Pure, Unadulterated Joy

BIZBash Expo Part III - this was recovered so enjoy...

By Joy A. Kennelly

Okay, here's the final update regarding last week's BizBash Expo part of the one-day conference for event professionals held at the LA Mart in Downtown LA.

VOX DJs CEO/DJ/MC KC Campbell, BizBash Editor-in-Chief, Chad Kaydo, and VOX DJs DJ/Operation Manager, Roderick Gaerlan standing at the entrance to the expo floor after the Awards Ceremony.

KC aka DJ KACE and Roderick aka DJ Raw Styles caught up with another BizBash friend enjoying the gold furniture offered by www.feteaccomplievents.com  which my Facebook friend, Candice Bradley, represents in case anyone is interested.

This chair is my favorite and DJ Raw Styles is the king here...
There were lots of furniture vendors and the woman above is also a local South Bay resident both KC and Roderick have worked with in the past.

Here's some examples of other furniture vendors from the floor. This is Classic Party Rentals on your left and another company I don't remember, but you can find them on BizBash's exhibitor list I'm sure.
I was surprised at how many venues VOX DJs had relationships with, but I should have known since they've been around for 25 years. Sofitel Luxury Hotels had a booth where KC was greeted warmly since they're one of their preferred DJ company referrals.
Who knew? Simon LA, for those not from LA, is Chef Kerry Simon's restaurant on-site. Chef David Linville was featured in the LA Magazine Food Event with him last October.

Moving right along. Spencer invited me to "do lunch" which I think I'm going to take him up on since I've enjoyed my previous experiences there and want to learn more about what they have to offer.
  VOX DJs had a full-page ad in the magazine the Sofitel passed out which has been drawing a lot of interest which is a good thing.

Got to keep getting out there!
Here's another vendor VOX DJs has worked with, Border Grill and Ciudad. If you haven't been Downtown to visit Ciudad, you really must make the trip. They have delicious food and their mojitos are just right.

If you want something closer to home, visit Border Grill, but just know they're two completely different vibes - Ciudad is more Downtown chic whereas Border Grill is family friendly and more casual.

In my humble opinion, both have delicious food, but are totally different.
This is a mock-up of the new Downtown LA Nokia Center called LA Live which I'm dying to visit. Since I'm not a huge sports fan, nor are most of my friends, it's not something we would normally go to, but it's very popular from what I hear.

I remember when this was still in the discussion stages while I was writing for the Los Angeles Convention Bureau (LA Inc) and it's great to see it come to fruition. Totally revolutionizing Downtown!

This costumed partier was part of another booth and one of my favorites right from the start because she was so unusual and had delicious cupcakes.:) Sorry, their name escapes me, but I think it's Champagne Girls?

Here's some more examples of other costumes they have to offer. I think this would jumpstart any special event immediately! Don't you? I love the glass tables they drag around cutting quite a path.

What would a special event in LA be without goody bags, celebrities, backdrops, and Bolthouse VOX Events or VOX DJs? Did you know VOX DJs is the preferred DJ service for all Barry Manilow conferences, his birthday and fan events in London, Los Angeles or Las Vegas?

Or they DJ'ed Pat O'Brien's birthday party? And the after-party of the Lion King at the Pantages Theater?

I remember the Signature Magazine launch party cuz I took one of my celebrity clients there and we had a great time. I didn't even know VOX DJs back then and there they were!

VOX DJs have performed at over 1500 weddings, over 600 corporate events, over 400 college and universities, over 100 bar/bat mitzvahs, over 600 private special events, and over 200 nightclubs and lounges.

But I digress, back to BizBash.

That wax statue of Denzel Washington is just one of the wax celebrity figure guests will enjoy at the new Hollywood Madame Tussaud's  Wax Museum which opens on August 1. If you click on the link you will find all the details.

Here's another funny one of me "talking" to Denzel (who I recently enjoyed in Pelham 123. John Travolta was great too!) "Yes, Denzel, you are a great actor and deserve to be waxed," I told him.

There was even a little taste of Las Vegas there. Craps anyone? Or whatever this is...:)

Now here's some more of my favorites: How does your garden grow? This one grew truffle pops that were melt in your mouth yummmm. Another temptation that I found hard to resist. Both of these vendors were showcasing their ability to put whatever you wanted branded on their products. I took a Mrs. Fields cookie that had a picture of the founder.

When I looked at it later it was falling apart. I guess that's how the cookie crumbles. Sorry, couldn't resist. I've been saving that one for a couple of days. LOL

Patina Restaurant Group was represented and is another company VOX DJs has worked with. See what I mean? They are connected!
 I liked this hat vendor appropriately called Party Hats because she was so passionate about her products.

Reminded me of the Warning, When I Am Old I Shall Wear Purple poem when I saw all the crazy hats which are popular props among fundraisers and other special events.

This just begged to be shot cuz it is so hilarious. This Lucky Strike pin was rocking to Guitar Hero!!! He made a lot of people smile as he walked by. 
The woman air kissing him good-bye used to work for Lucky Strike, but is now working for The Doheny in Downtown LA. Her card is so elegant I can't wait to visit the actual location. If I can get in... Check out a recent review on the link above. It's so LA! At least I know my friend!
SKAM Artists kept the party flowing and these silly guys had us all laughing. I don't think the guy in red beret meant to be funny either. I think this is his normal clothes, but I could be wrong.

Here's some random pictures of some of the other vendors exhibiting. Enjoy!

Thus ends our daylong BizBash Expo experience. I hope you've enjoyed the tour and will explore using some of their services through the BizBash site.

Or hire me and I'll hook you up!:) That's all for now. Have a good one.

Check out my The Joy Writer PR blog for the latest

Too busy to write here and don't always feel like spilling my guts lol. SO, check out my other blog for the latest and greatest: www.thejoywriter.typepad.com/thejoywriterpr

There's some good Hollywood stuff there, I promise. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some important Facebooking, I mean working to do. LOL

The more things change, the more they stay the same...

By Joy A. Kennelly

Recently attended a fun event conference by Biz Bash at the LA Mart which I'll cover later on today, but just to wrap up this alcohol on Hermosa Beach issue once and for all thought I'd share some new information.

Just found this letter to the City Council of 1998 and thought it just goes to show, the more things change, the more they stay the same. Here's the letter sans the author to protect their innocence. =

Dear Hermosa Beach Councilmembers of 1998,

I have viewed and recorded your words and actions for close to seven years, agreeing with most, disagreeing with some and strongly disagreeing with a few. I consider this a very normal ratio as I don't think any two people can agree all of the time.

I have believed that your actions usually reflected your acceptance of the adult "parental" role of governing as "the City Fathers (and Mothers)" and your acceptance of the fact that one of the hardest tasks a parent must do is to say "NO" to a child, or as a councilmember to say "NO" to a friend, constituent. or colleague.

For this reason I beg you not to abandon your responsibility to the city and to its citizens by legalizing alcohol consumption on our beach for the sake of a colleague's "special event". Please, remember your own words at the last meeting in denying dog owner's access for their pets on the beach, "Unfortunately Hermosa Beach is too small to be the only city allowing dogs (alcohol?) on the beach...we could become a magnet for people throughout the county to bring their dogs (parties?) to our beach...we do not have the manpower to clean-up after irresponsible dog owners (party-goers?) or to administer or enforce obedience to any policies that might be adopted."

Attempting to limit permits to residents only is questionable as:

1. we were told it could not be done for dog owners;

2. any party-minded young person (and how many are not?) can go in with a number of roommates to rent an apartment and become a resident; and,

3. most people in our neighboring cities and a large portion of Los Angeles County know a resident of Hermosa Beach to ask for a permit.

There are many other arguments that can be made for not allowing alcohol on the beach such as potential city (personal?) liability, potential property damage, potential discrimination, tradition, unenforcability, abuse of political power and on and on. There is only one argument to be made to allow alcohol, "I don't want to be a grown-up, I want to have fun."

Please, reconsider and put the City of Hermosa Beach and its citizens first. Please, do not adopt this ordinance.

Sincerely,

Hermosa Beach Resident

Oh, and on a funny side note, if I remember correctly, the Daily Breeze article highlighting the fact Hermosa Beach might (or has depending on which account you caught from that publication) approve alcohol on the beach was a huge story.

(Click here for the glorifying story.) Now, that it hasn't passed, it was relegated to a simple sidebar mention. Funny how things work down here isn't it? Alcohol - YEAH! RESPONSIBLITY - No!

Or, it could just be that since the Daily Breeze now owns the Beach Reporter and the Beach Reporter ran a HUGE story on this they thought let's give it a rest since more people read that paper than ours? (Once it's uploaded I'll provide a link, but here's a link to the letters to the editor that ran earlier.)

Who knows? I'm just glad the word is getting out and plan to do all I can to help it get out. So, for the record - Hermosa Beach Summer Concert Series - Thank you for abiding by the No alcohol on the Beach rule - $300 citations for those doing so. It is against the law and will be enforced this year.

Got it? Good. Keep Hermosa beautiful and prosperous! Spend your money at the local restaurants and bars before, during and after the concerts.

Concerts begin at 6PM and continue until sunset on the south side of the Pier for three consecutive Sundays. Bring a picnic dinner, lawn chairs and a blanket to wind down the weekend with a free concert at the beach. For more information, please contact the Community Resources Department at (310) 318-0280

This has been a Public Service Announcement.