5 Questions to Ask Your Client Before Selecting Event Entertainment

Take a closer look at event entertainment and how you can make sure you choose the best type of entertainment for your events.

A Quick Guide to Pitch Meetings

Pitch meetings present a unique opportunity to go beyond your proposal and create a face-to-face connection with your potential future clients. As a result, pulling off a successful pitch meeting is an essential part of closing a client and earning their business.

Powering Your Events

An introduction to the main pieces of equipment that use power during events, event elements that use lots of power that are commonly forgotten about, and the different costs and fees surrounding power.

Guns, Mass Shootings & The Events Industry: Our Missing Voice

For a number of years, I’ve been giving a presentation at industry conferences on Disruptions Facing the Events Industry. Of all the various potential disruptions – economic, political, technological, social, etc. – guns and shootings…

The Hidden Value In Your Slides: Using Micro-Content Analytics to Drive Meeting Value

“I see people at our conferences stand up and take pictures of slides with their phones. I want to know which slides they are. For all of our sessions.” I was sitting with a new client, the chief marketing officer of…

To Bid or Not To Bid: When NOT to Respond to An RFP

Few things get an event company owner more excited than a new Request For Proposal (other than perhaps winning said RFP). A fully fleshed out RFP means…

Designing Events To Inspire Emotion

In this video clip, Aaron Tharp, Executive Producer at Hello! Destination Management discusses how successful event design should inspire emotions in event attendees.

Hosting Events In Museums: What You Need To Know

Considering a high-end museum for an upcoming event? Here are you few things that you need to know…

10 Signs You Need To Pay Closer Attention To Your Business Accounting

Understanding your business financials isn’t simply about keeping the books in order, it’s about really knowing where your business stands and how…

Fixed Fee Pricing: Are You Earning the Money You Deserve?

You can have visually stunning events, the most satisfied clients, and the most enthusiastic staff, but if your pricing isn’t accurately reflecting your value, you could be…

How To Run A Q&A Session At Your Event

The question and answer portion of a presentation or panel discussion is hold-your-breath time for event organizers, as it can go one of two ways…

How To “Shrink” A Room When Your Event’s Guest Count Is Too Small For the Space

Perception is everything in these situations. If you had that same 150 people in a venue that maxed out at 150, it would have the buzz of a sold out event…

Cause Connection: Converting Gala Attendees into Passionate Evangelists

You’re standing on the stage in the middle of your major fundraising gala, surveying the room. The main honoree is about to speak, and all eyes are riveted on…

How to Avoid Being Blindsided at a Post-Event Debriefing

How do you prevent nitpicky comments from clients at a post-event debrief meeting from overshadowing a successful event? Are there any best practices to running a debriefing?

Everything You Heard About Brainstorming Is Wrong: How Data Disproved the Two Universal Rules of Brainstorming

Do you get your entire team together in one place to brainstorm big ideas for your event or company? Howard Givner explores universally accepted rules of brainstorming that may have you checking your assumptions.

Questions to Ask When Evaluating An Outdoor Event Site

Depending on where you live in the world, doing an event outdoors vs. indoors can seem like an easy call. Weather, cost, and time to build out an outdoor space can threaten the success of an event, however beautiful environments and the natural air can provide an incredible and unique experience for guests.

Hot Mic Snafu During Democratic Debate: What Caused It & How They Handled It

Every so often a live televised event has a production screw up so flagrant it becomes Exhibit A when telling skeptical bosses or clients, “See?…

3 Key Components of Experience Design

There’s a clear distinction between designing an event experience, versus planning an event. Experience design applies experiential properties and principals to the event design, while event planning is the organization of event elements to fulfill a set of goals.

What’s the Difference Between A Balance Sheet & A Profit & Loss Statement?

Diversity and Accessibility – the Coefficients of Inclusion

As Event Leaders it is on us to ensure that any person attending an event will have the same experience and this means as event designers we must think deeply about the symbiotic relationship between diversity, accessibility and inclusivity in order for all attendees to feel valued, respected and most of all…

How To “Shrink” A Room When Your Guest Count Is Too Small For the Space?

Embracing and Leveraging Millennial Strengths

Entitled. Self-obsessed. Narcissistic. Distracted. These terms carry a strong negative connotation and without doubt are insulting to any person between the ages of circa 22 – 37.

Be a Networking Superhero

Many of us dread networking and feel queezy at the thought of entering a room and making so-called “small talk” with strangers. What if instead you entered the room thinking about making new connections with like-minded individuals that will help you grow your professional network.

Golden Nuggets – The Hidden Value of Professional Development

So much like mining for precious stones and mineral, conference experiences are defined by the golden nuggets we forage. It might be that one connection made unexpectedly during a coffee-break, a speaker that inspires one golden idea, or even an event set up we experience in a session that will make a difference in the work we do.

Calculating the Tax-Deductibility of An Auction Item

First, make sure your organization is qualified to receive donations that are tax deductible from the donor’s perspective, as not all are. Many industry trade organizations, for example, do not qualify because…

When Life Gives You Lemons

When life serves you up a lemon we don’t need to pucker up and take the sour! In the world of event management, anticipating the unexpected and being prepared is crucial to our success.

Sales is Not a Title

Even if the word “sales” is not in your professional title, as event professionals we are always selling. Here are a few tips to help you, the Event Leader, and your organization adopt a “salesitude”.

More Than Just Fancy Acronyms!

As an Event Leader, becoming a member of a professional association related to the meetings and events industry is an important step for your career. It allows you to network with fellow industry leaders, and to grow professionally in that network. But just joining and waiting for an email or call isn’t enough…you have to drink the proverbial “kool-aid” to become fully engaged.

The Leadership Teeter Totter – Perception Deception

In today’s world, Leadership is no easy task. As leaders in the events industry we have all had our leadership style analyzed, our strengths and weaknesses identified, and have taken a barrage of courses on how to work with different generations, cultures, and to deal with diversity in the workplace.

The New Year’s Elephant | A Guide For Event Leaders

As Event Leaders we are trained to drill down to the minutia and details that are going to make a difference in the outcome of our events. Treat your resolutions the same way.

The Event Leaders Guide to Holiday Season Survival

Managing your stress and anxiety leading up to and during the holiday season can be challenging. Take a proactive approach to managing your stress and anxiety by using many of your skills you use every day in your role as an event leader:

Five Risk Management Tips For Your Holiday Event

Planning a corporate holiday party? Here are five risk management tips to keep the “Bah Humbug” out of your holiday event.

How To Have An Effective Board Retreat

Retreats are a great way for industry boards to plan the upcoming year, but how do you ensure that they are an effective use of time? Here are two key ingredients!

Camera Riser | Tech Thursdays Videos

In this week’s Tech Thursday, Michael Granek, President & COO of ELI, and Kevin from Clark’s AV answer the question “What is a camera riser?”. Kevin shares what the difference is between a regular riser or stage deck vs. a camera riser, and why you need one when having a camera at your event.

Tech Thursdays: Snake

In this week’s Tech Thursday, Michael Granek, President & COO of ELI, and Kevin from Clark’s AV answer the question “what is a snake?”. Kevin shares what snakes are used for, the cost benefits of using snakes, and more.

Lumens | Tech Thursdays Videos

The Event Leadership Institute and Clark’s AV have teamed up to bring you Tech Thursdays, short, micro-lessons about AV equipment and event technology. In this week’s video, ELI’s President & COO, Michael Granek, and Kevin Rowe from Clark’s AV answer the question “What are lumens?”

Radio Frequency Identification (RFID): What It Is & Why It Matters

One of the latest technologies that you’ll start to see more of over the next few years is Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). You may have even heard of this type of tech before, but maybe you’re not quite sure what to do with it. To help you decide if RFID technology is right for your next event, we’re going to dive into what exactly Radio Frequency Identification is, what problems it solve, and additional benefits it can provide.

Featured Event Leader: Kimberly Doell, CMP

Serving on the International Live Events Association (ILEA) Rhode Island Board for six years in a row, being a finalist in the BizBash Event Style Awards and now, serving as President of her ILEA chapter, it’s no doubt Kimberly Doell, CMP, has made her mark on the events industry.

Teaching About Contracts? Here’s An Experiential Learning Activity For Your Class

A common challenge that teachers face is developing lesson activities that provide engaging learning opportunities, but that are also memorable enough that students will retain key points long after the course or program. When I was teaching a course in risk management and law in an event management diploma program, I was faced with this same challenge.

How to Constantly Push Yourself to Take Your Event Career to the Next Level

The special event world is demanding and stressful, but can also be very rewarding. The glowing smile of an event guest can’t be overstated. It gives you that warm, fuzzy feeling knowing that you’ve put your own personal imprint on that attendee’s experience. Crafting these special memories is a tall order, and constantly pushing the boundaries is difficult.

Your Story Blog Series: Carleigh Dworetzky

When Carleigh Dworetzky first began her career in the hospitality industry, she had no idea her career would undergo such an impressive transformation, taking her…

10 Warning Signs You Need to Pay Attention to Your Event Business’ Accounting

I’ve heard so many event business owners talk about how they can’t stand accounting or say that they “have an accountant for that”. If you’re one of those people, then this article is for you! It’s easy to pass off the elements of your business that you don’t understand (or don’t want to understand), but the challenge is, how do you know that it is being done correctly? The simple answer is, you don’t.

Your Story Blog Series: Jennifer Davidson

Jennifer Davidson is the Founder and Managing Director of Sleek Events, a boutique events agency with an impressive roster of clients including Amazon Business, Looker…

Your Story Blog Series: Courtney Lohmann, CMP

When Courtney began her journey towards a career in events, the most relevant degree she could achieve was in Recreation & Leisure Services Administration with an emphasis in Special Events from The Florida State University. Since then, the events world has changed dramatically, many leading universities offer event programs and education, and the industry as a whole has drastically shifted, too. With nearly 20 years of experience in the world of events, Courtney has seen many of those changes first-hand.

Alumni Feature: Siri Brudevold

Today, Event Leadership Institute alum, Siri Brudevold, is an Event Planner at Charles Koch Institute, but her journey towards a career in events didn’t begin there. Knowing she needed to fill gaps in her experience, skills and knowledge in order to better succeed in her industry, Siri enrolled in the 10-week Event & Meeting Management Fundamentals Certificate online course at ELI.

Your Story Blog Series: MarrLa Merritt

Event Leadership Institute and Montclair State University alum, MarrLa Merritt, has had quite the prosperous career in events. How did MarrLa get her start in the industry and where is she today?

10 Ways to Measure Audience Engagement at Your Event

Planning an event requires more than ordering supplies and securing a guest list. Beyond the basics, you need to ensure that your message is not only reaching the right audience, but also eliciting the right feedback. Event audience engagement can reflect how effective your methods are and influence future events in positive ways. Here’s how to measure (and increase) audience engagement at your event.

Your Story Blog Series: Caroline Kay

Caroline Kay is a conference and event planning mastermind with boundless creativity and more than 15 years of business and event management experience. She’s recognized for thoroughly understanding the business needs of her clients and producing events that meet those demands. Her globe-spanning events are meticulously managed and engineered with ingenuity, with a constant eye to ROI for her clients.

5 Benefits of Untraditional Event Venues

Untraditional venues break the mold and can help you deliver an unparalleled attendee experience. Untraditional venues are spaces that were typically not created for events as their main purpose. Airplane hangars, warehouse spaces, breweries, wineries, bowling allies, art galleries, zoos, museums, aquariums, or even parking lots could all make great untraditional venues for conferences, workshops, fundraisers, galas, or other business-related events.

Diversifying Your Creative Materials with Printing Techniques

To most outsiders (not us planners), the event start is usually the time the ballroom doors open. To us, it starts at the first drop of creative materials. That said, it’s important that we make a splash, a statement and an everlasting impression as soon as the save-the-date or invitation hit a prospective attendee’s mailbox. Creative materials are what sets up event themes and guest expectations and, most important, what sets us apart from our competitors.

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