Of the grand order of folio leviathans, the Sperm Whale and the Right Whale are by far the most noteworthy. They are the only whales regularly hunted by man. To the Nantucketer, they present the two extremes of all the known varieties of the whale. As the external difference between them is mainly observable in their heads; and as a head of each is this moment hanging from the Pequod's side.
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Commentary
During 2020 and 2021 I did my best to keep readers up to date with how COVID-19 was impacting our industry. One of my most trusted sources for information was Coronacast with Dr Norman Swan and Tegan Taylor – I quoted them often. After over 500 episodes Coronacast has come to an end. So is the COVID pandemic over as well? Actually, no. And here are some points from …
November 13, 2023
Well it depends on who you talk to. As you would expect the organisers, Destination NSW and the main venue all claimed it was a great success, however there were also plenty of points to the contrary. As I noted in my preview I couldn’t find enough content to entice me to pay. So the only thing I was really interested in was the tech expo at ICCS and …
October 30, 2023
So some observations. There are four streams – Tech & Innovation, Games, Music and Screen. From the point of view of an event industry veteran what would these streams offer me? The Tech & Innovation stream promises “Discover and explore the ground-breaking technologies and ideas that are changing the way we live our lives at SXSW Sydney. Throw yourself into a wide variety of programming, including keynotes, panels, presentations, …
October 11, 2023
Just read Fitz-Roy’s brave takedown of the exhibition suppliers. Gutsy! As a three decade veteran of trade shows, I recall planning my first event and falling over when the contractors at the old Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre quoted for carpet, shell scheme, and power. Without any rebates to myself, the promoter. I passed on the forms to my new cohort of 100 exhibitors — and the phone rang …
August 22, 2023
The monopolistic price gouging by certain suppliers and venues is poised to cause significant and lasting repercussions within the industry and the following is a real example that calls it out! While the economy’s impact is substantial, it’s the exploitative practices of a few that will truly set the industry back for years to come. I’ve consistently highlighted the unjustified price hikes and opportunistic tactics adopted by companies, initially …
August 22, 2023
Gary FitzRoy shares his conceren about the future of the exhibition industry
August 15, 2023
There is a lot being said in the mainstream media about Dan Andrews pulling the plug on the Melbourne Comm Games that cover a number of aspects The budget – actual and estimated The monetary cost of cancelling The reputational cost of cancelling The loss of promised new facilities in regional areas The disappointment of the athletes Lots of political point scoring (maybe that could be included as a …
July 27, 2023
The events industry has always been a dynamic and ever-evolving field, subject to various factors that shape its trajectory. As we approach the midpoint of 2023, it becomes increasingly apparent that a significant shift is on the horizon. Recent developments, such as the Victorian Government’s surprising announcement to withdraw from hosting the 2026 Commonwealth Games, raise questions about the future of large-scale events. These occurrences, combined with mixed messages …
July 25, 2023
A new report from the USA exhibition industry may support growing concern that the industry could face significant challenges and could go backwards over the next 18 months compared to 2022. The demand for in-person experiences has been skyrocketing as we emerged out of covid lock downs, and many shows made remarkable comebacks beating where they were at in 2019. People craved the tangible interactions, the excitement of exploring …
June 14, 2023
Commentary Archives | Australasian Special Events
November wrap
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve done an update and for good reason. Like the rest of the event industry my photography business is currently flat out. So here is my wrap for November so far and I’ll wrap again before Christmas. Last month our industry lost a true gentleman when Mark Magennis lost his battle with cancer. As co-owner of Decorative Events & Exhibitions, Mark was a …