Adventures In Venueland

Rocket City meets Music City as we talk with Olivia Christian, Marketing Director for tvg hospitality – a hospitality group that focuses on fan and artist experiences. Olivia tells us all about tvg’s flagship and first U.S. venue, The Orion Amphitheater in Huntsville, AL, which is an 8,000 capacity greek-inspired amphitheater which opened in spring 2022. In addition to hosting many national touring shows, the venue focuses on being the “third space” for people (after home and work) with a huge focus on community and cultural events, sustainability practices, and hospitality for everyone visiting. The venue’s focus on sustainability includes zero waste to landfills, a reusable cup program (reused over 500,000 cups since opening!), and allowing water bottles with water stations throughout the venue. They also have an artist garden with fruits, vegetables, and herbs that are used as garnish for drinks and used in food as well as a special bar named “Carbon” which donates $1 from every purchase to Tennessee Riverkeeper to protect rivers by enforcing environmental laws and educating the public. We chat with Olivia about her history in live events, which includes runs at Ryman Auditorium, War Memorial Auditorium, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, and promoter National Shows 2 (NS2). Enjoy this fun, informative episode that’s sure to inspire you to follow your passion, buck venue stereotypes, and have a greater appreciation for a good marketing mix.

Olivia Christian: LinkedIn | Email
tvg hospitality: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
The Orion Amphitheater: Facebook | 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.

Fire up the barbecue and grab your 10-gallon hat because we’re headed down to Dallas for this week’s episode of Venueland! We catch up with Julian Bowman, Senior Director of Marketing for Fair Park – a massive multipurpose complex that boasts over 1000 events a year. The national historic landmark is home to Cotton Bowl Stadium, Broadway Dallas, Dos Equis Pavilion (managed by Live Nation), a children’s aquarium, botanical garden, African American Museum of Dallas, The Hall of State, and so much more. They also play host to The State Fair of Texas, the longest running fair in the country, that welcomes a whopping 2.5 million visitors across 24 days. Everything truly is bigger in Texas! Julian tells us all about the complex and the unique partnership between Fair Park First and Oak View Group which collaborate on keeping the facilities active and the park in great condition. We hear about how the various entities and businesses work together to meet challenges, such as parking and traffic, and work to help each other out to ensure the rising tide raises all ships. Julian walks us through his history in the industry, from growing up wanting to be the next Stuart Scott (BOO-YAH!) to pursuing sports, to eventually landing in venue management which found him in various opportunities across North America. He talks about his personal passion of making an impact on his community and tells us about the venue’s internship program with two majority minority high schools to introduce youth to the live events industry. Enjoy this fun, fascinating episode that will make you long for some state fair food and a visit to the Red River Rivalry.

Julian Bowman: Instagram | LinkedIn
Fair Park: Facebook | X/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.

Grab your text book and meet us in class as we head to Pittsburgh to chat with Paige Beal, Associate Professor at Point Park University in the Rowland School of Business, who teaches in the Sports, Arts, Entertainment and Music Business (SAEM) program. In a city packed with entertainment venues like PPG Paints Arena, Acrisure Stadium, PNC Park, and Highmark Stadium as well as numerous other venues - Paige talks to us about their program and how they work with the local venues on an extensive internship and shadowing program. We talk about industry and program trends and how students were challenged and affected by the pandemic. Hear different tips for hiring new staff if you’re in the industry or pursuing jobs and networking if you’re entering the field – and how the importance of networking cannot be overstated. Paige walks us through her career and background of working in traditional and digital media, and how her experience in those fields has helped inform her teaching. She talks about how she and the staff stay on top of emerging trends and technologies - including teaching and engaging with AI so students know how to properly use it and create good prompts – and how its critical to remain curious in your career. Enjoy this interesting episode taking a look inside the classroom at the future of the live event industry, and advice on navigating changes no matter where you are in your career.

Paige Beal: LinkedIn | Instagram | Threads | TikTok
Point Park University: Facebook | X/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.

Carve out some ice time and triple-axel your way into this episode with Tami Allen, Senior Director of Winter Sports Events at IMG, and Event Director for Stars on Ice. Tami tells us about IMG, where she’s celebrating her 25th year, and how under the Endeavor umbrella it’s part of a massive global portfolio of businesses across the sports & entertainment ecosystem allowing for collaboration and maximizing opportunities. Stars on Ice, which she works on specifically, is the premier figure skating tour featuring the best skaters in the world. She talks about marketing shows in international markets, and the importance of leaning on local resources. We also discuss Tami’s involvement in the Event & Venue Marketing Conference, where she has been awarded the highest award for her years of work including First-Time Attendee initiatives – welcoming new conference attendees and connecting them with conference mentors. We learn about her history in the industry, from attending the University of Akron for their dance program to volunteering at celebrity golf tournaments and doing contracted events with the New York Yankees before landing at IMG. Have fun with us on this informative, playful conversation that discusses how to face social challenges, navigating your career, and fun stories between friends.

Tami Allen: Facebook | LinkedIn
IMG: Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram
Stars on Ice: Facebook | X/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.

Sit back in your seat as we queue the lights and get ready to rock with this episode’s guest – Danielle Edwards, Lighting Designer & Director for numerous tours including Greta Van Fleet, Maren Morris, Lizzo, and Kacey Musgraves. We dive into all things lighting as Danielle explains the ins and outs of what goes into designing, programming, and directing lighting for touring productions. Learn about how a typical tour day unfolds – from chalking to building rigs to making adjustments and then running the show. She tells us how she got into lighting, starting off doing stage managing and being a tech, and how those perspectives help inform her designs and allow her to understand what is possible and practical. We talk about how event lighting has changed over the years and different trends and technology that continues to evolve the industry. Danielle tells us about EVEN - Events Vocational Education Network - a non-profit she co-founded with others during the pandemic to make the industry more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. EVEN now partners with Diversify The Stage and do master classes inviting women to learn more about roles and life on the road. Whether you’re curious what goes into beautifully lighting a show, what it’s like on a tour, or want to hear what Danielle thinks is the best lit tour currently – this episode is for you. It’s full of great advice, fun perspective, and lots of information that is sure to make you better appreciate the intricacies of lighting on tours. Hit the lights and enjoy!

Danielle Edwards: 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.

Things are coming up roses this episode as we head to Portland, the City of Roses, to chat with Kevin Merlet, Director of Arena Marketing at Rose Quarter – which includes Moda Center, Veterans Memorial Coliseum, and Alaska Airlines' Theater of the Clouds. We talk about the unique flexibility and setup of Alaska Airlines' Theater of the Clouds, which is a unique take on an arena curtaining system that allows them to scale and attract many artists and comedians that may otherwise go elsewhere. Kevin explains some of the many things that make Portland unique, and how the city will invest in you if you invest in them. He explains their need and benefits of being authentic and community focused and how authenticity drives and brings forward creativity. We discuss Kevin’s unique career path that led him from internships at record labels in Chicago to music licensing in Los Angeles to his current role in Portland. Hear about some of the similarities and challenges between music licensing and marketing live events. This episode is chock full of fun stories, a love of music, shop talk about partnerships and consumer strategies, and a love of “Rip City.” Keep Portland weird!

Kevin Merlet: Instagram | LinkedIn
Rose Quarter: Facebook | X/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 – We’re keeping it 💯 with this special bonus episode that marks our 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣th overall episode of Adventures In Venueland! 😱 For this bonus, we talk with Marina Foté with the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum – referred to as “The Greatest Stadium in the World” by the NFL - which is celebrating its centennial anniversary! Hear about their “Coliseum Forever” campaign which celebrates the venue’s past while looking ahead toward its future. Marina tells us some fun stories and interesting facts from the Coliseum’s history, as well as some incredible nuggets discovered during this anniversary campaign. We talk about unique aspects of the venue based on how it was built, how important it is to fans, and notable events it played host to over the years. In an age where many venues do not make it to their 25th birthday, the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has stood the test of time and continues to be an iconic venue for all types of events. 100 years for our 100th episode? That’s some centennial synergy. 

Marina Foté: Instagram | LinkedIn
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: Facebook | X/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.

Head out to the Rockies to a land known for beautiful nature, iconic venues, and legendary teams, as we chat with Jennifer Persyn, Executive Director of Venue Marketing & Publicity at Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) - one of the worlds leading entertainment and management ownership groups. Jen, who oversees venue marketing and publicity for any concerts and family events at their properties, gives us an overview of KSE in Denver, which owns and manages a plethora of venues and teams including Ball Arena, Paramount Theatre, Dicks Sporting Goods Park, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Avalanche, Colorado Mammoth, Colorado Rapids, Altitude Sports & Entertainment, Altitude Authentics, and KSE Radio. Hear how her department is structured and how they balance working and covering numerous shows at various venues which are different sizes. We walk through Jen’s career path from Colorado State University to critical internships with the Colorado Eagles and Tampa Bay Lightning, to time on the ticketing side which helps inform marketing decisions she makes to this day. We also discuss the conundrum of staying in a market versus leaving to pursue new jobs and the many benefits that come from putting roots down and having established relationships with promoters and sales reps. As we head to Denver this June for EVMC 2024, enjoy this great discussion filled with good career tips and info about the city, including ‘don’t miss’ locations.

Jennifer Persyn: Instagram | LinkedIn
Ball Arena: Facebook | Twitter/X | 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.

Tune your guitar and strike your favorite rockstar pose as we travel down to the capital of the Lone Star State, Austin, to chat with Lillian Lee, VP of Digital Marketing Strategy for Fevo. Lillian gives us a rundown on Fevo, an ecommerce experiences company specializing in professional sports ticketing, and how they’re working to digitize the industry and revolutionize the checkout process online. We talk about the evolution of the event experience, and the importance of flipping strategies on their head to innovate and create new, better experiences. We also walk through her career adventure. A love for music at an early age led Lillian to study music business at NYU where she landed an internship for a club promoter in Brooklyn. This led her on a path to working at Empire Control Room & Garage where she cut her teeth on all sides of the industry and experienced the joys and challenges of hosting events for SXSW. Her next gig found her with Front Gate Tickets, a festival ticketing platform, before landing her current role with Fevo, where she handles branding, digital strategy, internal marketing, product marketing, and client marketing. Enjoy this interesting look at different sides of the live event industry, hear some great advice, and learn all about her sweet “Texas street dog,” Copper, on this fun and informative episode.

Lillian Lee: Facebook | X/Twitter | Instagram
Fevo: X/Twitter | 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.

Get up and move your feet with us as we head to Detroit Rock City to chat with the queen of the curls, Jessica Runyon, VP of Global Client Marketing with Ticketmaster. Jess takes us through her day-to-day, from working with venues, promoters, sports, and arts groups on client marketing solutions – self serve marketing products, managed services, email marketing, self-serve pixel placements, digital media, and strategies for marketing rollouts. We dig in to great tips for career development, such as being positive, showcasing your authentic and reliable self, building relationships, and tips for working with difficult people. As her mom always told her: “To have friends, one first must show themselves as friendly” and Jess does this in spades. We talk about how positive attitudes can change your life, work environment, and department, and how she has leveraged her love of people into meaningful relationships that have enhanced her career. When Jess isn’t jet setting around the globe or relaxing at home with her husband and dog, she heads back home to ‘ole Kentucky, the place where she was born and raised’ and enjoys important down time to reset and balance an often hectic industry. We all discuss the importance of EVMC, how important partners are to the conference’s success, and tips for new conference attendees wanting to get the most out of their experience. This episode is packed full of great advice, heartfelt quotes from Jess’ parents, and wonderful career tips that you’re sure to appreciate as you chart your own journey.

Jessica Runyon: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Ticketmaster: Facebook | Twitter/X | 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.