Speaking of Events

Liam Martin is the Director of Running Remote Conference. He is also the author of the book “Running Remote”. His business has been fully remote since it was first launched and he sees the advantage to having remote teams. Liam joins host Kerri Garbis to talk about remote work and event planning. 
 
 
Takeaways
 
Events are easier to start up now than in the past. You can start them up in a similar way to how tech startups get going. 
Pareto’s Principle says that for many outcomes, roughly 80% of the consequences comes from 20% of the cause. 
When looking at running a business, you want to look at what assumptions you are making from your conclusions.
Remote work has become normalized during the pandemic, and some of the largest companies are all remote. 
With remote first organizations, every employee in theory should have the same informational advantage as the CEO. It creates a culture of transparency.
When planning an event, it’s easier to think about the people that shouldn’t be at the event and then you can figure out the kind of people that should be at the event from there.
You need to prepare for things to go wrong at an event. Assume that things are going to go wrong and be ready to fill any gaps.
 
Quote of the Show
 
33:03 “If you are not in that category, I would highly suggest you actually get some speaker training. Even in just your tonality, the speed at which you speak, you're speaking too quickly, or are you speaking not fast enough, are you pausing in the right moments? This is kind of the thing that takes an okay talk, that's just factual, to something that everyone will remember.”
Links
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/liamremote
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liammcivormartin/
Website: https://runningremote.com/
Book Link: https://www.amazon.com/Running-Remote-Successful-Remote-Work-Pioneers/dp/1400232147
Ways to Tune In:
 
Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a158d222-4beb-4c72-9569-0916e79a80f4/speaking-of-events
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-of-events/id1611059542
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/699re9JSEnwNXnrNLGLUkz
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3BlYWtpbmdvZmV2ZW50cy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiI6PWe2o73AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en
YouTube - https://youtu.be/2hWdU8-TJHY

Susan Chebookjian is an Event Professional. Her and Kerri go back all the way to the days of Kerri helping her with a Christmas play. Susan has a passion for theater and event planning, which shows throughout her conversation. She joins host Kerri Garbis to talk about some of the tips she has when it comes to event planning. 
 
 
Takeaways
 
Events are not like planning a birthday party. It is complex and there are tight deadlines that can not be pushed back.
Some elements are the same from one event to another, but there are so many different things to consider as well, such as the audience and the kind of content you deliver. 
Theater and event planning are a little similar. In both of them you are putting on a production and there is a lot of planning, preparation and rehearsals that go into both.
When planning for an event, you want to plan for a year ahead at minimum. It gives you more time to get everything into place. 
Transitioning from in person events to virtual events can be difficult. You need to have contingency plans and strong communication with all members of your team.
There is a difference between the speaker point of view and the speaker trainer point of view. 
In a hybrid event, it creates a decoupled audience where you are bringing together two different audiences.
 
Quote of the Show
 
4:19 “It's not like planning a birthday party. It's far more complex. Um, and we are timeline driven and those timelines can't be pushed out like any other project. It is what it is. And you have to stick to your timelines.”
Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/schebookjian/
Ways to Tune In:
 
Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a158d222-4beb-4c72-9569-0916e79a80f4/speaking-of-events
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-of-events/id1611059542
Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/699re9JSEnwNXnrNLGLUkz
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3BlYWtpbmdvZmV2ZW50cy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiI6PWe2o73AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en
YouTube - https://youtu.be/Lda6O9mJaF0

Jeff Kalpak is the President of Americas at FIRST. His passion for events and public speaking is evident by the beautiful work that he does all the time. He uses the 10 principles of storytelling to influence his event planning style and it creates a lasting impression on guests. Jeff joins host Kerri Garbis to talk about all things event planning and what advice he might have for others. 
 
 
Takeaways
 
Events have an incredible shelf life. If an event is done well, it stays with you for a long time. It’s something that happens once but can live on in the way it makes you feel.
There are 10 principles of storytelling and the first one is to think about where you want to end up. With the audience, you want to build backwards from there.
Speaking to clients often and giving them advice can help save them from potential disaster situations. 
People don’t always understand the amount of preparation that goes into planning an event. You need to plan for backup plans in case something goes wrong.
Event planning can be done in the hybrid environment. The skills to deliver the event are different when it is remote but it still can be done.
You want to lead with empathy. It helps to create better events when you step into the shoes of those who will be at the event.
Take the time to talk to people and see where they are coming from. You want to make people feel comfortable and you need to be flexible with people now.
 
Quote of the Show
 
16:26 “I think leading with empathy is the key and I can't help you if I don't know what's going on. Um, it helps us create better events when we really step into the shoes of. Our audience, our clients, our stakeholders in the event to really understand where they're coming from, what they're doing, but the landscape is, it's a big, it's a big deal.”
Links
 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffkalpak/
Website: https://firstagency.com/
Ways to Tune In:
 
Amazon Music - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/a158d222-4beb-4c72-9569-0916e79a80f4/speaking-of-events
Apple Podcast - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/speaking-of-events/id1611059542
Spotify - ​​https://open.spotify.com/show/699re9JSEnwNXnrNLGLUkz
Google Play - https://podcasts.google.com/feed/aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuc3BlYWtpbmdvZmV2ZW50cy5jb20vZmVlZC54bWw?sa=X&ved=0CAMQ4aUDahcKEwiI6PWe2o73AhUAAAAAHQAAAAAQAQ&hl=en
YouTube - https://youtu.be/OtG7Kgwn54s

Here we are with Kevin Cobb! This week we’re here to discuss how much time can really go into an event and how any event is so much more than just a one day ordeal. There’s plenty of work that goes into making sure your event is perfect both before and after it even starts and that is what Kevin is here with us to discuss! .
 
 
What do you wish more people knew about events: :
 
An event takes place before, during and after anyone arrives.
Takeaways
 
An event isn’t just a one day ordeal.
Your event should have a strategy that everyone who is involved in it should know about.
Use the time after the event is over to reflect on how it went.
Being able to pick out what worked and what didn’t work only helps you even more for your net event.
Hone in on what an event can excel at and amplify it even more. 
Allow your audience to supply you with their own feedback.
 
 
Quote of the Show:
 
“Your event should be pouring gasoline on what your strategy is the whole rest of the year.” - Kevin Cobb
Links
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kevinjcobb
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/kevinjcobb
Website: embarq.com

Planning an event isn’t just planning a party, there are whole entire teams of people all working together to put on a great event that will help make brand new connections. After starting those new connections, that's where you can start to see the value of your event, and Lisa Lundeen is here to give you all the information you could ask for when it comes to it! 
 
 
What do you wish more people knew about events:
 
Real business gets done at events, deals are made and pipelines are moving forward.
Takeaways 
 
Real business is done at several events that even pushes the global economy forward.
There is a lot more work that goes into putting on an event than someone may originally think with a whole team of people working together to make it happen.
Having time to debrief after your event is finished lets your team communicate about what did and didn’t work.
Stop and think about how your industry can engage anyone attending your event.
A hybrid event is important, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is always the best option even if it does include in person and virtual aspects. 
A hybrid event should give someone multiple options on how to connect at that event.
Since a virtual event is very different from an in person event, you shouldn’t focus on connecting the two groups but instead giving them the tools to connect in a way that works for them. 
 
 
Quote of the Show:
 
“And they really don't understand that these events true businesses getting done.That pipelines are moving forward. Deals are getting closed. Companies are doing real business. That result has an impact on the global economy. We're not throwing parties where we are doing real business” - Lisa Lundeen
Links
 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/lisa-lundeen-0514817
Website: freemanco.com

Here we are this week with Jim ClapesDirector of Events at M3 Meet. He’s here to not only discuss some of his favorite musicals, but also to inform the listeners on what it really takes to put an entire event together. An event doesn’t just happen on its own and Jim is here to go deeper into all of the intricacies of what makes an event possible. 
 
What do you wish more people knew about events?:
 
That more people understood and knew what it takes to put on an event.
Takeaways
 
An event isn’t just put together on its own, it takes a group of dedicated people to put on a great event.
It’s impossible to know everything that is going to happen at an event, but it’s how you handle those moments. 
Events are very tightly orchestrated for time, which requires collaboration from all the parties involved.
If something does go wrong, especially when a speaker is presenting it is important to be ready for anything that can happen and to be able to fix it promptly. 
Help the speaker/presenter feel comfortable and excited about what they’re about to do, even if they are nervous.
Remote events can also be a much more inexpensive way to attend events, covering travel costs and other expenses which makes them more accessible.
 
 
Quote of the Show:
 
“ I do think that it's important for people to realize, the amount of time, the amount of effort that goes into, as I said, planning the smallest of events, they really are. There's a lot of time and effort that it takes. And we work really hard in our profession to make sure that events go as seamlessly as possible.” - Jim Clapes
Links
 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jimclapes

On this episode it’s time to really dig deep into the impact that your event can have and the connections it can make! That’s why we have David Kliman with us to speak the truth on events, how you can make important connections at your event and how to nurture those connections. 
 
What do you wish more people knew about events?:
 
Events can be business game-changing vehicles. 
Takeaways 
 
Events can be used as a way to finally meet face to face with someone and have a real conversation with them.
Customize the content of your event to reflect on what your guests are most interested in.
Your speech shouldn’t sound manufactured, it should sound like you genuinely care about what you’re saying.
You can have a great point with great cadence but if what you’re saying just sounds generic then no one will remember it. 
In the upcoming years it is to be expected that there will be a big recovery for events in the event industry that will lead to in person events. There will also be a lot more flexibility for both in person and virtual events to happen at the same time.
It’s important to nurture your network, make sure you keep a solid relationship with everyone in your network.
Receiving feedback from your guests can really help amplify your upcoming events.
 
 
Quote of the Show:
 
“ But the piece of advice that I would give is nurture and harvest your network. Be good to everybody, you never know who's gonna offer you a gig or hire you or open a door for you.” - David Klinman
Links
 
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/david-kliman
Website: klimangroup.com  
 

If there’s one thing that will always help boost the quality of your event, it’s content! And this week’s episode we have Allison Crooker with us to discuss what it means to have engaging content at your event. Allison also talks on why having event content as part of your strategy is incredibly important. If you’re looking to learn more about event content then this is for you!
What is the one thing you wished more people knew about events?:
 
Event content is important, and a lot more important than many people initially think.
Takeaways
 
Your content marketing strategy should include your event content.
Having a variety of speakers that can speak on the technical side of an event and engage their audience is very important.
The content at your event can also be used to create even more connections.
Have content that resonates with your audience.
It’s important to have time to practice any speech that you have prepared beforehand.
Content can help an introverted audience to feel more engaged.
Speaker training can take some time to develop but over time the progress is worth it.
 
 
Quote of the Show:
 
“Your content marketing strategy should include your event content. It should be a continuum.” - Allison Crooker
Links
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Allison17108
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allicrooker/

Dean Armintrout is here with us today! An event planning expert, Dean shares with us the real facts of what goes into planning an event and why it’s not just planning a party. There are so many different cogs helping the event planning machine function and this episode has plenty of knowledge on that topic! 
 
 
What do you wish people knew about events:
 
Planning an event is a much more difficult task than most people think.
Takeaways
 
A lot more time and effort goes into events than people think.
Planning an event is a huge team effort, there are hundreds of things that have to be done before the whole event is ready.
Focus on what you can control. 
Communicate with anyone on your team about what is and isn’t working so you all stay on the same page.
Moving events to virtual instead of in person can bring in new challenges that weren’t there before.
An event that has to be planned virtually can still be very engaging if it still provides a similar experience.
 
 
Quote of the Show:
 
“And if you're doing a live event or even a virtual live event, you've got one shot to get it right.” - Dean Armintrout
Links
 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDeanZine
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/dean-armintrout
Website: https://www.t-mobile.com/

On this very first episode of Speaking of Events we have Chuck Santoro, founder and Chief Creative of PROSCENIUM. Chuck is here to kick things off right for us with some wonderful conversations, giving us the insider knowledge of what it takes to really make an event a success. Hybrid events are discussed in-depth, can we really have the same experience if we’re not physically there? Find out right here on Speaking of Events!
 
 
What do you find most challenging?
 
Where are you going to have/host your event. 
Takeaways
 
Having everyone as comfortable as possible behind the scenes makes things even easier on your presenter
Rehearsing is key to a successful presentation
With hybrid events becoming the most popular style of event, it’s important to plan accordingly for both those showing up in person and online. 
Someone at an in-person event isn’t going to experience the event the same way as someone online, even if they both are witnessing the same event
You can’t replace common event practices, like networking, that you experience in-person with an online experience
Having good food can go a long way
 
Quote of the Show:
“It's about, visuals, there's lighting, there's cues, it's about everybody. So everyone feels comfortable to make you the presenter even better at their position” - Chuck Santoro
Links
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chuck-santoro-b1346a14/
Website: prosceniumgroup.com