Artists & Talent & Celebrities Archives

Gambling on the Casino Market

August 19, 2014 | By Felicia Barlow Clar | Leave a Comment

I admit it. I’ve been procrastinating writing this blog. Why? I wasn’t sure I knew enough about the specifics of the casino and cruise markets. I thought carefully and realized, I can write about these markets from an entertainment buyer’s perspective — mine — as well as marketing insight. Perhaps I can enlighten about the business of entertainment. What I’ve discovered is how very similar these two markets are, and for the sake of keeping the blogs to a reasonable length, I’ve decided to split them into two.

Viva Las Vegas!

The casino and cruise line markets have a lot in common. Both are complicated because within both markets, there is a vast variety. No two venues or corporations are exactly alike so it’s difficult to pin point what an entertainment buyer is seeking. Consider the casino market.

Entertainment Markets 101

July 22, 2014 | By Felicia Barlow Clar | Leave a Comment

Continuing from my last post, there are many markets now available to entertainers. These include college performing arts centers and festivals.

1920px-Clarice_Smith_Performing_Arts_Center

Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center @ University of Maryland College Park

If you have the passion and talent, I do believe you can find an audience. There is the college market…and there is the formal college arts center market. Two completely separate markets.

Universities and colleges have discovered that if they build a performing arts center, they not only attract the community (and make money), they can also attract a specific type of student — those that become innovators, risk takers and creatives — and the school builds a unique brand and differentiates itself.

The informed and willing college president or dean is aware they can advance their institution’s mission through the arts. This is something that is being deeply researched and explored; a few major research universities and leading art funders, including the Ford Foundation and Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, have joined together to form a national network “to support the integration of artists and arts practices…and have created taskforces to elevate and integrate the arts and creativity across campus.” So where do you, the entertainer, fit in?

So You Want To Be An Entertainer?

July 8, 2014 | By Felicia Barlow Clar | Leave a Comment

It’s a great time to be an artist!

Recently, I did one of my favorite things — attended an entertainment conference. Typically, this conference is held in Las Vegas, by many accounts, the entertainment capital of the United States. But this year, my beloved group of AEP colleagues decided we would gather in Wilmington, Delaware. In less than 2 hours and with a $34 EZ Pass, I was on my way to discovering loads of new talent! Entertainment is no longer limited to major cities or music venues.

Tim Decker

If you’ve ever considered becoming an entertainer, now is a good time. Why? Because so much is accessible, affordable, and there is a demand that is only limited by the imagination. Take, for example, painting. Who would have ever thought that watching paint dry would be exciting?! Yet gifted painter Tim Decker made his showcase minutes fly by. Okay, we really didn’t watch paint dry. Tim is a nationally touring speed painter. If you’ve never seen or heard of this craft, it is nothing less than mesmerizing. Many of these artists paint icons and well known figures, and they do it upside down, keeping their audience guessing. Add some music and humor and you’ve got a captive group. Most of the time, the finished painting becomes a fundraising item or gift for an audience member.

You may be wondering…where do I see one of these artists? More than likely, you would catch them at a “corporate event.” Many major organizations, such as Bridgestone, GNC and unions, hire talent such as this to entertain their guests during annual conventions, fundraisers, or galas. Yes, that’s right. Bars, venues and performing arts centers are no longer the only game in town. The world has exploded with possibilities.

Mega Mega Mega

March 6, 2014 | By Felicia Barlow Clar | Leave a Comment

As far as I know, Steve Wozniak doesn’t give many interviews.

So taking a trip to Johannesburg, South Africa for a business conference and then having the opportunity to hear the Woz’s firsthand account of the building of a global brand was more than exciting.

Full disclosure: I love my MAC and I love my iPhone. Two years ago, when my latest mega media PC died after 5 years of nominal use, I decided I needed a MAC. I hadn’t heard any complaints about viruses or obscurity after a few years of use, so it was time to make the investment. I couldn’t be happier. My MAC is easy, which was precisely the point when engineered.

Steve Wozniak is someone who quite literally changed the world.

His engineering brilliance coupled with Steve Job’s marketing and business genius shifted the way we all work, interact, have fun, do research, and now, watch television. But it didn’t happen overnight.