Event Engine Podcast

How can AI transform event management and improve efficiency? Martin Suttill, founder of 54 Solutions, joins Lee to share practical use cases of AI in events, from automation to data handling, and how event businesses can embrace AI as a tool rather than a threat. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/unlocking-ai-potential-for-events

How can understanding neuroscience help event organisers create more engaging experiences? Lisa Schulteis, founder of ElectraLime Marketing and Your Event Marketplace, joins Lee to discuss how the principles of neuroscience can be applied to improve event engagement. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/neuroscience-of-event-engagement/

How do you navigate the complex landscape of event tech solutions? Thomas Schwarzenböck, from Adventics, joins Lee to discuss how event organisers can make better decisions when it comes to selecting platforms and technologies for their events. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/choosing-the-right-event-tech/

How do you create a seamless, branded experience for exclusive event invitations? Paul Campbell, co-founder of Tito, joins Lee to discuss the evolution of event registration and how his new platform, IO, caters specifically to high-end, invite-only events. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/invite-only-events/

How can real-time translation make events more accessible and inclusive? Arkadiy Vershebenyuk, from Palabra AI, joins Lee to discuss how voice-to-voice translation can revolutionise the way we communicate at events, breaking down language barriers for attendees from around the globe. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/real-time-voice-translation/

How can we improve the way we measure the impact of events? Dax Callner joins Lee to discuss how better data standards and meaningful metrics can help event organisers prove the value of their work and drive continuous improvement. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/improving-event-measurement/

How can event organisers make better use of the data they collect? Chloe Barnes, an experienced event tech professional, joins Lee to discuss how event organisers can gather, interpret, and act on data to drive event success. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/smarter-data-for-event-success/

How can you build a thriving member-led community in the events industry? Francisco Opazo, founder of Ledby Community, joins Lee to share his journey of creating a B2B community for event professionals, focusing on making community initiatives member-driven rather than top-down. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/building-member-led-communities/

What does it take to build meaningful relationships in the events industry, especially when recruitment is your focus? Mike Frost, founder of ExpoCast, joins Lee to share his journey and approach to recruitment for the events sector, emphasizing the importance of relationships, resilience, and community. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/building-relationships-in-recruitment/

How can event organizers prepare for unexpected crises and manage them effectively? Jill Hawkins from Aniseed PR and Paul Richardson from Vividink share their expertise on crisis management for events, offering insights into how to stay calm and handle anything that comes your way. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/crisis-management-for-events/

How can event organizers and suppliers use creative marketing to stand out in the events industry? Cat, founder of Electric Cat Productions, joins Lee to share how her marketing agency helps event suppliers and organizers create impactful, engaging campaigns that drive results. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/creative-marketing-for-events/

How can communities and virtual events create meaningful engagement in the post-pandemic world? Baris, founder of Precision Communities, joins Lee and Adam Parry to discuss the role of virtual and hybrid events today. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/building-community-through-events

Do you know what to do with all that content after your event ends? Bogdan Maran from Visual Hive shares why event organizers need to rethink how they manage and curate their valuable event footage. Full show notes: https://eventenginecast.com/maximising-your-event-content/

What would it take to achieve a completely net zero event? Is that even possible amidst the flights, builds and waste streams inherent to large conferences and expos? I brought those questions to Nick Westerman of NHS Confederation. Nick oversees sustainability initiatives for NHS Confed's massive annual expo in the UK. With thousands gathering each year, he's constantly searching for ways to lower the event's environmental impact. He was candid about the obstacles they face and the reality of reaching carbon goals. Nick and the team behind NHS Confed take a holistic approach. From public transport incentives to recycled venue materials, Nick shares the incremental changes making their large event noticeably greener. If you feel overwhelmed on event sustainability, don't miss Nick's pragmatic vision. Full show notes: https://eecast.com/33

Running events can feel like a risky business at times. Between tight budgets, high partner expectations, and strong competition, the odds often seem stacked against us as event organizers. We're forced to pull off minor miracles at times on a strained budget. My guest in this episode, Mads Kjer, bootstrapped Ticketbutler starting with just an idea and sheer determination. We learn how he went from "moonlighting side-hustler" to leading a thriving event ticketing and badge printing company armed only with hustle, smarts and an unwavering commitment to customer experience. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to turn your idea into profit, you need to hear Mads' story. From leveraging side incomes to laser-focusing on customer pain points with his ticket builder software and portable badge printer hardware, he shares the tactics that allowed Ticketbutler to constantly punch above its weight class despite limited resources, and a lot of competition. So whether you're looking to bootstrap your own event tech startup or simply take your existing event business to the next level without going into debt, don't miss the key lessons from Mads' journey on how he beat the odds through resilience, agility, and customer obsession to turn his passion project into a global reaching operation with just the power of bootstrapping. Full show notes: https://eecast.com/32

Event Tech Live has grown from niche website to global industry phenom in just over a decade. So how’d they do it? This week I talk with Adam Parry. He pulls back the curtain on Event Tech Live's origin story and growth. From kickstarting with an awards program to the first leap into organising... Adam keeps it real about their against-the-odds journey to heavy-hitter status. Along the way, he drops serious knowledge for fellow event organisers looking to step up their game. Like why getting creative on your exhibition stand trumps waiting for serendipity. How to leverage content to drive sustainable growth. And the key factors that gave his team the confidence to bring their formula to Las Vegas! Full show notes: https://eecast.com/31

Face to face or screen to screen? Which leaves you feeling more connected? In this episode Lisa and I discuss recent research showing that in-person interactions trigger increased neural activity compared to virtual interactions. We explore a study analysing the differences in brain activity and eye contact when people interacted live versus through video chat. The results indicate our minds are wired to be more engaged with physical proximity - but why is that so? Lisa and I unpack the limitations of current virtual platforms, including how camera angles and lack of body language cues play a role. If a picture speaks a thousand words, being in the same room conveys infinitely more. But could webcam capabilities ever replicate the nuances of sharing physical space? With insights from neuroscience and psychology, we get to the heart of what builds bonds between humans. Full show notes: https://eecast.com/30

As event organisers, finding partners we can trust is crucial yet daunting. Between flashy marketing and empty promises, how can we cut through the noise to assess what solutions will truly support our event vision? In this revealing episode, I roleplay an event organiser grilling a potential event technology supplier. My guest? Max from Canapii - an all-in-one event management platform. With a conversational approach, I put Max in the hot seat with questions we as organisers need answered before even considering a demo. Full show notes: https://eecast.com/29

What if trying to build an engaged, year-round event community was actually detrimental to your event's success? Event organisers are aften advised to create 365 communities around their events, nurturing relationships long after an event wraps. But event strategy expert Dax Callner argues most organisers lack the skills and bandwidth for ongoing community management. In this episode, Dax asserts that overextending resources to force year-round conversations does a disservice to both organizers and attendees. Rather than community, he believes events should prioritise delivering incredible experiences, which lead attendees to naturally return, year after year. Join Dax and host Lee as they challenge enduring community-building advice. You’ll reconsider assumptions about the best ways to invest time and energy to make your events thrive for the long haul. Rethink what matters most. Full show notes: https://eecast.com/28

Would building a year-round community around your event allow you to offer more value? In this episode, I interview Neil Thompson from Delegate Wranglers. He shares his journey growing a Facebook community that exceeded any expectations. We learn how he grew and monetised his platform, starting with just a simple newsletter and expanding to customised campaigns working with global brands. Neil also shares the amazing value he could add during the tough times of the pandemic, quickly pivoting to online content and community support. As you listen, consider what a thriving year-round gathering place could do for your attendees, community, industry and bottom line. Neil shares how he cultivated an engaged, supportive culture that became the foundation of Delegate Wranglers' runaway success. Neil's story illustrates how listening to your community and continually evolving to meet needs can help transform a simple idea into a thriving member ecosystem. If you’re looking for inspiration and a model to emulate, this in-depth chat with a true community leader is a must listen. Full show notes: https://eecast.com/27