Anthony Horn

What I love about our conference is that we make space for people to challenge what can become complacent thoughts about topics. Really illuminating thoughts from Rob on the cannibalization debate.

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Event planning in 2024 comes with its challenges, but you don't have to go it alone. 💪 This article explores the top seven event planning tools that can help you with everything from budgeting and registration to marketing and attendee engagement. 🤝 Read more about these essential tools. No tricks, just treats — we promise. 👉 https://lnkd.in/dxETYTnR #InEvent #EventPlanning #EventProfs #EventPlanningTools #EventManagement

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URGENT NEED TODAY! Do you purchase tickets to concerts and theater? Did you know that fraud and deceptive resell practices are on the rise and it's easy to get taken? Together, we can make real change in the future of live entertainment. The ticket-buying process is a nightmare. You’ve been price gouged, sold fake tickets, hit with hidden fees, deceived into paying higher prices on fraudulent websites, and more. Well, those predatory practices hurt us too. It’s time we all take a stand. This July 9th, we urge you, our friends, neighbors, fans, and supporters, to join us in support of the Fans First Act. Here's why Congress acting on these bills matters: They prohibit the sale of speculative or fake tickets, so you never show up to an event with a fake ticket in hand, only to be turned away at the gate. They ban deceptive marketing practices that trick you into buying illegitimate or non-venue sponsored tickets. They guarantee up-front pricing so you see your total cost, including any mandatory fees, from the moment a transaction begins. They ​​provide for clear penalties and state and federal enforcement so predatory resellers are held accountable. This is not just about fixing ticketing; it's about restoring transparency and safety to an industry that we all hold dear. Let’s take action together. On July 9th, visit the “Fix the Tix” website and fill out the form that lets Congress know you want them to fix Ticketing.  https://lnkd.in/gmQdJKwt Thank you for your unwavering dedication to organizations like mine. Together, we can put fans first. 

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This past week the Oakland A's played their final baseball game in that city as they prepare for a move to Las Vegas (with a stop first in Sacramento). The utter disregard for A's fans by ownership has been well documented and is primarily the cause of the move. But what hasn't been mentioned, and this may ruffle a few feathers, is the general malaise on the part of A's fans even when their team was making the playoffs and fielding a competitive team. From 2012-2020 they made the playoffs 6 times in those 9 years. However, they finished in the bottom 1/4 of the league in attendance 8 of those 9 years. This post isn't specifically about the A's moving out of Oakland. It's about us as consumers not supporting local businesses and then crying foul (pardon the pun) when suddenly they're no longer around. Wondering where all the cinemas have gone or why you can't find decent local music when you haven't been to a movie theater or a local music club in ages rings hollow. I hear a lot of people talking about the dearth of local shops in their community. In the next breath I hear them planning their trips to Walmart or Costco or waiting for their Amazon shipment. That's a shame because a lively downtown populated by local merchants is essential to the pride we take in our city or town. It gives it character. It gives it vibrancy. So people, go to a sporting event. You don't need to buy $100 seats. They have several price ranges along with special deals that make it more affordable. Patronize your local book shop or farmer's market, see a concert (and not just Taylor Swift or Springsteen) a few times a year, and get off the couch and go to the movies from time to time. B + moan all you want about the price of a movie tickets these days but please show me where you can go in 2024 for a night out and have it cost you $15-20 per person. I'll wait. The moral of this story? Support businesses that are integral to your community. Whether it's a little candle shop on Main Street or the Oakland A's. Or you just might find they've closed or moved to Las Vegas.

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Why I still root for my former employer Live Nation Entertainment As of September 2024, Live Nation Entertainment holds a market valuation of approximately $24.63 billion. The company continues to lead the global live entertainment industry, securing its dominant position in the market despite recent fluctuations. This valuation marks a solid recovery from 2022 when Live Nation experienced a significant dip in its market cap, which dropped to $13.30 billion after the pandemic caused disruptions in live events. However, the company has since bounced back, showing a year-over-year increase of about 27% in 2023 and continuing its upward trend. Live Nation's competitors, such as AEG Presents and smaller regional promoters, struggle to match its global scale and resources. Live Nation's vertical integration—from ticketing via Ticketmaster to venue operations—allows it to capture more value from live events compared to its rivals. Additionally, the company has seen a 34% increase in stock price over the last 52 weeks, reflecting investors' confidence in the sustained demand for live entertainment post-pandemic. Financially, Live Nation reported revenue of $23.81 billion in the last 12 months, with a net income of $255.69 million. Its gross profit stands at $5.75 billion, demonstrating a 24% gross margin. However, its debt remains a concern, with total liabilities of $19.9 billion slightly outstripping assets valued at $20.5 billion. This reflects a high debt-to-equity ratio, though the company's cash flow and profitability indicate it is well-positioned to manage its obligations as the live events industry continues to grow. While Live Nation remains the industry leader, it faces ongoing scrutiny and competition, particularly as the regulatory environment around ticketing practices tightens. Nevertheless, the company's strong market presence, bolstered by key acquisitions and a robust pipeline of major tours and festivals, positions it to maintain its competitive edge moving forward.

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Sponsorships help drive engagement and traffic in virtual events, and here we discuss the benefits of sponsoring a virtual event for both your brand growth but for attendee growth, as well.

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The Live Event business has taught me quite a few Life Lessons over the years. I’ll share a few here so perhaps you’ll learn faster than I did. 1. Good or bad, whatever the situation is, it will pass. Enjoy the good, learn from the bad. Appreciate the hardships, they prepare you for the future. 2. You career matters. Your reputation matters. Being someone of integrity matters more than a career. Being known as a solid person means more than any career milestone. 3. Enjoy what you are doing, there are other people who would love to be in your shoes. Don’t be so focused on whatever is next that you don’t enjoy todays role. 4. People matter over everything in business. 5. People matter over every THING. 6. Giving back to those coming up is the best reward. Watching the career success of people you may have helped along the way is more rewarding than your own success. Give your time. 7. Listen. Listen a lot before making decisions. Listen to those people who have been there already. 8. Do the work you think no one sees. Come in early, stay late. Pick up that piece of trash that got missed. It all pays off. 9. Don’t be so focused on the goal or destination that you miss the fact that the JOURNEY, is really the reward. Day in day out grinding is what it is really all about. 10. Pray to have smart people around you, and as your bosses. You may be smart, but there is always someone smarter. It’s best when they are on your team. Listen and learn from them. Do what they ask, it is very likely they are looking out for your best interests. Bonus - 30+ years seems like forever when you are young. You will be utterly amazed how quickly it goes by. Enjoy TODAY. The harder you work, the more fortunate you will be. Have a great one, go help someone who can’t do anything for you today. You’ll be Grateful and Blessed. #aegsev #liveevents #goldenvoice #aegpresents #aeg #specialevents #empirepoloclub #venues #generalmanager #productionmanager #dmc #operationsmanager #salesmanager #accountingmamager #musicindustry #sportsbusiness

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According to the UCLA report, 36.2% of adolescents prefer fantasy over other genres; 63.5% value stories about friendship and platonic relationships over romance; and 62.4% believe that sex scenes are not necessary to advance the plot of TV shows and movies. Each of those totals saw a huge jump (of at least 39%) compared with last year’s study. On the other end of the spectrum, only 7.2% of young people enjoyed movies and TV shows about the rich and famous; 13.9% said they wanted to watch films and series tackling real-life issues that affect society. On the exhibition side, theaters can attract more teens by offering event screenings — encouraging patrons to wear costumes to the show, for example — and offering group discounts for young people

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During my time in the entertainment industry, I pursued an MFA in Film at UCLA, believing it would grant me the credibility I needed to teach and advance my career. However, I soon realized that the degree was essentially useless. Despite my qualifications and education, I was still viewed through the lens of the same stereotypes I had hoped to overcome. It highlighted the systemic issues in the industry—elitism, racism, and exclusion—especially toward Hispanics like me. My time at UCLA felt like an exercise in futility. I was treated unfairly, my opinions were disregarded, and I was prevented from taking courses I had a right to pursue. The institution, like the industry it prepares students for, wasn’t interested in fostering an inclusive environment for minorities. The industry’s claims of progress are empty, and DEI programs only serve to distract from the deeper issues of systemic exclusion. These programs don’t lead to jobs or real opportunities; they’re just talk. Despite decades of experience as a screenwriter, I continue to be shut out of opportunities. Even landing an interview is a struggle. The elites who defend the system benefit from it, while hardworking Hispanics like me are left behind. President-elect Trump recognized this disparity, which is why he resonated with many. The people who defend this broken system are the ones who created it, and they have no intention of changing it. Despite my qualifications, I’m still judged by my background, and the industry continues to be set up to maintain the status quo. Until that changes, I’ll remain caught in a cycle of exclusion.

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Who am I going to be in the Live Event Industry? This is a question I asked myself years ago, and still do at times today. I decided I wanted to be a Team Player, an Encourager, someone who grew and helped others along the way. For me, nothing good comes from negativity, from pessimism, from picking on anyone so I choose (key word, CHOOSE) to live my day to day in a positive, optimistic manner. I am always grateful. I was grateful when I got "laid-off". Not for losing my job, but for the opportunity I had where I was for many years. I Chose to look at it this way instead of being upset about what I had lost and I have never regretted it. (PS - I am actually happy about it now, I would not be where I am, or have had the last 15+ years of experiences had I not been let go. And even more than the experiences, I can't imagine my life without the people I have become friends with since then. Many of them are some of the most important people in my life. If I had not lost my job, I would not have them.) Life moves on when we have setbacks, there are better days ahead. I Choose to look at the future with a "what good thing could happen?" attitude instead of being fearful of what negative thing, or setback might happen. Am I going to be a person who cheers on other people when they have successes? or I am going to be someone who feels slighted because I didn't get that recognition? I know what I will do. Will I take the shortcut and bypass the learning process? Or will I Choose to Grind and do the work and Earn my place? I know what I will do. Will I help mentor and develop new and talented people? will I still do that even if their careers surpass mine? I know what I will do. Cheers Am I going to be grateful for where I am in my profession and for what I have experienced and achieved? or I am going to look at others ahead of me with jealousy and envy? I know what I will do. Cheers Will I focus on money? or will I realize there are far more important things in life than my bank account? Easy choice for me. Am I going to embrace all of the challenges in front of me and work, for years, to overcome them? or am I going to let those challenges and adversity make me fearful so I quit? I know what I have chosen. It's been difficult, but I have never regretted facing the adversity. In fact, I believe we become better in adversity so I no longer fear it, I face it. I conquer it, and you can too, if you face it head on. You're going to make it. You're going to be ok. You're going to grow, advance, develop and have a great career. Be patient, do the right things, enjoy the Journey. TODAY. Appreciate TODAY. One day, you're going to look back and realize how good you had it. What choices are you going to make today? #aegsev #aegpresents #goldenvoice #empirepoloclub #aeg #dmc #dmo #empirepoloclub #specialevents #liveevents #generalmanager #salesmanager #operationsmanger #productionmanager #accountingmanager #eventplanner #eventmanager

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“Nothing beats that moment when a client recognizes the true value of video marketing and makes the decision to move forward. 🎯 When strategy and creativity align, businesses see the power behind quality video content, driving real results. It’s about making that choice to stand out, connect, and grow! 💡 Ready to take your brand to the next level? Let’s talk and make it happen. 📸🎥 . . . . #VideoMarketing #BusinessGrowth #StrategyInAction #fyp #fypシ #humor #smallbusiness #business #entrepreneur #viralvideos #videography #photography #filmmaker #viral #funny

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Highlighting keynote speakers and guests in your agency newsletter is a strategic way to engage your audience and enhance the overall appeal of your content. Learn how here:

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Why do professional speakers struggle for years, hoping to earn what they KNOW they're worth? It's because they don't know about some simple changes they can make to capitalize on their presentations so they can earn more EVERY time they're in front of an audience. Without these techniques, they're just trading their time (an hour) for money (their speaking fee.) I love helping speakers discover how to really monetize their messages. Check out my FREE video about the Biggest Mistakes Most Speakers Make: https://lnkd.in/gQz37dxi.

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Major shifts in Indian gaming this month show both collaboration and competition: —Seminole Tribe turns former litigation opponents into partners for Hard Rock Bet platform —Ione Band makes history with first-ever tribal-REIT casino financing deal —Mystic Lake modernizes bingo hall while extending Vikings NFL partnership to 2035 —Agua Caliente Band partners with Palm Springs International Airport —Mohegan Gaming partners with AI firm to enhance customer experience —California tribes prepare to challenge sweepstakes operators. From unexpected alliances to protective measures, tribes continue to reshape gaming's landscape. Read our latest Tribal Business News roundup on these industry-changing developments. #TribalGaming #Gaming #BusinessPartnerships #IndianCountry

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Major shifts in Indian gaming this month show both collaboration and competition: —Seminole Tribe turns former litigation opponents into partners for Hard Rock Bet platform —Ione Band makes history with first-ever tribal-REIT casino financing deal —Mystic Lake modernizes bingo hall while extending Vikings NFL partnership to 2035 —Agua Caliente Band partners with Palm Springs International Airport —Mohegan Gaming partners with AI firm to enhance customer experience —California tribes prepare to challenge sweepstakes operators. From unexpected alliances to protective measures, tribes continue to reshape gaming's landscape. Read our latest Tribal Business News roundup on these industry-changing developments. #TribalGaming #Gaming #BusinessPartnerships #IndianCountry

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