Better Events

This week, we sat down with Tony Gavilanes of Tech Event Pro to discuss all things event audio-visual (A/V) and how you can make the most of your event budget. Tony shares the biggest mistakes that he sees event planners make when it comes to A/V, cost-effective tips for small to mid-sized events, and strategies for negotiating with vendors for the best A/V rates, without sacrificing quality. SHOW...

This week on the podcast, Logan & Mary dive into the future once again for their annual predictions for the event industry. They discuss what they're excited about the future, what challenges are up ahead and then time travel to listen back to their 2023 predictions. They'll see how they did and make new, bold predictions for 2025. Tune in for a glimpse of what's coming and how it could shape...

In this week's episode, Logan and Mary dive into how mentorship has been a game-changer in their careers, not just as event planners but as business owners as well. They share personal stories and demonstrate peer-to-peer mentoring on their goals and challenges. Tune in to hear all about the power of mentorship and pick up some valuable tips to boost your own event journey! SHOW NOTES Tourism Rich...

In this week's episode, Logan and Mary are joined by Nancy Small, CEO of Tourism Richmond, to explore the crucial role of Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) in event planning. Nancy demystifies what DMOs do and outlines the unique opportunities they offer event hosts and event planners. She also shares some of the hidden talents of DMOs, from event savings to insider tips and activities, a...

In this week's episode, Logan and Mary have some summer fun with the debut of their new podcast song of the summer! They also each share a bonus tip for you to use at your next event in this special summer episode. SHOW NOTES: Join the paid Better Events Community: https://bettereventspodcast.substack.com/ Buy Us a Coffee Link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bettereventspod THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love...

In this week's episode, Logan and Mary dive into how to craft a standout event resume and ace your interviews, whether you're new to the industry or a seasoned pro. They cover essential resume tips, including what to include and how to enhance your LinkedIn profile. Tune in for expert advice on making a lasting impression on potential employers! SHOW NOTES: Join the paid Better Events Community: h...

In this episode, Logan and Mary dive into the best ways to spend your time as an event pro. They share how they allocate their time across events, networking, and business growth, and reveal personal wins from smart time investments and efficient tools. They'll also guide you on what to avoid and give tips for newcomers to maximize their efforts in the industry. Tune in for actionable advice on na...

In this week's episode, Mary and Logan unravel the secrets to mastering your schedule in the event industry. They define what time management really means for an event pro, share strategies for juggling multiple events, and discuss the importance of time tracking. Whether it's managing crunch time onsite or adjusting tactics between busy and slow seasons, they've got tips to keep you ahead of the...

This week, we sat down with Carla Cobos Hull to dive into the struggle event professionals have with burnout and setting boundaries. She dives into her journey, debunks the old burnout model, and shares her fresh perspective on work-life balance. Tune in for Carla’s pro tips on managing diverse client expectations and kicking off a sustainable career in the event industry! SHOW NOTES: Connect with...

Join Mary and Logan on this week's episode of Better Events as they unpack the essentials of event strategy. They dive into how to prioritize tasks, the tools they swear by, and why a solid timeline can make or break your event. From lessons learned from the hard times—like when to shout about your event—to their top tips for smooth planning, this episode is a must-listen for every event pro looki...

In this special listener Q&A episode, we tackle your questions about events, sent to us via email and social media. We cover everything from handling client rejections to perfecting your event resume and marketing yourself in the industry. Join us as we delve into these topics, offer practical advice, and share our personal experiences to help you navigate the challenges and opportunities in t...

This week, we sat down with Erica Casner of One 15 Events about parenting and working in events. We talk about deciding to become a parent, how that impacted her career in events and what she wishes events did differently for parents. Whether you're a parent, thinking about it, or wanting to learn about how to work better with colleagues who are parents, this episode is for you. SHOW NOTES: Connec...

This week, Mary goes deep into programming and scripting tips and tricks for your next fundraising event. She shares her best practices on timing, acknowledging the team behind the scenes, live auctions, and more. SHOW NOTES: https://ethicalstorytelling.com/ Buy Us a Coffee Link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bettereventspod THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event frien...

This week, we're talking all about growing your event business and the time-old question: do you need to hire to grow? Logan and Mary each run their own event businesses and have contrasting structures. Mary's building her team at EP Events and Logan has stayed on her own with Logan Strategy Group. Listen in as we discuss how we've grown our businesses, the pros and cons of each method, and things...

This week, Logan dives into all things Zoom-related. Is Zoom dead? If not, how are we using it in the event industry these days? She also shares her top Zoom tips for hosting a well-done Zoom webinar or Zoom meeting. SHOW NOTES: Logan's Zoom 101 YouTube Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQikdvCdsdU&list=PLJUlbNbWYyL1smaOVyO_RoA9QwafjXwAn Playing Background Music in Zoom: https://www.yo...

This week on the podcast, we go behind the scenes of the latest Event Pros on the Go Retreat, co-hosted by Mary and friend of the podcast, Laura Yarbrough. They share tips on how they went about planning the 2024 retreat from picking the date and the location to setting the budget and retreat schedule. Whether you're planning a retreat for your own business or a client, there's something here for...

This week on the podcast we celebrate 150 episodes by looking back what top episodes resonate with YOU dear listeners! We reveal the top five episodes of all time based on listens from our Better Events community and talk about which episodes we wish made the list. If you're new to the podcast, this is a great place to start to go back and listen to some of the community's favorite episodes! SHOW...

This week, we're recapping this year's Oscars and reflecting on all the event/production elements. From viral moments to things that made us cringe, we're pulling back the curtain on what it takes to bring an awards show together. Learn more about what Logan & Mary couldn't stop thinking about when it comes to this year's Oscars. SHOW NOTES: Buy Us a Coffee Link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/b...

This week, we're talking all about stage management at events. We cover what a stage manager is typically responsible for, share examples of events we've stage managed at, and what traits/skills make a great stage manager. We end with our favorite tools and tips for stage managers and how you can start stage managing at events. SHOW NOTES: Podcast Partner: Register for a coaching package at https:...

This week, we sat down with Jackie Baker of Spark Events to dive into the world of event sourcing. From learning more about how she learned about sourcing destinations, venues, and more for events to how you can add sourcing to your event toolkit, we get into it. You'll learn some of her top tips for finding the right venue, negotiating contracts with the hotel, and how to get started in event sou...

This week, Logan & Mary go deep into how they manage their onsite event staff. From knowing where to start and how many staff you need onsite, to creating onsite schedules and pre-event briefings, we've got you covered. We also talk through the process of leading the team onsite and post-event feedback. SHOW NOTES: Podcast Partner: Register for a coaching package at https://lauralloydevents.co...

This week, Mary interviews Logan about how we can all learn entertaining and engaging event ideas from live sports. They dive into what sports presentation is, what makes it so special, and how you can apply a few energetic ideas from sports to your next event. SHOW NOTES: How to Work at the Olympics (YouTube): https://youtu.be/w6u_dp81xt4 Working at Tokyo 2020 Podcast Episode: https://podcasts.ap...

This week, we interviewed AJ Steinberg of Queen Bee Fundraising about designing events for younger generations. We went deep into this topic through the lens of non-profit/donor events but there are key takeaways you can apply to any event you're managing or hosting. Learn how to engage the younger generation at your next event and turn them into lifetime supporters. SHOW NOTES: Generations: Baby...

This week, Logan and Mary share their favorite books of all time. From personal to professional, they share their top reads over the years and you might just find a new favorite to add to your reading list. SHOW NOTES: In no particular order, here are all the books/series that we mentioned: Mary's Reading List: 1. 2-second lean 2. Feeling Good 3. Harry Potter series 4. The Lunar Chronicles 5. Near...

We're sharing the love this week on the Better Events podcast. On one of the most romantic days of the year, Logan & Mary reflect on when they've felt the love at events. Take this time to reflect on your favorite moments at events this past year and how you can inject more appreciation and gratitude into your events. Tune in for a dose of positivity and reflections on the extraordinary moment...