How well do you know your city and the people that live in it? Ever wondered how city life changes when the sun sets? Well this year Big Cat have teamed up with one of the UK’s leading social enterprises, The Big Issue to offer you a unique look at Birmingham at the dead of night through The Night Walk, a rather different type of fundraising event.

The Night Walk is exactly what it says on the tin, a walk in the dead of night. Having been successfully run in London for the past 3 years, The Big Issue felt it was about time they took it out of the Big Smoke to give more people the opportunity to show their support for such a fantastic cause.

Taking place in April, The Night Walk is a 25KM sponsored walk where urban ramblers will be able to experience the city in a new light whilst in the safety of an organised group. The route will let walkers take in the astounding architecture of some of the city’s most distinctive buildings. There may even be a surprise or two along the way with a sneak peek into the buildings.

This is the first time The Night Walk has taken place outside of London and Big Cat is proud to be able to provide event management support to such a fantastic cause.

All money raised on the expedition will go straight towards supporting The Big Issue foundation and the work that it does to help the homeless.

Keep your eyes peeled on The Big Issue website to see how you can get involved in The Night Walk

This festival season has seen the lines between music festival and traditional food festivals blur beyond recognition.  Over recent years attendees at a music festival could expect to be served greasy burgers, greasy burgers or greasy burgers.

Some of this year’s crop of festivals (not even the food specific ones) have seen the quality of their catering offering improve considerably.  At Lovebox and Wilderness this year Jamie Oliver’s Fabulous Feasts ensured that guests were very well fed.  And Wagamama and Pizza Express have also both introduced their range to festival goers.

And let’s not forget that this year has seen the launch of Jamie Oliver’s own Big Festival which brought together a host of top restaurants such as Locanda Locatelli, Wahaca and GBK alongside musical heavyweights The Charlatans, Soul II Soul and Athlete.

Jamie’s not the only celeb chef getting in on the festival act.  This year’s Harvest Festival saw Alex James (himself a food-music cross over, being the bassist from Blur and now a Cotswolds based cheese producer) hosting the Oxfordshire site with top chefs Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and Richard Corrigan appearing with The Kooks and KT Tunstall.

These festivals treat chefs as headline acts and market themselves accordingly.  In recent years the rise of the TV chef has been phenomenal (how many shows and books do Jamie and Hugh have between them?) and festival organisers recognise their broad appeal.  Add in some Radio 2 friendly bands, some improv theatre groups and boutique babysitting and hey presto – you’ve potentially got yourself a Guardian reader’s dream event!

All of these festivals recorded good attendances and the signs point towards this family friendly, music and food hybrid festival gaining in popularity.

This year is a big deal for The Big Issue. 2011 marks the 20^th Anniversary of the first Big Issue hitting the streets and to coincide with the launch, the team behind the publication are working on a number of fantastic events being held up and down the country.

Birmingham will be playing a key role in the celebrations as it hosts ‘Hard Times’, an award winning photography exhibition by Paul Wenham-Clarke. Launching on the 8^th September at St Martin’s in the Bullring, the project features Big Issue vendors photographed in their homes. The images are incredibly hard hitting and make you realise the conditions that some people live in, such as shop doorways, park benches, squats and hostels. The aim of the project is to raise awareness of the challenges that the homeless face and to demonstrate that it can happen to anyone, at anytime you’re not just born into it.

In conjunction with the anniversary, Birmingham will also see a number of well-known personalities take to the streets with Big Issue vendors to see how well they get on selling the publication. The vendors will show them the ropes and then leave them to their own devices, allowing them to experience a day in the life of a vendor, how they are treated and how much money they actually make.

Make sure you keep your eyes peeled over the next few weeks as you walk through Birmingham City Centre as you never know who might be asking you to purchase a copy of The Big Issue.

The UK’s entertainment industry has seen a new partnership formed this week which is set to enhance the West Midlands offering of world class events.

Birmingham based marketing experience agency, Big Cat Group has this month been awarded a six month contract to assist the NEC in sourcing and delivering blockbuster events best suited for its exhibition halls, ensuring the city remains at the top for entertainment destinations.

Having brought events such as the controversial Bodies Revealed and TV smash hit CSI: The Experience to the UK, Big Cat Group will utilise its extensive range of contacts in Europe and the US to build upon the City’s entertainment calendar.

Nick Morgan, CEO of Big Cat Group said: “This is a great opportunity to further improve Birmingham’s significance as an international entertainment destination. In recent years we have seen millions of tourists flood to the city to witness shows such as X-Factor, Britain’s Got Talent, Batman Live, Cirque de Soleil and many more.

“Our role in this new venture will be to source global content and bring it to Birmingham. With the advancements in digital technology, theatre production and visual arts the possibilities for the city are endless.”

Chris Hartley, Business Development Director at the NEC said: “We’re delighted to be teaming up with Big Cat. We know the entertainment events market place is an area of real opportunity for us and now with Big Cat’s experience and knowledge in this sector, we can actively target it.

The notion of an interesting and inspiring office space is a totally alien thought for most office workers today who would generally associate their work space with words such as mundane, boring, dreary, and dull. Could spaces that are thought of by workers with negative descriptions cause a lack of motivation and dissatisfaction at work?

Physical space matters and wherever you go it is far more positive in my opinion to surround yourself in a creative environment that provides colour, art, space and inspiration. This not only applies to the office but applies to all spaces that one would use such as home, recreation and leisure and sets the scene for the attitude that you will apply to the day ahead.

With the revolution of communication some can drop a permanent work space and opt to isolate themselves in the middle of nowhere or move around different spaces for new daily inspiration. In the events industry, a specialist area of Big Cat we understand that it is important to find an inspiring venue to create an event to remember, alternatively when using a blank canvas it can be transformed into an inspiring space with the correct combination of lighting, furniture and colour.

Many conferences of today are repeatedly booked into hotels with poor light, bad carpets and dull décor that result in the need for well over 10 coffees an hour to keep delegates awake. Surely if a space makes it hard to stay awake during the day it is having a negative effect on the brain and is completely uninspiring. What you need out of a space is comfort, satisfaction, motivation, clarity and happiness. Can an inspiring space encourage these and influence our connection with the world?

Please find below some of the office spaces that I think would inspire anyone!



Over the past few years Big Cat Group has developed and managed a range of world class events including Bodies Revealed, CSI: The Experience, Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures and most recently The World of Princess. To give you an insight into how these events are secured and delivered we thought we’d put Senior Events & Exhibitions Manager, Rob Dudley through his paces and find out what it takes to play host to these events.

What is your role at Big Cat Group?

I’m the senior events and exhibitions manager at Big Cat which means I’m involved in a very diverse range of projects.  As such the specifics and responsibilities of my job vary, depending on what the particular project is.  For example in the last 6 months I’ve spent nights at various drum and bass events overseeing health and safety; I’ve organised the bar operation at a jazz festival; I’ve acted as deputy manager at the world renowned exhibition Tutankhamun – His Tomb and His Treasures, I’ve met with suppliers and manufacturers in Barcelona, I’ve unloaded and built the exhibition Princess – The World if Princesses in Dublin and I’ve also forged relationships with manufacturers in China to supply exhibition merchandise.  No two days are the same!

How did you get into events?

I’ve been involved with bars, restaurants and nightclubs for the last 15 years.  Events is a natural progression for me.  The bar and club industries share a lot similarities with the events industry.  Running a bar or club is like putting on an event every day.

What are you working on at the moment?

Right now we’re working on a project which falls under the LOCOG Open Weekend.  The event is called Jamaica LIVE! and is a one day family friendly festival.  It features live musical performances (including Dawn Penn!), stand up comedy and spoken word, dance, arts and crafts, Jamaican food stalls and drumming workshops.  Further down the line we’re organising the launch of Bourneville College’s impressive new building, an event which is going to feature some pretty cool AV tech.

What is your favourite external event?

That I’ve been involved with?  Hmm… The Mostly Jazz Festival this year was good fun.  But Star Trek: The Exploration really stands out.  This was an exhibition of Star Trek sets, props, costumes and models from all of the TV shows and Films.  Big Cat was tasked with shipping the content from LA to Spain and then constructing the show in Valencia’s stunning Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias (City of Arts and Sciences).  It was one of the hardest projects (17 days straight, minimum 12 hour days) but really enjoyable.  The venue is amazing and the city of Valencia is beautiful.  Weather was slightly better than Birmingham too.

What is your favourite thing about Birmingham?

Cafe Soya!

Networking is a vital concept that all businesses need to embrace in order to gain contacts and maintain them. Business revolves around using the resources and knowledge of your environment to succeed. Without taking these concepts into account a business will not reach true potential. Having for the last five weeks been working with Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future, it has made me think about what a business wants to know and wants to achieve when out of the office for the evening. Businessmen and women are busy so for an event to be successful there has to be something which stands out in order to draw our Business community in.

Birmingham Forward is made up of over 200 companies that hold corporate membership; these are the key businesses in Birmingham; those that make Birmingham tick. Birmingham Future is for the younger generation in Birmingham, those who are finding their feet in Birmingham business circles. Birmingham Future provides a step for people to take in order to meet, network and socialise with people in equivalent positions across the Birmingham business community.

Since I began working at Big Cat five weeks ago, I have seen a number of events take place. Birmingham Forward events have varied from presentations by knowledgeable business men in Birmingham to tours around new buildings such as The Cube. Birmingham Future events have consisted of a wide variety of functions, from dinners with speakers to talks by big names in the political circle.

The recent Birmingham Future event consisting of a visit from The Right Honourable Philip Hammond MP attracted well over a hundred people to the event that took place in One Snowhill at the beginning of June.  This is a good example of how Birmingham Future events are attracting significant interest, not only throughout Birmingham but among people from outside the immediate Birmingham community.  The attendees not only came to listen to what had to be said about the HS2 plan, but also had the opportunity to question the Secretary of State for Transport. With press from Birmingham, Midlands Today, ITV Midlands and radio stations from not only the West Midlands but also sister counties attending, it was an event that appealed to all. It gave the people of Birmingham and others in the region a chance to hear about the changes that may happen, a chance to think about what opportunities such plans could bring to Birmingham, and a chance to develop business and prospects around the West Midlands. Attendees were able to network over lunch, so the event not only provided knowledge but gave an opportunity to leave with a handful of business cards.

Big Cat is constantly researching, trying to find out what people want to see and hear about. Researching the issues facing Birmingham and the Business sector, we strive to get speakers and produce events that will aid and give the chance to the local business community to promote themselves. With a lot of big names coming up in the last quarter of the year, such as John Hemming MP and Malcolm Harbour MP, Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future events are bound to continue to provide knowledge and opportunities to aid the Business Community.

Top 5 innovative event technologies to make your event really reach the stars.

We are forever hearing how fast technology is evolving and that the latest must-have gadget is being shelved just weeks into its release with its predecessor already in production. It’s hard to imagine how certain technology-based products can progress to an even greater level. The iPhone 4 is a classic example of such technology. With rumours of the iPhone 5 (and even iPhone 6) being rife, will Apple ever say enough is enough? I highly doubt it.

If we relate this to events, technology is an area that can really make-or-break the success of an event, with some events being solely technology-based. With this in my events-fuelled mind, here is  5 of the most creative and mind-boggling interactive event tech below to feast your eyes on.

 1)      Building Projection. Although not technically ‘new’, the projection possibilities today have been brought to a level never seen before in the Events Industry. Ideal for brand launches and with projections now being in HD, it is crystal clear that if you have the budget & space, building projection is a strong option to really drive home brand awareness and recognition.

       http://goo.gl/f1m5Z

 2)      PufferSphere. – Great visual focal point. This is breath-taking technology that forms a contemporary feel with traditional and subtle information portrayed. The beauty about this technology is that it can be manipulated to suit any event. With inwards projection, this stand-alone piece is highly versatile with minimal spacing needed.

 http://vimeo.com/1914697

 3)      iBar. This bar really takes event networking to a new level! Being easily assembled and loaded with a variety of different images/videos/interactive pieces, the bar top becomes an

interactive display that ‘links’ whatever objects are placed on it. As the video shows, the technology can be manipulated to form an Xbox Kinetic style wall feature – just going to prove that the events industry really does lead the way in interactive technology! With the main focus of this tech being the bar itself, this is perfect for networking based events as the bar is the one area that every guest will frequent, therefore maximising exposure!

 http://goo.gl/B81gP

 4)    Interactive ‘Aurora’ Table. As seen on the X Factor 2010, this funky table takes having a coffee to a new level.  With files, videos & images being able to uploaded, the interactivity of this technology has no boundary. Perfect for corporate events or exhibitions, this table can project certain processes or products through their life-cycle from start to finish. The Aurora is ideal for small to medium sized events, however not as the main focus due to its size and individual nature. Although expensive, this table would complement a main tech attraction perfectly.

 http://goo.gl/669Ta

 5)    Fog Screen Projection. Although not relatively new, I still think this technology is a great way of taking the traditional idea of projection and bringing into the modern era. Perfect for making a dramatic at any social event, this screen creates an air of mysticism and intrigue. Just make sure there are no drafts or wind traps nearby as you may end up creating a hazy cloud instead of a sharp projection!

http://goo.gl/SCN7F

 I think it’s clear to see that event technology is definitely progressing at an superb rate, with many influences being pulled from consumer products. In today’s competitive market, if you really want to make the right impression at your event, creative & innovative technology is definitely a route to pursue in order to create that sought-after ‘WOW’ factor! 

The 19^th May 2011 is a date that will be remembered by a vast majority of the Birmingham business community for one reason only – BYPY 2011. This highly prestigious awards ceremony recognised the talent that really is on show throughout Birmingham covering such categories as Communications, Financial and Legal, with the overall winner being chosen from each of the six sector winners.  BYPY also pays recognition to prevalent individuals who have made a lasting contribution to the city’s business community with the Inspiring Leader award.

 This year, the Big Cat events team had a rare night off from the stresses and strains of event management and, as great supporters of Birmingham Forward, were keen to book a table ahead of this impressive night.  After hours of grooming and preening (and that was just the men!) Big Cat were ready to hit the ICC in style. With dinner suits and dresses galore, it was clear from the atmosphere around the venue that the 770 guests were definitely in for a night to remember.  After a champagne reception, we were shown to our table ready for the show to start. Obviously, the Big Cat events team could not help but discuss event ‘stuff’ but it is safe to say that all comments made were positive as a first-class night was produced from start to finish. A stand-out point for me was the audio and visual used throughout the show. With the ICC having state-of-the-art technology in-house, this was used to its maximum potential through raw and edgy ‘Apprentice-style’ nomination videos, with audio to match creating a contemporary feel to such a historic event. The ICC is impressive just as a blank canvas, but once dressed and ‘teched up’ it stands head and shoulders above the majority of venues within the area, firmly pinpointing Birmingham as a genuine and versatile city to host an array of diverse and unique events.

 As the champagne continued to flow, the infamous Olympic duo of Katharine Merry and Derek Redmond expertly compered the awards leading to the pinnacle of the night – overall BYPY winner. After a great reception for the deserved winner, the after-show disco ensued with even more amounts of champagne consumed.  I think it is safe to say from this point onwards the night became slightly hazy and there were definitely a few sore heads in the Big Cat office the following morning!

2011 is looking incredibly busy for events at The Old Library, with a string of beautiful weddings and swish corporate events ahead of us. We kicked off the spring with a fabulous event for Umberto Giannini’s local west midlands salons. Having previously used the space for their yearly awards ceremony, the event organisers at Umberto were more than happy to use our services once more.

It was an early start for members of The Old Library team, arriving at the venue at 6am to transform the space from a still, blank canvas to a black and white themed VIP heaven. The set consisted of a  swish black matt stage with a modest catwalk sneaking into to the seating area. The guests were to be seated at elegantly decorated tables of 10, each one representing a different salon in The West Midlands. Mid-morning saw the arrival of a string of gorgeous models, ready to get some serious hair done. The Study was a hive of hair extensions, straighteners, hairsprays and teasing combs and we were lucky enough to catch a sneaky peek of the catwalk show before the start of the event.

The guests were greeted with a glass of sparkling wine and directed to their corresponding table. The event was not only due to host various prestigious awards for the outstanding stylists throughout the company, but they had also opened up a mood board competition for all guests to participate in. These were displayed in the bar area where the guests could walk by and judge other’s artistic skills.  Before the awards even began, the guests were treated to a delicious hot buffet, followed by a rather large selection of lovely home- made cakes.

The awards went down very well with all guests and the winners, very well deserved. The event ended with some afternoon tipsy-ness and general satisfaction from all parties.

Bowman cited in McCormick ‘Rio and Beyond’ said “as a series of widely publicised environmental catastrophes signalled globalisation of environment concern, society had entered the last stage of process that took humans from hearing, to understanding, to using, to abusing, and now, to worrying about the physical and biological world around them.” 

As consumers have been recognizing the importance of protecting our environment, environmentalism has become a major issue in the marketplace. The sustainable message has been steadily growing in the event industry, to the point where we can now begin to talk of a green element featuring in most events.  

But is the ‘sustainable future’ the next phase of revolution? Your answer is probably yes, as environment awareness instils in the public a positive attitude toward eco-friendly and encourages people to engage a ‘green touch’ in their everyday life. According to Laroche, author of ‘Targeting consumers who are willing to pay more for environmentally friendly products‘:

“Increasingly aware of the seriousness of environmental problems, customers are becoming more ecologically conscious and are seeking to purchase eco-friendly products and services, preferring firms that favour environmental practices.”

So as individuals with strong environmentally friendly attitudes, we (the people who think being eco-friendly because they do recycling and choose shower rather than bath), look for opportunities to behave in an environmentally friendly way.

Well then considering that your favourite festival has the ambition to become green but for that they will need your financial contribution, what would you do? Are you really willing to pay more for your ticket? And then add the cost of train or bus ticket? Well of course, as perfect and devoted green-event-goers, we all know that car isn’t an eco-friendly transportation.

Yes you are right, being green is expensive so how green and earth loving are we really? Like we say in France, the love for someone and in that case for something (the earth) doesn’t have a price. So why aren’t we ready to pay more?

But don’t worry, we are not the only one to have the ‘cost issue’ in mind. In fact 36% of respondents of a recent survey for Event Magazine of (July/August issue) suggested money was the biggest barrier.

Even if we can’t always act as green as we would like, the fact that we are thinking of it is already a very good move.

I believe it is time to say ‘Au Revoir’ now.

The day started at 4.30am on Sunday 13^th March 2011 in typical Irish/English weather with cold drizzling rain. The large road closure scheme we had organised with the Birmingham City Council started on the morning of the parade so all the event infrastructure needed to be built in little over 4 hours which included, a market with over 22 stalls, a funfair, a fenced off parade route which stretched over 3 miles and over 12 food concessions this was all to be done before the 109 different parade groups arrived for the start at midday.  Luckily the weather broke and the sun beamed through the dark skies for the start of the parade which was opened by Bob Brolly off BBC WM. The VIP bus was supported by many local Irish dignitaries and the Mayor of Birmingham.

The parade was attended by over 85,000 people and my particular favourite parade group was the 40 very loud Harley Davidson motorbikes that roared through the route to finish off a very successful parade. In the afternoon there was an array of children’s entertainment, bands and street entertainment, market stalls and obviously the odd pint of Guinness was enjoyed

The Parade was the largest event set with in a culmination of smaller events held around Birmingham from 11^th -17^th March.

With Big Cat France moving from strength to strength, we thought it was time to introduce you to one of its founding members. Originating from Boston in the US, Mike Molloy has played an integral role in the expansion of Big Cat Group and creation of Big Cat Europe. Having worked on some the globes largest and most influential clients as Disney and the NBA we felt now was the perfect opportunity to quiz Mike about what he’s working on and his aspirations for the future.

What is your role at Big Cat Group?

I work on developing the European business of Big Cat, with a special emphasis on shows and exhibitions. On the show side, I lead negotiations with show producers (Scooby Doo Live on Stage for example) to help them place their shows in different countries in Europe, and then find ‘promoters’ in each country who want to play the show. On the exhibition side, my role has been to find investors to finance the creation of our new exhibition and piecing together the international team to put it all together.

How did you get into events?

Like many in the entertainment business, I stumbled in.  After finishing graduate school for international diplomacy, I was looking for a job in Barcelona right after the 92 Olympics when I came across an entrepreneur  who had just bought the rights for Spain to present Disney On Ice.  I knew nothing about events, but he had just lost his only English-speaking employee, so it was a perfect fit.  Now I do international diplomacy on a daily basis….but in the entertainment world.

What are you working on at the moment?

We are creating an children’s exhibition called PRINCESS with Spanish and American partners that will open in Dublin in June; marketing and also finding new cities for a freestyle motorcycle event called Extreme Freestylers that takes place in Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in July; and preparing a Tour of a Children’s Stage Show called Little Big Club in Eastern Europe for November.

What is your favourite external event?

Over the year’s I have worked on a broad range of children’s entertainment shows. Seeing the reaction of children’s faces as their TV heroes come to life is a fantastic experience, which instills an overwhelming amount of joy, making all that hard work worthwhile.

What is your favourite thing about Birmingham?

The people.  I think the vibe in a city comes from its people, and I have always made great friends when I have been in Birmingham. I first started coming here for business in the mid-90’s and worked a lot with the NEC.  I found the team there to be very nice and hospitable, but at the same time very professional.  When I came back in 2008 and worked with the Big Cat team on the Bodies Revealed exhibition, I found exactly the same blend of hospitality and professionalism.

With an extensive range of clientele across seas it’s vital that Big Cat has a strong, dedicated and reliable events team which in turn is lead by an experienced, creative and down to earth Events Director. This month’s Q & A is with Events Director Nick Ruffles who sheds light on what it’s like working abroad and what have been his most challenging events.

What is your role at Big Cat Group?

At Big Cat Group my role is Event Director, which is quite a varied role. My main focus is external events such as exhibitions, conferences and festivals. I manage exhibition logistics, the design and builds of stands and sets, as well as the production of international events.

How did you get into events?

In all honesty by mistake. I studied Product Design at University however following graduation I decided it wasn’t something I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I took on the role of event manager at Wooden Spoon, a charity for physically disadvantaged children. My passion for events grew from there really and I’ve been in the industry for 10 years now.

What are you working on at the moment?

At present I’m working on the logistics for Birmingham’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Big Cat has been involved in the parade for a number of years now and we’ve built up a lot of contacts along the way. The parade is a great day out for all the family and really emphasises community spirit within Birmingham. I’m also working on Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future which consists of a series of monthly and sometimes weekly events for Birmingham’s professional industry. Big Cat manages the logistics of these events as well as the marketing.

What is your favourite external event?

It would have to be Star Trek: The Exploration. This was a massive event which took place in Valencia, Spain. I was tasked with heading up the production and development of the exhibition, a job which was not easy I can assure you. Weeks of early hours and late nights finally lead to the completion of the project. Although one of the hardest events I’ve had to build, it was also one of the most rewarding.

What is your favourite thing about Birmingham?

I’d have to say the nightlife. I’m more of a bar and pub man than clubbing and Birmingham has a very broad range of them to chose from. There are lots of hidden gems within the City, you just have to take the time to find them.

Big Cat Group has recently been appointed as event and marketing consultancy for two of the city’s top membership organisations, Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future.

Established in 1990, Birmingham Forward is an inclusive, independent, non-aligned corporate membership organisation which provides a platform through lobbying and events for its members to be clearly represented locally, regionally and nationally.

Following the success of Birmingham Forward, it was decided that a sister organisation was required to fulfil the unique needs of younger professionals, assisting them in their careers and developing talent to inspire and sustain business excellence. In 1993 Birmingham Future was established and since then has developed a membership base of over 500 individuals from across 21 sectors.

The award-winning Big Cat Group has been chosen to manage and implement a calendar of networking, lobbying and educational events for both Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future. These events will range from the prestigious Chairman’s Gala Dinner, the highly attended AGM, debates, meet and mixes, seminars and various speed networking events.  A strategic and integrated marketing campaign will support the extensive events calendar.

Anthony Tattum, Managing Director of Big Cat Group said: “We are extremely proud to have been chosen to work with such outstanding organisations as Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future.

“Big Cat Group has been a contributor to Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future for a number of years with our CEO, Nick Morgan winning the entrepreneurial category in the nationally renowned Birmingham Young Professional of the Year as well as a number of our team sitting on the Events and Marketing committees.

“By utilising our expertise in marketing and event management, Big Cat Group will be able to provide a first class service, building upon the knowledge and connections that we have developed through our continual involvement in Birmingham Forward and Birmingham Future over the years.”

Following a busy December in preparation for our CMS audit which we passed with flying colours, January saw Big Cat achieve another gold accolade, this time in the format of Investors in People.

Having held the standard for a number of years now, it was time for our renewal in January. As the company has expanded dramatically over the past few years, it’s imperative to ensure all staff are aware of the aims and goals of the company and the fundamentals of what makes Big Cat tick.

After a day of interviews with every member of staff, we were informed by the auditors that we had passed with flying colours. Well done Big Cats.

As the Christmas season has drawn to a close and the New Year has been well and truly welcomed in, there is definitely not a lack of activity in the events team a Big Cat. One aspect of Big Cat Events that is seeing a steady influx is that of ‘Birmingham Forward’.

Birmingham Forward is an independent, inclusive, not-for-profit, membership organisation that was established in 1990. With Members joining from 21 different sectors of business and professional services and representing a broad cross-section of the Birmingham business community, its role is to promote the strength, range and depth of services that our members offer to the widest possible audience. At the same time it wants to promote Birmingham, and the region, as an ideal place to do business. Forward members have access to a wide range of events that both educate and inform audiences whilst at the same time providing excellent networking opportunities. On behalf of its members, Forward lobbies on key issues that are important to its members and the city – often the two are closely linked, so what better company to use for fresh, unique and professional events than Big Cat Group!

Having kicked off the festive season in style, Big Cat organised the Birmingham Future (part of Forward) Christmas Party at All Bar One for over 100 guests. With complimentary drinks and canapés served, the night was a great successful for all involved, if not a little stressful!

The ‘future’ is definitely looking bright for Birmingham Future as we approach the Launch of the Birmingham Young Professional of the Year 2011 Awards at Malmaison on 20^th January, seeing a huge request for the launch resulting in tickets selling out within three weeks of being released. This proves to be a much-publicised and ‘hot-blooded’ event, as nominees are announced all vying for the coveted trophy in their category.

Following this, we see a sporting legend appear in the Birmingham Forward calendar. Denise Lewis OBE, shares her experiences and memories of her prestigious career and how this can be translated into the corporate world at the Birmingham Forward Chairman’s Gala Dinner. The venue for this special black-tie occasion is the impressive Warwickshire County Cricket Club that is in the spotlight at the moment as England’s triumphant Ashes win was aided by Warwickshire bowler Chris Woakes. With champagne on arrival and a three-course dinner to follow, this proves to be a celebratory night for all involved and a perfect chance to network with local-minded businesses.

The events above are definitely a couple of the larger-scale ones in the immediate future for Birmingham Forward, however there are numerous smaller (yet just as fun and diverse) events scattered throughout the year. This year proves to be anything but ‘slow’ in regards to events, with Big Cat working extra hard to create the uniquely creative and professional events with which we are eminently known for!

Sigh! It’s all over. What a fantastic December we have had at The Old Library; and although we welcome 2011 and it’s many exciting events with open arms, The Old Library is certainly going to miss the festive fun seen in 2010.

It all began with a thirteen foot real Christmas tree lovingly lugged into the venue by Emily and Emily (with help of surrounding gentlemen) and a quick trip to Ikea to get some brand new sparkly things to decorate the beast. Once finished, the festivities could begin!

This year’s Christmas packages included mulled wine on arrival, which as we have concluded has a marmite-like feeling with guests; you either love it or hate it. For only £35 per head, the guests also enjoyed a private cloakroom, DJ, beautiful table decorations, warm lighting, a three course Christmas dinner and impeccable service.

The Old Library certainly enjoyed housing its merry guests from various places of work such as the Radiography department of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Lombard Vehicle Management, but we were also fortunate enough to see some famous faces at Christmas time! Aggie MacKenzie (of How Clean is Your House fame) and Jon Bentley were testing out cleaning gadgets for an episode of The Gadget Show, scheduled to air early this year. Aggie certainly seemed impressed with the tidiness of The Old Library and perhaps even more impressed with our fabulous tree!

But the decoration and theming didn’t stop at Christmas. The tree came down at the end of December to make way for a fabulously decorated vintage themed wedding in which the couple, Abigail and Chris Carter, invited their guests to leave them a message using old fashioned type writers laid out on our oak table in the foyer.

So as we move into 2011, the vintage trend is still rife within the fashion world and is going to be seen quite a lot in events throughout this year. More vintage weddings are coming up, as well as film nights and private parties all feeling very nostalgic.

Winter 2010 saw a surge in new talent joining the ranks of Big Cat Group. Today we take a few minutes to speak to Emily Britton, Events Co-ordinator for The Old Library. With a background in theatre and event design it’s Emily’s job to ensure your event, no matter what the spec, is enjoyed by all.

What is your role at Big Cat Group?

Events Co-ordinator for The Old Library Venue

How did you get into events?

I studied Theatre, Performance and Event Design at University. After my first year I realised that Theatre wasn’t really my bag and found that designing events really interested me. My course was amazing and allowed me to work on a huge range of projects, designing and making for events such as The Flatpack Film Festival, Download 2009 and 2000 Trees Festival in Cheltenham. I revelled in the fast pace ethos of ‘get it done’. I feel like it benefitted me as a person and I went from being a lazy student to working 12 hour days (and strangely loving it!). Very soon after graduating I contacted Big Cat Events who offered me a three month internship. I was taken on as Events Co-ordinator in October.

What are you working on at the moment?

The best thing about this job is the variety of events we see. I have a few wedding clients that I am working closely with at the moment to ensure that their big day looks and feels just the way they want it too. I also have several conferences I am organising which are taking place over the next few months as well as working on quotes and hotel availability for a large event for LG Electronics.

What is your favourite external event?

Ahhh so hard to choose! To be honest, I love any event that involves fancy dress. I love dressing up and creating alter egos. I went to Latitude festival in July which was amazing. It’s SO beautiful and such a chilled out experience. It is quite small for what is now a big name festival, but there is so much to see and do such as cabaret, comedy, bands, workshops, arts and crafts, amazing food, awesome new music. On the last day of the 2010 festival, I dressed up as an old lady and sang karaoke with a live band! Doesn’t get better than that.

What is your favourite thing about Birmingham?

The multiculturalism. I come from somewhere that doesn’t have a great variety in culture or an amazing amount of acceptance for other cultures, so It’s great to live somewhere that has such diversity, not just in the people themselves but what’s actually in the city in terms of music, art, shopping, food and especially events. There is ALWAYS something going on in Birmingham and so many places where you can find out what and where.

As the party season begins and the mulled wine starts to flow, there’s no sign of slowing down for one of Birmingham’s top marketing experience consultancies as it sees a bout of unseasonable growth following three new account wins.

Big Cat Group, specialists in Marketing, PR, Events and Design have this month won the PR and event management contract for the launch of Bournville College’s new £66million campus, in addition to the marketing, event management and design for The Drum, a national centre for Black British arts and culture.

The new contracts were won following a number of competitive pitches which tested the agency’s creative skills in the development of new ideas and planned implementation of strategies.

Nick Morgan, CEO of Big Cat Group said: “2010 has proved to be an incredibly fruitful year for Big Cat across all departments. Our launch into Europe, 10^th Birthday and numerous client wins have all aided in the growth and development of the agency and its staff.

“We have even more big plans for 2011 and aim to continue to provide the ideas, knowledge and results which both we and our clients pride us on.”

Big Cat Group and AMP Entertainment recently joined forces to launch a new European live entertainment consultancy, Big Cat Europe. The new entity has operations in Barcelona, Birmingham, London and Paris and will be delivering projects across Europe.

Below MD of Big Cat Spain, Daniel Rena answers questions about Big Cat Spain.

• What is Big Cat Spain:

Big Cat Spain is the natural extension of the brainchild Nick Morgan and Mike Molloy had: creating a Pan European company that can cover different areas such as full service marketing and event production. Being based in Spain has given us the chance to also work the Latin America market as well.  From our experience and background in these markets, it was a chance we couldn’t miss. In addition, we have a fantasitic strategic partnership with Zoopa, one of the leading marketing and show producing agencies in Spain. Having proved we could work together both effectively and efficiently, our combined potential is spectacular.

• What are you working on at the moment

We are giving the final touches to Scooby Doo and The Pirate Ghost production, which will go on tour in Eastern Europe in 2 weeks.  We will tour Poland, Lithuania and Greece.

We have just finished the initial design and pre production of the Pirates Exhibition, which is a very exciting project we are building.

And as we also cover Latin America in our territories, we are going to expand our operations with our leading shows (Pirates, Scooby Doo, the Ashton Brothers, etc, etc..) Very exciting new business opportunities!

• What are the biggest shows in Barcelona / Spain right now?

We just finished the first residency of the Ashton Brothers at Theatre Victoria in Barcelona. A very exciting experience. In addition, at this very moment we have the Star Trek Exhibition at the amazing Museo de las Artes y Las Ciencias in Valencia, in its first European premiere.

• Tell us about the Big Cat Spain office

We have the pleasure to share offices with Zoopa, our partners for Spain. We worked on Ashton Brothers together and created content for the Pirates exhibition. We are developing our common marketing and branding experience, so you will hear great things from us soon.

Zoopa is a highly talented and young group of people, in a pleasant and creative environment.

• What does the future hold for BCS?

We have really ambitious plans. We want to do more Ashton Brothers shows in Spain and Latin America. Same thing with Scooby Doo and The Pirate Ghost Tour. More European countries can be added, and a Latin America tour is in sight. Pirates is a key project, as it involves all our teams, and it is 100% our own creation. Pirates is born with an International touring capacity. And I can say its concept will be groundbreaking for the entertainment industry. In addition, we expect to develop the BCG marketing philosophy with leading  Spanish brands, something we are developing with our Zoopa Partners. A hectic and exciting future to come!

Hello Business is a 2 day digital conference which aims to help businesses in all sectors to innovate and grow using the latest technology and techniques through an intensive and interactive programme of events. Covering topics from social media to change management, and digital IP to future trends, the conference featured a mix of panel discussions, seminars and workshops, enabling delegates to interact with industry leaders.

Big Cat was the major private sector partner in a public private partnership which included Digital Birmingham, Advantage West Midlands, Business Link, Screen West Midlands and Marketing Birmingham. The agency co-curated the programme, created the brand identity and marketing communications strategy and was then responsible for the implementation of the 3-month promotional campaign. Big Cat’s events team coordinated 25 interactive sessions across 2 venues, working closely with both the ICC and Custard Factory.

The commercial segment of the Hello Digital week, the 2-day conference attracted almost 50 speakers and over 400 delegates. Big Cat is currently working with the partnership board to plan next year’s conference and a programme of year long activity to support and promote the region’s digital sector.

As an event manager delivering events around the UK and Europe I spend so much time researching, planning and worrying about suppliers which in my experience will make your life just a little more complicated.

I think to myself is there anything we as event specialists can do to avoid late and sometimes complete ‘no show’ suppliers; is there no professional conduct left in quality customer satisfaction? It doesn’t even come down to budget as across the board you will have this difficulty. With all the planning experience in the world an event will always be measured on getting the correct product delivered at the correct time.

My advice would be simple use who you know!!

Big Cat Group are proud to be working alongside Semmel Concerts to bring the fantastic Tutankhamun – His Tomb And His Treasures exhibition to the UK.  We’ll be assisting with the installation and construction of the exhibit and operating the show throughout the period.

Tutankhamun – His Tomb And His Treasures has so far been visited by over 1.7m people across Europe and now for the first time it comes to the UK.  The exhibit will run from 22^nd October 2010 until 27^th Feb 2011 and will be located at the Museum of Museums at Manchester’s Trafford Centre.

The stunning exhibition features over 1000 beautifully created artefacts and is spread out over 4000sqm and allows visitors the chance to view three of the Pharaoh’s burial chambers.  The exhibit has received praise from industry insiders, press and Egyptologists alike.  Check out the link below for a great preview video…

http://www.tutankhamunmanchester.com

http://www.museumofmuseums.org.uk/

http://www.traffordcentre.co.uk/

Big Cat, formally AMP Entertainment were chosen to provide the entertainment for the 17^th Open GDF Suez. One of the 20 best tennis tournaments for female players in the world, the Open GDF Suez took place at the Stade de Coubertin in February 2009 where Big Cat introduced many new innovations for this year’s tournament.

Big Cat coordinated the theatricality of the player’s introductions and created a musical and visual identity through the use of an innovative light show.

Big Cat Events are now back from sunny Spain after having built and opened the fantastic Star Trek: The Exploration exhibit.  The exhibition is now running until Feb ‘11 in the science museuem in Valencia’s stunning Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias.

The build of the exhibition took 2 weeks during which Big Cat worked along side the venue’s in-house crew (muchas gracias) and Victory Hill Entertainment who designed the show.  Long hours and hard work paid off as the finished show looks amazing.

You can check out photos of the build and completed show as well as a daily video diary here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bigcatevents/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixyBIHHoc-s

http://www.cac.es/prensa/noticia/?contentId=115554

After recently completing a degree in Theatre, performance and Event Design at Birmingham City University, I began scouting around online for event companies that could offer me an internship. With my aspirations in mind, I contacted The Custard Factory Events team enquiring about possible work placement opportunities. I have always loved The Custard Factory and it has been an ambition of mine to work at events there. Within a week, I had an interview at Big Cat, quit my part time job, worked at my first event and began my 3 month internship as an Event Executive. Fortunately, my course prepared me for the fast pace of the events industry so this was all second nature to me. I have thoroughly enjoyed my first week in the company of all the lovely staff at Big Cat and am quickly learning the roles and responsibilities of a member of the events team. I look forward to my first wedding next week at The Old Library and to many more exciting events in the future.

The Old Library came alive with energy on the 6^th March when hundreds of fashionista’s flocked to get their hands on the most unique vintage items they could find. The vintage fair was founded by Louise Whitehead, who after running her own chic vintage store in Sheffield decided to open her horizons into the world of fairs.

Situated within Birmingham’s creative community The Custard Factory, The Old Library was the perfect venue for such an event. It’s souring vaulted ceilings and stunning stain glass windows streamed an almost holy glow of light onto busy shoppers, creating an electric energy which only facilitated in the ferocious exchange of money for goods.

Queues streamed down Digbeth High street with people of all ages, willing for the chance to enter The Old Library and be part of the whirlwind of sales within. Inside there was a fantastic old-school unity between stall holders creating an essence of community, which nowadays is a novelty when comparing it to the modern experience of shopping that most have to endure in more corporate large chain stores or shopping centres. This unique Buzz continued solidly from open to close, leaving stall holders exhausted and elated at their empty stalls, and shoppers with endless bags of quality exclusive bargains. To top it all off the organisers had hand-made 200 of the most imaginative cup-cakes in flavours that were truly delicious and so popular they could have sold out 3 times over.   

Not only was this a day of shopping, but a day of fun, excitement and mystery, allowing each to discover the most perfect one-off vintage item they could find. The old library has such a historic and magical essence to it, you couldn’t ask for a better venue. Is this not the sort of shopping we should get to experience all the time? The Vintage Fair returns on June 12^th for its next mini adventure.

Following the success of Bodies Revealed, Big Cat undertook a similar 360 degree agency project in the form of CSI: The Experience, an interactive entertainment experience. Big Cat events ensured that the shipping of the containers from Poland before loading the show into Birmingham’s Bullring shopping centre. Once unloaded, the show took seven days to build with a total of 10 crew.  Big Cat took charge of all the logistics, technical work and the aesthetics of the entrance. During the exhibition the General Manager looked after the day to day running, reporting to the Event Director before the show was broken down and loaded to its next destination.

Sunday 2^nd May saw the first big music festival of the summer in Birmingham and unsurprisingly it was bitterly cold as revellers enjoyed music from Fatboy Slim, Calvin Harris, Chase and Status and Annie Mac. Located slap bang in the middle of Digbeth in the heart of Birmingham’s Independent Quarter, the Electric Carnival entrance was on Heath Mill Lane off Digbeth High Street, Heath Mill Lane was shut off from the general public as well as the adjoining Lower Trinity St, Gibb St, Adderley Street and Bromley St to make way for an inner city myriad of music and hedonistic partying. The site infrastructure had a main stage in AIR car park, 4 marquee structures and 3 warehouses scattered over the site.

Big Cat managed the advancing of the show and all Health and Safety content which included security, police fire and first aid provision, road closures, TEN applications, SAG management, build and break safety advancing, site risk management and sign off with all elements culminating in the event manual document. Big Cat had overall site responsibility pre, during and post the event.

We are happy to report another successful safe event for Birmingham under the Big Cat team.

Heading up the event division of a leading communications agency I fully embrace and push for the integration of digital communication and live events to enhance the quality of content and delivery of a specific project, but during my daily commute I read an article entitled ‘Twitter dating for tech-savvy singles’ which I had to comment on.

The following article explained a new style of event in Canada where essentially hundreds of singles attend an event and ‘flitter’; a mix between Twitter and flirting.

Each singleton is given a number on a sticker (e.g. #129) and during a drink if you like the look of a potential ‘love of your life’ you twitter their number and start a flirtatious conversation on your phone whilst at a distance. One guest twitted “#129, you’re so fine, but #152 you’re hot too.”

Call me an old romantic but is this a little wrong, what’s happened to asking a women out on a date face to face? Aren’t the nerves, sweaty palms and crackling voice all part of the excitement of finding a potential soul mate?

I’m glad to be out of the dating game.

The Big Cat event team is becoming busier and busier with loads of exciting events coming up over the next few months. With a new exhibition launching  in the next few months the events team are in need of a new work experience person to help the team.

If you are looking to break into the event industry and are finding it a tricky task in such hard times this could be the opportunity you are looking for. The lucky person will gain tons of great experience working within a busy events team. This is an unpaid, full time placement that could lead to a paid position within the company, or at the very least some valuable experience and a great reference. Which is an absolute must when breaking into the events industry. The applicant needs to be driven, hard working and outgoing with a passion for events.

Please email L.campbell@bcguk.com if you think you could become a part of the Big Cat family!!

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Since joining the Big Cat events team this summer I have been a part of organising many wedding receptions. However, last week was the first ceremony that I have done at the Old Library, and what a lovely event it was. Though I was slightly gutted to be on guarding the door duty and didn’t actually witness the “I do” bit, that didn’t take away from the excitement of the day.

Seeing the bride arrive looking super cool in a 40s inspired dress and bright red lipstick, to the transformation of the space that had to occur from simple and elegant for the ceremony to a retro cool ambiance for the evening do, made the whole day a interesting challenge for me. The sun shined for the barbecue and drinks on the bandstand, everyone drank lots of wine and danced the night away. What I have noticed working on the various weddings this summer is how young the couples are.

Everyone talks about how society is waiting longer to settle down and is putting off marriage, but from the weddings I have witnessed that isn’t the case. Maybe it is due to the Custard’s factory’s arty, bohemian feel that the people attracted to the venue are younger. Whatever the case, I love the young Weddings that tend to be far more inventive with their themes, giving us organisers lots of fun ideas to work with.

Is Health and Safety in danger of suppressing all human inhibitions? I recently spent a weekend in Torquay (not the best destination, but still enjoyable) and on arriving went to enjoy the outdoor swimming facilities which overlooked Torquay Bay, however I found the view obscured by no less than eight warning signs. No diving, No running, No swimming (nearly).

I then took a walk along the cliffs and found that a section of the footpath had been closed due to insufficient railings being in situ. The footpath was over 3m wide and I found this level of precaution completely ridiculous. Surely everyone on this planet has to take a degree of responsibility over their own actions and constantly assess the risk of situations they face.

If I was with a young child I would then assess a situation on their behalf and them observing your actions is one of life’s learning experiences.

We all think that our director is pretty brilliant but now we see that the industry agrees. Event Magazine has published the Event 100 Club this month and after a crazy year in the events industry with the level of innovative event solutions being higher than ever before, the readers had plenty of choice for their top 100 most influential people. More than 2000 people voted nominating more than 300 key figures and Nick Morgan was voted number 71!

Now before I get down to business I would like to wish everyone a happy New Year from all the events team. This is an exciting New Year for events and some changes have been made within the company that needs to be celebrated. The main change for the events team is that former Senior Events Manager, Nick Ruffles has been appointed as Events Director.

Having studied Product Design and Marketing at Southampton Institute, Nick joined the Big Cat team in 2008 and made quite an impact. Within a year Nick has already worked on some of the regions most prestigious events including Hello Digital; Birmingham’s first digital media and film event and the Creative City Awards.

Nick said: “Big Cat has given me many unique and fantastic opportunities in such a small space of time. Events I’ve worked on range from the URA Star concert which was for 6,000 people at the NIA, to the more corporate Innovation Advisory Service workshops which are run in conjunction with Business Link.

“2010 is set to be another outstanding year for us with a number of high-profile events both in the private and public sector. The past year has been a struggle for the events industry across the country as many clients are severely cutting budgets and expecting a lot for nothing, however it’s our job to make the most of the resources we have and ensure our suppliers are competitive which will in turn ensure the events we put on are something to be proud of.”

Congratulations Nick you deserve it.

Well what an exciting week we have had at the Big Cat office. The whole office has been buzzing over the Old Library refurbishment which is starting next week. The £100,000 refurbishment will give our fabulous event space at the Custard Factory a much needed facelift. A new lighting system will be installed, as well as new flooring and an entire repaint, leaving the venue looking it’s best for the upcoming events. So expect lots of pictures next week of the entire process, including all of us in our overalls getting covered in paint. 

As the newest member to the Big Cat Group, I am reporting to you my experiences of various events from a new perspective. One of the recent events that has caught my eye is the T-Mobile’s new Life’s for Sharing campaign’s flash mob event, that made quite an impact throughout the world. The first event was the hugely popular impromptu dance off in the middle of Liverpool Street station that, considering 6 million of us watched on YouTube, I am sure you will have seen it?

So here’s my question of the week: What do you think of flash mobs? Do you know what they are? Love em? Over them already? Whatever you think, Birmingham needs one. Soon! Hmmm, this could be worthy challenge for Big Cat. Do you want to see 500 dancers – or jugglers? mime artists? opera singers even? – in Victoria Square? I know I do! Watch this space….. 

The new events girl, Leila.