Blau is also vice president of business development at Adirondack Studios
In November, Adirondack Studios principal Michael Blau was officially installed as the new International Board President of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
Part of the organisation for a number of years, Blau was first elected to the TEA Eastern North America Division, where he served for three years as VP of the Eastern Division Board followed by three years on the TEA International Board. Most recently as vice president.
According to Blau – who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre and Technical Design from Syracuse University and has a theatre background – his approach to themed entertainment comes “through the lens of theatre”.
“Theatre requires knowledge of many crafts and trades,” he explains. “From scenic arts to sound design, stage management to performing, all working toward creating an art piece that is financially sound but most importantly engages an audience toward an experience they have never had before.”
Adirondack Studios focuses on design in story and guest experience. Joining in 2003 and taking up his current position in November 2017, Blau leads the business side of the company, helping to produce immersive and one-of-a-kind experiences through existing client relationships, growth in targeted markets and new business ventures.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate in the experiences and especially the mentors that have helped guide my education and career,” he says. “Lessons in business success came from working with my father who started a successful business that was brilliant at serving clients, and from the founding owners and my current partners at Adirondack Studios who taught me to always deliver what you say you will, then exceed those expectations.”
Expanding horizons Blau takes up his presidency with the TEA already performing strongly.
“Two areas in which TEA particularly excels: educating our members and providing unique opportunities for members to network,” he says. “Many great project teams – and great projects – have emerged from these opportunities. These activities also have a positive influence on the industry at large by improving dialogue, celebrating excellence and facilitating the exchange of information, wisdom and best practices. We do this with a wide range of events from regional mixers to global conferences, participation in trade forums and with various resources such as the annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index and through our video archive.”
While things are running smoothly at TEA headquarters, Blau would like to see it expand its reach even further: “Our board members and staff continually look for innovative ways to better serve our community, and as such, the TEA will continue to expand its education and networking opportunities for its members.”
Business is booming The themed entertainment industry is currently enjoying a boom period, with immersion the trend on everyone’s lips. For the TEA’s members, this means significant growth in many areas.
“Creators, producers and developers around the world long for unique life-changing experiences,” says Blau.
“This is a desire with a long history but today our industry has new ways to fulfil it – a sophistication through technology, storytelling and design has developed. In simple terms, the importance of telling a compelling story at a campfire still has potency, but now it can be enhanced and elevated toward greater audience and visitor engagement. We know more and better ways to engage people. Doing so leads to greater expectations and knowledge around the world. As the themed entertainment sector expands, it fosters new innovation and perspectives from different cultures and regions.”
With themed entertainment and the attractions industry, in general, enjoying this strong period, it’s an exciting time for the TEA: “Innovation is extending to many new venues and markets that are logical extensions to our industry,” says Blau.
“Our Thea Award-honoured projects continue to illustrate outstanding achievement. The process of creating unique experiences in which audiences can become emotionally engaged is changing around the world. I fall back to my theatre career where the important goal was to have an audience leap into a story emotionally. That engagement excites me when I see it in any project and I enjoy seeing a new project that builds upon the last great one.”
Blau succeeds Main Street Design’s Michael Mercadante, who set a solid foundation and established important pillars of the strategy for the TEA, while acting as its president.
“Michael has done a terrific job in getting the TEA to better understand its role in the industry and the world by establishing clear strategies toward even better service,” says Blau speaking of his predecessor. “We’ll build upon those principles to serve our members better.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
Blau is also vice president of business development at Adirondack Studios
In November, Adirondack Studios principal Michael Blau was officially installed as the new International Board President of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA).
Part of the organisation for a number of years, Blau was first elected to the TEA Eastern North America Division, where he served for three years as VP of the Eastern Division Board followed by three years on the TEA International Board. Most recently as vice president.
According to Blau – who holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in Theatre and Technical Design from Syracuse University and has a theatre background – his approach to themed entertainment comes “through the lens of theatre”.
“Theatre requires knowledge of many crafts and trades,” he explains. “From scenic arts to sound design, stage management to performing, all working toward creating an art piece that is financially sound but most importantly engages an audience toward an experience they have never had before.”
Adirondack Studios focuses on design in story and guest experience. Joining in 2003 and taking up his current position in November 2017, Blau leads the business side of the company, helping to produce immersive and one-of-a-kind experiences through existing client relationships, growth in targeted markets and new business ventures.
“I’ve been extremely fortunate in the experiences and especially the mentors that have helped guide my education and career,” he says. “Lessons in business success came from working with my father who started a successful business that was brilliant at serving clients, and from the founding owners and my current partners at Adirondack Studios who taught me to always deliver what you say you will, then exceed those expectations.”
Expanding horizons Blau takes up his presidency with the TEA already performing strongly.
“Two areas in which TEA particularly excels: educating our members and providing unique opportunities for members to network,” he says. “Many great project teams – and great projects – have emerged from these opportunities. These activities also have a positive influence on the industry at large by improving dialogue, celebrating excellence and facilitating the exchange of information, wisdom and best practices. We do this with a wide range of events from regional mixers to global conferences, participation in trade forums and with various resources such as the annual TEA/AECOM Theme Index and through our video archive.”
While things are running smoothly at TEA headquarters, Blau would like to see it expand its reach even further: “Our board members and staff continually look for innovative ways to better serve our community, and as such, the TEA will continue to expand its education and networking opportunities for its members.”
Business is booming The themed entertainment industry is currently enjoying a boom period, with immersion the trend on everyone’s lips. For the TEA’s members, this means significant growth in many areas.
“Creators, producers and developers around the world long for unique life-changing experiences,” says Blau.
“This is a desire with a long history but today our industry has new ways to fulfil it – a sophistication through technology, storytelling and design has developed. In simple terms, the importance of telling a compelling story at a campfire still has potency, but now it can be enhanced and elevated toward greater audience and visitor engagement. We know more and better ways to engage people. Doing so leads to greater expectations and knowledge around the world. As the themed entertainment sector expands, it fosters new innovation and perspectives from different cultures and regions.”
With themed entertainment and the attractions industry, in general, enjoying this strong period, it’s an exciting time for the TEA: “Innovation is extending to many new venues and markets that are logical extensions to our industry,” says Blau.
“Our Thea Award-honoured projects continue to illustrate outstanding achievement. The process of creating unique experiences in which audiences can become emotionally engaged is changing around the world. I fall back to my theatre career where the important goal was to have an audience leap into a story emotionally. That engagement excites me when I see it in any project and I enjoy seeing a new project that builds upon the last great one.”
Blau succeeds Main Street Design’s Michael Mercadante, who set a solid foundation and established important pillars of the strategy for the TEA, while acting as its president.
“Michael has done a terrific job in getting the TEA to better understand its role in the industry and the world by establishing clear strategies toward even better service,” says Blau speaking of his predecessor. “We’ll build upon those principles to serve our members better.”
Read more from this issue of Attractions Management magazine
View contents of Attractions Management 2020 issue 1
A new immersive attraction designed to transport visitors into the final hours of ancient Pompeii
is preparing to open near the world-famous archaeological site in southern Italy.
Experience design company, BRC Imagination Arts, has completed a transition that sees founder
Bob Rogers pass ownership of the business to four long-serving senior executives, while
remaining actively involved with the company.
Movie Park Germany has opened a new Paramount Pictures-themed attraction as part of its 30th
anniversary celebrations, using immersive storytelling and adaptive reuse to reinforce the park’s
longstanding “Hollywood in Germany” positioning.
Therme Manchester’s 28-acre development, which will include interconnected glass pavilions
that measure 65,000sq m, will be the largest bathing and wellbeing attraction in the world once
complete, according to prof David Russell, CEO of Therme UK.
Efteling has opened Hooghmoed, a new family drop tower designed to broaden the appeal of its
recently launched Sirene Island themed area and introduce younger visitors to thrill attractions.
A proposed Puy du Fou development near Bicester and Universal Destinations and Experiences’
planned resort in Bedford are emerging as part of a wider transformation of the Oxford–
Cambridge Growth Corridor into a major centre for UK leisure and tourism inv
Shedd Aquarium has opened the Immersion Theater developed in partnership with SimEx-
Iwerks, as part of a wider strategy to enhance the guest experience and create additional
revenue opportunities.
The UK government has announced a temporary reduction in VAT on visitor attractions and
children’s meals as part of a summer cost-of-living support package designed to stimulate the
visitor economy and encourage family days out.
As designer Yinka Ilori prepares for his first solo gallery show in London, he speaks exclusively
to CLADmag about his mission to spread joy, the power of play, and his bold approach to using
colour (including the colours you won’t see in his work).
The government of Thailand is exploring plans for a THB300bn (£6.3bn, US$8.3bn)
entertainment complex in the country’s Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), with officials
proposing a large-scale theme park and sports destination as part of a broader tourism and
economic development strategy.
An opportunity to reimagine one of the UK’s most recognisable towers has been formally
opened by Rivington Hark, as St Johns Beacon invites operators and partners to shape its
next phase. [more...]
