Best Places to Eat & Meet:
The New Moon (Chinese) – Famous for their chicken salad
Sugarfish (Japanese)
Bäco Mercat (Spanish, Sandwiches)
Mo-Chica (Peruvian)
Drago Centro (Italian)
Spice the Table (Singaporean, Vietnamese)
Lemonade (American) – Great for a healthy & quick lunch
Spring St. Coffee – Great coffee, though not necessarily a good meeting place
Bottega Louie (Italian, Bakeries) – Lively lunch / dinner spot, but loud atmosphere
Bar AMA (Tex Mex)
Wooden Spoon (Brazilian) – Casual lunch
Spring St. Bar – Drinks
Church & State (French) – Amazing food for dinner
Mignon (Tapas, Drinks)
Haru Ulala (Japanese) – Good for dinner
Wurstkuche – Casual sausage place; good for quick informal lunch
Plan Ahead…Which Sessions Are Worth Attending?
PromaxBDA is not to be missed. But deciding which panel, talk or discussion to attend requires tactical thinking, not to mention logistics and planning. Most of us don’t have the luxury of attending every panel (we certainly wish we could!) because there are meetings to take, lunches to host, and dinners and parties. Here is our strategy for squeezing it all into your busy schedule:
- Have the right perspective. Think of the many PromaxBDA panels in terms of your process every day. It comes down to numbers, process, people and you.
- The “State of the Industry” talk is never to be missed. Look for clues about industry changes and anticipate your place in the big picture.
- Panels about statistics or demographics are more than big data or numbers, they provide insight about audiences; what they like and care about.
- “How-To” talks focused on the process of generating creative content or design are usually useful for refining your personal creation techniques or learning from others.
- Talks about entrepreneurship or professional growth are motivating and valuable investments of your time. Take time to consciously pay attention to your passions and career path, are they aligned?
Conference Standards & “Should Sees”:
- Keynote: A Conversation with Larry Flynt (need we say more?)
- Headliners
- State of Design
- New Best Practices 2013, an annual favorite presented by Lee Hunt
- Measuring the Binge Viewer: Fad or Future?
- The Real Mad Men: Renegades of the Golden Age of Advertising
- Shaken, Not Stirred: 50 Years of Bond
- Beauty Is Embarrassing: Screening & Discussion
- Inventing Your Own Next Chapter: Lessons in Entrepreneurship, Risk-Taking & Going Out On Your Own
- Horror Stories: Nightmare Campaigns & How They Were Turned Around
- Whichever sessions your boss decides to attend
- Topics that are farthest removed from what you do
How To Crash A Party
- Act like you’re supposed to be there
- Sneak in with a crowd
- Borrow someone’s wristband
- Trade a kiss for a wristband
- Call “their” assistant
- Say you’re the owner of a high-profile European network
- Be friendly (or flirt) with the bouncer or whoever is managing the guest list
- Go in through the fire escape
- Use “Creative” in your title
- Say that you’re invited by Robert Gottlieb from FOX
Escape from PromaxBDA: What To See While In Town
- The Stanley Kubrick Exhibit @ LACMA
- California Science Center: Here’s your chance to see the new Space Shuttle Endeavor pavilion
- LA Live, Nokia Theater and Staples Center host many musical acts. Check their websites for a list of featured artists and schedules.
Getting Around
The Conference is located at LA Live, which is the entertainment center of Downtown LA. There are plenty of places to see and eat around here. Just keep in mind that Downtown is not particularly walking-friendly and the blocks are quite long, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
LA Live is also a touristy area, so there will be plenty of taxicabs available or you can catch the Metro Rail or public transportation: http://www.lalive.com/visitor-center/public-transportation
Better yet, keep your eyes peeled for the Oishii-branded van.
