Licensing Blog

Welcome to our Licensing Blog, which takes a light hearted look at our mysterious world.

Brits on tour in New York(Posted: 25-06-2008)

How we survived the heatwave at the New York Licensing Show

The eagerly awaited annual invasion of Manhattan by the great and the good of the licensing fraternity was this year greeted by a record-breaking and energy-sapping heatwave that even the New Yorkers struggled with at times. Although some nearly didn’t make it from the UK after experiencing a last minute dash for flights after the LIMA discounted fares finally brought Silverjet down.

A few welcome (free) drinks courtesy of Advanstar at the Brand Licensing Europe reception on the Sunday evening at the Chelsea Piers helped lower the average body temperature. Thanks to the ever-dapper Jon Gibson and the ever-sultry Shanti for this. It was just a pity that the venue staff weren’t aware of the drinking-up time laws, and closed all the external shutters bang on 8 o’clock in preparation for a quick exit. There followed the most bizarre visit to a curry house, where a constant flow of beer and starters made a main course completely unnecessary. The waiter’s question “you don’t even want any rice?” was met with a slightly embarrassed silent lowering of heads. I’m sure they stitched us up with the bill.

Licensing World, Total Licensing, Ray Parker Jnr and "guest" at the Sony party

Monday’s stand set-up and shopping over, the US launch of the Oxford University licensing programme provided early evening sustenance.  A chance encounter then enabled a quick move on the Sony party to celebrate the launch of the Ghostbusters video game. We could hardly contain ourselves upon finding out that Ray Parker Jnr and his band would be playing. After four 20 minute plus renditions of Ghostbusters some of us began to wish they weren’t! We were also in the presence of one of the original Ghostbusters – you know the one, the one you can never name in a pub quiz. After a few too many Long Island Iced Teas I joined the throng of ad hoc music makers with the help of a handily placed box (which I somehow fell into) of percussion instruments, and had pictures taken with the aforementioned “celebrities”.

Hangover notwithstanding, the Javits was an uncomfortable greenhouse on the first morning of the show as the aircon struggled to cope, although by the last afternoon the women were complaining of being cold as it finally kicked in.

Needless to say, we all did our business – sometimes amid lots of moaning about moving to Vegas next year. Hands up – I voted against. But let’s give them a chance to prove us wrong and deliver for us in 2009.

So we all made it back (most of us with our luggage) to the slightly cooler climes of good old blighty. All of a sudden the sweltering humidity of the Hong Kong Licensing Show is looking quite attractive. I can just tell you are already waiting with bated breath for the report.