Technoholic`s Affair
Transcription
Technoholic`s Affair
4 jULY 2011 www.eventfaqs.com VOLUME 2 | ISSUE 3 ` 100/- Events | Entertainment | Promotions | MICE | BTL | Sponsorship | Sports In Focus: Technoholic’s Affair Sprinting at the TCS World 10K Run p 25 Khatron Ke Khiladi returns p 30 IIFA gives Canada a taste of Bollywood Bacon p 33 Market Pulse: Stepping IP up! - Harindra Singh, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Percept Limited p 44 Perspective: Also Featured: India Inc. goes Green p 18 From the Heart of the Lion - Brian Tellis, Chairman, Fountainhead Promotions and Events p 22 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 03 It’s all happening here EDITORIAL TEAM: KARISHMA HUNDALANI karishma@eventfaqs.com +91 98212 80003 KARAN IYER karan@eventfaqs.com +91 80977 68788 RACHEL GEORGE rachel@eventfaqs.com +91 98197 77983 KATE FERNANDES kate@eventfaqs.com +91 98194 46058 SHACHI TAPIAWALA shachi@eventfaqs.com +91 98336 21173 DESIGN TEAM: VINAYAK ALLE PRASAD KARAMBAT MARKETING SERVICES: VISHAL NAGDEV vishal@eventfaqs.com +91 98212 24987 ARNOB BANERJEE arnob@eventfaqs.com +91 98195 40004 TANVI ASHER tanvi@eventfaqs.com +91 92245 72293 BHUMIN TRIVEDI bhumin@eventfaqs.com +91 98208 68882 SHABNAM CHARANIYA shabnam@eventfaqs.com +91 80077 96990 SHRUTIKA SALVE shrutika@eventfaqs.com +9122 2648 9915 CIRCULATION: RAMESH PATIL ramesh@eventfaqs.com +9122 2605 7539 ACCOUNTS & ADMIN: PURVESH BHATT accounts@eventfaqs.com +9122 2648 9915 ExM is a monthly magazine by EVENTFAQS, publishers of India’s only platform for events and experiential marketing www.eventfaqs.com. Subscriptions are ` 1,000/- (India) and US$ 120/- (ROW) per year (12 issues), including postage. Mail at exm@eventfaqs.com for more details. While seasonality is something the experiential marketing industry has been combating for few monsoons now, what is still commendable is its perpetual opportunity optimization. There is some amount of dampening of spirits when the rain pours down, but using this time to gear up for when the season turns, is the only way forward. What better than indulgence to rid them blues? Taking this time to figure out what your business really needs can prove to be the most productive way, for both, getting over the lull in business and also piling on the maximum advantage for when it picks up again. Technology is one such advantage that is continually becoming the differentiator in this industry. Own the latest technology but also own the creative capability to put this to use. And until the clouds clear out, some have learnt to make hay despite of the sun. Creation of opportunities seems to be the new mantra, with marketers using the slightest occasion as the theme of their initiatives. These are no longer limited to cheesy Valentine’s Day gimmicks. They’ve evolved to much more meaningful occasions, that calls for way more valid action. And of course a platform with an adequate hook, can lead to varied audiences, which in turn leads to sponsors. The World Environment Day marks the month of June. The Environment is a cause that has to go well beyond a month and surely last longer than a single day and become a dedicated mission. While its encouraging to see what others are doing in support of the environment, its most important to look within and see what each one of us on an individual level can contribute. Reduce, Reuse and Recycle! karishma@eventfaqs.com Corrigendum: Printed by: Vishal Vashulal Nagdev 202, Brooke Ville, Near Magnet Super Market, Mogul Lane, Matunga (West), Mumbai – 400 016, Maharashtra, India. Published by: Vishal Vashulal Nagdev on behalf of (or owned by) EMDI Web Solutions Pvt. Ltd. And printed at VSSU Graphics, Unit # 36, Ideal Industrial Estate, Senapati Bapat Marg, Lower Parel (West), Mumbai – 400 013 Maharashtra, India and published at EMDI Web Solutions Pvt. Ltd. 4th Floor, IES College Campus, Opp. Lilavati Hospital, Bandra Reclamation., Bandra – West Mumbai – 400 050, Maharashtra, India. Editor: Karishma Jammu Hundalani. ExM apologizes for an oversight in the May 2011 issue. In the WOW Awards 2011 case study presentation feature, a picture featuring Harjinder Singh, Director, Showworks Eventz, was wrongly captioned. This issue contains 56 pages including covers Harjinder Singh of Showworks Eventz with team accepting the award from Sanjay Jain, CMO, Reliance Capital (Jury Chair) CONTENTS 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 04 Event Briefs Industry Watch Promo Power | MICE | Live Sports Rush | Media Active 07-13 India Inc. goes Green 18 Perspective 22 Agency | Destination Venues | Events 14-17 In focus Sprinting at the TCS World 10K Run: A platform for brands to get-set-go 25 Khatron Ke Khiladi returns with four times the Khatra 30 IIFA gives Canada a taste of Bollywood Bacon 33 Market Pulse 44 From the Heart of the Lion Stepping IP up! By Brian Tellis, Chairman, Fountainhead Promotions and Events By Harindra Singh, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Percept Ltd. Technoholic’s Affair 36 Industry experts unveils and discuss the latest event technology at Palm Expo Felix Remedios Director, Reynolds Bruno Friedl PEP Warren D’souza Director, SOUND.com Suresh Madan Director, Dynamix Media Harry Gladow BD Manager, Coolux Rajan Gupta Director, Hi-Tech Audio GLIMPSES 49 50 51 52 53 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 07 Bacardi India brings people together with music Encompass sets the beat for Duracell Dancing Bunny activation Bacardi India announced its global campaign ‘BACARDI Together’ at a press conference at The Park, New Delhi, on June 9. The Bacardi Together Anthem and Bacardi Together Beat were two activities conducted to bring out the message of ‘Togetherness’. Only Much Louder managed the campaign activation. Encompass managed the Duracell Dancing Bunny Activation from April 16 to the end of June. The activation touched 40 modern trade outlets including Big Bazaar, ABRL More and Star Bazaars across Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Hyderabad. The activity was designed along the lines of the brand’s positioning of Duracell Alkaline lasting up to 10 times longer than ordinary zinc carbon batteries. Arvind Krishnan, Marketing Director, Bacardi India said: “‘BACARDI Together’ is to remind people that real human connections are important. We are targeting male consumers from the legal drinking age up to 29 years. We have engaged more than 43,000 people through these two activitations. We should be able to reach a far larger number through the activations over the rest of the year.” Collective Heads helps HT to dial students for Campus Calling 2011 Collective Heads managed the venue and executed Campus Calling 2011, an initiative by Hindustan Times that began on May 13 and ended on June 11 in Mumbai. This is a four-year old property that encourages students to select an appropriate career for themselves. This initiative has witnessed a growth from eight sessions last year to 13 sessions this year. Suchita Pillai, Manager-Client Servicing, Collective Heads said: “We have done various activities for Hindustan Times and we were chosen due to our previous records. This campaign engaged 12,000 students compared to last year, which engaged 10,000 students.” Mudra Max turbo charges Castrol CRB Turbo on-ground campaign Castrol India recently launched a 360 degree campaign for Castrol CRB Turbo. The on-ground aspect of this campaign is being carried out by Mudra Max. 1,500 dealers across 90 Indian cities will be contacted through the BTL initiative. While the TVC for the all-round campaign took an emotional route, the on-ground campaign took a ‘rational’ turn. Anupam Joshi, Brand Manager, Castrol said: “The onground initiative of the Castrol CRB Turbo campaign focuses on communicating the rational benefits of the brand to consumers. The campaign is a little over half way through and we have crossed over 60,000 consumer contacts across the top truck locations in India.” Kiran Dodiya, Client Servicing Director, Encompass said: “Given the constraints of the space available at a modern trade outlets, we came up with the concept of the Duracell bunny dancing with a boom box to intrigue and engage consumers while a product consultant displayed the demo. We have managed to conduct more than 42,000 demos so far and will touch more consumers in the last leg of the activation.” Percept Activ manages workshops for Canon Percept Activ managed workshops for Canon DSLR, which were structured to offer a broad preview of the Canon DSLR range of cameras, their USP and professional photography tips by industry experts. The workshops were held in 20 cities. These photography workshops were aimed at professional photographers, mainly from the wedding and fashion industry. Sanjay Shukla, COO, Percept Activ said: “We have been associated with Canon for the past three years and have done numerous projects for them. Through this activity, we wanted to create awareness for the SLR category in tier two cities. We plan to cover 80 odd cities by the year end.” Percept OOH sows promotional campaign for Pioneer Hybrid Seeds Percept Out-of-Home managed the promotion of corn seeds for Pioneer Hybrid Seeds in corn farming belts across Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Orissa and Chhattisgarh. The campaign extended from April 26 to the first week of June. Sanjay Pareek, President, Percept OOH said: “The objective of the activity was to create top of the mind awareness of the brand and its attributes, communicate yield benefits vis-à-vis the cost, and drive demand through word of mouth publicity including testimony from loyal consumers. The campaign reached out to six states, 2,439 villages and 2.8 lakh farmers were contacted.” For latest updates on events and on-ground promotions from across India, log on to www.eventfaqs.com Promo Power 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 09 Percept ICE gives electrical experience to Havells dealers CS Direkt manages Hyundai dealer incentive trip Percept ICE managed Havells India’s annual dealer’s meet. This gathering of leading Indian and international dealers took place at the Grosvenor House Marriott Hotel in London. The meet attracted more than 550 guests, including celebrities and business leaders. The conference theme was ‘Power of One - Together we make it happen’. Hyundai’s annual dealer incentive trip will be managed by CS Direkt for the fifth year in succession. The trip, which is scheduled from Aug. 7 to Aug. 12, will see dealers traveling to Amsterdam and Paris. CS Direkt has chosen these locations as they reflect the brand’s new positioning, ‘New thinking, New Possibilities’. Riddhi Merchant, Manager, Brand Activation, Percept ICE said: “We are honoured that Havells has chosen and recognized Percept ICE for creating and executing its event. With Havells, we have launched, acquired and created a whole new range of events internationally and expanded our reach into the electronics industry.” Encompass manages Legrand Stockist Conference 2011 The annual Legrand Stockist Conference 2011 was held at the Renaissance Convention Centre in Powai, Mumbai. The event launched Legrand’s new product named ‘Myrius’ and awarded top performing stockists as well. Encompass managed the week long conference that took place from May 30 to June 5. The theme for this year’s conference was ‘Udan’. Speaking about the increased participation, Mansi Ghatwal, Manager - Marketing Communication, Legrand said: “This year, there were 50 per cent more participants than last year. Approximately 700 persons attended the event.” Convergence executes business associate meet for DHFL G. Sanjay, GM-Advertising and Branding, Hyundai said: “Dealers who perform during the peak sales period between March and June will qualify for the incentive trip. The objective of the trip is to motivate the dealers to perform for the latter half of the year. It is also an opportunity for them to interact with senior management.” HKECIA announces positive results in 2010 Exhibition Survey During its annual general meeting on June 17, the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Industry Association (HKECIA) announced the results of its 2010 Exhibition Survey. The number of trade exhibitions, visitors, exhibiting companies and space taken had all showed an increase, some with double digit percentage. “While we are happy to see Mainland companies investing heavily in our shows, it is clear that Hong Kong remains an important global sourcing hub. Our international business partners have returned after a short lived dent, demonstrating the time proven effectiveness of Hong Kong trade exhibitions as a business platform,” commented Daniel Cheung, Chairman, HKECIA. Showcraft to design Kohinoor Foods stall for Fine Foods Exhibition Convergence Events executed a business associate meet for DHFL for their business associates, namely builders, developers and investment brokers. The meet was organised in Jaipur, Solapur and Chandigarh on June 3, June 8 and June 10, respectively, and in Ranchi and Mumbai on June 15, Noida on June 18 and Ludhiana on June 25. Other cities including Pune, Kolhapur, Delhi, Lucknow, Kanpur, Bangalore, Chennai and Cochin are in the pipeline. Showcraft Productions has been appointed to design and fabricate the stall of Kohinoor Foods for the Fine Foods International Exhibition, taking place from Sept. 5 to Sept. 8 at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre. This exhibition aims to reach out to international buyers and plans to engage around 1,000 people. Aliasgar Munshi, Director, Convergence Events said: “There are a total of 40-50 centres wherein we will be conducting these meets. We have been associated with DHFL for a long time and have been doing a lot of work for them. This is their first meet and will henceforth be an annual one.” Lalitt Gattani, Chief Creative Officer, Showcraft said: “We are pleased with the growth of our displays division in the last two years. We will give the stall a very distinct look which is a fusion of Indian and western modern design. We plan to use special lighting to highlight the same.” For latest updates on events and on-ground promotions from across India, log on to www.eventfaqs.com MICE 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 10 Sanskriti and World Trade Park join hands for Jaipur Marathon Outlook Events & Activation manages live concert for Mardav and Aarjav Sanskriti, an NGO that promotes awareness of Indian culture and tradition, will organise the Jaipur Marathon on Jan. 22, 2012 in association with the World Trade Park. The event, which will be managed by Marathon Events, will be in its third edition and aims to portray the varied atmosphere that exists in Jaipur with its vibrant colours and mixed culture. Outlook Events & Activation managed a live concert for an upcoming band, Mardav & Aarjav, at Karnavati Club on June 18 in Ahmedabad. The objective behind this initiative was to create awareness and hype about the band. This concert, which was targeted at the youth, witnessed a footfall of more than 12,000 people. Saurabh Sharma, COO, Marathon Events said: “Each event will have its own distinguishing characteristic that will set it apart from the others, presenting the cultural and ethnic diversity of Rajasthan. Last year, 35,000 people attended the event and this year, we are expecting about 40,000 people.” Pankaj Bhatt, Director, Outlook Events said: “Mardav & Aarjav is an upcoming band and they approached us to promote their band. The opening performance by Mardav & Aarjav was followed by a live performance by singer Mohit Chauhan.” Vibgyor manages awards ceremony E-Sense manages celebration for Victory Day at Vasai Fort on World Environment day The Financial Express EVI Green Business Survey and Leadership Awards 2011 took place on June 5 at The Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. The event, managed by Vibgyor Brand Services, was conducted by Financial Express and EVI. The awards were followed by a panel discussion by persons from the industry, government and media. Ankur Kalra CEO, Vibgyor Brand Services said: “We are proud to have managed these awards for the third time in a row. It is a great initiative by Financial Express and EVI to recognize the efforts made by industry leaders towards the conservation of the environment.” Katha Mediatix India announces awards for calendar making Katha Mediatix India Ltd. announced its initiative of the Indian Calendar Achievers Awards (ICAA) which will be held in the first week of November at Yash Raj Studios, Mumbai. This initiative is being hosted with the aim of appreciating, felicitating and reviving the fading art of calendar making in India. Krishnendu Sen, Chairman & MD, Katha Mediatix India said: “We have seen a plethora of award functions over the years amidst which, we have lost touch with such a critical piece of art. The ICAA will be the first of its kind in India to appreciate, award, applaud and revive the art of calendar making. Though these awards are the first of its kind, we plan to make it an annual event.” E-Sense Entertainment managed the Victory Day celebration at Vasai Fort, Mumbai, for the Vasai-Virar Municipal Corporation. E-Sense Entertainment handled the entire set design and fabrication as well as all the technicals, including sound and light. Nikhil Oza, COO, E-Sense Entertainment said: “The VasaiVirar Municipal Corp. wanted the event to highlight the history of the fort which Chimaji Appa defended, and also the present day multi-cultural characteristic of the place. The laser show which we suggested was a grand hit among the 15,000 locals who attended the event.” Think Tank property Jatra to have Bollywood connection this year Think Tank’s signature property, Jatra, a festival showcasing Bengali folk theatre in the rural areas of Bengal, will have a Bollywood connection this year. Think Tank has roped in Raveena Tandon to perform in one of the theatre productions called Rupsagarer Rupasi, produced by Ratnadeep Opera.Jatra will start around September in Bengal and will continue until March or April of the next year. Each theatre production will have 45 to 50 shows. Probal Gaanguly, Director, Think Tank said: “We have been working on the rural platform with 30 producers in Bengal. Around 80 people from the production team will be engaged to execute the show. We aim to reach out to 15,000 people per show. Around 50 shows will be held in the rural areas of Bengal, for which Raveena Tandon will perform.” For latest updates on events and on-ground promotions from across India, log on to www.eventfaqs.com LIVE 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 11 Bajaj Allianz launches season II of Allianz Junior Football Camp Sportscraft to organise 22nd Monsoon Scooter Rally Bajaj Allianz has launched the selection process for the Allianz Junior Football Camp in India for the second time. This is the third edition of the international football camp which will take place in Munich, Germany in August. This camp is targeted at children between the ages of 14 and 16 years. Sportscraft will organise the 22nd Monsoon Scooter Rally on July 17. This is an annual rally wherein people from various states come together and ride scooters on the streets of Navi Mumbai. This rally, sponsored by Gulf Oil Corp. Ltd., aims to engage around 35 participants and is targeted towards anyone with a passion for this sport. Rituraj Bhattacharya, Head-Market Management and Product Development, Bajaj Allianz said: “We saw an overwhelming response last year with over 25,000 students participating in the selection process. This year, the search will target over 50,000 students across 41 cities.” Shrikant Karani, Director, Sportscraft said: “We have been associated with Gulf Oil for 25 years and have been doing various events and rallies such as the national championship of dirt bike racing, which will commence in November-December. This rally is a trademark event for all people with a passion for the sport and has become popular for riders of Mumbai, Pune and Nashik.” Mixed Martial Arts India to introduce India Fight Night Mixed Martial Arts India has allied with restaurants in Mumai – Busaba, Kino 108 and The Den – where Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and free style Greco-Roman wrestling are showcased in a weekly screening beginning June 15. The objective is to popularise the sport, thus introducing the concept of ‘India Fight Night’. This activity is targeted at people between the ages of 21 and 45 years. Somesh Kamra, MD, MMA India said: “The fights are laced around competitions and games for the audience with opportunities to win goodies and prizes. We have various sponsors such as 98.3 FM, Bisleri and Adidas. I plan to initiate this in other cities too, such as Bangalore and Delhi.” Maruti Suzuki-Autocar Young Driver 2011 crosses the finish line Maruti Suzuki-Autocar Young Driver 2011, the third edition of a search for India’s best young driving talent, ended on June 4 at IDTR, New Delhi. This competition tested the competitors’ knowledge of traffic rules and awareness of road safety along with their real-world driving skills. The contest was open to all individuals between the ages of 18 to 30 years, with a valid driving license. Hormazd Sorabjee, Editor, Autocar India Magazine said: “The car market in India has undergone a dramatic transformation, but the driving culture is still prehistoric. The Young Driver of the Year contest is all about lifting driving standards to an acceptable threshold of safety.” Craftworld manages sports day in Mumbai MTS’ annual Wings of Fire, the annual sports day for MTS, was held on June 6 at the Kandivali Sports Authority of India in Mumbai. Wings of Fire is a global property of MTS, which is conducted at three levels - first within the circle (regional), then at the national level, and ultimately the finals in Russia. Craftworld Events managed the event at the circle level in Mumbai. A spokesperson from MTS said: “Wings of Fire is the Olympic games for MTS employees. It gives an opportunity to every employee to showcase their talent, teaches a lesson about sportsmanship, and helps to strengthen the relationship between our employees and the company.” Celebrity Cricket League kicks off in Bangalore The Celebrity Cricket League took place in the wake of the IPL season, wherein four teams comprising of film stars and celebrities from Tollywood, Kollywood, Sandalwood and Bollywood played in a T-20 format. The league began at Bangalore on June 4 and the finals were held in Hyderabad on June 12. The film fraternities from each industry battled against each other for the Celebrity Cricket League cup. The initiative aimed to raise awareness on piracy and ways to combat it. J Davis Prosound & Lighting was associated with the event, having already worked for the IPL and Champion League for two years. For latest updates on events and on-ground promotions from across India, log on to www.eventfaqs.com Sports Rush 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 13 92.7 BIG FM Delhi unveils its new positioning Vibgyor Brand Services manages musical show for Radio One RBNL’s 92.7 BIG FM Delhi has launched its new positioning which is meant to set the station apart from the city’s other radio stations. It has positioned itself as a ‘naughty’ station and will reveal Bollywood Secrets. To promote this positioning, BIG FM has launched the ‘Parde Ke Peche Baat’ Campaign. Vibgyor Brand Services managed a musical show of Punjabi singer Gurdaas Mann on June 4 at Siri Fort Auditorium, New Delhi. Creative Thinks Media was the title sponsor while the associate sponsors were KDPMGI, Imperia, KIIT Group of Colleges, and Investors Clinic. Sudha Sadhanand, Radio Operations Head, 92.7 BIG FM - Delhi said: “All the on-ground activities will be reflections of what is on-air. For example, we have a canter activity wherein a fully branded canter goes around the city. RJs visit all parts of the city in order to increase the amount of listeners in these places. All activities during these visits reflect what is on-air.” Sucheta Arora, Manager BD&CS, Vibgyor Brand Services said: “This concert witnessed a footfall of around 1,800 people. This event in particular, took entertainment and music to a higher level and it was an enthralling experience to see the crowd go crazy during the show.” Zee TV launches ‘Sobha Somnath Ki’ with press conference Zee News takes ‘For the sake of News’ on-ground Swastika Entertainment managed a press conference for the launch of ‘Sobha Somnath Ki - Matra Bhoomi ki prem Kahani’, a show on Zee TV. The press conference was held on the sets of the show in Talasari Umar Gaon on May 31. Zee News launched a pan India campaign, ‘For the sake of News’ on June 1 to provide the corporate world with a peep into the realm of Hindi news. The month-long onground activations were executed in media agencies and corporate houses in Delhi and Mumbai. Pure Media executed the on-ground campaign in 30 media agencies. Amit Verma, Swastika Entertainment said: “The brief given was to introduce every character innovatively. We had the setup lit up and decorated in an epic design as this is a historic serial. This conference activity is the first in India in the history of a television program launch. We engaged around 200 journalists through this activity.” Rohit Kumar, AVP, Zee News said: “‘For the sake of News’ was launched to trigger the media fraternity to voice their opinions on the state of the news today. As we are aware, hype and triviality are presented in the garb of news. Zee News reached out to the media fraternity and invited feedback on the dilution of TV news and possible solutions.” 3rd Rock Entertainment promotes ‘Always Kabhi Kabhi’ BIG FM Kanpur celebrates four years with BIG Chowki 3rd Rock Entertainment organised a few initiatives to promote the movie, ‘Always Kabhi Kabhi’. The activities included a mall activation, press conference and a charity event, among others. The mall activations included an interactive session with the movie’s star cast, a dance performance and a media address. The events took place in Delhi, Pune and Mumbai from June 9 onwards. In-store events also took place at Gitanjali and Provogue outlets. The charity event was organised in association with Khushi Foundation. 92.7 BIG FM Kanpur has completed four years of successful operation in the city. On its fourth anniversary, BIG FM organized a four-day campaign, “BIG Chowki: Arz nahi ab darz karo, BIG ke sath pura apna farz karo”, ending on June 27. BIG Chowki is a medium between the administration and Kanpurites. BIG Chowki reached out to the masses and let them write their feedback about the city. Prashant Shirsat, CMD, Third Rock Entertainment said: “We handled the on-ground and radio promotions for the movie. We also got brands on board for the movie. This is the first time we are working with Red Chillies.” Jagmeet Singh Bahri, Cluster Head, 92.7 BIG FM (U.P) said: “In continuation with our tagline, Suno Sunao - Life Banao, for the past four years we have been entertaining our listeners while creating awareness of various issues and events. The coming year will see more of such offerings to strengthen our relationship with listeners.” For latest updates on events and on-ground promotions from across India, log on to www.eventfaqs.com Media Active Industry Watch Agency Myriad Sports and NLMC brings sports merchandising to India Myriad Sports & Events, a Singapore based innovative sports and events management company, has entered the Indian market with the Futera brand of products and services. Supporting and executing their merchandise business in India will be Next Level Media Communications (NLMC). This partnership is with the aim of effectively using international sports personalities’ images in various forms of premiums for the purpose of various sports marketing initiatives E18 brings Navneeth Mohan on board Navneeth Mohan joined E18 as Senior Vice President on June 8. Mohan has a rich experience in the BTL, activation and events domains which, according to E 18, will work to their advantage. Mohan’s experience and track record will help E18 grow each of its businesses and help it achieve its growth targets for 2011-2012. Mohan will spearhead E18’s growth by delivering tailor-made brand solutions across E18’s large and diverse client portfolio so that their specific brand needs are met seamlessly. Farhad Wadia, CEO, E18 said: “Navneeth Mohan will take charge of growing the business in India. We are looking at doubling the size of the business and growing both in terms of the number of people as well as in terms of revenue.” at minimal expenses. Smita Deshmukh, Executive Director, Next Level Media Communications said: “Though India is a big sports destination, we are a virgin market for merchandise business. We are excited to work with Myriad Sports & Events. We have a unique set of sports personalities image and usage rights for India market and are happy to work with it.” Devraj Sanyal new MD of Universal Music India Devraj Sanyal has been appointed as Managing Director of Universal Music India. The appointment was announced by Vico Antippas, PresidentNordic Central and Eastern Europe, South Africa and India, Universal Music Group International. Sanyal will handle all operational aspects in Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. Antippas said: “India’s growth as an entertainment market and source of creativity is exciting. We look forward to a new era under Devraj’s leadership.” 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 14 Cannes Lions introduces changes to keep up with the times In its 58th year, Cannes Lions introduced some changes to further grow the festival. The first change was in the strapline itself, which from an ‘International Advertising Festival’ is now an ‘International Festival of Creativity’. The new strapline reflects the transformation of Cannes Lions over the last few years from being a celebration of creative excellence in advertising to now reflecting creative excellence in all forms of communication including design and PR. Other introductions included the Creative Effectiveness Lions and the Lion of St. Mark award. Changes were also made to Agency of the Year award. The Interactive Agency of the Year Award no longer exists. Cannes Lions also launched the Cannes Creative Academy for Young Marketers this year; and along with YouTube, Cannes Lions launched ‘Good Work’, which offered not-for-profit organisations the chance to post briefs in video format. Mudra Max appoints Samir Khanna as new Media HeadWest Mudra Max has appointed Samir Khanna as the Media Head - West. To add value to Mudra Max’s media offering in the West, it has integrated all the mass media teams as a single unit, Mudra Max Media. Khanna will be looking after Mumbai and Ahmedabad clients and will be based out of Mumbai. He will report directly to Pratap Bose and will also work closely with the other unit heads of Mudra Max. Khanna said: “This is an exciting time at Mudra Max. The consolidation of the mass media offering gives us the required width, and we look forward to providing truly integrated media solutions to our clients. I look forward to working closely with the heads of our experiential and non-traditional media offerings to take media from a pure awareness generation role to a function that builds increasing levels of engagement with the consumer at each step of a brand’s marketing efforts.” Bates 141’s Sonal Dabral returns to India after 12-year stint abroad After 12 years of being a leader in creative standards across Asia, Sonal Dabral, Creative Head Asia and Chairman Bates 141 India, will be relocating back to India from Singapore at the end of July. Dabral, who will be based in Mumbai, will serve in the same designation and role within the network. This move is to refocus on India and use his experience in the country and region to build new businesses and help current businesses get stronger. Dabral said: “Bates 141 in India is at the right inflection point with a strong list of clients, a highly talented team and some good work in its bag. I hope to bring my learning from all the international markets to push Bates 141 in India to the next level, and to take it to the position that it truly deserves.” Industry Watch Destination Singapore is potentially a Top Tourist Destination in 2011 According to a Singapore business incorporation portal, Singapore’s tourism sector’s strong performance in the first quarter, accompanied by the uptrend in business travel and the MICE industry, indicate a strong potential for the city-state to emerge as a top tourist destination for 2011. Singapore aims to draw 12-13 million visitors and earn S$22-S$24 billion in tourism receipts this year. Tourism Quebec to promote the province as cultural destination in India Canada’s Quebec province has listed Asia as a priority focus area, particularly Japan, China and India. Tourism Quebec is currently studying the Indian market and will shortly embark on a campaign to promote the destination. It also plans to promote the region as a cultural destination. Benoit-Jean Bernard, Directeur du Bureau du Quebec Consul said: “Quebec is a very lively region and there is always something going on. The province has natural beauty, great architecture, adventure sports. We want Indian tourists to realise that Quebec is a year round destination. Our main aim at the moment is to improve marketing communication and work on flight connections to India.” Catherine Lee, Senior Editorial Board Member, Singapore company setup portal commented: “Singapore is emerging as one of the top tourist destinations not only for leisure but for business as well. The strength of our MICE infrastructure is testament to Singapore’s commitment to nurture its tourism industry.” India overtakes Britain as Dubai’s top tourism market As stated in a report in Breaking Travel News, India has overtaken Britain as the biggest tourism source market to Dubai. The growth of the Indian economy has given rise to a 10 per cent increase in its nationals visiting the Emirate over the first quarter of the year, according to the latest figures from the Dubai Department of Tourism. This growth comes as Dubai is enjoying a resurgent tourism economy and was voted ‘Middle East’s Leading Destination’ at the World Travel Awards 2011 Middle East Ceremony. The results come as the UN World Tourism Organisation predicts that the number of Indian outbound tourists will rise to 50 million each year by 2020 due to a surge in per capita income. 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 15 Tourism in Philippines Tourism NSW invests AUD 85,000 – a top-earner for the country for campaigns in Indian travelers, in a India continued appreciation for Tourism New South Wales (NSW) is investing AUD 85,000 in two new campaigns to attract wealthy Indian visitors to Sydney and NSW for holiday experiences. It is running a major print advertorial and magazine campaign in collaboration with Mercury Travel in key cities in India like Mumbai and Delhi. Further, the ‘Quintessential Sydney & Surrounds’ campaign will promote luxury experiences in Sydney and Surrounds for Indian travelers. the effusive hospitality of Filippinos, are flocking to its shores. As evident from the growth figures, Philippines has again recorded a 44.62 per cent increase in Indian arrivals for the months of January to April. This reflects the effort of the Department of Tourism to promote tourism and shows the kind of tourist attractions in Philippines. In addition, Philippines has also shown an increase of 72 per cent in January and 75 per cent in February alone in Indian arrivals. Lyndel Gray, ED and GM, Tourism NSW said: “More than half of all Indian visitors to Australia spend time in NSW, with more than a third of all nights spent in our State. India is one of the fastest growing tourism markets for Australia. Indian visitors are expected to increase from 125,000 in 2009 to 318,000 in 2020, an average annual growth rate of 8.9 per cent.” As indicated by the burgeoning number of national tourism offices, India is a big market for international tourism. The Indian market is a significant source of arrival, especially since the global tourism group points to a remarkable growth of India’s outbound tourists, who are also in the highend spending bracket. Sydney continues to retain its status as Australia’s number one international meetings destination, according to the most recent report from the Union of International Association. This report states that Sydney not only maintained its domestic dominance, but also climbed back into the top 20 in the global rankings. said: “These strong UIA results, combined with our number 10 ranking in the ICCA rankings, recognise the outstanding achievements and progressive development undertaken by us in 2010. We are continuously working with the industry and government to further Sydney’s success, particularly in the Asian meeting market, and these rankings will aid us in future bids to secure high profile events here in the city.” Sydney remains number one in Australia for business events Lyn Lewis-Smith, COO, Business Events Sydney (BESydney) Industry Watch Venues Aamby Valley in Rolex World’s top 1000 Golf Courses Sahara Group’s Aamby Valley Golf course has been selected to feature among ‘The Rolex World’s top 1000 Golf Courses’. The flood lit golf course, spanning 7,087 yards, has been designed by David Hemstock associates (UK) and upgraded and remodeled for championship by PGA DC of Great Britain and Ireland. The unique feature of the course is the different character between the holes in the front 9 which have a series of valleys crossing the course and the back 9 holes are interspersed with water bodies. Vivek Kumar, CEO, Aamby Valley Kumar said: “It is an honour to be selected as one of the top 1000 Golf Courses in the world. It is a very satisfying feeling when one puts immense effort into creating the best and receives recognition for the same.” 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 16 Pune Marriott Affiliates of Worldhotels AsiaPacific develop MICE Initiatives Hotel & Worldhotels Asia-Pacific affiliates of global network for independent and unique properties are developing MICE packages for corporate events. Sutera Harbour Resort in Kota Kinabalu will undertake nostalgic trips on the North Borneo Railway for group, incentive and private parties. In Kuala Lumpur, the Deluxe Collection affiliate One World Hotel has invested around RM 3.5 million on AV equipment to create a world class MICE venue. With over 5,000 sqm of meeting space over three levels, the pillar-less Imperial Ballroom of 3,100 sqm can accommodate up to 2,000 guests. The five-star Jupiters Hotel & Casino on Australia’s Gold Coast is being transformed into a world-class leisure and entertainment destination with a planned AUS USD 350 million investment. At Tangla Beijing, MICE facilities include 2,300 sqm of meeting and banquet space with 10 function rooms. Italy’s Boscolo Hotels appoints Global Destinations as India Representative Effective June 1, Mumbaibased Global Destinations has been appointed as the India Representative for Venice-based Boscolo Hotels. As per the contract, Global Destinations will handle the sales and marketing of Boscolo Hotels in India. Pranav Kapadia, Director, Global Destinations said: “As the India Representative, we are responsible for creating awareness about Boscolo properties in India. Italy is gaining popularity in the Indian market as a tourist and business destination. Hence, we see huge potential to tap leisure and corporate traffic from India. We will organise road shows and FAM trips to create awareness and experience the property first hand. The first series of road shows will be organised by yearend in Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru. We will then target Chennai and Kolkata and Tier-II cities like Ahmedabad, Pune and Hyderabad.” Convention Centre wins the gold for being green The Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre has been awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold from the Indian Green Building Council. With its various green initiatives, the Marriott Hotels & Resorts branded property is the only hotel in Pune and the first Marriott International hotel in India to receive the honour. LEED is the internationally recognized program for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. PRP Ramakrishnan, Area Director of Engineering, Marriott - India, Maldives and Malaysia said: “Gold LEED for the Pune Marriott Hotel & Convention Centre is an important milestone for Marriott in India. Marriott hotels have a robust and a well established green initiative plan for all the hotels. This recent recognition of our efforts will strengthen our resolve to operate our hotels in this direction.” Showtime manages launch of Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Showtime Events managed the launch of the Sheraton Bangalore Hotel at Brigade Gateway. The hotel has 11 meeting rooms and over 1,750 sqm of flexible meeting space andl boasts of having the largest prefunction area in Bangalore at 610 sqm. It is also the first to introduce Link@ Sheraton Meetings’ Kiosk, where guests can connect to complimentary internet facilities between meetings. The hotel is India’s first newly built and managed Sheraton. Speaking about the facilties, Nithya Iyengar, Marketing and Communications Manager, Sheraton said: “We have a dedicated Sheraton Meetings Team who help in executing the event and offer customised meeting solutions.” Industry Watch Events 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 17 Goa International Travel Mart to be held in October The second edition of the Goa International Travel Mart (GITM), jointly organised by the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa and Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) will be held at the Grand Hyatt in Bambolim from Oct. 21 to Oct. 23. The theme this year is ‘Unearth the Hidden Treasures of Goa.’ The organisers of the event have planned an aggressive marketing strategy to attract over 2500 trade visitors to GITM 2011, of which 450 will be hosted buyers. TravelBiz Monitor will once again be the knowledge partner for the event. “We expect greater participation this year at ICCA announces destination for 2014 ICCA Congress The 53rd edition of the ICCA Congress will be held in Antalya, Turkey, in the first week of November 2014. The ICCA Board’s decision was made at the IMEX 2011 exhibition in Frankfurt following a bidding session, and was made public on the last day of the show. The other finalists in the bidding competition were Houston, Texas, USA and Monterrey, Mexico. Martin Sirk, CEO, ICCA said: “Each year, the standard of bids for the ICCA Congress gets higher and higher. Passing on the bad news to the unsuccessful candidates is probably the worst part of my job, since I know how much passion, hard work and inspiration went into creating the bids of Houston, Texas and Monterrey, Mexico.” AdAsia returns to India after eight years with David Droga, Dr Ram Charan and Rishad Tobaccowala as speakers. The congress will take place in New Delhi from Oct. 31 to Nov. 3. AdAsia 2011 seeks to comprehensively explore all aspects of the theme, ‘Uncertainty: The New Certainty’. The agenda comprises of over 15 sessions aimed at exploring the business ecosystem and understanding the nature of disruption to effectively address pertinent concerns. Madhukar Kamath, Chairman of the Organising Committee, AdAsia 2011 and Group CEO & Managing Director, Mudra Group said: “We are honoured to welcome David Droga, Ram Charan and Rashid Tobaccowala to AdAsia 2011. Their varied experience and expertise in different fields of management, marketing and communications will add immeasurable value to the entire conference and will provide it with a holistic view.” AdAsia 2011 confirms speakers for its return to India GITM. GITM 2010 was a power-packed event which saw hosted buyerseller interactive sessions, panel discussions and knowledge sharing sessions, networking dinners and FAM trips. The three-day event witnessed participation from over twelve countries,” stated Swapnil Naik, Director, Goa Tourism. AIBTM brings together global meetings and events industry in Baltimore Taking place in Baltimore, USA from June 21 to June 23, the Americas Meetings & Events Exhibition (AIBTM) offered focused, individually qualified buyers a forum to connect with exhibitors from around the globe. They claim to be the first large scale exhibition to bring together the world’s entire meetings and events industry in one US location. Visitors at the AIBTM are be the decision makers responsible for organising business travel, meetings, conferences, events and incentive trips. The show offers a hosted buyer program which allows top-level buyers to meet with exhibitors of their choice for focused one-to-one appointments. Exhibitors at the AIBTM had the opportunity to meet with over 3,000 meeting planners from all over the US and the globe; thus providing a platform from which to influence the global meetings and events industry. Business event leaders gather to advise on direction of Australian expo The Australian Business Events Expo (ABEE) Advisory Committee has been brought together by the owners of the trade show with the aim of ensuring that the expo reflects the needs of the sector and continues to grow in numbers and credibility. Delwin Kriel, Event Manager, ABEE said: “The expo has a lot riding on it as it is the only trade show dedicated to the domestic market which has undergone an enormous shift over the last few years. This show’s success is a vital cog in the growth of this industry.” Korea MICE Expo makes a triumphant return to Seoul The Korea MICE Expo (KME) 2011 took place at Coex in South Seoul, Korea, from June 28 to June 30. This year’s theme was ‘The New Wave of Creative MICEnomics’. KME 2011 witnessed 300 buyers and over 3,000 meetings industry professionals for business consultations, exhibitions, workshops, and forums. Briefing sessions about the bidding and organizing of international conferences also took place. The event was hosted by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Korea Tourism Organization, and was organized by the Seoul Tourism Organization and the Korea Convention Society. ALSO FEATURED 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 18 India Inc. goes Green By Karan Iyer The Future! The word on its own sounds so fascinating that it invokes a mix of thoughts and emotions that range from hope, aspiration and progress to uncertainty and the unknown. Despite the fact that the word in itself is so abstract that it means different things to different people, there are certain aspects of what one hopes to see in the future that are common to all. What are the things you might want to see in the future? Maybe robots doing all your labour work free of cost, cars that can fly, end of poverty and illiteracy, your children going to school carrying oxygen cylinders…whoa! What happened? The last bit wasn’t part of your plan for the future? It should be because the World Health Organization estimates that about two million people die prematurely every year due to air pollution and many more suffer from breathing ailments, heart disease, lung infections and even cancer. Why are you surprised? Progress comes with a little cost, after all what is a little oxygen tank behind your kid’s back or the fact that your next generation might have to look at pictures and videos on the internet to find out what a rainforest or a tiger looked like. If this is not the future that you are looking forward to then changing it is in everybody’s hands including yours. American computer scientist Alan Kay once said, “The best way to predict the future is to invent it.” Brand Earth India has been ranked as the seventh most environmentally hazardous country in the world by a new ranking released recently. However, the intention to change that is apparent with India for the first time hosting the annual World Environment Day on June 5 and the corporate world in India took every effort to show their support for such a crucial cause. While individually everyone is responsible for the environment, corporates are always required to go that extra mile to showcase their support for the environment. From oil spills and chemical dumping to massive carbon emissions and wastage, corporates have always been viewed as the villains of the environment. This image has come from events that go back as far as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984 to the BP oil spill of 2010. This is an image that many corporates are taking every effort to reverse through environmental initiatives. These initiatives not only help the environment but also help the image of corporate brands and connect with the general public who have become more environmentally aware and intolerant towards crimes against nature. Mother Earth meets Corporate World On the occasion of World Environment Day, a number of brands and media houses took it upon themselves to show that the colour green represents more than money for them. Indian media channel NDTV in partnership with Japanese automaker Toyota continued with its annual tradition of the Greenathon, a 24 hour live telethon for the environment simulcast across the NDTV network. The nationwide campaign, which was launched in April 2008, is a fundraising event that brings in people to donate money to support TERI’s initiative of ‘Lighting a Billion Lives’ which aims to provide solar power to villages without electricity. Milind Soman: Supporter of NDTV Toyota Greenathon Greenathon III witnessed celebrities from Bollywood extending their support for the cause and engaging NDTV viewers with talks and performances. The campaign also saw Bollywood actor and model Milind Soman running for the cause from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. Speaking about the reason behind taking up an environmental initiative, Smeeta Chakrabarti, CEO NDTV Lifestyle and Head of Operations NDTV News, told ExM that NDTV has always believed in the positive power of the media, promoting social causes and thereby spurring action at the government, corporate and individual level. “The environment has been one such theme that NDTV feels very strongly about and, in its long history of broadcasting, has frequently brought to fore issues relating ALSO FEATURED 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 19 to the environment. We were keen to undertake a sustained campaign on the environment aimed not only at building awareness but also generating action.” 94.3 Radio One partnered with NDTV’s Greenathon initiative to execute ‘94.3 Radio One NDTV Environment Day Special PYMD’, a unique programming mix dedicated to the environment cause. The programme was executed under the umbrella of 94.3 Radio One’s exclusive property ‘Play Your Music Day’ which allows listeners to host a one hour show on Radio One. ‘94.3 Radio One NDTV Environment Day Special PYMD’ played throughout the day on June 5 on all Radio One stations. 94.3 Radio One individually hosted one hour environment special shows with prominent NDTV anchors and launched special ‘Green Anthems’ for the Greenathon. Through Greenathon III, TERI’s ‘Lighting a Billion Lives’ initiative raised Rs.11.60 crore, lighting up 580 villages with solar power. On the point of why the cause of lighting up villages, Chakrabarti said that NDTV worked with TERI “to identify a specific cause that people could participate in and contribute to, as the climax of the campaign. Solar lighting to villages with no electricity, thereby changing lives, seemed the most obvious and ideal fit.” She added that NDTV partnered with Toyota for this initiative because the automaker believes in and actively pursues green initiatives, making it a perfect fit for the campaign. Speaking on its involvement in the Greenathon, a Toyota spokesperson told ExM that Toyota sees such activities as part of its corporate social responsibility and as an opportunity to give back to society. “Such initiatives are part of the company’s corporate vision.” ‘The Last Hope’ screening for Wipro employees focuses on the endangered existence of Asian vultures and highlights the importance of conserving this breed of vultures. The film was made by a Wipro employee and was screened in Wipro’s EC Campus. The company also held a nature photography contest on June 7 and made efforts to create awareness on how to reduce individual carbon footprint and the factors that put the environment at risk. Wipro will soon be launching its biodiversity project that will have the company converting a major part of its Electronic City campuses four and five into a space that supports bio-diversity. The company is looking to make the campus more in tune with the native flora and fauna, help breed birds and insects that are native to the land. The project will be a first of its kind in the history of Wipro. Wipro arranged for a cyclathon for all Wiproites on June 10. The event witnessed several Wiproites going cycling together in the lunch break to encourage people to take up cycling for Earth’s sake. So, how important is it for corporates to take up environmental initiatives as part of their CSR activities? “It’s critical that corporates participate in furthering social causes. This augurs well not just for their image and CSR initiatives but also for the company itself, in the long run. For instance, as a result of the Greenathon, Toyota has established a leadership position as the ‘environment friendly’ company. We believe that corporates must bring back to the society,” said Chakrabarti. “The media, too, plays a critical role. NDTV has worked with corporates who share similar beliefs and commitment to promote other environment related campaigns: save the tiger, conserving India’s coastlines, etc.” E-World meets Eco-World Another major brand that went green on the occasion of World Environment Day was IT major Wipro. The company on June 3 screened a movie called “The Last Hope” that Cyclothon organised for Wiproites Commenting on the importance of corporate involvement in environmental initiatives, Dinni Lingaraj, Manager Corporate Sustainability Program, Wipro told ExM: “As we often say in our sustainability efforts – large organizations must lead the way in being involved with the community and the environment – that is the right thing to do and that is the only way forward. It sets an example for communities, ALSO FEATURED 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 20 Wiproites who are involved as well.” “Any initiative in this area builds a conscience – be it at an organizational level or an individual level – and that is how it matters. People need to be bothered about how they do things and the impact they will have,” Lingaraj said, adding that if “we can get more people at Wipro aware and involved it makes it a more involved organization.” Steel seals eco deal Tata Steel observed World Environment Day at Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, and all its operational locations. At Jamshedpur, the day was flagged off with an awareness rally at Jubilee Park. The activities involved an environment walk around the Jubilee Park, inauguration of a mobile ambient air quality monitoring van, inauguration of Shatabdi Udyan and tree plantation, launch of a no plastic campaign through Green Earth Club and distribution of jute bags, and the release of booklet ‘Facts on Environment’. The mobile van, which can monitor environment parameters, will be used by Tata Steel to map the air quality of the area. Alcohol – hic! -- Goes Green Alcohol became environment friendly on the occasion of World Environment Day, with SABMiller India doing a range of internal green activities across its offices on June 5 and to reinstate the importance of sustainable development through various activities such as green balance and waste no more. The company planned various activities such tree plantation drives at all locations, pledges by employees, contests and online events such as quiz, poster making competition and many more activities. On World Environment Day, employees were shown movies on the environment and were provided with bamboo saplings along with a gift made up of recycled objects. In addition, employees of SABMiller India planted 150 trees followed by an oath to support the cause. In line with this year’s World Environment Day theme, Tata Steel collaborated with the Forest Department for a special initiative to conserve forests. Tata Steel will provide wood of dead and diseased trees, fallen during storm and trimming process through the Forest Department for consumption in burning ghats and rural households free of cost, preventing tree cutting. SABMiller employees pledge to support cause TATA Steel employees plant saplings The raw material divisions of Tata Steel – Jharia, West Bokaro and Noamundi – also joined hands to observe the day. Prabhat Pheri, distribution of about 5,000 fruit bearing saplings among employees at Jharia, awareness initiatives such as poster, slogan and painting competitions for children formed integral part of the World Environment Day observances at the three raw material divisions of Tata Steel. At West Bokaro, ‘Green Month’ was inaugurated on June 1 as a mark of conserving the environment. The division targets to plant one lakh saplings this year at its operational area. A SABMiller India spokesperson told ExM that “sustainable development is fundamental to our business success and, through World Environment Day, we reiterated the importance of sustainable development to our business and encouraged employees to voluntarily participate and contribute. India being the host country this year, we at SABMiller India planned a week-long series of green activities to contribute towards conserving the environment.” The spokesperson further said that through this campaign, the company addressed two of its ten sustainable development priorities – packaging and waste. During the one week campaign, around 900 trees were planted across all regional offices and breweries. More than a Paper Tiger The Times of India and The Economic Times turned green, not with envy but with care for the environment on the occasion of World Environment Day. The newspapers were published on 100% green recycled paper and featured special editorials and features around environment. The green edition coincided with the launch of Garnier and The Times of India ‘Take Care Take Charge’ (TCTC) ALSO FEATURED 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 21 initiative which aimed to instil a sense of responsibility among the youth of the country in order to maintain, nurture and contribute towards a greener environment. This 50-day campaign makes an appeal to the youth of India to present their ideas on sustainable solutions for the environment under five categories. 30 and involved a plantation drive. Promos were done on Zee channels and on-ground activities were also undertaken. Barista coffee shops across the four cities had posters and banners to promote the initiative and Green Turn branded postcards were also given away. Ten ideas will be short listed and one winner will be selected in each city. The short listed regional winners will present their ideas to a national panel and ideas will be published in The Times of India. The winning idea will be supported by the National Innovation Foundation and be considered for implementation. The final winner will get an opportunity to present the idea at the prestigious United Nation’s Environment Program’s TUNZA Asia Pacific Youth Conference. The b(r)andwagon of corporate green warriors did not stop there. ICICI, India’s largest private bank, led a ‘pledge for the planet’ campaign that saw 8,362 bank employees make environmental commitments such as switching to low-energy bulbs and using the stairs at work. Meanwhile, IT major Infosys spearheaded two major activities for employees’ children. The campaign will culminate on July 24, India’s first TCTC Day where individuals, corporate and NGOs will come together to take charge and undertake environment friendly activities. Sitcoms with Green Coffee Anyone? Zee Café launched its initiative ‘Green Turn’ in Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune in association with Barista. The initiative involved Barista customers taking a green pledge and adopting saplings. Promotional activities for the campaign started on May Brands-in-Arms The “Petit-Infoscions” took part in a walkathon to bring attention to the conservation of the rapidly disappearing Bellandur Lake, before planting 20,000 native trees in Ramnagaram Forest in Bangalore. Coca-Cola India announced the launch of eKO cool solar coolers designed to be climate friendly while generating more income for rural retailers, who have limited/intermittent access to electricity. Branding the Green Touch The BP oil spill in 2010 is probably the most recent massive environmental disaster to occur and, besides the major environmental impact that it has cost and will continue to cost for many years to come, the event was and still is a branding nightmare for BP with a long litigation bill. The Bhopal Gas Tragedy may have occurred in 1984, but the after effects have been felt for years and the memory remains even after Union Carbide is out of existence. While events on such massive scale occur once in a while, environmental degradation continues at a gradual and regular pace that does not even come to light. Whether it is media companies, IT firms, beverage brands, banks or steel titans, every brand sees the need to take up environmental initiatives to give back to society and to reveal their socially responsible green side to their audiences. Society as a whole has changed its view on how it prioritises the environment and with it corporate brands have also changed to better connect with the people. A media platform like the Greenathon, an on-ground campaign like that of Zee Café and Barista or internal initiatives like those done by Wipro, Tata Steel or SABMiller showcases the efforts by various corporates to come together to fight for a greener planet. In turn, they represent themselves as brands that are being socially responsible and have a reputation that is much more than just profit making entities. Barista customers adopt saplings The fact cannot be denied that progress comes with a cost; the question is: What is the cost that we will be able to afford? MARKET PULSE PERSPECTIVE 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 22 From the Heart of the Lion By Brian Tellis, Chairman, Fountainhead Promotions and Events diversity of cultures and ideas coming together from across the planet humbles and exhilarates you like little else. From a business perspective, the opportunities for networking also abound. There were some fabulous sessions conducted by various companies; the one presented by Malcolm Gladwell was especially absorbing. To put things in perspective, while even these peripheral sideshows were captivating, you can only begin to comprehend how unbelievably rich the mainline event was. The Process It was a humbling experience being on the jury of the Promo and Activation Panel. It exposed me to the beautiful differences in creative perception, as seen through the eyes of different races and cultures. If the entries were a cultural melting pot, the jury was no less. The 21 jurors were drawn from 20 different countries; thus each of them brought a fresh perspective to the evaluations. For anyone in the creative or entertainment business, Cannes is the ultimate destination. Right on cue, excitement levels surged when I received an opportunity to participate in the jury at the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. Admittedly, the initial exhilaration stemmed from the novel opportunity that lay before me, but once I got there, it encompassed all the hype and drama associated with the land itself. Although I have been to France before, this was my first visit to Cannes and I was eager to make the most of the opportunity offered. My expectations, though high, weren’t just met… they were superseded! And no, it wasn’t like I was just caught up in the moment of the extravagance. In retrospect, the experience surpassed even my greatest anticipation. Cannes tends to do that to you. The romance of the destination, coupled with the creativity, creates the perfect atmosphere for the festival. In my estimation, that is what makes this event such an irresistible magnet. Cannes isn’t just about the electric ambience, but the beauty of the people associated with it, as well. The sheer The 2,135 entries were subject to an intense evaluation process. The sheer scale of entries necessitated the division of the panel into four groups to screen them. Each group had to sift through some 500 entries. Entries were presented as a threeminute film. Group members could rate campaigns depending on whether they needed to be channeled out or, were worthy of being short listed or, if they merited a Lion. Jurors rate the entries on specific parameters. At the end of this process, about 400 entries are short listed. The entire jury then takes a look at the better scored entries that did not make the cut to allow for upgrades, if necessary. The final short list thus arrived at, is then scrutinized by the consolidated jury. At this point, the discussion really takes off. This is a bit of an inflection point; because it is when the difference in perceptions, stemming from cultural diversity, truly reveals itself. Once again, jurors score the entries. At this point, 75 per cent of all the entries are being seen for the first time. The Plot Thickens On the fourth day, the entries are subjected to a fine comb treatment. This is where the cultural diversity of the jury is justified. To get a better understanding, the juror representing the country of the entry in question, is quizzed to elicit a better insight into the creative nuance. What the panel is constantly looking for is that unmistakable edge; a campaign that has truly pushed the boundaries. The jury MARKET PULSE PERSPECTIVE then votes to determine gold, silver and bronze. At least two thirds of the jury must validate the Lion for an entry to be considered a winner. The process is very thorough and, to an extent, benevolent in that it gives you a second chance. Entries that just missed metal are put to the vote again and, often, more winners emerge. Destiny hangs by the thread as, further, bronze could turn to silver and silver to gold! The magic, however, is that the panel can only upgrade, and not downgrade, an entry. There is no limitation on the number of Lions bestowed. However jurors are asked to be very cautious with their votes as you do get an opportunity to review. The entries that received good scores but did not get listed for metal mentions are also reconsidered here. This year six golds, 17 silvers and 32 bronze were given out in the Promo and Activation category. There is no limit to the number of Lions, but just one Grand Prix from each category. To snare one is the greatest honour at the festival. Having said that, every Lion of every hue comes with immense bragging rights. Indian Performance 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 23 PROMO & ACTIVATION LIONS CATEGORIES A. USE OF PROMO & ACTIVATION ALTERNATIVE MEDIA A01. Best use of experiential marketing in a promotional campaign A02. Best use of guerrilla marketing in a promotional campaign A03. Best use of ambient in a promotional campaign SHOPPER MARKETING A04. Best use of shopper marketing in a promotional campaign A05. Best new product launch & re-launch or multi-product promotion at retail A06. Best temporary in-store displays in a promotional campaign A07. Best use of broadcast in a promotional campaign A08. Best use of print or standard outdoor in a promotional campaign A09. Best use of games A10. Best sponsorship or partnership campaigns A11. Best online advertising in a promotional campaign A12. Best use of other digital media in a promotional campaign A13. Best use of social media marketing in a promotional campaign B. PRODUCT & SERVICE B01. Food & non- alcoholic drinks B02. Alcoholic drinks B03. Fast moving consumer goods (not including food) B04. Durable goods B05. Retail (including restaurants) B06. Cars & automotive services B07. Entertainment & leisure B08. Publications & media B09. Financial products & services B10. Business products & services B11. Corporate image & information B12. Commercial public services, including healthcare & medical B13. Charities B14. Public health & safety & public awareness messages C. BEST INTEGRATED CAMPAIGN LED BY PROMO & ACTIVATION I cannot comment on India’s overall performance at the Cannes Lions, but we certainly put up a decent Increasing participation at the festival has now become show in the Promo and Activation category. Out of the my mission. I honestly believe that an EEMA delegation approximately 100 shortlisted entries, seven were Indian. should present itself at international award ceremonies. Indian entries were shortlisted for four Lions and one campaign went on to win two bronze Lions. In a sense, our performance was decent – doubling, as it did, last An Eye Opening Experience year’s tally of a single bronze. Holistically, the event was an eye opener for me… in fact a mind opener. It gives one a reality check on where But if I’m permitted to be constructively critical, what Indian one stands and the work one does. One can be very campaigns lacked was a strong level of daring. Overall, complacent at times either because of job fatigue or the the campaigns that shone were the ones that went all out. satisfaction of what you think you’ve achieved or simply To be fair, the client wields an equal influence over our because of a lack of focus. At an event like this, it is hard advertisements. So, the dare factor will be have to be the not to take notice of the high levels of creativity at work. responsibility of both parties – client and agency. Given I do not mean this in any demeaning way, but an event what’s at stake when you get to Cannes, it may just be of this caliber opens your mind to the boundlessness of time for all concerned to come out of their comfort zones. creativity. A majority of the Indian participation comes from advertising agencies. Experiential marketing agencies, typically referred to as event companies in India, should also send in their entries. It is after all, the Cannes Lions for Creativity and the Indian experiential marketing companies certainly accomplish levels of creative work. Entering such a competition is not merely for winning. It definitely gives you an understanding of where you are and where you want to be. You get perspectives from what you see. You understand what’s out there. Indeed, let’s get lion-hearted and say: Make mine Cannes! IN FOCUS 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 25 Sprinting at the TCS World 10K Run: A platform for brands to get-set-go By Kate Fernandes The TCS World 10 K Run took place on June 5 in Bengaluru. An event like the TCS World 10K Run is a medium for brands to reach out to their audience. It is a platform which enables brands to connect with their audience while allowing the masses to learn, understand and even experience the brand. In addition to the direct engagement of potential customers or clients, the buzz created around live events by the media, extends the visibility of the brand associated with it far beyond the finish line. Vivek Singh, Joint MD, Procam International told ExM that the TCS World 10K Run “has a tremendous connect with corporate brands. We have allowed the brands that have come on-board to create a niche for themselves at the Running for the gold Four years down the track, the event has carved a niche for itself in the realm of distance running. Athletes from all over the world have run in this race. Furthermore, the world class criteria that are adhered to at the event have caused the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) to honour the event with a ‘Gold Label’ for the second time. Speaking about the new elements of the race, Singh said: “The event has grown considerably over the years. It was the biggest and richest 10K Run. The prize money climbed to $17,500 this year. Athletes from 18 countries attended the event. The TCS World 10K is an official Gold Label Race, credited by the athletic federation.” event. Besides, the TCS World 10K Run is an opportunity for brands to establish a direct connect.” This year, TCS has associated with Procam’s property – the World 10K Run. The property was formerly sponsored by Sunfeast. Other partners were Prasar Bharati, broadcast partner; Star One, channel partner; The Times of India, print partner; Standard Chartered, financial services partner; ITC Windsor Bengaluru, hospitality partner; Kingfisher Premium, good times partner; Nike, running partner; OMRON, health equipment partner; DHL, logistics partner; Lucozade, sports drink partner; Radio Mirchi, radio partner; Kingfisher Airlines, airline partner; Fortis, medical partner; Harmony, institution partner; and Bangalore Cares, charity partner. Bilkha added, “We have 2,000 employees, with anaverage age of 27 working as IT executives. Wellness of employees is very important to us. As their employment involves time spent on desktops, we encourage them to take up sports to ensure they are fit and active.” Over 3,000 TCS employees ran the TCS World 10K Run. Telling us what the association meant to TCS , Bilkha added: “The event was a good opportunity for TCS to convey internal communication. Ours is a B2B organisation. It is not something we sell directly. Brand building is important. However, whats more important is that the platform allows to spread the message of fitness among our employees. We want them to know that we care for them.” He further added: “It is extraordinary that India hosts the event. Indian runners are provided with a great opportunity. The scale of the event is quite large. This goes to show that there are more runners graduating to the larger events. Over 21,000 athletes partook in the event. Of these, 8,000 ran the 10K Run, which shows a 30% increase participants over last year.” TCS runs at the forefront On the expiration of the three-year contract with the Sunfeast, Procam roped in TCS as the event’s title sponsor. Talking about their new title sponsor, Singh said: “We offered TCS title sponsorship as the company firmly believes in running. They support marathons in New York, Chicago, and Boston. TCS has already been associated with the Mumbai marathon and the Delhi half marathon. TCS saw value in the opportunity and came on board.” Commenting on their association with the TCS 10K Run, Yajuvindra Singh Bilkha, TCS said: “The platform is not just a one-day run. Running a 10K race takes a lot of practice, which makes it part of a regime. This is precisely what we want to inculcate in our organisation.” Yajuvindra Singh Bilkha Head Corporate Events TCS “The event was a good opportunity for TCS to convey internal communication.” IN FOCUS 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 26 that are better described as devices for runners as they calculate the heart rate, number of calories burned along with the timing. The association gives the brand a first mover advantage. The idea is to connect the event with the brand.“ Navroze Dhondy Managing Director Creatigies Communications “It’s pretty much a nobrainer that a watch brand should be associated with a marathon as timing is the most important aspect of the event.” Time X runs along This year, Timex now runs along as the official timing partner for the three Gold Label distance running events, i.e. the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, the TCS World 10K Bangalore and the Airtel Delhi Half Marathon, in India promoted by Procam International. Commenting on their association with these running events, V. D. Wadhwa, Managing Director Timex India said: “We are truly delighted with this partnership and opportunity that Creatigies brought to us. For Timex, marathons and races have been part of the brand DNA, and we believe it’s the right time for us to look at such an association.” Elaborating on the association that Creatigies brought about, Navroze Dhondy, Managing Director, Creatigies Communications said, “Creatigies believes that sponsorships are a waste of money unless there’s a brand fit. Just a logo is of little use without a brand connection and leverage with the event.” Dhondy added: “The most crucial element of any marathon is timing. It’s pretty much a no-brainer that a watch brand should be associated with a marathon as timing is the most important aspect of the event. Besides this, Timex has a global association with marathons. That being said, it all boils down to business. Timex has a wide range of watches Elaborating on the activities undertaken at the event, Dhondy said: “Timex unveiled the race’s timing vehicle which is the focus of every runner; it is always before the leading pack. An association with it helps create a connection with the runners, creates a relationship of bon ami. It is a beacon to sportspersons. At the four day expo that precedes the 10K run, brands have an opportunity to connect with an extremely focused group. Timex was present at this expo and was able to connect with the audience.” Dhondy also told ExM that it is important that an association with a live event is not a one off thing and that there should be enough exposure to create a strong connect. “Timex will have a four-year long association with the Bangalore 10K Run, the Delhi half marathon and the Mumbai Marathon as well.” Star Movies give heroic touch Star Movies also ran along the TCS world 10 K Run to announce the channel’s availability in HD. Harshvardhan Deodhar told ExM that the English movie channel saw it fit to be associated with a cause based event because the likelihood of its viewers attending it was high and also because Bangalore is a key market for them and wanted to take the opportunity to announce that Star Movies is now available in HD. On the brand fit, Deodhar said: “The channel is home to Hollywood heroes. And the marathon gave us the platform to celebrate the real life heroes of the city who are running for a cause. So Hollywood heroes in Asli HD cheer the marathon heroes was the message we went ahead with.” Besides branding, cut outs of Avatar characters and superheroes were spread alongside the track. This was meant to be a refreshing experience for those running the marathon. There was a 35 foot cut out of Godzilla, placed to show that the runners were moving away from the creature that had landed at the marathon. A life sized cut out of Spiderman hanging from the tree gave runners a photo opportunity. There were Wolverine hoardings that had tears to them to connote he had ripped the flex. Star Movies also gave fridge magnets to the runners as a souvenir. Mudra Max was responsible for the execution. IN FOCUS 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 27 And the winners are…Everybody! The TCS World 10K run thus has a lot to offer. The huge participation coupled with the media buzz keeps it going even after the race is run. When brands associate with such a platform they extend their message to an audience that goes beyond the participants and on-lookers. And, though the obvious connect that brands might receive through the platform puts it at a greater height, it must be noted that platforms grow because of the support that they receive from brands. Vivek Singh Commenting on some of the this years associations, Singh said: “There is a tremendous connect that corporates have with the event. DHL has supported us by looking into the logistics. The ITC Windsor Bengaluru, our hospitality partner, has hosted celebrity guests. OMRON, our health equipment partner, gave us their support, and medical partner Fortis set up around seven to eight stations at the event. The run gives each brand an opportunity to gain brand mileage as they look into a component of the event. By doing this, they connect with the service and grow the platform.” Joint MD Procam International “The event has grown considerably over the years. It was the biggest and richest 10K Run. The prize money climbed to $17,500 this year. Athletes from 18 countries attended the event.” Brands and platforms are thus not mere elements that come together to fulfill their own purpose. They are in fact more closely bound like an ideal marriage, where each party finds its contentment in the other, and grow together with each other! Kingfisher lets the good times run-in-costume As part of the 5.7 km ‘Majja Run’ that happens alongside the 10K marathon, participants dressed in sport costumes to support causes they believe in. Kingfisher Green Crusaders, Kingfisher Sakkath Bangalorean and Kingfisher Bombaat Brigade titles were awarded to the winning participants. Samar Singh Sheikhawat, Senior VP Marketing, United Breweries Ltd. said, “Our ‘Run in Costume’ reflects the spirit of the brand Kingfisher. We are overwhelmed with the response received. Each year, the number of participants only seems to increase, thus reinstating the popularity of the concept. We are delighted to infuse the marathon with fun and good times.” Running Green! A ‘Calculate your Footprint’ kiosk was set up during the expo, wherein one could calculate his or her own impact on the environment. Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director, said: “World Environment Day is a moment in the year when people across the world come together to express their desire for a development path towards a low carbon, resource efficient Green Economy. As part of India’s global hosting of WED 2011, Indians are joining hands with those across the globe in this common cause. Humanity is in a race against time. The 20,000 plus runners in this year’s TCS World10 K in Bangalore underline that with determination and enthusiasm, it’s a race we can all win.” IN FOCUS 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 30 Khatron Ke Khiladi returns with four times the Khatra By Shachi Tapiawala In its fourth edition, Thums Up Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi has come back to test the mettle of contestants, raising the bar way higher. This season claims to be not just about stunts that ask contestants to prove their physical prowess, but also about stunts that test the contestants psychologically. This show has been shot in Cape Town, South Africa, and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is the host of the show. Thums Up Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi – Torchaar has been promoted extensively by appointing multiple event agencies – RW Promotions, Pentagon Events, Candid Marketing and Team Rustic. Next level of Khatra Chhabria. Mark Twain once said, “Do the thing you fear most and the death of fear is certain.” What Mark Twain didn’t know was that someone would go ahead and make a reality show on the subject of overcoming fear. Viacom 18’s strategy was designed to take the “Khatra” experience to all their consumers. The entire show had professional stunt coordinators to help executing the dangerous acts on the show. These stunt coordinators were a part of the production team of Khatron Ke Khiladi. The winners of the show will not only receive the coveted title of ‘Haseena’ and ‘Khiladi’ but also get an opportunity to feature with the Thums Up brand ambassador, Akshay Kumar, in their new communication campaign. The 13 couples participating this season include Ahran Chaudhary, Diandra Soares, Sangram Singh, VJ Mia Uyeda, Dhiraj Amonkar, Mauli Dave, Sumit Suri, Kashmera Shah, Khalid Chowdhury, Sambhavna Seth, Parmod Dahiya, Dina Singh, Amit Mehra, VJ Bani, Shashwat Seth, Aliesia Raut, Sunit Bhatia, Aashka Goradia, Saurabh Roy, Smita Bansal, Praveen Jain, Poonam Pandey, Sandeep Sachdev, Anjum Chopra, Dhaval Thakur and Bollywood actress Aarti Commenting on the show, Rajesh Iyer, Associate Vice President-Marketing, Viacom 18 Media said: “Danger was always on the menu for Khatron Ke Khiladi contestants, but with Thums Up Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi – Torchaar, Akshay Kumar returns to test the mettle of contestants, raising the bar way higher. We have been actively promoting the show through conventional and non-conventional media. On-ground activities have been carried out in around 10 cities as we wanted to strengthen our reach and create a buzz of the show.” Let the Torchaar begin! Viacom 18 announced the launch of Thums Up Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi –Torchaar on June 2 at Film City, Mumbai, and was hosted by Akshay Kumar. With regards to marketing strategies, Viacom 18 feels innovation and important elements necessary to establish connect with IN FOCUS audience is very vital. There is no formula to make a marketing strategy out-of-the-box; it depends on understanding what the circumstances are and who the competitors are in the market. That understanding helps in developing a strategy that would help increase brand visibility of the show and establish connect with the target audience. The entire launch was managed and executed by Team Rustic in collaboration with Endemol India. The agency successfully created an ambiance of alarm following the show’s catchphrase, ‘Khatra Kabhi Bolkar Nahi Atta’. The highlight of the launch was a stunt with a black Lancer toppling in front of the press. Commenting on the launch, Deepak Dhar, Managing Director, Endemol India said: “We constantly strive to bring innovative content to our viewers. Thumbs Up Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi is one of our biggest properties and we are excited to present a renewed fourth season. Fear Factor has always kept the viewers at the edge with its death defying stunts and this time too we are confident that it is going to be country’s most watched show.” Commenting on the launch, Vinod Janardhan, Director, Team Rustic said: “Everything was very exciting and thrilling. The dangerous stunt sequence to which the press and contestants were introduced, the surprising ambiance, and most of all, Akshay Kumar and his notorious laughter created an amazing, impactful and memorable launch. We have been associated with Colors Television for three years, handling their press conferences. People present at the conference were the media, contestants of the show and Akshay Kumar. We managed to engage 150 people through the launch.” Taking danger to ground zero For the on-ground activations, agencies appointed for the fourth edition of Thums Up Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi were Pentagon Events for the activation of zebra crossing and branding on LED Screens, RW Promotions for roadshows across 60 HSM markets, and Market Men Agency for branding across 12 railway stations on Western, Central and Harbour Lines. Candid Marketing also contributed to promoting the show. As part of executing the activity, an LED screen was put up with messages that would create safety awareness in the city. This activity was carried out at Andheri, Mahim, Juhu, Khar and Santacruz in Mumbai. Zebra crossings were painted in yellow with the logo of the show and a message that read ‘Khatron Se Na Khelien, Zebra Crossing Par Chalein’. In addition, Gelato was roped in to launch the new flavour – KKK Torchaar – which was available across all Gelato outlets in Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata and Delhi. There was also a mall activation conducted at the Nirmal Lifestyle Dome in Mulund, 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 31 Mumbai and Himalaya Mall Atrium, Ahmedabad wherein approximately 3,500 samples of Thums Up and Khatron Ke Khiladi – Torchaar goodies were given away during the activity. Commenting on the initiative, Khushbu Vaid, Director, Pentagon Events said: “Thums Up presents Khatron Ke Khiladi Torchaar is one of the important properties for Colors and Pentagon Events being a part of the on-ground activation has been a great sense of achievement for us. Our brief was to create an impactful on-ground plan which would bring out the essence of this season which was Torchaar. We made use of innovative and fresh routes like traffic LED screens and zebra crossings at crucial junctions across Mumbai to build awareness about safety for the consumers which was issued in public interest by Thums Up Presents Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi Torchaar.” Commenting on the association with the agencies for the launch and the on-ground activities, Iyer added, “These agencies were chosen on basis of their strength and their past records.” Partners in danger Thums Up is the title sponsor for Khatron Ke Khiladi – Torchaar. Associate sponsors are Scorpio of Mahindra & Mahindra, Samsonite, Sure Deodrant of HUL, Amul Macho and Woodland Apparels & Shoes. Talking about the association between Thums Up and Fear Factor Khatron Ke Khiladi, Wasim Basir, Director – Integrated Marketing Communications, Coca-Cola India said: “All these years, Thums Up has been synonymous with action, energy, attitude, spine-chilling adventure and fear shattering experiences – aspects which are best personified by none other than our brand ambassador, Akshay Kumar. In keeping with the brand ethos, we are extremely pleased to be associated with India’s most watched reality show Khatron Ke Khiladi on Colors. A Thums Up loyalist will go to any extent to grab a bottle of his favourite Thums Up, and through this association, we look forward to discover the ultimate ‘Thums Up Thunder Star’, who will also be given the exciting opportunity to feature in the next Thums Up communication campaign alongside the ‘Khiladi’ of all times, Akshay Kumar.” MOHIT CHAUHAN Pee Loon (Once Upon a Time in Mumbaai) Chatte Batte (Chillar Party) Khaabon Ke Parinday (Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara) Te Amo, Reprise (Dum Maaro Dum) Yun Hi (Tanu Weds Manu) Abhi Kuch Dino Se (Dil Toh Baccha Hai Ji) Naina (Kucch Luv Jaisaa) Kahin Se Chali Aa (Love U Mr. Kalakaar) Man Lafanga (Lafengey Parindey) Pagal Anukan (Robot) Bheegi si Bhaggi si (Rajneeti) Tujhe Bhula Diya (Anjaana Anjaani) Masakali (Delhi 6) Tum Se Hi (Jab We Met) Yeh Doorian (Love Aaj Kal) Pehli Baar Mohabbat Ki Hai (Kaminey) Kuch Khaas Hai (Fashion) 2011 - Best Male Singer at Zee Cine Awards 2011 for song “Pee Loon” from movie Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2011 - Best Male Singer at 1st Global Indian Film & Television Honors for song “Pee Loon” from movie Once Upon A Time In Mumbaai 2010 - Best Male Singer award at 55th Filmfare Awards for song “Masakali” from movie Delhi-6 2010 - Best Male Singer award at 5th Apsara Film and Television Producers Guild Awards for song “Yeh Dooriyan” from movie Love Aaj Kal 2010 - Best Male Singer award at Second Annual Airtel Mirchi Music Awards for song “Masakali” from movie Delhi-6 Mohit Chauhan and his band are EXCLUSIVELY managed by: Parikrama Inc. www.parikramainc.com | email: parikramainc@gmail.com | Mobile: +91 98100 58388/98714 72880 IN FOCUS 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 33 IIFA gives Canada a taste of Bollywood Bacon By Karan Iyer The annual IIFA celebrations, spearheaded by Wizcraft International Entertainment, returned to the stage this June for its 12th year. Having travelled to locations like Great Britain, China, Europe, Middle East, Thailand and Sri Lanka in the past, the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) this year made its North American debut in Canada. The three-day long Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend and Floriana IIFA Awards took place in Ontario and Toronto, respectively, from June 23 to June 25. The IIFA Film Festival took place at theatres across the Greater Toronto Area beginning June 24. This year, the festival was designed keeping in mind the Punjabi population across four cities, Toronto, Markham, Brampton and Mississuaga, where the screenings took place. The Government of Ontario and Premier Dalton McGuinty had appointed the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Peel as the charity of choice for support throughout the IIFA Weekend in Toronto. Canucks Welcome Bollywood Canada opened its arms and, apparently its streets too, for Bollywood. In a welcome gesture to Indian cinema, the City of Brampton in Ontario, Canada, named a street after the Bollywood showman – Raj Kapoor. Introducing a new street into the infrastructure of the city, when constructed it will be named, the ‘Raj Kapoor Crescent’. The city of Brampton will also induct Raj Kapoor into the Brampton Hall of Fame, having a star placed there in his honor. Canada gets a taste of Bollywood IIFA is a global platform that gives the Indian film fraternity an opportunity to reach audiences in international territories. Canada has been a popular destination for filming and showcasing of Indian films and while many prominent films have been showcased at the Toronto International Film Festival, several movies have been filmed in this picturesque country. In another welcome gesture, IIFA and the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) had tied up to host a tribute to Raj Kapoor titled, ‘Raj Kapoor and the Golden Age of Indian Cinema’. The festival ran for six weeks at the TIFF Bell Lightbox and also featured several pieces of memorabilia from RK films including the costumes, cut-outs and props used during the films. These were displayed in the Bell Lightbox atrium during the festival. A series of paintings inspired by Raj Kapoor films by Goa-based artist Seema Sardesai were also showcased in the building. Several members of the Kapoor family were present to witness the opening of the film festival on June 26 in Toronto. The Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend featured the premiere of the movie Double Dhamaal on June 23. Salman Khan Being Human (SKBH) Productions first co-production, Chillar Party, was the opening film of the IIFA Film Festival held in Toronto. Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International Entertainment, said: “IIFA has always used the platform of cinema to build bridges with communities and nations and this year’s IIFA Film Festival will be a wonderful means of enabling audiences in Toronto to experience the colourful exuberance of Indian cinema. We are pleased to open the festival with the much-anticipated, Chillar Party.” Branding the Weekend Videocon D2H presented the IIFA Weekend, while Floriana sponsored the IIFA Awards for the first time. Commenting on Floriana Group’s first time partnership with IIFA, Sanjay Jain, IN FOCUS Chairman, Floriana Group said it was a privilege to present the Floriana IIFA Awards and that Floriana Group believes that brand IIFA offers the company “a phenomenal opportunity to deliver relevant messages to our consumers and international partners.” Saurabh Dhoot, Director – Videocon Group expressed pride in associating with IIFA for the last three years. He believes that IIFA has been a pioneer in taking Indian cinema globally and this is in line with the pioneering status of Videocon D2H in the Indian DTH market. “We believe our association with IIFA will be mutually rewarding,” Dhoot said. 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 34 designers and their models took to the ramp. The trio covered all four segments of IIFA Rocks. Speaking about its association with IIFA Rocks, Arvind Krishnan, Director –Marketing, Bacardi India said that Grey Goose’s continued association with the IIFA over the past four years has been an effort to strengthen the brand’s association with world class cinema and “take the brand’s quintessential Rotomac Pens, Lotus Herbal, Grey Goose and PVR Cinemas were the associate sponsors of the Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend 2011 and Air India partnered with IIFA as the official airlines partner. The Gitanjali Group was the associate sponsor of the Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend. IIFA Rocks Canada IIFA Rocks, a music and fashion event presented by Grey Goose, was held on June 24, the second night of the Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend with Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan, filmmaker Karan Johar and actor Anushka Sharma luxury experience to discerning audiences across the globe.” Krishnan added, “For IIFA Rocks this year, we are very glad to collaborate with the talented Rajesh Pratap Singh whose distinctive design aesthetic, which is modern and understated, is a seamless fit with the brand.” Sabbas Joseph, Director – Wizcraft International, said: “As is typical of a land so culturally prosperous, India has a rich reservoir of traditional as well as contemporary fashion derived from some of the most gifted fashion sensibilities in the country. IIFA Rocks presented by Grey Goose is proud to provide an international platform for such talented individuals as, Sabyasachi, Rajesh Pratap Singh and Vikram Phadnis.” hosting the event this year. The event was held at the Ricoh Coliseum in Toronto before a 7,500 capacity crowd. IIFA Rocks aimed at raising funds for the IIFA Foundation, which is set up by the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) to support families of the film industry workers who have been adversely affected during the production of films. This year, IIFA Rocks also announced the 12th Floriana IIFA Technical Award winners and saw several musical performances. Various Indian celebrities from Bipasha Basu to Kunal Kapoor and Rahul Khanna walked the ramp at the event. The Gitanjali Group also presented a fashion segment, ‘Gitanjali Jewels presents Nizam by Vikram Phadnis’, inspired by the rich traditions of Indian royalty. Gitanjali Lifestyle was the associate sponsor of the IIFA Weekend. A fourth segment of designs was showcased by The Bay, a chain of 90 department stores across Canada. Musicians ShankarEhsaan-Loy performed music produced by them as the For your ears only! The Videocon D2H IIFA Weekend expanded itself this year with the addition of the IIFA Music Workshop. Initiated this year, it aimed to showcase Indian music and was an open invitation to students from across Ontario, professionals and industry stalwarts to participate in a themed-based discussion, ‘Music Bringing Cinema Alive’. Established to bridge the gap between India and the host country by means of sharing and promoting the music of both countries, the workshop was a platform for Indian and international musicians and other professionals to interact and share ideas with emerging talent, professionals and other interested parties. The workshop was held on the last day of the IIFA Weekend, June 25, the same morning as the Floriana IIFA Awards. The workshop explored the factors that come together to influence music for Indian cinema and featured an interactive session led by film director Vishal Bhardwaj, singers and musicians Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy and Salim Merchant. The IN FOCUS workshop opened with a brief history of Hindi film music – its origins, uniqueness and integral role in films. ShankarEhsaan-Loy used inputs and recommendations from the audience to compose a song during the course of the day. This was followed by Bhardwaj speaking on how music is infused into films, based on plot and scripts and how the music composer looks into all components – background score, lyrics and music. Sneak Peek into the Kingdom of Dreams Videocon d2h IIFA Weekend witnessed an exclusive preview of the new Bollywood theatrical productions – Jhumroo and Here I am-Shiamak – on the second day. Jhumroo is a musical comedy that will be launched in October at Kingdom of Dreams and is packed with 19 Bollywood retro songs. Here I am-Shiamak is a Vegasstyled dance and music show, which will bring various genres of dance alive on stage. Both theatrical productions will be launched this year at Kingdom of Dreams, India’s first live entertainment and leisure destination. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan, Global Ambassador for Kingdom of Dreams, announced the projects at the IIFA. The event also witnessed a special showcase of the first ever documentary on Kingdom of Dreams by National Geographic Channel for the show ‘Inside’. The show unravels the world’s most restricted places and spectacular destinations, highlighting their use of science, high-tech tools and other lesser known facets. 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 35 Present for this announcement were celebrities from the Indian film fraternity, world media, Shiamak Davar, Wizcraft International Entertainment Directors Viraf Sarkari, Andre Timmins and Sabbas Joseph, and Anumod Sharma from Apra Group of Cos. Bollywood Green! In keeping with the World Environment Day celebrations, IIFA tied up with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) further strengthening its commitment to saving the environment. This year, public service announcements were made where actors Priyanka Chopra and Rahul Bose pledged to support this cause. Priyanka pledged to plant one tree for every activity registered in her name, while Rahul has pledged to plant two trees for every activity registered in his name. IIFA partnered with Panasonic for the Greening of IIFA’s. Speaking on its alliance with IIFA, Manish Sharma, Director – Marketing, Panasonic India said: “Our association as the Greening the IIFA’s sponsor provides us the platform to communicate our philosophy of ‘Eco Ideas’ that champions the cause of a greener environment. The endorsement of the film community which influences public perception towards a greener environment is a significant contribution towards the cause. Panasonic’s relationship with IIFA will facilitate its vision to become the No. 1 green innovation company in the electronics industry to gain a celebrity tone insuring the message reaches the entire nation.” What’s in the Bag? While not everybody took an award home with them, each celebrity attending the IIFA received goody bags and, for the first time in IIFA history, the contents of the goody bags were revealed, giving the fans a sneak-peak into the celebrity giveaways. Celebrities received professional products from MAC cosmetics, the official make-up sponsor for IIFA, and a range of high quality hair care products from Marc Anthony. ‘Celebrity Friends of IIFA’ also received a custom handmade leather bag from Roots, a Canadian lifestyle brand that makes all leather goods in Toronto. Additionally, two celebrities were presented with exclusive Roots-IIFA ‘special edition’ jackets. Celebrities received a range of other cosmetic products from various brands, chocolates from Old Firehall and designer pens from Rotomac, among other surprises. Take a Bow IIFA and Bollywood gave Canada a starry weekend to remember with celebrity dance performances, musical extravaganza and fashion cat walks. With its North American debut, IIFA has made an attempt to bring Bollywood to a new destination. Canada has an Asian population of over 960,000, with 550,000 Indians living in the Greater Toronto Area. This gives Indian cinema a huge audience in Canada and makes it a very popular form of entertainment. As the platform reaches out to these audiences in Canada, the brands associated with this event also get an opportunity to reach out to the same audience. COVER STORY 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 36 Technoholic’s Affair By Karan Iyer Love for technology is like having multiple affairs. You are just getting the hang of one model and by the time you finish exploring it, a better version with more incredible features comes out. The good thing is that it is perfectly legal to have multiple affairs with technology! ExM went to visit the Palm Expo 2011, which is more or less a fashion show of technology for the events industry. From the latest in event planning software to mesmerising digital lights and sound equipment, it was a sweet haven for event planners, event management companies, musicians, DJs and anyone who was interested in keeping track of the latest technology for the events industry. Palm Expo 2011 The Palm Expo 2011 was held from June 2 to 4 at the Bombay Exhibition Centre, Goregaon (E) in Mumbai. The expo, includes an exhibition and conference on pro audio, lighting and musical instruments. Furthermore, the expo featured the Harman sponsored Performance Arena, an open-air line array demo area, an Indian Acoustic Musical Instruments Village, the Integrate Expo Kramer Technical Class and other such initiatives. The expo has grown by 20% since last year and spreads across 15,000 square metres. There has been a 50% increase in exhibitors with over 400 international and local brands participating. The event witnessed product and brand launches, as well as product clinics, workshops and an extensive three-day seminar and conference. Commenting on the growth of the expo, Rajan Gupta, Director, Hi-Tech Audio said: “The exhibition is definitely both bigger and better this year. I have been participating in the exhibition since 2004. This year, the number of people who attended the expo has grown and more importantly the quality of people has also improved. Business has been COVER STORY 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 37 Promoters within the expo Products on display Products at the exhibitions included stage gear, professional lasers and lighting equipment. Besides these acoustics technology and solutions, test and measurement equipment and musical instruments were also displayed. Wireless audio conference systems, multi projector displays, touch screens, water screens, LED video screens were also displayed among other products. Rajan Gupta Director Hi-Tech Audio “This year, the number of people who attended the expo has grown and more importantly the quality of people has also improved.” The Palm Expo 2011 featured lighting and sound equipments from manufacturers, distributors and retailers from across the country. The expo showcased a range of products from huge LED screens, HD projectors and laser lightings to sound systems, speakers and event management softwares. better this year, although the expo is not just for conducting business it is a platform to meet, greet and showcase products and make your presence felt.” Agreeing on the growth of the expo, Suresh Madan, Director, Dynamix Media said: “The trade show has matured over time. The stall designs are better. There is an effective restraint over noise levels. The organisers have also regulated the banding to ensure big players don’t monopolise it. From the buyer’s perspective, there are better opportunities. The distributors too are better informed about their products.” Rajan Gupta and Warren D’souza at the Hi- Tech Audio stall COVER STORY 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 38 Multi-ply-Screens While there were a lot of things to see and hear at the event, the Palm Expo featured two new multi-display softwares – WATCHOUT and Pandoras Box – that allow event managers and planners to seamlessly display images on multiple widescreens to create backdrops or to conduct presentations. The goal of the software is to enable event managers and planners to create and present images and visuals on multiple display screens. Pandoras Box has multi-screen control and 3D mapping to control the presentation and creation of content. Coolux Media Systems owns Pandoras Box, and Modern Stage Service Group’s Video Design is the Indian partner to Dataton which owns WATCHOUT. Both softwares are quite similar in their primary function of displaying images on multiple displays but differ when it comes to price, usage and features. WATCHOUT has been in the Indian market for a while and has gained quite some ground in the events industry, but Pandoras Box is comparatively a new entry into the Indian market. Pandoras Box has a feature that allows event managers and planners to make real time changes to content and images. The changes can be made on the screen itself through touch even without the need of touch screens. The real time change feature allows event managers or planners to make last minute changes without having to go through the process of uploading new content so content changes can be made without breaks or delays. Coolux has also associated with a Swiss sound company to help in integrating sound and video. ExM spoke with representatives of both companies to find out more about each of the softwares and what makes each one different from the other. Pandoras Box comes with relevant hardware to ensure that there are no hassles in terms of compatibility of the software and hardware. Pandoras Box is open! WATCHOUT! I was here first ExM first met with Harry Gladow, Business Development Manager, and Helmut Protte, International Project Manager, of Coolux to understand the features of Pandoras Box. Digital Advantage is the local distributor for Coolux’s products. Just a few metres away from the Coolux stall was the Modern Stage Service Group’s stall showcasing WATCHOUT, which already has an established presence in the events industry. The product is being distributed in Mumbai by Video Design and in Delhi by Visual Design. WATCHOUT had been launched in 2006-2007 in India, but claims to have failed to capture much of a market then and it has now been re-launched with a new partner with the objective of gaining ground. Harry Gladow Business Development Manager, Coolux “The real time change feature allows event managers or planners to make last minute changes without having to go through the process of uploading new content so content changes can be made without breaks or delays.” (on Pandoras Box) Vijay Sablok & Davinder Wadhwa with Dataton representative at the MSS Stall Madan explained that WATCHOUT is among the first multidisplay softwares to be in India and “pretty much every rental company in India uses WATCHOUT. The beauty of the product is that it is a well built and well designed software. Kudos to the people behind the designing of such a product.” Marketing of WATCHOUT in India is being done by creating awareness about the benefits of this software and imparting training. The event industry will continue to be the main COVER STORY 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 39 WATCHOUT Pandoras Box Established market New entry Cheaper and will get more cost effective with the new version Expensive and hardware is sold along with software making it further costly Compatible hardware required Hardware sold along with software so no compatibility issues Real time change feature and increased interactivity to come in version Real time change feature available Suresh Madan Director, Dynamix Media “The beauty of the product is that it is a well built and well designed software. Kudos to the people behind the designing of such a product.” (on WATCHOUT) target audience for this software. The software will also be promoted by taking government contracts for installations in public spaces or to market heritage sites. The software could also be marketed to retailers and corporates to allow them to display their products or brands at malls or offices. Let the fight begin: WATCHOUT vs. Pandoras Box Comparing both products, Pandoras Box is like an Apple Mac which is expensive but has premium benefits in terms of technology than its competitors. The Coolux product has better technology than the current version of WATCHOUT but it is more expensive than WATCHOUT and the software is sold along with the hardware, which even though avoids any hardware and software compatibility issue, does add to the burden on the pocket. On the other hand, WATCHOUT is just the software and can be used on existing hardware but the risk of compatibility issue could arise. WATCHOUT is launching its version 5 during the InfoComm 2011 in Orlando, Fla. The new version is expected to cover the technology gap between both products. WATCHOUT version 5 will be more cost effective than its current version because one display computer will give the user six outputs instead of the previous one display computer with one output. This is expected to reduce the amount of money one has to pay to get hardware keys. WATCHOUT version 5 will also be able to play 3D content and real time changes can be made on this version. Lights, Sound, Stage! Besides the new WATCHOUT software, Modern Stage Services’ Group was displaying a new stage by Sixteema from Italy which allows a size increase of 2ft to 4ft and has the ability to “park a car on it,” according to Davinder Wadhwa, Director, MSS. They have also acquired four 18,000 lumen lightings which will be rented out at a price of approximately Rs. 1.5 lakhs per show. There are only two companies that own lumen lightings producing more than 22,000 RGB lumens – Christie and Barco. Barco was also present at the expo showcasing high end systems after its acquisition of a video-based company two years back. The company’s stall featured DL3 moving head projectors with integrated media, big lights, shogun show beams and digital lights. Commenting on what the expo had to offer in terms sound Warren D’souza Director, SOUND.com “The expo is the audio world’s disney land. There are a lot of new products on display. The growth in the size of the expo is a sign of the tremendous support the industry has.” India's Largest 'ADVENTURE PARK' on 100 ACRES of PROPERTY Advantures night stay ATV 300 cc DJ Night Rock Climbing Dance Floor Team Outing Party Lawn Conference Hall Kayaking www.adventureplus.in Email : adventurepluspune@gmail.com Call : 8928240984 / 9762121653 Longest Zipline Marriages Tent COVER STORY 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 41 technology, Warren D’souza from SOUND.com said that the “expo is the audio world’s disney land. There are a lot of new products on display. The growth in the size of the expo is a sign of the tremendous support the industry has.” BIG Screens, Bigger event planner! At the same stall, Professionell einfach planen (PEP) was showcasing its new event planning software that enables event managers and planners to create a 2D or 3D visual layout of an event and give clients a real time visual walkthrough and overview of a planned event. This software enables clients to see what the arrangements from stage and lighting to seating would look like from various angles. The software is distributed from Germany and claims to have customers worldwide. The software is also reportedly the only one selling with 3D free move technology. Bruno Friedl PEP Felix Remedios against the 6MM LED Screen While there were many funky lighting and sound coming from all around the expo, a massive LED screen at the Reynold’s stall caught ExM’s eye and we went over to talk with Felix Remedios to find out more. Reynolds was showcasing its new 6MM LED screen with a higher contrast ratio. According to Remedios, the higher contrast ratio comes from the fact that the LED screen has black beads instead of grey beads that most other LED screens have. There were three shows done on the first day itself to demonstrate the LED screen. “The software is the only one selling with 3D free move technology, whereas other softwares will allow just plain overviews and not actual walkthroughs.” Bruno Friedl and Felix Remedios demonstrate the software Curtain Call Felix Remedios Director, Reynolds “There were three shows done on the first day itself to demonstrate the LED screen.” The Palm Expo represents the strength of the market. It is a platform for key players to invest and plan exhibits of the latest products and technologies. The entire trade is present to network and conduct business during the event. Since it began in 2001, the expo has grown and matured. This growth is a reflection of the progress of the industry. With the given display of the latest and the best at the expo, D’souza went on to put forth his perspective on current juncture of the industry. He stated, “This is a good time for sound companies to decide their market positioning. Whether it is live events, TV or corporate events, now is a good time to specialize as there are more products that will make a difference.” MARKET PULSE 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 44 Stepping IP up! Evolution of Percept from vanilla advertising to Integrated Marketing Communications. “The advertising industry has grown over time seeking new ways and opportunities to reach out to the masses. Percept and the services that the company has to offer has also evolved with the industry.” By Harindra Singh, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, Percept Limited associated speed of adaptation and innovation from our end was paramount towards retaining our existing clients and growing our business by offering this new IMC valueadded offering to new clients seeking the same. So we had an edge with both clients who wished for an IMC bundle of services as well as those clients who were only wishing to pick and choose specific services from our bouquet of offerings. It was a win-win concept, and better yet, we were way ahead of any EMC player in conceptualizing and offering this concept to the market. If you do a quick history fact sheet check, you will realize that agencies like O&M, WPP and Starcom started using the IMC terminology many years later. Importance of Events Growth of the Business Founded as a mainstream advertising agency in 1984, Percept grew phenomenally over the next decade across multiple functions, services and businesses in the media and communications domain including public relations, experiential marketing, production, content, sports, talent, digital media and more. Since its inception, the company and the services it has to offer have both grown considerably. When we had just begun, ‘super specialization’ was the name of the game. These specializations were methods by which agencies could focus on key objectives and delivery areas. This resulted in better client relationships. However, the space was changing rapidly and clients began to look for a bundle of services from a one-stop-shop agency. Foreseeing this situation, we evolved and launched the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) concept in 1994. Addressing the evolving client landscape and the With the evolution of this industry, Percept also evolved. Any property with consumer interest is of great value. Vanilla advertising is passive as compared to events. Events are akin to having a direct, more focused relationship with your consumer, which in turn, translates into better viewership and followership. The same cannot be said for advertising. The interactivity that events offer is unparalleled when compared to any other form of brandconsumer communication. Corporates create or associate with events because it is interactive, adds tremendous recall value, can be adapted, tweaked and extended in an unlimited manner, and offers far greater value (ROI). For example, in advertising, a $100 spend will ensure a value of $100 or a little more than $100. But in events, a $100 spend will give you a 10 times measurable value. Benefits of an event can be gauged from consumer brand connect, engagement, top-of-mind recall, PR mileage, and therefore higher returns in terms of return on investment. Birth of Intellectual Properties A decade later another big evolution began at Percept. All along, Percept had been in the traditional services business wherein we came up with entertainment, media and communication solutions to help deliver on the client’s objective, such as traditional advertising, PR, events, production, branded entertainment, media buying and so on. But such a business is very transactional in nature i.e. once the job and billings are completed we move on to the next project, and so on and so forth. It’s a never ending process and just a means of survival in this space. We realized that if we created solutions that were unique, innovative and needed by a target audience, we could create properties that could become a pipeline of revenue for eternity. In other words, the focus was now shifting from simply creating solutions for clients to simultaneously creating solutions MARKET PULSE for ourselves. These copyrighted solutions or intellectual properties could be shared with clients and monetized for a long time to come. Thus, Sunburn, Bollywood Live, Goa Super Sixes, Champions of the World, Comedy Awards, Fight Night and numerous other intellectual properties were born from the Percept stable. We have been in the ‘Ideas’ business for the past 27 years and have been instrumental in creating many intellectual properties in the past for our clients. However, now it was time to consolidate our efforts in the area and take ownership of our ideas. Intellectual properties were simply a further extension to our existing knowledge and expertise in the entertainment, media and communications domain. Our vision was to convert them into assets to create long term value for us as well as our clients and investors. Intellectual properties came with two new considerations – risk and capital. The success of an intellectual property can never be guaranteed. It can take off and become a phenomenal success, or it can be taken down. That is the risk associated with creating a new intellectual property. Money is another important factor to consider. An intellectual property requires large seed capital investment and it could take a very long time to recover the returns on these mammoth investments made. SUNBURN Sunburn is an electronic dance music (EDM) festival. EDM is basically music without lyrics and is groovy and trendy. The absence of lyrics helped to cut through regional, linguistic, political, religious and ethnic backgrounds to bring together a diverse mix of music lovers from countries around the world and cities and towns across India to this music fest. Besides removing the linguistic bar the music appealed to young and old alike. Everyone could get up, enjoy and dance to the sounds of this music. While EDM is a popular music genre internationally, it is a relatively undiscovered music genre in India. This novelty gave us an advantage. The property we offered was brand new to Indians, and they loved it. The success of an intellectual property can be attributed to 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 45 a lot of hard work, research, investment and other tangible factors. However, luck also plays a key role in determining its success. We started off with two music festivals in 2007 – Metalfest, which celebrated rock metal music, and Sunburn (EDM). However, it was the EDM fest that showed more potential going forward based on the response garnered from a wider audience unlike rock music that focuses on a specific niche target group. Therefore, we had to take the tough call of dropping the Metalfest as an intellectual property and continuing with Sunburn. Risk was definitely associated with the continuance of Sunburn. In the first two years, as is the case with any intellectual property build-up, we lost money but by the third year we broke even. And the response to year four (2010) was phenomenal, far greater than what we expected. On its opening day, the festival sold 300 early bird tickets in 22 minutes and 500 pre-booking sale tickets were sold in 12 hours. We only expected 30,000 to 35,000 people to attend at the most, but we were overwhelmed to have received a populace of over 45,000 attendees, which is about six times the number that attended in 2007. Sunburn is no longer just a music festival held on the beaches of Goa. It has now become a brand that’s larger than life which has a cult following spanning across the world. In 2009, Sunburn was ranked No. 1 in Asia and ranked as the ninth largest music festival in the world by CNN. Sunburn has put Goa back on the global map, where it belongs. Over half a million people viewed the live stream on MTVIndia.com in over 80 countries. The local, national and international PR mileage was huge and this huge exposure will drive a new wave of tourists to Goa in the future. In addition to the coverage and exposure, the festival itself has become a landmark on Goa’s tourism calendar. It has become a destination event for the upscale crowd who has disposable income. Strong attendance numbers in turn drive flights into Goa, encourage local transportation, drive traffic to hotels and restaurants, incentivise shop sales, and more. Sunburn has certainly helped the Tourism Board of Goa’s position and is marketing the state in a favourable MARKET PULSE 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 29 GLIMPSES 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 49 Photo Credit: Monisha Ajgaonkar Rolling Stone Metal Awards 2011 The Rolling Stone Metal Awards 2011, co-sponsored by Paco Rabanne, took place at Mumbai’s Blue Frog on June 19. This year, the awards ceremony had trophies, inspired by Gibson’s iconic Flying-V guitars, being handed out across nine categories. The awards showcased the thriving metal scene in the country and the large turnout was a testament to the tremendous support that metal music now enjoys in India. Super Hit Parade Sony Max and Seventy Seven Entertainment activated a month long film festival, Super hit Parade. Promotional activities were held at high traffic locations in Nagpur, Surat, Bhopal and Jaipur on June 4 and June 11. Seventy Seven roped in lookalikes of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajnikanth and Aamir Khan to promote the film festival through mall promotions. GLIMPSES 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 50 Double Dhamaal Nite ‘Double Dhamaal Nite - a tribute to comic legends’ was held on June 2 at Filmistan studios, Mumbai, to promote the movie ‘Double Dhamaal’. The event was managed by Cineyug Worldwide for Zee Cinema. Manish Paul hosted the event. SOUND.com managed the sound and Vinayak Video Vision provided the A/V for the event. Red Bull Thre3Style Red Bull Thre3Style, an international DJ contest, was extended to India this year. The contest was conducted in six Indian cities and kicked off from Pune on May 20. The top eight DJs from India competed in the finals at Mumbai on June 10. The winner will move on to the international finals in Canada. GLIMPSES GLIMPSES 4 June July 2011, 4 2011,EXPERIENTIAL EXPERIENTIALMARKETING MARKETING51 61 +919810119989 | www.emg.co.in Harley Rock Riders Season 2 Harley Rock Riders, a property conceptualised jointly by Harley Davidson motorcycles and Rolling Stone Magazine, is back with season two. The tour, from May 5 to October 1, will see the band, Half Step Down perform in four Indian cities along with other popular bands like Split, Thermal and a Quarter, and Parikrama. Tuborg Vh1 Hip Hop Hustle VH1 and Tuborg organised a performance by DJ Neil Armstrong in Mumbai, Kolkata and New Delhi from June 2 to June 4; and by T-Pain in Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune from June 17 to June 19. The performances by T-Pain were managed and executed by Fountainhead Promotions and Events and audio was managed by SOUND.com. GLIMPSES 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 52 Mod’art International Graduating Fashion Show Mod’art India, a subsidiary of Mod’art international Paris, conducted a fashion show for their graduating class on May 30. The third year graduating students and ongoing first year and second year students showcased one collection each. Nishant Joshi, (CMD, Mod’art India) and Patrice De Place (President, Mod’art International) hosted the Graduating Fashion Show. Bhojpuri City Cine Awards Bhojpuri City Magazine organised the first Bhojpuri City Cine Awards (BCCA) on June 6. The event marked the Bhojpuri industry’s completion of 50 years. The event was managed by INvision. The set for the event was executed by Munjal themes. GLIMPSES 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 53 A. R. Rahman 3D Concert Rapport Global Events produced an A. R. Rahman concert on May 29 at Palace Grounds, Bangalore. The concert was a 3D show managed by Archers Entertainment. Stage and lighting designing were done by Varsha Jain and Becket Tundatil respectively. Stage Construction was done by Techno Fabrication Works. Electro Craft managed the sound, while Stage Gear managed the lights. Blenders Pride Magical Night The annual Seagram’s Blender Pride Fashion Tour was held in Indore on June 30. Fusion Events continued its association with the Fashion Event for second time in a row, organising the pre-event activities. Neeta Lulla and Abhishek Dutta were been roped in as designers with model turned actress, Gul Panag, as the showstopper. IN FOCUS CLASSIFIED 4 July 2011, EXPERIENTIAL MARKETING 54 Talent Central Corporate Events Positions: General Manager: Sales | General Manager: Business Development | Sr. Sales Manager | Business Development Manager | Production Manager | Artist Manager | HR Manager | Designer 3D Location: Mumbai Mail CV at careers@corporateevents.in IM Entertainment Pvt. Ltd. Positions: Manager - Business Development | Manager - Production | Manager - HR | Front Office Executive Location: Mumbai Mail CV at trupti@images-ent.com engage4more (I) pvt ltd Positions: Senior manager / Group Manger- Client Servicing | Senior exec / Associate Manager- Client Servicing | Senior manager / Group Manger – Business Development | Executive – 2D / 3D | Senior Visualiser / Manager Creatives – 2D/3D Location: Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru Mail CV at engage@engage4more.com To view more job postings log on to www.eventfaqs.com Resources Technicals >> Sound >> Acoustic Control Location: Bengaluru, P: +919844001999, E: nikhil@acousticcontrol.com, W: www.acousticcontrol.com Technicalls >> Special Effects >> Morani Fireworks & SFX Location: Mumbai, P: +91 22 26250400, E: moranifireworksandsfx@gmail.com, W: www.moranifireworksandsfx.com Production >> Power Supply >> Ampower Equipments Location: Mumbai, P. + 91 2619 1737, 26178912, E: yogesharora@gmail.com To view more vendor resource listings log on to www.eventfaqs.com To list your company & HR requirements, drop us a line at sales@eventfaqs.com Company with Difference ONE STOP MULITICITY PRODUCTION FACILITY Tea m ry e all G Operation Cycle Understanding Client Need Project Completion & Handover Design Study & Validation as Per Venue Reccee Project Validation & Production at Workshop Quality Check Assembly & Installation Onsite Contact The strength and forte of Dream Factory lies in its team and the precise co-ordination between various levels starting from the top senior management to the lower skilled workers where each puts in its best with the sole aim of providing the best standards and setting milestones in the industry for others to follow. 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