Jessica Lalley joins us in the studio this week to talk about her newly rebranded company, Voices to Connect, and the ways she coordinates between event planners and speakers. She is an expert in the logistical side of events and talks about some of the ways she has been able to pivot her role and her team virtually in the past year. 

Check out Jessica's company online. 

For more event tips find us online.

And don't miss our latest video content. 

This week, Billy (our founder and president) and Alison (our production assistant) talk about the value of an afterparty or "the Afterglow Effect" to end an event with a bang. This idea first came to us during a recent leadership kickoff that our team hosted. Even though this virtual event was mainly professional, there was an afterparty moment at the end when a few dozen of the nearly two hundred participants stayed on and had a dance party.

Unscripted moments like this are some of our favorite parts of events, but it’s so easy to get caught up in the planning of the event that you don’t allow for these moments to happen. People love the opportunity to let their guard down and participate in authentic experiences with their team members. We hope you enjoy this conversation and see the power of incorporating even a ten minute afterparty to your next live or virtual event.

Creating the perfect event experience is all about being authentic and connecting with the audience. For more help on developing skills as a communicator, check out our More Than a Microphone online course. 

For more event tips find us online.

And don't miss our latest video content.

This week's episode features a clip of Sean's LinkedIn Live with Amber Khan. This snippet of their conversation includes three mistakes that a lot of people and organizations make in planning virtual events. 

You can find the entire conversation with Amber here. 

For more event tips check us out online.

And don't miss our latest video content. 

Jasmine Smith, founder of the event production company SmithCo, joins us this week to talk about her extensive experience in the events industry. Starting out as a wedding planner, Jasmine eventually expanded into other areas of the event world, helping individuals and organizations pull off memorable experiences. 

We talk to her about all things virtual and hybrid events and get the inside scoop on how she goes about planning events with her clients. One of her biggest suggestions? Test the technology! And more than that, know your audience's comfort level with using technology. We hope you enjoy this impactful conversation as much as we did!

For more event tips check us out online.

And don't miss our latest video content.

Keep up with Jasmine online:

Instagram: @thejasminesmith

Twitter: @jasminedotsmith

Shayla Perry, Owner of Sperrywinkle, joins Sean and Byron in the studio to talk about her extensive experience in marketing and events. From elaborate galas to automotive trade shows, Shayla has experienced it all. She joins us to break down the things she's learned over the years and the ways the past year has influenced her as an event professional. 

Our favorite takeaway was hearing Shayla talk about bravery and the ways it has served her throughout her career, especially recently. Regardless of your profession or past experience with events, 2020 brought us all out of our comfort zones to some extent. Her stories are inspiring and a reminder to us all that pushing through fear is the best way to become brave in your profession and in your life in general. 

For more event tips check us out online. 

And don't miss our latest video content. 

2020 was a major learning experience, especially for us event planners. We made a lot of mistakes navigating the new world of events but learned more than we ever thought possible. As we head into a new year, we hope these lessons serve you well in planning your next event. 

For more event tips check us out online.

And don't miss our latest video content.

This week, Billy and Sean are in the studio breaking down some of the best event ideas for your team in the new year. From professional development sessions to client brainstorms to team retreats, this episode covers it all. If you think your team needs to have more events this year (even virtual events), these ideas are sure to give you clarity in deciding which events will be helpful and how exactly they can be executed. 

William Warren, founder of the Sketch Effect, breaks down some of the ways he and his organization have adapted (and thrived) in the new world of virtual events. He describes the techniques his business has used to pivot and his predictions for what the future of events could hold. One of our favorite moments was William's idea that “you can’t underestimate the value of doing a technical walkthrough.” Or as we like to say: test, test, and test again!

The Sketch Effect is one of our favorite organizations to partner with. Their live sketch artists draw a visual representation of the content being discussed by the speaker and add so much to any event, be it live or virtual. To learn more about William Warren and his team, visit thesketcheffect.com.

Angie Ahrens, VP of Operations at Leadercast, joins us to discuss her personal experience with events before and after the pandemic. With all the change that has taken place in the last year alone, Angie breaks down the ways she has had to pivot personally and professionally in a changing event environment. She discusses her "survivor's guilt" over keeping her job while so many others in her industry lost theirs and the importance of leaning into empathy and relationships now more than ever.

In the pilot episode, Billy and Sean introduce the vision for Mic Drop Events, and share their heart behind creating remarkable experiences for their clients. Feeling overwhelmed by the event process? Let us help! https://elevateexperiences.com/events/from-live-to-virtual/