Better Events

In this episode, Logan and Mary are back with a follow-up to one of their most popular episodes: Speaker Management 101. This time they go deeper, tackling the situations that don't show up in the basics. From setting tech check and rehearsal expectations to managing speaker nerves, egos, and last-minute changes, they cover what actually happens when speakers go off script, over time, or off the rails entirely. They also get into how to handle high-profile and VIP speakers differently and the systems and tools that make the whole process smoother. If you produce events with speakers, this one belongs in your rotation.

SHOW NOTES:

Link to Speaker Management 101 - Episode 251

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ziiFRedmdL3tI6d1HdrPc?si=535abf91aa364a15

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok1N8jYqULU

Purchase our template, including a speaker management tab: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/better-events-conferencemeeting-event-planning-workbook-template-excel

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and Mary are back together for a long overdue life update. Mary shares what life has looked like since returning from maternity leave, including the honest realities of running a business with a new baby, whether her identity has shifted, and what has been harder and more rewarding than she expected. They also look ahead at what they're each hoping this next chapter brings. It's the kind of conversation that goes well beyond events and into the messier, more meaningful parts of building a life and a business at the same time.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

Mary is back from maternity leave and she's catching up on every episode she missed. In this solo episode, she shares her reactions to some of the guest co-host conversations that aired while she was out, including her take on the business behind venue management and the public versus private event debate, dressing for comfort on event day, staying visible and relevant as an event pro, and what our episode with a graphics operator taught her about one of the most underappreciated partnerships in live event production. If you've been listening while she was gone, this one is a fun way to revisit it all through Mary's eyes.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this solo episode, Logan pulls together three of her most practical production-focused YouTube videos and adds her own commentary along the way. She covers the audio files your A/V team actually needs before your next event, the three things she always checks before an event starts, and how to adjust on the fly when a speaker or segment runs long. If you produce events and want to feel more confident on show day, this episode is a great one to revisit before your next event.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Erin Leonard get into a question a lot of event pros have quietly wondered about: how do you actually break into big events? From trade shows like CES to the Olympic Games, they talk about how smaller companies and independent planners can find their way into large-scale, high-attendance events, what those opportunities actually look like, and how to position yourself to be part of a bigger team. If you've ever watched a massive event and wondered how to get a seat at that table, this episode is your starting point.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Erin Leonard:

Website: https://erinleonardevents.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinleonardevents/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%9C%A8-erin-leonard-cmm-66155a59/

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Erin Leonard sit down with Shannon Werkhoven, a decade-plus event pro and venue sales manager at two iconic Live Nation venues, to talk about the one thing that separates planners who consistently book work from those who don't: personal brand. Shannon shares when she realized her own brand was actually working for her, what makes an event planner stand out from the venue side of the table, and the real difference between having a personal brand and just having a social media presence. If you want to be the planner clients think of before they even start searching, this episode is your roadmap.

SHOW NOTES:

Register for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://app.swapcard.com/login/event/2026-better-events-conference/registration

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Shannon Werkhoven:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-werkhoven

Connect with guest co-host Erin Leonard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%9C%A8-erin-leonard-cmm-66155a59/

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Erin Leonard have the AI conversation that's been on a lot of event pros' minds but not enough of their podcasts. Erin came in with some honest hesitancy about AI, and rather than gloss over it, they dig straight into it. They cover where AI still earns its place in their workflows, where planners are leaning on it in ways that might actually be hurting them, and whether the pushback on AI is making face-to-face events more valuable. Whether you're an early adopter or have barely touched it, this one is for you.

SHOW NOTES:

Erin's Platform Sandals: https://www.oofos.com/products/womens-ooahh-plus-slide-sandal-black?variant=44307457179763

Logan's snackle box: https://amzn.to/3U5cY4g

Chelsea Fagan's Financial Diet - AI Newsletter: https://thefinancialdiet.beehiiv.com/p/what-we-should-worry-about-when-we-worry-about-ai?utm_source=thefinancialdiet.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=what-we-should-worry-about-when-we-worry-about-ai&_bhlid=3ecf9fae55fd7787d2209713a1593109b6ec868e&jwt_token=

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Erin Leonard:

Website: https://erinleonardevents.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinleonardevents/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%9C%A8-erin-leonard-cmm-66155a59/

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Julianne get into one of the most sustainable — and most misunderstood — growth strategies in the event business: referrals. They talk about what a referral-based business actually looks like in practice, what it takes to stay consistently top of mind with the people who send you work, and how to handle it gracefully when a referral isn't the right fit. If you're earlier in your career and wondering how to build referral equity when your network is still growing, this episode has a roadmap for you too.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Julianne Read:

Website: https://eefundraising.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianneread/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianneread/

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Julianne sit down with Jackie Baker, founder of Spark Events and co-founder of Event Pro Suite, for an honest conversation about pricing. Jackie shares the mistakes most event planners make without realizing it, where she landed after years of trial and error across flat-fee, percentage-based, and hourly structures, and what finally made her start charging what her work is actually worth. If you've ever undercharged, over-delivered, or struggled to raise your rates with long-term clients, this one is for you.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Jackie Baker:

Website: https://www.sparkeventshq.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackiewoodbaker/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkeventshq/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sparkeventshq

Related Episodes:

Ep. #230 - When and How to Raise Your Event Rates Confidently: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0uVLTOY3lqRqxrnxNlWHXx?si=BOFMTQmrQd2cOGKMh0Bb3Q

Ep. #211 - Fractional CFO interview with Kelle Thorpe: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0plbiquoAHS5tpbFs0593K?si=Myft59dyQGiTmRNWl8Xukw

Ep. #147 with Jackie Baker: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3piq1gn938vKhNK39V4RFL

Connect with guest co-host Julianne Read on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianneread/

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan sits down with Julianne, a fundraiser-turned-event architect who specializes in nonprofit events, to break down one of the most high-stakes moments in any gala: the paddle raise. Julianne walks through how to structure giving levels, write and time the ask, and prep your fundraising host so the moment actually lands. Whether you produce nonprofit galas or just want to understand how to move a room to action, this episode will change how you think about the ask.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Julianne Read:

Website: https://eefundraising.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julianneread/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julianneread/

Logan's Favorite Vodka Sauce: https://danpelosi.com/recipe/grossys-vodka-sawce/

Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest

Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free

THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!

——

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:

@bettereventspod

@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)

@epeventsllc (Mary)