Boarding the plane at Chicago Midway, I’m definitely sleep deprived from attending the 2011 IEG Sponsorship Conference. While one could point the finger squarely at MH3 for my condition, I’m going to blame you instead.
You see, I had a simple goal in attending this year’s conference. Having been to something ridiculous like 15 or 16 of them, I was starting to feel like a bit of a lifer. This wasn’t a recent development. It had been creeping up on me for years. It would result in a little game I would play with myself on an annual basis. Seems every year I would tell myself that I didn’t need to attend and every year I would be fearful of “missing something,” like not going to every party on a high school weekend. So register I would. Then wish I hadn’t.
Candidly, I became a lazy conference goer. That’s an easy path to being disgruntled.
For this year’s conference I took some early clues from my Canadian colleagues. E-mails began to surface weeks ago about a Canada Night dinner from Leigh at Ivanhoe. Susan from the SMCC suggested a cocktail reception. Before long the events were merged, the location reserved and the invitations flowing.
As momentum picked up for the dinner, I began to realize how many of us Canadians would be invading American sponsorship turf. Even better, a ton of names began to surface of people I didn’t know. I was flabbergasted. Someone in sponsorship in Canada I didn’t know. Egads, I’m getting stale.
So, highly motivated, I departed to Chicago last Sunday dead set on expanding my network. Squarely intent on understanding the pulse of the Canadian marketplace. Fiercely determined to know what I didn’t know.
You know what? There was a lot I didn’t know. And a lot of people.
But of course there were a few I knew well. Like Stephane from Just for Laughs, who didn’t really laugh when I introduced him as the least funny person who worked at JFL. Sorry dude! Of course he did try to educate me on the 11 types of humour that apparently exist. I say apparently because he only got to six.
Then there was Stephen from BMW Canada. He led a roundtable on doing more with less that made it clear this is a revenue-focused sponsor with his examples of how he leverages global assets, internal departments and long-term planning to maximize his spend.
I also know Rico from the NCC. Real name Richard. He’s one of the key money men behind Winterlude and Canada Day in Ottawa. I didn’t know he wasn’t my brother from a different mother. All these years he’s had me convinced!
I also know Pat and Christie from the Stampede. But I didn’t know that the best event in Canada had just signed a JV with Cowboys to operate their casino. Yes folks, after a two-year absence, the big tent, big beers and big… you-know-what’s will be back in Calgary in time for the Stampede. If you’ve never been to this bar, five minutes inside Cowboys will make you understand why the locals proclaim, “It’s not cheating… It’s Stampeding!”
Speaking of the Stampede, Sue from BMO was also in Chicago. BMO has been the Stampede’s bank since 1912. That’s not a typo. That’s one heck of a long sponsorship renewal!
But on to some new people. Let’s start with Sophie and Catherine from Tennis Canada. The first thing they told me was that their colleagues had warned them that I was a big partier! Ouchy!
Speaking of Tennis Canada, check out Sarah from Esteemed Events’ new branding. She runs the TC sponsor summits.
Also from Montréal was Paul from Festival Divers/Cité. This annual event is, in his words, not run by gay people, nor does it feature only gay performers. But in its 26th year, it’s a world-class event created to celebrate the LBGT community.
Kevin from Parc Jean-Drapeau was in attendance and his property will be the site of the F1 race that is our hostevent for CSF 2011. Kevin’s attended CSF a few times, so make sure you meet him in June.
One of the funnest duos I met were Shaun from the Princess Margaret Hospital and Nick from his agency SDI. They, along with SDI team member Leah, are managing the cool new Road Hockey to Conquer Cancer event. (Full disclosure: we finished second in the pitch. Grr!) The boys and I had a few chuckles, about which I have promised them to disclose no clues… you will need to contact them directly and sign a waiver for details!
Met some American who didn’t believe we won the War of 1812, because the White House doesn’t fly a Canadian flag. Oh and they also said the Civil War wasn’t about slavery. To my face. Have you seen a picture of me?
Shari from the Shaw Festival was in attendance and by all accounts they seem to be cooking with gas. A recent deal included a big increase in support from a major bank. Congrats! I will let you issue the announcement Shari… but let us know so we can share it with our CSF newsletter readers.
Had to share a few fear of heights stories with Pat and Liz from the CN Tower. They have only worked at the tower for a combined 42 years, so I’m not sure how unique my tales really were.
Stumbled upon Ian from OOMPH! Events. In a bar called Howling at the Moon. Hence the stumbling. If you like duelling pianos, this is your place. Ian is speaking at CSF this year. I didn’t intend to meet him for the first time when I was gunned. Hope he still wants to speak… he is going to do an ROI Session on B2B properties.
I departed the Moon with Paolo from the NBA. Good call pulling the chute mate! He and Leah are hopeful their league doesn’t follow the lead of the NFL this summer into labour strife.
Good to see Jason from NFL Canada… no I mean Insight Sports… sorry I mean Capital C. By the time you finish this blog, he’ll have a new job.
Met Betty from North Vancouver and Lori from 3 Guineas in Toronto. If you need some help in the film world, these two are experts!
Brett from Canada Place was there with her new colleague Matti. Took me until the cab ride to remember Matti had been a client at Astral years ago!
Met Daryl from U of T. He was supposed to come to our dinner, but was under the weather. Perhaps it was from the germs on his shower curtain at this alleged hotel we stayed in called the Sheraton. Someone hoist the Motel 6 sign back up… the wind knocked it off the building.
Speaking of buildings, ever wonder if anyone works in that crazy big Foresters building near the DVP? Well I met a real live one. She knows my buddy George from Ontario Lung. Problem is I forgot her name. I’m sorry!
Lalitha and Pam from Elections Ontario shared with me their plans for testing a school-based program with kids in Grade 5 and Grade 10, to teach them about the importance of our democratic society and electoral system. Soon they will be looking for channel partners for this vital outreach.
Rashmi from Yorkdale had fond memories of working with my team on our Philips Sonicare toothbrush program last year. That made me relieved! (-:
Said hello to Todd from the ROM. They are looking for a new CEO if you want to be his boss.
Met Steve from Telus. He was one crazy Canuck. (If this joke is too subtle, humour type #4, Google “Podborski”.)
Speaking of the NFL, Dan and George were hunkering down for business unusual because of the lockout. Hang in there gents.
One of Scotiabank’s new sponsorship whizzes, Melanie, was there along with her agency S&E Sponsorship and account lead Matt. I once tried to hire Melanie. She said no. Doesn’t she know I hold grudges? (-:
There was a rumour Don and Dwayne from IMI were at IEG… but I didn’t see them in any sessions. A closer check of the lobby bar security videotapes, however, does validate their presence in the state of Illinois. That goes for you too, Jennifer from DIM!
Speaking of ghosts, did anyone see Alison from Rethink Breast Cancer? Oh I’m just kidding. I really should apologize for missing her workshop. Not only is she a great presenter, but the relationship she has created with Telus is UNBELIEVABLE, given the size of her organization. Beautiful!
Met Cathy and Elvira from Devan. They are good friends with Colin (ex-employee) and Megan from Toronto General & Western. Hey Megan, were you really the agent for Sloan from Entourage? Too cool. Shane from Rogers wants to know if you get him a walk-on role!
Bumped into Jim from Kraft. Leaked to him that the winner from Hockeyville last year is going to do a workshop at CSF 2011 on how to get entrants in voting structured programs engaged.
Also met Kiran from UCLA. He’s a former volleyball coach at North Carolina and Kansas. Which is cool ‘cause he was born in Toronto and raised in Calgary. Sports took him south. Now he does marketing for UCLA Recreation and is opening opportunities up for companies to connect with his campus community of 70,000 students, faculty and staff.
I am going to finish this entry by awarding the DELEGATE OF THE YEAR AWARD to “Little Jules,” the man who puts the jewel in Diamond Integrated Marketing. My boy Dave. To combat the HORRIBLE service and attitude of the Sheraton Chicago, Double D concocted a brilliant plan to defeat their ridiculous midnight last call. He ordered a two-four. How Canadian! A freaking “two-four” of Stella. (Full disclosure: I received an awesome Stella pouring kit at my office two weeks ago. It was the most beautiful promo piece I have ever seen!)
So back to Dave. After he got confirmation on the two-four, he puts his BlackBerry to work and ordered in six large pizzas from one of Chicago’s finest pie makers. Let me tell you one thing. You make a lot of friends when you control a two-four and 72 slices of pizza in a hotel bar at 1 a.m.
Brilliant work Diamond.
You have my respect. Harrison.
(Inside joke, ask Dave about it)