Back in March of this year, the world came crashing down on all of us. Faced with a global pandemic that is still sweeping the world and reaching across continents, the events industry was suddenly facing total collapse. And even the most resilient amongst us had to take a minute to let it sink in. What would happen to us now? Should we keep everything on stand by and wait for it to get better? And how are we supposed to survive this as event professionals? But now that several months have gone ...
Nov 19, 2020•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 56
This week, our episode of the Event Brew is a little bit different. Because what we all love the most about the podcast is listening to the Crew chat candidly, it's a great one. But why is it different, you might ask? Well, because there's no specific topic to dive into. Instead, our lovely hosts Thuy Diep, Will Curran, and Dustin Westling sat down to look over some of their favorite articles and discuss some events industry news, as well as world news. In a sense, it might feel like we're stagn...
Nov 05, 2020•45 min•Ep. 55
Let's talk about retreats for event profs. So, who doesn't love a good retreat? Whether it is within your company or you go all by yourself, these experiences can be life-changing. Because it's no secret that, human beings, we all need to retreat from something at some point. Maybe we just want to recharge. Or maybe we need to stay quiet for a little while. Whatever the reason is, there are many good things to be said about retreats - and retreats for event profs in particular. So on this week's...
Oct 16, 2020•41 min•Ep. 54
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, many people felt the economic consequences. And few industries have felt this impact quite like the events industry did. Many event profs found themselves jobless overnight. But on the opposite side of the spectrum, those that chose to embrace the virtual landscape began growing their business. Companies that fall into this category are now hiring in order to answer the demand of the virtual market. The Brew Crew just so happens to include two people going t...
Oct 02, 2020•39 min•Ep. 53
Tomorrowland 2020 happened recently, and the result is something no one was expecting. Like many other high-profile events, the festival was forced to make the decision of either canceling or going virtual. Well, they chose the latter, and now the events industry has solid proof that not only can digital experiences be a success, but they can bring even better results than in-person events. And there's a lot to be discussed and learned from the whole ordeal! So on this week's Event Brew, Will Cu...
Sep 18, 2020•49 min•Ep. 52
The Live Events Coalition has been making waves around the industry. After a pandemic almost put a complete stop to the industry, a group of people knew something had to be done. And so, they rallied together in the name of the events industry and all of the people who found themselves jobless and hopeless without a single warning. But what exactly is the Live Events Coalition? And what is it doing for event professionals all across the country? What can we learn, and most importantly, what can ...
Sep 04, 2020•40 min•Ep. 51
News recently broke out that IMEX America 2020 won’t be taking place. And it’s been hitting a lot of people in the industry extremely hard, which is understandable. IMEX has also been regarded as one of the most important events for planners and professionals, not just in the US, but all over the world. Seeing this incredible and monumental experience make the decision to cancel can have quite an emotional impact. However, considering the circumstances, it’s the right thing to do. With this in m...
Aug 20, 2020•29 min•Ep. 48
It’s recently been announced that the Republican National Convention will take place in-person. So not virtual, not hybrid , but fully old school. Understandably, this has been received by people all over the country with mixed reactions. Some are in chock. And some are in agreement. Others simply don’t know what to think anymore. But what we want to discuss today is how we should feel from the perspective of event professionals. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Obviously, the pandemic is st...
Aug 20, 2020•28 min•Ep. 50
The annual trade show organized by the Consumer Technology Association known as CES has long been considered the digital stage for innovation. From its Westworld-inspired activations to the exciting technology it presents to its tech-savvy audience, CES has consistently been pushing forward. And yet again, the people behind the show seem to be at the forefront of change. Because it’s recently been announced that CES 2021 will be entirely virtual, keeping up with the latest trend. Many people in ...
Aug 06, 2020•37 min•Ep. 49
It's the question on everyone's minds, and the Brew Crew is here to answer - what is a hybrid event? Sure, superficially it might seem easy to understand. But we want to go deeper than just your standard Oxford Dictionary definition. What makes hybrid events great? Why are they so important? And what can planners do to create a successful hybrid experience in a world where these types of events are gaining enormous momentum? That's exactly what Will Curran, Thuy Diep, and Nick Borelli are bringi...
Jul 23, 2020•43 min•Ep. 47
Ignoring politics, in general, is hard. Ignoring politics during the current state of things is impossible. As the world struggles to contain a global pandemic and a series of protests arise throughout several countries, event planners need to take a step back. Once again, we urge you to remember why you chose this profession and why you love this industry. And a while ago, we touched upon this topic when we discussed storytelling . But amidst current circumstances, it becomes more relevant than...
Jul 09, 2020•42 min•Ep. 45
It's time to talk about safety - and that means CDC guidelines for events. Because in a world where COVID-19 is still present, planners need to start getting up to date with the program. As the economy starts opening back up, the events industry has to keep up with the measures put in place to protect people. Hybrid events will come into play. And in order to make attendees feel safe, as well as to respect the CDC guidelines for events, some studying and research become necessary. Obviously, thi...
Jul 02, 2020•37 min•Ep. 44
This week's Event Brew will take you on a journey through the GBAC STAR Accreditation. So, are you confused yet? It does sound like a mouthful, but in the COVID-19 era, this will be new code venues swear by. A couple of weeks ago, Bizbash published an article tackling the topic. And because this podcast is all about bringing you the latest news in the industry, we had to break this down for you. So, in its essence, the GBAC STAR Accreditation represents a series of cleaning, disinfecting, and di...
Jun 18, 2020•31 min•Ep. 43
Let’s talk about how virtual events can be better than face to face. Because there are a lot of misconceptions flying around in regards to virtual experiences. On the one hand, event planners everywhere are adopting this format. On the other hand, they’re only doing it because they don’t have a choice. And it’s quite hard to find someone in the industry that believes virtual events can be just as good, or even better, than in-person ones. After all, how can sitting in front of a computer ever co...
Jun 11, 2020•47 min•Ep. 42
When will in-person events return? That's been the question on everyone's minds since the rug was pulled from under our feet. As an industry, we've gone through some troubled times in the past. But nothing has tested our motivation and persistence quite like the COVID-19 pandemic. Because all of a sudden, no one knew what to do anymore. The events industry covers a significant portion of people who depend on it to make ends meet. And people depend on it to establish meaningful connections, to le...
Jun 04, 2020•45 min•Ep. 41
As event professionals, we're bound to the duty of care. In case you're not fully aware of what this means, the Legal Dictionary defines it as the "responsibility of a person or organization to take all reasonable measures necessary to prevent activities that could result in harm to other individuals and/or their property". And if you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Because planners are responsible for the safety of their attendees. Whether that applies to physical or emotional harm, we...
May 28, 2020•41 min•Ep. 40
Recently, BizBash shared an article that proposed the hub and spoke method . Now, why does this make sense and what does it even mean? Let us paint a vivid picture for you: as a pandemic sweeps the world, the events industry suffers. But planners and profs alike are resourceful, which is why we're seeing a huge spike in virtual events. And as days pass, there is only one certainty all of us can agree on. In the words of David Adler, "the world that we knew is over". Which might seem a little sca...
May 14, 2020•32 min•Ep. 36
Remote work is the new normal. And not just for the events industry, but for many people around the world. The current state of things surrounding the global pandemic forced companies to take quick action. In many ways, remote work can be a blessing. It affords more freedom, a better balance between personal and professional life, and overall more productivity. And due to the number of tools and technology available to us, it becomes seamless to implement. It’s not a new paradigm by new means; f...
May 08, 2020•44 min•Ep. 35
It’s time we talk about webinar fatigue. Because as the events industry makes its shift to virtual, this issue increases. Many people are home right now, and it’s not uncommon for some to attend several webinars a week. And some even go through several a day! So it’s no wonder attendees are starting to experience this phenomenon of webinar fatigue. After all, there are only so many hours one can sit in front of a screen and consume content before feeling completely exhausted. But the biggest pro...
May 07, 2020•38 min•Ep. 38
Late last week news broke that there will probably be no events until 2021. The mayor of Los Angeles confirmed it, and New York and Los Angeles were quick to follow suit. And of course, this is big news for the events industry. Even though some saw it coming, it’s still devastating on top of all the disruption that has already been caused in the industry. However, it’s important that we analyze all sides of the situation in order to draw any conclusions and strategies. So, what will no events un...
Apr 20, 2020•30 min•Ep. 37
The impact of the coronavirus on the events industry has been brutal. A pandemic that few saw coming completely turned things upside down for planners and profs in an instant. And while everyone still tries to adjust to the new normal, they can’t help but contemplate how easily things can fall apart. If such a small, invisible organism can have this kind of impact, how vulnerable is our industry, really? What are other factors that can completely disrupt the world of events? Check out the full b...
Apr 17, 2020•45 min•Ep. 34
The world has been shaken to the very core by something no one was prepared for. And the events industry has been one of the most affected sectors. At this point, it's safe to say things have changed dramatically. They have changed to the point where event profs everywhere are still trying to figure out what the best strategies are. How can they still offer people unforgettable experiences? What will our industry look like when everything blows over? How will the structures that hold the sector ...
Apr 16, 2020•47 min•Ep. 33
The events industry, just like many other industries right now, is suffering. And no one knows exactly what the effects of this will be in the long-run. Because this is such an unprecedented situation, fear is settling in. But on this week's episode of the Event Brew, we want to focus on unity. We want to remind every single person in the industry that if there was a time to reach out, tell your story, and talk, this is it. You are not alone. And we are stronger together. So join our incredible ...
Mar 27, 2020•40 min•Ep. 32
As of right now, we’re facing a world without live events. And how long it will last is still uncertain. Because this is an unprecedented situation in modern days, the industry is confused. Where to go from here? And what does a world without live events mean for event profs? Many are choosing to turn to virtual events as a way to keep things moving. But there are many other things worth discussing regarding the reality we’re living right now. This is why the Brew Crew prepared this episode. Nic...
Mar 24, 2020•51 min•Ep. 30
It’s time to take some notes and learn how to plan better virtual events! So as we all know, the events industry is witnessing a major shift. And many planners are looking to turn their in-person events into virtual events. But because this is fairly new ground, very few people know what it entails. Or even where to get started. And when we’re going in blind, chances are, we’ll be making plenty of mistakes…some of which are more than avoidable. This is why this week’s Event Brew is all about how...
Mar 19, 2020•52 min•Ep. 31
Pricing transparency is one of those hot topics in the events industry . And while everyone knows its importance, not everyone is willing to talk about it. Or to acknowledge that there are plenty of underlying issues related to it. So what better place to start the conversation than Event Brew, the most unapologetic podcast in the industry? Because if there’s one thing we enjoy doing here is not only to drink the tea but spill it too – whether it is wages or controversial speakers . So this week...
Mar 12, 2020•50 min•Ep. 27
If you’re packing for Vegas on your way to TSE and Catersource , this is the episode for you! So, you know that here in Event Brew we like to tackle the most sensitive topics. But we also love to give you the best tips for professionals in the industry. And, of course, the scoop on the hottest topics going around. And since TSE and Catersource are only a few days away, we thought it was a good idea to fill you in. Essentially, everything you need to know before attending! Our lovely Brew Crew is...
Mar 05, 2020•41 min•Ep. 26
Why is it important to design events with empathy? Actually, let's not start there. Why is empathy important in general? And why should we, as event profs, pay any mind to it? Well, simply put, because we're humans. Because we're putting together experiences for people, and we want them to have an amazing experience. And this seems like something automatic, something we don't have to think about because we just make it happen by default. Right? Unfortunately, not quite. So we decided to open up ...
Feb 28, 2020•38 min•Ep. 25
It’s the conversation you always wanted but never had – wages in the events industry! Because we all know that in this industry, this topic is very taboo. And what do we do better than anyone else here in Event Brew? We talk about the sensitive topics that everyone is too afraid to tackle. So, just in case our episode about controversial speakers wasn’t enough, we’re going after the money. And we’re going to ask some very opportune questions that you’ve been super curious to discuss. Our lovely ...
Feb 20, 2020•42 min•Ep. 22
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it seems fitting that we tackle relationships in the events industry. And more specifically, why they are so hard. Because this is a struggle that many event profs face. What makes us so hard to date? And why is getting married and settling down such a challenge? This was the premise for this week’s episode of Event Brew. So, our lovely hosts are more than ready to get the conversation going. Will Curran, Thuy Diep, Dustin Westling, and Nick Borelli a...
Feb 13, 2020•39 min•Ep. 24
