Notes from the Field

The convention has begun and VT staff is already on the ground collecting important news and tidbits. Here are some of the things we've already uncovered:


From left, we have Carol Roberts-Spence, University of Texas, El Paso; Anne Palmer, San Jose; and Kim Cook, IAAM. Roberts-Spence has just announced a Rolling Stones concert, with opening act the Dave Matthews Band, for Oct. 20, sure to sell 50,000 seats. Tickets are $350-$60. Shakira just soldout her opening tour date, also at UTEP. Needless to say, the month has been HUGE at UTEP.


The big question each convention is, what color will Brenda Pennington's hair be? Here she is, almost natural. No more blond, blue, green or red for awhile, she said. Pennington can be found registering attendees at the Henry Gonzalez Convention Center.


Global Spectrum held a preconvention convention. The Aug. 2-3 conference drew 78 people, according to Terry Butler, right, Ryan Center, Kingston, R.I. With him are fellow Global Spectrum-ites, Mike Fryling, left, Constant Center, Norfolk, Va., and Rodney Reese, center, UCF Arena, Orlando.


Glen Menard, left, SMG, Louisiana Superdome, and Michael Taormino, right, Cobb Energy Center, Atlanta, graduated in the same high school class in New Orleans. Richard Simmons was also a class mate. Small world, eh?


The Industry Affairs Council, which met Friday for five hours, includes, from left, Turner Madden, IAAM lobbyist; Rodney Smith, University of Denver, chair; Gina Brydsen, IAAM; Bob Mayer, retired, Tulsa, Okla.; Shura Lindgren, St. Charles (Mo.) Convention Center; Linda Deckard, Venues Today; Mark Mettes, Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix, Ariz., and Kim Cook, IAAM.


Guess who forgot to preregister. Larry Perkins, right, RBC Center, Raleigh, IAAM incoming president. Harold Hansen, left, DHS Grant Coordinator for IAAM, admitted he, too, did not pre-register for this convention. Oops.