Top Three Thursday

Welcome back to **Top Three Thursday**, where keeping you ahead of the curve in the dynamic world of event production is our top priority. We are back with your host, Chris Starkey, and today we have a special episode that you won't want to miss. We're diving into a conversation with Amelia Antonetti, one of the foremost experts in human behavior and strategic advising. Amelia has shared her wisdom on prominent platforms like the Oprah Winfrey Show, Steve Harvey, and Dr. Phil, and her impressive resume includes advising and scaling businesses for top-tier clients such as Mike Tyson, Listerine, and George Foreman.

In today's episode, we're exploring the **Top Three Ways to Scale Your Event Business Using Key Behavior Indicators (KBIs)**. Amelia sheds light on understanding the behavioral drivers behind your team's performance, the pivotal role of aligning your team's goals with individual motivations, and the often-overlooked gaps in leadership perspectives. Whether you're an event professional or an industry enthusiast, this episode is packed with invaluable insights to help you capitalize on your people's potential and effectively scale your business.

Stay tuned as we unpack these topics and more with the one and only Amelia Antonetti, right here on **Top Three Thursday**.

Key Takeaways:

03:11 Owning event company, struggle with management. Key behavior indicators important for scaling.

09:31 Perfectionists struggle with creating space for cooperation.

12:35 Understand audience needs, tailor event technology.

14:27 C-Suite misinterprets reality, leading to problems.

18:29 Differences in values and understanding create conflict.

23:41 Balancing personal and professional life with intention.

25:48 Caring for my people leads to success.

Welcome to "Top Three Thursday!" In today's episode, we're thrilled to have David Stephens, the "wellness architect," as our guest. David has revolutionized wellness in the event industry by moving beyond just fitness and food. They’ve introduced crucial elements that have significantly boosted attendee satisfaction.

Join us as we explore David’s scientific, evidence-based approach to making meetings more effective, focussing on the top three ways to incorporate mental wellness. We’ll delve into the power of movement, the transformative impact of mindfulness, and the brain-boosting benefits of high-protein meals.

David shares actionable insights on how to enhance attendee experience and productivity, from mindful breakfast sessions to creating a circadian rhythm-friendly agenda. We’ll also hear about Chris Starkey's fitness routines and discuss the importance of educating event delegates for business growth.

Stay tuned as we uncover the business case for integrating wellness into events. All this and more on "Top Three Thursday!”

Key Takeaways:

03:44 Wellness enhances events, increases ROI, and energizes participants.

08:41 Olympian and wellness advocate finds corporate success.

10:07 High intensity workouts engage fight or flight.

13:56 Empower attendees with movement and breaks.

18:14 Mindfulness: Making meditation more accessible and beneficial.

21:49 Anecdotal evidence suggests protein-rich breakfast aids focus.

22:44 Diverse high-protein food options available now.

28:01 CrossFit athletes start podium line with Frazier.

30:46 Thank you, David, for wellness event promotion.

Welcome to another episode of "Top Three Thursday"! This time, we have an exciting and insightful conversation lined up with our special guest, Samantha Vogel. Samantha is a seasoned expert in creating remarkable trade show experiences, and today she'll be sharing her invaluable know-how. We dive into everything from strategic booth design and cost-effective exhibiting strategies to the cutting-edge use of immersive AV technology and AI integration. Samantha also brings her unique background in special needs nonprofit events and high-stakes trade shows, like those for GameStop, providing a rich perspective on how to truly stand out and measure success at these events. Stay tuned as we explore how understanding your audience, setting clear goals, and employing creative, personalized interactions can make your brand shine on the trade show floor. Plus, don't miss Chris's job offer to Samantha—it's a testament to the game-changing insights she's about to share!

Key Takeaways

04:40 Created immersive gaming trade show experiences with innovation and engagement.

06:47 Understanding audience demographics crucial for trade shows.

09:43 Create flexible booth to suit different shows.

15:43 Integrate interactive technology into engaging booth displays.

19:07 AI captures booth engagement, facial expressions, and data, impacting trade show strategy.

21:43 Exhibits are critical for on-site event success.

24:38 Identifying goals is essential for trade show success.

27:12 Post-show revenue maximization through effective tracking.

About Samantha Vogel:

Samantha Vogel is an experienced event producer with expertise in creating immersive and engaging trade show experiences. She has a background in producing special needs nonprofit events and a passion for fostering connections through events.

Currently, Samantha works for Freeman, a company that specializes in producing trade show booths. Prior to this, she worked on producing a large trade show floor for GameStop, which involved millions of dollars in investment. Her role required a deep understanding of the target audience's demographics to deliver a successful experience.

Throughout the podcast, Samantha demonstrates her knowledge and insights on various aspects of trade show exhibit strategy. She emphasizes the importance of setting clear goals, measuring success, and aligning booth design with specific objectives. Samantha also highlights the use of technology, such as interactive displays, LED screens, and AI integration, to capture attendee engagement and create memorable experiences.

Samantha's expertise extends to the creative and strategic aspects of booth design. She encourages the use of hands-on experiences and personalization to engage attendees effectively. Additionally, she recognizes the value of AI tools like midjourney for visualizing booth designs and the potential for AI-powered interactive experiences and data capture.

Links : 

Linked in : https://www.linkedin.com/in/samantha-vogel-cmp-07284523/ 

Freeman : https://www.freeman.com 

GameStop : https://www.gamestop.com/ 

Welcome to another episode of *Top Three Thursday*! Your host, Chris Starkey, is joined by a powerhouse guest and now co-host, Kamal de Race. Combined, they've spent decades thriving in the exhilarating but often stressful world of event production. In this episode, they're diving deep into the strategies that can help you take your event business to the next level—in fact, they're talking about how to tenfold your success. Kamal brings fresh insights from a recent meeting with event owners in Chicago, and they're breaking down the top three steps to 10x your business.

ABOUT KAMAL DARAISEH:

Welcome to another exciting episode of Top Three Thursday podcast! 

This week, we have a special treat for you as we sit down with the incredible Liz Caruso: an Event Strategist, Consultant and Speaker.
She has helped countless thought leaders grow their audience and sell their products through in-person, virtual, and hybrid events. Liz is a big-picture person—passionate about tying events into an overall sales and marketing strategy and being efficient at every point of the process.
Her accolades include being featured as one of Eventex’s 50 Most Innovative Virtual Meeting Planners, on Successful Meetings' list of 25 Most Influential People in the Meetings Industry, and among the Top 5 Women in Event Tech.

Hosted by Chris Starkey, this episode dives into Liz's accidental start in event planning, the evolution of her brands, and her insights on the impact of technology and AI in the industry.
Expect an engaging discussion on the benefits and risks of hosting your own events, the power of saying no, and tips for building meaningful connections.

Plus, get ready for invaluable advice on developing into a leader in the event industry and the importance of staying curious and rooted in everyday needs.
Catch Liz online at @lizkingevents or as the host of the podcast “Cut the Sh*t, cue the Genius”
Key Takeaways

(00:00) Networking and attendee perspective crucial in event planning.

(04:19) Liz’s journey from Twitter handle to event company.

(08:51) Embracing opportunities and collaboration in professional life.

(11:18) Cultivating diverse relationships for unexpected opportunities.

(15:43) Identifying and exploiting your unique skills.

(17:30) Leveraging your strengths and partnering for success.

(20:49) Discovering passion for events can lead to success.

(23:44) Showcasing our work to potential clients reaps benefits.

(27:15) Give outside industry for authentic brand building.

Resources Mentioned

Liz King Events 

 - https://www.linkedin.com/company/liz-king-events/

“Cut the Sh*t, cue the Genius” Podcast

- https://dahliaplus.com/cue-the-genius/

- https://www.youtube.com/@cuethegenius

Techsytalk

- https://techsytalk.com

YourHappyMess

- http://yourhappymess.com  

#eventplanning  #TechTips #LizCaruso #StayRooted #FutureOfEvents #lizkingevents #techystalk #aimarketingtrends #eventmanagment

In this weeks episode, we have a remarkable guest, Brandy Thigpen - VP, Events Marketing at City National Bank & founder of In The Game Hospitality Solutions. 

Brandy has orchestrated some of the most prestigious events on the globe - from the Super Bowls to the Special Olympics, Brandy's expertise and resilience have made her a linchpin in the events industry.

Join Chris Starkey and Brandy and they dive into Brandy's inspiring journey—from her humble beginnings and overcoming logistical nightmares to her strategic visions for the future.

Key Takeaways:

(00:00) Brandy’s achievement: 2015 Special Olympics on ESPN.

(02:04) Overview of Brandy’s event production experience.

(03:08) Stress in large-scale event production.

(03:28) Brandy’s stress management strategies.

(04:54) Educational background and networking in Brandy’s career.

(06:12) WWE’s role in Brandy’s first major job.

(07:21) Mentoring and conference speaking.

(07:48) Educating students about the events industry.

(09:52) Integrating stakeholders as a local expert.

(12:12) Challenges and contingency plans in events.

(17:16) Evolution of service levels in the industry.

(19:02) Upcoming major events in Los Angeles.

(19:57) Increased involvement of local businesses.

(22:14) Bid process for LA 2024 and LA 2028.

(24:01) Strategic decision-making for the 2028 Olympics.

(25:19) Final Thoughts

Resources Mentioned:

Brandy Thigpen

City National Bank

#LosAngeles #WorldGames #Podcast #BrandyThigpen #TopThreeThursday #ESPNSpecialOlympics #FutureOfEvents

In this episode, host Chris Starkey and Jeffrey Denman welcome Molly Mahoney, co-founder of the Ai Content Club and founder of The Prepared Performer.

Molly shares her top three ways to humanize AI with humour and authenticity, shedding light on how laughter and personal connections can transform your content.

Key Takeaways

(05:16) Jeff's kindness led to meaningful connections, offering valuable insights into navigating professional relationships.

(06:14) Meeting Gail was a life-changing moment for Molly, fostering a deep human connection that led to new opportunities.

(11:34) AI's role in enhancing event experiences.

(15:31) Molly's insights on human-centric AI integration. Bridging the gap between human connection and AI.

(18:40) In AI copywriting, frameworks limit creativity and personalisation.

(19:26) AI's influence on human language and perception, urging mindfulness.

(28:45) Molly emphasises the impact of on-camera appearance and self-perception. She underscores the importance of acknowledging one's self-image, particularly in the context of AI and human connection.

(29:17) Insights into Adyen’s diverse global event strategy. Balancing work and family, team structure, coping with stress, marketing evolution, location impact, speaker role, and AI in event planning.

(33:20) Molly's insights explore AI's human connection.

Resources Mentioned

In this episode, we welcome Anca Trifan, Head of Operations, Senior Technical Event Producer and AI Strategist of Tree-Fan Events. Anca shares her insights on integrating AI into event production and the evolving landscape of event management.

Key Takeaways:

(02:23) The necessity of incorporating AI into business practices to stay relevant.

(04:19) The challenge of communicating future technologies in a way that's understandable in the present.

(06:03) The importance of audience engagement and wellness for event teams.

(06:59) The rapid development of AI technology and its implications for staying current.

(09:14) How AI analytics can take businesses to the next level.

(10:22) Personalization of event experiences through AI for a more tailored attendee experience.

(11:04) Introduction of PCMA’s Spark for predictive analytics and personalized content recommendations.

(13:17) The importance of repurposing event content for media through AI tools.

(16:37) The significance of personalization in enhancing event experiences.

(19:14) The role of AI in simplifying event planning and execution.

(22:19) The shift towards immediate content repurposing in events post-COVID.

(24:05) How AI has made content creation and editing more efficient.

(30:51) The importance of sleep and fitness in maintaining high performance and creativity.

Resources Mentioned:

PCMA Spark

Tree-Fan Events

Cvent

Apollo.io

Repurpose.io

Descript

Swell AI

In this episode, host Chris Starkey welcomes Michael Alexandre, Event Manager, North America of Adyen. We explore the complexities and triumphs of event planning within the rapidly evolving payment platform sector.

Key Takeaways:

(03:18) Adyen’s global event strategy includes over 150 events annually.

(04:13) Events managed at Adyen are diverse, from webinars to international conferences.

(06:17) The significance of balancing professional and family life amidst frequent travels.

(07:26) An inside look at the team structure within Adyen’s event management department.

(09:22) Coping with the stress and unpredictability of the event planning industry.

(11:02) The evolution of marketing strategies in promoting events.

(13:35) How location influences event planning and execution, comparing San Francisco to New York.

(15:08) Michael’s perspective on the critical role of speakers in enhancing event experiences.

(17:07) AI’s potential and current use in event marketing and planning.

Resources Mentioned:

Adyen

- https://www.adyen.com/knowledge-hub/sem

In this episode, we’re joined by Ramon Ray, Publisher of ZoneofGenius.com, Event Emcee and Motivational Speaker, and On-Air Host at “USA Today.” The discussion centers on the essentials of networking and personal branding and the significance of creating memorable events.

Key Takeaways:

(03:01) Ramon's influence and networking skills.

(04:38) The book "The Celebrity CEO" and its relevance in personal branding.

(06:33) Ramon's role as a "hype man" and his impact on events.

(09:21) Developing a no-fear mentality in engaging with influential individuals.

(13:11) The importance of understanding the worst-case scenario in social engagements.

(15:06) Advice on personal engagement and making an initial connection.

(18:15) The value of starting with service to create impactful interactions.

(19:41) The Entrepreneurs Conference and Awards, which is happening in April.

(23:30) Ramon’s new opportunity with “USA Today” as a show host.