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The “Fearless Gin Sour” with Valley of Mother of God gin is the creation of Massimo Zitti, owner of Mother Cocktail Bar, and is a tribute to the global phenomenon that is Taylor Swift. Her six sold-out Eras Tour concerts in Toronto have significantly boosted the city’s economy. Destination Toronto estimated an economic impact exceeding $282 million, with over $152 million in direct spending. This financial surge is attributed to several factors: • Tourism and Hospitality: The concerts attracted approximately 240,000 attendees, many from outside Toronto. Hotel bookings for the concert dates were nearly 83% higher in downtown Toronto compared to the same period last year, with citywide demand up by 36%. • Local Businesses: Restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment venues experienced increased patronage. Moneris, a Canadian payment services provider, reported a 57% week-over-week increase in spending across all categories during the first three days of the Toronto leg of the tour. • Tax Revenue: The concerts generated nearly $40 million in tax revenue across all levels of government, benefiting public services and infrastructure. (Source: Chat GPT) Check out the Fearless Gin Sour video on Instagram for this delicious recipe.

DJing at the Philadelphia Chocolate, Wine & Whiskey Festival at the Philadelphia Expo was a true highlight for both my DJ career and festival-goers. A DJ’s role at a wine festival isn’t just about playing great tracks; it’s about curating the perfect atmosphere that complements the tasting experience. At events like these, it’s all about striking the right balance between energy and ambiance. The goal is to elevate the experience without overpowering it, letting the music flow seamlessly with the wine and chocolate pairings. Here’s how I approach DJing at a wine festival: 1. Setting the Tone: The music should reflect the sophistication and relaxed vibe of a wine festival. A smooth blend of jazz, soul, and chill house keeps the mood lively but not overwhelming. Also don’t forget about the hit songs they everybody knows and sings along to. 2. Reading the Crowd: As guests enjoy their tastings, it’s important to gauge their energy. A DJ should adapt the tempo as the event progresses. Starting with more relaxed beats and building up as the evening unfolds. 3. Creating a Memorable Moment: For any festival, it’s about more than just music. I focus on delivering a complete sensory experience that people will remember long after the event ends. Event Planners: What to Look for in Entertainment When planning a wine festival, choosing the right DJ is key to creating an atmosphere that guests will love. Here’s what to consider: • Versatility: Can the DJ read the room and adapt the music as needed? • Event Experience: Has the DJ worked similar events where balance and ambiance are crucial? • Professionalism: The DJ should understand the vibe of your event and enhance it with their music selection and timing. The right DJ transforms a good event into a great one. TasteUSA Festival Management TasteUSA Festival Management No Stress Zone Entertainment LLC #WineFestival #EventDJ #PhillyEvents #EventPlanning #Eventplanner #FestivalVibes #WineAndWhiskey #EventEntertainment #CorporateEvents #Wine #EventCoordinator

#Indians in the mass affluent category and above are clearly moving to an #experiential #economy. And it is not only about #music #concerts , annual #holiday or fancy dining-experiences from #michelin star chefs. They expect a good experience even when shopping - be it at a mall or a flagship store. Are you readying your #business to deliver an exceptional #experience? https://lnkd.in/dct8KZFY

🎪 Festival Insights and Awards shared Togather's 2024 Festival F&B trends! 🎪 – The popularity of vegan food has risen by 28% over the course of the last 12 months. 🥕 – Sales of non-alcoholic cocktails and drinks grew by 35% across all the events, showing the continued rise in demand for non-alcoholic drinks. ☕ – The best selling dish across all the events, replacing Burger and fries in 2023, was Chicken Tenders and fries. 🍗 – The best selling drink overall was a pint of lager. 🍻 – The specific cuisine that saw the highest rise in popularity was Moroccan food, which rose a dramatic 300% in popularity – with the most popular dish being Harissa Chicken. 🇲🇦 – Sales of babycinos rose by 60%. 🍼 – The best selling genre of music festival was at Jazz events, with per head sales of 30% higher than other types of music. 🎷 Hugo Campbell '‘While we’re still seeing the prevalence of old favourites such as a pint of lager or a burger, it’s important to recognise that the quality of these options has been rising and is very far away from events 15 years ago. I think I can officially announce that the age of the warm beer and plastic burger at a festival is over!’ Long live Lobster rolls 🦐 & champers 🥂 in the fields! 🎉 #FB #LiveEvents #Festivals

Summer is the prime season for music festivals, and Finnish festivals are leading the way in sustainability. Discover how Finnish festival cuisine highlights eco-friendly practices by tracking carbon footprints and investing in locally sourced ingredients. ♻ Explore this article to see how Finland combines cultural celebration with environmental responsibility: https://lnkd.in/daxwcAH7

#SolutionsforGroup Thank you to everyone who participated in our latest poll on the challenges of integrating 🎵Live Music into your 🏨 Hotel’s amenity offerings. I’ll start offering one solution per post. Allow me to address the Number One concern: 💰BUDGET: After 3 decades of performing in hotels, I have observed that if success is measured solely upon the increase in Food and Beverage Sales in order to pay for the band, it is rarely justified by management. However, seen as a whole—as a guest experience amenity and a branding boost—there are few long term, cost-effective investments that can help create repeat business.  I estimate that 20% of guests acknowledge us in the positive while we perform in the lobby or in the restaurant/bar area. Given that our weekly rate is less than a two-night stay during the peak season, doesn’t it make sense to hire musicians if it brings back ONE guest who appreciates something more than canned music? All feedback is welcome! Let’s keep finding the right solutions for your property!

Are you not entertained? The quality of at-home dining improved dramatically during the pandemic, raising the standard of what guests expect when dining out. Most venues have realised that one way to attract guests is with the promise of entertainment. What many venues *haven’t* nailed is how to do entertainment well, in a manner that doesn’t overpower the dining experience. It is commonplace to experience: ⁃ Poorly configured venues so performances aren’t visible. ⁃ Music so loud you have to shout to be heard ⁃ Confusing performances ⁃ Overly corny acts I'm still not sure anybody has cracked “premium” on the experiential side within a restaurant. When incorporating entertainment into a venue, it is essential to focus on your point of difference and make it the best it can be. Adrian, our new Director of Music & Entertainment, is working on the programme for our new venues.  His creative experience has challenged us to consider elements of the entertainment programme we would never have considered were it not for his expertise I’d be interested to hear of any venues you think have incorporated entertainment perfectly into a restaurant environment. #music #entertainment #hospitality

Part Restaurant / Part Nightclub – does it work? Across our venues, we are constantly raising the bar of what it means to be entertained and how to merge the elements of a restaurant and nightlife. When it’s done well, your guests will experience: - Incredible dinner and drinks under one roof - Music that lifts and dips in line with the space - A more social, vibrant experience For example, at GAIA, we programme our music to build throughout the evening, encouraging diners to step through a hidden door and extend their evening at NYX rather than taxi-hop across the city to a second destination for drinks. Building this dual experience allows our guests to make the most of our incredible venues and challenges our team’s creativity. When navigating a hybrid model: - We consider the elements of the evening a little more - We innovate through music and lighting - And we continue to raise the bar. It is a delicate balance when it comes to getting it right and making sure we don’t risk undoing all the good by adding too much to the mix. Have you visited any venues that have nailed the restaurant/nightclub hybrid?

As we approach the final Bank Holiday of the summer for 2024, it’ll be interesting to see how bars, restaurants and pubs trade. The majority I've spoken to will be hosting live music for at least part of the extended weekend. According to new research released this week by CGA, pubs saw an uptick in trade during July, driven by the Euros. While this is a positive, it also impacted other areas of the industry. In the below MCA Insight article, Karl Chessell highlights that growth should hopefully be seen across all segments over the coming Bank Holiday. I agree with this sentiment while recognising that bars, pubs and restaurants have it in their power to attract customers with great experiences - and music is often top of the list. 🎶 We worked with the team over at CGA by NIQ to uncover the real impact that live music has on the hospitality industry, revealing that £2.4bn in annual revenue is available to the hospitality sector if all licensed venues offered music. So, to all venue operators, I hope you have a tremendous Bank Holiday trade this weekend. GigPig works with thousands of venues nationwide and we’ll be hosting a vast amount of live music in what we expect to be one of the busiest weekends of the summer for gigs. https://lnkd.in/eER3D_NA  

We have truly done the impossible. The SAFE Bar Network is ending the year 204 alcohol-serving venues strong. This year alone, we trained 164 bars, restaurants, nightclubs, breweries, speakeasies, music venues, and more. This is a record not only for us but a record for any safe nightlife program ever. You’ve helped us become the nation’s leader in equipping folks with the skills to give everyone a safe night out. Here are just a few highlights this year. “The facilitator kept everyone engaged while still moving the conversation forward. Through some of the more difficult topics, she was able to keep everyone talking, which is what we needed.” “The training was very engaging and encouraged folks to ask questions. The facilitator had great insights on how better to recognize iffy situations and how to respond to them.” “One thing I will do after training is be friendly and welcoming to everyone while still being clear about all rules and expectations of the venue.” “Now I have the skills to keep calm, stay aware of the space and people’s interactions, let them know in little ways that I “see them” and care about their experience throughout their time here. 🍸🍸 Curious? Join us at a SAFE Night Out Session to learn more about how you can make every night a Safe Night Out. Sign up using the link in our bio. #bystander #bystanderintervention #safebar #safebarnetwork #safenightout