Event Marketing: Redefined

2025 is here, and you’ve got big goals. January is the perfect time to reflect, reset, and start fresh—and what better way to kick off the year than with advice from those who’ve walked in your shoes? This special episode is a compilation of some of the most thoughtful answers we’ve received to the question: “What advice would you give your younger self or a young event marketer?” Here’s a glimpse...

The RFP process—love it or hate it, it’s a staple in the events industry. But what if it’s fundamentally broken? Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, and Pablo Gonzalez dive deep into the challenges of traditional Request for Proposals (RFPs) and why it’s time to shift toward a Request for Results (RFR) mindset. In this episode, Matt and Pablo share why Rockway turned down two RFPs wo...

The stakes for event marketers have never been higher: rising costs, tighter budgets, sustainability pressures, and the constant demand to prove ROI. So how do you measure success, stand out, and drive real impact? To kick off 2025, we’ve pulled together the top insights from 2024’s most powerful episodes featuring: ✅ Gerilynn Marburger, Global Events Director at Hewlett Packard Enterprise ✅ Kod...

The world of event marketing saw some big wins and even bigger lessons in 2024, and as we head into 2025, the stakes (and opportunities) are higher than ever. But without reflecting on what worked and didn’t, it’s easy to fall into old habits that hold us back. Outdated playbooks and scattered strategies won’t cut it. That’s why, in this special year-end live show, Matt Kleinrock joins Coty Adams,...

In Episode 117, Matt Kleinrock and Coty Adams discussed how AI is shaking up event execution and exposed a deeper issue: misalignment in event programs. Now, in this follow-up, Matt is back with Pablo Gonzalez to dig deeper into the question at the heart of it all: Who actually owns the strategy for your events? Here’s the reality: companies invest millions in trade shows, hosted events, and confe...

Swag—love it or hate it, it’s everywhere in event marketing. But let’s face it: too much of it ends up as waste. What if we flipped the script on traditional giveaways and turned them into something truly meaningful? In this episode, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, and Pablo Gonzalez tackle the swag conundrum. From ditching cheap, mass-distributed tchotchkes to creating intention...

You’ve spent years perfecting your craft and leading the charge, but what happens when it’s time to step back and help others rise? The pressure to keep control while ensuring everything runs smoothly can leave you feeling torn. How do you prepare someone to take the reins without compromising the success you’ve worked so hard to achieve? Christine Sionne, Senior Marketing Manager, Trade Show at H...

Events can be powerful tools for engagement, but too often, misaligned goals and a lack of support hold back event teams from delivering their best. On top of that, AI is opening up new possibilities—if you know how to use it. From leadership’s high expectations to real-world resource challenges, it’s easy to feel like you’re in a tug-of-war between what’s possible and what’s expected. And with AI...

Life’s too short to work for leaders who don’t understand event marketing. In this episode, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, is joined by Pablo Gonzalez to unpack the frustrating reality that many companies fail to align their event marketing with strategic goals. Matt and Pablo break down the red flags that signal your company doesn’t “get” events and share what event marketers c...

As an event marketer, you have a lot of responsibility on your plate and a whole company counting on you, but you can only do so much! That's why everything from working across complicated company matrixes to getting executives to engage in your event program are crucial to your success. So we’ve gathered a panel of past superstars from the show who have years of success under their belts: Na...

Event marketers often invest significant time and money into conferences and trade shows, only to see leads go cold because of delayed follow-up. How can you avoid losing these valuable opportunities? With the average time to follow up on leads being over 11 days, many companies miss out on potential sales because the leads have already moved on. The longer you wait, the harder it becomes to conve...

Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, sits down with Pablo Gonzalez to tackle the big question: is discovery at trade shows dead, or have we just been doing it wrong? In this episode, Matt shares an unexpected insight from a prospect who avoids vendors all year—except when she’s ready to explore solutions at trade shows. This simple idea flips the script on how and when discovery actua...

Event marketers today face growing challenges—proving ROI, keeping attendees engaged after the event, and getting the most out of smaller booth spaces. In this  episode of Event Marketing: Redefined, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events is joined by Coty Adams, they talked about these challenges head-on and uncovers practical strategies that can help you overcome them and achieve real...

Women in events are often incredibly skilled, and they have the potential to become influential leaders in their companies and industries. But many struggle to break out of the event planning roles they’ve excelled in, often facing misconceptions and barriers that make leadership feel out of reach. That’s why, in this episode, Carrie Davenport, Lead Event Manager at Altria, shares her journey as a...

Many companies believe that to create standout engagement at trade shows, they need to overspend on big-budget activations—but that couldn’t be further from the truth. In this episode of Event Marketing: Redefined, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, is joined by Pablo Gonzalez to dispel the myth that better engagement requires a bigger budget. Drawing from real-world examples and th...

As an event marketer, you often struggle to prove the true ROI of your events and secure the budget needed to create high-impact experiences. How can you convince your CMO to see events as a key part of your company’s growth strategy? Often, events are viewed as standalone tactics rather than essential components of a larger marketing initiative. This makes it difficult to get the attention and re...

The trade show is over, but the real work has just begun. How you follow up with leads after an event can make or break your sales pipeline. In this solo episode, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, shares one of the most critical (and often neglected) aspects of event marketing: the follow-up. Based on his experience and a recent post on LinkedIn, Matt outlines 9 actionable strategi...

In the rapidly evolving world of event marketing, owned events have reached a critical tipping point. More and more companies are shifting away from traditional trade shows and leaning into intimate, customer-focused gatherings to build deeper relationships and drive real value. In this special mini-episode, Matt Kleinrock, CEO of Rockway Exhibits + Events, is joined by Pablo Gonzalez to unpack wh...

Event marketing is evolving, and so are the strategies that drive its success. In this episode, recorded live from Event Marketing Congress 2024, we bring you a series of interviews with top industry professionals who offer fresh perspectives on making events more sustainable, efficient, and impactful. In this compilation, you’ll learn: ✅ Hannah Parsley on crafting eco-friendly events without los...

In a world where true leadership is defined by influence, authenticity, and trust, how can leaders navigate the challenges of today’s business landscape to create meaningful impact? In this powerful keynote from the Event Marketing Congress 2024, Jerry Macnamara, seasoned CEO and leadership expert, shares his transformative journey and the pivotal lessons he learned along the way. Jerry opens up a...

Every event marketer knows the struggle of finding relevant, peer-driven education that truly addresses the challenges of today's landscape. Event Marketing Congress 2024 was born out of this very need. We realized that as the value proposition of events evolves, so too must the opportunities to learn, grow, and connect with peers at a higher level. We didn’t just talk about it; we did it. An...

Ever feel like you’re juggling a million things when planning an event? Let's be real, we all want our events to be memorable and impactful. Whether you're handling intimate dinners or massive trade shows, getting it right is essential. But here's the kicker – most of us are struggling with tight budgets, limited time, and the pressure to make every detail perfect. That’s why we’re...

With the return of in-person events, companies are under intense scrutiny to prove that every dollar spent is driving tangible results. But, calculating and maximizing ROI isn't just about tallying up sales numbers—it's about understanding the deeper impact of every conversation and interaction that happens at your events. So we’ve brought in François Fournier, Director of Global Events...

Mentorship is often touted as a crucial component of professional growth, but what does it actually look like in practice, especially in the events industry? We all know the journey to success can be challenging, filled with uncertainties and questions—and that's exactly where having a mentor can make all the difference. Morgan Wood, Marketing and Events Manager at Q-PAC, reached out to us in...

Welcome to the 100th episode of “Event Marketing: Redefined”! Since our inception, our mission has been to build a community for event marketers, providing a space to learn, connect, and grow. We’ve been advocating for strategic, intentional event marketing that drives real results, and it's only fitting that for this special episode, we focus on reducing event overwhelm—a topic that resonate...