Story highlights Trump said he wants the convention to have a "showbiz" feel

The Republican convention will be in Cleveland in July

Cleveland (CNN) When Donald Trump rolls into the Buckeye State, he's looking for a little more glitz and glamour -- and perhaps fewer stodgy speeches that have served as the hallmark of traditional Republican conventions.

Trump, who has said he wants the convention to have a "showbiz" feel and dismissed the 2012 convention as "boring," is still planning to unveil his running mate during the four-day festivities, a move that already adds an element of suspense absent from recent conservative confabs.

But in a full day of meetings with the Republican National Convention crew last week, top Trump aides were more focused on getting a lay of the land than putting Trump's gold-plated touch on the festivities, according to convention staffers.

For Team Trump, which hoped to lock down the nomination as early as possible in part to exert more sway over convention proceedings, it was the first step in getting up to speed.

For some GOP staffers who've already dedicated more than a year to convention planning, it was a relief to finally have a nominee -- even if it was a month earlier than expected after Ted Cruz and John Kasich suddenly dropped from the race.

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