Corralling the Chaos

Why has the live events production industry been so chronically underserved by technology? The answer starts somewhere most people have never thought to look: a government database. In this episode, guest host Dani Porter-Condon, VP of Marketing at LASSO, breaks down the foundational reasons production companies keep ending up with software that wasn't built for them — and what it actually takes t...

In this special year-end minisode, Corralling the Chaos host Angela Alea reflects on the journey of 2024, shining a spotlight on the dedication, creativity, and resilience of event professionals. With heartfelt gratitude, Angela explores the impact these individuals make, the teams and families who support them, and the importance of self-care as the industry transitions into 2025.

This episode of Corralling the Chaos explores the transformative power of professional networks and community building in the event industry. Host Angela Alea and guest John Barron, LASSO’s Community Manager, dive into the importance of creating a “professional village” for career growth, the evolution of LASSO’s community platform The Loop, and its role in fostering connections among event profes...

In this episode of Corralling the Chaos , Angela presents a comprehensive checklist for businesses navigating the complex process of choosing new software solutions. Designed for event professionals and tech decision-makers, the episode dives into the crucial factors that make or break a successful software choice. Angela covers essential topics, from evaluating product depth, understanding the pr...

In this episode of Corralling the Chaos, Angela Alea, President & CRO of LASSO, sits down with Josh Klebanoff, Co-Founder and COO of Yoke Logistics, to explore the vital role logistics plays in event planning. From understanding the unique needs of the events and entertainment industry to leveraging technology for seamless operations, Josh shares insights on why an industry-specific logistics...

In this episode of Corralling the Chaos, Angela Alea, President & CRO of LASSO, sits down with Anca Trifan, CEO and Founder of Tree-Fan Events, to discuss the unique challenges women face in the events industry and explore practical solutions. Anca shares her inspiring journey from hands-on technical roles to founding her own company, emphasizing the importance of advocating for oneself and em...

In this episode of "Corralling the Chaos," Angela Alea and Jason Packham, an entertainment insurance expert from NFP, discuss the critical importance of understanding and managing insurance coverage in the event industry. From common misconceptions to the nuances of adequate coverage, the conversation highlights key insights to help event companies avoid costly mistakes and ensure they are properl...

In this special bonus episode of Corralling the Chaos , we revisit the popular "Ask Us Anything" session from LASSO Fest, where key LASSO leaders—Angela Alea (President & CRO), Clay Sifford (Founder & CEO), and Jay Bredenberg (Chief Product Officer)—dive into audience questions about the company’s rapid development, customer feedback process, mobile app enhancements, and future product pla...

In this episode of Corralling the Chaos , host Angela Alea and Thomas Hudson, LASSO’s Director of Implementation, dive into the complexities of software implementation. They explore why companies often struggle to fully leverage systems like CRMs and ERPs, despite heavy investments. The discussion highlights the importance of setting clear goals, ensuring effective communication, and involving key...

In this compelling episode of "Corralling the Chaos," host Angela Alea, President & CRO of LASSO, sits down with Anthony McCoy to discuss a pivotal shift needed in the live events industry—the shift from viewing workers as mere 'labor' to recognizing them as 'talent.' They explore the profound impact this mindset change can have on the industry, including elevating work quality, increasing res...

In this episode of Corralling the Chaos , join Angela Alea, President & CRO of LASSO, and Casey Kipfer, CFO of JustiFi, as they explore the transformative power of embedded payments in event management. Discover how these solutions streamline operations, enhance security and compliance, and open new revenue streams for businesses. Gain insights into the future of embedded financial services, i...

Join Angela Alea and Omar Kolom on this episode of "Corralling the Chaos" as they discuss the pivotal role of freelancers in the AV industry. Discover Omar’s inspiring journey, the foundation of AV Educate, and the crucial elements of training and education for freelancers. Learn about the importance of soft skills, the impact of mentorship, and the future plans for AV Educate. Get insights into h...

Get ready for LASSO Fest 2024! In this episode, Angela shares why event pros should secure their spot—and shares a sneak preview of what the event holds. Join us starting July 10 for an immersive virtual festival dedicated to revolutionizing your event operations. Learn from industry pioneers, discover innovative workflow solutions, and gain actionable strategies to boost your bottom line. Don’t m...

Join host Angela Alea in a thought-provoking episode of 'Corralling the Chaos' as she delves into the dynamic intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the world of events. Featuring special guest Huong Nguyen, CEO and Founder of Shiloh Events, this episode unpacks the profound impact of AI on event planning, execution, and analysis.

The episode of "Corralling the Chaos" focuses on the topic of Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems. Angela and guest Kristen Traynor discuss the importance of CRMs for businesses, how they can be leveraged, and best practices for data management within a CRM.

Discover the pivotal role relationships play in shaping reputations within the events industry in this episode of "Corralling the Chaos." Explore insights from industry experts on fostering positive interactions, aligning core values, and the power of genuine human connection. Join Host Angela Alea and guest Nicholas Van Dyke as they delve into practical strategies for cultivating lasting relation...

This is a “minisode” of "Corralling the Chaos", focused on providing guidance for event staffing companies to improve their bottom line. Angela discusses several strategies such as speeding up invoicing, managing overtime, reducing the no-call, no-show rate, and managing state unemployment rates.

This podcast episode of Corralling the Chaos features a conversation with Stephen Jensen from SJP in Vegas, focusing on the importance of training, motivating, and investing in people in the AV space.

Join Angela and Jennifer Watson, VP of HR at LASSO as they discuss the recent ruling by the Department of Labor on employee classification. Delving into the implications for the event staffing industry, they provide an educational overview of the law change and its potential impact. From the shift to the economics realities test to effective communication with teams, they offer insights on ensurin...

Angela Alea and Tom Stimson discuss the current state of the events industry after LASSO’s 2024 State of the Events Industry report , including the challenges and opportunities it faces. The conversation covers areas such as labor outsourcing, freelancer pay rates, budgeting, planning, and future industry prospects. Guest Info: Tom Stimson The Stimson Group Jumpstart 2024 Workshops  

In this episode of Corralling the Chaos we discuss the sales and proposals in the event production industry. Our guest, Karl Becker, is a sales performance consultant, coach, author, and speaker with over a decade of experience consulting with event production companies. Guest Information: Karl Becker Iceberg Selling: Become a Better Salesperson by Looking below the Surface The Stimson Group: Jump...

In this episode, Angela Alea takes a look back at some of 2023's best conversations on event culture, leadership, collaboration, AI capabilities in live events and more. 🎙️ Guest Information Charles Eide, Founder and CEO of EideCom Huntly Christie, Founder and CEO of Christie Lites Kevin Danaj, President and CEO of MVP Collaborative Huong Nguyen, CEO & Founder of Shiloh Events Seth Macchi, CEO...

Coming soon! National Crew Appreciation Week, from November 6th to 10th, is a dedicated week for the events industry to express gratitude to the people who make the events we love possible. Learn how your company can participate and join us in showing our collective appreciation for these event professionals 🚀 For more insights and hot takes, join the top 1% of forward-thinking event professional...

In this episode, Jon Kazarian, Accelevents CEO, redefines event success by bridging the C-suite gap, streamlining operations, and discovering innovative solutions. ⚡️ Key takeaways:  Better alignment between the C-suite and events teams is needed to accurately evaluate event success based on goals, audience, differentiation, and messaging - not just leads. Intuitive, easy-to-use event software re...

In this episode, Angela stresses the importance of on-time, fair pay for crew, recognizing their value and confronting late payment practices. Join us as we discuss properly acknowledging our industry's hardest workers. Key Takeaways: 1️⃣ Pay your people fairly & quickly Your people are the backbone of your company. Without them, there would be no shows, no successful events. Make it a priorit...