In the last 5 months we have seen a new phrase coined, and that is “Entertainment Shopping.” So what does this new phrase mean, and why it is getting criticized left and right from people who claim it is immoral? Is it immoral, and if so why?

Entertainment Shopping is a new type of online auction which operates differently then most auctions do. Unlike auctions like eBay, these new auction sites charge people for each and every bid they place. Depending on the auction site itself, these charges usually range from 20 cents to $1 per bid. Because of this, the items tend to sell for fractions of their retail values. In fact, just a few days ago I saw a $3000 65 inch flat panel LCD TV end with a final price of just $130. The crazy thing is though that the auction site walked away with over $13,000 from this item. A $10,000 profit. Why? Because the bid increment was at 1 cent. This means that 13,000 bids were placed, costing bidders (both the winner, and the loser) $1 a piece per bid placed. To the person who walked away with the $3000 TV, this was likely the deal of their life, but to the other bidders who may have spent hundreds of dollars trying to win the auction before they had to quit bidding ended up with nothing.

Although this is a risky way to bid on products I personally don’t see a moral, or legal issue here. If the bidders are aware how the auction works, and willingly purchase their bids, than what’s the big deal? More and more sites like this are popping up, and why not, with profit margins like they have? It should be very interesting to see just how the competition between all these Entertainment shopping sites pay off for the bidders.

Along with these sites popping up, so too are strategy guides giving away tips and tricks on how to win these auctions at minimal costs. Things like Price, number of bidders involved, and past auction closing prices all factor into these strategic formulas people are trying to sell. In my opinion these strategy guides are largely a bunch of junk, however some may have valuable information. Most bidders with a good command of math can probably figure out the odds of winning, and when to quit bidding on a given auction. I recommend taking advantage of the free bids most of these Entertainment shopping sites give new members for signing up.

In the world of healthcare entertainment marketing, there has been a growing need among pharmaceutical marketers to identify and secure a celebrity spokesperson to be the face of their brand. It is an understatement to say that the pharmaceutical and entertainment industries operate vastly different, which can make collaborating on a project quite challenging. Therefore, It is in the best interest of these pharmaceutical brand and marketing managers to seek out those entertainment marketing agencies that have the skill, experience and knowledge to navigate the unique rules and regulations that govern the healthcare industry. The result – a celebrity spokespersonwho can effectively communicate a brand’s key messages, and does so in compliance with regulatory guidelines.

Healthcare marketing experts should have specialized experience in the fields of medical PR, personal management, entertainment publicity, and/or talent agency representation. They should be able to tell their clients, “We know your business because we are in your business”. These experts work diligently to pair the most appropriate celebrity, sports icon or medical expert with a wide range of prescription, over-the-counter, nutritional and personal care brands. A healthcare marketing expert also works with numerous non-profit organizations to support leading disease awareness initiatives.

A Celebrity Speakers Bureau can provide motivational and inspirational speakers for non-profit and corporate events, industry conferences, team building sessions and sales meetings. A celebrity speakers bureau has access to speakers from a cross-section of industries such as entertainers, musicians, media personalities, leading scientists and business experts. Every program is customized to meet a client’s needs regarding audience interaction and delivery of key messages. A pharmaceutical brand or marketing manager should contact a celebrity speakers bureau which focuses specifically on providing experts for topics such as health, wellness, medical and nutrition.

Product placement advertising is a proven method of developing brand recognition by linking a brand’s logo, verbal mention of and/or appearance of a product with an entertainment property. Venues for strategy include noticeable placement in feature films, television, music videos, video games, theater productions, websites, broadband content, mobile phones, and publications. With more and more branded consumer products finding their way directly into these popular entertainment venues, are prescription drugs are now joining the trend. In 2006, Nielsen Product Placement counted 462 mentions of prescription medicines on TV shows. This, according to Nielsen Product Placement, is double the figure from the year before. Since then, the number has nearly tripled.

Children at weddings are not unusual. Traditionally, there is at least the flower girl and the ring bearer who are in the wedding party. But often couples choose to include or invite other children to the wedding. If you are having children attend your wedding there are a number of ideas which you can incorporate into your wedding to keep them entertained.

If your budget allows, you can ask the reception venue if they have a separate smaller area that you could rent to use as a children’s entertainment room. You can hire a child care provider (or two, if you are having many children) to monitor the room. You can also set up the room with toys, a TV, rent videos, or even include a video game box with games. You may also want to consider hiring a children’s entertainer – maybe a clown, a magician or a favorite character. Face painters and balloon makers are also popular choices. The point is to have a separate “party” just for the kids so the adults in the next room can enjoy adult time without worrying about kids spoiling the wedding.

With any kid’s party, children love to receive “goodie bags”. Just as you would hand out wedding favors to your guests; you can also hand out wedding appropriate favors to the children attending. The new wedding favors for 2008 bring a bunch of kid friendly gifts that most children would enjoy receiving. Our favorite though, and a bestseller, is Mini Classic Gumball Dispensers. These retro inspired blue gumball machines stand 5 inches tall and dispense a real Double Bubble gum ball with every crank of the wheel. Another great children’s wedding favor is Mini Gumball Slot Machines, and just like the dispensers, with a pull on the handle and a spin of the wheel, you are rewarded with a gumball. Of course there are traditional children’s wedding favors such as wedding inspired coloring and activity books, Bride and Groom teddy bears, piggy banks or rubber ducks.

With a bit of imagination you can create a fun atmosphere for the children in your wedding and give them something special and memorable to take home with them.

The history of the theater is a long and illustrious one. We’re not going to bore you with the historical time line of what show came out when and who stared in it. You can get that info just about anywhere. What we’d like to do in this review of one of the most wonderful forms of entertainment is touch on some of the greatest moments and how they have forever changed how we look at the world of entertainment itself. The theater has had a great impact on our lives and the many things we do in our lives. Let’s face it, there is just nothing like seeing performers right up there on stage, live, right before your eyes. If you think that’s an overstatement then you’ve obviously never been to the theater.

You can go all the way back to the mid 1950s when a young girl by the name of Julie Andrews made her debut in the London production of “My Fair Lady”, a play based on George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion. Her electrifying performance as Eliza Doolittle, the poor Cockney gal who couldn’t speak proper English if her life depended on it, made her a household name overnight and began a career that would span over 40 years until she sadly lost her voice due to serious throat problems.

Looking for something a little more recent? How about the very first legitimate musical of the 1960s to feature nudity? We are of course talking about the 1969 production of “Hair”. This was a play that literally changed pop music altogether. Never in the history of Broadway has one play had as many hit pop records as “Hair”. This play featured such great hits as “Hair”, “Easy To Be Hard”, “Good Morning Starshine” and the number 1 song of 1969, “Aquarius”. Because of the great music in this play, careers for “Three Dog Night”, “The 5th Dimension”, “The Cowsills” and “Oliver” were launched into orbit. Talk about an impact on the music world.

Then of course there was the amazing rock opera of the Who, “Tommy”. This play was an epic of a musical masterpiece itself and not only put the Who firmly on the map as future rock and roll hall of famers, but also set the stage for a number of recording stars to capitalize on the success of “Tommy” itself. As great as the Who’s version of “Pinball Wizard” was, who could ever forget the late 70s remake by Elton John? Tommy will always be one of the greatest moments in theater history ever.

But if you want a single defining moment in theater history that chilled an entire world and put a single man on the map as a living legend, one need go no farther than Michael Crawford’s haunting rendition of “Music Of The Night” from “Phantom Of The Opera”. This is said to be one of the greatest musical performances of all time. And rightly so. To this day it has been said that nobody played this part like Crawford.

These few examples only scratch the surface of a form of entertainment that has captivated and mesmerized us for many years and will no doubt continue to do so for many more years to come.

Probably the most common business deductions are meals and entertainment. However, people are often confused about whether the expenses are fully deductible, partially deductible or not deductible at all.

50% Deductible

The general rule for deducting meals and entertainment expense is that 50% of the cost is deductible provided the following requirements are met.

Requirement #1

The expense has to be ordinary and necessary in the trade, business, or profession. In other words, it must be commonly accepted to have this expense and it must be appropriate in the trade or business. For example, business owners routinely have lunch with prospective clients to discuss business with the goal of attracting additional business. This is a common and necessary business expense.

Requirement #2

The expense must be directly related or associated to the active conduct of your business. To meet this requirement, you must engage in a business conversation during, before, or after the entertainment. If the business discussion is only incidental to the entertainment, the entertainment expenses do not qualify.

The 50% limit applies to business meals or entertainment expenses you have while traveling away from home on business, entertaining customers at your place of business, a restaurant, or other location, or attending a business convention or reception, business meeting, or business luncheon at a club.

100% Deductible

As with every general rule, there are exceptions. The following exceptions result in the meal or entertainment expense being fully deductible.

Exception #1

The expense is fully deductible when providing meals, entertainment, or recreational facilities to the general public as a means of advertising or promoting goodwill in the community.

Exception #2

If the meal is provided to employees as a convenience to the employer on the business premises and is furnished to more than half of the employees, then the expense is fully deductible.

Exception #3

A company holiday party expense is an exception to the general rule and is fully deductible.

Non-Deductible Expenses

Items that are not deductible include membership in any club organized for business, pleasure, recreation, or other social purposes. The purposes and activities of a club, not its name, will determine whether or not you can deduct the dues. You cannot deduct dues paid to country clubs, golf clubs, airline clubs, hotel clubs, or clubs operated to provide meals under circumstances that might otherwise be considered to be conducive to business discussions.

To ensure that your qualified meal and entertainment expenses are deductible, you will need to have excellent documentation. Please contact your Tax Coach for more specifics about which documentation is required for meals and entertainment.

Interested in upgrading your car or truck with mobile electronics but aren’t sure where to start? From car GPS to car alarms, there are lots of great options out there, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed when you’re considering the full array of aftermarket electronics for your vehicle. Should you get the remote starter first or opt for the car audio system? Would it be better to install a car alarm before or after the car DVD player? Here are some of the most popular aftermarket car audio and electronics selections broken down to help make your tough choice a bit easier.

Convenience

Installing mobile electronics on your car or truck can help make your life a little simpler. Two favorite options for adding a bit more convenience to your daily routine are:

GPS navigation systems. Providing directional guidance and point-of-interest mapping, car GPS systems help keep you from getting lost no matter where you’re headed. GPS navigation systems are a great investment if you frequently drive in unfamiliar areas, have a knack for making wrong turns, or even if you just need to minimize travel times between errands or appointments.

Remote starters. Enabling you to turn on your vehicle from a distance, remote car starters allow you to preheat the engine and warm or cool the passenger compartment (depending on the season) for optimal comfort from the moment you get in the driver’s seat. You may want to consider installing an automatic car starter if you hate the extreme temperatures of chilly January mornings or steamy July afternoons or if you’re concerned about the wear and tear of driving without preheating your engine.

Safety

Every little bit counts when it comes to safety and your vehicle. Among the more popular options for increasing the safety of your car or truck are:

Car alarms. Car alarm installation is a practical choice for any driver who wants to safeguard their car or truck by preventing theft. And remember, if you’re planning on installing other mobile electronics, you may want to put in the car alarm first so that your vehicle security system will be in place to protect your other components once they are installed.

Bluetooth integration. Helping you keep both hands on the wheel by making calling hands-free, installing a Bluetooth system in your vehicle adds both convenience and improved safety. Bluetooth installation is practical whether you make business or personal calls, and with this hands-free technology, you can also get additional features like voice texting and on-screen caller ID that make driving and chatting a breeze.

Entertainment

Of course, when people think about mobile electronics, what comes to mind most often is entertainment. Leading choices for improving your entertainment experience when you’re behind the wheel include:

Car audio. From speakers and amps to new head units, you have virtually limitless options when it comes to upgrading your vehicle’s car audio system. If your current car stereo is seriously lacking or you spend a lot of time on the road, installing a new car audio setup can help you make your driving experience a whole lot more enjoyable.

Car DVD players. Bringing the enjoyment of movies to your car or truck, in-car video is a favorite way to provide optimal entertainment for children and adults alike. Ideal for everything from long road trips to errands, choosing to install a car DVD player makes sense if you’re looking to diversify your mobile entertainment options beyond car audio.

No matter which car electronics choices you select, you’re certain to love the convenience, safety, or entertainment they provide. So happy driving! Contact your area car audio video shop to learn more or to get started on your installation.

Has your dream always been to have a career in the entertainment industry? Whether you want to model, act, or sing, you need that one big break to get you started. You may be able to find it on the popular classified website Craigslist.org. Unfortunately, you will also find modeling scams, acting scams, and singing scams. How can you avoid them?

Unless you live in a large city, don’t expect to find any big name auditions posted on Craigslist. These are usually a sign of a scam, unless for reality style television shows. Big and well-known movie and television production companies have connections with casting agencies and more. They rarely need to advertise on Craigslist, unless for extras.

Don’t go to an audition alone and always let someone know where you are going, what for, when you will be back, and who you are meeting. Many criminals have used casting calls and modeling jobs to find victims for their crimes. This not only happens on Craigslist, but other places online and locally too. As much you want to make it big in the entertainment industry, always keep your safety in mind.

If you live in or around a college town, you are likely to find Craigslist.org postings for short films or music videos. College students always do neat projects like these. The downside? They may have a low budget or no budget at all. It is your decision as to whether you want to act for free. If so, try getting a few extras. Request a copy of your part in the local short film or music video, so you can use it as a work sample.

If you don’t live near a college or a well populated area, you are likely to find limited work for short videos, films, and music videos. What you want to do is search multiple cities on Craigslist, mainly the larger ones. The website currently does not allow this.