The Recording Academy honored achievements in the music industry as the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards were held once again at Staples Center in Los Angeles. There were a few surprises, although it was a good night for the Ladies. Lady Antebellum and Lady Gaga. Creative artists or a case of 'borrowing' others' creativity? You judge. But the bigger controversy? Justin Bieber was shut out. What can be better than that? :) Some even think "he is just as fake and manufactured as anyone else out there."

For a full list of nominees and winners, including past years, you may visit GRAMMY.com.

The 'official' after party was held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, right next door to Staples, who kicked out the Lakers and the Clippers for the week so that they can play host to the music industry's who's who. The pre-telecast awards (the awards that didn't make it to air on CBS) were also held at the Convention Center between 1 and 4:30PM.

At 5PM, everyone had to be seated at Staples Center for the live recording of the GRAMMYs on CBS, and at 8PM as the show ended, the invited guests, and talent made their way into the Convention Center for the GRAMMY Celebration, an Along Came Mary Productions inspired after-party with a Studio 54 theme featuring performances by The Roots (who just picked up 3 GRAMMY Awards earlier). Over at the MasterCard Jazz Lounge, members of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra delighted attendees to a night of beautiful music and partying. And Wolfgang Puck crafted the custom menu for the 5,000 or so guests.

Overall, it was a fun night of celebration and partying. And in the end, guests were even treated to a gift set by Moroccanoil on their way out.

That's all for now. Looking forward to the next one. Be sure to check out the iSponsor Facebook Page for some behind the scenes pictures.

Welcome to Super Sunday. This year's Super Bowl promises to be the most interactive and engaging ever, as social media plays a critical role in the way masses will participate. According to Lightspeed Research, nearly two-thirds of 18-34 year olds will make extensive use of their smartphones during the game. Foursquare has even created a first ever global venue for the Super Bowl where you can check-in without physically being at the game. Black Eyed Peas will perform at halftime. And Will.i.am will add an interactive spin to the performance. Follow @iamwill for details.

Then there are the commercials. Click here for the $3 million for 30 seconds Super Bowl XLV ads, and here for the ads of the past 10 Super Bowls. Audi will make Super Bowl social media history as it incorporates #ProgressIs hashtag and twitter and its 60-second ad.

Oh by the way, there will be a game going on too. In the most high-tech ever stadium. Packers vs Steelers. Whose fans have more sex?

Enjoy the game!

Inc. Magazine, Fast Company, and Harvard Business Review are among the publications I follow religiously when it comes to the three B’s, Business, Branding, and Bragging. You should too; of course obviously in addition to following me on @iSponsor. Always jumping at the chance for self promotion is not necessarily a sign of failure at humility. :)

According to this Inc. article entitled The New Rules of Branding Your Business Online, "mastering branding online takes a lot more than a cool logo and catchy slogan." So true! Just like when I tell clients, having a Twitter account does not mean you’re involved in social media. "It's no longer enough to have a sleek website, social-media presence, and consistent brand aesthetic online. The new rules of branding your business ... have a lot less to do with presentation, and a lot more to do with interaction."

The first of nine tips for new rules of branding online is 'Don’t just start the conversation.' Engage! Engage! Engage! This article by B2C Marketer further states, If You're 'Joining' the Conversation, You’re Already Lost. Be sure you’re in control of the conversation as well. For the rest of the nine tips, please refer back to the Inc. article.

Social media is intended to enhance your branding efforts. It is in addition to your website, not at the expense of it. As for whether Twitter or Facebook, do both; they are complementary, not either or. One is ranting and raving about your brand for those who care to listen and 'like' you, the other is snack sized tidbits customized not only for those who are fortunate enough to 'follow' you, but those others who you follow and want them to follow you back. Remember though when it comes to Facebook (or Twitter for that matter) do not rely solely on traditional marketing means. For more on that, please read Why Only Idiots Promote Their Brand's Facebook Page via Traditional Media. Happy Branding!

I went to see a party, and an award show broke out... After being inundated by all the Golden Globes news, are you experiencing a post-traumatic syndrome caused by Golden Globe withdrawal for the past few hours? Probably not! But in any case, here's my recap of the annual self-serving gala of film and television all in one place at The Beverly Hilton. Presented by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), produced by Dick Clark Productions, and televised by NBC.

Here are some of the pictures I took (all rights reserved) of the preparations, behind the scenes, red carpet arrivals, a few of the dresses, and yes, celebrities, as well as the ever important after-parties that you won't find anywhere else, if you're into that kind of thing.

Check out this story of Paul Giamatti charging $5 for each picture taken with him. I got one of him taking a picture of me. Guess what Paul.. I charge $10. So you owe me $5. :)

Read more …

BizBash has a great article on ProMotion's 'Experiential Marketing Gone Mobile' that I encourage all of you to read. The 'smart' brands obviously are the ones looking for new ways to engage with their followers, and in doing so have to be cognizant of the latest and the greatest in digital and interactive offerings that have to encompass not only an online but an onsite presence. The Gatorade Mobile Locker Room is one such example of Experiential Marketing done right. And that is only the beginning.

Experiential Marketing is all about relationship dynamics between the brand and its audience. Interactivity leads to integration, and coupled with the mobile aspect, both in terms of mobility of a well-designed campaign ever evolving from one event to the next, as well as the mobile elements incorporating the handheld computers that we call smart phones.

Twitter, QR Codes, and Foursquare are a few of the offerings that a 'mobile' setup can utilize to enhance the brand, product, and sponsor experience at a venue and an event. Sure to leave a lasting 'impression' all around.

At Interactive Sponsor we thrive on the creativity and development of activation strategy designed to be a win-win for not only the sponsors but those looking for sponsorship dollars, as well as the audience in mind.

The venue hosting the event also benefits from a collateral standpoint, while elevating its appeal factor by aligning itself with these winning propositions.

As such, we are in the midst of formulating the final ingredients of a mobile experiential experience of our very own, with a fleet of RVs ready to hit the streets. Currently we're starting out in the Los Angeles market; coming soon to a high-profile venue within the Sports and Entertainment industry near you. Watch for us and be sure to stop by and 'check-in.' We are also interested in strategic partnerships and would welcome any input or assistance. Thank you for reading.