#eventicons - Meet The Icons Of The Events Industry (audio)

Another week, another inspiring story about pivoting to virtual events! Now that the industry has come to terms with the so-called “new normal”, we want to bring the best stories to the forefront. All across the nation, event planners have been learning the ropes of virtual events. And they’ve been doing so in order to deliver high-quality experiences with the tools they have at their disposal. So there’s no shortage of success stories out there. On this week’s #EventIcons, we introduce yet another incredible tale of pivoting. Our amazing guest, Magdalina Atanassova, is the Marcom and Brand Manager at Kenes Group. She studied Convention, Event, and Exhibition Management and has been a titan of the industry for years. Today, she joins our always lovely host Sarah Christl to tell us how she went about pivoting to virtual events – and most importantly, what she learned and how the company succeeded. Press play to find out!

We’re back for another week with another exciting episode of #EventIcons! And we’re excited to be discussing how small event companies can pivot in order to survive the pandemic. Because this has probably been the craziest time ever in our industry. Thousands of event profs saw their projects canceled or postponed within days. But while we’re all still adapting to the new normal, small event companies had to act faster than anyone else. And no one knows that better than this week’s iconic guest. Tammy Dickerson has been in the industry for 25 years and started her own agency two decades ago. As the Founder and President of The Baker Group, she managed to whether the pandemic storm with grace and effectiveness. Today, she’s sitting down with our incredible host Sarah Christl to teach the industry just how small event companies can find a way to pivot when times get rough. Press play and join us for another iconic episode!

In a chaotic world where the industry sees itself turned upside down at every turn, learning about year-long sponsorships becomes crucial. And while events have always been about creating meaningful and lasting connections, our rush to find sponsors every year somewhat goes against this ideal. The focus is less on establishing a beneficial partnership and more on just getting someone as fast as possible. And this causes planners to not be as creative, forward-thinking, or successful as they could be within the scope of event sponsorships. But what if there was a better way? Taylour Miller from United Planners Financial Services is our special guest on this week’s #EventIcons. At United Planners, the team has crafted an incredible strategy that drives business by creating year-long sponsorships through creative thinking. By tackling the world of event sponsorships with this mindset, United Planners establishes relationships that consistently bring in results to all parties involved. So if you want to learn ho

Another week, another episode of #EventIcons! And since hybrid is one everyone’s mind lately, we thought we’d bring you something exciting. This week, we’ll be talking about interactive gaming experiences for hybrid and virtual events. Yes – because even during a hybrid experience, you still have the virtual aspect! So it seems only fitting that we dive into a conversation about entertainment. After all, who doesn’t love games? It’s one of the best ways for people to connect, engage, and network. Joining our incredible host Stephanie Jayko is the one and only Gary Bordman. And Gary is one of the industry’s go-to when it comes to creating interactive experiences. He’s been “bringing the fun” to events and conventions all across the United Sates for two decades. There’s a reason why people tend to say “just call Gary!” when a cool and out-of-the-box idea is needed – it’s because he’s the man you want on your team. So, as the Chief Interactive Designer for Amusement, Exhibit & Event Services, Gary has a lot

Over the past year, sustainability has become top of mind for planners. And the events industry as a whole has doubled down on efforts to become greener. It's up to us as an industry that tends to create so much waste to improve. Part of this sustainability trend also refers to food waste in the events industry. And this is an issue that doesn't get addressed nearly as much as it should. So what can we, as event professionals, do to end this practice? How can we contribute towards a better world that uses food in a better, more sustainable way? Well, that's exactly what we're addressing on today's episode of #EventIcons! Joining our incredible host Sarah Christl is none other than Kate Marchini from Replate. And Replate is all about "leveraging technology to match surplus food from businesses with communities in need". This means Kate has quite a bit to teach us about battling food waste in the events industry. So press that play button and join us for another week of iconic conversations and advice!

Today we’re introducing a success story about a virtual product launch. Socio managed to elevate their virtual event and turn it into a full-scale virtual hackathon. Their goal was to create a collaborative environment and move the community forward as a whole. And not only did they manage to do that, but they became such a success, that the levels of engagement are still up over a month after the event. So how did Socio do it? How did they come up with creative ways to engage sponsors and engage the community at such a high level? Well, that’s exactly what this week’s episode of #EventIcons is all about! Joining our incredible host Will Curran are Corey McCarthy, the CMO os Socio, and Yarkin Sakucoglu, the co-founder and CEO of the company. And today, they’re teaching us all about their strategy to create a virtual product launch and turn it into a smashing success. So if you’re still confused about the ins and outs of virtual event planning strategy and can’t belive virtual events have tremendous potential,

Last week, we offered some pretty good ideas within the scope of entertainment for virtual events. And today, we’re diving even deeper! While virtual happy hours allow you to get extremely creative, they’re not the only way you can get attendees to have fun. There are plenty of misconceptions surrounding virtual events. But that’s completely normal – we’re all learning as we go and everyone is trying hard to navigate the new state of the industry. Still, there are some notions you should dismiss entirely. And one of these notions is the idea that a virtual event simply can’t be exciting for those attending. Is it ever going to be exactly like an in-person experience? No. But does that mean it can’t be equally as fun and engrossing? Absolutely not! And if you still have any doubts in your mind, then this is the perfect episode for you. Joining our incredible host Will Curran is Paul Creighton. Paul has been a staple on #EventIcons and our go-to expert on entertainment trends in the industry. So it makes sense

Even though most events are now going virtual, designing events for introverts still remains a relevant topic. And arguably, it becomes even more important. It’s a matter of fact that virtual events make the experience more accessible to a larger number of people. For those who can’t travel due to disability, for those who are all the way across the world and, in this case, for introverts. Plus, another thing to keep in mind is the fact that in-person events will come back eventually. And when that time comes, we as planners can’t forget about all of these people. So discussing the best practices involved in designing events for introverts is not only pertinent but also necessary, Which is why we’re dedicating this week’s #EventIcons to the topic! Joining our incredible host Alex Plaxen is the wonderful Leanne Calderwood. Leanne is a self-proclaimed introvert and an icon of the events industry. In fact, she’s meeting planners’ go-to expert in Canadian hotel site selection, helping hotel sales connect better w

This week's #EventIcons is all about Remote Design Week. Because now that everyone is jumping into the virtual event bandwagon, this is something we had to talk about. Remote Design Week managed to do exactly what planners everywhere want to do. It was a massive virtual event with over 50 speakers and a whopping 3,000 attendees! And with such a successful event being planned in six weeks, we wanted to know more. More about the planning process. And more about everything it took to make it happen, so you could take some notes. So, joining our amazing host Will Curran is Chantel Megaffin. Chantel is the Events & Community Manager for DesignX Canada. And DesignX is the company behind Remote Design Week. So she's better equipped than anyone else to give us the best tips on virtual conferences. Everything from how they quickly pivoted to the virtual sphere to best practices, Chantel is a true well of wisdom. So, are you ready to learn how you can go virtual as well and be successful at it? Press play and join

Have you been looking everywhere for tips on engaging virtual experiences? And do you feel a bit lost in the midst of all the craziness? Well, you’re not alone! With everything going on in the industry, planners are facing several challenges. But thankfully, not everything is lost. Because thanks to virtual events, planners everywhere can keep on doing what they do best. And that is, of course, bring people together and create amazing experiences. The paradigm might have changed, but if there is something industry professionals know how to do, it’s keeping up with the motions. So this week, we’re continuing the trend of bringing you exciting virtual event tips. And we have a very special guest to help us out! Brian Fanzo is a digital futurist and full-time keynote speaker who’s here to share his knowledge about engaging virtual event experiences. Joined by our incredible host Sarah Christl, Brian has quite a bit of good stuff to teach us. So press play and join us for another amazing episode of #EventIcons!

Working with committees is something many event planners are familiar with. And anyone who’s been a part of one knows just how complex things can get. So on this week’s episode of #EventIcons, we’ll be providing you with some tactical tips to work inside a committee, on a board, and everything in between. No more miscommunication, no more frustrations, and no more second-guessing yourself. Because after this edition of the podcast, you’ll be left with all the best practices you need to be successful at working with committees as an event prof. But we couldn’t do it all alone! And this is why we invited a very special guest. Joining our always wonderful host, Will Curran, is the only and only Kristi Casey Sanders. Kristi is quite the powerhouse when it comes to the topic. She’s the Senior Director of Community Engagement for Meetings Professionals International, and she’s been with MPI for almost five years now. This means Kristi is one of the best people out there to empower you with all the strategic knowled

Today we’re talking about sponsorships for virtual events! Because sponsorships and exhibitions are a huge source of revenue in the industry. But now that planners are trying to figure out how to turn in-person events into virtual ones, things get a little bit confusing. How can they replicate this? What are the best strategies? Overall, is it even possible to create such a thing as sponsorships for virtual events? Well, the short answer is – yes, it is. But in order to help us figure out how, we have a very special guest. On this week’s episode of #EventIcons, out amazing host Will Curran welcomes Peter Poehle. Peter has been on the show before. And he is one of the biggest sponsorship experts in the industry. So this means that he has a lot of tips and advice for planners that are going virtual with their events. If you’re curious to learn how all of this will work, then join us for another iconic edition of #EventIcons!

Canceling an event is never pleasant. However, considering the current state of things, it’s necessary. And while a lot of planners’ attention is focused on virtual events, a part is also concerned with cancellation. So, what do you have to do? Can you simply send out a mass email? And is that even advisable? Is there any way you can repurpose the costs of your in-person event? These are only some of the questions that have been floating around in the events industry. But we are here to help! This week’s incredible episode of #EventIcons will walk you through the ins and outs of canceling an event. And in order to do so, our amazing host Will Curran is joined by Josh Grimes. Josh is an attorney who’s specialized in the area for events. With 23 years of experience in the business behind him, there’s a lot we can learn from Josh. So press play and let’s dive right into today’s edition of our iconic show!

Now that virtual events are the talk of the town, it’s time to consider a virtual emcee. Especially because one of the biggest concerns with virtual events is audience engagement. So considering a virtual emcee is definitely something you want to do. Not only will one keep your event interesting, but it will also make your audience happier and eager for more. But where to start? And why should you really consider hiring one? What are the tangible benefits brought to the table? To help answer all these questions, we’re happy to introduce Dan Ram. Dan was a previous guest on #EventIcons. And as a remote emcee, world traveler, and industry icon, he has plenty to teach. So if you’re curious to learn how a virtual emcee can help ensure the success of your remote event, wait no longer – press play and join Dan Ram and Will Curran on a brand new, exciting episode of #EventIcons! Be sure to head over to our blog to check out the amazing resources! 

The talk of the town in the events industry is converting in-person events to virtual. But where to even begin? Should you choose a platform first? And how do you even figure out pricing? Because this is relatively new, planners everywhere are scrambling to make it work. And we just so happen to have been lucky enough to sit down with Mark Hillenburg. Mark is the VP of Marketing of Digital Monitoring Products (DMP). And boy, does he have some things to teach us! DMP has the art of converting in-person events to virtual down to a T. So much so that they converted their in-person event in a whopping 24 hours! And because we know you’re looking for some tips, we invited Mark to be our iconic guest in this week’s episode of #EventIcons. Will Curran will ask all the questions you want to see answered. So press play and join us! Read the full Blog here! 

Have you heard about the Sustainable Event Awards? It’s probably old news to you that sustainability is a topic we love discussing. Because we’ve covered it several times here at Endless! And today we’ll be dabbling on it again but in a more exciting way. It’s not just about how to plan sustainable events. But rather, how to push the trend forward and make sure everyone jumps on the bandwagon. And that’s exactly where the Sustainable Event Awards come in. So joining our incredible host Brandt Krueger is Adam Parry. And you might know Adam as the co-founder and editor of the event industry’s global online magazine, Event Industry News. He is also the mind behind the Event Tech Live Awards, and, more recently, the Sustainable Event Awards. Adam has a lot to tell us about this new endeavor, and the potential it has to push the industry forward. So let’s get iconic – press play and join us for another episode of #eventicons! Blog here! 

This week we’re diving into the dozy topic of how to plan a virtual event. And we’re not strangers to futuristic events here at Endless! We’ve covered topics such as how to plan an event without visiting the venue, how Virtual Reality can impact the events industry, and much more. So today, we’re diving deeper. Because we figured it’s high time to actually get into tactical tips related to events that don’t adhere to the in-person model. And learn how to plan a successful virtual event that your attendees will never forget! As per usual, our incredible hosts Brandt Krueger and Will Curran are here to guide the conversation. But our super special and iconic guest of the week is none other than Lori Pugh Marcum! And we’ve had the pleasure to welcome Lori on the show before. Only this time around, she’s the one who’ll be teaching us everything there is to know about planning a virtual event. So, are you ready to jump in the virtual bandwagon? Press play, it’s time to get iconic!