Held at the gorgeous Annenberg Community Beach House in Santa Monica, the dawn-to-dusk event consisted of a series of panels and keynotes featuring industry insiders, as well as interactive fashion showcases by participating sponsors.

Designer Zac Posen kicked off the event with a keynote address regarding what bloggers mean to fashion and the effects of social media. Randi Zuckerberg, Former Head of Marketing at Facebook and Founder and CEO of R to Z Studios, followed Posen with an address on using social media to build your business.

Celebrity spotlights included a conversation with Jessica Alba, a conversation with “Mad Men’s” Kiernan Shipka and costume designer Janie Bryant on the styling of the costumes on “Mad Men,” and a conversation with Elizabeth Banks on her film career, and her fashion and food blog, ElizabethBanks.com.

The sponsors onsite held a sleuth of fun and fashionable activities. LeSportsac revealed their new line of bags designed by Manoush. Manoush, a French brand, traveled to Morocco and was inspired to create a gypsy-inspired bohemian line of bags. She worked with LeSportsac to design the bags, which will be available for the next year. To celebrate the new line, LeSportsac dolled out delectable cakes from Vanilla Bake Shop in Santa Monica, as well as complimentary 24 karat glittering manicures. Marketing and Public Relations guru for LeSportsac, Paula Spadaccini, told us a little bit about what it’s like to plan events for the adorable line:

“We’ve done a lot of big events, especially when collaborating with other designers,” said Spadaccini,. “We’ve done a lot of international events. We had a big event in Tokyo for our artist-in-residence, Kate Sutton. Over 200 attended, and it was in our store in Tokyo. The trickiest part about planning the event was the general global logistics, particularly since we were all working on different time schedules. But it all worked out in the end and it was a great event!”

Other onsite sponsors included P&G, which was home to a pop-up beauty shop complete with sample products from COVERGIRL, Olay, Pantene, and Venus. Tacori previewed their newest collection of jewels, where participants could deck themselves out in their favorites and pose for a glamorous head shot. Miss Me jeans had participants design their own western themed bags, while Jellypop shoes had their most adorable spring and fall styles on display, and even had participants pose in a fun photo shoot showing off their favorite pair. Jellypop is becoming quickly known for their gifting events, and in the last year held gifting events at The Golden Globe Awards and for DSW.

One of the most unique interactive displays was the Michael Stars virtual dressing room. The Michael Stars virtual dressing room allowed visitors to digitally try on looks from their summer collection.

“The virtual dressing room is called swivel, and it allows you to quickly assemble a number of looks from a whole catalogue of clothing and accessories,” explained Tom Chamberlain, VP of Business Development of FaceCake, who is currently working with the swivel dressing rooms. “We have noticed that a lot of retailers really like these as they are highly engaging and do a lot of things that a regular dressing room can’t–you can try on things from all over the store, without having to bring them in with you. You can easily share your pictures on social media with friends. We have had these at numerous events, and they are great fun for big events.”

Finally, the House of Zappos had a full tour of their latest designs and collections, and spoke with us about their exciting upcoming events (stay tuned for an exclusive interview on how they’re planned!) The entire evening finished with a cocktail reception and a performance by A Fine Frenzy. We had an absolutely wonderful time, and we thank Lucky Magazine for hosting such a chic event!

(Mad Men’s Janie Bryant & Kiernan Shipka on left; Designer Zac Posen on right)

(Randi Zuckerberg presentation – image courtesy of runningonhappiness.com)

(A Fine Frenzy performance – image courtesy of runningonhappiness.com)

(Jessica Alba panel at fabb – image courtesy of runningonhappiness.com)

(Sponsors reveal new product lines)

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

The Orange County Fair, also known as the OC Fair, is a 23-day annual fair that is held at the OC Fair & Event Center every summer. The Fair was first held in 1890 in Santa Ana, and included a few livestock exhibits and a horse race. Since then, it has grown to become the ninth-largest fair in the United States, and had over a million guests come last year. A few of the main highlights of the fair include the diverse food vendors, selling everything from deep fried butter to turkey legs, the annual competitions and contests, the wild rides and games, and the award winning performers who light up the stage at the Pacific Amphitheatre. The OC Fair will be held from July 13-August 12, 2012, and will be open Wednesday to Sunday.

In this interview, Robin and her staff share their expert tips and insights in how to plan a successful county fair:

Sarah: How is the theme for the fair selected every year? For instance, why was last year’s themed “Let’s Eat!” Why is this year’s themed “Home Sweet Home?”

Robin: The theme is typically selected by the CEO and executed by the senior management team. Last year’s theme was chosen due to the popularity of Fair food and turned out to be the highest attended OC Fair to date. Home Sweet Home celebrates our Orange County history as well as the fact that the fairgrounds were not sold and the sale was cancelled in 2011.

Sarah: Which events (besides The OC Fair) does the event planning team actually plan?

Robin: In addition to the annual summer OC Fair, the team is also responsible for the New Year’s Eve Block Party and the Youth Expo Experience each year. Throughout the year, a portion of the staff is also dedicated to the onsite Centennial Farm, a four-acre demonstration farm with gardens and livestock, and its educational programs. The other 100+ events are done by outside promoters but most departments have a hand in planning these as well.

Sarah: How do you select the various food vendors for the OC Fair? Which vendors, in your opinion, offer some of the most colorful dishes?

Robin: Hundreds of applications are submitted each year to the OC Fair’s Commercial & Concessions Department and from these submissions they will select a diverse mix of food vendors in an effort to offer OC Fair goers a unique culinary experience. The most popular Fair food items have regularly been funnel cake, corn dog and deep-fried concoctions. A few vendors who are most popular either because of their uniqueness or their traditional Fair menu include: Chicken Charlie’s, Bacon A-Fair (formerly Deep-Fried Butter), Chuck Wagon BBQ and Tasti Chips.

Sarah: Can you tell me a little bit about the various contests and competitions that the OC Fair holds every year? What are some of the most popular competitions? Who judges them? And how have you created the competitions over the years?

Robin: The OC Fair’s competitive entries cover a wide range of talents and skills including baking, cooking, quilting, sewing, photography, woodworking, painting, jewelry-making, gardening and raising livestock. Each competition is judged by a panel of professionals or veterans in that field. Contests, on the contrary, are less formal and allow for Fair goers to simply have fun. These contests have no entry fees and generally happen live at the Fair and on-the-spot. Many are geared toward children with arts and crafts challenges and on Seniors Days (Friday) games just for older guests are held including grapefruit bowling.

Sarah: I noticed in addition to some well-known entertainers, the OC Fair also features a few local entertainers. How are these entertainers selected, and do you ever have repeat entertainers?

Robin: The Community Entertainment program features a variety of local talent, including children’s dance troupes, bands, ukulele players, mariachi and Polynesian dancers, martial arts demonstrations and more. Applications to perform for free as a community entertainer are due the March before each Fair. Performers are booked until all performance times are filled on the various stages. The OC Fair does also offer paid entertainment free with Fair admission like dueling pianos, comedy hypnotist and acrobats.

Sarah: How are the vendors who supply the rides and games selected? Do they all come from the same vendor? And which rides and games are some of your favorites?

Robin: Ray Cammack Shows, Inc. of Laveen, Arizona, is the OC Fair’s contracted carnival operator and has been in the fair industry for almost 50 years. They own and maintain every ride and every game offered in both the Kiddie Carnival and the Main Carnival at the OC Fair. The most popular rides have been the La Grande Wheel, Sky Ride, Hi Miler, Euroslide, Lil Dipper and Bumble Bees.

Sarah: I have noticed every year that the OC Fair features a ‘marketplace,’ of sorts where vendors come from all around to sell various goods. What is the planning process for this ‘marketplace’ like?

Robin: The OC Fair has three buildings and one outdoor area where Fair goers can get their shopping fix. In the Carnival, Parade and Festival of Products, Fair goers can find innovative kitchen gadgets, dried foods and seasonings, home décor, farm and garden, jewelry and more. In the Marketplace Village, the Orange County Market Place, the OC Fair & Event Center’s year-round partner, offers a taste of some of the vendors that participate in their weekend swap meet that is held regularly outside the OC Fair.

Sarah: In addition to local entertainers, the Pacific Amphitheatre holds larger concerts featuring a few well-known names. How does the planning process for these concerts differ from the ones featuring local entertainers?

Robin: The OC Fair features three unique venues each offering their own lineup of additional entertainment for Fair goers wanting more than just the Fair. In the Pacific Amphitheatre, the Fair books headline acts like Duran Duran, Sheryl Crow, Black Eyed Peas, Bob Dylan, ZZ Top, Martina McBride, Bill Cosby and “Weird Al” Yankovic. In The Hangar, the OC Fair’s newest venue, music lovers can enjoy tribute bands covering U2, Prince, Journey, Led Zeppelin, No Doubt, Elton John and Rolling Stones. Then in the Action Sports Arena, the Fair offers the popular demolition derbies, speedway, canine agility shows, mixed martial arts and skateboarding and BMX contests.

Sarah: The OC Fair is known for bringing out a more rural side of Orange County, featuring rodeos and livestock competitions. Could you ever imagine the Fair without these events, and if not, why?

Robin: The OC Fair prides itself on offering a diverse summer experience that includes a mix of the new and the old. Livestock competitions and exhibits are an important part of the OC Fair and the whole fair industry’s heritage and are a popular feature for locals who may not get the chance to experience the “country” life on their own.

Thank you Robin and the Communications team for sharing your insights; and we wish you much continued success with the OC Fair!

(Images from New Year’s Eve – courtesy of the OC Fair & Event Center)

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

And along with summer comes all of those fabulous events ranging from weddings, barbeques, 4^th of July parties, Labor Day parties… the list is endless!

One of the key components to planning any beautiful summer soiree is having a lush floral arrangement. Flowers have the ability to brighten up any occasion and boast life and texture into any centerpiece. However, knowing exactly which combination of summer flowers–and how to arrange them–can be a bit of a challenge. Each year, trends and flowers tend to change–but certain flowers and styles do remain consistently stylish.

To get the latest tips on how to create stunning summer floral arrangements, we spoke with Co-Owner and Florist Shelby Nolan of Green Leaf Designs in Huntington Beach, CA. Shelby and her co-owner Erika Aspe, specialize in creating gorgeous floral arrangements for weddings and other events, including the U.S. Open of Surfing. Nolan shared with us some of her tips on designing the perfect summer floral arrangement.

“One of the most popular flowers used for summer arrangements are dahilas,” explains Nolan. “One of my top favorite kinds of dahilas is the caffe dahila. It’s just so big, fluffy, creamy and peachy! I also love to incorporate wild flowers into my designs create the feel of summer fields. It’s simply beautiful.”

Although the most fashionable flowers do tend to change by year, there are a number of flowers that can be used for summer arrangements that are timeless. A few of these include scabiosa pods, garden roses, cattelya orchids, phalaenopsis orchids. In recent years, the incorporation of mixing silk flowers with fresh flowers has become a trend, but Nolan notes that there is a proper way to create this arrangement.

“I am not really a fan of mixing silks with fresh flowers,” says Nolan. “But on a really hot summer day I would be open to using silks tucked in deep to the floral design, with your fresh flowers out in front as the focal point.”

When showcasing your summer flowers, there a number of arrangements that can be used to reflect the season as well as shine a spotlight on the flowers. Nolan predicts that a few of this summer’s leading trends will include arrangements based around mason jars, and the use of old bottles with a single bloom set in them.

“I love the way that an old bottle with a single flower in it looks,” says Nolan. “Especially when the bottles are grouped together. For added texture, I wrap some twine around the bottle to really make it pop!”

To create a reflection of the summer season in your floral arrangements, Nolan recommends the use of summer sand.

“I love using aquarium sand to give the feel of the beach,” says Nolan. The sand helps separate the water, making the water look crystal clear. Be sure to add some bamboo with tropical flowers and you’ll get the feel of paradise!”

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

Either way, what seems clear is that the larger than life surprise from the first weekend of the 2012 Coachella Valley Music Festival likely provided a glimpse of what is to come in the event industry’s future.

Now, yes this five-minute experiment did reportedly cost Dr. Dre and company well over $100,000 to pull off but with James Cameron’s Digital Domain Media Group behind it, you can be sure that the ultimate goal is massive commercial success and exposure. And in order to achieve that, there has got to be more than one Tupac performance to go around.

It turns out this hologram surprise was not actually a hologram afterall.

It was in fact a projected 2D image built by a seven-time Oscar winning effects team – brought to life by combining today’s technology with 19^th century smoke-and-mirrors trickery (please reserve your smoke puns for another site). This is the same group that’s responsible for trailblazing special effects in movies like The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Transformers, Tron: Legacy, and Titanic.

Once the CGI Tupac was built, a company called AV Concepts projected it onto the stage using “an angled piece of glass placed on the stage to reflect a projector image onto a screen that looks invisible to the audience,” per the Washington Post.

Digital Domain’s chief creative officer Ed Ulbrich has made quite clear to the Wall Street Journal (the one media outlet he spoke to afterward) that the visage was not just a projection of found or archival footage. It was a completely fresh performance created exclusively for Coachella fans. That means there is more original material to come and new directions to explore – especially considering the immense buzz already generated from the five-minute unveiling. And per Dr. Dre, the creative force behind it all, there is a massive vision for how this recent hologram feat will continue to play out… which right now seems to be leaning towards taking Tupac on tour.

So how will this affect the events industry you ask? Well for starters, the technology and materials needed to pull off the illusion are all commonplace and often used in the events industryand audio/visual communities today. It’s the application, creativity and shock of it all that brought the technology to the forefront last weekend.

For now its likely too cost-prohibitive to attempt with just any budget, but like most innovations it will only get more efficient and cheaper to produce in due time. What today may be deceased rap icons like Tupac and Nate Dogg, may tomorrow be deceased guest speakers like Edison, John Wooden, and Benjamin Franklin.

Press play to watch video:

After the success of promoting their 1920s drama “Boardwalk Empire” as a museum exhibit, HBO has once again turned its New York retail store into a display featuring props and costumes from one of its top shows. To celebrate the launch of season two of “Game of Thrones,” HBO has adorned the walls of its Sixth Avenue store with props, costumes and even a severed head from the popular fantasy series, along with promotional t-shirts, mugs, and DVD’s.

Stand-out exhibits include Ned Stark’s Hand of the King pin, a horn goblet (a favorite among Northern lords), winter fell mugs, King Renley’s gorget, robe and crown, Dany’s dragon eggs, and perhaps the most shocking exhibit of all, a replica of the head of Ned Burns.

In addition to the props, the exhibit also features Michele Clapton’s elaborately designed costumes. The presentation of Clapton’s designs was a strong strategic move by the network’s marketing team, who is currently planning to launch a consumer line in collaboration with Clapton. The line will include wearable pieces inspired by the show’s costumes.

The exhibit was designed to give fans a behind-the-scenes look at the production of the show, as well as publicize the accompanying merchandise line.

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

Veronica Vargas started Mon Ami Events in 2010 and it has quickly picked up momentum in the Southern California area. Then earlier this year, capitalizing on her planning company’s success, Veronica started Birdie’s Bakery as a complimentary business.

In talking with some of our readers, we know many of you find yourselves in similar situations where you are not happy in your current or past profession and are ready for a change. You know you want to become an event planner but do not know what early steps to take as you are blueprinting your business.

This interview is one you should especially read.

After law school and working at several companies, Veronica was ready to step out on her own and do what she truly loves – plan events. How did she know she was good at it? She had been planning all types of family events and family parties her whole life.

Best of all, Veronica was able to get her planning company off the ground while being a stay-at-home mom. Talk about impressive time management and organization.

Mon Ami Events does a good share of business with non-profit organizations, and has an affordable pricing structure which caters appropriately to different types of clients. These items, along with smart marketing has led to Veronica’s early success.

Enjoy our Q&A session:

Max: Let’s start out with how you decided upon the names of both of your companies: Mon Ami and Birdie’s Bakery. What is the meaning behind both names?

Veronica: I really wanted a French word for the event planning business because I love the way the language sounds. Mon Ami translates as “my friend” and I thought it fit the type of event planning I wanted to do… I wanted to feel like a friend to the client, so that both parties were comfortable and open with one another.

Growing up, my brother called me Birdie… no one ever knew why and we still have no idea to this day.  But it was always a nickname for me. I thought it would be cute to use it as my bakery name; and so “Birdie’s Bakery” was born.

Max: When you were first starting Mon Ami Events, what was the most difficult thing about starting your own business?

Veronica: Figuring out where to market and who to market to was definitely a challenge. At first, I just put up ads as a general event planner and hoped for the best. Now, I have been able to narrow down where I need to be marketing and to which specific groups of people. It has definitely gotten a lot easier… thank goodness!

Max: Now that your event planning business has good momentum and Birdie’s Bakery is off the ground, can you describe what your current day-to-day is like?

Veronica: Emails, phone calls, emails, baking and more emails… haha. But, that’s basically what it’s like. I also am a stay-at-home mom, so I have a lot of challenges throughout the day. My son ALWAYS comes first, so I really have to plan out my weeks as far as when I’m meeting a client, baking for a party or event, speaking with a potential client, etc. It can be overwhelming sometimes, but I love the challenge and I am very grateful that I am becoming successful as an entrepreneur and stay-at-home mom.

Max: What do you think is the most difficult thing about being an event planner?

Veronica: Envisioning an event to be a certain way, then having your client have a completely different vision. Part of the reason that my clients appreciate me so much is because I am creative and come up with ideas that they may have never thought of. However, I sometimes want something and am so set on it being great for the event… then, my client wants something completely different. Of course, it’s all about what the client wants, so there is never an issue. BUT, it’s definitely hard to let go of an idea that I believed would be amazing.

Max: What is your favorite part about being an event planner?

Veronica: Every day is a new day! I never get bored and never run out of ideas. I am so thankful to be in a business where each day brings a new adventure. I also love that I get to meet so many new people and learn about so many different entertainment options that are available.

Max: What have you found to be some of the bigger differences between working with non-profit events and other types of events?

Veronica: Non-profit events definitely take a lot more time and effort, but the payoff is huge! All of my clients have been so appreciative of my work and efforts, but I think the non-profit organizations show it a bit more because they too realize how much effort it takes.  It’s also great to see how much the community donates for non-profit organizations.

Max: When working with non-profit organizations, typically who’s responsibility is it to invite potential donors?

Veronica: It is both my responsibility and the non-profit. As part of my service, I invite all of my contacts and seek out new contacts. However, I also ask the non-profit to invite all of their current supporters.

Max: When creating a dessert table at an event, what is the process you go through to determine what items Birdie’s Bakery will make?

Veronica: ANYTHING the client wants!!  When speaking to my client, I find out what items they want, make sure they know what items I specialize in, and ask what type of flavors they want. Sometimes they are set on certain items and flavors, but other times I can inspire a new flavor and/or baked good that they may not have known about.

Max: How do you think Mon Ami Events stands out from the competition?

Veronica: I definitely have the lowest price point with the most services! I’m extremely detail oriented, and I know all of my clients have seen that in my services. I also offer around-the clock access… whether by phone, text or email. I never let more than 24 hours go by before responding to a client or potential client. I LOVE what I do, and I think that shows!

Max: If you had to give one piece of advice to someone who wants to become an event planner but has no experience, where would you tell them to start?

Veronica: Try to become an intern and learn all the ropes. So much more goes into event planning than many people realize. There is a lot of “behind the scenes” work that I didn’t know about until I got into the business. Getting your feet a lil wet before jumping in is a good plan.

Max: Veronica, thank you so much for chatting with us and sharing your experiences with our readers. It’s been truly helpful. Best of luck to Mon Ami in the future!

For more information you can check out Mon Ami Events’ website.

Adding to the internet buzz around the story is that Kutcher was not planning on purchasing the home until pop sensation Justin Bieber toured the home and narrowed it down to one of his final three favorite homes. This somewhat forced Kutcher’s hand in purchasing the home for around $10.8mm for fear of losing it to Bieber.

What few may not recognize however is this is the same Lake Hollywood home that celebrity dentist Bill Dorfman turned down due to its out-of-the-way location on a recent episode of HGTV show, Selling LA.

The property itself is an entertainer’s dream – the Arrowhead Drive home sits on half an acre and overlooks the breathtaking Lake Hollywood, which few people know exists. The home is a modern masterpiece, finished in 2007, and features 5 bedrooms with 6.5 baths. The layout is extremely open and mostly constructed of glass.

Kutcher’s new home features a state of the art kitchen, massage room, home theater, gym; and amazing views from the outdoor infinity pool, spa and zen rock garden. We have no doubt Kutcher loves living there and will host some extravagant events.

- Written by Jenn Stafford

In this interview, Gregg shares his expert tips and insights in how to plan a successful film festival:

1.) When was the Newport Beach Film Festival founded, and why?

The first Newport Beach Film Festival was held in 2000, and was a modest undertaking of a few screens, one hundred plus films, and a few after events and parties. We have grown exponentially ever since. Today, the festival brings over 52,000 people to celebrate film and artistic expression to Newport Beach.

Since its founding, we believe that the Newport Beach Film Festival has two natural strengths.

The first is setting.

We could think of no more beautiful a location or resort destination than Newport Beach. It truly is the Cannes of California.

Second, is proximity.

Our location, a mere fifty minutes from the epicenter of entertainment, makes Newport an easy getaway for celebrities and studio executives.

2.) What is the most difficult aspect of planning the Newport Beach Film Festival?

Planning the Newport Beach Film Festival is a logistically complex process. Not only are we working with the normal (if there is such a thing) pressures and issues that any event of this size would include, but we are also dealing with multiple simultaneous events that surround the festival and its core activities.

During the Newport Beach Film Festival, we will produce eighteen special events that range in size from ninety people to nearly three thousand. We will coordinate the participation of over sixty restaurants and twenty retailers. Our event entertainment will span a wide spectrum from DJs, to live bands, to traditional cultural performances, all the way to private performances of Cirque du Soleil. The Newport Beach Film Festival is Orange County’s largest entertainment related event.

3.) How do you pick the films (what is the criteria) for the films featured in the Newport Beach Film Festival?

We have a very rigorous submission review process for the films submitted to the festival. Our focus has been, and always will be, on quality.  Each official film submission is reviewed a minimum of five times before a final decision is made as to its acceptance or decline.

4.) How did you come to pick the various vendors to show the films at for the Film Festival? What about the restaurants and lodging?

When developing a strategy for our vendor partnerships, we begin with a three-step process.

First, we look at reputation. We work with some of the top brands and corporations in the world. Our vendors need to understand this and therefore reflect the level of professionalism and expertise we expect.

Next, is relationship. Many of our vendors and partners have been with us for over a decade. When seeking additional partners, we rely upon their input, expertise and insight to guide us.

Last, but definitely not least, is reliability. We work with vendors who under-promise and over-deliver. Furthermore, we work with vendors who understand our pressures and seek to find solutions that are both actionable and rational.

As I mentioned earlier, we have the good fortune to work with nearly sixty major restaurants from the greater Newport Beach area. Again, we have worked with several of these restaurants for many years. Our dinner and a movie program has been highly successful for all parties involved. The restaurants participate in our many gala and spotlight post events to engage our upscale audience and expose them to their culinary selections.

On the hospitality side, we work with all of the major hotels in Newport Beach. This includes The Hyatt Newport Beach, The Radisson Hotel Newport Beach, The Island Hotel, The Fairmont Newport Beach, The Balboa Bay Club, and The Marriott Newport Beach Spa and Hotel. The festival has partnered with Visit Newport Beach to coordinate our marketing and outreach to the key feeder markets to the city. We have been very successful at filling our hotels and our restaurants during the run of the festival.

5.) Who have been some of the previous sponsors of the Newport Beach Film Festival? How did you convince them to sponsor the festival?

To name a few, our sponsors have included: Absolut, Stella Artois, Variety, Esquire, Sony, Perrier, and Lexus. We always seek to partner with best-in-class brands. Our unique selling point is our access to a luxury oriented audience with a very high disposable income. We work with our sponsors and partners to customize each activation opportunity and to maximize their overall return on investment.

6.) What sort of events has the festival held in the past, and what was it like planning those events? What sort of events do you think you should be a part of every film festival?

As mentioned earlier, we have a wide array of events and activities both for our filmmakers and our general audience. The best advice I could give to any film festival would be to listen to your audience. Do not simply do what Newport, Sundance or Tribeca does, but rather, produce the activities and events that will best engage and excite your own attendees.

7.) Which of the Newport Beach Film Festivals (thus far) has been your favorite? Why?

Each year brings new opportunities and artists, and I’m always excited to see the amazing array of films that are selected to screen at our festival. I’ve always had a deep felt belief that the current year is my favorite as well as an equally deep fear that the next year will not live up to the previous. Luckily, my team has consistently proved those fears unfounded.

8.) What advice would you give to event planners (who are planning film festivals) on how to handle volunteers?

We work with a wide array of volunteers. The festival incorporates over 500 volunteers giving nearly 60,000 hours of their time to the festival and our community. Our event would not be possible if not for the contributions of our volunteers. My recommendation to any event that is volunteer driven, is to respect and reward your volunteers for their commitment and contribution, as well as to never forget to say thank you for all that they do.

9.) Why do you choose to hold the Film Festival towards the end of April/May?

The timing of the festival coincides with the start of the summer season in Orange County. We believe this uniquely positions The Newport Beach Film Festival as the official start of the season. Our hotel and hospitality partners have found that the festival is a wonderful marketing tool to keep the Newport Beach destination top of mind to our out of town audience.

10.) What additional advice would you give event planners who are currently planning film festivals?

Be organized, be professional, and understand the nuance complexities that each festival brings. Build strong partnerships and relationships with your vendors and stake holders. Respect your audience and your artists. Most of all, never forget to enjoy the process as much as the audience enjoys your event.

–

Gregg, this has been a very informative interview. Thank you for taking the time to sit down with us and share your valuable experience! Best of luck to you with this year’s film festival.

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

There are no right or wrong answers to this question, and the best activities will differ depending on the corporation. However, we did some extensive research and found these top 10 activities to be some of the most ideal and unique for getting corporate employees out-of-the-cubicle. Here are our top 10 picks for great team building activities and events for corporations:

1.) Zip Line Tours: A daring way to challenge your team is to take them on a swinging adventure through a zip line tour. There are currently over 13,000 zip lines in the U.S.A. alone, and zip-line tours are expected to grow steadily over the next five years. Gliding among the treetops, soaring over the mountains and feeling the wind brush against your face is an exhilarating experience for your employees. Zip line tours are a wonderful way to boost your team’s confidence, help them support one another and build long lasting memories. There are a number of zip lining tour companies around the country to pick from. About.com came up with this handy list of the most extreme zip lines in America and visit Ziplinerider.com for a complete list of zip line locations around the world.

2.) Scavenger Hunts: Organizing a scavenger hunt is a great way to get your team to work together and foster friendly competition. One of the best parts about a company-wide scavenger hunt is that it can be completed on company grounds or in a new and unique location (such as on a company retreat.) To begin your company wide scavenger hunt, be sure to pick items that will be easy enough for your team to locate, (visual scavenger hunts, in which employees take pictures of the items that they are supposed to find, are often a good way to go) and have your employees locate items that are of some relevance to the company. By having your team work in smaller teams, with each team member assigned an appointed task, they will learn how to communicate effectively with one another and how to work as a team. To learn more about how to plan a scavenger hunt, take a look at this helpful article from eHow.

3.) Cooking Schools: Spice up your team building activity by having your team whip up a delicious meal! Taking your team to a cooking class is a great way to build teamwork and inspire collaboration. And at the end of the lesson, you and your team will get to enjoy a delicious meal! There are a number of dishes you can choose to have your team make, ranging from hors d’oeuvre to preparing a full 5-star menu. A few of the top cooking schools that host corporate events include Parties that Cook which has bases in San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Chicago, Ramekins, a culinary school based in Sonoma, CA and The Culinary Loft based in New York. There are a number of cooking schools to choose from, so be sure to do a thorough search of ones in your area to pick the right one!

4.) Wine Tasting: Wine tasting is a sophisticated and stylish way to help your team bond. One trick to picking the right wine tasting venue is to ensure that the venue not only has participants try the wine, but quizzes them about it as well. Wine quizzes are a great way to foster a little competition among your team (whoever scores the highest score wins a reward) as well as keep your team on their toes. Some of the top wine tour companies in the U.S. include California Wine Tours and a number of tours in Napa Valley and Sonoma County, CA. Do keep in mind that these areas are known for their wine, but that there is a wide array of wineries, wine bars, etc. around the country that offer wine tasting. For a modern twist on this activity, try taking your group scotch or beer tasting.

5.) Make a Movie: Why have your team watch a movie when they can make one? The art of filmmaking is truly a team effort, and by having your team work together to create one, you will be able to enhance their creative and communication skills. This is truly an exercise to test your team’s creative skills–have your team write their own script, audition for parts, assist with lighting, etc. Filmmaking is an innovative way to challenge every member of your team and ensure that everyone gets to participate. There are a number of workshops that can assist your team in making a film, including ScreenDreams Entertainment’s 15 Minutes of Fame Workshop, which can be done literally anywhere in the world, and Feet First Entertainment (which also offers a number of other team building activities) with spaces based in San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Orange County, Seattle, Phoenix, and Dallas.

6.) Improvisational Comedy: Having your team take an Improv comedy workshop is a great way to improve their presentation, interview and communication skills. The basis of Improv comedy is based on teamwork; the entire team has to work together in order to create a strong and humorous Improv scene. Improv comedy also teaches one how to accept and advance others’ ideas, be more in the moment, and discover their creative potential. Some of the top workshops include I.O., which workshops based in Los Angeles and Chicago, Second City, which is based in Chicago, and StageCoach Improv, which brings the workshops to you!

7.) Classic Team Building Games and Challenges: When planning team building activities for your team, keep in mind that you can never go wrong with the classics! There are a wide variety of classic team buildings games and challenges that you can have your team do to help your team work together, get to know one another, and have fun. Incorporating balloons into your activities is a gentle and affordable way to get your team moving. Wilderdom.com has a great list of balloon-related activities for your team to enjoy. Tug-of-War type games, in which your team is split into teams and pull against a rope, can foster friendly competition among your team, as well as help teach them tactic techniques. For a complete list of classic team building games and challenges, please visit www.wilderdom.com/games.

8.) Walking Tours: Get your team out of the office and discover your hometown with a walking tour! There are so many different walking tours to choose from (depending on your location) and some of the top choices include: walking food tours, walking historical tours, walking art tours, etc. The trick is to find the right walking tour for your team. Certain walking tour companies, such as StrayBoots offers an interactive element to the tour. Described as ‘half scavenger hunt, half walking tour,’ StrayBoots has participants use their smart phones to solve riddles, find things and take goofy photos–all while discovering the city by foot.

9.) Get Cultured: Challenge your team’s intellectual and analytical skills by taking them to a local art museum. Most cities have a local art museum filled with interesting art that will challenge your team’s minds and hopefully foster new ideas. One way to really challenge your team is to have them go around the museum and pick their top five favorite pieces of work, and explain to the rest of the group why these pieces inspired them. This exercise will encourage your team to think outside-of-the-box as well as help them work on their presentation skills. Many art museums offer discounts for large groups, and some will even provide free tours. For a complete list of art museums in the United States, please visit www.artcylopedia.com/museums.

10.) Wilderness Adventures: If you really want to take your team on an unforgettable retreat, sans the resort and recreation, take them on a wilderness exploration and see how well they can fare in the wild! Wilderness survival courses have become more popular than ever lately (thanks in part to adventure novels such as The Hunger Games), and they are a quick way to get your team thinking fast on their feet. You can pick how extreme of a wilderness survival school you want to send your team to (some go as far as teaching you how to survive in the Artic) and for how long you want to send your team away. Certain basic skills that are taught at survival schools include nature awareness, indigenous survival, and Bushcraft skills. By attending survival school, your team will bond with one another, learn how to work together, and form some long lasting memories of their time in the wild. Some of the top wilderness schools for corporations include Mountain Shepherd Wilderness Survival School, with schools based in Catawba, Virginia and Tillamook Forest, Oregon and Lifesong Wilderness Adventures, with schools based in California, Oregon and Texas.

-Written by Sarah Osman. You can read more from Sarah on Twitter.

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