Last week was an exciting time for those who support mainstream and underground arts. Whether your life revolves around music, film, technology, pop-culture or a variation of all the above, SXSW is an exciting time to discover something new and rediscover something classic. See what Brandon had to say about this year's South by Southwest Festival here. 

Every year around the beginning of March, I receive personalized e-mails from friends and acquaintances across the country inviting me to catch up and meet at a conference, concert or film premier. It is sometimes a project someone is associated with but often times it is just an event the invitee will be attending and a chance to connect again. Companies, consider definitely taking a page out of this book and be more personable with meeting your clients.

This post has more to do with two of the east coast's answers to SXSW.

Then first, appropriately called North by Northeast (NXNE) is a week long festival of music, film and much more in Toronto, Canada. Although NXNE does not have the prominence that SXSW has, it has everything that is offered - great new and famous forms of art with a unique place for visual arts, gallery art, art spaces and even comedies. I have worked with the NXNE festival and planning team before and I can tell you from first-hand experience that there is plenty of opportunity to network with bright and creative minds. 

Can't make it to Canada? College Music Journal hosts a week long festival on the streets of one of the largest year-round Meccas for entertainment - New York City. The CMJ Music Marathon is more than just tunes and musicians - it includes debut films at famed Tribeca film theatres, special events at bars and restaurants throughout the city, seminars at NYU (and others) and much more. My last year attending CMJ Marathon was in 2008 and included such events as the national premier for Zach and Miri Make A Porno, an intimate in-studio performance sitting with Broken Social Scene, a small Crystal Castles concert at Webster Hall and a meet-and-greet opportunity with Donovan Frankenreiter just to name a few.

Didn't get a chance to find great talent for your business or find the new best thing in music or film? NXNE takes place June 10-16 and offers something very unique: huge student discounts (over 50% off standard badge prices) and single day bracelets for those who want to experience what is offered without breaking the bank. Details are forthcoming but the initial music lineup includes The National, Buke & Gass, Flag, Mickey Avalon, Joey Bada$$ and much more. College Music Journal's Music Marathon takes place later in the year from October 15-19 and is currently taking submissions for artists, films and art along with other business opportunities. Stay tuned to this website for more details. Both of these will have plenty of opportunities for promotional product hand-outs and informal meetings with industry elite.

Last week, I talked about Las Vegas' recent ad campaign to get business meetings and tradeshow to The Strip. Whether by chance, fate or mere coincidence, I signed onto the Trade Show News Network website only to find an advertisement from Atlantic City, NJ.

Deemed "World's Favorite Playground" and the inspiration behind Boardwalk Empire and the much-coveted final blue tile in the Monopoly boardgame, Atlantic City is to the East Coast what Las Vegas is to the West Coast. Although it's tourism slogan, "Do A.C." doesn't hold a candle to "What happens in Vegas...," Atlantic City does give Vegas a run for its money with its new business slogan: "Do conventions. Do unconventional."

Just over 3 hours from Washington DC, two hours from NYC and an hour from Philadelphia, Atlantic City's convention hall is modern and large enough to host several events. The convention hall is the 2013 home for such trade shows as the Philadelphia National Candy Gift & Gourmet Show, Tri-State Association of Realtors and even our very own PPAI Expo East. Downtime in Atlantic City can mean one of many things: partying at the new Revel nightclub, catching a concert at the House of Blues or gambling at one of the many themed casinos. Atlantic City also offers top-notch hotels, restaurants and shopping for any and all budgets. 

You're bound to meet plenty of networking potentials, whether at the Atlantic City convention hall or around the blackjack table. Be sure to have some promotional products on-hand.

We are all very familiar with the notoriously hedonistic lifestyle that takes over once visiting Las Vegas. Last year alone, over 38,000,000 people came to Las Vegas for a taste of the glitz, glamour and gambling that is almost commonplace in this Western city.

But for those in the business industry, you may start to see a new, interesting ad slogan: "Vegas means Business."

A far cry from "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas," "Vegas means Business" is an invite for businesses to host or attend trade shows, business meetings and retreats. An advertisement on the Trade Show News Network homepage, when clicked, expands to a website with planning tools for business trips and details about the many locales designed for trade shows.

Las Vegas seems like the perfect place to attend a trade show or business meeting. Not only are the venues large and updated but there is plenty to do once the meeting or trade show is over. Be sure to have a flashy promotional giveaway on-hand when visiting.

Over the weekend, residents and visitors to the Tri-State area were treated to something very special - a unique culinary tasting that, until now, only Southerners had the honor of enjoying on a daily basis.

There is no mystery as to what you'll find at the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival - there are dozens of Western and Southern recipes in practically every BBQ food one can think of. Additionally, there are unlimited beer and bourbon tastings. Your mouth is probably watering just thinking about it. But there is more to this festival than wolfing down delicious food. One can enjoy seminars from pit masters, distilleries, breweries and experts in the culinary field while at the BBB Festival. There is also a shop for BBQ accessories, hot sauces and much more. 

This year, the Beer, Bourbon and BBQ Festival is hitting the road and could be in a town close to you. The Manhattan Festival sold out in advance. Expect the other dates to do the same.

Those near Atlanta, Timonium, Charlotte, Richmond, National Harbor, Cary, Reston and Nashville should mark their calendars. Each ticket includes admission to a session with many tickets including a promotional pub glass for bourbon and beer tastings.

Whether you're an experienced sailor or just someone who loves the sea, the Progress Insurance New York Boat Show is for you! The Northeast's principal boat trade show will take place January 3 - 6, 2013 at the Javits Center in New York City.

According to a press release, the event boasts "post-holiday deals on everything from luxury motor yachts and sport fishers to performance boats, sailboats, and thousands of marine accessories." Moreover, attendees can look forward to an appearance by MTV's "Wake Brothers" as well as the new Diving Equipment & Marketing Association (DEMA) "Be a Diver" pool, where water-lovers try out scuba diving and a variety of paddlesports.

And for fishing enthusiasts, the New York Boat Show will even offer free, daily sessions hosted by fishing professionals. You might even take home some custom fishing lures!

The event is just $15 for adults, and kids under 16 get in for free. Nice!

For more information, check out the New York Boat Show's website.

In 2013, the New York Times Travel Show will celebrate its 10th anniversary. The massive international celebration, scheduled for January 18 - 20, will offer attendees a tour of the world without having to leave the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City.

According to the event website, guests will get a closer look at more than 500 destinations worldwide, including well-known favorites as well as areas that are still crowd-free. From seminars and travel tips to live performances and culinary treats, the trade show promises to be a truly international festivity. Attendees will even have the opportunity to plan trips from American Express booking stations.

The New York Times Travel Show will be open to the general public on Saturday, January 19 and Sunday, January 20. Even better, kids under 18 will get in for free! They'll love taking home fun travel promotional items provided by sponsors and exhibitors like American Express and Puerto Rican Tourism.

The city of Los Angeles, California is no stranger to tourism.  There the industry is already booming, and it might soon expand even further.

LA will host the U.S. Travel Association's International Pow Wow convention this April, during which the city's best hotels, top restaurants, and most intriguing cultural attractions will be on display.  After all is said and done, over 1,500 travel business operators will have passed through, collecting promotional products for tourism and helping the city to rake in an easy $10 million.  But what's even more exciting is the impact the trade show will affect Los Angeles' economy in the years to come.

According to the Los Angeles Times, "the show could generate an additional $350 million in the next two to four years from the national and international tourists it will draw to the city."

Mark Liberman, Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board president and chief executive, told eTravelBlackboard that the last time Pow Wow took place in LA was in 2004, and since then so much has changed. "...[W]e are anxious to showcase the outstanding new products that our City has to offer, while generating future revenue," Liberman said.

With Pow Wow, Los Angeles hopes to show off its new and improved look. "If you haven’t seen L.A. recently, you haven’t seen L.A.," Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa stated in a recent video message.  Will you be attending the big show?

Here in New York, we just recently had our first snowfall of the season.  But out by Denver, Colorado, ski enthusiasts and snow-sports manufacturers are already preparing for next winter.  According to the Denver Post, apparel featuring bright colors and bold patterns will continue to dominate next year.

New lines of vibrantly-colored promotional outerwear for 2013 were presented at last week's SIA Snow Show in Denver.  "The brighter the colors, the faster it sells," Colorado Ski & Sports apparel buyer, Mary Mancini, told the Denver Post. "It pops on the snow." 

According to Linda Rodney, national sales director for Sport Obermeyer, the loud looks may be in reaction to our nation's down economy. "When things are gloomy, people like to be bright. A big trend we are seeing is bright and printed bottoms to match the bright jackets that have been popular for the past couple seasons," Rodney said.

What do you think of the flashy colors presented at the SIA Snow Show in Denver?  Would you wear one of these prominent pieces?

The majority of New York-based trade shows are currently held at Manhattan's Jacob K. Javits Convention Center.  The assembly hall ranks only 12th in the nation in size, leaving much to be desired; it's beat out by tradeshow centers in both California and Georgia.  But New York trade shows may soon receive a face lift; last week, Gov. Andrew Cuomo unveiled plans to develop a massive new convention center in Queens, NY.

According to the New York Post, Cuomo, who recently called the Javits Center "obsolete," asserts that the area needs a larger convention center in order to compete.  Mayor Bloomberg has also voiced his support for the privately-funded project:  "All of us have agreed that we need a bigger convention center. Could you imagine what we could do if we had a world-class, appropriate-sized convention center?" he said.

The new hall would be built in Queens between New York City's biggest airports.  Meanwhile, the Javits Center, which the San Francisco Chronicle called "too small ... and poorly suited for the kind of bold, glitzy convention center that would be appropriate for Manhattan," would be converted into office space, housing, hotel rooms, and more.

Not only does the initiative have the potential to create thousands of jobs, but it may also draw in more visitors to the New York region.  What's most exciting about the proposed tradeshow center is its sheer size. "Let's build the largest convention center in the nation, period," Cuomo said.  Imagine the amount of trade show giveaways you could collect at a show in the country's biggest convention center!

What do you think -- would a sparkling new convention hall have you visiting New York more often?

If you've ever stayed at a bed and breakfast, you know that innkeepers wear several hats throughout a guest's stay.  They've got to do everything -- from housekeeping to online marketing -- to bring in guests and keep their clients happy.  It should come as no surprise then that the upcoming InnSpire Conference and Trade Show will offer such a diverse array of seminars for attendees.

"Keeping up with all of the skills required to run a bed and breakfast can be overwhelming--especially as it relates to technology--but it's critical to the innkeepers' success with so many travel decisions made online," says CABBI Program Coordinator Jenn Wheaton. "The InnSpire conference helps to bridge the gap and provide in-depth information that innkeepers can put to use."

On the agenda are educational sessions on Internet marketing strategies, ADA compliancy, social media networking, identity theft, and more.  So if you're looking to pick up pointers on everything from hotel guest amenities to marketing, this is the trade show for you!

According to a press release, the InnSpire Conference and Trade Show will be held in Sacramento, California January 22 - January 24.  The 2012 event will hosted by the California Association of Bed & Breakfast Innkeepers (CABBI).