Last Minute or Deadline Oriented?

The bottom line with that comparison, what ever the task, it is completed with little or no time to spare. Not the way to operate any business, or be at your job, study, etc.

I’ve been posed with this thought because of the amount of people I’ve come across who operate like this. It’s a proven fact that our bodies operate poorly while stressed and stress can literally kill you. So why not manage your time a bit better (for those who are last minute) and create earlier soft deadlines (for those deadline oriented people) to relieve some of the stress associated with a time crunch.

Cramming for tests never helped me, and I found numerous studies that showed a good night’s sleep would be a better idea than trying to re-learn (for some of us – learn) the course within the 24 hours leading up to the exam. Most of the studies showed that during the cramming time period, the brain is not working as efficiently as possible, nor at its full capacity. This was not helped by drugs, energy drinks, coffee, etc.

I found that learning the course and absorbing through out the semester was the best way to gain knowledge and retain it. The retention was aided by having some time to apply the knowledge whether it be a term project, an essay or simply class discussion.

Now, fast-forward to today. How can we apply this to our office setting? What about our most recent client or project?

Be a sponge of information all the time. I think the more you can absorb over the course of time, you will be very sharp when it comes down to executing. Clients drop hints, previous events can give you guidance, and the amount of info out there is immense! Don’t let the deadline scare you, eat it like an elephant; one bite at a time. Being a sponge is profitable!

Make the bites a little easier to understand by dividing them by category. I find that this also helps with delegating. For example, you can easier identify tasks that will a creative person or a graphic designer by having them all classified under design, creative or visual.

Keep tabs on how everything is going, and always be aware of the deadline or Event date. I know this sounds stupid, but it is very true. Don’t get so wrapped up in you work that the deadline sneaks up on you. Then you don’t have a choice, but to pull that all nighter.

Don’t think that I’m against deadlines or being spontaneous. After all, a lot of our ideas are spontaneous, mostly stemming from creative, and they might require some last minute work, or a tight deadline to pull off, but its not a choice that is made day-in and day-out. We would much rather plan.

When something is going to plan, everyone is calm – once again cutting down on stress levels – and the efficiency levels go through the roof. Allowance for changes, or road blocks are much easier when the deadline is comfortable, or you have lots of time.

Work with a sense of urgency to get ahead of the curve; don’t have the hammer about to come down on your head. Do tomorrow’s work today, so you can finish with ample time and breathe easier.

Artic Cold Front = Bike Riding Season?

Vancouver BC has gotten hit with this strange “arctic cold front” and we’re breaking records for snowfall and cold weather. In the midst of this, on Christmas Eve while I’m coming into the office, I see a guy riding his bike to work. Hold on, its -4 degrees outside, the streets are barley plowed, cars are having difficulty getting around, and this guy is commuting to work on his bike like others do in the summer months.

Have some resilience; a quality that few people exercise and those who do always cross the finish line and usually it is on top. Just like our biker friend refusing to change his means of transportation due to weather, to succeed, we must all be resilient.

I was told this metaphor years ago about what the pay off would be worth. Would you be willing to doing the dirtiest or most demeaning job in the world if you had a $1,000,000 bonus at the end of each year? Think about that. What is your price? Is it less than a million dollars? For some, it might be having debts paid off each year – what ever it is, find your price when looking at the tasks in front of you.

No matter the industry, this is relevant. Goal setting is one thing, fitting as the New Year’s Resolutions are a week away, but following through the necessary steps to hit those goals is essential.

I’ve met a lot of very smart, educated, sharp people over the years, and I must tell you, they have all the potential in the world. They have all the tools needed to accomplish great things. But only few put those tools to use – don’t be one of the could have, should have, would haves.

The worst thing someone can say to you is, “wow, you have so much potential!” That is translation for, “I see you have the tools, and you’re not putting them to use.”

Get into gear for the New Year, just like the biker commuting to work in the snow, be resilient and follow through on your goals for 2009!

A Little Christmas Humor

With the holiday season in full swing and Christmas right around the corner, I thought it would be appropriate to have a Christmas themed joke. Remember, its a time of joy and celebration - smile, chuckle and laugh through the holidays - it makes for a great close to 2008 and points you in the right direction for 2009. ~Merry Christmas~

Little Johnny's Christmas Present

Little Johnny had a cussing problem and his father was getting tired of it. He decided to ask his shrink what to do. The shrink said, “Since Christmas is coming up, you should ask Johnny what he wants Santa to bring him. If he cusses while he tells you his wish list, leave a pile of dog poop in place of the gift or gifts he requests.”

Two days before Christmas, Johnny’s father asked him what he wanted for Christmas. “I want a damn teddy-bear laying right beside me when I wake-up. When I go downstairs I want to see a damn train going around the damn tree. And when I go outside I want to see a damn bike leaning up against the damn garage.”

Christmas morning, Little Johnny woke up and rolled over into a pile of dog poop. Confused, he walked down stairs and saw another pile under the tree. Scratching his head, he walked outside and saw a huge pile of dog poop by the garage. When Johnny walked back inside with a curious look on his face, his dad smiled and asked, “What did Santa bring you this year?”
Johnny replied, “I think I got a dog but I can’t find the son-of-a-bitch!”

Sponorship Part 3: Go After the BIG FISH!

Don’t think that you, as a little fish, can’t land the big names or host that huge event! Here’s an example of Sneakers and NBA stars!

1995: Young man, just shy of 7 feet tall is coming out of high school, jumps in the draft, and ends up with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Before his NBA Career even starts, he’s landed a huge shoe deal with Nike that will give him the ability to have his own signature shoe. Who?? Kevin Garnett!

The deal was great! Nike was “the” shoe company for bball and if you we’re a top player, that’s what 90% of your peers were wearing in the NBA. The stats were truly staggering as majority of basketball players had on some Nikes. The trend of aggressive athlete sponsorship hadn’t caught on with all the major shoe companies who were making shoes for the hardwood.

But that would certainly change. The next year, a large deal was landed for 2of the hottest rookies of 1996-1997; Allen Iverson and Antoine Walker signing with Reebok, that same year Adidas picked up Kobe Bryant. All 3 showed up in the NBA with their own signature shoes – something rare at the time.

Fast forward a couple of years, Adidas and Kobe are having design issues, and he’s threatening, so Nike focuses their efforts to get Kobe on their team, which was official in 2005 with the launch of the Zoom Kobe 1. Why did they need Kobe to jump from Adidas? Because they went shopping! To the tune of Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan, Tracy McGrady, Gilbert Arenas, just to name a handful. All receiving signature shoes, and becoming the new face of the 3 stripes brand.

A bold move by Adidas, one that paid off – big time. 75% of the high schools that I’ve seen play in the past week have been wearing Adidas gear from head-to-toe, and it stems partially from those big signings.

The bottom line: no matter how small you think (or know) you are in respects to your industry, a bold move can really pay off! Many times, the potential clients out there prefer to go with someone a little smaller because they want your creativity and perspective. Something that is totally different than their views on corporate culture. Go For the BIG FISH!

All the Best of Success!

Don't be shy, multiple websites can help you

I've noticed recently that ads are "giving you the sequel" or more info on their website. Any typically its not something that is related to the brand.



Here's a great example: www.feelgoodfeelbad.ca its for a new type of medicine (I had to revert back to their site and still couldn't find out the name with out giving a lot of info). The whole idea is that your joints feel good, but the medicine used to heal that upsets your stomach. Its a pretty catchy campaign, but that's not what we're talking about.

We're talking about the choice of website. The benefit of having a campaign oriented web address is huge. Especially if you are supposed to be a "silent part" of the campaign or event. There is more to a name than you might think. Especially when you have the ability to get domains that are phrases, much easier than the name of your self or company.

It is becoming easier and cheaper to buy these domains too. I personally look no further than GoDaddy. If its good enough for Google and Blogger will direct you to go daddy if you are wanting a personalized web address, then its good enough for me. And their president loves hot stars - that's why you'll see like likes of Danica Patrick, Candace Michelle, Ocho-Cinco and Dale Earnhardt Jr. to name a few.





Try wrapping your next event marketing around this idea, if you have the time and resources to build a separate site. Remember if you wanted to buy www.bravadosports.com its taken, but I can assure you, www.wecanplanyourulitmateevent.com is available (at least it is today).

The "i" in team?

Its the day after the Mats Sundin free agency is over, and he's now a Vancouver Canuck. The Canucks' fan forum is buzzing with reactions and opinions, of their new player and what he will bring to the team.

No matter which team landed the popular Swede, here's my question, "What made numerous General Managers around the league chase him for months?"

I don't think Sundin is a deal breaker or a Gretzky, but the length some teams were willing to go in order to get Sundin was awfully ridiculous. Of all the teams, the Canucks are the only which need not trade a top player with the arrival of Mats. Great positioning by Mike Gillis, and the Canucks won the battle. Can you imagine if we had to get rid of 2 of our best players to bring Sundin in - that's what the NY Rangers were willing to do.

No player, in my books, is worth restructuring mid-season. Sure, some teams would have taken a stab at Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky in their prime but there isn't and "I" in team, and that one player will never cut it.

The Rangers tried with Gretzky, and it was less than successful, with out the rest of the team creating the magic on the ice. The Wizards tried to spark a championship with MJ and it was an utter failure. The best exanple of restructuring and winning a championship immediately is the 2007-2008 Boston Celtics. And that was no one player signing - it was adding 2 additional superstars, numerous roll player and leadership.

I think the best fit for Sundin is with the Canucks, and its simply because he won't ruffle feathers. If it leads to a Stanly Cup, fantastic, but first let's hope he's a solid, healthy hockey player that can still SCORE!

Whether or not he'll perform, Ticket Sales are through the roof and if you're planning on going to a game, be ready to pay a premium. We've got another star in Vancouver - it still might be best to take a couple days and catch a road game.

Small Market? BIG BUSINESS

Here’s a good look at the shift to being online. The recent rumors of Lebron James getting a ridiculous bonus from Nike and other sponsors if he signed with the New York Kincks in 2010 are just that – rumors. Maybe Lebron will sign with the Knicks as they will have a lot of cap space, and will be looking to spend, but there will be no extraordinary Nike bonus coming his way.

The logic behind it works – in the 1970’s or 80’s. As the rumor went, it was pitched to Lebron that New York would be a better market for him to play in since it is the biggest market in the US. It would have made sense years back when there would be more people to wear his jersey and come to games, but with the internet and the media having much improved coverage, us fans no longer have to cheer for the home town hero. We can choose to root for whom ever we like.

Lebron is a Global Brand, and that’s probably why we would consider the insane mention of $50 Million per year to play overseas. Lebron is like Tiger Woods, no matter where he plays, everyone is watching him. I am amazed that he makes the Lakers look like a small market. Kobe gets pushed aside if there is a Lebron James story to be had on the evening sports. I can remember the days when the sports coverage was of your local team and Michael Jordan. That was it. Now its all at our fingertips – if you want to cheer for Yao Ming, and you live at the North Pole, you can get relatively the same coverage as someone in Houston.

The power of info in a split has brought fans much closer to these superstars night after night. Its great for markets like Canada. Heck, if Vancouver still had the Grizzlies and was drafting Steve Francis today, maybe he would have realized that he can still be a star, and Canada isn’t half way around the globe (but that’s a whole other story for another day)

Lebron is going to live and play where he has the best shot at the championship. He has all the ingredients to be at the top of the Athlete Superstar food chain, except for the championship ring(s). We’ll see what happens as the season progresses, is that illusive championship ring in the near future?

Newsworthy!

We’ve come a long way since the first days of Bravado, and I’m happy to say that we’ve got most of our foundation set, and the rest is planned and being put in place, early 2009. Of the things I’ve mentioned before, branding, marketing, networking (all which I’m sure we’ll touch on again) nothing gave us quite the boost that media exposure did.

In college I got the chance to meet a couple of executives from Canada Newswire, and one of them mentioned, when you’re ready to launch your company, (a different project at the time) give me a call and we’ll set up a proper press conference. At the time, I was polite and thanked him, but I really couldn’t grasp the idea of a small local business needing a press conference. Now, with Bravado we need all the exposure we can get.

Taking the time to research more about press releases, it is amazing how quickly you can really get the word out! I sound like a broken record, but its true, the internet has advanced how quickly we can do business. Being able to write your press release (take a look at what's appropriate for your industry) and have it posted can be done instantly with various mediums depending on your geographical or demographic relevance. Be ready to spend a couple bucks to get featured placement, but there are many websites that will let you post for free.

The best sources to use are going to be the ones which feed into the news outlets you’re looking to hit. Do a bit of research, I’ve done a couple of blanket US/Canada postings on www.free-press-release.com and we have seen results, even with their free posting.

We managed to get in touch with some of the “Around Town” writers here in Vancouver, and thanks to Fred Lee, we were seen in TV Week Magazine, Vancouver Courier, National Post, and Fred mentioned us on CBC Radio. He’s a contact that we’re really looking forward to working with since he covering the types of events we’re planning!

Stick your neck out when you need to. Networking never hurts! As much as new technology comes along, networking and traditional mass media are not going away overnight – use it to your advantage! Majority of people still get and read the newspaper, and watch the 6 o'clock news. The blackberry and pod-casts haven't fully taken over.

Perfection... what's your take?

There is nothing in this world that is truly perfect. As much as you may think something is the best it can be, there is room for improvement somewhere. Take the picture above, do you see your "Perfect Vacation?" Maybe not. As any consultant of any sort, be cautious of how far you may want to push your client to change, since the two of you may have very different ideas of perfection.

Some are very open to change because they are motivated to make it to the next level. While others can become defensive when showing opportunities to change and grow since, usually, they are extremely happy that they have gotten to their current position.

Here’s an example of the latter. Recently, I met up with a former colleague to catch up, and naturally, we started talking about work. He'd just started in a new position, and saw so much potential for the company's efficiency and growth within his department. His ambitious nature took over and he approached his superiors with his ideas. Not only rejected, but he was accused of not doing his job.

He was told something to the likes of, “If you have time to dream up these changes, you aren’t focusing enough on your daily tasks.” I couldn’t help but laugh – yes, it is an extreme case, but that person is out there. He obviously thinks things are great and don't need to change.

Armed with this knowledge, my approach to clients and changing their concepts will very different. Less presenting ideas, more including the client, as we’re working towards the new idea. Maybe if my friend’s boss could have felt as he was making the suggestion, it would have gone differently and there would have been a pat on the back instead of a scolding.

Going back to the start of this entry, I think all people are looking to get to the next level if they have brought you on. The way you must go about it will be different case by case. Ceasing to remember that you are there to help their business will throw all of this out the window. As much as I would like to have extraordinary results every time, business is business, and completing your project is always a win!

Maybe its time to plan that "Perfect Vacation"

Sometimes, You Need to Change Direction

Honestly, I hear this every day, "great idea, how's that going to work? Can you really pull that off?"

No longer does this frustrate me, and is actually what drove me to do more reflection on where we've come from. A couple years back, I picked up a great habit at a conference a couple years back from the top leadership teacher, John Maxwell; always have some where to put your ideas and expand on them. Since then, I've probably gone through 5 or 6 "idea note books." I'm quite amazed how far my ideas have come, but more surprised on how drastically many of those ideas have changed. Of course, continuing to learn and be hungry for more info about your industry and your interests helps. Using John Maxwell as an example, I've read a couple of his books, and by the first chapter, I'll have something valuable from it. Something that I can apply right away. I am confident that all the reading helps me make better decisions day-in and day-out.

Yes, the ideas have grown and changed, a lot. Not changed in a bad way, but significantly changed as they had to be manipulated before they could come to fruition. Roadblocks are always unforeseen, I'm happy we were able to overcome them. As stubborn as I can be at times, wanting to see that ideal in my head happen, the best ideas are those up for interpretation and molded by our team. Keep that mindset, that the idea is only the beginning of the plan. Let the changes be suggested, and be willing to take a sharp change in the direction of your plans if necessary.

We recently had to take a 180 degree turn with one of our projects, and it was painful. Feeling like we threw a lot out the window and had to start from scratch. Big Picture; its for the better. Its going to take a while to get back to where we need, expect and should be.

I'm glad that I have a team who is flexible and willing to change as the project evolves. If there is a fork in the road, I am very confident brainstorming with them to come up with the direction we should head in. Being confident and committed to whatever you choose is what makes the difference down the road. I love the saying, "leave it all on the field" and I truly believe that can be used in any aspect of life. Give it all you've got, and you'll be happy knowing that you put in all your efforts.

Part 2: Sponsorship Anyone?

I have been reading about a lot of traditional businesses (large ones at that) who are turning to sponsorships, new advertising and product placement as new sources of revenue.

The biggest ones which caught my eye were some of the major airlines. Way before the economic crisis really kicked in this fall, we heard about the airline industry losing money, cutting flights, canceling orders for new planes, laying off staff, and raising ticket prices to boot! This industry is in serious need of a cash injection; sounds like a small business owner or a new event.

Here's a good example. If you have flown recently, you have noticed the ad on the tray table. The first one for me was a Verizon ad on my last flight to New York. As I folded down the table and noticed the ad, I wasn't shocked at first, but as the flight continued, I thought about it a little more. Just as we look for places to generate revenue with our events (t-shirts, banners, posters, give-aways, etc) the major airlines are also looking for additional places to slap a logo!

It makes perfect sense for a couple of reasons; you have a captive audience for an extended period of time, demographics are easy to grasp, theres lots of eyeballs, you know where your audience is going to, and in a lot of cases, the consumer can purchase the minute they land in the airport.

These advertisers are seeing this as new, uncharted territory for them to gain more market share. As an event planner who is looking for sponsorship, you have to be that airline. Why does your sponsorship make perfect sense? Your event is the opportunity for them to get more market share, what are your hot points and which companies would be a good fit? Durning flights, I've seen a couple of Verizon ads now, a few for cough syrup/cold remedies, car rentals, hotels, etc. Sounds like everything you would need on your trip. So what would every one attending your event need? That's where we start, keep it broad, and land those sponsors!

A picture IS worth [at least] thousand words

I know what you're thinking - way to be cliché. However you want to look at it, go ahead, but I guarantee that the famous phrase, "A picture is worth a thousand words" has more truth to it than you might think.

How hard is it to explain your last game to your friends? Try to tell them how great a play was? Think about how difficult it can be to share the plays of the week.

We also thought about all this, and remembered how great it was to see game film and game pictures when we were growing up. So why not bring back those days? I'm amazed at the quality stefanfoto.net gets us week in and week out with the PEEL, and our other events. Everyone loves seeing the shots, and are anxious to have them posted on our site and on Facebook. Once they are up; the compliments come in, we see a lot of them posted as profile pictures, and they ask for more.

The most rewarding thing that I've seen come out of it was during the summer season of our basketball league. One of the players approached Stefan during one of the games and asked for more shots of him. It was genuine, he wasn't doing it to boost his ego, rather creating a collage for his new born son. As all of us weekend warriors know, an injury after your high school days can mean the end of your favorite sport, and this case was no different. After overcoming a pretty bad Achilles-tendon injury, this player realized that and wanted to make sure that his son would be able to see his Dad in action! I think the collage turned out great, and I we've got a great little athlete growing up. He certainly has good genes!

Stefan has always come through for us, and I would recommend professional photography for your events, as it truly does make a difference. Even with a digital SRL camera, or any top-of-the-line digital camera you could buy, the difference is made with who's behind the lens. I tried myself, and although we got some good photos, they are no comparison to Stefan's work.

Take a look at their site: www.stefanfoto.net

Basketball IQ

From a coaches persepective, there's nothing better than having a player who understands the game. The high school basketball season is almost underway, with our team having their first exhibition game on Tuesday. Steve and I will be coaching the Lions again this year and it should be good.

Ok, enough of a plug for our team, lets get back to Basketball IQ. Certain players have it, some players develop it as their game and skills evolve. I find that its instinctive for most, but interpreted very differently. This topic came to mind as I was thinking about the 'back door cut" that we're not taking advantage of in our half-court set. Some players see it there, and thrive to take advantage of slipping behind their defender and getting an open lay up (considering the pass can be made). Others don't realize that the opportunity is even there.

Court sense is a part that personally, I am having trouble teaching to our team. Knowing where there will be opportunities to score, space on the court (and getting to it) as well as anticipating what the other team will do. If you have any tips, suggestions, or drills, I'd love some feedback.

I've come across this series on Lebron James called Six Tips on Youtube. Its a feature on Lebron to as part of the launch of his new shoe, the Zoom Lebron VI. This installment mentions basketball IQ and Lebron's ability to adapt, and improve your game.

The differnce maker for me after watching the video, is how his team mates have picked up on this and see how he reviews his game, notices places to better himself, and applies it immediately. Although this is partly reactive thinking, its taking the initiative and being proactive to better yourself and better your athleticism. Sometimes I really wonder about LeBron and other top athletes: will they try to make the professional sports jump like Michael Jordan did? And could it actually work for them?

What came first, the Super Hero or the Superstar Athlete?

Check out this blog on Comic Coverage looking at the crossover between Comic Book and Sports Fans. I was reading it, and realized that the two figures are portrayed in a similar light.

On one hand we've got the superheros, lets take Batman for example (since the Black Knight was just in theaters and he happens to be in the front row of the picture above). Batman is very much like the pro athletes of today; the lifestyle, the cash, the house, the coolest car on the block, and he's got a connection to get him the best gear out there. Heck, just like Batman; Lebron James, Kobe Bryant, Kevin Garnett (the list continues) help design the gear they wear. If you have ever read the articles about their sneakers. Take any of the Zoom Lebron shoes, theres always a story and always a why for the design, materials, colors, features. Just like Batman said he needed his gear for "spelunking" on the weekends.

I think there is much the same following between the heroes fighting crime and playing . Wouldn't you rather buy the next Steve Nash shoe, if you had the choice from a regular shoe? I know I've taken that chance. "If its good enough for an MVP, it should be good for me." I'm not going to touch on the power of branding here, but look at what that statement has meant for Michael Jordan and his line from Nike, Brand Jordan; millions in the bank!

When Halloween rolls around each year lets face it, the superheros come out in full force, although they are a fraction of the size. Just like being Mike on court, you have to be Batman, or Superman while you roam the streets for candy! The costumes that are sought after each year: Superheroes!

As far as I see it, they are both powerful figures in society, almost surreal. No matter how they change in the future, the easiest way to compare the comic book fan to the sports fan: they like the position that these "figures" are in. Whether its scoring the winning touchdown, or saving the day, they want to be in their favorite superheroes shoes.

Wow, I'm motivated

I'm always pleased to see anything come from planning to fruition and last night was no exception; The Sports Dinner was great!

The set-up was extremely smooth, and most of that credit goes to the staff at the Pan Pacific. The numbers were a less than we expected, but in most cases quality is better than quantity. The crowd was fantastic, and they all seemed to enjoy themselves.

Meeting a lot of people who are currently, or have been, involved in Vancouver High School sports was a pleasure. Many positive comments about this being a create evening for a great cause, and calling for another one next year to follow.

I was most impressed by how educated the guests were about the situation we're in with our student-athletes here in Vancouver. Majority of them were on the same page as us; there needs to be more communication and connection between School and Community Sports. Most students don't pick one sport and play both already. Think about the benefit of having them intertwined allowing the athlete's to perform better in both sports rather than balance the conflict of training, games, transportation, etc.

It can be a hell of a schedule for those multi-sport athletes, and I give them a lot of credit, especially if their sports fall into both systems. The schools are already set up to have the sports split between the terms allowing the athletes to play numerous sports with out conflict, and I think its time to get the Community and Schools together to figure how to get our athletes to the next level by working together.

As much as I've been trying to hold this comment back, I believe its true to say, the pride and ego needs to be put aside and all the organizations need to come together. We should be able to utilize the VSB's fantastic facilities more, our community coaches, both parties resources, and the result: the organizations' programs will flourish.

I think it only takes one person with a vision to make this happen. The speech by Daniel Igali was motivating and almost surreal. He is that one man for his home country of Nigeria. He had the vision, didn't let people slow him down, and look at the results. An Olympic Gold Medial, inducted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame, coaching the Nigerian wrestling team in Beijing, becoming a very inflential member of our community, and named the Canadian Amateaur Athlete of the year, Twice.

Those accomplishments are amazing, however Daniel looked beyond that to start his foundation, and realize his dream of providing more for the children of the region in which he was raised. The motivation for all this was presented in such a way last night, that I cannot find an excuse to not succeed. I would strongly recommed that you take a look a what is slowing you down and truly dig just a little deeper - you'll find it. That 'it' is what Daniel found, and now he's transforming where he grew up.

Going back to Nigeria is something he looks forward to, and he is recognized for. He has now gained the attention of the higher powers of state and influential people around the world - he's really making strides! A wonderful athlete, but more so an incredible dreamer who's bringing his vision to reality; Congratulations Daniel.

I'd like to thank everyone who attended and helped to make The Sports Dinner a reality. It was months of hard work to make it happen, and I truly believe it was a positive night, and the first of many for us, Bravado Sports & Entertainment, and the VSSAA. -Cheers-

Part 1: Sponsorship Anyone?

Sometimes it takes a village to raise a child, its no different for any athlete going through the many coaches and teammates that made investments in each other to reach the next level. Similarly, we need the same thing to be successful.

As most of the events out there, its not complete without sponsors coming on board to offer products, services, or support. I'm always looking for new marketing ideas; unique advertising, different channels, guerrilla tactics, whatever happens to catch my eye. The thing that never changes as a power player in the field is sponsorship. Whether it be contra, or cash, it is no joking matter.

Trying to provide the ultimate opportunity for potential sponsors is no easy feat. The proper exposure, return on dollar, interaction and exclusives can complicate the matter, but the bottom line does not change; the situation must be a win-win. As we try to put together our next large event, we're considering all these things for our sponsors.

Just like the previous entry displays, we've found a good home with apparel. Most of the events include apparel being given away to participants, or being sold. This has been a great fit for us. A couple of local companies have been awesome, and have come through with fantastic apparel! I'm not sure how much more we can expand with apparel, aside from a friendly reminder of rule #1; make sure its wear-able outside of the event!

I'm going to keep writing about sponsors and sponsorship, and if you have suggestions, I'm all ears. The Bravado Blog was started to show what we do in hopes that it can spark other interest.

MORE T-Shirts

HOT off the press - check out some of the new designs!

More Goals in the NHL?

As a Vancouver Canucks Fan, I'm more than happy to see the team on a 3 game winning streak, however I'm more impressed by the play of Roberto Luongo. In a era of hockey that consistently talks about more goals being scored per game, these last 3 wins have been extraordinary as Bobby Loo had 3 straight shutouts. The mention of MVP has loomed over Luongo's head since he came to Vancouver and gave us a shot at the playoffs in spite of our little ability to put the puck in the net.
I can honestly say, if you watch the Canucks play, the tenacity to attack the net this year has only come because of the confidence they have in their final line of defense: Luongo. If the Canucks keep scoring, they should be on the road to the playoffs, but who am I to say 15 games into the season. There's always a battle in the Northwest Division.

After watching Roberto play, and hearing what most of the NHL has to say about him - he is becoming a legend in hockey. His save percentage doesn't matter, nor does the amount of shut outs he accumulates; the bottom line: he's the backbone of his team. Fitting that he was named captain this season. Might not be able to wear the "C" on the uniform, but there is always a compromise, especially when goalies can fully customize their masks.

Playoffs would be nice, another run like '94 would be fantastic, but ideally all we want, here in Vancouver, is the nets to stay the same size, and Roberto to keep stopping pucks! GO CANUCKS GO!

The Villain aka Jeremy Neufeld

Welcome to the competitive world of MMA; the UFC becoming mainstream and national television networks wanting to broadcast their events, while their reality show becoming a hit for viewers, and a serious way for fighters to break into their professional careers.

In our neck of the woods, here in the Pacific Northwest, we've got a handful of great gyms that are turning out some awesome fighters. We're happy to be around the scene (love to get more involved) as we are also fans of the sport.

After recovering from a couple injuries from various sports; the all-round athletic Jeremy Neufeld started to seriously train for Mixed Martial Arts. We're proud to see "The Villain" get fights under his belt and continue to train for the next opponent. We're behind him in the next fight - look out for more talent coming out of the Vancouver area!

Sports brings us together

As I was heading into the office this morning, I ran into one of the guys that I've been playing drop-in basketball with for about a year. Little did I know, he's working construction on the site next to our office building. As usual, we starting talking bball, and when we were going to be playing next.

I started to notice that everybody walking by looked at us because we were a bit of an odd couple. A guy dressed business casual, and a construction worker - talk about 2 different worlds. Two different worlds during the 9-5, maybe, but all that is put aside when we step onto the court.

As I was in the elevator, I thought I should write about it in our blog because it made me start to think about a lot of the other guys who we play sports with. I really only know what a handful of them do for work - and it really doesn't matter. We're there to play the game!

Lets look at the news, how often are they reporting about the middle class disappearing? How many times is someone described or judged by their race, or age, or classified by their career choice? More often than not. I know I'm getting off topic here, but I think its still relevant.

I never thought about how mixed and diverse our drop-in basketball was. We've got a couple teachers, 2 or 3 in sales, a poker pro, a few college students, but like I mentioned earlier, the rest, I really don't know. We're racially diverse as well. Its a pretty good mix.

I'm hoping that this will continue to be the case through out the years. The next generation is growing up in a more 'global' world, and is more aware of athletics on a global scale. I'm glad that is the case for all sports. Steel sharpens steel as athletes develop and train; with the cultural and class barriers down, it allows us to enjoy our sports more, and see them evolve to the next level.


As bitter as I may have sounded above talking about how judgmental the media can be, I'm truly excited that the sports we love continue to cross borders, and bring us all together. Best of health, lets play ball!

Daniel Igali to Speak at The Sports Dinner

We are very pleased to announce that Olympic Gold Medalist, Daniel Igali will be the Guest Speaker for The Sports Dinner. We are now 2 weeks away from the dinner, and are excited to have Daniel speaking.

After coming to Canada in 1994 to participate in the Commonwealth Games, he applied for refugee status, and has made a great name for himself here in Canada as a positive role model and influential figure.

Amazingly he won 116 straight matches during 1997-1999 at Simon Fraser University, then moved on to winning the world title in 1999. That gold medal was followed by another during the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney. That same year he was named Canada's top athlete in addition to being named Canada's top male amateur athlete for the second straight year.

Daniel was inducted into the Canadian Sport's Hall of Fame in 2007 to recognize his achievements in Wrestling.

He has dedicated his time to improving the lives of those from his home region of Niger delta. He has accomplished his dream by opening the Maureen Matheny Academy. The school is a huge upgrade from the education that is offered in the region and boasts an auditorium, library, computer lab, a six-room accommodation complex and administration block. This has already made a huge impact to the region, and Daniel is only beginning. Phase two is underway so the school can expand.

Truly an amazing athlete and person, we are excited to have him as the guest speaker for The Sports Dinner.

Premier Week!

Its Premier Week in the NBA. I caught a couple of the games last night. Boston winning over Cleveland, and this year's Lakers absolutely spanking the Trailblazers. Wow, they sure are a different team with Greg Oden off the floor - hope he heals that foot quickly, Portland needs him. The Boston game was much more entertaining as it was a rematch of last year's playoff battle, well, sort of. The Cavs look in pretty good shape, some nice acquisitions in the off season, but Boston is still Boston - here's some early predictions, Lakers and Celtics to the finals...again.

Well, onto our local scene. As the NBA is kicking off their season, we're getting ready to start the second season of the PEEL. We have grown a bit since the summer league, changed a few things (hopefully for the better) and we're hoping that this season will be the best yet. For all you players out there from the PEEL - thank you for your patience during our September/October hiatus. We're launching The PEEL Winter League (now that we're running until January) on November 8, 2008. The teams look a lot stronger than the Summer league - but I'm not making any predictions until the exhibition games are over.

** The SPORTS Dinner **

The NHL Season has just begun, our Vancouver Whitecaps are the USL Champions, the World Series is about to begin, the BC Lions are gunning for another Grey Cup. Sunday is now dominated by NFL and we're almost into the NBA Season. Its a great time of year to be a sports fan! Its our pleasure, to extend another sporting related event to that list this fall:

The Sports Dinner to benefit Vancouver's Secondary School Student-Athletes will be held at the Pan Pacific Hotel on November 13th. This is the first year that the dinner will be held, and our goal is to have it as an annual event to benefit our student athletes. The VSSAA takes care of all the sporting events through out the Vancouver Secondary Schools, and as former athletes ourselves, we cannot imagine our high school days with out the effort they put in.

For more info, and to purchase tickets to this special event (limited seating) please visit www.vssaasportsdinner.com

There's also a huge opportunity here for local businesses to get some great exposure through our silent auction and event sponsorship, contact me for addition details.

It won't be the same without you! Your support determines the success of this event, and the fundraisers we hope to have in the future.

Kings Classic Tournament

We had the first KINGS CLASSIC 3 on 3, presented by Bravado Sports & Entertainment tournament on August 31st and it was a blast! We had 8 teams, and the winners, HoopStar, went home with the $250 cash prize. Thanks for all the great feedback, we're really excited for the upcoming Cash-Prize Basketball Tourneys!

Spread the word - we're in the midst of planning the Spring 2009 KINGS CLASSIC 5 on 5 Cash Prize Tournament. The Tournament will be held in the Vancouver BC area, and we'd like to see a handful of cities represented in the tournament. Here's the format we've got planned for Easter 2009: April 10, 11 & 12th.

$350 to enter your team (up to 12 players)

16 teams; all teams guaranteed 4 games over the 3 days!

Winners move on to the Elimination Round,

The Championship Team will go home with $2000

We'd love to expand the tournament if there is enough interest! More teams means the bigger CASH PRIZE for the championship team.

Many of the local hotels are on-board to give a discounted rate to teams travelling for the tournament, and we're also arranging a opening event, Friday Night, and a closing party Sunday Night!

Get in touch with us for more info - get your basketball team entered now!

info@kings-classic.com

www.kings-classic.com

Branding?? Still can't beat a simple T-shirt!

With technology letting us avoid advertising by fast-forwarding through commercials with TIVO, reading the newspaper through your favorite feed, or listening to satellite radio to hear no commercials at all, new companies must use more than traditional marketing to brand themselves.

We'll never get to the point of TIVO blurring out the logos on athlete's uniforms and there is always going to be the pride of wearing your team's logo. I still wear the team gear that I've gotten over the years and look forward to getting more of it!

As we're looking to brand our events and teams, we're start with simple t-shirts before expanding into more apparel relevant to the event. Here's some of the t-shirts that are available now. The designs are constantly changing and always look awesome!

So many different business are adapting to the changing market, and the company we use is no different. We can design all the apparel, and they handle all of the production and distribution. In the clothing business, having no minimum order was only a dream 10 years ago. Its perfect for companies like us since we have multiple events and can push all of them with out having to pay upfront for large quantities.

We are continuously adding designs, keep checking back as we'll be posting the designs on our blog as they get released!