>carniva
Bree (sp?) Martinez interview
Arizona State Fair aka
The Arizona Exposition and State Fair (official name)
Jen Yee
Marketing Partnerships
1826 W McDowell Rd | Phoenix, AZ 85007
Office: (602) 725-0730
Jen.Yee@azstatefair.com | azstatefair.com
Our fair lady enjoys ‘dream job’
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski, AFN Contributing Writer Oct 6, 2016
When 40-year Ahwatukee residentJen Yeewas a junior at Corona del Sol, she slept outside of Dillard’s at Fiesta Mall in the hopes of buying front-row tickets to a Rick Springfield concert.
She didn’t get them and, she admitted, she cried.
“I thought there has to be a better way to do this,” Yee said mischievously.
So Yee, 48, went into the radio and concert business and then landed her “dream job” assistant executive director of the Arizona State Fair, where she has been for 16 years.
One of her responsibilities is booking the musicians who play the State Fair. This year, that includes a variety of acts ranging from the metal act Slayer to the electronic dance music trio Cash Cash.
“The response on Slayer has been amazing,” she said. “I get a lot of, ‘I can’t believe the fair has Slayer.’ Yeah, but back in the day, the fair had Kiss, Jane’s Addiction. This fair, specifically, has been able to break through and get those artists that no other fair could get.”
Tickets for the concerts are free with fair tickets for general admission. Premium assigned seating costs an average of $20.
Yee said her goal in booking this year’s shows was to attract younger crowds.
“We are trying to target millennial moms and a little younger,” said Yee, who hasn’t missed an Arizona State Fair in 48 years.
“We’re trying to build that younger traditional—the high schoolers or the tweeners. For the tweeners, we have Jack and Jack. Jack and Jack played before and it literally reminded me of Rick Springfield. This girl was five feet away from them at a meet and greet and she passed out. We had to call the paramedics and everything.”
It is those memories—or lack thereof—that Yee is trying to instill in fairgoers.
“We want them a little bit younger to build memories and traditions so, when they get older, they’ll bring their kids back and create the memories,” she said, adding:
“After all, I had so much fun here in high school. We were riding the rides that made us sick with our friends and the date nights. ‘Oh, win a stuffed animal for me.’ I just can’t go on things that go in the circle. I’m absolutely done with rides.”
The price points for concert tickets are low because she wants to get people into the fair to enjoy the shows, and then have them wander around the fairgrounds to try corndogs or rides.
The fun goes beyond the concerts. Rock U: The Institute of Rock ‘n’ Roll” is a hands-on exhibit that focuses on five areas—founders, concert experience, listening to music; the playing experience; rock college and one-hit wonders. Admission is $5 and children younger than 5 are admitted free with a paid adult.
“It’s not like the MIM,” Yee said, referring to the Musical Instrument Museum in north Phoenix. “It’s not that in-depth. It’s targeted for elementary or primary school kids.
“There are electronic drum kits, acoustic guitars, electric guitars. It has a tribute to the British Invasion. There’s a pop op of Abbey Road and a surfboard with a wave made out of vinyl.”
Yee explained she saw the exhibit in North Carolina, where the admission was $18. “We try to bring these educational components in for a lesser price,” she said.
The fair also features a preview of Lights of the World Lantern Festival, which comes to Rawhide Nov. 18-Jan. 29.
“It’s so pretty,” Yee said. “It’s magnificent and, on the back of the concert ticket, there’s a $5-off coupon for the Rawhide event.
Food is another priority at the Arizona State Fair. There are the run-the-mill foods like corndogs, funnel cake with powdered sugar and turkey legs. Vendors will also sell deep fried banana splits and Butterfingers, along with cherry and peach supreme funnel cakes, bacon Nutella pickles and Oreo churros.
“Anything deep fried you can think of, of course we have that,” she said enthusiastically.
But, for Yee, it all comes down to rock ‘n’ roll.
“Now, I’ve met Rick Springfield many times—just because I can.”
sponsors
Karen Searle, the director of competitive entries
One of the cool things about competitive entries is that it is new every year in respect to new things on display,” says Karen Searle, the director of competitive entries. “It’s never the same twice.”
While the traditional pie-eating and livestock contests will continue to be crowd favorites, others will premiere like a fruit-carving competition and a recycled material competition that challenges contestants create artwork in the style of the TV show Chopped.
Evelyn Bader
On Thursday, 75 aspiring event management professionals turned the fairground into their classroom and learned about box office operations, concessions, exhibitors, sponsorship, entertainment, marketing, media, safety and security — all elements that they discuss throughout the semester and have the opportunity to witness firsthand during this site visit.
The tour was led by Evelyn Bader, a recent alum who now serves as an event specialist for the Arizona Exposition and State Fair.
Haven't found Bree Martinez yet
Looks like the state fair people run the stadium?
Here's Yee commenting on Potus rally
>https://www.azfamily.com/news/president-donald-trump-speaks-to-thousands-at-his-phoenix-rally/article_b7ab8f5e-536f-11ea-ae83-9f0ec39daf62.html
PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) – Thousands of people packed Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix Wednesday evening to attend President Donald Trump's re-election rally.
[WATCH: Top GOP political leaders in Arizona embrace Trump at rally in Phoenix]
The Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds was filled to capacity as crowds gathered to support the president during his campaign swing through the West.Jen Yee with the Arizona State Fair said Thursday that 14,400 people were inside the building.
[PHOTOS: President Trump visits Phoenix for rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum]
People had been camped out outside the venue more than 24 hours before the rally, hoping to secure seats inside. And on Wednesday afternoon, thousands braved the warmer-than-usual temperatures to stand in long lines outside the building. The parking lot was already full by 3:30 p.m.
Additional Contacts
Wanell Costello
(602) 252-6771 Executive Director
Jen Yee
(602) 257-7114 Assistant Executive Director
Michael Searle
(602) 252-6771 Deputy Director
>carniva
This Crazy Carnival popping up along with the
Craigs List Gig listing yesterday by Nancy Pelosi's Neighbor and Muslim Brotherhood Offspringrequires eyez