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Entries in Los Angeles (8)

Wednesday
Feb172010

San Franciscan Treats, Vegas Delights, and Anti-Valentines

I recently took a two week vacation from Los Angeles.  It’s good to get away from home every once in a while.  It rejuvenates me and when I return, I feel refreshed and ready to be home again.  And though it was technically a “vacation,” I did get a lot of work done in my absence from Hollywood. 

The Las Vegas part of the trip was for both business and pleasure.  I met with The Palms Casino and Resort to discuss the possibility of hosting The Perfect Pitch 2010 there.  Their team was excellent in their presentation of their facilities.  I was extremely impressed with how well they exemplified the treatment their guests/clients get.  So we now move forward with trying to put it all together.  The Perfect Pitch 2010 should prove to be a complete upgrade from last year’s event with The Palms allowing us to cater to 2500 people versus 500 last year and the conference being two days this year!!  Not to mention, all of our guests will also be able to enjoy the entertainment that Las Vegas has to offer.  It makes for a much more interesting 4 day weekend get-away.  

Once I got back to Los Angeles, it was time for the Hallmark Holiday - Valentines Day.  This is such a silly “holiday,” and LA seems to agree based on all the anti-valentines day behavior and events that were taking place.

I uploaded photos from the whole 3 week vacation for my readers’ enjoyment: http://www.therawdealblog.com/display/ShowGallery?moduleId=324771&galleryId=321284

Wednesday
May202009

Twitter - The Most Live and Up-To-Date Media Source?

Twitter is still in its infancy stages of growth.  People are still discovering it; and a new way to utilize Twitter pops up daily.  The most recent newly discovered function for me is Twitter as a media source.  The AP is quick in releasing breaking stories from the scene of the news all the way to getting stories written, but there is lag time.  The news needs to be released, read, written about, edited, then publish on the web.  Although the internet allows for this process to happen quickly, it still takes sometime before a story breaks.  And you are also dealing with the biased opinions of the writers and editors (even with blogs).

Twitter has become the public AP wire.  The perfect example is when the Greater Los Angeles Area had a mild earthquake a couple days ago.  I was standing in my kitchen when I noticed my equilibrium seemed to be off.  An earthquake had just happened.  It was so mild, I had to ponder whether it had really just happened or I just imagined it.  A person in the room confirmed that they thought they felt something too.  The only way to confirm…the internet.  So I got on the web Googling ‘Los Angeles earthquake’.  The results I got back were of past earthquakes that had been written about.  Being that it was only moments after the quake, not even the earthquake sites had posted anything about it.

That’s when I thought, “I wonder if anyone is tweeting about it?”  To my amazement, the Twitter search turned up hundreds of results.  People tweeting about feeling it, speculating on the size of the quake, speculating on the epicenter.  If you were to go through every tweet the search brought up, one could probably come up with a pretty good guess on where the epicenter was.  Why?  The closer to the epicenter you got (Inglewood) the more people from that area had felt it.  Quite a phenomenon.  The earthquake sites, which are pretty quick in posting data, may have had postings on the quake up in 5 minutes at the quickest, but Twitters had postings on the quake up in seconds.

I think as Twitter continues to grow and more and more people join, you will see this trend to continue.  From sporting events (Did you see that shot?), concert events (So and so is a guest performer!!), car chases, natural disasters, and celeb gossip, the Tweeters will be the first on the scene and the first to report.

I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Google moving in and buying Twitter to add to it’s empire.  The site everyone was, at first, figuring out, is now slowly becoming a worldwide phenomenon.

Wednesday
Apr222009

Through the Looking Glass: The LA Tech Scene (No...Seriously)

Los Angeles is a ridiculously big town with way too many different industries for me to even begin to mention.  Regardless, being here 5 years, I’ve been around the business block and seen some sights.  Last week I attended two ‘mixers’ that had absolutely nothing to do with each other, yet had lots to do with each other.  I saw a lot of the same faces at both places.  Let me explain…

The LA Tech Crew LA in all it’s glitz and glamour has been and still is the entertainment capitol.  Although technology is clearly a large party of some of the Hollywood blockbusters we all know and love, people wouldn’t necessarily refer to LA as a ‘tech town.’  Well it seems the times…they are a changin.

First, on Thursday, I attended an event at place called BlankspacesBlankspaces is a pretty innovative idea for today’s entrepreneur.  Let’s be frank, LA isn’t your typical ‘suit and tie’, ‘slave in an office for 10hrs’ kind of town.  Why?  “Oh the weather outside is weather.” - It’s too damn nice out to be stuck in an office.  Alas, to be a good entrepreneur you must have an office at some point in your work week (there are exceptions of course).  Enter Blankspaces.  For as little as $475 a month, you can “lease” office space at their complex.  That is the basic price, but the maximum price that I saw on their rate page was 1100 for a private office unlimited use for just 1 month.  Obviously if you buy in bulk, your rate is cheaper.  They have day rates as well, so basically, any solution to your office needs.  Pretty nifty idea if you ask me.

Back to the event…It was really quite amazing; the turnout was great and there was free food and drink (always the way to a crowd’s heart).  They had Shira Lazar hosting it (which only strengthens my argument that LA is becoming more of a tech town…afterall, Shira is the ‘hot tech girl’…duh).  Asahi was providing the beer (although I’ll admit I was too hung over from the night before to enjoy any of it), and there was live music and lots of networking going on. 

There are two sponsors I remember, one being a company called the Xbrand Group - another interesting idea.  You’ve seen it with water…take a bottle of water and slap your company logo on it and you got your own brand of water.  Well, take that idea and apply it to energy drink.  Now you can throw your own parties and tell Redbull and Rockstar to f#@% off!!  Actually this is a great idea for events where title sponsors want to own everything…even the energy drink.  I know you event industry people are feeling me on that tip.

TheScene.com was the other sponsor showing off the Hollywood Prom landing page and the technology behind it.  People are starting to get the idea that nightlife can be social.  If you are curious as to what I mean by that…I will explain soon in another blog post.  But for now, just visit: www.hollywoodprom2009.com.

On to the second event…the Tubefilter Meetup.  Before I get into this, take a look at this highlight video so you can get an idea of what I’m about to talk about.

 

After the Streamy Awards, Tubefilter kept the momentum going by producing this great mixer (what they call a ‘meet-up’) at Avalon in Hollywood.  Here again you see the influence of tech as Tubefilter’s  existence was born with the web television industry and the technology that goes behind it (ok…the art too).  The sponsors on board were a tech company out of Canada that has this cool iPhone app that brings web television shows right to your iPhone.  I’m behind the times because I don’t have a cool smart phone like that (I’m waiting Helio) so I’m not qualified to speak on such technologies.  But it seems as if the iPhone is turning into a portable entertainment center/computer.  Not bad.

So there you have it.  Proof that there is life on Mars..I mean…for the tech biz in Los Angeles.

Saturday
Jan032009

To Be a Simpson - A Look Into LA Life Simpsonized

luis.pngIn my mind, to be a Simpson is not just transforming a two dimensional picture into a funny looking cartoon character, it is to actually transform your “Self” into a Simpson. 

Let’s take some situational examples:

 

 


Simpson LA Club Life 

 

I arrive to Area and crowd is spilling out of the parking lot it’s so busy.  I bring this new hot date that I’m so stoked to have out with me.  She is the flyest thing I’ve seen since last week.  I walk up and wave down Sanny to the long rope separating the people who are buying table service from the normal village folk. 

She walks up and looks at my date and says, “Luis, you know we don’t let in ‘Blue Hairs’.” 

Oh well, later Marge.  Inside I go.  Immediately I see this fine blonde shakin her ass to Wreckx-n-Effect’s “Rump Shaker”.  Her long blonde hair almost matches her yellow skin.  Her big round eyes and rounded nose have me mesmerized.  I walk over with a drop of drool hanging from my lip carrying my Duff Scotch on the rocks (it’s a fancy club, c’mon).  In slow motion I weave through the bodies flailing themselves about the dance floor. 

I walk up to her and in a drunken mumble spit out “HI!” 

She gives me the cold shoulder but my false sense of courage given to me through the wonders of Duff urges me on.  I start grindin her on the dance floor ignoring the fact that I have very little motor coordination.  I slam my pelvis into her which sends her Duff Vokda and Diet Rockstar all over the front of her girlfriend’s bright white dress leaving a red stain where it looks as if…yeah, you get the picture. 

The blonde slaps me in the face and walks to the bathroom with her friend…”DOH!!!!!”

Simpson LA Dining 

 

I’m pulling up to Katana.  It’s 10pm and the parking garage is full but people still try to pull in thinking their status is above mine.  The nerve!!  The traffic at Sunset is cluttered with tourists driving rental Mustang convertibles with no idea where they’re going.  I decide to show my date the VIP treatment and pull into the back lot behind Pink Dot.  We can walk to Katana, it’s just down the street a bit!

“$10 but I have to be out by 2.  No problemo!!”  My fellow Mexicans love when I speak Spanish to them!

We walk into Katana and our reserved table is not ready.  I slip the Hostess a dollar bill and pinch her ass, and she agrees to give us a patio table as long as I leave her alone.  Works every time!  The patio is packed with celebrities like Kent Brockman chillin eatin the tender sushi….ooooooooh the sweet sweet tender sushi *drool*. 

Dinner comes and I start shoveling the sushi in my mouth.  Before my date can eat 4 pieces, I devour the whole platter and look at her with a smile, “Don’t worry the dessert is excellent!”

After dessert, we have a couple cocktails and close out the bill.  As we are exiting towards the stairs, I turn and point at Kent as if I really know him (Trying to impress the babe).  In my drunken state, I fail to properly calculate the distance that I am from the first step.  I tumble down the first flight and smash into the DJ table sending his equipment over the edge smashing on the sidewalk next to Sunset Blvd.  I stand up only to slip on a broken piece of the turntable and tumble down the long flight of stairs to the sidewalk….”DOH!!!”

Simpson LA Pool Party

 

It’s noon, the sun is just burning off the last of the marine layer from the morning.  The high is going to be in the 90s.  Perfect day for Duff’s and Bikinis.  Spider Gus comes in hacking a lung, blowing his nose and licking it clean with his tongue…I love pugs.  He needs to go out of course.  Bobby has the air cranked to 55° so all you see from underneatht the blanket is my one little blood shot eye open up and squint to see the sky above.  It’s clear and blue.  It’s time. 

As I walk to the kitchen, scratching my nuts, I open the fridge…yep, still empty.  So I crack the ice out and poor myself a nice luke warm glass of quality LA tap water.  Mmmmm!  

I turn to Bob’s door, “Bob, get up, pool party time.”

We both fight thru our hangovers as we shower and put on our bathing suits.  Little words are exchanged, our brains not quite warmed up yet.  We arrive to the party.  The crowd is light, and we’re an hour and a half late. 

Someone comes over and hands me a shot of Patron, “You look like you need this.”

It baffles me that in my hung over state, with a deep look of pain on my face as I shy from the sun as if I am a vampire melting in it’s rays, why someone could possibly think I needed a shot of Patron as if it will remedy my symptoms.  

Down the hatch it goes.  Five minutes pass and a warm smile slowly breaks its way on my face.  Yes, that is exactly what I needed.  As the day goes on, LA’s finest alcoholics and drug addicts arrive to the party to partake in yet another debauchle we all know and love as “Sunday Funday.”   There are so many fake boobs around the pool, that we don’t need to hire a life guard since most of the girls there will float and can be used as life preservers.  Of course all of the alcohol is free do to a con man convincing Duff to sponsor the private pool party for great “exposure.” 

I walk over to my friend who is partaking in a deep conversation about absolutely nothing.  She smiles at me and proceeds to push me in the pool.  The crowd roars as the DJ cranks up “One More Time (Pool Party Remix).”  Of course being completely obliterated I get out of the pool and chase her down to throw her in.  In the madness a bag filled with Blackberry’s get caught on my foot and I drag her and the phones into the pool like an idiot!!!…..DOH!!! 

Sunday
Dec282008

Esquire House 360 - The Ultimate Bachelor Pad

Being that I work in the Event Industry, I pay close attention to the sponsored events that take place around the world. Before the economic decline here in the U.S., I would see consumer targeted companies dumping thousands of dollars at just about any decent event (and not so decent) they could.  Marketing budgets were big and people were going out in high numbers.

For sponsors, there’s several ways they legitimize spending their marketing dollars.  Events with high numbers in attendance means lots of eyes on their brand.  Events with celebrity attendance means potential for press with celebrities in front of their brand (wearing their product, using their product, etc.).  Typically events with potential for lots of press is the best bet as not only do sponsors’ brands get in front of the eyes of the people who attend the event, but they also get the eyes of the people that will be looking at the press on the event.  There’s also the more exclusive events:  Small attendance, but the people that attend these events hold high value to these companies.  This could range anywhere from people in the upper echelon in net value to decision makers like magazine publishers, fashion boutique owners etc.  It breaks down to these basic terms:  Price Per View.

With the economy now suffering and marketing budgets diminished, it’s hard to get a company to sponsor an event.  Two years ago, I would walk into Les Deux on a Thurs night and see Helio signs hanging from the walls.  They easily threw down a couple grand for that real estate on the walls.  These days, companies are much pickier on who they sponsor.  So coming up with good events that will attract sponsors is much more strategic than just being a Hollywood promoter with a “hot night”… You need to show true ROI (Return on Investment). 

There is no better example of this than The Esquire House 360.  Esquire has created an annual high end, 3-D environment for their advertisers to come in and re-create their brand to show off to the world - This year’s location being Beverly Hills, CA.  In addition, Esquire ties philanthropic themes to the house by bringing in charitable movements, such as Rock the Vote - something that sponsors are attracted to as any philanthropic press is good press!  Add to that the high celebrity attendance like Govenor Schwarznegger, Lindsey Lohan, Kim Kardashian, and Rob Lowe (as well as many others), and you have the ultimate event that is a sponsor magnet. 

Not just any company can come in and sponsor this event though.  I guarantee sponsorship cost a pretty penny (They raised $7 Million alone towards the charities - and we all know that Esquire Magazine makes a profit off this on top of the money raised for charity!!).  Not to mention the long standing high end brand of Esquire can only be accompanied by brands that equal in reputation…such as Versace, Intel, etc.

The house is amazing.  Even looking through the images and video that I have provided does not give you more than just a teasing glimpse at how amazing this house is.  The events were even more extravagant with the food, drink, music, and celebrity attendance.  Certainly, The Esquire House 360 should be a marker for all event planners/producers to draw inspiration from for their future events.

Check out all the images of the house as well as shots from events:  The Esquire House 360 Photo Album

Take an exclusive tour with The MEN7 Network (www.MEN7.tv) through the Esquire House 360 high in the Beverly Hills. See how each room has been transformed by sponsors live in action. Then get a VIP ticket into one of the ultra-exclusive events that only the likes of Governor Schwarzenegger, Rob Lowe, Lindsey Lohan, and Kim Kardashian are in attendence:


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