Planning an Octoberfest in your country

For 2010 your Octoberfest planning may already have been finished. However, with this year’s experience, I would like to suggest a few things that you could possibly consider next time:

1. Start early
When planning an Octoberfest, be aware that the “real” Octoberfest in Munich might take place at the same time as your event. Thus, most of the talent and shows may already be booked. Start at last around April/May of the same year to book your shows before anybody else does.

2. Have a definite date
You will spare yourself and others a lot of hassle if you first define a date before you inquire about any third party services. Such services may not be available at any day.

3. Consult an expert
From one country to another things usually get blurred and so does “tradition”. Just think of what is traditional in your country and then get an impression of how other countries have adapted it. For example, chicken isn’t very Italian, however, in many countries chicken gets served as typical Italian Cuisine. If you are not sure about what is typically “Bavarian” or typically “Octoberfest” like, feel free to consult experts, such as artist agencies specializing in Bavarian entertainment, catering services with a Bavarian background or any supplier who is really familiar with the topic. Your Octoberfest event will be more authentic than when you just rely on somebody’s guess.

4. Costs
You will find out that the most authentic show acts can be found directly in the Octoberfest capital: Munich, Germany. When booking such performers, keep in mind that you will have to book (and pay) flights (including return flights), organize airport/hotel transfers and accommodation for which additional costs will occur.

5. Down payment
Most service and talent providers overseas ask for a down payment in advance (full or in parts) to be on the safe side before travelling to your country. You may understand that going after your money in another country is quite difficult.

I hope this will help you a little to get your Octoberfest planning done. Feel free to contact me through www.gtoentertainment.com/contact.html if you have any questions.

Best,
Julian Lieb
G.T.O. Entertainment, Germany

German PRO GEMA to raise fees by 600%

German performing rights organisation GEMA has passed a new bill about fees for live performances to be raised by up to 600% by 2014. The currently strong concert and live music market seemingly has to compensate for the dramatic decline in mechanical royalties.

Considering the fact that due to numerous “extra” statutory fees profits for German concert organizers are rather tight, with a 600% raise in charges hardly any concert – big or small – will ever break even. In addition to this GEMA is also going to take a cut from merchandise sales and sponsoring monies. Not bad for a “private” organisation. I can’t do that… Any such practices known from ASCAP, BMI or other PRO?

Julian Lieb
www.gtoentertainment.com

Music Licensing For Action Scenes

A little off-topic feature:

What kind of music would a film maker be using for scenes with car chases, airborne speedboats with helpless pilots or a naked skydiver whose parachute won’t open?

With SoundsOfAction.com rock musician and German Rock Awards nominee Julian Angel has started a music library that caters to the action niche. Music supervisors and producers of all sorts of media can make a find in a fine selection of fast and furious guitar driven music.

“Being a rock musician I am just doing what I’m best at” Julian Angel says and continues to explain his idea: “The independent music licensing market is a busy place for electronic musicians who are already doing a great job. I could hardly find any rock music with real instruments, though, so I just thought I had to come up with a string of heavy tracks.”

At its launch soundsofaction.com features four action-themed albums which can be streamed for preview. In order to save music users from any hassle the library’s website also offers free test versions of every piece of music downloadable at no obligation.

So the idea of soundsofaction.com is set to hit home for producers of moving pictures with an affinity for the “loud” and the “fast” in music.

Website: www.soundsofaction.com
Demo: www.soundsofaction.com/demo/Demo_SoundsOfAction_com.mp3

Optimistic prognosis for event industry

According to a study conducted by TNS Infratest in Germany event businesses are looking ahead with optimism.

Despite the current decline 84% of the queried event companies in Germany believe in corporate  events being an essential element of branding and brand- and product marketing in the future.

The term “future” is said to be the year 2010. Be it another “crisis” year or not, marketers believe that marketing and promotion will take a more personal, direct and tangible approach which events will be an ideal tool for. Already by 2010 the event marketing budgets of 2008 shall be met again.

Source: memo-media

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment

Crisis Hits Event Business

There’s no doubt the economic crisis has affected the business of events and trade shows.
A certain restraint can not be denied these days which results in less inquiries for event planning, stage production, caterering and entertainment performances.

It seems the only way we can deal with this is by accepting the current low we find ourselves in and offer appropriate services during the crisis and – plan for the time after.

At this moment we should accept that there is only request for “small” and “low budget” events and we have to take some kind of back-to-basics approach when serving our clients: Less glitz, but more effect.

The glitz, the glamour, the bombastic “money is no object” perspective must be saved for later. It should.

History shows that depressions have always been followed by states of pageantry, a time or era worth preparing for – if we manage to survive the current state.

So whether we are planners, organizers, producers, caterers or artists, we should not let go of those great, expensive ideas we have in mind. This is the “low” – or as Seth Godin calls it the “dip” that can give us time and energy to work on bigger plans for bigger times.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed that they will come.

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment

Germany to discard frequenzy band for wireless microphones

On May 15 2009 the German government will decide about a bill of closing down the frequency band for wireless microphones by the end of 2009 and making it accessible to mobile telecommunication instead.

This will result in huge financial damages to the entertainment industry (in the range of billions), currently Germany’s third largest economic sector.

Besides that foreign entertainers and show producers will have to be aware of interferences and statutory fines.

The frequency range affected is 790 to 862 MHz and the bill does not provide for an alternate range.

Manufacturers and entertainment associations (including television programs and shows) are currently seeking a dialogue with politicians to save their range.

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment

Event promotion in outer space

March 25, 2009: A Sojus space shuttle launched in Kasachstan is carrying a brochure into outer space. The brochure promotes the “Tag der Sachsen” (Day of the Saxons), a six day expo and entertainment event in the German Bundesland of Saxony taking place from September 4 through 9 this year.

The brochure is said to be taken to the space station ISS, be stamped there and taken back to earth again. Of course, no alien is going to read that piece of promotion nor will any green men attend that event. It’s about the publicity, German newspapers and television are still spreading the “news”.

I think this idea is pretty cool: Do something strange that everyone will talk about and so spread the message.

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment

Corporate Events during the crisis – Part 2: cut it down with style

Cut it down – to size.
Extra large super-glamorous locations sure are impressive. Holding an event there everybody will assume you have the money. It’s like driving a big car, wearing designer clothes etc.

How about, though, if you make your event a win-win experience instead of a one-sided bragging?
You could invite your guests to a smaller venue with less glitz but a more familiar, we-all-feel-in-touch atmosphere. A place that really inspires conversations. Less distance between guests so that everyone can easily join any discussion. After all, besides all the partying, conversations and making new contacts is what your guests are here for.

Yet such a “cosy” venue doesn’t have to be a run-down local bar or restaurant. All I say is that it is a good idea to replace a too-big non-personal venue by a smaller one that really fits: One that fits your company’s style and image. A venue that allows creating and using a theme around your company and its field of expertise, a venue that can be used in a way to reflect your work, your current projects etc.  This will at least give your guests a clue about why they are here, the occasion for your celebration.

Imagine holding your welcome speech without a microphone because you can be heard all over the place anyway. Bad? How about the personal touch of it? The chance of your guests to comment and interact? Doesn’t this create the involvement, the “togetherness” you are aiming for?

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment

Corporate Events during the crisis – Part 1: be creative

Like I mentioned earlier, there is no need for entertainment, but we all love it. The same goes for corporate events, besides the fact that they can connect people and deepen existing relationships.

So for those who still want to meet, present or celebrate during these times of cuttings expenses, there is still a way.

Corporate events used to be extremely expensive, mainly because planners and producers were charging utopic prices. I just received a price list from a competitor who charges twice as much for the same band as we do.

Of course, some things will always be expensive. For everything else the solution is creativity. It’s like decorating your living room – creativity (if existing) can always outdo big budgets.

Instead of offering a fancy looking buffet have something that really tastes great and present it the right way.
Instead of booking a celebrity show act find an up and coming artist who’s performance really matters.
Instead of renting extra large flashy LED devices for decoration create a “just nice” but familiar surrounding.
Turn off half the lights and light candles.

Remember the guys in school who couldn’t afford the latest fashion but managed to look cool anyway? Think like them…

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment

Manga invasion and cosplay at Leipzig Book Fair 2009

Mangas and Japanese Comic art has been one of the featured highlights at this year’s Book Fair in Leipzig, Germany.
The fair which took place from March 12 through 15, 2009 featured a Manga drawing  and cosplay contest under the aegis of Dr. Takahiro Shinyo, Japanese embassador in Germany.

Hundreds of fancy-dressed Manga fans appeared and created an event of its own celebrating the popularity of Japanese comics in Germany and Europe.

The Leipzig Book Fair is one of the major international trade shows in Germany with 2,000+ exhibitors and a four day attendance of approximately 120,000 visitors. Compared to the Frankfurt Book Fair the Leipzig Fair mainly focuses on youth-, children- and educational books.

Julian Lieb – G.T.O. Entertainment