Event Brew (Endless Events)

It's Thursday, which means it's time to get brewing! Since Thuy had to skip today's episode, it's only the guys who will keep you company today. And what's on the menu? Today's episode is not an event brew, but rather an event stew. Nick, Dustin, and Will share what's on their minds regarding the events industry in 2021. Everything goes!

They review some of the biggest summer 2021 events, Nick and Will talk a little bit about the news surrounding virtual event platforms, and Dustin speaks his mind about labor shortages in the events industry (and nearly starts a revolution!). Tune in, it's an episode that flows even better than a morning cup of coffee!

Event professionals can start their career paths in almost any job or industry. This is something the Brew Crew knows well, as today’s hosts share a combined 82 years of industry experience with a wide range of event jobs that led them to where they are today.

In this episode of the Event Brew podcast, Deanna Nwosu, Will Curran, Nick Borelli, and Arianna Black share their career journeys, the event jobs they’ve held, and advice they wish they’d known when first starting their careers. A big shout out to our listener, Kelsey D. Today’s episode directly responds to her question, “How did you get started in the events industry?”

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 Brew Crew is in full force. Thuy Diep, Dustin Westling, Will Curran, and Nick Borelli are ready to take on the topic of wages in the events industry. So choose your favorite brew, make sure the coffee is freshly made and the tea is just the right temperature. Press play and join us for another exciting episode!

Two weeks ago, a brave whistleblower came forward and told the world the ugly truth about Facebook. The result? The social network came crashing down and many users decided to abandon the platform once and for all. Since the Brew Crew never shies away from giving their perspective on current events, they decided to talk about social networks: the good, the bad, and the ugly. It's not the first time that the charismatic foursome talked about social media, and it's probably not the last time either.

Are social networks dying? Where does that leave business owners? Is social media really as horrible as we make it out to be? After all, aren't we more connected than we've ever been? Tune in and find out what our lovely hosts have to say about social platforms!

The Brew Crew is continuing its summer trend of reviewing the industry events! Today, they review The Special Event (TSE) that took place at the Miami Convention Center from July 19th to July 22nd. Thuy, Dustin, and Nick all got to see each other while there. Will transformed into an interviewer, asking the Brew Crew what they loved about the event and what they thought could've been better.

This particular Event Brew episode is quick, humorous, and dynamic. Sit back and press play; besides the highlights of TSE + Catersource, you'll find out how hard it is to travel to the States from Canada and what our lovely hosts really think of Miami.

As an event professional, you likely rely on some degree of creativity and inspiration to design events, drive innovation, and make your mark on the attendee experience. But when the creativity wheels aren’t turning, and the inspiration isn’t flowing, it can feel hard to come up with fun or even new ideas and make meaningful progress at work. That’s why in this episode of the Event Brew, the Brew Crew is talking about event inspiration, creativity, and innovation. 

Together, they’ll share where they draw inspiration from. Spoiler alert, for some, it’s a shoe, and for others, it’s an old idea made new. How exactly do they build up their creativity muscles? Tune in to find out.

The Event Brew squad is tackling a complex topic today; a topic most event planners have contemplated in the last two years. It's time to talk about audience engagement on event platforms!

The topic was inspired by Encore's article, titled 'Keep Attendees Engaged with an Interactive Event Platform'. The Event Tech Podcast has tackled this topic from multiple angles, but today, we can get an inside scoop from Dustin, Nick, and Thuy, as well.

Event professionals are divided when it comes to implementing event technology to boost audience engagement. Some swear by it, some believe that technology alone is enough to get the crowd going (spoiler alert: it's not), and some avoid it at all costs and refuse to adapt to the breakneck speed of change.

The Brew Crew, too, has many differentiating opinions about this topic. Some have confessed to mostly preferring Zoom calls over any other platforms, while others think event platforms can revolutionize events as we know them. Press play and enjoy!

See the episode show notes here.

Have you ever thought about how we could make the world a better place? Since the events industry is all about bringing people together and nurturing communities, that's kind of what event professionals indirectly try to do. At least that's the case that the Brew Crew will try to make today. For this occasion, Will and Nick are joined by a very special guest: Brandt Krueger, Will's co-host on the Event Tech Podcast. What is this, a crossover episode? Well, kind of, except the trio doesn't talk that much about event tech.

Instead, they take a closer look at the world we live in and philosophize away. It's not a conversation about the events industry per se; it's a sociological and psychological assessment of our society at large. A society that's being torn apart by divisive rhetoric, hate speech, and disrespect. Will, Nick, and Brandt (or should we say, Aristotle, Socrates, and Plato) explore ways of transcending these issues and the role of the events industry in this honorable endeavor. So we highly encourage you to press play. After all, this concerns everyone on this planet!

Will has exciting news to share with Dustin and Thuy today. Last Saturday, he had his first 2021 live event experience when he went to a 15,000-person music festival in Arizona. Wait, what!? And there's more! There were no masks in sight - just people having some good old time. He's ready to spill all the tea about this unforgettable experience and wants to know what his co-hosts have to say about it.

Whether you're in B2B, B2C, or you simply love music festivals, this episode offers an insightful glimpse into the future. The brew crew talks about Will's night, current restrictions in the US and Canada, and as always, speculate what the future holds. So, put the kettle on and press play!

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 scary and even outright demoralizing at first. But if we really think about it, the fact that the world is changing isn't necessarily a bad thing.

Because the world is constantly changing! And the events industry changes along with it, making an effort to implement the newest technology and push forward sustainability concerns. As humans and event professionals, we have no choice but to adapt to the new circumstances if we want to survive and, eventually, thrive. So, what can we expect from a world post-pandemic? If things won't be exactly as they were, then what will they be like?

It's within this scope that David Adler introduces the hub and spoke method. This is essentially a way to connect small groups of people and speakers across several venues, merging old-school and virtual events together in spectacular fashion. And the Brew Crew has a lot to say about it! So join us this week as Will Curran, Nick Borelli, and Dustin Westling get together to discuss what the hub and spoke model could mean for the events industry and how planners can adapt to the new world. Grab your favorite drink, press play, and don't waste another minute - let's talk about the future!

In recent years, “cannabis” and “marijuana” have been hot topics of interest for event professionals. And with the increasing legalization of the psychoactive drug, conversations around cannabis for events are at an all-time high. As the industry comes to terms with this new reality, many event professionals aren’t sure what to do next. ‘Bud’ if one thing is clear, cannabis is here to stay. 

From CBD wellness retreats to cannabis at HR conferences, events are experiences that can benefit from intentional design with cannabis in mind. And today, the Brew Crew wonders how long it will be until you can find cannabis at an event near you. In this episode of the Event Brew podcast, Nick, Will, and Deanna make a joint effort to discuss the similarities and differences between cannabis and alcohol, what event professionals should prepare for, and how to make an excellent cannabis introduction at your event.

The Event Brew is back after a well-deserved holiday break! Inspired by their time off, the Brew Crew will talk about taking a break as an event professional. Will, Dustin, and Thuy know all about staying productive all year round and have all experienced event-industry-related burnout in the past. But as they matured, they learned their ways to work around it. In this episode, they share their tips to stay energized when the going gets tough.

They also share how they spent their time off in December and what they like to do while vacationing. Brew something up, press play, and get to know the Brew Crew on a more personal level!

Oscars 2021 are just around the corner and the producers of the show have announced that attending virtually won't be a possibility this year. Hoping for the event to be inspirational and aspirational, they asked the attendees to come dressed to the nines and leave their casual attires at home. 

The Event Brew crew is not sure how they feel about in-person-only Oscars 2021 and the authenticity of the gala event's theme, "Stories Matter". Sure, we are all excited about the idea of attending in-person events again. However, giving attendees no choice but to attend in-person comes across as rather insensitive and exclusionary in these particular times. In today's episode, Thuy, Nick, and Dustin read the letter that the producers had sent the nominees and share their concerns, both as consumers and as event profs.

What’s brewing, event prof? Have you been reevaluating the events industry lately? If not, you might want to press play and hear out what the Event Brew hosts have to say about that. It seems that our industry changes on a weekly basis; one week, we’re planning a safe return to in-person events, only to be advised to play it safe and pivot to virtual again the next. Our passionate commentators, Will Curran, Nick Borelli, and Dustin Westling, recently had a candid conversation, sparked by one particular question.

Will brought up the fact that Rachel Wimberly wrote an article for Trade Show News Network, titled ‘Please Stop Asking if Attendance ‘Was Down’ at Shows Running Right Now‘. He was curious to learn what his co-hosts had to say about that. Do they agree? What does having low attendance say about an event? And most importantly, what brew are they drinking? Tune in and you’ll find out!

Amid industry-wide event budget cuts, global inflation, and nationwide layoffs, teams across the events industry are forced to decide which things to keep, remove, or reduce in the budget. So in this episode of the Event Brew podcast, the crew shares their thoughts on what they’d keep, cut, and remove. 

But before we dive into budgets, let’s introduce our special co-host, Xander Castro. Our history with Xander started years ago when he worked for Endless as a freelance ghostwriter. Since then, he’s worked as an event planner and is now the Events Director at Tiny Seed. He was also featured on an earlier episode of #EventIcons. There, you’ll be able to hear more about his background. 

Thanks to Xander’s input in today’s episode, the Brew Crew is taking a gamified approach to the heavy topic of budgets. Given the ability to choose the episode topic, he says this: “I dropped in a random idea that just popped into my mind, the PG version of kiss, marry, kill.” The idea is, “If you look at budgets being cut and your clients are looking at stripping away some of the numbers you have for specific budget items, what are the things you need to keep? What are the things that you have an opportunity to cut? And, what are some of the things that you can completely do away with?” So without further ado, let’s see what the Brew Crew would do.  

The whole world is talking about it, including the Brew Crew: inflation and recessions are on the horizon - yet again. In certain industries, it has fully arrived. But since the events industry is so interconnected with the rest of the economy, event profs are also starting to feel the effects of rising costs and labor shortages. We cannot help but wonder and worry: are events going to survive?

Nick, Thuy, and Will take on this complicated topic. And even though things are looking bleak, there is a way to overcome these economic challenges. All it takes is a little bit of creativity, empathy, and intentional design. Tune in and find out!

See the episode's show notes. 

The tea is hotter than ever today and all thanks to the topic of controversial speakers! So, you already know that the Event Brew dares to tackle topics without a filter. And the conversations you hear on this podcast are as candid as they get within the events industry. This is why we decided to go ahead and touch upon the whole ordeal of controversial speakers at events. Who are they? And why are they labeled this way? What can they mean for your event?

All of this and more is what you can expect of today's episode of Event Brew. And it wouldn't be the same without our lovely hosts! Will Curran, Nick Borelli, Dustin Westling, and Thuy Diep are ready to drink their brew and spill it. So, are you curious about what they have to say? And you simply can't wait to know more about this topic? Well, then grab your favorite pipping hot drink and press play right now! Click here for additional resources and the full transcript! 

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 here in full force. And even though only Will Curran and Dustin Westling will be attending this year, Nick Borelli and Thuy Diep are veteran goers. So they all have something to add to the conversation. And, of course, the best info to help you make the most out of the experience. Press play and grab your favorite drink, it’s time for Event Brew!

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 still going strong in the States. Cases are steadily rising, so the return of in-person events doesn’t sound like a reasonable expectation. But now that the RNC is taking that step, should the industry rejoice? Should we be hopeful about the announcement? Or should we be wary of the consequences? Well, that’s exactly what the Brew Crew will be talking about today. So grab your favorite drink, press play, and join Will Curran, Thuy Diep, and Nick Borelli for another amazing episode of Event Brew!

These are exciting times for the events industry! We are returning to in-person events while fully embracing the biggest lessons we learned from pivoting to virtual events last year. Some might have taken them for granted in the past, but now, events are something everybody feels profoundly grateful for.

It's only fitting that in this new era in the history of events industry, a new type of an event prof emerges. Let's put all the technology talk on a side and instead, welcome the holistic event professional with a fresh perspective and mindset. Here are Will, Nick, and Dustin, the beloved Event Brew crew to share what it takes to be such an event prof!

For those who might have missed it, there was an awesome hybrid event happening in Phoenix, Arizona last week: PCMA EduCon: We Are Better Together! As anticipated, it was a huge success and the Event Brew hosts are here to tell the story.

Will, Thuy, and Nick revisit PCMA EduCon 2021 and share three different perspectives: one of a co-host, one of a virtual attendee, and one of an educated outside observer. What went right and what went wrong? They spill it all!

As they start wrapping up the year, the Brew Crew talks about the final quarter. It turns out that it's the most productive season for most of them! But while some reached peak productivity in October, others are putting lots of hours in in December.

In the final 2021 episode of the Event Brew podcast, Nick, Thuy, and Will talk about their workload in December and Q4 in general. They talk about the (not so good) old days when they were more prone to exhaustion and burnout. But as they got more familiar with the events industry, they started to get a hang of the work-life balance. Make sure to tune in and find out what their secrets are. Personal and genuine, this episode is an absolute classic!

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 compare to the raw and classic face to face experience?

The industry is facing a series of challenges. And when everything seems to be crumbling around us, there’s a tendency to only see the bad. So there’s clearly a lot of reluctancy on the part of event professionals when it comes to the potential success of a virtual event. But here’s the kicker – if only you open your mind to it, you might be very surprised at how virtual events can be better than face to face. So grab your favorite drink and join the Brew Crew. Because Nick Borelli, Thuy Diep, Will Curran, and Dustin Westling have a lot of wisdom to share on this week’s episode of Event Brew!

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 to plan better virtual events. Will Curran and Thuy Diep are the two members of the Brew Crew who are about to lay down some wisdom. So if you’ve been wondering exactly what it takes to put together a successful virtual event, then look no further. Grab your favorite drink and let’s get brewing! Read the blog here! 

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 until 2021 mean for the industry? And what can we do to placate the impact it might have? Will virtual events be the solution? Can event profs harness this new wave to stay afloat? These are some of the questions that the Brew Crew has. And our hosts Will Curran, Thuy Diep, Dustin Westling, and Nick Borelli have a lot of opinions and insights to share. So grab your favorite drink, press play, and join us – it’s time to brew something up! For more resources and the full transcription check out the blog! 

It's Thursday, which means it's time to get your favorite brew and join the EventBrew crew as they talk about yet another subject of debate in the exciting new world of virtual events. They put their heads together and tried to answer the following question: are virtual events really more inclusive and accessible? As always, the answer to the question is complex, but our hosts succeeded to tackle it from various perspectives.

Will, Dustin, Nick, and Thuy were brimming with wisdom this week. Tune in to learn how to make virtual events more inclusive and accessible!

A recently published Freeman report highlights a significant shift in the demographics of B2B event attendees. With this new generation of younger, more diverse, and more educated attendees emerging, the event industry must adapt to meet their evolving needs and expectations.

In this episode of the Event Brew podcast, Xander, Will Curran, Arianna, and Nick dive into this shift; from understanding the motivations behind younger attendees, and rethinking exhibit halls, to embracing new technology, the Brew Crew explores how event professionals can harness this shift in demographics to create events that cater to the next generation of event-goers. Tune in and find out what they have to say!

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 together fundamentally change events? And what will attendee expectations post-coronavirus look like? Check out the blog and more episodes here! 

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, things will keep changing accordingly to the state of the world. But that's just another reason for event professionals to stay on top of these guidelines. Because as we discussed recently, only events that ensure safety will emerge as the winners. So, what are the biggest risk factors? And what must event planners do to ensure maximum safety for their attendees now and in the future? Are there any specific measures depending on the size and nature of the event? All of this and more will be discussed on this week's episode of Event Brew, hosted by Thuy Diep, Will Curran, and Nick Borelli. So press play and join the conversation!

As things currently stand in the events industry, we're planning events in 2022 as if the COVID-19 pandemic never existed. The mask mandates are gone and COVID compliance talk has all but disappeared. In-person events are back in all their glory. And to the Event Brew hosts, they often look identical to 2019. But is that a good thing? According to this episode, not so much.

Dustin, Nick, and Will are joined by a very special guest that some might know from #EventIcons: Deanna Nwosu. She notes that, indeed, some events look a lot like 2019 in 2022. But why is that so? What would the Brew Crew have event planners do to plan better events? 

This is a well-rounded and pragmatic episode that touches upon the reality of event planning, budgeting, event marketing, event strategy, proving event ROI, and more. Deanna's perspective adds a breath of fresh air to the Event Brew podcast, so make sure to tune in and hear what she has to say about planning events in 2022.

See episode's show notes here.

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 episode of Event Brew, Dustin Westling, Will Curran, and Thuy Diep get together to discuss the topic. What are their personal experiences with retreats? And in light of recent events - pandemic and consequent lockdown - will they become even more common? Will our industry adopt these retreats for event profs as a way to reconnect socially? Join us and learn more!

It's been almost a year since we were all told to stay at home. And while we've all been wondering when will in-person events make a comeback, event profs agree that it's time we adjust to the changes that were thrust upon us. Many didn't give remote workplace design a thought at first. Since remote work is here to stay, it's time to bring ourselves up to speed, don't you agree?

In today's Even Brew, Will, Dustin, Nick, and Thuy talk about their experience working remotely, all things remote workplace design, and how it might impact live events. There's no shortage of great tips and innovative ideas, so strap yourself in and press play!

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 problem here is that webinar fatigue has the potential to affect our livelihood. Because as event profs, we are now dependent on people wanting to attend these virtual events. So how can we manage this newfound challenge? That’s exactly what the Brew Crew sat down to discuss this week. Our incredible hosts Will Curran, Nick Borelli, and Thuy Diep share their personal experience and insights as to why this is happening and how we can potentially tackle it. So grab your favorite drink and join us!

November might generally be an uneventful month, but not for the events industry. For us, it's time to do business and reunite in person at one of the biggest and most exciting trade shows in our industry: IMEX! This week, Nick, Thuy, and Will review their experience at IMEX America 2021, held for the very first time at Mandalay Bay.

Everyone was looking forward to going to IMEX America 2021, especially since the iconic trade show was canceled last year due to COVID. The Brew Crew talks about their highlights, lowlights, COVID compliance, the stepping challenge, and much more. It's a quintessential Event Brew episode, so don't miss it out!

Great event professionals know that it's vital to always have a plan B ready when planning events. They know how to deal with bad weather at events, and how to build a crisis communication plan. However, according to Event Brew, many are yet to master planning disruption-proof events amidst the pandemic - or at least master the way they communicate the unavoidable uncertainty. 

This Event Brew episode might be short, but it's nonetheless a treat: after many weeks apart, we're finally going to hear from all four members of the iconic Brew Crew! They give us concrete advice on building out backup plans and communicating with attendees, sponsors, and exhibitors. Let's get brewing!

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 through these opposing experiences. Thuy Diep has a unique perspective to offer in terms of being currently unemployed. And Will Curran can speak on the side of an event company hiring and what that means for Endless and the industry. So on this week’s episode of the Event Brew, our listeners can get a sense of what it feels like to be on each side: unemployed event prof versus event company hiring. How does the pandemic affect them? What advice do they have to offer? Press play right now and find out!

On a more exciting note, today we're covering MeetingsNet best stories of 2019. And if you're an events industry professional, you probably know all about it. Because where else would you get the best ideas and insights? Aside from Event Brew, of course! Well, this week, we decided to record a discussion around the most-read articles of the past year. This way, you can get our hosts' opinions on the things that created the most buzz in the industry for the past 12 months.

So, hosting today are the always lovely Will Curran, Dustin Westling, and Thuy Diep. And together, they will go over MeetingsNet best stories and giving you their opinions and insights on the matters at hand. It's going to be an episode jam-packed with information, so wait no longer. Press play and let's get brewing! For additional resources and the full blog post click here! 

Marketing has changed significantly over the last 10 to 15 years. Content marketing has seen a boom in activity. Twenty years ago, content marketing was what people wanted to be doing. Today, everyone’s doing it. And according to Will, it might be the bare minimum for brand awareness. What’s next?

In today’s episode, Will Curran and Nick Borrelli talk about what’s in the future for event marketing. With Web 3.0 on the horizon, the internet is changing, and marketing for events must keep up. They see a future built on community, collective movement, and mission-driven behavior as community members determine the direction of content rather than marketers themselves. 

What do you see as the future of marketing for events? Email us! Tag us on LinkedIn with #EventBrew. Or visit our website and leave a comment. We’d love to hear from you!

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 ever.

Event planners have a responsibility towards their attendees and, to a certain extent, towards the world. The power of events lies in bringing people together, no matter the circumstances. And so far, we proved successful. But how does event planning around political unrest work? What part do we play in being game-changers and help push the world forward? Join Nick Borelli, Dustin Westling, and Thuy Diep as they discuss this topic on this week's incredible edition of Event Brew!

While the metaverse is not a fully-fledged event trend just yet, there is no denying that metaverse events will become increasingly more popular in the years to come. They might not be the one and only future of events, but event planners should nonetheless keep their pulse on it - and the Brew Crew gives some compelling arguments as to why that is.

It's not that event planners need to learn how to plan events in the metaverse or else risk staying behind. As Nick emphasizes over and over again, event professionals have a desirable skill set for those who work in the metaverse. After all, the metaverse is about designing immersive, 3D experiences - and so are in-person events.

Tune in to this educational episode about up-and-coming trends: from web 3.0 to using Fortnite as a venue. The Brew Crew explains everything in layperson's terms and gives the listeners some advice about getting started in the exciting world of futuristic event technology.

See the episode show notes here. 

It seems that the happenings on the global stage just won't give us a break. Now that the COVID-19 pandemic is somewhat under control, there is a full-blown war on the European continent once again. And so, the Event Brew takes on yet another controversial topic this week: the impact of the Russia-Ukraine war on the events industry.

But before they get into the nitty-gritty of economic sanctions against Russia and the prices of gas and oil, the Event Brew recognizes the human toll being paid in Ukraine. They try to steer as much as possible away from politics and only focus on the field they know inside out: events.

Check out the episode show notes on Endless Events.

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 disease prevention standards with the aim of promoting the health and safety of attendees.

And considering the events that have taken place, and continue to exist, it's no wonder such an accreditation came to be. Because now more than ever, safety is paramount in the events industry. And venues that wish to stay afloat must put extra effort into assuring this safety. At its core, it's about trust and credibility. But what exactly does the GBAC STAR Accreditation entail? Will it represent a step forward towards the "new normal"? And what does it mean for the industry as a whole? Well, if you're curious, then smash that play button and join the Brew Crew - Thuy, Nick, and Will - on another amazing episode!

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 bringing to the table on today's episode of Event Brew. As per usual, our incredible hosts are ready to have a candid, filter-free conversation about the topic. Everything you've ever wanted to know about design for hybrid events, how to make them stand out, and why they will be the future if done right will be discussed this week. So grab your favorite drink and join the party!

Happy Holidays from the Brew Crew to you! We want to take a break from our regularly scheduled planning to wish you and your family a happy holidays. Want more Event Brew? Check out our past episodes! Also feel free to contact us and let us know what you want to see in the New Year!

Since the dawn of civilization, humans have fostered and admired creativity. Being creative is a wonderful feeling, a rush of sorts, and one that pretty much powers the most wonderful things in life. And in many ways, creativity is exactly what’s at the heart of the events industry. Every little piece, every small thought and detail, from the choice of venue to the catering and the experience we want attendees to have must invariably involve some degree of creativity.

Perhaps no other instance forced event profs to tap into their creativity more than the COVID-19 pandemic. And well over a year since things completely took a turn, wondering about creativity – what it is, and where it comes from – seems more than pertinent. Well, that’s precisely what the Brew Crew decided to do! And some of their thoughts might challenge many preconceived of your notions. Time to brew something up and get creative!

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 the industry still held onto the hope that the first quarter of next year would allow for in-person events to come back with a vengeance. However, due to the current state of uncertainty, this mindset can be dangerous. And now that CES 2021 will officially be a digital experience, events industry professionals are forced to face the facts. But while having such a high-profile event move to the virtual sphere might symbolize that in-person won’t return any time soon, planners shouldn’t despair. On the contrary, if CES can do it, there’s no reason to believe you can’t!

If you still have your doubts, that’s fair. But Will Curran and Nick Borelli might be able to change your mind. In this week’s episode of Event Brew, our amazing hosts will be discussing the CES 2021 situation. Can this be the wake-up call the industry needed? Is there anything we can learn from this huge step the event has decided to take? Grab your favorite drink, press play, and join us for another episode of the most iconic podcast in the industry!

A while ago, the Event Brew talked about social networks, wondering whether it was time to log off. If that truly is the case, another question quickly arises: how to promote events without social media? How effective is social media marketing anyway? As the 365 community model continues growing in popularity, more event profs will come to realize that social media is, in the Brew Crew's opinion, boring and predictable.

Community is one way to go about promoting events without social media, but it's not just any community that will do. Additionally, you need to produce truly exceptional events that will foster attendee retention and potentially turn your audience into advocates. Tune in and find out the recipe for marketing success outside social media platforms!

As event professionals, we’re constantly striving to create meaningful experiences for attendees and stakeholders while working within limited resources and a budget. In-kind sponsorships are relationships where a business sponsors an event by providing free goods or services rather than a financial contribution. So can in-kind sponsorships for events help you meet your event goals? 

In this episode of the Event Brew, Nick, Will, Deanna, and Xander share their reactions to the term “in-kind sponsorship,” tips on navigating them, and what they think is the ideal scenario for this kind of sponsorship. Let’s dive in!

Yes, we're finally asking the million-dollar question: do we even need in-person events anymore? And no, the Brew Crew isn't trying to trigger anyone here. But rather, they're interested in starting up a conversation about the challenges we are facing as an industry. And arguably one of the biggest is trying to convince people as to why spending so much money on live events is still worth it. Sure, when the pandemic subsides, we'll all run to the first concert we can find.

But what happens when the enthusiasm dies down? What happens when people are reminded of the hassle that is spending $1,200 in a live conference that is several states away? Yes, we do need in-person events. But what kind? And why? Well, join us for another episode of Event Brew, as Thuy, Nick, Will, and Dustin attempt to answer that exact question!

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 blog here. 

n 2019, the events industry had a $1,135.4 Billion valuation, making the events industry well positioned to make an economic impact should planners support social movements like boycotts. But should they?  

In this episode of Event Brew, the entire Brew Crew shares their thoughts on planners and organizations boycotting venues, hotels, destinations, and more. Should planners have a say in event boycotts? Do boycotts even have an impact? Let’s find out.

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 hosts Will Curran, Dustin Westling, Nick Borelli, and Thuy Diep as they help you figure out just how you can support your colleagues, and be supported in return throughout these trying times. Learn more on how to support one another by reading the Blog here!

Our day-to-day lives have changed dramatically in this past year - both on a professional as well as on a personal level. In today's episode of Event Brew, Nick, Thuy, and Will will mostly talk about the latter portion of their lives. They will dive deep into social media and how their opinions about it have changed since the beginning of the pandemic.

Since we were mostly confined to the walls of our homes, social media was often the only way we could communicate with one another. But as more time passed, virtual fatigue started weighing us down. Our attitudes about social media have changed, and the brew crew is no exception. So, grab a drink, press play, and let's brew something up!

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. Nick Borelli and Thuy Diep got together with a very special guest, Amber Leeb, representing Canada. And this week, they’re discussing ideas about how to deal with the present situation. What is their take on virtual events? And what are the skills event profs can harness to use in other industries? All of this and more on today’s edition of Event Brew. So grab your favorite drink, press play, and join the conversation! For all resources check out our blog! 

As event professionals, we often reflect on our past experiences and wonder what we could have done differently. Hindsight is 20/20, and it's natural to have moments of regret or wish we'd known then what we know now. The Brew Crew isn't immune to this phenomenon.

As experienced professionals, they would have lots of knowledge to share with their younger selves, but because they cannot, Arianna, Deanna, and Will share their advice with you. With the caveat that they speak to their former selves in the third person and the benefit of hindsight, the Brew Crew brings valuable advice for event professionals. Tune in to today's Event Brew episode to find out what they have to share.

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; for years, many companies have chosen to go remote in order to promote inclusivity and better work culture.

However, for many, it requires some adjustments. For those used to work in an office environment, remote work can actually seem scary. And when it comes to the events industry, things get slightly more complex. But since there’s no other choice right now, the Brew Crew decided to sit down and discuss the topic. Our incredible hosts Nick Borelli, Thuy Diep, and Dustin Westling got together to decide whether remote work is hurting or helping the industry.

From their varying perspectives, what does this new paradigm mean to event profs? Are they more productive? Or are there simply too many distractions to make it work? What tips can they give us to make it be a saving grace and a step forward instead of something dreadful? If you want to figure out, stick around. Grab your favorite drink and press play – we’re about to brew something up!

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 all have something to share. And it gets even better because they all have different perspectives to offer. Let’s get into Cupid’s head then, shall we? Grab your favorite brew and press play – it’s time to talk about relationships in the events industry! Click here to discover!

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 Curran, Nick Borelli, and Dustin Westling got together to bounce some ideas around. What can event professionals take away from Tomorrowland 2020? And what does its success tell us about the direction the industry is taking? Press play and join us to find out!

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 the conversation surrounding empathy, and designing events with empathy. The Event Brew crew is here to discuss the topic in-depth, share their opinions, and share their tips. And if you find this something that is lacking in the industry, then wait no longer to join Dustin Westling, Nick Borelli, and Thuy Diep. Press play and let's turn up the empathy! 

New year, new Event Brew episodes! We're kicking off the year in Thuy and Will's company - Dustin and Nick had to take a raincheck. Excited for the year ahead, they talk about business strategy for events and planning in these uncertain times.

They talk about what event strategy means to them, who is involved in the decision-making process, and share how they go about creating a business strategy at their own respective workplaces. So, brew something up, sit back, and join Thuy and Will in a brand new season of Event Brew!

The great resignation has made waves across corporate America as people leave their jobs at unprecedented rates. Low pay, lack of opportunity for advancement, disrespect, and lack of flexibility are just a few reasons why employees leave, according to Pew Research. The events industry isn’t immune to the ripples of the great resignation. That’s why, in today’s episode, the Brew Crew flips the script on the topic.

With the great resignation shifting the jobs landscape, Deanna, Will, and Nick review what impact the events industry can have on the great resignation. How can events contribute to workplace culture? How can companies attract and retain talent? Tune in and find out!

Talking about event budgeting can understandably seem daunting and confusing. What even goes into organizing an event and how can we know for sure that we can trust a certain event production company? The trusted hosts of Event Brew are not afraid to talk about budgets, though, so neither should be you!

In today's Event Brew podcast, Will encourages Dustin, Nick, and Thuy to talk candidly about event budgeting. They approach the matter from the perspectives of both the event planners as well as the production companies. They explore the reasons behind the fear and distrust that often accompanies conversations about money and prove that it doesn't have to be that way. When partnerships are built on trust, budgeting conversations can be just as exciting as discussions about engagement strategies.

After a hopeful summer, filled with festivals, industry events, and a whole lot of catching up, event planners and professionals find themselves in a pickle yet again. COVID-19 cases are rising, rules and regulations around COVID-19 compliance for events are changing every month, and now, in-person events are getting canceled left and right all over again. The Brew Crew decided it's high time they share their thoughts about the dramatic return of COVID-19 in 2021 and see how their opinions have shifted since the last time they discussed it.

In a conversation that highlights both their knowledge as well as their personalities, Nick, Will, and Thuy dissect how the pandemic has impacted several sectors within the industry: corporate events, social events, and weddings, among others. They conclude that it's not just a health crisis anymore - COVID-19 is, as of 2021, also a PR and an HR issue. So, quickly brew something up and press play!

Over the years, event profs had to ask themselves many questions. These were anything from "what AV company should I hire" to "what color palette should I choose" and beyond. But never before, at least not to this extent, did they have to wonder about the chances of attendees being seriously harmed - or even dying. But now that COVID-19 has become part of our day to day lives, things are different. And this is why this week we'll be talking about responsibility in events.

Recently, it was reported that a wedding in Washington was linked to seven deaths. Deaths of people who didn't attend. And this got the Brew Crew thinking - where do we go from here? If we start planning hybrid events or very small gatherings, what happens if someone gets sick? How far does responsibility in events go? And what are the legal consequences? Well, time to find out. Press play and join us for another exciting episode of Event Brew!

The events industry is a melting pot of talent and diverse backgrounds, with event professionals bringing rich experiences and unique perspectives to the field. It’s not uncommon to find professionals holding degrees in business, communications, or marketing, complementing others with a foundation in hospitality or years of experience in related industries. But this diversity of education and experience begs the question, do you need event planning certifications to stand out?

In this episode of the Event Brew, Thuy, Dustin, and Will, explore the events industry’s low barrier to entry, the relevance of event planning certifications, and ultimately, whether you need one as a true event professional. Tune in to see where they land. But first, let’s start with the Brew Crew’s own certifications.

By now, you must have heard the big news: a lot of states have started lifting COVID restrictions. Things are going back to normal at last! Or are they? The Brew Crew is wary. Even with as many as 2 million people vaccinated in a day in the US, the events industry is still far from organizing post-COVID events.

Join Dustin, Nick, Will, and Thuy as they discuss restrictions, vaccinations, and what the future might hold for the events industry in the wake of recent news. It's a great opportunity to get to know our hosts better. They're not just talking as event profs with their own set of interests. They candidly share their personal opinions on the matter as well!

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 mind, it’s important to remember that we’re all still human and waving goodbye to IMEX America 2020 takes a big toll on everyone who holds the industry dear. So this week, Nick Borelli, Thuy Diep, and Will Curran got together to talk about in what can only be defined as a cathartic experience. Join the Brew Crew in yet another unfiltered, candid conversation about what the cancellation of IMEX means to events and the consequences of the decision. As always, it’s time to get brewing!

The world is in transition, and event industry professionals are asking questions. Does event size matter? Many events are seeing the fall of pandemic safety regulations. Does this mean large events are back? 

In today’s episode, Thuy leads the Brew Crew in a conversation about event size. While Nick, Will, and Thuy mostly agree that their preference that small events are better, they also explore the benefits of going big. Tune in and find out what the Brew Crew has to say about event size in 2022 and beyond.

In April, we talked about a recession on the horizon. As the horizon approaches, Will and Nick find that many event professionals are running on fumes. Today, the discussion is all about executing events on a reduced team. 

Teams are expected to do more with less as layoffs, downsizing, and budget cuts make waves across the economy. Whether people on your team are sick or no longer working with you, Nick and Will have several ideas on how to avoid downsizing and how to execute events on a reduced team.

The Brew Crew invites you to share your experience as the episode wraps up. How do you effectively manage your events and make them even better when you're short-staffed? Let them know by reaching out.

The state of the events industry…what is it, really? On the one hand, the pandemic seems to be doing nothing more than get worse. But on the other hand, some event profs are taking shots at doing in-person experiences safely. And in the midst of it all lives fear, uncertainty, hope, and the ever-lasting wish that things will return to what they used to be. With so many things flying around and our industry in a perpetual state of ambiguity, what should we think and feel?

This week, the Brew Crew got together for a raw conversation about the state of the events industry. Fleshing out many interesting topics and trying to figure out what’s right and what’s wrong, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. So press play and join Thuy, Nick, Dustin, and Will for one of the most candid talks you’ve heard lately!

Event professionals are so other-focused that they often forget about themselves. They try to make sure that everybody, from attendees to sponsors, is taken care of. But what about them? How do they take care of themselves and their teams? Those who do not take time to tune in with their event teams are at a far greater risk for event planner burnout. And nobody wants that!

That's why today, the Event Brew hosts are tackling the topic of team building in the events industry. We all know why team building is important, but how often do we take the time to nurture the relationships within our own organizations?

In the spirit of Valentine's Day, the Brew Crew talks about all the ways they show their teams some love and appreciation, from team exercises to planned company events. They understand that nurturing company culture in an event company is crucial to success. After all, we all work better when we know one another and genuinely like to spend time together. Tune in and find out just how loving the Brew Crew truly is!

Technology is advancing at a rapid speed. We all use all kinds of gadgets, software, and hardware products to manage our personal lives. Today, the Event Brew tackles the relationship between personal and professional life as it relates to technology. Have they ever used personal technology pieces for the events industry purposes? 

In this short but sweet conversation, Nick, Thuy, and Will share what technologies they happily use in their event lives. Tune in and find out whether they’re missing any out.

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 we do, in order to be more proactive? Join the Brew Crew for another amazing episode of the most uncensored, candid podcast in the events industry and find out.

In-person events might be back, but some things in the events industry are not going back to how things used to be before the pandemic. Take online supplier relationships, for example. It's a relatively new phenomenon in the industry, but now that the Event Brew team got a taste of it, they refuse to go back.

The digital world is teeming with opportunities to build relationships. Not to mention online platforms make those who are less extroverted feel more comfortable. However, some are not as inclined to build online supplier relationships. Why not? Tune in and find out.

Check out the episode's show notes here. 

Recently, Marriott International announced COVID-19 testing capabilities if you wish to book one of their hotels for an event. As you'd expect, the headline stirred just a tad bit of controversy amongst the Brew Crew members, and a lot of interesting topics of conversation soon arose in the midst of Merriott's incredible announcement.

Is this setting yet another precedent in our industry? Will venues' testing capabilities signify the full return to live events? And does this mean that even planners no longer have to worry about safety protocols or making testing available themselves? These are only some of the questions Will Curran, Dustin Westling, and Nick Borelli are looking to answer on this week's edition of the Event Brew. So press play and join us for yet another exciting, candid talk!

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 stagnating. But as they go deeper into the conversation, some pretty exciting topics come up. From women event profs to the gatherings that have been popping up in the age of COVID, there's plenty to talk about. So go ahead and press play so you can join the iconic Brew Crew in a relaxed conversation about what's happening in the world and the most interesting events industry news!

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 have a lot of responsibility in our hands. To a certain extent, we hold peoples' lives in our hands.

But how much thought is truly put into this? To what extents do planners go to ensure the safety and well-being of their attendees? And what consequences can come out of neglecting our duty of care? Well, that's exactly what the Brew Crew will be discussing this week! Our amazing hosts Thuy Diep, Dustin Westling, and Nick Borelli are in the house. And they are joined by a very special guest, Kevin White. The four of them will talk about the implications of the duty of care in the events industry. What we should do to ensure it, why, and how sour things can get if we don't. So grab your favorite drink and press play - it's time for another episode of Event Brew!

As our worlds continuously grow more uncertain and hectic, the Event Brew podcast doesn’t run out of hot topics to address. They’ve recently covered planning disruption-proof events in times of uncertainty. This week, however, they tackle another pressing and complex topic, inspired by a message from a loyal listener: the crossroads between event planning and politics.

Here’s the message: The Event Brew podcast discusses the importance of staying updated on current events that are happening within the political climate to fulfill the mission of their organization/stakeholders. Especially in the current state of political unrest in the country, who are they going to put in charge of making decisions regarding things that could be affected by the political climate? Are they going to require colleagues to stay educated within the political sphere? Are they going to consider only working with people/organizations who align with their ideal politics?

Tough questions, but nothing that the Brew Crew cannot answer. Tune in and see how Will, Dustin, Nick, and Thuy navigate working with organizations whose values don’t align with their personal beliefs – and more!

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 learn, to become better. In many ways, our industry is a shelter of sorts. And when it all came crashing down, it was terrifying.

But as always, event professionals proved they won't go down without a fight. And for months, we've seen an incredible spike in virtual events. Because despite everything that's been happening, people need other people now more than ever. And the events industry delivered, in spite of all the obstacles that were put in front of it.

However, it's time to start shifting the conversation. Even though the pandemic is far from done, positive signs of change can be seen all over the world. And this has prompted the question of when will in-person events return to come back. So, what will be the signs that we're at a tipping point for events? Obviously, things won't go back to the way they were before anytime soon. But that doesn't mean they will stay the way they are now. So, in the face of all of this, how can event profs prepare? What will the new normal look like? And how can the industry adapt?

That's exactly what the Brew Crew will be talking about on this week's episode! As per usual, Will Curran, Nick Borelli, Thuy Diep, and Dustin Westling are ready to lay down their predictions. So get your drink of choice and join us for another incredible edition of Event Crew, the best podcast in the events industry!

This week's conversation on Event Brew is particularly interesting. It all started with an article that informed readers of the NFL's project to fill up a stadium with vaccinated healthcare workers. And while at first, this might sound like a topic that shouldn't spring up too much heat, you might want to think again.

Because this specific article propelled Dustin, Nick, Will, and Thuy to have one of the most candid and interesting conversations featured on the podcast yet surrounding several important things. The COVID-19 vaccine, how it will affect our industry, what will be expected of event professionals once it becomes widely available, and whether or not it signals a new beginning for the industry in 2021. So, without further ado, press that play button and join in on this incredible episode of the Event Brew!

So, did you have the chance to be present at CES 2020? You know, the aptly considered "a global stage for innovation"? Well, whether you attended or not, chances are, you probably read some articles. And many of the news pieces that came out in regards to CES 2020 surrounded the same topic. HBO and their hit show Westworld, a dystopian future where technology reigns supreme in unethical ways. And that's exactly the topic we're discussing on today's Event Brew.

Today we're joined by our amazing hosts Will Curran and Nick Borelli. Because after news broke about the Westworld activation at CES 2020, they just had to jump right into it! So expect some of the most interesting discussions we've had thus far on the show. Grab your favorite drink and press play - it's time for some brewing!

Today’s episode of Event Brew will tackle the coronavirus impact on the events industry. As we’re all aware, the outbreak has been making headlines for a while now. And it seems only pertinent that we zoom into how this potentially affects our industry. Because as event profs, there are a million things we need to mindful of. This includes, of course, health-related issues, what our role demands in such situations, and what responsibilities we must keep in mind.

So this week, Will Curran and Nick Borelli take the stage to discuss the coronavirus impact on the events industry. What does this mean for planners? And what can we do to prevent potential issues? Are there any consequences we’re not aware of immediately? All of these questions will be discussed in-depth by our amazing duo of hosts. We also urge you to visit the resources section at the end of the post to get access to the best sources on the subject. So, if this particular topic has been on your mind, wait no further. Press play right now and let’s dive into the issue! Click here to begin. 

The Academy Awards have been the talk of the town recently. While the strictly in-person Oscars 2021 felt too exclusive, the Oscars 2022 served us some truly out-of-place drama. And where there is controversy brewing, the Brew Crew comes to discuss. But it's not just the slap that they'll touch upon. They'll also go over stage design, the production team, and give credit where credit is due.

As for the slap, they offer their thoughts as event profs with deep knowledge of how event production works. While the social media rushed to discuss who was at fault, the Brew Crew primarily wonders how could somebody simply run up the stage or make an unscripted joke. Tune in - you'll get a glimpse into the minds of event profs and by proxy, into the backstage at the Oscars. Enjoy!

Here are the episode's show notes.

Event gamification kind of sucks right now, but it doesn’t have to. Event organizers turn to gamification to try and drive engagement and rally excitement around an event. But more often than not, it’s just a thinly disguised tool to get attendees to do what organizers and sponsors want them to do. That’s why our guest co-host Arianna Black is struggling to find value in event gamification. 

In this episode of the Event Brew podcast, Will and Arianna discuss why gamification in events misses the mark. Spoiler alert–it’s because of misaligned priorities between attendees and organizers. Together, they’ll brainstorm how to implement in-person and virtual event gamification to benefit attendees and organizers authentically. This episode is full of insightful insights and actionable advice.

Event goals are what you aim to achieve before, during, and after your event, and they impact almost everything event professionals do. So what happens when you crush your goals? Well, Ana A. reached out and asked precisely this. She says, “Say an event was successful, reached all goals and objectives, and made the host more money. What would you say the next step for the event is? Would it be making the event bigger year after year?” 

That’s a great question, and in this episode of the Event Brew podcast, Deanna, Arianna, and Will share their thoughts on how to proceed. Tune in to find out what the Brew Crew thinks of event goals, how they handle ongoing progress, and what they think your next steps could be. Let’s dive in!

The Event Brew crew is on a roll of covering events this summer. Will attended a 15,000-person event and Thuy recently raved about her experience as a virtual attendee at PCMA EduCon 2021. Today is Nick's turn to share his story. In June, he flew to Las Vegas to go to Meeting Professionals International's World Education Congress - or MPI WEC 2021 in short.

Granted, it's been two months since he shook hands with fellow event profs in Caesars Forum, but the memories linger on. Nick shares what he loved about it and why he thinks that the event didn't qualify as a proper hybrid event experience. A candid conversation that segues into future predictions about the events industry as well, it's an episode not to be missed!

Networking at in-person events is seamless. It can happen serendipitously: when people bump into each other in the hallway or when they are in the middle of grabbing a cup of coffee. But no such thing is possible when it comes to virtual networking, which is why this is one of the biggest virtual event concerns that event planners deal with.

In today's episode, Nick, Will, Dustin, and Chantel reminisce about the olden days when they could strike up a conversation about the weather to get the conversation going. But more importantly, they share what their clients' main concerns regarding virtual networking are and what they have to say to them.

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic devastated events across the globe. Almost three years later, the United States is finally making a widespread comeback, events included. Still, it’s not enough for President Biden to declare the pandemic over. As the Brew Crew shares today, many event professionals are still battling low attendance, learning about and designing for increased accessibility and figuring out how to implement the lessons they’ve learned throughout the pandemic. 

In this episode of the Event Brew podcast, Arianna, Will, Nick, and Dustin discuss where the events industry started, what the industry needs today, and how to move forward. Let's get right to it! 

You've heard the age-old saying, it's better to give than receive. What can we do in the industry to give back? Find out on this episode of Event Brew!

There's no time like the present to reflect on the future of events. Was that too meta? Because what we really mean is - what will define the event team members of the next decade? With yet another decade coming to an end soon, the team behind Event Brew decided to put their heads together. And, of course, have a conversation about what they think will change in our industry when it comes to teams. How have things changed thus far? And how will they progress in the next decade?

These are only two of the questions our lovely hosts seek to answer. Because Will Curran, Nick Borelli, Thuy Diep, and Dustin Westling have quite a bit to say about the future of events! Are you curious to know how they perceive the future? And are you ready to have your opinions about what 2020 will bring challenged? Then press play, and let's get brewing!

Everybody gather around for some brewing about attendee gifts! So, let's be real. If you were to count the number of chachkies you've received over the years as an attendee, how many would that be? And if you confronted that number with the number of gifts you've actually kept, how big of a difference would it be? Well, we're guessing quite a bit. Because truth is, it gets to a saturation point for attendees when they're drowning in pens, notebooks, and other chachkies.

But surely there must be an upside to this? Attendee gifts aren't all that bad, and have benefits of their own, right? Well, this is exactly what we're about to discuss. On this week's Event Brew, our amazing hosts sit down and talk about the crazy world of chachkies and free swag. Will Curran, Nick Borelli, and Thuy Diep are about to share all of their thoughts on the matter. So, are you ready for this? Then grab your favorite drink, and let's get brewing!

We’re opening the new year of Event Brew with the topic of social media. The past decade saw an insane increase in the widespread use of social media. And what that meant for brands, companies, and businesses alike was a complete shift in paradigm. Because now, they could reach thousands of people specifically targeted for a product or service. Amongst many other things, social media became a true pillar of the way human beings communicate with each other.

And where does the events industry stand in the middle of this? Well, that’s exactly what we’re here to discuss! Our amazing hosts Will Curran and Thuy Diep are ready to spill the brew. If you’re curious about their opinions on social media for events, you’ve come to the right place. So choose your favorite drink and press play – it’s Event Brew time!

If you've been on top of the news, then you already know about the Bizbash Connect acquisition. That's right - Tarsus Connect, the business travel, and meetings event company acquired BizBash, the US-based event media company. And as you might guess, that's exactly what we'll be covering on this week's Event Brew. Because we simply love to jump on the most exciting and relevant news inside the events industry to give you the scoop!

So, this time around, our amazing hosts Nick Borelli and Will Curran are here to give you the details. What propelled the BizBash Connect acquisition? And what does this mean for the events industry? How will this impact everyone involved, both directly and indirectly? To learn all of this and more, press play right now - it's time to get brewing!

We might be over the biggest obstacles that COVID-19 has thrown at us (at least we can hope so), but in-person attendance is still nowhere as high as it was pre-2020. While we've talked a lot about how the pandemic affected planners and attendees, we haven't focused on exhibitors' experience all that much. We've talked about exhibitors at virtual events and virtual event sponsorship ideas. But it turns out that the biggest challenge exhibitors face doesn't live in digital space but in a world of face-to-face interactions.

In his many years in the events industry, Nick has seen and done it all. Today, he laments about the experience exhibitors have at in-person events these days. But low attendance isn't the worst part; it's event planners' behavior post-event that really grinds his gears. Tune in and learn about the exhibitor's point of view and what you can do to right the wrongs, caused by low attendance.

Navigating event attendee data requires the right balance between collecting valuable information and respecting event attendee privacy. But with rapid advancements in technology and law that struggles to keep up, finding that balance can be tricky, especially as tech becomes cheaper and easier to access. 

Catalyzed by a recent Tech Crunch headline about a General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) violation at Mobile World Congress (MWC), Will, Nick, and Dustin tackle attendee data in today’s episode. But before diving into this pressing issue, Nick provides some background information on MWC’s fine.

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, we welcome three members of the Brew Crew. As per usual, Will Curran, Nick Borelli, and Thuy Diep are here to share their opinions and get your brain cells into thinking mode. Make sure you have your drink of choice close by because it’s brewing o’clock – and this time around, it’s all about pricing transparency in the events industry! Click here to begin!

In this past year, the events industry has been through quite a shakeup. New trends emerged: we embraced hybrid events, put safety first, and saw an incredible surge in event app platforms. But today, Event Brew hosts, Will Curran and Nick Borelli, bring our attention to a very particular phenomenon: a brain drain in the events industry. Young professionals as well as seasoned event profs are migrating towards technology companies!

What skills are they bringing with them? Was the shift going to happen anyways? Is it really a brain drain or is it a step towards a more collaborative approach within the events industry? Tune in and find out what our lovely hosts have to say!

Events are not exclusive to any industry, business, or group of people. Every year, from sports and weddings to big banks and marketing agencies, all kinds of people have events. As event professionals, they employ specific skills to plan and engage that audience. Should HR core competencies be a part of those skills?

On today’s episode of the Event Brew, the Brew Crew shares their thoughts on HR competencies and the event professional’s skillset. What does it look like for an event professional to employ HR core competencies in the events industry? What impact could these competencies have on your career and the planned events? Let’s find out.

Our conversation today comes from a question sent in by one of our listeners named Genesis. She asked, “Why do event marketers receive more credit and respect than event planners?” 

Event marketers and event planners do, in fact, often receive credit, financial support, and recognition differently, which makes this an excellent question. As the Brew Crew will discuss, the reasons for this difference in treatment are complicated and can vary from person to person and company to company. 

In this episode of the Event Brew, Deanna, Will, and Nick will share how they define these roles, the tasks they associate with each, the risks involved, and how you can work to ensure you’re given the credit and respect you deserve. Let’s dive right in!

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 by, we can breathe a little easier. More than that, we can look back at everything that happened and think about what we learned. So on this episode of the Event Brew, recorded live with the help of ILEA, the Brew Crew will be discussing the COVID-19 lessons they learned. There's plenty to analyze and talk about, so dive right into it!