1. GOING…UP
Is it a sign that the recession is fading or just the luck of one big show? Either way, hats off to the National Association of Broadcasters, which saw a sizable uptick in attendance at this year’s show. The event drew 88,044 attendees this year, compared with 82,650 last year. The event took place April 10-15 in Las Vegas.

2. TED TALKS
The TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) events are nothing new, but in recent years (and with the advent of viral video on the Web) the buzz surrounding the uber-exclusive events has reached a fever pitch.

What makes the event such a hot topic? A combination of exclusivity (potential attendees have to apply to attend the event, and spots are limited) and carefully cultivated content. Previous TED speakers and presenters have included notables such as “LOST” creator J.J. Abrams, Bono and Bill Clinton.

And it’s that content that keeps the TED buzz going long after the event.Videos from this year’s event (which happened in February), including a Bill Gates presentation on clean energy, are still making the rounds on social networks like Facebook and Twitter.

The lesson? While going uberexclusive might not be an option (or a particularly smart proposition) for your event, crafting provocative, thought-provoking content that gets your attendees (and potential attendees) excited will always be a home run.

3. WILL MCCORMICK PLACE GO PRIVATE?
Following testimony at a legislative hearing earlier this month from union leaders and contractors, Illinois House Speaker Michael Madigan says he’s looking into privatizing McCormick Place. However, he says there will be no rescue without major changes in the way the facility operates.

“My position is the legislature is not going to move forward with any extension of taxes, any restructuring of debt payments, until we put in place a good, workable business structure,” he says. Union leaders, contractors and McCormick Place management all called for a state subsidy for convention hall operations to help Chicago remain competitive with other cities.

The General Assembly is considering reorganizing the Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority, the state-city agency that runs McCormick Place, granting money to help McCormick Place compete with Las Vegas and Orlando and refinancing nearly $1 billion in debt from the most recent expansion of the lakeside campus. Madigan says he expects a measure to overhaul the facility’s operations to be passed before the end of the spring legislative session on May 7.