NFL and GTLivechat

This is the 91st season of NFL football. It is the second year of GTLivechat. GTLivechat is a conversation that is conducted via Twitter with followers around the world. What makes us unique is that we make picks prior to the game and then get a poll of which team is the popular choice.

We don't pick every game but try to focus on the top match ups.

 

They include the Thursday Night Game on NFL Network, the Sunday Night Game on NBC and the Monday Night Game on ESPN.

 

 

 

 

 

GTLivechat includes questions about key players, coaches and trends surrounding the game. This year we are looking to expand our audience. Over the past 10 days, Los Angeles, San Antonio, Columbus, Salt Lake City and El Paso have been our target markets. Why these cities? They are 5 of the largest in the United States without a NFL team. London will be added to the list to give the chat an international view.

 

 

If you are interested in football, then GTLivechat is for you. We request that you close each tweet with the #GTLivechat.

 

 

 

 

This year, when we start the chat, a photo will accompany the announcement of #GTLivechat starts now!  Someone rocking a football jersey. Might be you! You can submit a photo if you want. Enjoy the season. And the pictures.

                              Follow me & GTLivechat on Twitter at @GamingGuyM
                              Follow the co-host of GTLivechat on Twitter @KeshisCuties.

Borgata Casino Interview with Tom Ballance about Online Gaming

Mr.Tom Ballance has been President and Chief Operating Officer of Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa (formerly Marina District Development Company LLC) since October 2012. Mr. Ballance served as Senior Vice President of Administration at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa until October 2012. Mr. Ballance served as Senior Vice President of Development at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa. He has been with Borgata since 1998. Mr. Ballance has 30 years of experience in the casino industry.


1). Borgata has been the leader in gaming and hotel operations for the past decade. What do you attribute that to?

Having the best people, product, building and  process. Our customers know they will be taken care of. We are a better value to them. Our customers trust us and will spend more with us than with others.

2). Borgata was the 1st and only property in Atlantic City to implement mobile or in room gaming. How would you gauge the response to it?

OK. Not anything meaningful on our income statement. Our goal with mobile was to work more with the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The installation places us ahead of the competition with online gaming.

3). What is your vision for Online Gaming?

E Commerce is in every business, shopping online and off line. We are prepared to embrace change and new technology. Borgata will supply the best IGaming experience in the market.

4). Do you plan to launch from day one or take a conservative approach?

Borgata will be among the first to launch.

5). The projections for IGaming range from 200 million to 650 million a year. What is your estimation?

Somewhere in the middle. There is no market like New Jersey. We have more supply here than in Europe.

6). Compacting was mention by MGM President Jim Murren between New Jersey and Nevada for IGaming in 2014. Would that interest you?

I don't see it happening that quickly. As more states legalize online gaming, you will see compacting agreements.

7). Responsible Gaming in a cyber world. How do you go about it?

Borgata will partner with Bwin Party and Kalixa. They are two proven operators that know the business and the software.  Together, we will be sophisticated and know who is depositing and creating accounts. Are there idiots that will allow children access to their accounts? That is a possibility. From our end, we will work to insure no on one under age will have an account with us.

8). The promotion DOAC has brought a resurgence to the region. What else does Atlantic City need to return to the previous levels of tourism and gaming?

Atlantic City has stabilize and seen growth. Events significantly produce traction and exceed expectations. The Boardwalk looks better now than at any period in recent memory. Governor Christie has made a strong commitment to the city. I don't see a return to the previous levels of

gaming dominance. Some of the current gaming operators must move to stronger balance sheets and partner with other members of our industry.

Golden Nugget and Resorts are two examples of teams that made intelligent moves and position themselves well for the future.

 

                   Follow me for more IGaming from G2E 2013 and @GamingGuyM

Brennie Tellu - Aspiring Person of the Week and Founder of Yancy Girl Productions

Brennie Tellu is a native of Trenton, NJ born in Brooklyn New York to parents of West African heritage, who grew up avidly loving movies/television and always had a special talent for being able to quickly learn accents, memorize dialogue, songs, and choreography. The multi-talented actor and writer received her BA in Radio/TV/Film at Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ and studied the Meisner Acting Technique with Lee Edward Colston II at PMTI in Philadelphia, PA in addition to training with Tony Award winning producer/actor/writer, April Yvette Thompson in NYC. Brennie's nearly two dozen performance credits include the award-winning Asylum(Leah) at the HERE Theatre in NYC, Don't Sing No Blues for Me(DeAnn), indie film short, Procession(Tanya), Steel Magnolias(Clairee) and Long Time Since Yesterday(Thelma).  
She is currently trying on a new hat, launching her own multimedia production company, Yancy Girl Productions, set to debut it's first production of Katori Hall's Hoodoo Love in August of 2013.

1). How long have you been acting?

 

I started acting in college, doing black box theatre and I have been doing theatre and some film for the last 5-7 years. My BA is actually in Radio/TV/Film but I am definitely partial to life on stage and in front of the camera.

 

2). Tell the readers what you want them to know about the play?

Hoodoo Love centers on Toulou, a young girl who runs away from Mississippi and a life of picking cotton to chase her dream of singing the blues on Memphis’ legendary Beales Street. She finds friendship and love, but just as in real life, there is no Utopia and running from your past is a surefire way to give it the gas it needs to find you. It is such a complex story and beautifully written by Katori Hall, who also wrote Mountaintop, which was on Broadway. It really deals with people trying to find themselves and navigate their way through the struggles of life. Malika Oyetimein is amazing and has directed this so wonderfully…it will definitely make an impression upon those who get to experience the work she and these brilliant actors have done.

3). Have you participated in any prior productions you would like to mention?

Some of my favorite roles as an actor have been Leah in Cheril Clarke’s Asylum, Clairee in Steel Magnolias, Thelma in Long Time Since Yesterday and DeeAnn in Don’t Sing No Blues for me because they have challenged me as an actor and required me to completely abandon my comfort zone and those are generally the most interesting roles to delve into and tackle as an actor.

 

 

4) If you had a choice between stage, screen and television, which would you choose?
 

Theatre is my first love. The feeling I get…the adrenaline of stepping on that stage and leaving my heart bare is like nothing else in the world. It is instant gratification as an actor because you are right there experiencing everything in real time, no editing, no delay…just listening and responding to the moment.

5) What is your favorite restaurant?
 

My favorite restaurant is definitely The Cheesecake Factory…I order the exact same thing every time…Jamaican Black Pepper Shrimp and Red Velvet Cheesecake…although it’s a guilty pleasure these days.
 

6) The coolest city you would pick if you could hang out anywhere?
 

 I am a city girl all day long. I love bright lights and I love the Arts…so honestly…stick me in Philly, NYC, LA and I will find something amazing to do…I just love big cities.

7) You sent several inspiring quotes in your reply. Pick one for the readers and tell why?

“When someone tells me "no," it doesn't mean I can't do it, it simply means I can't do it with them.” ~ Karen E. Quinones Mill

This quote truly speaks to my life because what I have learned is that the most important thing in this world is belief in one’s self. You will always have people who fear the unknown and inject doubt into your vision if it isn’t in the realm of what they believe to be possible. The key is to recognize that you may need to strike out on your own to bring your dreams to fruition. Basically  “NO” means find another way to make it happen.

 

8) Your ultimate career goal is to __________________?

My ultimate career goal is a build a legacy of acting in, producing and writing provocative and ground-breaking stories for theatre, film and television.

9) You are the star of a film with a big time budget. Who would you have as your leading man?

My leading man would most definitely be Idris Elba... he is high on the list of actors I'd like to work with in the future.

10) What is the role of the artistic director?

As the Artistic Director of Yancy Girl productions, I am responsible for conceiving, developing, and implementing the artistic vision and focus of the organization, and for major decisions about the ongoing development of our aesthetic values. I also serve as the spokesperson for our artistic purpose work to foster the development of good relations with other art-based and community organizations with like-minded goals.

 

After this interview, I attended the preview of Hoodoo Love. The play is a blend of music, history and culture. The cast includes Candace Thomas, Keith Wallace, Cathy Simpson and Lee Edward Colston II.  I was impressed with the costume design and the dialect of the performers. The play contains strong content so parental discretion is advised.

 

               Go see and support this production.

 

 

                                                                                     

                                Follow Brennie at @YancyGirlProd

                        Contact her at YancyGirlproductions.com
                        Like her at facebook.com/YancyGirlProductions      

El concierto de Justin Timberlake y Jay Z in Philadelphia

El concierto de Justin Timberlake y Jay Z "legends Of the Summer" llego a Philadelphia anoche.  Esta gira esta programada en 16 ciudades, es el momento perfecto para estos dos unirse.

Los dos artistas están en la cima de los billboards, Jay Z recientemente con su álbum "Magna Carta" y Timberlake con su álbum multiplatino "20/20"a vuelto a nacer su carrera como solista.

Jay Z y Justin compartieron el impresionante escenario  iluminado con impresionantes luces y efectos especiales. Entre los temas más aplaudidos estuvieron  Holy Grail,Rock your body, 99 problems, Tom Ford, Señorita y Empire State of Mind. 

Jay Z se veía contento y no trato de sobresalir con el público , dejo que Justin brillara con su acto. Los dos artistas tienen madurez en el mundo del espectáculo y respetan su trabajo sin dejar que los egos interfieran en tarima . Se acuerdan de la gira de Jay Z y R Kelly?

 

 

Cerraron le show con el tema "Suit and Tie" y "Forever Young" el concierto valió cada centavo. Espero que disfruten el video y las fotos!

 

 

                                                    Suit & Tie in Philly

 

 

 

Mirrors

 

 

 

                                Follow me on Twitter at @GamingGuyM

Jay Z and Justin Timberlake in Philly /Legends of the Summer Concert

Justin Timberlake and Jay Z‘s Legends of the Summer tour landed in Philadelphia last night.  This tour is scheduled for 16 cities. This was the perfect time for these guys to get together.

Both have Billboard chart topping albums. Jay Z has his recently released “Magna Carta”. Timberlake has the 20/20 Experience which is a multi-platinum album. This has resurrected Justin’s singing career.

 

Jay and Justin shared time on the stage.  The stage was an impressive structure that had awesome lighting.

 

 

The play list for the concert include Holy Grail, Rock your Body, 99 Problems, Tom Ford, Mirrors, Senorita  and Empire State of Mind . Mirrors was the climax  with video of the crowd interacting while Justin was singing. Here is a snippet.

 

         

                       http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DEzREJbln-o

 

 

Jay Z appeared content to not overwhelm the crowd and let Justin ease into his comeback performance.  Both are mature enough not to let ego spoil a monster tour. Remember Jay Z and R. Kelly?

 

They closed the show with “Suit and Tie” and “Forever Young”.  Worth the Money!   Enjoy the videos and the pictures.

Read about the business side of Justin and Sean below.

http://thegamingguyproductions.blogspot.com/2013/08/jay-z-and-justin-timberlake-business.html

                                Follow me for more at @GamingGuyM

Jay Z and Justin Timberlake - The Business Side

 

 

Jay Z and Justin Timberlake are two of the most outstanding entertainers of this generation. But I want to look at the business side of what they do.

Jay has been involved with a clothing line (Rocawear) and owned part of a sports franchise. He is a leading producer of music and has a label. He was the creative designer of the Barclays Center. Jay also started a chain of nightclubs called the 40-40 Club.

Jay is now a sports agent. This solidifies the relationship between world class athletes and the music industry. Jay Z is able to offer sports stars a chance to appear in music videos with stars like Beyoncé and Rihanna. This appeals to professional athletes just out of college.

 

Justin has proven himself to be a world class singer. He followed up his Future Sex/Love Sounds Cd from 5 years ago with the 20/20 Experience.

The release was set in such a fashion that the CD could only be purchase

thru I Tunes online. This guaranteed that the CD would climb to the top of Billboard charts. The way the album was promoted was a stroke of genius.

Timberlake performed on the Grammys and used that international stage to announce his comeback and tour. The next two weeks, Justin was on every  show imaginable. Jimmy Fallon, Ellen and

Saturday Night Live were shows he performed and promoted the CD.

 

Add this to a major career as a movie star. Timberlake has starred in Friends with Benefits and In Time. He is a capable leading man. Justin has a film with Ben Affleck scheduled for release this fall.

 

 

Jay Z 's Magna Carta blazed new ground by being issued to the users of Samsung Mobile as a download. This was prior to the CD release date. Although the downloads did not count as sales on

the charts, the publicity created a tremendous buzz about

the project. Jay also promoted the CD during the NBA Finals.

This guaranteed an international audience.

 

 

So my comparision of Jay Z and Justin Timberlake as businessmen shows two similiarities. Both have a great feels for marketing to a mass segment.

They also are not afraid to take calculated risks.

 

So who is better at it? Between now and the concert tell me what you think.

Use #TeamJayZ or #TeamJT  and follow me on Twitter for the results.

I'll do a review of the concert in English and Spanish as well

 

                   

 

                            

 

                                   Follow me on Twitter at @GamingGuyM

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Atlantic City Chronicles Premiere Party

The Atlantic City Chronicles Premiere party was held at Rutgers University
on Friday night. This event was attended by 100 - 150 people. There was a question and answer session after the movie.  The movie is on the wish list of HBO Go. The director, John Paxton indicated that if he would submit to the network, HBO would assume total control of the project. Paxton shows his integrity by not agreeing with these terms.

The second season of the Atlantic City Chronicles will start soon. Some of the scenes will be shot on location in Philadelphia. I'll keep you posted.

Here are some photos from the premiere party.

 

 

 

 

 

 

If any other cast members have photos from the premiere follow me

on Twitter at @GamingGuyM. I'll add your photo.

 

Follow John Paxton at @JohnnyFilmmaker

 

 

 

Philly Casino News and Doubling Down in Philly

Philly Casino News this week included a feature from Philly.com on the state of the current group of 6 applicants vying for the 2nd license. The article, Doubling Down in Philly, included plans for
lavish restaurants and the site renderings for each group.

I was impressed with the economic viewpoint from Joel Naroff . Naroff
feels that the casino that has the 2nd license can impact the entire region.
He feels that this project can not only bring jobs and tax revenue, but spur
development in the areas of tourism and hospitality. Naroff  would prefer
to see more emphasis dedicated to non- gaming amenities. This would make
the new casino a place that would appeal to out of town guests.
This is the concept that Atlantic City is gravitating toward. They are selling the region and downplaying the gaming. Sounds a little like New Orleans. I think it can work better if everyone in the immediate area buys in.

The Wynn Philadelphia project is making strides toward that community buy in. Over the last week ,Wynn Philadelphia has picked up several
endorsements. At the time of this post, they have 4.
"The positive endorsement from community organizations and neighbors in
Port Richmond, Fishtown, Kensington and surrounding neighborhoods is
incredible" said Gamal Aziz, Wynn Resorts Development President and COO.

One of the keys to economic development is having broad base support.
I will be watching this process closely over the next few week to see if
other applicants receive endorsements from their respective community
groups. The following graph is the proposals from each applicant.

                       
                         Follow me on Twitter at @GamingGuyM