If that's not enough to make South Beach shake in its Uggs, then we don't know what will do it. That said, LoPinto downplays the potential for West vs. East rivalry.
"We're really not competing or comparing ourselves with the Winter Music Conference," he said recently, during a sit-down interview in his office at the height of his Empire Ballroom's Labor Day weekend madness. "We went overboard with the talent to avoid the comparison."
Winter Music Conference and its accompanying Ultra Music Festival are annual spring events held in Miami.
But LoPinto did add that an event like this—which will include the chance for emerging DJs to get their demos into the ears of various producers—is long overdue for Las Vegas, especially as attendance for the WMC is dropping, particularly for the conference portion. Today, the WMC has devolved from an educational and networking opportunity into a week of fleece-the-public parties. "We don't plan to let that happen here," LoPinto said, explaining that while VMC's talent roster is stellar, organizers don't want to forget the "conference" portion at the Hard Rock, hoping to attract industry pros interested in honing their craft and sharpening their business senses. And while pass-holding conference attendees have been turned away from clubs in Miami, Vegas attendees will have easier access to the parties and concerts, according to LoPinto.
"I think it's going to be quick growth in Vegas," said LoPinto. One obvious factor in his corner is our city's greater ability to handle "monster" conferences.
While the event has been in the planning stage for years, LoPinto said that it was decided just a scant three months ago that the VMC had to happen this year, with the goals of raising awareness and getting a good showing at the parties and panel discussions. A good showing, said LoPinto, would be 1,000 attending the conferences and 300,000 going through the doors at the various parties being held at LoPinto's Empire Ballroom as well as Ice, the Hard Rock, the Foundation Room and Seamless (for an "after after-hours" party titled "Morning Ritual"). With one event stretched over multiple venues, LoPinto shrugged off the question of having problems getting rival clubs' cooperation. "That's what I do."
Here are some highlights. For the complete run-down, visit www. lvmc.us or call 888-862-3672. Limited amounts of free conference tickets are available at
http://lvmc.buckleymusic.com.
Sandra Collins, Darude, DJ Cristo. Where: Empire Ballroom. When: September 20, midnight.
Rabbit in the Moon. Where: Empire Ballroom. When: September 21, 10 p.m.
Richard Vission, DJ Rap. Where: Empire Ballroom. When: September 21, 4 a.m.
Christopher Lawrence, DJ Irene, D:Fuse. Where: Hard Rock pool. When: September 22, noon.
BT, Keoki, Swedish Egil, Victor Dinaire. Where: Ice. When: September 22, 10 p.m.
Matt Darey, Steve Castro. Where: Empire Ballroom. When: September 22, 3 a.m.
Seb Fontaine, Filo & Peri. Where: Hard Rock pool. When: September 23, noon.
Crystal Method. Where: Ice. When: September 23, 10 p.m.
DJ Irene, Scooter & Lavelle. Where: Empire Ballroom. When: September 23, 3 a.m.
Erick Morillo, Serge Devant, Oscar G, Ivano Bellini. Where: Empire Ballroom. When: September 24, 10 p.m.