Branson, MO – (March 6, 2013) – Decision makers from Branson’s tourism industry will want to attend The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers’ (The Branson Show League) 7th Annual Business Trade Show on Tuesday, September 17, 2013, from 10:00am to 5:00pm at the Chateau on the Lake Resort and Conference Center in Branson, Missouri.  The annual “Spotlight On Vendors” Trade Show features services, products, and goods that are vital to the theater industry, as well as to the entire tourism focused community.  

This business trade show is a great opportunity to review a wide range of products.  Exhibitors, from small to large companies, are participating.  Branson.com and Branson Tourism Center are signature sponsors of The Branson Show League Vendor Fair.  Over 50 booths provide an eclectic mix of services and products. 

CLICK HERE TO RESERVE A BOOTH FOR 2013

Past participating vendors have included:

•Branson Travelhost Magazine           •FlyBransonTravel.com          •24:7 Media Group 

•Mountain Valley Water       •Branson/Lakes Area Chamber/CVB  

•CenturyLink Business    •DermaHealth Laser & Skin Care Clinic      

•Selby Publishing Company               •Sam's Club               •American Seating Company           

•Phil Erb Concessions Co, Inc.           •Kerusso                  •Creative Printing & Design

•Pippin Wholesale Company             •Associated Industries of Missouri (AIM and Financial Associates)

•The UPS Store - Branson                •A&J Printing               •Springfield Blueprint & Nimlok Exhibits               

•The Vacation Channel                     •417 Magazine/Branson Vacation Magazine    

•Springfield NewsLeader                   •PepsiAmericas           •D.L. Media

•National Ticket Company                •Aire-Master                •A & J Printing

•Digial LunchBox                             •Native Signs               •VIP Book/Graphix Café

•Branson Tri-Lakes News / Ozark Mountain Visitor                •Sunny Day Guide       

•DeLong Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning                     •Ben E. Keith Food Service Distributors          

•Hillyard-Branson                            •CBS Outdoor              •Akers & Arney

•Bott Radio Network                        •Blue Water Designs     •Best Buy

•ImageMakers / Ink Works             •Connell Insurance     •The Branson Show League

•Complete Ticketing System            •Cy Your Seating        •Corporate Business Systems

•BMR Pressure Wash, LLC                •Databytes                •Branson Video Billboard

•Goff Heating & Cooling                   •Lazer Perfect Striping & Sealing Inc.

•Service Master Restoration & Construction        •Liberty National Life Insurance Co.

 •North Pole Productions                   •Mer X Media             •Madden Media/Missouri Travel Guide 

•Mabe's Clean Team                        •Print Group, Inc        •The UPS Store-Branson

•MagJestic Card / Custom Color         •Windstream             •Missouri Life

•Ovation Marketing / Churchill Container Co / CTM Media     •Reserve Direct / ReserveBranson.com

•Signs Now                                       •PC Onsite, LLC        •National Audio Company

•Tracy Caruthers Professional Stylist                                  •Wrap-Aholic / Truck Sign Design, Inc.

The quality and variety of Branson’s live music shows and family entertainment productions bring tens of thousands of new and repeat visitors to Branson each year, pumping big money into the local economy.  Those businesses working with the show industry know first hand the partnerships necessary for the local economy to thrive and the buying power the show industry represents. 

Buyers from tourism related business are invited to attend this one day event.  Please pre-register by sending an e-mail with your name, company you represent, and your position to Director@ShowsInBranson.com.

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About The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers (The Branson Show League)

The Branson Show League works to increase the success and well-being of the theatrical industry in the “Live Music Show Capital of the World”, Branson, Missouri.  With over 100 live shows featuring music, comedy, magic, dancing, acrobats, theatrical plays, and more, the diversity and variety of choices of live shows make Branson a unique and fun-filled family vacation destination.  The Branson Show League strives to increase interest in Branson shows and show attendance, increase profitability for the Branson show community, and to promote communications between shows, as well as throughout the Branson community.

Celebrate Branson’s Centennial with music, dance, & song…plus plenty of food & fun!

Branson, MO – (Monday, April 15, 2013) – Saturday, October 5, 2013, will be the night to “Party with The Stars”. The party begins at 9:00pm at the Chateau on the Lake.  The League of Branson Theatre Owners & Show Producers (The Branson Show League) invite the public and everyone who lives and/or works in Taney or Stone County to join us as we celebrate the live music show capital of the world...and the people who made it all possible!  For complete details go to www.PartyWithTheStars.com. 

Jim Barber, Hamner Barber Theater & Variety Show and President of the Branson Show League said, “This is a party for all of us…from our on-stage stars who entertain millions of guests to the housekeeping staff that makes sure our visitors have a comfortable stay.  It's about celebrating the people who really make the Branson area what it is.”

Andy Holloway, Grand Country Music Hall marketing director and Branson Show League Marketing Team Co-Chair said, “We’re inviting everyone who has worked to keep the hospitality and rich traditions of Ozark Mountain Country thriving and who’ve made Branson the Live Music Show Capital of the World to join us. This is your night to shine.”

Party events include appearances from Branson favorites, live band, hors d’oeuvres, a red carpet event hosted by Branson’s own Joan Rivers (aka Terry Sanders), silent auction, special presentations, cash beverage bar, and games including Branson-style Karaoke, Dance Contest, Wii, party poker tables, and more.  “We’re planning on kicking back and kicking up our heels, just having a great community party and fun with each other.” says Cindy Merry, Marketing Consultant and Branson Show League board member & Marketing Team Co-Chair. 

“The Party with The Stars” is sponsored by Summer Winds Resorts – Branson.

Renee Johnson, White House Theatre assistant GM and Branson Show League Executive Director said, “We really want to say thank you to our community members for creating a fun and welcoming environment for our visitors; as well as celebrating live music shows in the Ozarks!” 

Dawn Easton, God and Country Theater, adds, “Everyone attending the party will get a chance to do the red carpet walk, so come prepare to have your picture taken, be on video, and hobnob with your fellow stars.”

In order to help defray the costs for the party there is a minimum donation requested.  For those living and/or working in Taney or Stone County the donation is $15 at the door, HOWEVER you may donate $9.95 per person right now on line at www.PartyWithTheStars.com or call 417-334-8287.  Join the Branson Show League for a great evening of Ozarks’ fun; go to www.PartyWithTheStars.com.

Help our Joplin neighbors was the message the Branson community wanted delivered during the live Branson Cares For Joplin Benefit Concert and Telethon, and clearly, generous viewers and concert attendees got the message. As of August 19, 2011, The League of Branson Theatre Owners & Show Producers (The Branson Show League) is pleased to announce that $202,732.29 of the pledged monies have been collected with an additional estimated $20,000 in pledges still outstanding. “To have over 90% of the money collected at this point is amazing,” says Cindy Merry, Branson Show League Marketing Chair, “and we expect to see most of the outstanding pledges collected over the next few weeks. Wouldn’t it be something to be able to say that of the estimated $221,000 pledged, on the night of the benefit, we collected a hundred percent? Help us reach that goal - if you’ve pledged a donation, please try and send it in by September 5th as there will be a formal check presentation to St John’s Mercy Hospital/Joplin during that week.”

Renee Johnson, Branson Show League Executive Director adds, “Of the monies already collected the Branson Show League has distributed $45,000 to the Joplin Band Booster account, $5,000 to the St Mary’s Catholic School Music program, and $1,000 dollars each to Palen Music and Hoover Music for instrument repairs. We’re also happy to report that over 300 instruments have been donated for the schools, with an estimated value of roughly $90,000 to $100,000. Funds donated to Joplin Band Booster account will be used for any instruments needing repair. In addition the Joplin High School was given two guitars (valued at approximately $4000) – a Taylor provided by Doyle Dykes and a Paul Reed Smith provided by Ricky Skaggs.”

“One hundred percent of all donated monies are going to the St John’s Mercy Hospital/Joplin and the Joplin Schools’ music programs,” says Jim Barber, from the Hamner Barber Variety Theatre and President of the Branson Show League. “We’d like to thank the volunteers who have spent an incredible amount of time collecting these donations. As performers, show producers, and those working in the entertainment industry, many of us thought that pulling off a benefit concert and telethon in less then 3 weeks was an amazing feat in and of itself. In reality, to complete the mission means getting the money collected and handed over to the folks in need. From databasing pledges for invoicing to returning hundreds of messages, the volunteers have probably spent more time on this than their full-time jobs. Our volunteers really have shown the Branson spirit of caring – both for their neighbors and to make sure the job is done right.”

Timothy Dutton, from the Dutton Family Theatre and Branson Show League Board Member, notes that some of the time intensive process involved deciphering hundreds of different handwriting on pledge forms. “We had somewhere close to 200 calls that we made to verify credit card information as there might be something about the information we couldn’t clearly understand – a transposed number or expiration date in most cases.” Timothy adds, “Actually the great thing about this was we talked to quite a lot of nice people who were so happy to be helping Joplin. They were sweet.”

The method of how folks communicated their donation was varied. From the traditional check mailed in to credit cards phoned in The Branson Show League tried to accommodate everyone. “Texting a pledge was an interesting new way to get donations,” says Susan Weimar, from the Acrobats of China featuring the New Shanghai Circus and a Branson Show League Board Member, “and we had approximately 100 of those, and of course, we had to call each of them to get their credit card information.”

Donations are still being collected. There are approximately 70 calls still to be made to donors to answer queries, clear up donation information, and arrange for collection of donations. Mike Hughes, of the Hughes Brothers Theatre and Branson Show League Business Chair says, “We want to make sure that every bit of money we can raise is going to help our friends in Joplin who were devastated by the EF5 tornado. This is an update of where we are right now with collections; however we plan to have a nice presentation event in Joplin the first week of September. So again, if please send in your pledge now…and even if you haven’t done a pledge, feel free to donate now.”

Hollye Gurley, from the Baldknobbers Theatre and Branson Show League Membership Chair, notes that “you can visit JoplinBenefit.com and still download the heart touching songs created for Joplin by our local stars. The songs are Just Hold On by Trey Wilson, Jason Robinson, and Michael W. Davis (a.k.a. Fall Creek Road) and the Joplin Song by Doug Gabriel. A hundred percent of those proceeds also go to help St. John’s Mercy Hospital.”

Ann Stafford, of the Jim Stafford Theatre and Branson Show League Vice-President, adds, “We are truly thankful for the blessing of all the folks who helped achieve this resoundingly successful benefit. There’s a vast list of people who deserve a pat on the back for this community effort to help Joplin. While this particular press release doesn’t name all of those who helped, we do want to continually acknowledge the support of so many. On behalf our Branson Cares For Joplin committee and the Branson Show League we’d like to say to our performers, production crews, writers, technical teams, those in the telephone room, the on-air talent, benefit organizers, promoters, broadcasters, donation collectors; to those who provided transportation, donations, meals, tickets, services, and silent auction items; and to those who donated time and money, job well done.”

Donations to the Joplin relief effort may be made to:

Branson Cares Joplin Benefit

c/o The League of Branson Theatre Owners and Show Producers

Post Office Box 5083

Branson, Missouri 65615

Or by visiting www.JoplinBenefit.com