The Improv Advantage: Memorable Experiences with Gary Hirsch

Have you ever imagined improvisation and business events going hand in hand? Our latest conversation with renowned artist and improv veteran, Gary Hirsch, will make you think again. We uncover the magic of improv in transforming your typical event into a dynamic, interactive, and co-created experience that is not only engaging but also profitable.

We reflect back on how the pandemic affected event engagement and share invaluable lessons learned on how to leverage psychology and improvisation to make your virtual events unforgettable.

Plus: common pitfalls and how to achieve a balance between the presenter, the content, and the audience.

PodcastNessa JimenezJanuary 16, 2024improv, event engagement, event strategy, attendee experience

Less is more: Streamlining event tech

In this follow-up to our discussion with Brian Richards, we tackle the critical balance between efficiency and simplicity in event technology. Brian's 'lazy' approach to tech is a fantastic way to achieve efficiency and gain maximum impact from your efforts. We discuss the value of simplicity in maximizing the attendee experience and the benefits of having a minimum viable system to avoid over-reliance on technology.

Plus: marketing in driving event attendance, the role of swag in creating positive impacts, and the balance between educational content and relationship building.

PodcastNessa JimenezJanuary 9, 2024event tech, event strategy

Mastering Virtual Events with Brian Richards

We welcome event production expert Brian Richards, who brings over 15 years of experience. Brian shares insights on maximizing virtual event production by understanding systems and breaking them down. He discusses his journey in virtual events and the two essential elements for success. We also discuss trends in event sponsorships influenced by the pandemic and a glimpse into the future of the events industry.

PodcastNessa JimenezJanuary 2, 2024virtual events, event strategy

Balancing technology with the human experience at events

We embark on a journey into the heart of event management, exploring the delicate interplay between community building, technology, and the human touch. Drawing inspiration from our recent conversation with Jedd Chang and the influential World Domination Summit, we unravel how technology can help and hurt the human connections at events.

PodcastNessa JimenezDecember 19, 2023event tech, attendee experience

Surprising and delighting audiences with Jedd Chang

This week we sit down with Jedd Chang to explore successful events, emphasizing effective attendee communication and the power of a well-managed experience. Drawing from his firsthand experiences including at the World Domination Summit, Jedd walks us through elevating the front-of-house experience while exposing common customer service pitfalls in the industry. We also dive into the concept of 'surprise and delight' within event experiences. Even small, purposeful actions can inject genuine joy into attendees' journeys, and add to the overall experience.

"A good attendee experience is making sure that all attendees are seen and heard and feel valued." - Jedd Chang

PodcastNessa JimenezDecember 12, 2023attendee experience, attendee journey, community engagement

Building and leading a strong event team

What does it take to manage a successful event? How can you maintain your composure and treat everyone involved with respect? We reflect on our conversation with Rachel Coddington and we talk through the process of assigning roles and responsibilities, fostering a supportive environment, and keeping the gears of productivity and responsiveness moving in a team.

PodcastNessa JimenezDecember 5, 2023event production, event hosting, event strategy

Intentional Event Design with Rachel Coddington

If you've ever wondered about the inner workings of events like XOXO, World Domination Summit, Sneaker Week, and the One Motorcycle Show, you're in for a treat. Our guest this week, Rachel Coddington, shares the deets on how small teams can manage such large events and handle controversies with grace and poise.

PodcastNessa JimenezNovember 28, 2023event design, event strategy, event production

Building communities that work

What separates a community from an audience? How about the role of in-person events in fostering rich, meaningful connections? Inspired by our enlightening conversation with Emily Thompson, co-founder of Being Boss, we try to answer these questions and more. It's all about building a community that's more than just about content consumption or product purchasing.

PodcastNessa JimenezNovember 21, 2023community management, community engagement, community building

Building Thriving Communities with Emily Thompson

We are super excited to have the amazing Emily Thompson join us on Make it Kickass. She's a real pro when it comes to building online communities. Emily is the co-founder and host of Being Boss and the big boss at Almanac Supply Company. She's got this incredible knack for turning online connections into real-life connections.

So, hop on board as we go on a journey with Emily. We'll talk about her first real-world trip with her online community in New Orleans and all the awesome lessons she's picked up from hosting events. 🎉

PodcastNessa JimenezNovember 14, 2023community engagement, community building, event hosting

Engaging Events: Where Business Meets Fun and Human Connections

Our conversation with Breanne Dyck from Visionary CEO Academy got us thinking: why are business events so afraid of fun? So this episode we chatted about creating experiences that hit all five senses and how adding some fun can be the element that’s missing for building strong connections in remote teams. And, of course, we dived into the important role of understanding your audience's context to make any event more engaging, entertaining, and, you guessed it, FUN! 😄

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