Generation Next honoree Monty Jones Jr., general manager of the Augusta (Ga.) Entertainment Complex.
I’ve hosted and attended plenty of amazing events during my seven-year run at Venues Today, but if I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be our annual Generation Next Awards party during the Event & Arena Marketing Conference. Each year, we bring together our class of winners — nominated by you and voted on by our readers. This year, we added the Social Butterfly award, which went to Monty Jones Jr. with the Augusta (Ga.) Entertainment Complex after he received the most votes on our Facebook page. Please join us at our Generation Next party on June 13 from 6-8 p.m. at Maggie Mae’s — a lively rock and country venue located at 323 E. Sixth Street in Austin, Texas. Catch up with friends, enjoy a drink on us and watch a set by Possum Posse, creators of the viral sensation “Guy on a Buffalo” series. In the spirit of great times spent together, we’ve asked this year’s winners to share their own Best Day Ever stories. Enjoy, and we hope to see you in Austin.
— Dave Brooks, Managing Editor for Venues Today
Deidra Sibila’s BEST DAY EVER...
Senior National Director of Ticketing, Live Nation Touring
I had stepped outside of a Jonas Brothers concert at Mellon Arena in Pittsburgh and noticed a 10-year-old girl with her ear pressed up against the doorway. Her mom explained she was a huge fan and asked to just come and listen outside — they couldn’t afford a ticket. With a melted heart, I offered my extra ticket so the little girl could catch the last few songs. The little girl wept tears of joy and then made a shriek that I’m pretty sure only dolphins and dogs could hear. She grabbed my hand, smiled bright and walked inside with me for a concert she would never forget.
Monty Jones Jr.’s BEST DAY EVER...
General Manager of the Augusta (Ga.) Entertainment Complex
I was attending the IAVM conference and trade show in Phoenix 2011 when I got a call from my wife. I didn’t answer as I was in a session, but then I got another call right back from her. I walked out to answer the phone and she proceeded to tell me that her doctor was admitting her to the hospital because she had started to go into labor — three and a half weeks earlier than expected. I was scheduled to be in Phoenix two more days, so I had to cancel my hotel room and find a flight on very short notice. I got back to Augusta with just over an hour before he was delivered.
Brian Sipe’s BEST DAY EVER...
General Manager of the Big Sandy Superstore in Huntington, W. Va.
When I was a sophomore at Elizabethtown College, I won Mr. E-town — basically a male Miss America contest. The three judges were college staff members and included the lunch lady and chaplain. During the Personal Style segment of the competition, we had to dress up and lip sync, while walking across the stage with a date. Hershey Park let me borrow the Hershey Bar and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup costumes for my date and I to wear. We lip synced Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” while six of my female friends acted like backup singers.
Becca Watters’ BEST DAY EVER...
Marketing Manager at Spokane (Wash.) Arena
I have this fetish with good pint glasses and have quite the collection. They somehow end up in my purse when I leave bars. These glasses are from all over the world, from Canada to Germany. It’s come to the point that my friends and co-workers will steal them for me from conferences or bars in Spokane and Portland, Ore. At a conference in Canada last year, I actually took three glasses from a Scottish bar with help from my friends at the Tacoma (Wash.) Dome. I even declared them on the duty free form when I came back to the States.
Jason Blumenfeld’s BEST DAY EVER...
General Manager at the Abbotsford (B.C.) Entertainment and Sports Centre
I bought a motorcycle last summer, after a friend influenced me to buy one. I wanted to try something different, and this played into my fascination with super heroes in terms of traveling fast and being a daredevil. It’s amazing how many people out here ride motorcycles. Occasionally, I ride with the fire chief. Last fall, I rode in a charity event, the Music Therapy Ride, with Dean Clarke, general manager of Canada’s Penticton Memorial Arena. This included 200 bikers riding from Vancouver to Harrison Hot Springs. There also are a couple of agents in Vancouver and several arena general managers that ride motorcycles, so I’ve found it has been a good networking tool.