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

It’s back! Sh*t event planners say part three is in full force! This is a very special episode of #EventIcons. Our hosts – Will, Brandt, and Audrey – will be joined by Aaron Kaufman, the President of Fifth Element Group. They will be discussing as you probably guessed all the sh*t event planners say. The iconic panel will cover everything from corporate events, ageism and booking talent!  Join us for this entertaining and somewhat controversial episode! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Comment below and let us know! You’re watching this recording of our episode here on our blog, but wouldn’t you rather watch live, ask your own questions, and participate in person? Subscribe now to watch live! (We’ll remind you of upcoming episodes.) We would love for you to join us LIVE and bring your questions

Today we are talking all about event key performance indicators (KPI).  Key performance indicators are the measurable outcomes that measure event success. This can be confusing, what exactly are we measuring? Why do I need to do this? Who is defining the metrics? How will you measure them? Today we will answer all this and more! Today our iconic guest Daniil Shcherbakov of Radario Marketing Platform will be discussing everything you must know about measuring event key performance indicators. So if you are still wondering what sort of metrics you should be measuring? Do you need a data analyst on your team? What is the best way to collect feedback from attendees and so much more you are in the right place. Let’s jump in! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Comment below and let us know! You’re watc

Do you ever feel like your events are missing something but you aren’t sure what? Do you find yourself wishing that you had better content, interesting videos and more. If so you may be missing a creative role from your event team. They are visionaries who help tell your story, take your visions and make it a reality. On top of that, they make sure your overall concept is cohesive and all your details are covered. If you want to have an amazing event you need really look into adding the role of a creative in events. Creatives can understand your overall vision and turn it into a reality. That all sounds great, but where do you find them? What should you look for when hiring a creative? If you have a million questions running through your head right now don’t fear! Our iconic guests Mark Joseph Howell of Mark Joseph Creative will walk you through everything you need to know creatives in the events industry. We will discuss hiring a creative, what to consider for content, jack of all trades vs specialists, proj

Incentive programs are a big piece of the events industry. The expectations for incentive programs continue to change. It’s no longer only salespeople that are getting rewarded. Companies are focusing on many other aspects and objectives to reward too such as customer retention.  As an event planner, you need to be ready and aware of these changes! In this episode of #EventIcons our iconic guests Padraic Gilligan of SoolNua, and Megg Withinton of Intellective Group will cover everything you need to know about incentive programs. They will cover the differences between incentive organizations. Next, our guests will answer, how hospitality trends are being included in today’s incentive programs. What has changed in what companies are looking for in their incentive trip experiences and so much more. You don’t want to miss this episode if you are planning incentive programs! Speaking of planning, check out our corporate event planning checklist for more ideas! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest a

What is event operations? Well, it depends on who you ask but to us, event operations are the people behind your event that you often don’t see and hear. They are the team at your event doing the actual execution. Operations do everything they can to keep your event running smoothly, from organizing execution to creating processes. In today’s episode of #EventIcons our guests Chris Roberts of EventOps, Liz Lathan of Haute Dokimazo are here to talk about everything needed to succeed in event operations. From the skillsets needed for a career in event operations to measuring success in operations with metrics we have you covered! If you want to make sure your event is running smooth then you can’t afford to miss this episode! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Comment below and let us know! You’re

The #Metoo movement is an international movement against sexual harassment and assault. It has empowered people throughout the world and given a voice to the voiceless. As long as you haven’t been under a rock you have seen the movement gaining power in Hollywood and beyond. It is not a trend or a fad. It’s not new, it’s real and here to stay. It also doesn’t only affect women, men and women alike need to be apart of this and work together to end sexual harassment and assault. Like all industries, the event industry has been affected by these issues as well. Today we will be looking at the many nuances of this movement and what we can do in the meetings and events industry to support equality and communication about this issue. In today’s episode of #EventIcons our guests Sarah Soliman of Soliman Productions and  Courtney Stanley of CS Consultingare going to take us through the difficult topics the #MeToo movement encompass. They will discuss what some common misconceptions people have about the movement are.

INBOUND is arguably one of the most-watched, must-attend events in our current times. Everyone wants to go. The event continues to attract an incredible audience around brilliant programming and content. Content is at the heart of everything they do. The speaker line up is buzzworthy and has included in the past huge names such as Michelle Obama and John Cena. With the launch of the INBOUND Studio they now even have a year-round content, all focused on the business of growing business. In today’s episode our iconic guests Kim Darling, Laura Moran, Elijah Clark-Ginsberg. and Meghan Kenney of INBOUND. They will be giving us insight into how they choose and curate content for the event. The team will share how they break up the types of sessions to make them exciting and effective.  They will explain how they bring in the right speakers, how they evaluate and improve their content, setting expectations and so much more. You really don’t want to miss this! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and g

What are chatbots? More or less a chatbot is a program which takes a process that is chat driven and makes it consistent for a user (they give the same answers each time unlike a human would) and a well-programmed bot allows easy interaction with a human. You typically see chatbots disguised as “live chats” on websites. It feels like a human speaking to you, but it’s a chatbot! It is a mix of AI and person-driven tech. So now that we know what chatbots are, what types of organizations use chatbots? How do they even get their information? As an event prof, you are probably also wondering how events can use chatbots. We are going to cover all this and more today. In this episode of #EventIcons our guests Elizabeth Glau of EventBots by Sciensio and Paul Earnden of Prodo are going to answer the questions above. Our guests will also share their unique ideas on how to use chatbots. They will talk about what they like and dislike about chatbots. We will go over what types of events chatbots will be a good fit at and

Cema (Corporate Event Marketer Association) is a booming community. With 800 members and growing, CEMA needs to be on your radar. CEMA focuses on relationships and conversations first. This is what allows the organization to continue to thrive and set themselves apart from other associations. If you are looking for an extremely valuable association to become a member of this could be for you! In this weeks episode of #EventIcons our guests Kimberley Gishler of CEMA (Corporate Event Marketing Association), and Tom Spano of OpenX will be giving you the inside scoop on CEMA. They will talk about how you could become a member and why it is the best association. Our panel will also tackle event sponsorship, the current state of the event industry and so much more! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Co

Events can be super wasteful, from water and energy consumption to food waste there are a lot of areas we can improve upon in terms of planning sustainable events. What does planning sustainable events mean? What do you need to keep in mind when making your event more sustainable? Why should event planners really care? Can you really make a big impact on our world by planning sustainable events? If these questions are spinning through your mind you are in the right place! In today’s episode our Iconic guests Chance Thompson of Salt Palace Convention Center and Tracy Stuckrath of Thrive! Meetings & Events will guide you through everything you need to know about sustainable thinking at events and how you can implement some simple tactics to create a more sustainable event. If you ever wanted to know more about how to limit food waste at events, shrink your carbon footprint,  or how to have conversations with your venue about sustainability you are in the right place! We will cover this and so much more abou

Alternative Event Venues are a huge and growing trend this year. In fact, we listed it as one of our emerging event trends for 2018. Attendees and planners alike are growing tired of the standard meeting spaces and ballrooms. As an industry, we are pushing the boundaries and definition of where events can be held. But how do you find these alternative event venues? What do you have to keep in mind when planning at an alternative venue? Are there really major differences from planning an event at a standard ballroom? In this episode of #EventIcons our iconic guests Cindy Y. Lo, DMCP of Red Velvet Events and Babs Nijdam of Sequoia Partnership will discuss everything you need to know about alternative event venues. They will discuss what you need to know to be prepared for an alternative event venue. Why venue walkthroughs are so important. What benefits they see from offering clients to step outside the ballroom. The challenges they face working with clients at alternative event venues and so much more! You do

As an event prof managing client expectations should always be top of mind. Managing client expectations helps both you and your client have clarity working together. This will also keep your clients happy, and ensure you are on the right track with what they have hired you to do.  Setting up expectations allows you to frame the groundwork for how the relationship will continue to grow. We can’t state how important this truly is! In this weeks episode of #EventIcons our iconic guest Jeff Frank, a Event Producer, will talk to us all about how to manage client expectations. We will discuss how to say no to clients, when and how to seek clarification, how to process feedback and craft great responses when things get tough. As an event prof we are all handling clients so don’t miss this! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your fa

There are a lot of questions surrounding e-gaming events. Is it an event trend? What is e-gaming? How does it tie into events? Is there a difference between e-gaming and video games? E-gaming events are an emerging segment of events that you are going to want to know about, and you are in the right place to learn! In this episode of #EventIcons our guests Kim Meltzer of KidKesty Productions, Inc, Donny Neufuss of PRG,  and Joe English of Event Futurist weigh in on e-gaming events. They will explain exactly what e-gaming is. How planning an e-gaming event compares to planning a traditional event like a conference, the vibrant communities that exist in the e-gaming events world and so much more! They will also discuss best business opportunities for this emerging segment and the numbers and statistics every event planner needs to know about e-gaming events! You really don’t want to miss this informative episode! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources secti

Influencer marketing can be a powerful way to attract more attention to your events. Many brands and events use influencer marketing that are looking to become more well known or position themselves with a certain audience. Using influencers is a really unique way to do this. Influencers have a strong understanding of their audience. They can help brands and events alike launch their businesses to new heights. In today’s episode of #EventIcons our iconic panel Nick Borelli of Borelli Strategies, Melissa Brandle of August United, and Rachel Stephan of snöball event influencer marketing join us for an in-depth discussion on influencer marketing at events. They will discuss what defines an influencer. What size and types of events benefit from influencers. The difference between digital and in-person influencer campaigns. We will cover strategies for successfully using influencer marketing and so much more. If you have thought about using influencers to market your event you can’t miss this episode! We want to h

Inbox zero seems like a dream right? It doesn’t have to be. With the right processes in place, you can have an organized and manageable inbox! Today we will discuss how to manage your inbox as an event prof. In this weeks episode, our host Audrey Gallien of Catalyst Inc. and iconic guest, Chris Ronzio of Trainual will teach you just how you can get to inbox zero! Chris will teach you ways to manage your inbox as an event prof. How to process everything coming at you. Tools you can use to help you manage your inbox as an event planner and how to train your mind to be more efficient and much more! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Comment below and let us know! You’re watching this recording of our episode here on our blog, but wouldn’t you rather watch live, ask your own questions, and participat

It’s hard to keep your audience engaged. Audiences are often bored when speakers talk forever without giving the audience a chance to engage and ask questions. But it doesn’t have to be that way! Audience engagement is so important to the success of your event! How to improve audience engagement seems overwhelming but you are in the right place! We will show you what you need to know! In this episode, our iconic guests Sam Smith of Interactive Meeting Technology, LLC and, Juraj Holub of Slido will walk you through how to improve your audience engagement. We will answer who benefits the most from audience engagement. Our episode will also touch on tools that can help you create an atmosphere that encourages audience engagement and create value at your event! You do not want to miss this! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your

Getting work done on the road is hard. Most event profs have experience trying to balance travel with their everyday work and sometimes the two can be difficult to mix. How do you stay in communication with clients? What do you do to keep the work from piling up? While it seems daunting there are some things you can do to help make traveling with work simpler! Traveling doesn’t have to be a major impact on your work, there is a lot you can do to get work done on the road. In today’s episodes, our very own Will Curran of Endless Events and Brandt Krueger of Event Technology Consulting are taking you through their very best tips to keep focused and get work done on the road. They will be discussing their favorite bags and gear, favorite devices. Do you ever wonder how you can be more efficient traveling and how to deal with working with clients in different time zones? We will deal with that too! If you are a road warrior, you can’t miss this episode they are going to walk you through everything you need to kno

SXSW is one of the most iconic events around. It’s a celebration of creativity and provides a platform for creatives to achieve their goals. The iconic event is so successful because there are a boatload of experiences that create lasting memories for attendees, such as HBO’s Westworld experiential event. Today the iconic Hugh Forrest of SXSW joins us to discuss everything an event planner would want to know about the event. We will discuss how the South by Southwest Interactive Festival turned into the event it is today. How they work with sponsors and brand activations. What to consider when you are accommodating international attendees, planning for security situations, favorite moments from the 2018 event and so much more!  We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so far? Comment below and let us know! You

Family-friendly events can be a challenge for event planners. Often times planning events with kids feels out of our realm or at least out of our comfort zone. Family-friendly events are unknown territory that sometimes we just don’t know how to navigate. That changes today! In today’s episode, we will teach you all about how to create family-friendly events! Today our iconic guests Chad Collins of Open World Inc., and  Shelley Matheny of KidsAlong Events are here to teach you how to create family-friendly events. They will discuss how to integrate children into events. Talk about what you need to think about when planning events with kids such as staffing, security, and engagement tips. And how you can engage the entire family! You do not want to miss this episode! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentioned in this episode! You WANT to check these out! What has been your favorite episode so

In the in events industry data is the new gold. Wouldn’t you love to get inside your attendees minds to better your event? With digital innovation at events now you can. Find out how to get important data about your attendees such as what parts of your event they spent the most time in, who they are networking with and beyond. Having access to this type of data allows for you to create the best experience possible for your events in the future. In this episode of #EventIcons we are joined by the iconic  Charles Truong of PixMob/klik and Victor Bohnert of Innovatis Group. They will discuss digital innovations in events and how to use technology to enhance engagement. They will share all about their platforms and how you can use them to gain insight into your attendees experience, and where they see personalization going for events. You can’t miss this! We want to help keep you up-to-date with the latest and greatest! Below, in our Epic Resources section, we link the awesome insider favorites that were mentione