Thursday, March 04, 2010

Melbourne airport passenger delays

What is it with Melbourne airport security.
Qantas appear to have lifted their game with processing passengers checking in but then there is an unacceptable wait in another queue to go through the security checking system.
Returning from AIME on Wednesday I experienced a wait of around 15 mins to get through

Tuesday, March 02, 2010

AIME 2010 welcome party

Last night's AIME welcome party was a mixed bag

The venue was great - utilising old/unusual buildings for events is always a great idea and the public transport goods shed on Collins St (extended) is just great for events. Plenty of space and a historic aspect to it as well.

The food by Atlantic Group was excellent - plenty of it and plenty of variety.

The entertainment was the big letdown - it was mostly youngsters doing hip-hop dancing - so last century! It was also too loud. The main focus of these events is meant to be on networking and while many persisted it was oftentimes too hard - so people just moved as far from from the stage as they could so they could converse.

Last year's event at the Victoria Markets was in a very similar venue to this year's - so unfortunately that detracted from the spontaneity of the choice of venue for this year. But that would not have mattered if the entertainment had been chosen more carefully to suit the event.

The benchmark for AIME welcome functions was set 2 years ago when Jon Smith produced the event at Atlantic Group's then new venue at Central Pier.

the best of the entertainment featured some very talented and acrobatic drummers

more pix from the welcome reception

Wednesday, January 06, 2010

Vale - William May - founder of No 12

Entertainment Icon Dies - SSO 5th Jan

William H. “Billy” May, world-renowned entertainment producer, director and composer, died on New Year’s Eve at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. May’s death follows a recent illness.

He created Melbourne’s iconic special events centre in an 1890s warehouse in Kensington, which became one of Melbourne’s top special events venues. It was known as No12.

William May, dinosaur creator, dies - The Age 6th Jan

WILLIAM H. ''Billy'' May, the theatrical producer who created the Walking with Dinosaurs arena show, died in St Vincent's Hospital on New Year's Eve, aged 56, due to complications from pneumonia.

A showman who trained at the New York High School of Performing Arts, May moved to Australia in 1972 at the age of 19 to be with his life partner, producer Malcolm Cooke. Together, the two men worked on more than 40 productions in Australia, London and New York, including the Arts Centre's 2002 production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, a 1983 Broadway musical about Marilyn Monroe (Marilyn - a Fable) and a 1997 West End musical, Always, about the love affair between Edward VII and Wallis Simpson.