Velvet Chainsaw
NOVEMBER 16, 2020
This is a guest post by Joy S. Davis, CAE, based on an email she sent to me after reading Lisa Block’s recent post, “I Am Sorry, But We Are Not All Fine.” Joy is Managing Director, Member Products, for the American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists. Not too long ago, I gently asked my Executive Director to stop opening her weekly columns to members with a depressing reminder of COVID-19 and how weird things are right now.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 10, 2020
Is it possible to routinely start online meetings on time? Yes! But first…. Think about the last three meetings you attended. Raise your hand if all of them started on time. Anyone? Anyone? Why don’t scheduled meetings start on time? The reason that almost no scheduled meetings (in-person or online ) start on time is that we provide one single time for meetings to both open and start.
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Eventmobi
MAY 18, 2020
As different regions begin to relax “stay at home” policies, businesses have begun the process of reopening. We asked event professionals from all over the map how they have modified their businesses to accommodate the new considerations brought on by the pandemic. My goal has been to take a deep inhale, pay attention to what has been happening, and to see what the proper pivot needs to be in the event world.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 17, 2020
This is not an easy post to write. The pandemic’s impact on lives and businesses has been devastating. COVID-19 has virtually eliminated in-person meetings: our industry’s bread and butter. In order to overcome the many significant challenges created by the coronavirus, the meeting industry has made valiant efforts to rethink in-person meetings.
Speaker: Aja Bradley Kemp, Founder & Chief Experience Officer at Conversate Collective
In a world where every brand is vying for attention, how do you make your events stand out? ✨ From creative swag strategies to immersive brand experiences, the key lies in fostering real connections that inspire action and leave a lasting impression. Whether you're planning a large-scale conference or an exclusive executive gathering, this session will explore how to elevate event engagement, strengthen brand perception, and maximize ROI.
Picatic by Eventbrite
DECEMBER 13, 2020
In 2020, virtual events took off in a big way. As the world went into quarantine and our ability to gather in person stalled, event creators and attendees found new ways to connect on Eventbrite. Even as in-person events have begun to return to the platform, we’re finding that the success of virtual gatherings has […].
Event Pro Update brings together the best content for event, conference, and meeting planning professionals from the widest variety of industry thought leaders.
Conferences that Work
AUGUST 31, 2020
Please stop treating adults like children at your conferences. (For an exception, see the end of this post.). With children there’s an argument for broadcast-style learning. Schools originally developed as establishments for improving the efficiency of oral communication of information. They did this by bringing many students together, so they could learn simultaneously from one teacher.
Picatic by Eventbrite
OCTOBER 19, 2020
Throughout the pandemic, event creators have worked hard to adapt to changing circumstances and develop unique content that engages people while keeping them safe. Brands have leveraged Eventbrite to organize and communicate their events while experimenting with new strategies. Since March, virtual events have become all the rage, and now they’re here to stay.
Velvet Chainsaw
APRIL 20, 2020
To design a virtual event with the participants in mind, you need to create an engaging, interactive experience that provides relevant content and promotes knowledge sharing and networking value—often the missing link in our new virtual reality. In this short video , we give you five tips to ensure that you’ll achieve amazing and impactful engagement with your next digital event.
Conferences that Work
OCTOBER 12, 2020
Many event professionals are hoping and waiting for a meeting industry new normal. The COVID-19 pandemic has devastated our businesses. We want to believe that, at some point, in-person meetings like the ones we’ve held for decades will return. Yes, there are a few world regions where cases of infection are currently very low. Such areas are already holding local in-person events, but safe inter-regional meetings are not possible.
Speaker: Alexa Acosta, Director of Growth Marketing & B2B Marketing Leader
Marketing is evolving at breakneck speed—new tools, AI-driven automation, and changing buyer behaviors are rewriting the playbook. With so many trends competing for attention, how do you cut through the noise and focus on what truly moves the needle? In this webinar, industry expert Alexa Acosta will break down the most impactful marketing trends shaping the industry today and how to turn them into real, revenue-generating strategies.
Attendease
OCTOBER 8, 2020
Speakers can easily make or break an event. If you have a presenter who doesn’t understand who they’re talking to, or who can’t keep the audience’s attention, you’re wasting everyone’s time (and possibly their money). Conversely, if you have a speaker who has a compelling topic and knows how to deliver it with clear takeaways, you’ll have a happy crowd who will leave positive reviews for your event, and tell others.
EventSource
SEPTEMBER 11, 2020
When you get engaged, one of the first questions people will ask is “have you set a date yet?” followed quickly by “oh, well you better book soon, or all the good dates will be gone!” Which, may be true, if you were planning on getting hitched on a Saturday or Sunday – but have you considered planning your wedding for a weekday?
Gallus Events
JANUARY 21, 2020
Something exceptional is happening in Edinburgh and the whole events industry is on trial. Edinburgh’s Christmas and Hogmanay events have put the industry under the spot light, and the light has reached some very dark places. There is an old tradition in Scotland called first footing. My dad was the perfect “first footer”, tall, dark and handsome, the neighbours would say.
Eventmobi
NOVEMBER 26, 2020
Zoom has seen a huge rise in popularity during 2020, to the point where its name has become synonymous with video conferencing. So for many event planners looking for the right tool to host a virtual conference, Zoom is the first thing that comes to mind. But while Zoom offers the ideal infrastructure for running video meetings and webinars, in order to host a full virtual conference with complex agendas, attendee networking and sponsor visibility, planners need a more customizable virtual event
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GEVME
SEPTEMBER 30, 2020
COVID-19 has already changed the face of everything concerning social events and gatherings. While many companies resort to software like zoom to have virtual conferences or meetings, how can one take an entire social group of thousands of people virtual, and how do you manage such an event? It is quite evident that the need for a better-skilled event organiser is required, but what does that role look like.
Velvet Chainsaw
OCTOBER 14, 2020
Virtual Expo Truths. Nearly every conference and trade show professional is searching for that perfect virtual platform or pricing model for replacing lost expo revenue. I’ve got bad news for you. Virtual expos will never be able to come close to replacing the revenue generated from your face-to-face expo. Here’s some of our learnings: 1. Corporate Booth.
Velvet Chainsaw
JANUARY 16, 2020
The bread and butter of conferences is concurrent education sessions. Keynote speakers and main-room experiences are pivotal for bringing the community together and sharing key messaging, but attendees expect—and deserve—transformational learning (change in ideas, attitudes and behaviors) from curated, relevant and problem-centric educational sessions.
Velvet Chainsaw
JULY 23, 2020
Navigating change during a crisis is not for the faint of heart. During my career leading association event teams, I regularly recalibrated and redefined team member roles in order to drive innovation and improve our meeting experiences. Not every effort was a rousing success but attempting to inject new conference elements made us more nimble, creative and smarter as a team.
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Velvet Chainsaw
APRIL 8, 2020
This is the first in a series of blogs posts, written collaboratively by our team, which uncover lessons learned in advising our clients on their events in the time of COVID-19. Over the past 30 days, the VCC team has helped dozens of conference and show organizers with their decisions on how to respond to the pandemic. Although each situation has its own unique issues, we wanted to share some of what we’ve learned to help you with your disruption response and planning.
Velvet Chainsaw
MARCH 12, 2020
The disruption to the live events industry due to the Pandemic COVID-19 is unprecedented and impossible to escape. With the mixed messages coming at us from so many different perspectives, it is difficult to gain clarity. What we may believe personally is sometimes in conflict with the practices organization and business leaders decide to follow. So what is the right path?
Velvet Chainsaw
APRIL 30, 2020
If you’re inbox is anything like mine, you could spend a good portion of our day consuming webinars, virtual events and networking in Zoom or Facebook Messenger Happy Hours. We’re on content overload and it’s only going to get noisier as the pandemic lingers. The dynamics that we’re seeing impact conferences and their business models are very similar to the Freemium movement we experienced way back in 2009.
Picatic by Eventbrite
AUGUST 12, 2020
Online events aren’t just a temporary way to gather — our research shows they’re here to stay. In a survey, 71% of participants said they would continue to attend online events, even when COVID-19-related restrictions are lifted. Event creators have even been able to expand their audiences with online events, reaching more people globally. Because […].
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In this best practices guide, you’ll learn how to tap into the cost-efficiencies of advocacy and word-of-mouth marketing with video. Examples include speakers providing a preview of their upcoming sessions, exhibitors creating “please stop by” invitations and attendees creating “looking forward to seeing you” introduction videos. Learn about best practices and programs created by leading companies and associations including ASIS, AUVSI, SuperZoo, National Restaurant Association, World of Concret
Conferences that Work
JUNE 29, 2020
I’ve been noticing a strange trend, ever since COVID-19 caused just about all bread and butter meetings to vanish. Suddenly, people are calling the meetings we’re holding these days virtual meetings. In the immortal words of Bob Newhart. Stop it! Virtual. I’m sorry, but when I think of a virtual meeting, this comes to mind…. …together with content like this….
Velvet Chainsaw
APRIL 9, 2020
This is the second in a series of blogs posts, written collaboratively by our team, which uncover lessons learned in advising dozens of our clients on their events in the time of COVID-19. Although each situation has its own unique issues, we hope you find nuggets to help you with your disruption response and planning. Scenario Planning. Where lead time permits, work through at least three scenarios – optimistic, pessimistic and somewhere in the middle.
Conferences that Work
DECEMBER 21, 2020
Last week I immensely enjoyed participating in a two-hour Zoom brain trust on moderating online panels. So good, it should be shared with a wider audience. So here’s a treasury of good ideas and resources we uncovered. Huge thanks to the conveners and leaders: my friend, team performance and facilitation expert Kristin Arnold , and corporate innovation leader Scott Kirsner.
Picatic by Eventbrite
APRIL 16, 2020
With gatherings across the country canceled due to COVID-19, event venues and organizers have been some of the businesses hit hardest by this pandemic. We’ve seen theaters sit empty, sports teams pause mid-season, and events like the Olympics, music festivals, and TED conferences get postponed. As we miss out on our favorite annual events and […].
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Conferences that Work
MAY 4, 2020
Providing downtime during any meeting is important , but it’s especially important to schedule breaks during online meetings. What happens if you don’t schedule breaks during online meetings. Some people have the attitude that attendees at online meetings are grown-ups and they should be given the freedom to take a break when they want and/or need to.
Picatic by Eventbrite
DECEMBER 8, 2020
If you want to elevate your organic SEO (Search Engine Optimization) or paid SEM (Search Engine Monetization) capability, we’ve got two surefire ways to do it. Choosing the right keywords is critical to the success of your paid search campaigns, and there are excellent tools to help you achieve the desired balance of relevance versus […].
Picatic by Eventbrite
NOVEMBER 2, 2020
A global pandemic has made 2020 a rough year for live performance, but not an impossible one. Venues, performers, and fans have collectively come up with a socially distant solution: streaming everything under the sun, including punk concerts, Shakespeare, and drag shows. Collectively, these audacious live performances have provided some good news: Livestreaming an event […].
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