Adventures In Venueland

BONUS EPISODE (Part 3 of 3) – Waste not, want not, right? We’ve all heard the phrase “zero waste,” but what does that mean for venues and how can they be zero waste facilities? Venues are surge facilities, with thousands of patrons purchasing food and merchandise that have byproducts that need to go somewhere. For our final part of our Earth Week Series, we’re joined again by Brianna Treat, Director of Sustainability at Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken, for a chat all about zero waste – which boils down to diverting at least 90% of your waste away from a landfill. How is that possible and how do you get there? Brianna explains Climate Pledge Arena’s strategies and how they are working to hit an even more challenging goal of diverting 95% of their waste. From color-coding waste bags to doing trash audits and sorting, discussing waste options with haulers to understanding what materials are sold – we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty talking about tips for venues to divert more waste away from landfills. While 90% may not be possible for some, this episode is full of creative solutions and interesting strategies that could be deployed at any venue, no matter where currently are with their sustainability efforts.

"We don’t need a handful of people doing zero waste perfectly. We need millions of people doing it imperfectly." - Anne Marie Bonnea

Brianna Treat: LinkedIn | Email
Climate Pledge Arena: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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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 (Part 2 of 3) – Now that we’re a little more versed in venue sustainability, let’s dive a bit deeper and learn all about carbon. For Part 2 of our Earth Week Series we’re joined again by Brianna Treat, Director of Sustainability at Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken, and we're talking all things carbon! What is it? How do you track it? What does carbon look like in a venue? We dig into all these questions and more, and hear all about what Scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions are. Brianna explains Climate Pledge Arena’s commitment to being net zero carbon annually - ahead of the Paris Agreement. We discuss the Zero Carbon Certification, the most stringent carbon certification, which is through the International Living Future Institute. From renewable energy, to tracking merchandise and food, to offsetting performer and fan travel – we get into the weeds on carbon counting. Tracking and measuring data is not only the best first step, but a way to highlight the importance of sustainability to owners and C-suite executives.

“Overall, becoming a carbon-neutral country would involve changes in our behaviour, but these are modest compared with the changes that will be forced upon us if we do nothing.” - Caroline Lucas

Brianna Treat: LinkedIn | Email
Climate Pledge Arena: Facebook | Twitter | 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.

BONUS EPISODE (Part 1 of 3) – It’s Earth Week, which means it’s the perfect time to dig into the impact venues and the live event industry have on our beautiful planet. As we discuss innovations and solutions around venue sustainability, we take an inside look at a venue which is prioritizing this on a level never seen before – Climate Pledge Arena. For Part 1 of our Earth Week Series, we chat with Brianna Treat, the Director of Sustainability at Climate Pledge Arena and the Seattle Kraken, to hear all about the Climate Pledge Arena story – what set them on the path of prioritizing green initiatives and how they continue to face and find solutions to solve challenges. We hear about what is involved with being a part of Amazon’s Climate Pledge, and what it means to be a Director of Sustainability. This newly reopened venue (renovated from a historic arena built in 1962 for the World’s Fair) not only strives to be a leader in venue sustainability, but also to blaze the trail to make it easier for all venues to prioritize and initiate green initiatives. This is a great first step in our series to learn some terms and hear about the many ways venues can be more sustainable.

"We shouldn't just sit idly by on the sidelines, waiting for other people to develop the technologies and the business models that can help decarbonize our operations.” - Daniel Gross

Brianna Treat: LinkedIn | Email
Climate Pledge Arena: Facebook | Twitter | 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.

Podcasters unite! This Venueland journey takes us to Chicago where we chat with Jahaan Blake, Career Coach, Fan Experience Consultant, and host of the A Game of Her Own podcast! Jahaan talks about how she got into the industry – from an early love of sports to a unlikely opportunity with the Boston Red Sox to later gigs with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago Cubs – and how she ultimately decided to strike out on her own and do consulting and coaching. She talks about her work of coaching women trying to break into sports or advance in their careers, and we discuss common challenges and the best way to be an ally for your coworkers and advocate for yourself. She mentions the importance of asking the question “What does support look like from me?” to meet people where they are and help them in the best way possible. Jahaan talks about the excitement and fun of starting her own consulting business, her work with the Super Bowl and Pro Bowl, advice she would give others considering consulting, and how it led to the creation of her podcast – A Game of Her Own. Enjoy this educational and fun episode filled with great perspective and career advance, then stop over and check out Jahaan’s podcast and the many amazing guests she’s interviewed.

Jahaan Blake: Instagram | LinkedIn | Email | Website
A Game of Her Own: Apple | Spotify | Website

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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.

Put your helmet on and meet us on the field in The Bay, as we talk with Allie Dicken, Director of Brand & Influencer Marketing for the San Francisco 49ers. Allie tells us all about her role with the team, as well as involvement with their stadium shows at Levi’s Stadium. We dive into influencer marketing, including strategies, tracking methods, what stats and skills to look for, and the best approach to handling them. As an early adopter of influencer strategies, the 49ers are helping to lead the way within the NFL, often speaking on league meetings and spearheading new projects. We discuss branding for the team and their “Faithful to The Bay” campaign. Allie explains how she helps guide merchandising decisions, uniform designs, and the team’s expansion into the international market in Mexico and the UK. Although working in the NFL now, we hear about her start in the industry from an internship at the Rose Quarter in Portland and how it led to a dream job with the Phoenix Suns – including what the biggest differences are between marketing NBA and NFL teams. Put on your George Kittle jersey and enjoy this fun, extremely informative episode, which is chock full of sports fandom, take-away tips and career advice, and a unique look inside NFL team marketing.

Allie Dicken: Twitter | LinkedIn
San Francisco 49ers: Facebook | Twitter | 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.

Place an order for your favorite deep-dish pizza, kick back, and join us in Chi-Town as we chat with our friend, Colleen Quinn, Communications & Digital Marketing Director at United Center. Colleen walks us through the complicated and interesting process of bidding on hosting the Democratic National Convention – from the RFP response to hosting the DNC Committee to presenting at a visit to Baltimore. She talks about how she got into the industry including a fun internship at Shedd Aquarium, the importance of being your own advocate in the workplace, and the how important company culture is. Colleen talks about the challenges of being a new mom, and how United Center’s priority in employee wellbeing has not only helped during that time but also continues to offer amazing perks, such as a full gym and personal trainers for employees (WHAT?!? Amazing!). Enjoy this fun, informative episode that’s packed with great career advice, interesting industry strategies, and Chicago pizza hot takes. 🍕 Boiler up Second City!

Colleen Quinn: Instagram | LinkedIn
United Center: Facebook | Twitter | 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.

Pass through the Gateway Arch and explore the Show Me State with us as we chat with our friend Cindy Underwood-Oleshak, based in St. Louis, Missouri. Cindy’s career has taken her to all sides of the live events industry – from 13 years on the venue side at Scottrade Center (now Enterprise Center), to freelance marketing and publicity for Sesame Street Live, The Wiggles, Dreamworks, the Vancouver Olympics, music festivals, and so many more – she has a wealth of experience and perspective. Hear about her decisions to change career paths, work for herself, and some of the challenges and rewards that come along with those choices. We discuss the importance of taking a step back and evaluating your career and life priorities, and how pausing can help you not only explore new opportunities, but to strengthen your current path. She emphasizes the importance of relationship-building, which was critical to her freelance work with various tours. As Cindy continues to write new chapters, her outlook offers a refreshing take on working in an industry where it’s easy to get lost in the grind. Enjoy this fun, inspiriting episode which is chock full of career advice, tips for freelancers, and fun stories.

Cindy Underwood-Oleshak: 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.

No matter if you’re team Buffalo Chicken Wings or team Nashville Hot Chicken, you’ll love our latest episode with thespian and all around great guy, Kevin Kennedy, Marketing Strategy Manager at Outback Presents. Kevin takes us along on his career journey, from his start in live theater and in the box office at Shea’s Performing Arts Center, to kicking it on tour with The Rockettes, to his time with the Buffalo Sabres and KeyBank Center. He walks us through his job and city change due to the pandemic and what brought him to his current home in Nashville. We talk about what makes Nashville special as well as why Buffalo will alway be Kevin’s true home. Despite recent tragedies, Kevin explains how close and amazing the community is in Buffalo and how his visits back to sing the national anthem are some of his most personal and memorable experiences in his life. Enjoy this joyful, heartfelt episode, which shockingly includes an abbreviated performance of the title song from Broadway’s Oklahoma – appropriate for Kevin’s journey and as the song goes... “brand new state, gonna treat you great!”

Kevin Kennedy: Instagram | LinkedIn
Outback Presents: Facebook | Twitter | 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.

Land of 10,000 Lakes or Land of 10,000 events? Join us as we talk with Rick Hansen, Director of Booking at Historic Theatre Group – which manages booking at the Orpheum, State, and Pantages Theatres in Minneapolis – all a part of the Hennepin Theatre Trust. In a market rich with live events with more theater seats per capita than any city in the US outside of NYC, Rick gives us an inside look into booking multiple venues in a city known for its impact on music. We discuss his career journey from the University of Colorado Denver Music Business Program to an internship with a record label, working for a music festival, to finally landing in his home town booking venues he grew up seeing shows at. Rick talks about the challenges and things he loves on the booking side, the boom of touring comedy, booking during the pandemic, and the importance of maintaining relationships in this industry - both with rivals and competitors, and with promoters who will bring you shows. Head to the theatre district, pull a seat up at the Capital Grille bar, order a “Stoli Doli,” and join us for this fun episode learning the ins and outs of booking in one of the largest hotbeds for live entertainment in the country.

Rick Hansen: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Email
Hennepin Theatre Trust: Facebook | Twitter | 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.

BONUS EPISODE – Snap the ball and laces out as we kick our way into this fun detour episode taking a look inside the College Football Playoff National Championship with Brett Daniels, Senior Director of Communications and Branding for the College Football Playoff. Hear about the preparations leading into the game, how they handle signage and the marketing rollout without knowing finalists, and their strategies during the tight turnaround from semifinals to the championship. Coming out of this year’s Championship Game in Los Angeles at SoFi Stadium, Brett talks to us about the bidding process for cities, how the championship has uniquely visited ten different cities in its first decade, and what is on the horizon. Learn how the playoff has evolved, their use of other venues in the host city, and how they learn best practices from other major events and awards shows. Enjoy this interesting and informative look inside the many aspects of one of the largest sporting events in the country – which is about to be even bigger with a field of twelve in the 2024 season.

Brett Daniels: LinkedIn | Email
College Football Playoff: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

––––––

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.