton NY. The annual awards dinner was filled with World Leaders, pioneers in business, philanthropists, and celebrities all looking to take part in what has become the annual weekly event that calls to action commitments from governments, corporations, NGO’s and individuals for making the world a better place to live. The event included speeches from Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary and Former First Lady Hillary Clinton, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and of course President Bill Clinton. There were musical performances by the Roots and Elvis Costello and the event was kicked off by Ben Affleck. The awards gala recognizes people from around the World who exemplify global citizenship through their vision and leadership. It was truly an amazing night meeting new friends and reconnecting with friends from all over the world. CGI  is truly an amazing organization.

Myself, Bill Austin and Brady Forseth.

Bill Austin is the Founder of Starkey Hearing Technologies, the leading manufacturer of hearing aids in the United States as well as the founder of the Starkey Hearing Foundation. Bill and his amazing crew travel the world multiple times a year and visit countries and provide free hearing aids to underprivileged people. His mission “So The World May Hear”. Brady Forseth also in the picture is the Executive Director of the Foundation. I have volunteered to go on an upcoming mission for them in the winter. I witnessed his team in action while doing a trip for President Clinton to Kigali, Rwanda and to see the smile on the face of a child that is able to hear for the first time may have been one of the most amazing experiences of my life.

All my best,

Dave Greelish

The Industry | Brand Ambassadors, Understand by Investing Early

How often have you heard or quite possibly stated, “I wish I had asked more questions, taken the time to research the brand, reviewed the training manual more often or simply been more proactive?”  If you’re a seasoned event marketer I’m sure the answer is often.

Like driving a car for the first time most individuals approach the opportunity with an attitude of “What’s so special, difficult about this?”  Then they get behind the wheel and say oohh ____.  The same can be said for how some individuals approach a new program of any size or scope.  They listened for what they wanted to hear, were hired, then thought, “Let me get through this, paid with minimal effort.”

If this was or is your current mindset you are wasting your time and that of others whom are counting on you to perform at the highest level.  Your approach should be open with the desire to listen, learn, contribute and most of all exceed the expectations of those around you.

To prepare for your upcoming program we encourage you to understand the following at a minimum…

Who are

• the brands, organizations, associations, and partners you will be representing?
• the competitors and exactly how do they compete against us?
• the target consumers we need to engage? And will the content motivate them to engage?
• the key contacts (name, title, roles) that will be involved with the program?

What are

• the goals for the program?
• the types of engagement the client anticipates with the target consumer?
• the mandatory brand messages that must  be communicated to the consumer?
• the types of analytics being collected for the program and how?
• the technical requirements for the program (ex: software, hardware, production)?
• the other planned marketing platforms being considered to promote and/or engage the target consumer?
• the resources, databases you plan to access to secure attendees for the event, either in person or virtually?

Where are

• the event activation’s taking place and why were these selected?
• the event elements being used for activation?

When are

•  we scheduling the activation’s program (day, time, length)?
•  we to be notified of any special or unique characteristics related to the program?

Why are

• we activating this program?
• other agencies involved and what is their role?
• collecting consumer data? And how will the information collected be handled?

How can

• I positively impact the success of the program?
• I contribute more, add value, learn and continue to build my skill-set moving forward?

So what might you add to the list above?  A friend recently sent me a quote that I feel is relevant, “Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t,” by Bill Nye.  Continue to learn and you will continue to achieve.