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EVENT MEASUREMENT dashboards are getting big play as brand marketers begin to consolidate their measurement efforts and data-mining.

Don’t have one? OK timeout: A dashboard is a graphic user interface or report that houses and shows off all your measurement information in a way that’s easy to read and interpret. It’s meant to present performance indicators using simple visuals gauges charts or tables. Think of a car’s dashboard where everything is laid out in a way that’s logical and easy to read at a glance.

Mobile tours are hitting the long and winding road with all kinds of fun stuff this season. From fruit smoothies to toilet tissue to high-tech products like wireless phones and satellite radio everybody’s loading up the vans and semis and heading to sports events outdoor festivals retail parking lots and schools—anywhere there’s a crowd. Hop aboard for a look at some of this year’s best:

AS MARKETERS TRY TO  BUILD WORD-OF-MOUTH BUZZ a few have realized the ultimate influencers may already be on their payrolls. McDonald’s Hewlett-Packard and Amtrak have found that engaging employees as brand ambassadors gives them credibility and the employees a sense of pride. It’s an approach that benefits both sides.

Let’s play a game of Jeopardy. The answer: Barry Bonds Roger Clemens Michael Vick. The question: Name three athletes who aren’t swimming in endorsements right about now. And for good reason. Hindsight is 20/20 for sure but what happens to the brands that sponsor high-profile athletes who get into trouble? Companies often find losing money is the least of their worries. The brand reputation is tougher to build back. So as the cost of celebrity sponsorships increases right along with the risk many brands are looking elsewhere to build equity with sports fans.