Rocket off 🚀 to Space City with us as we chat with Alyssa Patani, Arena Marketing Manager at Toyota Center, home of the Houston Rockets. Lyssa gives us the lay of the land – Toyota Center’s place in the market, what her role is at the venue, and what makes Houston such a special place. We chat with her about social strategies, their approach and her recommendations on graphics, and how she balances the demand for graphics with managing time by using templates. Learn what other venues she follows and how important it is to create a social aesthetic and visuals unique to your venue. Lyssa tells us about how she developed a love of design through early days of MySpace which led her into teaching herself Photoshop which has come in handy when working with tour admats. She tells us about her history in the industry and how she has been challenged over the years, and through that, has gained new perspective and been able to network with peers from other venues. You’ll love this episode, which is packed with fun stories, candid vulnerability, and great conversations with plenty of laughs.

Alyssa Patani: Instagram | TikTok | LinkedIn
Toyota Center: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

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Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

Lace up your sneakers and meet us in the center of the basketball universe as we chat with our friend Jeff Johnson, Associate Director with Pacers Sports & Entertainment and Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Jeff, who is celebrating 27 years with the organization, oversees marketing for events as well as traditional advertising for the Indiana Pacers and Indiana Fever. In case you’ve been living under a rock, Indy is having a *moment* with sports – hosting the 2024 NBA All-Star Weekend, amazing back-to-back seasons by the Pacers, hosting the 2025 WNBA All-Star Weekend – all punctuated by the emergence of Caitlin Clark which has led to sold out WNBA games at home and on the road. We chat about all those things with Jeff, and the importance of basketball to the city and state. We hear some amazing stories from throughout his career, from hosting swimming championships in an arena to calling Butler games in college to fun minor league hockey promotions. Listen in and enjoy this episode which is the perfect mix of inspiration, imagination, and fun stories that serve as a reminder of how special the live event industry is.

Jeff Johnson: Email
Gainbridge Fieldhouse: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/Twitter
Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

We’re headed to the Northwest, on the shore of Lake Washington, to chat with Alexa Coyle, Marketing Manager for Seattle Seahawks, Lumen Field, and WAMU Theater + Co-founder of The Female Edge. Alexa oversees event marketing for Lumen Field (concerts, dirt events, WAMU Theater, and conventions), branding and marketing for food and beverage, Seahawks retail marketing, and more. She tells us about many of the unique things about their stadium, which includes the most just-walk-out concession stands of any venue in the world. We talk about innovation within more seasoned venues, elevating premium spaces, and how they are inspired and driven by the technology-forward market of Seattle. As a former professional soccer player, we talk about what it means to her to work at one of the host venues for the 2026 World Cup, as well as early preparations and planning currently underway as they look ahead to next summer. Alexa tells us about her career, from an interest in analytics and creative, and finishing her MBA and co-founding The Female Edge (which provides recruiting support and mentoring to female athletes) while playing professional soccer at Hibernian WFC in Edinburgh, Scotland. You’ll love this fun, interesting episode, which is full of interesting strategy and great discussion.

Alexa Coyle: Instagram | LinkedIn
Lumen Field: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter/X

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

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Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

BONUS EPISODE – We’re excited to launch our latest, ongoing bonus episode series, Breaking In! ✨ This series, consisting of roundtable discussions about breaking into the live event industry, will highlight different perspectives, talk through challenges, and discuss tips for those beginning their careers in venueland.

🆕 For our first episode, we get the perspective of three EVMC conference interns as they finish school, explore opportunities to enhance their resumes, and begin applying for jobs. 🤝 Meet Naomi Redwood (Toronto, Ontario), Marquise Sommers (San Antonio, Texas), and Sierra Ross (London, Ontario). These recruits tell us about themselves, where they are in their career pursuits, what made them fall in love with the industry, and challenges they have found and continue to face. Following discussions, our hosts answer questions and offer advice on making yourself stand out, learning from mistakes, executing visions, coping with rejection, and other topics. If you’re entering or interested in the industry or on the hiring side of recruiting people for entry level jobs, we hope you’ll love and learn from this episode and we look forward to seeing how this series can continue to grow.

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

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Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

We’re headed to “The District” for this episode to talk with Chanelle Grimm, Marketing Director for Monumental Sports & Entertainment (Capital One Arena, Eagle Bank Arena, and District E) in Washington D.C. We begin by talking about this year’s EVMC and some of the takeaways from sessions at the conference in Atlanta before diving into an overview of Capital One Arena and Eagle Bank Arena. We talk about the venue’s place in the market and the makeup of their marketing team. Chanelle tells us about their strategy around developing a voice for each venue, and fun unique concepts for approaching audio content for posts without risking copyright challenges. We talk about some of their artist gifts they have done as well as their series of fan activation photo booths where they recreate artist album covers or tour art. Learn how they justify budgets for activations and gifting by leveraging social to show digital ROI and proving earned media value off their investments. This episode is full of interesting discussions on managing small teams, pursuing exciting new jobs, maintaining excitement around the industry and so much more. Listen now and enjoy this look inside these venues located in our nation’s capital.

Chanelle Grimm: LinkedIn | Email
Monumental Sports & Entertainment: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/Twitter
Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

Live from Atlanta – sit in with us as we talk with J Carter, the visionary Founder & Managing Partner behind ONE Musicfest, as we chat in front of a live audience at the 2025 Event & Venue Marketing Conference. We talk with J about what makes Atlanta special as he tells us about ONE Musicfest, the Southeast’s largest multi-day urban progressive music festival, which has helped shape Atlanta’s rise as a music mecca. We learn how he turned an idea which began with 3,000 attendees into one of the most impactful festivals in the country, now welcoming 100,000 attendees from all over the country and globe. We dive into marketing strategies behind building brand loyalty, launching new ventures and festivals, what venues can learn from the festival world, and explore his personal and professional journey. Hear J talk about some of his keys to success and various lessons learned along the way. Enjoy this fun episode packed with great insight and advice, featuring some audience questions, straight from a sold out EVMC in Atlanta, Georgia.

J Carter: Instagram | LinkedIn
ONE Musicfest: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/Twitter
Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

We’re headed out west to the stepping stone to the Central Valley – Escalon, California – to chat with Cassie Gause, Co-founder & Partner at C&K Media Solutions. Cassie tells us all about her company, which offers marketing, sponsorship, and management support for venues, promoters, tours, and artists - from one-off events to entire tours. We learn about her focus, on the marketing side, supporting a variety of clients with traditional advertising, public relations, digital advertising, and social media management. A self-proclaimed “data nerd,” we dive in quickly to chat about trends she is seeing, digital platform diversity, strategies for approaching and tracking ROI, which platforms to prioritize, and so much more. Cassie, who formerly oversaw marketing at Adventist Health Arena, Bob Hope Theatre, Oak Park Ice Rink, Stockton Ballpark, and Stockton Downtown Marina, walks us through her career journey and what led to the creation of the company. We learn about tips and challenges with running a business, and their approach on serving clients, expanding their team, and balancing various client needs. If you’re wanting to explore data more, expand your digital advertising, or have thought about striking out on your own to start a business – this episode is for you. Enjoy this fun conversation packed with great take-aways!

Cassie Gause: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
C&K Media Solutions: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/Twitter
Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

BONUS EPISODE – Peace up ✌️ A-Town down 🅰️ – the 2025 Event & Venue Marketing Conference (EVMC) is just around the corner and we have everything you need to know as you pack and prepare for this year’s SOLD OUT conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Hosts Paul and Dave are joined by a trio of guests which help craft this podcast version of a KBYG: Kim Allen (EVMC President, Director of Arena Marketing at Golden 1 Center), Roberta Wright (Gigi Award Winner & EVMC Hall of Famer, Former Director of Marketing at Cross Insurance Arena), and Meredith Chapple (EVMC Planning Committee, Marketing Coordinator at Atlanta Symphony Hall LIVE). Each guest talks about their experience and history with the conference as we dive into important advice and tips for getting the most out of your experience. Hear about the agenda, networking opportunities, evening events, and places to visit while in Atlanta. We go over advice on what to pack, transportation around town, and the conference layout. Whether this is your first time attending, you’re a seasoned vet, or you’ve never been and are wondering what the conference is – we’ve got you covered!

Coming to the conference? 🎙️ Be sure to attend our fourth annual Adventures In Venueland LIVE episode where we’ll be interviewing J Carter, Founder & Managing Partner of ONE Musicfest. Come say hello, meet our team, and grab a free AIV sticker to slap on your water bottle! We’ll see you in ATL!

Event & Venue Marketing Conference: Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn | X/Twitter

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

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Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

We’re back in the city that’s so nice they named it twice, the financial capital of the world – New York City. On this episode we chat with Joyce Leveston, CEO of New York Convention Center Operation Corporation (NYCCOC), which oversees the Javits Center, one of the busiest convention centers in the world. Resting right on the Hudson River, on the west side of Manhattan, Joyce tells us about numerous features that make Javits Center unique. In addition to its expansive convention space, it also has a farm where they grow over 60 crops and a 6.75 acre green roof which serves as a habitat for 72 different bird species and houses nine beehives. We talk about what makes convention centers unique compared to other live event venues, and Joyce’s passion for the convention side of the industry. We talk about her career path, from San Diego, Houston, Miami, Washington D.C., Boston, and then Philadelphia, before landing in New York City. Joyce explains what makes good hospitality, and how important it is to treat venues like your home and make them inviting for guests. This may be our first convention center specific guest, and you’ll love it as it’s packed with great advice, fascinating information, and fun stories.

Joyce Leveston: LinkedIn | Email
Javits Center: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/Twitter
Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

Music City welcomes us back as we head to Nashville to chat with Dustin Turner, Music Marketing Executive at Creative Artists Agency (CAA). Dustin walks us through his day to day, and explains how CAA often functions as a bridge between promoters and management teams, working with the artist teams to figure out what the creative is going to look like, and strategizing on ways they can work with venues to make sure tours are successful. Dustin tells us about the many advantages of being based in Nashville while also enjoying close collaboration with their offices in Los Angeles and New York. We dive into some shop talk, discussing marketing strategies, trends and future predictions, and how venues can better support tours. Dustin talks to us about how he got his start in live events, from setting up tents for Clear Channel Radio in San Antonio, to roles at various venues, Live Nation in Florida, Feld Entertainment in Philadelphia, and ultimately moving to Nashville to join AEG Live before moving to his current role with CAA. We discuss how those experiences have taught him valuable lessons, given him a great perspective on all sides of the industry, and instilled the importance of networking and building connections. You’ll love this fun episode that is full of great career advice, fun stories, and some Nashville recommendations.

Dustin Turner: LinkedIn | Instagram | Facebook
CAA Music: Instagram

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ADVENTURES IN VENUELAND

Follow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/Twitter
Learn more about Event & Venue Marketing Conference

Meet our team:

Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & Marketing
Dave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest Research
Megan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital Advertising
Samantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & Publicity
Camille Faulkner | Audio Editing & Mixing

Have a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.