Business Events Grants Program

Back when we were investigating the Business Events Grants Program we raised the issue of who designed the scheme, and why the industry was not consulted. Judging by the revelations that Morrison wanted to be the minister for everything we can now assume that our assumption that it came out of the previous PMs Office is the most likely scenario.

Let’s hope the new government is more open about what they do and more open to input from relevant industries.

COVID

COVID case numbers are down and with spring only a month away (although it doesn’t feel like it this week) we can look forward to risk largely free events – right? Well maybe.

Coronacast is back in a weekly format and this week the hosts are talking about what lies ahead –

Tegan Taylor: So with this wave tailing off, what does the next six months look like? I know you’ve said before and we’ve spoken to experts who say there will be new variants, it will come back again, but to what heights are we expecting to see it come back and in what sort of time period?

Norman Swan: Well, nobody I know is predicting anything, everybody is hoping that this is it, but the history of this virus is that that’s not. It and a new variant will emerge in the next six months which will be significantly immune evasive because there is still large parts of the world where they are under-immunised, large amounts of virus circulating. And we even had large amounts of virus circulating in countries like Australia and elsewhere which possibly could create the environment for a new variant to emerge, particularly if it goes into the large group of people in the community who are immune suppressed, and what we are talking about here is people with cancer, people with organ transplants, people with HIV and so on, and the virus goes to very large numbers in people like that and can mutate and spin out again. Then you’ve got the opportunity sometimes for the virus to go into animals and come back out, and that is what we are hoping doesn’t happen here. So if we are really lucky, nothing else will happen. If it goes according to previous patterns, by Christmas there will be another variant.

Listen to the full episode

So what are we to make of that? Essentially, don’t let your guard down. Event managers need to advise caution with their clients and venue managers need to continue to be vigilant – especially with cleaning and air flow. 

Updates

Yes my updates are now somewhat irregular – but events are back and my photography business is demanding more of my time – so here is a catch-up on the latest posts.

Event Report: ReSpark for Perth events

 35 Event Partners combined together and gave their offerings for no charge. This covered food, beverage, roving live entertainment, musicians, videography, photography, photo booths, audio visual and styling. There was no cost to any guests to attend.

Gympie Muster provides invaluable work experience

 The Gympie Music Muster enhances its community engagement again this year, giving opportunities for our young students to get hands-on educational experiences.

10 ways to create a more inclusive event

Diverse and inclusive events consider a variety of aspects including age, mental and physical ability, culture, religion, gender identity and language.  

In this article Arinex Managing Director Nicole Walker gives 10 tips for a more inclusive event.

Once again sport trumps business events

Gary FitzRoy looks at the shenanigans behind the NRL Grand Final

It’s been interesting to see the Queensland and NSW governments played off against each other by NRL boss Peter V’landys. 

Question everything

My favourite marketer has another great post this week and I think this line should be writ large on the wall of every event manager…

“How do you get these ideas? Question everything.”

Remember that COVIDSafe App…

‘Please uninstall COVIDSafe’: App branded a failure and deleted

The COVIDSafe app, introduced by the Morrison government in 2020, has been decommissioned after a senate select committee branded it an expensive failure and the health minister said state governments haven’t used it for months.

Jobs Board

Events are back and businesses are recruiting so I’ve introduced a jobs board with an introductory offer of $70 per listing.  Your listing will appear on the ASE site for 30 days (or until the job is filled) and will be promoted via the weekly update. And since you are about to ask – the ASE email posts currently go to 3666 recipients (mostly in Australia).  Lodge your listing here