The Event Tech Pull Up

In this episode of the podcast, Keith and Tess are talking rundowns, show flows, cue sheets, run of shows, event scripts, and production schedules. A million different names. Same thing. It is what keeps your live productions on track.

For the past 20 years or so, this has been the domain of Excel. And this is a problem because you email that excel file over and over as changes happen and the versions are sure to get out of sync and that can lead to some really bad things. We almost had a video launch at the wrong time because the video operator was using an old version of the sheet.

There is a better way. Enter Rundown Studio. The brainchild of Lukas Hermann of Stagetimer and John Barker of Here to Record. in the most simple terms, Rundown Studio is cloud-based software for collaborative show and event planning, cueing, and directing.

Keith has been using Rundown Studio for a few months now and it is quickly becoming one of his favorite tools for meeting and event professionals. Watch this episode as we take a dive into the software, get an overview, and learn how it is now easy to bring the entire event team together with one source of truth.

✨ FIND RUNDOWN STUDIO ON THE WEB

In this episode of the podcast, Keith and Tess are talking apps! Not those crazy expensive, feature-heavy behemoths currently clogging up the app stores, we are talking about Joi's latest feature... The Joi event app.

Joi is upending how event planners manage and execute events, making it accessible and practical even for smaller gatherings to have an app. Traditionally, event apps were deemed too expensive and were only considered for larger events. However, Joi upends this notion by offering a cost-effective and efficient solution that eliminates the need for printed programs or agendas. This app simplifies sharing event details, schedules, and updates with attendees, streamlining communication and engagement.

Joi facilitates easy communication with attendees via push notifications, welcome messages, and session reminders. It supports the creation of multiple event apps tailored to different attendee groups, allowing for customized programs and targeted messaging. Additionally, Joi provides flexible access control options, from open access via QR codes or app names to restricted access through passwords or login requirements, ensuring privacy and security as needed.

Joi’s ability to make evaluation forms more accessible and engaging encourages greater participation from attendees, thus providing valuable feedback and insights for event organizers. With Joi, event management becomes more streamlined, interactive, and effective.

✨ FIND JOI ON THE WEB

DJ Graffiti, known as The Keynote DJ, has defied conventions in his DJ career. Originating from Detroit, he initially made a name for himself as a prominent club and concert DJ, sharing stages with eminent artists such as Eminem, Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Snoop Dogg, and Big Sean.

However, his path took an unconventional turn. DJ Graffiti ventured beyond the realm of music, applying his law and business degrees to establish a digital marketing agency. In this role, he adeptly guided clients in areas such as content strategy, traffic management, and sales conversion. Despite his achievements, he sensed a lack of personal fulfillment in his work.

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about a pivotal change. Recognizing an opportunity to uplift people's spirits through his talents, he initiated a series of virtual DJ sets. These sets, broadcasted on platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch, offered an avenue for individuals to temporarily escape their worries and immerse themselves in music.

Remarkably, even in the virtual landscape, DJ Graffiti could tangibly feel the positive energy of his virtual audience. This experience kindled his own enthusiasm as he realized his ability to serve as a beacon of positivity. It became evident that he was destined for more — to extend his services as a DJ to corporations for virtual gatherings and in-person celebrations.

This newfound pursuit resonates with him on a profound level, feeling like a true calling. He views each event as a unique occasion to effect change. Collaborating closely with clients, he harnesses his background in sales, marketing, and public speaking to craft tailor-made interactive experiences. These experiences not only elevate moods and boost morale but also bring together diverse and geographically dispersed audiences.

At the heart of it all, DJ Graffiti recognizes the power of music to nourish the soul, disseminate happiness, and provide respite from life's challenges. His DJ sets achieve precisely that, simultaneously inspiring contemplation and creativity.

Looking ahead, DJ Graffiti envisions cultivating enduring relationships with his clients, an array of esteemed names including GitLab, Nike, Google, Campbell's, Cisco, Workday, Dell, ManyChat, and SAS. His aspiration mirrors that of a gym membership, where he aims to continuously engage and inspire his clients through his exceptional DJ skills.

Join us as we chat with him about what DJing can teach you about experience design and how to create unforgettable events that tick all the boxes.

For this espisode, we have a little graphical help. If you are getting started in event design? Learn about the Event Canvas™️ methodology, a common visual language for event design, developed by Ruud Janssen and Roel Frissen. This handbook will change the way you think about how events change the world you live in. It shows the way to re-design your world on one sheet of paper using the #EventCanvas. This book identifies the starting point of any event and outlines steps of how events come to life. It focuses on the DNA of specific aspects of events, and provides insight into how to observe and analyze events, understand stakeholders, and define behavioural changes required to deliver value. It also identifies the levers and mechanisms that influence such behavioural changes in event design. You can learn more by clicking the link below!

✨ FIND DJ GRAFFITI ON THE WEB

In this episode, we are talking about AI. What it is (and isn't) and how it is going to fundamentally change the meetings and events industry on a molecular level... AI is going to rewrite the DNA of what it means to be an event professional, it will make our lives easier, and it will make your events more engaging to attendees, sponsors, and speakers, which in turn will make the stakeholders happy.

Episode Guests

David Wood

David Wood is the Founder and CEO of Eventene, a company that offers SaaS cloud and mobile software for both in-person and virtual events. Their services are primarily targeted towards event planners and activity directors in small to medium-sized businesses, organizations, and associations. Prior to founding Eventene, David worked in management consulting roles for various companies in sectors such as education, healthcare, entertainment, social, and technology.

David began his career at Microsoft Corporation in Redmond, Washington, where he was involved in software development for Office applications like Word and Excel. He also worked in design and program management for Windows and Exchange Email systems, as well as commercial business development for advanced server products at Microsoft.

Jim Yokum

Jim Yocum serves as COO of Eventene, the digital event management platform. Jim was involved in the early development of the Eventene platform through its launch customer. Through his consultancy, Coastal Oak Systems, he provides expertise on Digital Health platforms, Federal systems and mobile applications. He also serves as a Board Chair for the digital health systems provider, One Degree. Until its sale in 2019, he was Senior Vice President of ConnectureDRX (fka DestinationRx), where he implemented and managed the longstanding health insurance exchange, the Medicare Plan Finder and Online Enrollment Center for Medicare.gov.

About Eventene

Eventene is a comprehensive platform that caters to event planners, offering a range of features and tools to streamline event planning for both in-person and virtual events. It provides cloud-based and mobile software solutions, allowing planners to create customized event websites and registration forms. The platform offers flexible attendee list management, collaborative planning capabilities, and real-time updates. For virtual events, Eventene includes features like live streaming integration and interactive tools. Additionally, it provides analytics and reporting functionality to gather insights on attendee engagement and event performance. Eventene aims to simplify event planning, enhance productivity, and deliver a seamless experience for planners and attendees, regardless of event size or type.

Links

#EventTech nerds rejoice! Event Tech Live is coming to Las Vegas and Tess and Keith will be broadcasting during the event chatting with some of the meeting and event industry's coolest tech providers, forward thinkers, and the planners that put these gizmos, gadgets, and tools to work. ! In this episode, Tess and Keith are chatting about the sessions they are looking forward to and some of the companies they want to learn more about! 

There is still time to grab a seat in Las Vegas and best of all, attending is free for meeting and event planners. Check out the links below to learn more. 

✨ FIND EVENT TECH LIVE ON THE WEB

When  ya been quiet for a bit, it is always good to come back with a bang and  that is exactly what Tess and I set out to do after a WHOLE YEAR of no  episodes. This week, we are joined by our guest Tamsin Treasure Jones  (coolest name evah!) of Kubify to chat about their next generation of  technology that will take your  after-thought-crammed-into-the-moldy-basement poster sessions and  bringing them into the digital age. Imagine, poster sessions can now be  interactive, multimedia, and long lived. They can appeal not only to in-person attendees but to your virtual audience as well.

BUT WAIT!  There’s more! Poster sessions used to be something that only lived  during the event or conference and then they were lost to the dust bin  of history… Now, they can move in tandem with your event’s 365 day plan  by being available throughout the year.

Some people are amazingly patient. You should know that Adam Parry is one of those people. This episode was actually recorded a couple of months ago and then boom... Things happened. A few client events here, new technologies to learn there, and the next thing you know, it is October.

So, putting my procrastination aside, let's learn a little more about Adam before you dive into this episode.

Most know that he is the co-founder and editor of the online magazine, Event Industry News, but that is not his only superpower. Adam is also one of the industries foremost technology evangelists and co-created Event Tech Live and the Event Technology Awards, a world-renowned awards event showcasing the very best in event technology which is coming up this November!

During this episode we touch on increasing attendance in the virtual space, how technology is changing the event industry, and the role of the event technologist!

To learn more about Adam and his event industry empire, check out some of his links:

At  the age of 12, I was riding my bike around the neighborhood and goofing  off. I did not know up from down or left from right nevermind what I  wanted to do with my entire life… Good thing our next guest is nothing  like me. Donvil Collins had a clear vision of his future and where he  wanted to go and he made it happen, becoming a leader in the video  production and live streaming field before he even finished colleage.  His story is the stuff of legend.

Donvil started his first  business in technology at age 12 and by 14 was the youngest certified  producer at “BronxNet”. Before the age of 18, he became a sought after  faith-based tv producer broadcasting to over 80 million worldwide  viewers. EIGHTY MILLION VIEWERS.

There are  people you meet that you instantly forget and then there are people you  meet that you just know in your heart are going to change the world.  Jillian Cardinal is going to make waves in the meetings and events  industry and her enthusiasm for all things events and attendees is  infectious. You walk away from a conversation with her a better person  for just having been in the room. She is full of amazing ideas, knows  how to implement them, and is not afraid to tell it like it is.

Tech and  marketing go hand in hand, especially in the 21st Century. In this  episode, Tess and Keith chat with Michelle Bergstein of Beat Creative  Marketing, a longtime collaborator and colleague, she is a Digital  Marketer with a passion for designing and implementing social media  campaigns across multiple platforms in the event and hospitality  markets. She is smart, on point, and on of the most fun people we know.

Some of the things we cover in our interview:

• Offering services, sponsorships, or attendance for free – Should you?
• How to revise your organizations packages from sponsorship to services.
• Finding your new marketing voice on social media and web.

In this  episode, Keith and Tess get to sit down and chat with the one and only  Mike McAllen, Executive Director of the California Podcast Association  and Podcasting4Associations. Mike is one of the foremost experts about  podcasting and helps membership-based organizations retain and connect  with association members and build revenue-generating podcasts.

Topics we dive into:

• What are a couple of reasons an association might want to start a podcast now?
• What are some effective ways to grow an audience?
• What are some of the benefits of taking your podcast on the road to your annual conference?
• What are some of our thoughts on sponsorship?

In this  episode, Tess and Keith have a wide ranging discussion with very special  guest, Congressman Mike Quigley. During the interview, they touch on a  variety of subjects including the Covid-19 crisis, getting the meetings  and events industry back to work, data protection, and more. Keith and  Tess also talk about some industry news.

In part two of a two part episode, Tess and Keith talk with Anati Zubia  and Kelley Wyant about content marketing and why it is critical to keep  in touch with your members, attendees, and sponsors in the time of  Covid-19. This second part focuses on the tech you need to begin the  content marketing journey. We also chat about some of the industry news  including tech that disinfects!

Companies in Event Tech News:

In part one of this two part episode, Tess and Keith talk with Kelley  Wyant and Anati Zubia about content marketing and why it is critical to  keep in touch with your members, attendees, and sponsors in the time of  Covid-19. Part one focuses on the how and why of the content marketing  journey. We also chat about some of the industry news that is floating  around including a ProPublica report on the cancelling of the Houston  Rodeo.

In this  episode, Tess and Keith talk with Tracy Leparulo about blockchain and  how it will make our attendee and member data more secure in the coming  years. Tess tells the world the not hidden secret that Keith is actually  Plannerwire and gets him to talk about his latest blog post, the one  where he thinks that Covid19 has done more damage to the industry than  most are letting on… And we got some news… India joins everyone else  saying Zoom isn’t safe and we disagree with everyone, Verizon screws up  the company behind video meeting platform BlueJeans by buying them, and  ComicCon is finally cancelled which is of course very sad.

In this episode, Tess and Keith talk with the Keatron Evans about the  cybersecurity issues we all must face to keep our attendees and members  data secure. Yes, we chat about Zoom.

Companies in Event Tech News:

In the episode, Tess and Keith talk with the amazing Amani Roberts about  creating a conference podcast using existing content and we learn about  what Google is up to with Hangouts.