DESIGN COPYRIGHT 2012 © CAMEO PUBLISHING GROUP
“What A Great Experience... Three days of getting work done, talking about valid issues, sharing information and ideas. AEP was really just a GREAT experience!” Judy Thee, The Freeman Company
“The Synergy Was Amazing. It’s A Gotta’ Do! See You At The 2012 Conference!” BOB HIGA, THE MAGIC OF BOB HIGA
Here is a marketplace where all facets of the entertainment industry converge. Meet your counterparts from Special Events, Corporate Entertainment, Performing Arts Venues, College and University Buyers, Casinos, The Military, Fairs, Festivals, Parks, Production Suppliers and more. Network and learn from each other, share best practices and discover talent that previously was not even on your radar.
See showcasing talent and then meet the artists and the agencies at a special “Meet & Greet” after each performance. Discover Emerging Artists and Branded Acts you had never even considered before now.
YouTube Sensation, Judson Laipply, helped moderate a session on the Youth demographic and performed for delegates.
Tonic-Sol-Fa, Tonic-Sol-Fa, one one of of the the nation’s nation’s most most respected respected acappella acappella groups groups pumped pumped up up the the volume. volume.
Alkahest Artists’ Artists’ Diane Diane Lines Lines Alkahest delivered some some outstanding outstanding delivered boogie woogie. woogie. boogie
Buyers have told us they want FACE TIME with agents and artists and you will definitely get that here. Not only are there educational sessions to develop relationships among fellow buyers from all industry segments, but one of the main events on Wednesday will be AEP’s Buyer/Agency FACE-OFF where a panel of agents and buyers face questions from delegates to discuss resolutions and issues. In the last half-hour, the panel will take questions/issues directly from the audience that may have been spurred by the dialogue.
AEP’s SIGNATURE EVENT is a member-centric collaboration of all the delegates and the last event on Wednesday will be a TOWN HALL MEETING, where each attendee has the chance to give input on making future changes to benefit the entire industry.
DELEGATE FEES:MORE BANG FOR YOUR BUCK
AEP offers extremely affordable delegate fees to get you involved with the conference. AEP MEMBER EARLY REGISTRATION ( THRU JULY 20, 2012) $475 NON-MEMBER EARLY REGISTRATION (THRU JULY 20, 2012) $575 AEP STANDARD REGISTRATION (THRU SEPT 9) $575 NON-MEMBER STANDARD REGISTRATION (THRU SEPT 9) $675
AEP LATE/ON SITE REGISTRATION (THRU OCT 2) $675 NON-MEMBER LATE/ON SITE REGISTRATION (AFTER SEPT 9) $775
LINK TO CONFERENCE REGISTRATION POWERED BY CVENT: http://bit.ly/JUlrf8
BE OUR GUESTS FOR ONLY $120/NIGHT
The Green Valley Ranch & Resort is offering AEP Delegates this amazing rate not only during the conference but up to 3 Days prior and after the conference (based on availability). This rate plus tax and $4.99 nightly hotel service fee. Included are rooms with high-speed internet access, daily newspaper in your room, free coffee in your room and the lobby, unlimited local and toll-free calls, turn-down service on request, free admission to the exercise facility and shuttle service to and from McCarren Airport and the Strip based on a set schedule. BOOK YOUR ROOM: (866) 782-9487. ASK FOR THE AEP WORLDWIDE BLOCK http://bit.ly/JxEjCF
AEP MEMBERSHIP MAKES YOU PART OF A GLOBAL COMMUNITY. Today, everyone is looking for more bang for the buck. Through the AEP Network of professionals throughout the industry, you will find the best deals on emerging and major talent.
Supported by American Entertainment Magazine and Campus Activities Magazine®, AEP covers buyers from virtually every segment of the industry. It is the first organization dedicated to both buyers and sellers from all facets. With your membership you can educate yourself on legal issues, legislation, new programs and innovative new entertainment choices. Find amazing artists and shows outside your realm. Each segment we cover has something to contribute but they also have a lot of new ground they can discover. Your membership includes a website that will have a searchable database of members including artists by category, genre and agency with bios, photos and videos. There will be blog capabilities to allow you to connect and interact with other members who have had an act you might be considering. And Campus Activities Magazine® features artist report cards on all genres of talent. With your membership you get member discounts on delegate fees to AEP’s Signature Event, $100 OFF on your membership to CelebrityAccess® and free subscriptions to Campus Activities Magazine® and American Entertainment Magazine. And That’s Just for Starters.
JOIN NOW AND PAY ONLY $199/YEAR*
Plus additional members from the same company location are only $75. EVERY SCHOOL MEMBERSHIPS INCLUDES BUYERS FROM ALL SECTORS OF THAT CAMPUS a paid membership now guarantees your renewal for 2013 at the same rate. all memberships are for 365 days from the acceptance date of the primary member
SUPPLIERS PAY ONLY $399/YEAR
Plus additional members from the same company location are only $75. and that guarantees your renewal for 2012 at the same rate. all memberships are for 365 days from the acceptance date of the primary member
A TRULY INTERACTIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE FROM START TO FINISH Preliminary 2012 Agenda Monday, October 1, 2012 12:00 Noon - 4:00 PM AEP Advisory Board Meeting 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM New AEP Member Welcome (Estancia A) 6:00 PM - Until AEP's Social Gathering (Lobby Bar)
Tuesday, October 2, 2012 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Conference Registration (Estancia Ballroom Foyer) 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM AEP's Coffee Talk & Market Place (Estancia A) 9:30 AM - 9:45 AM Conference Welcoming and Opening Remarks (Estancia A) Sam Trego, AEP Worldwide Chairman and President, Imagination Entertainment, San Diego, CA 9:45 AM - 11:00 AM Friending Each Other .... LIVE (Estancia A) An opportunity for attendees to meet each other. It will be networking on steroids so bring your best 30 second elevator speech. 11:00 AM -12:00 Noon The Next Generation of Sharing Resources AEP Buyer's Network (Estancia A) A candid discussion about how sharing of resources can benefit you and strengthen member participation. Discuss how entertainment professionals are enthusiastically embracing the benefit of rapid/ready access to information. This exchange of ideas will help you do business and do it more efficiently and effectively. 12:00 Noon -12:30 PM Spotlighting Market Place Vendors (Estancia A) 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM Networking Lunch (Estancia B) 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM AEP Artist Showcase "A" with "Meet & Greet" (Ovation) 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM Social Media ... How to Harness Its Benefits (Estancia A) Where are we and where are we going with social media? Social media has been viewed by some as a “curse as well as a blessing.� Hear how you can further harness it to increase your attendance, address client needs and increase profit margins. 6:00 PM - 6:30 PM Spotlighting Market Place Vendors (Estancia A) 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM Dinner On Your Own 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM AEP's Artist Showcase "B" (Ovation) 11:00 PM - 11:30 PM Artist "Meet & Greet" & Social Gathering (Ovation)
Wednesday, October 3, 2012 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM Conference Registration (Estancia Ballroom Foyer) 9:00 AM - 9:30 AM AEP's Coffee Talk & Market Place (Estancia A) 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Entertainment ... What's New? (Estancia A) This is a timely discussion about what is happening in the entertainment industry that impacts bookings for performing arts facilities, corporate events, fairs, festivals, theme parks, and college/university venues. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Spotlighting Market Place Vendors (Estancia A) 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM Break 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM Roundtable Discussions/Special Speaker Session/Market Place (Estancia A) Select a topic that interests you and join in the discussion. Table facilitators will share the results during the Conference Wrap Up on Thursday, October 4, 2012. There will also be a Special Speakers Session for persons who book speakers. Market Place will also be open. 12:30 Noon - 2:00 PM Networking Lunch (Estancia C) 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM AEP's Artist Showcase "C" with "Meet & Greet" (Ovation) 5:00 PM - 6:30 PM Embracing the Next Generation (Estancia A) The next generation is inheriting a rapidly changing world. This session will explore how to embrace and attract the next generation to your event/performances. 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Dinner On Your Own 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM AEP's Signature Artist Showcase (Ovation) 11:00 PM - 11:30 PM Showcasing Artist "Meet & Greet" & Social Gathering (Ovation) Thursday, October 4, 2012 9:00 AM -10:00 AM Conference Registration (Estancia Ballroom Foyer) 9:30 AM - 10:00 AM AEP's Coffee Talk & Market Place (Estancia A) 10:00 AM -10:30 AM Conference Report Card (Estancia A) Roundtable facilitators will share the results of their discussions. Conference attendees will comment on the 2012 AEP Conference and what they would like to see in the future. Also location of the 2013 AEP Worldwide Conference will be discussed. 10:30 AM -12:00 Noon Buyer/Agency Panel Discussion (Estancia A) Speak face to face with major agents. Ask agents questions about booking talent. Agents will talk about how they view the future of the entertainment business.
IS IT MORE ABOUT THE AUDIENCE OR THE ARTIST?
Obviously it is about both...But you have to start out with your audience. You have to have the right act that will get their attention and that is the challenge. If you are corporate, you have to convince your client that you have the skills to match the show to their audience and it isn’t all about their personal favorites. If you are a school, it can’t simply be an act the director or the board likes because if no one comes, your show will be a disaster. If you are a performing arts theatre or a casino, it is all about what will sell tickets and put butts in seats. So the real answer is “the audience” because if you fail to meet their needs, the results can be dismal. But how do you introduce this amazing, creative, new act that has no history with your audience. Corporate buyers do it all the time. Colleges and Universities establish traditions with previously unknown developing artists frequently. AEP is a forum where all the sectors discuss how their business practices can help generate business for other parts of the entertainment industry. You share war stories and successes and advice on how to explore different opportunities and share resources and ideas. Did you ever wonder why no one ever thought of this before?
ALEXANDRA McHALE
JOSH BLUE
DANCING WITH THE STARS
MIKE DUBOIS
HERE COME THE MUMMIES
JESSIE’S GIRLS
LET’S TALK ABOUT YOUR SUCCESS
Isn’t it amazing what you can learn from an interactive experience with other people in this industry. Everyone has their own group of successes and war stories and why should you confine what you know or can learn to your business or your little sector of this industry. The answer is- you shouldn’t. We have found that most agents are willing to discuss the strange quirks of the artists because at the end of the day, they want you to have a pleasant experience working with them. Find out when you should go to a major agency and when you might be better off using a preferred middle agent. Learn marketing techniques that major performing arts theaters and casinos use that could apply to your niche. Learn from major corporate buyers how to gently let their clients know they have chosen the wrong act for their event and how to convince them to substitute something more appropriate or more affordable. Every session at AEP is completely interactive and exceptionally well-received.
“What An Experience! The Very First AEP Well Exceeded My Expectations. I Learned So Much And The Diversity Of The Market, Place And People Was Absolutely Incredible.” Steve Bailey, The Grand Opera House
Disney’s Troy Pederson enlighten’s the delegates on how to program for family audiences.
Nancy Hays explains the needs of an agent representing talent in a corporate environment.
The Freeman Company’s Judy Thee tells delegates her clients are also interested in cutting-edge new talent.
Campus Buyers explain why routed dates are so important for colleges and universities.
2012 SHOWCASE OPPORTUNITIES
AEP didn’t start without knowing we needed to connectArtists with leaders from allcan segments of the market-for only a $65 application fee. If an artist is and agencies apply for showcase place who had experience and the respect of selected for showcase, either the artist or others the submitting agency must pay the showcase fee in and theirthe partexhibit of the fee. industry. sought outartists profesEveryWe showcasing must be represented in the Exhibit Area by a sionals with solid track records on both the buying knowledgeable agent who has the responsibility of negotiating rates, dates and contractual and selling sides of the entertainment equationmore be- than one showcase are only required to agreements. Agencies who are awarded cause onehave sideone could not exist without the other. In exhibit booth but multiple booths are available at discounted rates. addition we found an experienced full-time Executive Director and added the marketing expertise the Upon being notified of acceptance, theof artist/agency has ten (10) days to confirm the two mostshowcase prominent and industry publications dedicated pay the fees before the next alternate would be given the spot. solely to entertainment.
ALL SHOWCASE APPLICATIONS MUST BE IN BY JULY 20, 2012 Here you will find our current National Advisory Board must provide complete information required in the online showcase All showcase applicants package. All showcasing artists and alternates are selected by a committee of entertainment professionals. Alternates will be notified in order of priority should a showcasing artist be unable to appear. Those alternates should have a complete 15-minute program ready.
AEP WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP SOLID FROM THE GROUND UP
• Jackie Miller-Knobbe, Senior VP of Comedy, Agency For The Performing Arts (APA) , Beverly Hills CA • Tom Faessel, Director of Residence Life & Programming, University of Akron, Akron OH • Varlene Hartley, Office Specialist, Commons & Student Activities, University of West Florida, Pennsacola FL DANIEL MARTIN • Nathan Hanke, Assist. Director, Office of Civic Engagement, Diversity and Involvement, University of Nevada, Las Vegas NV • Judy Thee, VP Entertainment, The Freeman Company Worldwide, Orlando FL SEVEN BRIDGES • Nancy Hayes, President, Nancy Hayes Entertainment, Chicago IL • Steve Bailey, Executive Director, The Grand Opera House, Wilmington DE • Robert Hulsmeyer, Senior Partner / Owner, Empire Force Events, New York NY • Andrea Michaels, President, Extraordinary Events, Los Angeles CA, BOARD VICE-CHAIR • Sam Trego, President, Imagination Entertainment, San Diego CA, BOARD CHAIR • Deborah Smith, Executive Director, The Historic Newberry Opera House, Newberry SC • Rick Stowe, Vice President, EastCoast Entertainment, Atlanta GA • Anthony Gibson, Executive Entertainment Director at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Biloxi MS (Consultant ToSUPER The Board) MIKE
Staff: • Leona Plaugh, Partner & Executive Director AEP, • W.C. Kirby, AEP Partner, President of Cameo Publishing • Ian Kirby, Director of Association Development, Editor of Campus Activities and American Entertainment Magazines
Contributing Sponsors: CelebrityAccess®, Campus Activities Magazine®, American Entertainment Magazine Host Campus: University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV Session Producer: Bob Higa Showcase Coordinator: Barbara Banta
2012 SHOWCASE GUIDELINES Each showcasing artist is provided with Standard AEP Back Line as indicated by the Showcase Producer. Any additional needs must be agreed upon by the showcase producer and the facility and is the expense of the act/agency. Each act will be assigned a sound check slot. No act may perform without a sound check. Failure to make your sound check will result in the next alternate being awarded your slot. Showcase fees are non-refundable. ALL Showcases are 15 minutes. A countdown clock will be provided to allow sufficient time to end your set in the allotted time. Failure to do so can result in the sound being cut to allow the showcase to remain on schedule. FOR DETAILS AND TO APPLY FOR SHOWCASE OR AN EXHIBIT BOOTH GO TO SHOWCASE LINK: http://bit.ly/JUlrf8 OR CALL (803) 782-1947 SHOWCASE LINK ONLINE AT: aepworldwide.org
Showcase Application Fee is Non-Refundable. Once A Showcase/Exhibit Slot Is Accepted, Those Fees are Non-Refundable.
BELLA ELECTRIC STRINGS
FINIS HENDERSON
ALYSSA BENTLEY
THE AEP WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP AEP didn’t start without knowing we needed to connect with leaders from all segments of the marketplace who had experience and the respect of others in their part of the industry. We sought out professionals with solid track records on both the buying and selling sides of the entertainment equation because one side could not exist without the other. In addition we found an experienced full-time Executive Director and added the marketing expertise of the two most prominent industry publications dedicated solely to entertainment.
National Advisory Board
AEP WORLDWIDE LEADERSHIP SOLID FROM THE GROUND UP
• Jackie Miller-Knobbe, Senior VP of Comedy, Agency For The Performing Arts (APA) , Beverly Hills CA • Tom Faessel, Director of Residence Life & Programming, University of Akron, Akron OH • Troy Pederson, casting Director, Walt Disney Company, Lake Buena Vista FL • Donielle Ojeah Bell, Senior Coordinator of Student Affairs, University of Georgia, Athens, GA • Mark Felix, Director: Dury Entertainment Group, Drury Design Dynamics, Inc., New York, NY • Douglas Hall, Principal, TalentPlus Entertainment LLC, St. Louis, MO • Nathan Hanke, Assist. Director, Office of Civic Engagement, Diversity and Involvement, University of Nevada, Las Vegas NV • Judy Thee, VP Entertainment, The Freeman Company Worldwide, Orlando FL • Nancy Hayes, President, Nancy Hayes Entertainment, Chicago IL • Steve Bailey, Executive Director, The Grand Opera House, Wilmington DE • Robert Hulsmeyer, Senior Partner / Owner, Empire Force Events, New York NY • Andrea Michaels, President, Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks CA, BOARD VICE-CHAIR • Sam Trego, President, Imagination Entertainment, San Diego CA, BOARD CHAIR • Deborah Smith, Executive Director, The Historic Newberry Opera House, Newberry SC • Joseph McGibboney, Program Coordinator, Florida Gulf Coast University, Fort Meyers FL • Rick Stowe, Vice President, EastCoast Entertainment, Atlanta GA • Barbara Meyer, President, Admire Entertainment, Palisades NY • Jon Michaels, Vice President, Extraordinary Events, Sherman Oaks CA • Anthony Gibson, Executive Entertainment Director at Beau Rivage Resort & Casino (MGM Resort Intl), Biloxi MS
Staff: • Leona Plaugh, AEP Partner & Executive Director AEP, • W.C. Kirby, AEP Partner, President of Cameo Publishing • Ian Kirby, Director of Assoc. Development, Editor of Campus Activities and American Entertainment Magazines Contributing Sponsors: CelebrityAccess®, Campus Activities Magazine®, American Entertainment Magazine Host Campus: University of Nevada at Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV Session Producer: Bob Higa Showcase Coordinator: Barbara Banta
A VISUAL LOOK BACK AT 2011 ALL PERFORMANCE PHOTOS COURTESY OF IAN KIRBY
RONDELL SHERIDAN
THE PIVERALS CHRISTOPHER CARTER
ADAM ACE
HERE COME THE MUMMIES
KENNY JAMES
JAMES GALEA
REBECCA CORRY
JAMES GREGORY
AEP “MEET & GREETS” AFTER SHOWCASES ARE AN EXCELLENT TIME TO VISIT WITH ARTISTS WHO JUST PERFORMED AND THEIR AGENCIES TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW THE ACT CAN FIT YOUR NEEDS.
The goal of AEP Worldwide is to bring the industry together. Too long have each of us lived in our own little worlds not realizing we could learn, teach and benefit from a relationship which involves us all...every segment, both buyers and sellers of entertainment and products and services related to these markets. The world has changed and we need to adapt – not only to survive but to make sure that live entertainment remains strong and viable. We hope you will join us in forming a connection that will make all of us stronger, better informed and more relatable to all our markets.