The Event Pro Show

Nonprofit events are being asked to work harder than ever. As donor expectations shift and organizations rethink traditional fundraising models, the event itself has become an important part of how nonprofits build stronger relationships with the people who support their mission. In this episode of The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi sits down with Marla Neely, Senior Director of Venue Operations at F...

You spent hours putting together a detailed RFP, so why does a potential AV partner still have so many questions? Those follow-up discussions may feel like one more demand on an already packed schedule, but they can make a significant difference in the accuracy of your proposal and the success of your event. In this installment of How to Get More from Your AV Partner , Seth Macchi looks at why com...

Event planners are often expected to make everything work, even when they are brought into the process after major decisions have already been made. For Ebony Loadholt, M.Ed., changing that dynamic starts with recognizing the planner's role as a strategic leader, not simply the person responsible for execution. In this episode, Seth Macchi chats with Ebony about the leadership behind successful ev...

Choosing an AV partner takes more than comparing proposals and pricing. The right questions can help planners understand how a production company operates, what it does best, and how well it will fit with their team. In Part 2 of How to Get More From Your AV Partners, Seth Macchi offers five questions planners can use when evaluating a potential AV company. He looks beyond the formal RFP process t...

Procurement can be one of the most challenging parts of the event planning process, but it does not have to stand in the way of great work. In this episode, Seth Macchi sits down with Therese Jardine, founder of Strategic Event Procurement, to look at how corporate event teams and their agency partners can approach procurement more effectively. With more than 20 years of experience in event procur...

For meeting planners managing events across multiple cities and venues, AV can sometimes feel like starting over with every show. A new team means rebuilding communication, resetting expectations, and hoping the experience goes as smoothly as the last one. In this installment of The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi explores how stronger AV partnerships can create greater consistency across an event por...

Great events can be flawlessly executed and still leave attendees feeling disconnected. In this episode, Seth Macchi sits down with international keynote speaker, behavioral expert, and author Heather Hansen O'Neill to explore what it means to bring more humanity into the event experience. Heather discusses why helping attendees feel seen, heard, and valued can make such a meaningful difference, a...

Event planners have more choices when it comes to AV and production partners than they may realize. In this episode, Seth Macchi challenges the idea that production companies are interchangeable and looks at why finding the right fit can make a meaningful difference in how an event comes together. Drawing on his experience with production companies across the country, Seth discusses how different...

The Event Pro Show reaches a milestone in this episode with its very first two-guest interview. Seth Macchi welcomes Jackie Beaulieu and Rick Counihan, two respected leaders in the exhibit and trade show industry, specifically in the healthcare space, for a discussion that brings together complementary perspectives from both the strategic and operational sides of event marketing. Drawing on decade...

General sessions rarely go exactly as planned, but the difference between a stressful event and a polished production often comes down to what happens before the audience ever walks into the room. In the final installment of the Designing a Better General Session series, Seth Macchi explains why rehearsals are one of the most valuable investments an event team can make. He shares practical strateg...

With experience leading production from both the client and agency side, Philip Johnson brings a perspective that few people in the events industry can offer. In this episode, Seth Macchi sits down with Philip, Vice President of Production Services at LEO Events, to talk about the leadership lessons, career decisions, and working relationships that have shaped more than 25 years in live events. Th...

When planners begin discussing AV for a general session, one of the first questions that comes up is surprisingly simple: How much equipment do we actually need? The answer is rarely as straightforward as counting microphones or choosing a screen size. Every production is different, and the right combination of lighting, video, and camera support depends on your goals, audience, content, and budge...

What does it take to build a successful event company and make a lasting contribution to the meetings and events industry? In this episode, Seth Macchi sits down with Sally Webb, founder and former CEO of The Special Event Company (TSEC), to talk about the experiences, relationships, and decisions that shaped her career. As the founder of one of the industry's most respected event production compa...

Before we jump into the next installment of Designing a Better General Session , it's worth remembering that a polished stage doesn't always require a bigger budget. In this episode, Seth Macchi focuses on the production choices that can dramatically improve the look and feel of a general session, showing how thoughtful design, strategic equipment selections, and attention to detail can create a m...

What makes a destination, brand, or event truly connect with people? In this episode, Seth Macchi sits down with Najauna White, Vice President at Miles Partnership, to discuss the power of storytelling in hospitality and tourism, the importance of authentic connections, and the leadership principles that help organizations create meaningful experiences. Drawing from more than 15 years in the indus...

What separates an average general session from one that truly delivers for attendees? In this first installment of Designing a Better General Session, Seth Macchi shares five AV decisions that can have a major impact on the success of a corporate event. Drawing on real-world production experience, he explains how thoughtful planning and the right questions can help planners avoid costly surprises...

What does it take for a city to become a destination that planners want to return to again and again? In this episode, Seth Macchi sits down with Ned Blair, CDME, Sales Director at Visit Charlotte, to discuss the partnerships, planning, and local expertise that help create successful meetings and events. With more than two decades of experience in hospitality and destination sales, Ned shares his...

In the final installment of The AV Playbook for Corporate Event Planners, Seth Macchi pulls back the curtain on everything that happens between signing an AV contract and arriving on site for your event. While planners often see the finished product, there is a significant amount of preparation taking place behind the scenes to ensure every detail is ready when show day arrives. Seth explains how...

In this episode of The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi sits down with Michael Farrell , Director of Development at  Van Wagner , to unpack one of the most misunderstood areas of live events and corporate meetings: music licensing . Michael shares how licensing impacts everything from walk-in music and playlists to live performances and streamed content, while explaining the legal and financial risks m...

In this installment of The AV Playbook on The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of corporate meetings and conferences: what actually drives AV costs. Drawing from real production experience, Seth explains how timelines, labor, equipment availability, venue logistics, and last-minute changes can dramatically impact a show budget. He also shares why early co...

In this episode of The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi sits down with Angela Alea, President and Chief Revenue Officer of Lasso, to talk about the evolving operational side of live event production and the growing role technology plays in supporting production teams. Angela shares her background in workforce management and explains how Lasso was created to help event companies better manage staffing,...

In this installment of The AV Playbook series on The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi breaks down how corporate event planners can better understand and evaluate AV proposals before signing a contract. He explains why proposals can vary so widely between companies, what details planners should pay close attention to, and how clearer communication early in the process can prevent confusion later.  Throu...

In this episode of The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi sits down with Iain Morrison, CEO and co-founder of Imagination Collaborative. With more than 35 years of experience across concerts, festivals, touring shows, and public events on four continents, Iain brings a thoughtful perspective shaped by a career that started backstage in his school years and evolved through pivotal moments like the collaps...

Back on The Event Pro Show, Seth Macchi, CEO of LEMG, continues the AV Playbook series with a focus on building stronger AV RFPs for corporate event planners. He breaks down the challenges of comparing proposals, shares practical tips for creating clear and effective RFPs, and explains what AV partners need to deliver accurate, apples-to-apples quotes. You'll come away with a more efficient proces...

The Event Pro Show returns this week with host  Seth Macchi , CEO of LEMG, and Sam McDonald , founder of echo, a company focused on unlocking the full value of event content. With more than 15 years in event and video production, Sam shares a thoughtful approach to transforming overlooked footage into purposeful videos, blogs, podcasts, and social content that extend the life of an event. This con...