Joe Rivers is the director of experiences and partnerships for Czarnowski Collective, a group of studios that have come together to provide event production, fabrication, and trade show agency services.

Rivers discusses his journey as an event professional, starting as a brand ambassador and tour manager before transitioning into business development. He emphasizes the importance of experiential marketing and the value it brings to brands and agencies. Rivers also talks about event planning, production, and execution and the importance of engaging all five senses in experiential activations.

His travels also influence the experiences he creates as he has explored 29 countries and 36 states. Rivers believes that events will become more focused on individual experiences and that brands will continue to hold their own events to create a stronger connection with their audience. He also discusses the impact of AI on the industry, the challenges of sustainability, and the importance of gratitude, patience, and adaptability in leadership.

Serendipity is how Rivers is connected to the events industry. He landed a job as a brand ambassador for Budweiser, working with the Clydesdale horses. He also was a tour manager for Cupcake Vineyards Wine and manned a mobile bar with its wine on tap that would be set up at food and music festivals. In 2019, he transitioned into the business development side of events.

He shares his experiences with others, highlighting activities that impress him and explaining why.

At this year’s SXSW, he was taken by Tide Detergent’s activation, which featured a bar themed around Tide’s newest product, a fiber tile called Tide Evo. The experience invited guests to touch and feel the product simply but creatively and effectively.

As the industry evolves, Rivers predicts events will continue to be geared toward individual experiences. In addition, brands will increasingly create their own events. An example is Tesla, which has owner events. If he could change one thing in the industry, it would be risk-taking.

According to Rivers, events should stir four emotions: love, fear, hope, and nostalgia. Gratitude is another emotion that has helped Rivers.