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Welcome to the go-to resource for event marketers. With each episode, we dive deep into the world of event marketing, bringing in industry leaders to discuss trends, strategies, and success stories. We're not just talking about creating trade show booths; we're exploring how to craft success stories that drive tangible results.
We believe trade shows and events are not just a cost of doing business but an essential sales and marketing strategy, and have the potential to propel your brand growth and significantly impact your bottom line.
We understand the industry can be complex, with challenges around under-resourced staff, budget allocation, and much more. That's why we're here—to provide guidance and expertise so you can do better, be better, and expand your career.
Join us on this journey to get results, grow your brand, and experience the revolution of event marketing!
“Event Marketing: Redefined'' is hosted by trade show and event marketing expert, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events.
187 Episodes
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Every event marketer has a moment they’d go back and redo — a decision, a mindset, a chance to think bigger. At EXHIBITORLIVE 2025, Coty Adams and Mollie Stahl hit the floor to ask one powerful question: “What advice would you give your younger event-marketing self?” The answers were raw, funny, and surprisingly universal. From learning to breathe through chaos to embracing bold ideas, every story captured what it really takes to build a career in this industry and a life that thrives beyon...
Every brand wants the next big experiential idea. But too often, what gets delivered is safe, predictable, and easy to forget. Audiences are craving creativity. They want experiences that surprise them, move them, make them pause. And behind every “cool idea” that actually worked is a deeper story—why it mattered, how it connected, and what made it resonate long after the lights went down. But what if you’ve never walked through SXSW or experienced Cannes in person? What if you don’t have e...
Venue sourcing takes an enormous amount of time and most event marketers have even less of it than ever before. Between skyrocketing pricing, surprise fees, and increased pressure to deliver inclusive and sustainable experiences, venue sourcing is more complex than it’s ever been. Yet event pros are still expected to “just figure it out” on their own. In this episode, Michael Hudson shares 30+ years of sourcing expertise—debunking the biggest myths in venue sourcing and showing what to watch ...
Event marketers are some of the most capable professionals out there. They juggle strategy, logistics, leadership expectations, and ROI goals all at once. But the truth is, there’s only so much they can control. Leadership decisions, last-minute changes, and competing metrics often leave them reacting instead of leading. And that constant pressure? It’s what pushes even the best to the edge of burnout. In this episode, Princess Castleberry, CEO of Castleberry Global and creator of the Live,...
Every year at EXHIBITORLIVE, the conversations go deeper than booth design and swag trends. This year, the question that stopped people in their tracks was simple: “What’s the biggest challenge event marketers are facing right now?” And the answers said a lot. Event pros from every corner of the industry opened up about the real pressures behind the scenes. From proving ROI and fighting for executive buy-in, to balancing endless stakeholder opinions, to adapting to a new generation of atten...
Most exhibitors spend nearly half their budget just getting to the show floor—booth space, travel, shipping, services. By the time the event starts, there’s almost nothing left for strategy or measurement. That’s how event marketing gets stuck in the “cost of doing business” trap. The result? Overbooked schedules, flat ROI, and event teams that feel more like order takers than growth drivers. In this conversation, Matt Kleinrock and Pablo Gonzalez break down the numbers, the hidden ineffici...
Events don’t work like they used to. Back then, great speakers and flashy venues were enough. Today? Audiences expect connection, conversation, and clarity of purpose. But most event strategies still haven’t caught up. That’s why in this episode, Matt Kleinrock and Pablo Gonzalez go rapid-fire through the “new laws of events”—from connection over content, to why five-week registration windows change everything, to how matchmaking, negotiation, and follow-up drive real ROI. You’ll learn wha...
Event marketers talk about personalization a lot. We slap a name on a badge, segment an email list, and call it a day. But attendees want more than that. They want to feel seen: from the first invite, to the way a session is designed, to the follow-up that lands after the show. That’s the kind of personalization that creates loyalty, accelerates deals, and turns an event into something people don’t forget. That’s why on this episode, Jody Hall (Director, Global Event Management at Labcorp) ...
Most giveaways end up in the hotel trash. Most booths blur together. Brian Burkhardt thinks it’s time to change that. In this conversation, the Co-Founder of Oliver Patch Project shows how to turn event swag and booth design into something people actually remember. He and Matt Kleinrock dig into creating emotional reactions, weaving brand purpose into every touchpoint, and taking creative risks that make attendees stop, look, and talk. You’ll learn: ✅ How to replace throwaway swag with pur...
You can have the biggest booth, flashiest tech, and sleekest design. But if your audience doesn’t feel something, you’ve missed the mark. And right now, too many brands are still playing it safe, checking boxes, or overdesigning without purpose. That’s why we’re zooming in on experiential creative direction: how it’s evolving, what matters more than ever, and why storytelling, empathy, and smart constraints lead to better outcomes. In this conversation, we’re joined again by Stuart Fingerh...
Events aren’t just about logistics anymore. They’re about results. And while event planners know how to deliver flawless execution, companies now need marketers who understand pipeline, customer journeys, and human connection. But too many organizations still treat events as one-off experiences instead of demand engines. That gap costs opportunities, slows deals, and misses the chance to build loyalty. So in this episode, Ghazwan Almoazen (Director, Global Experiential Marketing Demand &...
The season’s almost wrapped. Budgets are in. And for many event marketers, that means it’s time to shift into prep mode for 2026. But where do you start? And how do you plan with intention, not just habit? While every company is approaching things a little differently, seasoned event pros know this moment sets the tone for next year’s success. But too often, planning gets lost in spreadsheets, silos, or surface-level reflection. So Coty Adams is stepping in to host—and we’re bringing back t...
Sloppy seams. Sagging walls. Zero strategy. If your booth looks like you don’t care, that’s exactly what your audience will believe. Too many companies treat trade shows like a checkbox, not a channel. They work with order takers, cut corners to save costs, and focus on the wrong things… then wonder why the event didn’t deliver. But on the floor, it shows. Dull design. Generic messaging. An experience no one remembers. And the worst part? You’re spending real money on that. In this episode...
The post-event handoff to sales is where so many event programs lose steam. Leads get cold. ROI disappears. And all that effort on the show floor doesn’t translate to results. But it doesn’t have to be this way. In this fourth installment of our “Back to the Basics” summer live series, Matt Kleinrock and Coty Adams (Director of Sales + Marketing at Rockway Exhibits + Events) break down the musts for a successful sales handoff so your hard work doesn’t get lost in the shuffle. Here’s what ...
Whether you’re collaborating with external partners, internal teams, or cross-functional stakeholders—shared events come with shared pressure. And if you’re not careful, your strategy can get lost in the noise. Suddenly, you’re managing 20 different opinions, 5 conflicting goals, and a booth space that feels more like a compromise than a campaign. The event might still “run,” but it rarely delivers what it could have with true alignment. For the third episode of our “Back to the Basics” sum...
Too many event programs are spread thin, under-resourced, and missing the mark. Budgets get diluted, sales handoffs break down, and strategy never makes it past the slide deck. When that happens, even the best-looking booth or smoothest show can’t deliver meaningful results…. and event teams get stuck in a cycle of “just execute.” At CEMA Summit 2025, Matt Kleinrock, Coty Adams, and Mollie Stahl saw firsthand how top event marketers are breaking that cycle and leveling up from order-takers ...
Job loss, career pivots, and the quiet in-between—they’re not talked about enough in our industry. But nearly every event marketer has faced them. That’s why for this second episode in our 2025 summer live show series, we’re going there—with honesty, empathy, and some real talk from two pros who’ve lived it. Join Matt Kleinrock as he brings back two familiar voices: Matt Bohn, Field Marketing Manager at Tines, and Kimberly Kee, Director of Event Marketing, for their first-ever live convers...
You want your event to connect. To be remembered. To make people feel something. And most importantly, you want it to work. But too many event marketers skip the hard part: crafting a story that actually moves people. This episode peels back the curtain on what it really means to build a strategic event narrative—one rooted in customer insight, emotional resonance, and purpose. Matt Kleinrock and Pablo Gonzalez break down: ✅ How story-driven pitches outperformed every other idea at Event M...
Trade shows are back in full swing and at InfoComm 2025, the energy was real. The booths were bigger, the tech was smarter, and the stakes felt higher for event marketers trying to drive business and make their brand stand out. But the truth is, success doesn’t come from flashy screens or clever activations alone. It comes from alignment, authenticity, and a whole lot of behind-the-scenes strategy that most people never see. From prepping sales teams to planning customer dinners, managing ...
Events are evolving—and fast. But many marketers are still stuck in rinse-and-repeat mode, defaulting to outdated formats, shallow experiences, and one-size-fits-all ideas. And that’s exactly why Bibi Brown, Senior Vice President Business Development at GES, kicked off our 2025 Summer Live Show Series with a much-needed reality check (and roadmap forward). Because if we want our events to connect, convert, and inspire today’s audiences—we’ve got to break up with the old playbook and design ...
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