tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59772508576749949742024-03-14T03:02:58.204-07:00Events, Life and Impact PointsExploring event experience design and the positive impacts we can have when planning relevant and thoughtful meetings. Includes musings on the cool people and lessons along the way.Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.comBlogger255125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-38307580292209147732017-11-02T04:03:00.001-07:002017-11-24T10:01:54.809-08:00Intentional Event Design Our Professional Opportunity<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOmU8ePpd7CxZy5_jCHthCDJxEOxoGktL6-YlCEm9SruJQzs-x0aO4w0oZAflhKwEo3H8jWWbELo6Tk54ijbxX4O0fF_AIvpePn_vGIQCccB4Zyj5rXsGHOh6ofRr1RVUM81ROr6SWeo/s1600/Intentional+Event+Design+cover+final+6x9_BW_300_RevA_final.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1158" data-original-width="1600" height="231" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGOmU8ePpd7CxZy5_jCHthCDJxEOxoGktL6-YlCEm9SruJQzs-x0aO4w0oZAflhKwEo3H8jWWbELo6Tk54ijbxX4O0fF_AIvpePn_vGIQCccB4Zyj5rXsGHOh6ofRr1RVUM81ROr6SWeo/s320/Intentional+Event+Design+cover+final+6x9_BW_300_RevA_final.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then this happened! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">From one page on sustainability (just do it!) through the seven intentions of people-centric, purpose-driven design to embracing technology, designing our immersive and experiential spaces, designing flow and choosing the 'best' seating options to drive conversations, creating food and beverage programs and learning environments to be people and brain-friendly, and wellness for participants and those of us working in the industry, it is a comprehensive deep-dive into future-forward events. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The reviews so far, humbling and exciting - we can continue to create even more worthwhile and transformative events, together. Let's do this! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are real books and e-books available.</span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Intentional-Event-Design-Professional-Opportunity/dp/1977847846/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1508435283&sr=1-1&keywords=endean+intentional" target="_blank">Amazon US</a> and other countries too.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.ca/Intentional-Event-Design-Professional-Opportunity-ebook/dp/B0768X9F4N/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1507911726&sr=8-1&keywords=tahira+endean" target="_blank">Amazon Canada</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I am often asked, "How long did it take?" Three years of thinking about it, and then In April I was looking for an article I had written, and realized I had done a terrible job keeping track of all the writing I have done, and maybe it was time to put what I was thinking about events into one place. It turns out, not surprising to anyone who knows me, I had a LOT to say - about 81,000 words if you were counting! There are lots of examples, questions you can work through in your own design thinking, and a ton of references from others working in spaces from happiness to event technology. Enjoy!</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-2628226559282648962017-06-29T11:43:00.003-07:002017-10-03T08:46:20.417-07:00Resiliency is Our Most Important Trait<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaF3IlxfuhzWJP7hCPN5mqEBP5BFdsmqOwODbWr6fwAHmHCCi25w0ITZLi7VmT2NvGMxywpKg1uN9lZd40jkqhxqGF-Ia3C4Rb768A0Xbu3p_WrMHrETJNqH6oN8ci5l0kVqldSaFg6yY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-29+at+9.43.44+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaF3IlxfuhzWJP7hCPN5mqEBP5BFdsmqOwODbWr6fwAHmHCCi25w0ITZLi7VmT2NvGMxywpKg1uN9lZd40jkqhxqGF-Ia3C4Rb768A0Xbu3p_WrMHrETJNqH6oN8ci5l0kVqldSaFg6yY/s320/Screen+Shot+2017-06-29+at+9.43.44+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thanks to Kristi Casey Sanders for the original share of this</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you met me now, you probably think I seem pretty together, and have things pretty good. I do. Most of the time. We all have stories of our own, of joy and pain, love and despair, falling down and getting back up again. This is life. We are never prepared. We must learn, usually the hard way, to be resilient. <b>To develop the capacity to recover from difficult situations.</b> To know these are situations, and they will pass is a first step. Knowing who you can count on to help you, who is truly on your side is another tool to get through challenges. Perhaps one of the most difficult is choosing our attitude. Will we wallow in the misery? Sometimes. Will we look forward and seek hope over despair? If you ever think you are having a tough day, read <a href="http://amandalindhout.com/a-house-in-the-sky/" target="_blank">Amanda Lindhout's</a> story, one of resilience beyond imagination.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_n8xrHXQizfNiGRcY7XsHyB-040mAPy4fy8JuaQ1CRuzXwdJlCoecCHIZ09nVgyfYs3M3-y7X-T1TU-QBWePPR6Pay5STsvsDblPhVjPNuX3NZ3K3pAEGvcpMxA1TwIbTgWvCNJNKnU/s1600/kaleidoscope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_n8xrHXQizfNiGRcY7XsHyB-040mAPy4fy8JuaQ1CRuzXwdJlCoecCHIZ09nVgyfYs3M3-y7X-T1TU-QBWePPR6Pay5STsvsDblPhVjPNuX3NZ3K3pAEGvcpMxA1TwIbTgWvCNJNKnU/s200/kaleidoscope.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LGiX85tGo3596loiLHYq1_UCCIR066hpEvLDuGZR02kCOheUbtZCwvS9JR-0c2YNo10r99Pr03Cwkyz7hAmjVpM_ngpiRCcdmbHa3o5LpI2PFHv5wMBzxyLbEL5a29dgwx561X96hHI/s1600/tent+resting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6LGiX85tGo3596loiLHYq1_UCCIR066hpEvLDuGZR02kCOheUbtZCwvS9JR-0c2YNo10r99Pr03Cwkyz7hAmjVpM_ngpiRCcdmbHa3o5LpI2PFHv5wMBzxyLbEL5a29dgwx561X96hHI/s200/tent+resting.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you have known me since my teens, you will know about recovering from </span><a href="http://tahiralovesevents.blogspot.ca/2011/04/scars-and-healing.html" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">Bells Palsy</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">. If you have known me since my twenties, you probably still want to carry something for me because you remember when I could not lift my arms long enough to wash my own hair. You may have known me through losing my brother, father and numerous friends and extended family members. I am not alone in facing challenges. I have wallowed, and overcome. I have been resilient because I had to be. It is one of the toughest traits to develop; a skill hard to teach, experience being the teacher with impact. It is a key, core skill for getting through what may come. As we send one child into the world, with the other not far behind, I question if we have taught them this and know it will be only time that will tell. All we can do is be there when they need us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsYxFOAZk4Aw0C_y2AwlVUwjxlJ6P7TmVEmRq_NGAptx8gdmo9tuFXkfDClsEqavnzH1qc70t7HcvhyL1yNR3SlMEf6P4SepOUe8iWXDCaG4MpXIsvFNMi8yNNNzyB_kN9CM9iza6LxI/s1600/red+and+white+terrace.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVsYxFOAZk4Aw0C_y2AwlVUwjxlJ6P7TmVEmRq_NGAptx8gdmo9tuFXkfDClsEqavnzH1qc70t7HcvhyL1yNR3SlMEf6P4SepOUe8iWXDCaG4MpXIsvFNMi8yNNNzyB_kN9CM9iza6LxI/s200/red+and+white+terrace.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If you have been by my side working on one or dozens of events, thank you. Every single person has contributed to making each event better and darn it, a lot of these have taken a ton of sustained effort in sometimes seemingly impossible conditions - from the tops of glaciers where you pack it all in and out to remote communities with little infrastructure and fewer supplier partners, to massive sets, movements and strikes, often with unrealistic timelines. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Every time, we dig deeper and get it done. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Then we get up and do it again. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Eventprofs know the power of resilience. When a client chooses to leave our agency for any number of reasons, we bounce back and find new clients who can use our support and expertise. When challenges arise, from a tanking economy leading to unexpected cancellations, from security to transportation, mudslides and road closures, venue changes and so much more, we find solutions. We find the people we can trust, we move forward, we adapt. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Many of you have shared your stories with me, from living with chronic conditions to losing what is most important; through illness and recovery, cross-country or global moves and a million brave choices, overcoming large and small fears as we navigate the mundane and complex day-to-day challenges of life. To each of you, thank you for choosing to include me in your journey. I salute your resilience.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-37413702731207293542017-06-17T08:33:00.000-07:002017-06-17T08:33:14.241-07:00The Power of Not Yet-Kirk Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1x88yVEssuw0nAJnPkVVfT_lQ_FER_zwuUxW0ufK_S7iuNW8DCQYE_GlCaqkmqGEuG2uDGeH3AHlX19Vzony-KQmfIZgEWoA5UoY4kCEqQrLZf78hvmFU8gO8EEdgM9DtHDxgTcrMbg/s1600/19225712_1300271350089343_6952536194955661509_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="151" data-original-width="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij1x88yVEssuw0nAJnPkVVfT_lQ_FER_zwuUxW0ufK_S7iuNW8DCQYE_GlCaqkmqGEuG2uDGeH3AHlX19Vzony-KQmfIZgEWoA5UoY4kCEqQrLZf78hvmFU8gO8EEdgM9DtHDxgTcrMbg/s1600/19225712_1300271350089343_6952536194955661509_n.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">This is Kirk, above with his wife Lorraine and their children Melissa, Nicole and Kenton and below with his sister Zella. This week Kirk is in the biggest <a href="http://tahiralovesevents.blogspot.ca/2017/06/the-power-of-not-yet.html" target="_blank">"Not Yet"</a> moment any of us can face. As in "Not yet God, I still have work, and play, to do here." So with his family at his side, I would like to tell you a little bit about Kirk and why everyone should send a little healing energy in his direction.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqauFCHSbhm1TqqpeHwkXxhJg6fwi-a-n9Z1SLYHabRUJHSo3FrA1SJWUzcKSmth7cMlSoBvPveXqWFm0LHuBVLOQ9aUYgj-fMzK2YAlXVUG8H95DPBsSeuSKsQuSE-DHJaScqBk8vkk/s1600/Screen+Shot+2017-06-17+at+7.50.49+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="368" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPqauFCHSbhm1TqqpeHwkXxhJg6fwi-a-n9Z1SLYHabRUJHSo3FrA1SJWUzcKSmth7cMlSoBvPveXqWFm0LHuBVLOQ9aUYgj-fMzK2YAlXVUG8H95DPBsSeuSKsQuSE-DHJaScqBk8vkk/s200/Screen+Shot+2017-06-17+at+7.50.49+AM.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">As a member of his community, Kirk does everything, and I mean everything, with the best of intentions. He has conviction in his beliefs, as outlined in his book <a href="https://www.amazon.ca/God-Process-Kirk-S-Boote/dp/1460240308" target="_blank">The God Process</a> and a deeper belief in kindness to all. This was instilled their whole lives by their parents, who were both gone too young, and whose legacy Kirk, Zella and his wife Lorraine have perpetuated - they always start with love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Kirk loves ice cream, and chocolate, and cookies, and did I say ice cream? His love for ice cream is combined with a love for bike riding, soccer and any other reason to get outside and breathe. It was at a soccer game this past weekend where a faulty aorta burst. He has been through five surgeries this week, and WOW, what a committed surgical team at Foothills Calgary hospital. The deepest gratitude from all who are touched by Kirk is extended, words inadequate for their skill, effort and belief. Each moment, his family keeps remembering to breathe themselves and reminding Kirk why he needs to keep fighting. Each day he is now getting a little stronger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Thirty six years ago Kirk and Lorraine fell in love and were married. Zella and her friends welcomed Lorraine to the family by removing all the furniture from their apartment while on their honeymoon and replacing it with Barbie and Ken sized furniture. Lorraine decided to stay anyhow. What I know is the strength of their bond and a love that wraps around their family. When you are first married, you are a team, holding hands and facing the world. When you start a family, you become a circle, focused inward with love and outwards to protect. As you grow together you become a quilt, each piece adding to the story, and when something this surprising happens, it is if that has been ripped in half, and now, with each stitch holding Kirk's body together, so this quilt becomes whole again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have lost both my father and my brother, and I know how difficult it is to lose a parent and to lose a sibling. For Zella, your bond with Kirk is incredible and I have seen first-hand the love and support you each rely on. Yours is an honest relationship which has survived the loss of too many, and for even just this reason, he needs more time here - and is indeed fighting for this. For Kenton, Nicole and Melissa, your dad is your rock. He is also your parent and for all of us, these are complex relationships, as we go from small children requiring care, to teens and now young adults finding your own paths. Always, you have known you are deeply, truly loved and also for you, it is not yet time - he will fight to see how each of you goes forward in your own strength. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I will close with this - Kirk, there is a big bowl of ice cream with your name on it just waiting. Yes, of course it's chocolate. </span><br />
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<br />Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-31328180402302765852017-06-06T13:11:00.000-07:002017-06-07T10:00:44.438-07:00The Power of Not Yet<div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJxfy8PYBbgdI2OpY70tYpXU7EkN2gkAvRV46OighpaDaX5cYczxGPbPWHK4O7VTaT0D96De3RUGwXqfILYlVweEh95bZFbLckLv3CDNmz_Cu_lk7YJ8u_Uoo7om2MICWJXyQjVIBX5g/s1600/IMG-20140806-WA0000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJxfy8PYBbgdI2OpY70tYpXU7EkN2gkAvRV46OighpaDaX5cYczxGPbPWHK4O7VTaT0D96De3RUGwXqfILYlVweEh95bZFbLckLv3CDNmz_Cu_lk7YJ8u_Uoo7om2MICWJXyQjVIBX5g/s320/IMG-20140806-WA0000.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Have you ever caught a fish? Just now.</span></td></tr>
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Motivation is a tricky sport. <a href="https://www.ted.com/speakers/carol_dweck" target="_blank">Carol Dweck</a> has been studying it for years, and in her TED talk I enjoyed recently on my commute home, what struck me was the idea of <b>the power of "Not yet."</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How often do we say "I can't"...</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">dance, sing, play an instrument</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">climb a mountain</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">draw, paint, sculpt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">race a car</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">ride a horse, or a llama</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">play soccer, basketball or golf</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">grow a garden</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">win a snowball fight or build an igloo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">run 10k, or wheel 1k</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">snowboard a black diamond run</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">master a paddleboard</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">write a story or even a haiku</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">present to a group, or try improv theatre</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">solve that math problem</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What if...</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Instead of saying "I can't", we said, "Not yet."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Instead of saying "I failed", we said "I tried."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We remembered that none of us are masters of anything the first time we tried.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We forgave ourselves when things don't go exactly as we had planned.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The power of positive thinking, of reinforcing that learning is a process, and there is more reward in effort put forward than in getting everything right is measurable. It is measurable because when we offer the opportunity to try a little harder and to approach a problem in a different way, and to step up and meet a challenge, we start to see results. We see personal betters, we see organizational improvement. When the lowest ranked schools, the ones with the highest numbers of marginalized students were told, you can do this, just not yet, in the course of a year (one year!) the students believed their efforts could pay off. They wanted to try harder. Time after time, they went from the lowest ranked in a district to the highest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">If we apply this to our own organizations, not just saying "you have to do better" but really looking at how you can apply positive reinforcement for trying, learning, and trying again, you will see innovations and improvements. You will see teams working more collaboratively and you will see individuals keen to rise to new challenges. You will see them enjoying the process.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When we produce events, we have the opportunity to let people try new activities in safe environments. We can provide incubators for ideas and hypotheses to be tested, to see what sticks and to see what may need to be adapted. We can do this in a group of peers who can go from "we're close" to "we got this." </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's change our language. As parents, educators, and #eventprofs. We got this.</span></div>
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Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-55725264917422585042017-05-19T12:56:00.001-07:002017-05-19T12:56:45.476-07:00Defining Ready<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd0z8UWWShljoD8uiWh3omuE81eU0bX-lqr4LPZIz8Brw-BIQMbGycG5voTWsymrzixaoK3BUeR0S-uAKxMouq9b5Zff_S0RLyMhJfMBF96C4BXNSoeFRPX6HmeBYLCsDPy4iee83XbE/s1600/collision+reg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwd0z8UWWShljoD8uiWh3omuE81eU0bX-lqr4LPZIz8Brw-BIQMbGycG5voTWsymrzixaoK3BUeR0S-uAKxMouq9b5Zff_S0RLyMhJfMBF96C4BXNSoeFRPX6HmeBYLCsDPy4iee83XbE/s320/collision+reg.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have all been here, in the throes of preparing to open your event. In this case I had arrived to register six hours after registration was open to find the signs still being painted. Days later speaking to some members of the organizing team it became clear why - this was an event with a reported 15,000+ attendees, and one of 4 events being produced globally, and they don't have an event planner on their team of eighty people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Shades of the Fyre Festival which had a similar decision making process, and ultimate catastrophic ending were surfacing around this same time. We know there are more than 1.8 million events annually in just the US, and the same amount in just the UK, and let's extrapolate that to the other 190+ countries in the world, and it is stunning to me that events of this magnitude can think it makes sense to bring together thousands of people and not have any sense of organization around the logistics.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Let's face it, it's complicated bringing people together. They have to travel across time zones and with international documentation. They needed places to sleep and eat, and they want to learn and network. Their safety and enjoyment is reliant on our planning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I know we have an industry with low barriers to entry, with a dearth of formal education, and with clients who don't understand the value that the experienced event professional brings to an event - but examples like this continue to surprise me. When will the world wake up to the value of what we bring across the board? Event professionals who have an ounce of common sense and often years of experience don't just make your event more beautiful and more fun, they make it happen on-time, safely, deliciously, on budget and with strategic outcomes in mind. They give meaning to your brands and ensure your participants leave with more than they arrived with in terms of knowledge and context and memories and often a positive shift in mindset. Intentional event design doesn't mean the painting will be done, it means we are taking all we know about feeding the brains and nourishing the bodies of our guests and creating experiences and environments that are transformational. Don't you want that for your next event?</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-902658523706430222017-04-07T11:56:00.000-07:002017-06-06T11:34:00.556-07:00Explore Beyond Boundaries<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dhPocTxuIp0W_pWbD2le7kyKcfyw9Vlhy_sXA2svLbxr__TPyZxIdX1w8qjSo1mzzWxuGqbVeGbnKBjwD0_-q51hSqi-Dc-dBE7JiYPWHUua9k81sBgbfte96VW3Q_CAu3EYj15CmcM/s1600/unnamed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7dhPocTxuIp0W_pWbD2le7kyKcfyw9Vlhy_sXA2svLbxr__TPyZxIdX1w8qjSo1mzzWxuGqbVeGbnKBjwD0_-q51hSqi-Dc-dBE7JiYPWHUua9k81sBgbfte96VW3Q_CAu3EYj15CmcM/s320/unnamed-1.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Susan Cope kindly shared this picture which inspired<br />
me to think about taking the road with the bumps,<br />
and being happy about it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we navigate life and plan events for our clients (and their organizations) it can be tempting to take the easy road, stick to the status quo and stay comfortable, to stay 'out of the muck'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This got me to thinking...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When did we </span><i style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">grow up</i><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and stop looking for what might be under the surface of a puddle? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Why did you trade in your 'wellies' for designer footwear and stop exploring? </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was it when you decided you are - eek - a "grown-up"? Here is the thing - the events we admire as being innovative are often being led by the grown-ups who are not taking the easy road. They are the experimenters, the dreamers, the moment-makers who are willing to invest the time to understand human nature and develop experiences that build on our human willingness to join group situations - festivals, events, conferences - and take calculated risks, celebrate shared success, test out new ideas, or learn in unexpected ways. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How do I jump in the puddles? I have always had (endured) teasing from colleagues about my unstoppable curiousity - bookmarking sites, endless magazine tear-outs, notebooks full of ideas and walls full of post-its always looking for what will become <a href="https://www.corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2016/02/23/makes-event-sticky/" target="_blank">"sticky"</a>. When event technology moved to the forefront I had to know more because this is our new audience, the ubiquitous digital native and while it is nearly impossible to keep up with #eventtech, we can't just lay down and let it overwhelm us.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUeiElmIIRT4Ylljw4nyBcX5WR_Wf6CCeSELsLuCjEBe8JOSdCg1_-jTPJEpcXwb9K_YrCaQMVwg-6cPOs-W5XVZfnVOIuMUz_Yrur84eIr7J4F7HBeeTtNF5iIDUGpc9DzoRHP56zCA/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGUeiElmIIRT4Ylljw4nyBcX5WR_Wf6CCeSELsLuCjEBe8JOSdCg1_-jTPJEpcXwb9K_YrCaQMVwg-6cPOs-W5XVZfnVOIuMUz_Yrur84eIr7J4F7HBeeTtNF5iIDUGpc9DzoRHP56zCA/s320/unnamed.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Are you ready to explore what boundaries can be stretched to create deeper and more meaningful moments at events? This is my challenge - moving past the comfort zone to ensure we deliver events with maximum comfort that surprise, engage, move and transform clients, stakeholders and participants through live experiences.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For this reason, I am excited to attend the invite only<a href="http://www.hautedokimazo.com/" target="_blank"> Haute Dokimazo</a> in Austin in May - because they are bringing together people who are breaking down boundaries. Who will I see there... You can request your event invitation at the link above, but don't wait!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-81178169091634458012017-04-03T09:00:00.002-07:002017-04-07T10:41:57.781-07:00Using Disruption to our Advantage<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc7ETh0L5dakY07owyMjYWpdHg849HVOs5KPy4k1vI91yayeMw5JG_fe4pku5hCIRMcPm04idk2UVuRiHbhFpMGg2074fLg4CBENUeW7_5uqijcZlNFcgUrtPnMvi_EK9VXOtsuhEZoM/s1600/Vancity_NightCircus_RoamingPhotographer-167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDc7ETh0L5dakY07owyMjYWpdHg849HVOs5KPy4k1vI91yayeMw5JG_fe4pku5hCIRMcPm04idk2UVuRiHbhFpMGg2074fLg4CBENUeW7_5uqijcZlNFcgUrtPnMvi_EK9VXOtsuhEZoM/s320/Vancity_NightCircus_RoamingPhotographer-167.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Participants were encouraged to add their wishes, hopes and dreams for the future to this wishing tree at an annual corporate celebration event. What would you wish for? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We live in disruptive times, and the idea we could just make a wish, and have it come true, is both idealistic and desirable. I have been doing some writing about disruptive times, and include the links below. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2017/02/15/power-events-disruptive-times/" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;" target="_blank">For Corporate Meetings Network, the Power of Events in Disruptive Times</a> <span style="background-color: white; color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When “unpredictable” is the new buzzword for the economy, everyone in the meetings and events industry should be a little nervous.</span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have been through cutbacks, recessions, governances, regulations, and threats from both Mother Nature and other humans, all forever changing our ability to deliver hospitality to our guests in the way we (and our clients) feel they are most deserving of. Yet, as humans, we still travel, meet, attend events, and celebrate all that life brings us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #666666; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2016/10/25/disruption-at-meetings-and-events/" target="_blank">Disruption at Meetings and Events</a> As human beings, we have been innovating since the beginning of time, from the invention of the wheel, to trade routes, the industrial revolution…. you get the point. Our pace of innovation has rapidly accelerated with the digital age and the sheer number of people on the planet – as inventors and consumers. We understand more about human response to marketing and to experiences than we ever have, and we have the greatest opportunity to use all of this knowledge to elevate experiences, making them more relevant, memorable, and useful than ever before. What we can’t do is expect that anything will stay the same. It won’t.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>How are you and your organization moving forward?</b></span><br />
<br />Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-22589828783726673222016-12-19T07:36:00.001-08:002016-12-19T07:45:06.671-08:00On Losing Lilly<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Y5G7o_0X7SggZtshppzLE9YwlnsxBozIm9RKOozE-E4KFVGRf_2lZZLIPM1Rjc9q96oZDxJ6nolEj5qngR3wGJmMCRm1tyz-6DCOjlZgMvNuxftH-_aLrPm5nFH8WhorpZtwoASpEk/s1600/Lilly+FR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi42Y5G7o_0X7SggZtshppzLE9YwlnsxBozIm9RKOozE-E4KFVGRf_2lZZLIPM1Rjc9q96oZDxJ6nolEj5qngR3wGJmMCRm1tyz-6DCOjlZgMvNuxftH-_aLrPm5nFH8WhorpZtwoASpEk/s320/Lilly+FR.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Life is not fair, or reasonable and much of it makes no sense. Saturday we lost Lilly, this bright, creative, Viking warrior artist. It is unimaginable, and unbearable. A perfect day on the bright, crisp winter ocean with her father, a dinner with family friends and Norse poetry, one minute painting her brother's Christmas picture, the next, gone. With no clear reasons yet why she was taken suddenly, today I will tell you about Lilly and her family while we wait; for answers, and for the daily things to happen that will fill the yawning chasm of time and space she used to fill so completely.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have known Zella, my sister-friend since I was 17, Richard since I was 19 and Lilly and her wonderful brother Morgun always. From the colic to the giggles, to playing with slugs (hey they are creatures too) on Bowen Island to a fascination with the Aquarium and all things living, Lilly deeply lived with a connection to land and sea, and the peace and sustenance both could offer. To forage, she forged her own knives. To fish, she crafted her own lines. To live, she followed her own path. Not one always easy for a parent, the labels applied could include "train kid" when she spent two years traversing North America with her rescue puppy Vader; she lived many places where she was known to reclaim unused yards and turn them into gardens with shared bounty; a sailor living on her own boat and navigating the islands of the west coast, finding artists' communities to call home, collecting friends at every stage of her journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Lilly never understood "stuff" beyond having the basics you need to live. For her this included paints and sketch books, a mandolin, enough clothes to stay warm, and enough food to survive without waste. Never afraid of hard work she has wrestled mistletoe at nurseries, farmed on land and in the sea, milled grains to make bread, crafted traditional Easter loaves complete with tiny bread birds and has filled all our homes with stunning artwork. Most recently she was working with Richard, learning welding from this master, and sorting through the boxes of memories that make a home with her mother, shared laughter and meals, walks and puppies, and time to reconnect. A painter, sculptor, sewer, gardener, gatherer, jewelry maker, she was always collecting interesting pieces of nature - treasures from the sea, greens and mushrooms, beach glass, rocks, bones, wood - to make into something beautifully unexpected or delicious. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">With our kids we have spent nearly every New Year's Eve in Sechelt, which means every year we have had Nicholas's birthday here, and almost every birthday cake of his life Lilly has crafted. The unique stockings we, and quite a few other friends use each Christmas were created by her and as I sit quietly in the early dawn there are some on this mantel now. The art she has been creating since she was a small child is on every wall, and the decorations she put up this year to welcome the season surround us.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Any parent with children of a certain age (teenagers) knows the feeling of your child arriving home and leaving a trail of their stuff from door to destination, and the mild annoyance they have taken over your space so completely making it their own as you pick up this and that, tidying and perhaps, muttering about the "mess". To think that Lilly will never again come in the front door and leave this trail that so clearly states, "I am home and here to stay for as long as it's convenient for me" is unfathomable.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is nobody who lived life more completely as their own, on their own terms and always without harm to others. There are many lessons in this for the rest of us if we choose to take them. Always respectful of individuals and animals, bending the rules that didn't clearly make sense and creating a life that made sense for her, this was our Lilly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Take care Lilly, we know you are watching over us, probably knitting something with your namesake grandmother right now while you cook up your next adventure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-45243447011110311182016-10-24T09:33:00.002-07:002016-10-25T17:02:47.242-07:00IMEX16 Full of Nice Memories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYiRQxzzIOryyUhm5el9sysUlYfZsAxtZ8DdRAtSUe0RA403OfMruPh1UC0xuIuLBkOcOy0JxMQlC0oVGKoxK_oxZzjCmBPR6Zk-EiUdljYGR70t6omyMMFqJ58ANsIsrNF5qO8uQRqE/s1600/IMG_20161025_163646.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYiRQxzzIOryyUhm5el9sysUlYfZsAxtZ8DdRAtSUe0RA403OfMruPh1UC0xuIuLBkOcOy0JxMQlC0oVGKoxK_oxZzjCmBPR6Zk-EiUdljYGR70t6omyMMFqJ58ANsIsrNF5qO8uQRqE/s320/IMG_20161025_163646.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When you go to your boss with a conference program in hand, you sell your attendance based on the content available which you promise to return to your organization with, bringing <b>new tools and ideas</b> to your work and your team.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For participation in an exhibition you are selling the possibilities of sales, at the show and in the future as the supplier. As the planner we like to attend because when we meet people face to face in dedicated B2B meetings we have the opportunity to exchange real information and to <b>build trust</b> in those who would deliver the event in our selected destinations and venues.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Why you return a second, third or in the case of IMEX a <b>sixth time it</b> is because of the connections you make. Through hosted and planned meetings to serendipitous aisle-way meet-ups to the many evening events that take place, both hosted and buy-in (often supporting a variety of initiatives), the people you meet and the conversations you have will always bring a new perspective. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">It is also a friendly event, and this is important because most of us have some level of introspectiveness, some anxiety of meeting new people and some level of effort required to maintain momentum over a multi-day event of meeting new people, and when there is a friendliness inherent in the overall event - it makes it easier. This may sound trite, but it is not, and requires a conscious effort in the planning and community building which happens year-round. Don't underestimate "nice" - the world could use more of it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>It is a place of connecting</b></span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In-session <a href="http://www.imexamerica.com/events/education/" target="_blank">actionable learning</a> with both general sessions and sector - specific sessions including corporate, association, future leaders, sustainability, and faculty (to name a few!) which is relevant, current and can be applied when you return.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To destinations that understand meetings and incentives and can speak intelligently about how theirs fits your needs - and with 157 destinations on the floor this is truly the place to find where you could take your events.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To the <a href="http://www.imexamerica.com/about-us/blog/" target="_blank">latest trends</a> in all areas with knowledge gained in the Inspiration Hub, the Playroom, in group meetings in the various booths, in tours conducted to experience event technology and innovation, and even the fabulous meditation room. By seeing what is being shown and how it is being shown in ways that are useful to your clients we all take away new, actionable ideas.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To <a href="http://www.imexamerica.com/about-us/sustainability/" target="_blank">sustainable thinking</a>, the list of initiatives keeps growing and many of these ideas can be easily implemented at any event.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To global thought leaders across all sectors. In the pictures above there are meeting planners, event producers, company owners, faculty, event tech leaders, sustainability experts, and those working in sales, procurement, venue management, hybrid events and creating learning environments. In all cases these are people I can turn to when I need key information on any subject related to our industry, and really these are just a few of the people I connected with over the course of IMEX16!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To leaders and their successes. The Convention Industry Council Hall of Leaders and Pacesetters recipients were and are all amazing, hard-working, humble and kind. <a href="http://www.conventionindustry.org/HallofLeaders/2016HallofLeadersCelebration.aspx" target="_blank">Leaders</a> indeed.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To business. Ultimately every investment of your resources must lead to this, and when you bring the world together, business happens.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As always, I return home full of ideas I can implement, and wrapped in the warmth of friends, collaborators and colleagues from around the world, looking forward to returning again to continue the growth. </span></div>
Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-26790176461298627622016-10-15T16:25:00.000-07:002016-10-15T16:25:02.960-07:00Using Our Time for IMPACT<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LSZADN-3IvscSXlH4aVwvypF4O3fatf2hElx7zJHI04YdfWociDFFF88dcF9sOKyrGQcBqQt7ytcraRBYQ7edf6j432S7v822vmrIZztK_CM3cAP9XeCC2CJj4_mzBFLhwgCBhiU97g/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-10-15+at+10.50.10+AM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6LSZADN-3IvscSXlH4aVwvypF4O3fatf2hElx7zJHI04YdfWociDFFF88dcF9sOKyrGQcBqQt7ytcraRBYQ7edf6j432S7v822vmrIZztK_CM3cAP9XeCC2CJj4_mzBFLhwgCBhiU97g/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-10-15+at+10.50.10+AM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A real "week in the life"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The life of an #eventprof (event professional) is ALWAYS busy. Work, life, taking care of family and self, unrealistic deadlines, it all adds up to a calendar that looks something like this. Add in travel to events you are producing, speaking at or learning at, or maybe even "sneaking in" a vacation and it comes back to being busy, tired, and even burnout.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So what if we measured time not by busy-ness but by impact. If I consider even the week above - a recent week - there was as you can see only a small amount of time left to do "real work" outside of meetings. Of course the small open spaces you see were used for answering the seemingly endless emails we all receive, most that allow us to keep moving work forward. But, we made huge progress on the #BCTECH Summit program by using meetings to consult with industry, researchers and stakeholders who are vested in the education we will be offering that will be relevant, forward thinking and actionable. IMPACT. We met with groups who can support our marketing initiatives to more deeply and broadly share the <b>why</b> of participating in the Summit - because we know the success from last year with <b>conversations that led to conversions </b>and this needs to be shared<b>.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">The big block you see at the end of the week was a soccer tournament to raise money for KidsUpFront that BCIC placed a team in. When they needed more girls to play I was ready to jump in - and voluntold Julia since I have never played - a classic Mom move. This was fun to watch and raised money for a great cause. IMPACT.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I have just packed and am ready to head for four days at IMEX16 where I will spend some time leading tours through the event technology space, sharing the possibilities with meeting planners who are seeking solutions that will make their work more efficient or productive, that will provide useful data for building and designing their meetings, IMPACT. Oh and also a lot of fun as I know already I am heading into hours of great conversations about how meeting professionals are changing lives one meeting at a time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So the next time someone asks you how it's going - don't reply with "so busy" instead think about how many lives you have impacted - through dollars raised, food or waste diverted, knowledge shared, or inspiration provided.</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-22440867955611591812016-10-12T13:07:00.003-07:002016-10-13T06:43:17.270-07:00Events with Purpose...Because it Makes Sense<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Events with Purpose. Meetings with Heart. Sustainable Meetings and Events. These are all the articles we see now, as our industry collectively shifts to keep up with what our consumers, our event participants are demanding.</span><br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQIIRtAaS3-SlPmAe_dGtRDcHX9OXMlsV_0I3Ce1ElgPH7KrWxomBBSO0BRmEc9WIG4NZ4gMfEhxNULRPOo_ox1bR8iKWE_eV68TTcsDOhaytwG4WT4pxf2DMl6dC4JNitAif04TkMiA/s1600/Vancity_NightCircus_RoamingPhotographer-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwQIIRtAaS3-SlPmAe_dGtRDcHX9OXMlsV_0I3Ce1ElgPH7KrWxomBBSO0BRmEc9WIG4NZ4gMfEhxNULRPOo_ox1bR8iKWE_eV68TTcsDOhaytwG4WT4pxf2DMl6dC4JNitAif04TkMiA/s320/Vancity_NightCircus_RoamingPhotographer-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to the Night Circus. This net-zero event in 2014 saw 1,200<br />
dancing the night away to local performers bringing a story alive.<br />
Produced by Kelly Aleda while we were at Cantrav.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Perhaps I am naive, or perhaps I was lucky enough to have my event roots in Vancouver, and that my "anchor" events, my first two large-scale events where I did my most rapid growing and deepest learning - had these values embedded. We started working on both of these in 1993, and the first was GLOBE 94 - "Global Opportunities for Business and the Environment" which was and still is one of the largest events focused on cleantech and sustainable thinking as a core business value, across all sectors. From waste management to recycled paper, and recycling everything, thought was given to all we produced and end-to-end use.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 1995 we worked with the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD), the Vancouver Convention Centre and several local chapters of the major meeting and event planning associations to write the first Green Meetings Guide for the city. With the Vancouver Convention Centre now being a LEED Platinum Building and Vancouver working towards being the Greenest city in the world by 2020, sustainable living, and by extension meetings - well, it's just how we roll.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In 1996 I was part of the incredible team that brought the XI International Conference on AIDS, with the overarching theme of One World, One Hope to life. From planning for simple, nutritious meals and a medical centre for the 1,500 participants living with HIV/AIDS to the process for ensuring the highest level of education for the 13,000+ medical practitioners who attended from around the globe - no stone in inclusive planning was left unturned. This was a feat accomplished by hundreds, and included technical groundwork such as laying new T1 lines to broadcast the information to a wider audience - the early days of "hybrid"! We spent days educating the many who would touch the lives of our participants during event setup, operation and dismantling - and were scared in doing so they would catch AIDS - they would not. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When I think of these and so many other associations, topics and forward thinking corporations I have worked with to create sustainable, stunning, experiential events that have led to new knowledge imparted, collaborations strengthened, deals made, and friendships built, I know that we have always considered the objectives and created spaces that allow these to happen. Meet with purpose... yes. Let's keep doing this.</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-56521892249265636822016-10-09T14:47:00.000-07:002016-10-09T19:04:44.365-07:00EventTech is Here to Stay<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC3CX34go8lwemRzls7YlODkfPJD8VOuBuADEbjTglrgJSdIkMTDev8kDCdVBGi6qcd52AR00R-obZYs7yYs-FNjA1b3N_oqZDrGyxT7jKvHMlRoZtXXE9tNMNvVCGKjEoCsrjmEuJ98/s1600/limbic+media+wearables.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQC3CX34go8lwemRzls7YlODkfPJD8VOuBuADEbjTglrgJSdIkMTDev8kDCdVBGi6qcd52AR00R-obZYs7yYs-FNjA1b3N_oqZDrGyxT7jKvHMlRoZtXXE9tNMNvVCGKjEoCsrjmEuJ98/s320/limbic+media+wearables.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Limbic Media social rainbow - connecting participants one disk at a time.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Keeping Up is Hard!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Two years ago I wrote about <a href="https://www.corporatemeetingsnetwork.ca/2014/12/02/digital-fluidity-human-experience-meetings-events/" target="_blank">digital fludity</a> and what this means as we plan events. While there are many very cool ways we are embedding technology into events - from holograms to robot concierges, wayfinding and crowd management, multi-projections and multiple live streams, the ubiquitous mobile apps and their ever expanding capabilities, and so much more - the learning is <a href="https://youtu.be/H_ubFib-JPs" target="_blank">never-ending</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Join Me for Tours at IMEX16</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of the many things I appreciate about attending IMEX is the sheer volume of relevant and current knowledge as they listen to what participants want and need to know more about right now. At IMEX October 18-20th I will be leading <a href="https://portal.imexamerica.com/events.php#anchor" target="_blank">EventTech tours</a> which will begin at the Media Centre multiple times throughout the three days - join us and hear from five different types of event technology companies (each tour is different) and their thoughts on the future of event planning and the technology supporting these changes. On Tuesday and Wednesday you can augment these tours with Innovation Tours led by Glenn Thayer at alternate times. A great way to learn quickly more about what is going on right now - ideas and tools you can take away.</span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you really want to see what's next - check out the <a href="http://www.imexamerica.com/events/imexpitch/" target="_blank">IMEX Pitch Competition.</a></span><br />
<b><br /></b>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Why We Need to Keep Up</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">In this recent post for Event Manager Blog I looked at <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/attendee-of-the-future" target="_blank">The Attendee of the Future</a> and what this means to how we need to plan events now. Fundamentally our expectations have shifted and our collective audiences now expect to receive information in the way they want it - paper, desktop, and mostly, mobile. As planners we also want (need) to be able to work any place and in any time zone, and with as little paper to carry around as humanly possible. We can do initial site inspections as virtual walk-throughs, and manage our clients' needs 24/7 with the cloud based tools available. Then we add Facetime to talk to our families and sleep and fitness apps to help keep us on track as we attempt to find balance! It's all digital, all the time!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As event professionals we know technology is not going anywhere except deeper into our lives and those of our participants. It is exciting - and I look forward to learning more along with all of you!</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-29521811771842281062016-09-24T21:17:00.002-07:002016-09-25T08:52:39.708-07:00So You Think You Can<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLANw-NWuwbG_q6y54VOt3uAy0-6X6OzoivzG6OZURHjkMR-oPL1xy0PiGsqSGxUJBIEBbLWAFE55Tu84oYwhVU9Yg7F4YoF2q9LO95cOp6yPvrP-2y9K2F-8ifJ-hxBW5i52MRrXw1z8/s1600/cg+ice+by+night.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLANw-NWuwbG_q6y54VOt3uAy0-6X6OzoivzG6OZURHjkMR-oPL1xy0PiGsqSGxUJBIEBbLWAFE55Tu84oYwhVU9Yg7F4YoF2q9LO95cOp6yPvrP-2y9K2F-8ifJ-hxBW5i52MRrXw1z8/s320/cg+ice+by+night.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brian Dennehy captured this amazing <br />
moment at an I event I produced while <br />
working at Cantrav</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So you think you can be an event professional? Well you can. But it won't be what you expect, and it definitely won't be as easy as you imagine it will be. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Five years ago (!) I wrote a post on <b>23 areas you need to be an expert on to be a <a href="http://tahiralovesevents.blogspot.ca/2011/02/meeting-planning-glamorous-exciting-fun.html">meeting professional</a></b>. If anything this list has grown, with an even greater emphasis on both risk management and technology in all its forms. This ranges now from <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/education/start-event-business/">business management</a> to data acquisition, privacy and data analysis for your own business and your clients and ultimately the event and of course, <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/attendee-of-the-future">event participants</a>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There is a reason that Career Cast lists event professional in the <b><a href="http://www.careercast.com/slide/most-stressful-jobs-2016-5-event-coordinator">top 5 most stressful jobs</a>,</b> right after military officers, police officers, firefighters and airline pilots. I would like to point out that rarely is our actual life on the line, but we do have numerous stakeholders from C-level executives and their direct reports, marketing teams, sponsors, exhibitors and participants; and an environment which we imagine and then rely on often dozens of supplier partners we can inspire but don't control, a team of staff, volunteers, performers, presenters and yes, participants to bring our event to life. We do this all in the immediate view of anyone attending our events live PLUS all those following their perspective of our events as shared in visual content on multiple streams of social media or traditional media. We now have to please live participants and virtual attendees in many cases, and all have their own needs. <b>EVERY person attending has made an investment in our event, and everyone deserves the best we can deliver.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So what does it take? It is a combination of attitude and aptitude, hard-won experience and yes, education. Since this post I wrote - also in 2011 - about<a href="http://tahiralovesevents.blogspot.ca/2011/02/education-or-experience.html"> education </a> vs experience I have recertified my <a href="http://www.conventionindustry.org/CMP/faqs" target="_blank">CMP</a>, obtained my<a href="http://www.virtualedgeinstitute.com/about-us" target="_blank"> Digital Event Strategist</a> (DES) and am working towards my <a href="http://www.eventmodelgeneration.com/" target="_blank">Certified Event Designer</a> (CED) designations. Why? <b>I recognize that to continue to deliver what our clients demand, we have to stay ahead of the curve, defeat the status quo, pay attention to the changing consumer, and continue to LOVE what we do.</b> Do I think you need certifications to be a skilled, savvy, fantastic event professional? Of course not - there are many people who have entered this industry from a variety of backgrounds and who understand experience creation, branding, client service and are creative or logistic geniuses with excellent careers and clients. Do I believe if you are starting out or desiring you should take the (precious) time and take advantage of the education available both formal and informal, through universities and associations? YES. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Is it daunting? Often. Is it do-able? Heck YES. Do you have to truly, deeply, madly want to deliver unequaled experiences that change people's lives? YES. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Please, share what you LOVE about being an event professional, I would love to hear!</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-13139222153732696572016-09-08T14:27:00.000-07:002016-09-13T18:08:47.118-07:00My Top Eventprofs Reads for 2016<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inspired by others sharing their top ready, below are books I have read, use to teach with, have learned from or think you will find useful as you build or evolve in your event / meeting career. From the "basics" to the inspirational, these are among the best I have found across the sectors that are driving us forward.</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mgWUsB-k9aUm85rENCqy0Ja2Q7yXGCOCFmEIfD8aX7Qmrqyl-bqrRnB45FVGTWsPrgGG5g5RYmFz8fFQjxuSg8FOJyzuWuGMWM4m5JHelqDtYi8Wl5oR6O8DAaUhq2lYu-LJo115tnM/s1600/easy+reads.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mgWUsB-k9aUm85rENCqy0Ja2Q7yXGCOCFmEIfD8aX7Qmrqyl-bqrRnB45FVGTWsPrgGG5g5RYmFz8fFQjxuSg8FOJyzuWuGMWM4m5JHelqDtYi8Wl5oR6O8DAaUhq2lYu-LJo115tnM/s320/easy+reads.jpg" width="279" /></a></div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Convention Industry Council's <a href="http://www.conventionindustry.org/store/publications.aspx" target="_blank">9th Edition</a> because it is the base for the CMP exam for a reason. If you are seriously into planning meetings, and believe in lifelong learning, and work somewhere that recognizes the benefits of this designation, or want to, this is a good read for you. A nice companion read is Professional Meeting Management, <a href="http://www.pcma.org/store#.V8oIppMrI0o" target="_blank">6th edition.</a></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eventmodelgeneration.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Event Design Handbook</span></a> - Roel Frissen, Ruud Jannsen and Dennis Luijer. This builds the story of the #EventCanvas which captures the process of design - from building stakeholder empathy maps, why this matters and defining needs, goals and measurements - both real and visceral. It lays it out in a way that is systematic and ultimately for your event owner - compelling. As a book, it is (of course) really well designed and therefore both easy to read and to pull relevant content from.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Winners Dream</b> by Bill McDermott. Why do meetings and incentives matter? This explains why - from the perspective of this CEO. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ethics and <a href="http://ca.wiley.com/WileyCDA/WileyTitle/productCd-EHEP002403.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6aa84f;">Corporate Social Responsibility</span></a> in the Meetings and Events Industry</b> by Elizabeth Henderson and Mariela McIlwraith. We share one world, we have the ability to have the biggest impact on it - much of it positive once we understand our power and pay attention to the planning and design process with an eye on sustainability. This book breaks it down without being preachy.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Gamestorming A Playbook for Innovators, Rulebreakers and Changemakers</b>. Dave Gray, Sunni Brown and James Macanufo. If you don't like the title, this is not the book for you. That's okay. If you want to work with your teams and committees and even on-site at your events to change up formats and deliver more actionable learning, this is a great book for you.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Resonate</b> by <a href="http://www.duarte.com/" target="_blank">Nancy Duarte</a>. If you are a content creator, an event producer, or just love the way storytelling can be used to deliver great messages, this book is practical, has lots of great examples and will spark new ways to deliver content well - and make every presenter you share it with look better too.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Trending-Topic-Something-Social-ButWhat/dp/9491680064" target="_blank"><b><span style="background-color: white; color: #990000;">Trending Topic</span> </b></a>by Gerrit Heijkoop and Paula Vos is described as a 'management novel' and it really is just this - an easy read that you learn from. If you are thinking you still don't really understand social media or how it can benefit your meeting, event or association and its members, this book is an easy way to create understanding. Social media is simply another medium we need to understand as event professionals, and this makes the learning, yes, fun.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Wine Drinking for Creative Thinking </b>by Michael Gelb. If you know me - the title says it all. If you want to delve into the process of creativity, enjoy some great storytelling, and pair it with chocolate, this is exactly the book to do it with.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Happy reading!</span></div>
<br />
<br />Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-45243436396492190022016-07-24T22:02:00.002-07:002016-07-27T14:03:13.743-07:00Heat Map vs Hot Lead<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBpBMznYEN_oFnc3mXw0h57hQl4qJjzq2jpEXwxknHxW9jaia6GO2pTpaSXck1V8h1RTVxZBZilCBfo2iDUNDU4SYP0ZNFMDTibtglORKd5vSf9Nj8rD9IQ14XLyF3TkoKiYiryZRhYV8/s320/DSCN4014.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kiki L'Italien streaming #assnchat from the trade show floor.<br />
The sign is powered by LEDs and requires human power from the bike!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I appreciate we have access to a plethora of resources available to provide information and ideas that make us think, reflect and grow - with ideas to improve and adapt our events to our changing stakeholder needs. After listening to an #EventTech podcast today with one of my favorites John Federico aka Gadget Boy I am finding myself thinking about how we consider stakeholders, in this case exhibitors. During this show the guest's approach to meeting exhibitor expectations using event technology, specifically in this case, beacons and their ability to create a heat map surprised me. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A heat map provides a digital visualization of where people are traveling through your event. It shows by colour or density higher volumes of traffic, and each beacon can indeed tell you exactly how many devices (presumably with their people attached) have gone past any specific area. This is useful for understanding flow, for managing in real-time movement of participants and allows for adjustments that can positively impact the guest and exhibitor experience. When combined with smart gamification strategies, push messaging and 'near me' tech, the possibilities become very interesting.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The suggestion from this guest was with a heat map and its data<b> "we can show <i>un</i>happy exhibitors how many people walked past their booths and provide evidence we have 'done our job' as organizers and provided them people to talk to". </b>The conversation continues to note that any lack of success of a particular exhibitor at a show could be attributed to any of the following - <i> if their booth staff wasn't good / were on their phones / talking to people they already knew / were understaffed or had uneducated staff, etc. </i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A<b>nyone who has been an exhibitor knows how many resources - human and financial - are invested in participating in a show</b>. Nobody takes this lightly, and while not all booths are visually stunning, and not all exhibitors stand out front with a smile waiting for the next guest to come and talk to them - there are many factors at play on both sides - flow, timing, placement of food and beverage, time of day, competing events within the overall program, and reasons the participant has attended and may be interested in talking to or meeting with as examples.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>For exhibitors, t</b></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>rade show success is often judged on hard leads </b>returned to the office and shows focused on buying with both buyer and seller understanding this purpose will deliver this. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Often these shows include hosted buyers, across all industries and not just events / meetings because </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">if your show is being judged on "hot leads" then bringing buyers who hav</b><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">e business to do and can do this in the most expedient way is good for everyone.</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Other shows will deliver success based on conversations which build or grow relationships; others when show education offers a way for thought leadership from the exhibitor to be shared. <b>"Success" requires thoughtful activation and a responsible investment </b>- understanding which shows get a tabletop and a banner with limited staff, vs. the shows where you bring out the big booth and a significant portion of your team, and focus on demonstrations, opportunities available and conversations. </span><b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;"> F</b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>or busy people attending a show where the majority of the suppliers they are interested in meeting are also in attendance makes sense from a resource perspective - time and financial. </b>As organizers we need to ensure we allow enough time on the show floor at defined times for there to be adequate traffic flow for both exhibitors and guests - it is more than just a numbers-passing-by game.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To put this in perspective if you don't regularly follow or otherwise know me, <b>I believe deeply in the power of technology and its ability to benefit human interactions. </b>I have been actively using all types of<a href="http://blog.myqaa.com/post/124655173351/the-top-5-women-in-event-technology" target="_blank"> #eventtech</a> for some time. I have been a planner, producer, trade show designer and exhibitor; I have been the organizer and the client and I have also been responsible for spending tens of thousands to create memorable on-floor activations for multiple clients. I have also worked at <a href="https://www.quickmobile.com/event-app-best-practices/mobile-event-possibilities-ibeacons-beacons" target="_blank">QuickMobile</a> and been behind the scenes where beacons have been used to heat map entire shows and tracked traffic patterns through a venue, a city and even back to origin airports. <b>This data is used for real-time adjustments as well as future planning by many organizations working with a variety of savvy vendors and analysts to interpret and apply recommendations driven by the data. </b>There are great success stories from <a href="https://www.quickmobile.com/company/press/quickmobile-pcma-pushing-mobile-technology-leading-edge-app-convening-leaders-2015" target="_blank">PCMA</a>, <a href="https://www.cta.tech/News/Blog/Articles/2015/March/CES-Proves-Beacons-are-Just-the-Beginning-for-Loca.aspx" target="_blank">CES</a> and <a href="http://mashable.com/2015/03/13/ibeacons-sxsw/#Nk2d1VZyMuq8" target="_blank">SXSW</a> who all used beacons in ways that made a positive difference to the experience. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Ultimately success is defined by each person who attends, and perfomance is not defined or defended by a heat map. </b>We need to consider the technology we implement - why and how it is applied to achieve interaction, knowledge retention, contact exchange and data collected within the realm of what is most useful - and take advantage of this ability to measure more clearly the impacts of face-to-face business events.</span><br />
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Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-43172919267865212022016-07-15T08:35:00.000-07:002016-07-15T08:54:33.221-07:00Powered Couches and Secret Notes<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkGz_pQWzjd8pRdKir5_B60-N9JvqICqAMdfayvgMshvei0uxVKHeefsz5Pw65Y8e-8pRDDATKDr10YeB7e0wU8p-hMWjIQSMjO1GTOvKv0OE-r19Ay8RILEF0-uCmDMR_YVdColTezo/s1600/2015-07-13+08.33.43.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqkGz_pQWzjd8pRdKir5_B60-N9JvqICqAMdfayvgMshvei0uxVKHeefsz5Pw65Y8e-8pRDDATKDr10YeB7e0wU8p-hMWjIQSMjO1GTOvKv0OE-r19Ay8RILEF0-uCmDMR_YVdColTezo/s320/2015-07-13+08.33.43.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Powered couches!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">These are two things I remember clearly from attending 11 events for meeting professionals over a 12 week period last summer...one year later. Why do I remember these? The Power of Positive Surprise. This is not easy to achieve, but when it works-BAM! you are set on a course for your attendees to return and to tell others why they need to attend.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Imagine the joy of sitting down in a general session on a couch, conveniently placed in a chevron format for easy viewing, to find out that each couch had an arm with plug-ins, both electrical and USB ports. Comfort means knowing i don't have to worry about powering up devices; I won't miss an important email, text or call from a client, or potential client, or my family. <b>For the meeting organizer, having guests with powered devices means they are more relaxed, focused on learning and sharing ideas.</b> If you are using a meeting app you now have the ability to have every participant become more participatory through live (anonymous) feedback,questions, polls and more and they aren't worried about having one more thing open draining their battery. If you add in wi-fi, especially for non-local guests, your chances of positive social sharing from participants creating more buzz about your event also goes up exponentially. As a highly connected, NON-millenial, the powered couches were even better than the ubiquitous charging stations, aka the new "water cooler" of the conference.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Secret notes were another positive surprise </b>when my neighbour on the next couch over would pass me funny notes every time there was interesting tidbits, or even things that didn't make sense from the presentations. Eventually I leaned his name, more about his thoughtfully run company, and endlessly appreciate to this day his great humour and event savvy. This is not something as an event producer or meeting planner you can replicate, plan for or even encourage, but it is the kind of serendipity that makes me want to return to this event again. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJUiMxMHREonRqBpS5cMtLGl7goPxiacDmru8iSct5nmToGfUswox8JRE5bGWK22PuUqUhItwOpyNFX3i1_pG3E9YrCY7rz-3YnKEqqZJqTnN7VV2HcCsXoUq6G6oqEn1gzUX4h5Apqs/s1600/tahira+glenn+shake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJUiMxMHREonRqBpS5cMtLGl7goPxiacDmru8iSct5nmToGfUswox8JRE5bGWK22PuUqUhItwOpyNFX3i1_pG3E9YrCY7rz-3YnKEqqZJqTnN7VV2HcCsXoUq6G6oqEn1gzUX4h5Apqs/s200/tahira+glenn+shake.jpg" width="189" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What else do I remember? Moderating a panel where I had the presenters answer a question in "freeze tag" format familiar to improv lovers. Why? <b>Because it forced the panel members to pay attention to and build on the answers of their co-presenters,</b> and engaged them and the audience who were keen to see how this would all work. I recall meditation rooms which allowed 15 minute reprieves from the pressure of being always ON during busy events offering a deeply embedded sense of peace. A burger and a milkshake with great company being as fulfilling as any gala dinner and gala dinners where the accomplishments of friends were celebrated. Ultimately it comes back to creating emotion - accomplishment, peace, joy, comfort, anticipation, surprise, delight. Using our environment, content, creative deployment of messaging and designing thoughtfully to deliver so much more than what is listed in the program.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">In addition to program, logistics, risk management and so much more, it is incumbent upon us as meeting planners to leave space in our programs for these types of connections to be made. <b>Things to consider include white space; interactive elements that increase reasons for conversations to begin; spaces, facilitators and presenters to encourage meaningful dialogue and thoughtful reflection; music that is at a level that can be talked over; visual elements that spur emotion, and build memory;</b> anything else you might imagine - after all you are the creative professionals your clients rely on to deliver beyond objectives and create outcomes that have reach beyond the conference space. When you do this, and see the reactions during your event, it will be worth every minute of the planning energy you put into this.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">What have you experienced or created that is rocking your events right now?</span></div>
Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-76918093637270006492016-05-13T13:08:00.002-07:002016-05-18T09:27:19.129-07:00A Kite Dancing in a Hurricane #IMEX16<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">What makes
<a href="http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/about-us/show-statistics/" target="_blank">IMEX </a>the go-to meeting for much of the MICE industry in both Europe and
America? It is a place to do business, learn about what is new and as always it comes back to the sheer amount of opportunities to engage in meaningful conversations with people from around the world.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY5z4doVE0foeIKTDw3Zc0q3b0NmQHgzAkmbwBTiS2foD7bUiqKy718lhLYJezNGytfqPC-dLrq7Dngl0oZ-ny0-nS4fvSbiZC-scDJXsPJjX2XqIsAE2wx6BFkNaxQOQZLTT8gkM_bk/s1600/20160420_205640_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNY5z4doVE0foeIKTDw3Zc0q3b0NmQHgzAkmbwBTiS2foD7bUiqKy718lhLYJezNGytfqPC-dLrq7Dngl0oZ-ny0-nS4fvSbiZC-scDJXsPJjX2XqIsAE2wx6BFkNaxQOQZLTT8gkM_bk/s320/20160420_205640_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Rog Simons you take the pic - your arms are longer!<br />
Also with Maarten VanNeste</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWz-NoVtV-ge4rSaDkR5KReMrl5vS-LsqyO0xsUmBLYXgK2iwBOc5Z_6RlEZOJdsVA-6UjFz11GTMez2G0hJJbilWJKFkI-a2AI4rCOmUETBe87yZ2obA5m5ScEVFQLNbuCEUPo5IOVU/s1600/20160420_210018_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWz-NoVtV-ge4rSaDkR5KReMrl5vS-LsqyO0xsUmBLYXgK2iwBOc5Z_6RlEZOJdsVA-6UjFz11GTMez2G0hJJbilWJKFkI-a2AI4rCOmUETBe87yZ2obA5m5ScEVFQLNbuCEUPo5IOVU/s320/20160420_210018_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">With Padraic Gilligan and IMEXDale Hudson</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nothing beats face to face</b>.I am currently midway through the DES – <a href="http://vei.digitellinc.com/vei/" target="_blank">Digital Event Strategist Certification</a> – where we learn all there is to know about the development,
management, and delivery of successful virtual and hybrid programs from experts
across the industry – a great program, and I was able to connect with fellow learners from the EU while at IMEX - from chat room to chat!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYejbbKTiMGokqqNqqOVlx5-NBaZXU0n1RSJOZ1z2nMGTkt_1jQNZEmRAmoVwLiWROqNxQL2iI24OcRQ-2s0Y-FTS0HJF65m0gddhUB0LHlBcY5fc11k_k_pCoG06pgYVQ6fXUUA5v2TY/s1600/IMGL6746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYejbbKTiMGokqqNqqOVlx5-NBaZXU0n1RSJOZ1z2nMGTkt_1jQNZEmRAmoVwLiWROqNxQL2iI24OcRQ-2s0Y-FTS0HJF65m0gddhUB0LHlBcY5fc11k_k_pCoG06pgYVQ6fXUUA5v2TY/s320/IMGL6746.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Lyons pleads for the defence, my "counsel" Padraic and I listen raptly,<br />
Jon Howell presides above</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">IMEX offers several <a href="http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/events/education/" target="_blank">adjunct programs</a> including Exclusively
Corporate Day for these planners and also an Association Day, among others. Exclusively Corporate was ably hosted by </span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">the </span><a href="http://soolnua.com/" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;" target="_blank">SoolNua</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> team of Padraic and Patrick and</span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> began with some fun polling, a journey through new thinking from </span><a href="http://kaihan.net/" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Kaihan</a> <span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Krippendorff<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">,</span></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and moved through a variety of topics which offered ideas and suggestions for challenges these
planners face. We ended with a Mock Trial presided over by the legendary Jon
Howell and ably facilitated with the help of </span><a href="http://www.michaeljlyons.com/speaker-topics" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms', sans-serif;" target="_blank">Mike Lyons</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> and our expert “witnesses” Deborah and Peter. While we did
not come to a final conclusive end to our arbitration we certainly shed some
light on important topics for our industry. Once again IMEX offered a day to
these planners which tapped into their needs before they moved into their time
at the show. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNoCNuvBxvcmyooY6l_oJyAJMd0RQRqApJMuD2Lx6eAupWqsJ68-k2ZcLXEuW2xarjZeZ3s4qd44CBi89_P33AI1fVMfJDSF8tlrDrXYc0xRMQ9KVEZxR442_MmspGbJcmu2YKq8qan0/s1600/20160419_115522_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDNoCNuvBxvcmyooY6l_oJyAJMd0RQRqApJMuD2Lx6eAupWqsJ68-k2ZcLXEuW2xarjZeZ3s4qd44CBi89_P33AI1fVMfJDSF8tlrDrXYc0xRMQ9KVEZxR442_MmspGbJcmu2YKq8qan0/s320/20160419_115522_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In the #EventTech area</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As always
for those of us who are either new to or have spent time in the industry the show floor
navigation is full of information, smiles, hugs and engaged conversation with
friends and colleagues from around the world – we all become kites dancing
through the hurricane. I was able to discuss job progressions with Jessie
States of MPI; the future of strategic and engaging design with Ruud and Roel
of the <a href="http://www.eventmodelgeneration.com/" target="_blank">Event Model Generation </a>Canvas; to be inspired about the importance of
embedding sustainability into our meetings especially during the FRESH Dinner with Dale Hudson, Claudia and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/babs-nijdam-b0bb2b8" target="_blank">BabsNijdam</a>; to be inspired by our future leaders including Courtney Stanley,
Magdalina Atannasova, Rosa Garriga to meet, see and spend time with luminaries
including <a href="http://www.itbevents.com/" target="_blank">Olga Novarro</a>, Terri Breining, Julius Solaris of <a href="http://www.eventmanagerblog.com/forward-thinking-event-business" target="_blank">EventManagerB</a>log, (my first post linked here!) and Maarten VanNeste from the <a href="http://www.meetingsupport.org/" target="_blank">Meeting Design Institute</a>,
Eling Hamso, Mike Van de Vijver, and many more. IMEX as always is about the people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD-xpipScSbvxgyU73EOk7EmtTWeMKmW3Gu_auNuBrJE1NmyhybPsO_s-eqXDVNzqxgdKAJDQDH_Czo-3J9ZBor5-EGjytkwZbSk5euC9l34KLzMv4xAwU0RhUeVaAHT2ZT6SeCI6-B8/s1600/20160419_145610_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBD-xpipScSbvxgyU73EOk7EmtTWeMKmW3Gu_auNuBrJE1NmyhybPsO_s-eqXDVNzqxgdKAJDQDH_Czo-3J9ZBor5-EGjytkwZbSk5euC9l34KLzMv4xAwU0RhUeVaAHT2ZT6SeCI6-B8/s320/20160419_145610_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">Hanging out at MPI with Jessie States and Ruud Janssen</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The floor
was buzzing with announcements, hospitality and fun activations on the floor
and once again the IMEX team maximized social, always adapting to the changing
social media as our relationship to mobile and digital evolve. Again <a href="http://www.imexexhibitions.com/blog/2016/05/the-social-media-journey-at-imex-in-frankfurt/" target="_blank">Miguel Neves and Gerrit Heijkoop</a> are a formidable team, creating, curating and sharing
across platforms to engage those on-site as well as those watching from around
the globe - and they do it smiling for four days. (link takes you to a great post from a new member of the IMEXSocial team)</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>IMEX is a
place where business is done</b> with people we meet live and have come to trust
and as always <a href="https://www.facebook.com/IMEXGroup/videos/vl.916324268466108/10153639630617810/?type=1" target="_blank">I can’t wait to return</a>.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-CA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-CA;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-65143634548673608922016-05-06T12:15:00.000-07:002016-05-09T10:57:23.521-07:00Scotland Summit Shapes Ideas<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Global Events Summit</span></b></span><br />
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Hosted by <a href="https://www.visitscotland.com/" target="_blank">VisitScotland</a>, <a href="http://www.imex-frankfurt.com/" target="_blank">IMEX</a>, the International Special Events Society (<a href="http://www.ileahub.com/" target="_blank">now ILEA</a>) with support from C-Vent and Events Are GREAT Britian this Summit was a stellar example of how great minds collaborating can identify challenges, seek solutions, and simply... ideate!</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7Mfqz7dmJuk1SQfWSgfHf6AC1oj5iQpvpKh-tCSBbO1bReQa70g-X5A6zzUKxhIhlFNeJO_-bn8aQ9_PiHqv7gOUqsGrcszQQru_Yw8-WT9hLmuYQXJTO13sVcTreRx089A1S-BkVDc/s1600/SWilliams_20160422_0942.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ7Mfqz7dmJuk1SQfWSgfHf6AC1oj5iQpvpKh-tCSBbO1bReQa70g-X5A6zzUKxhIhlFNeJO_-bn8aQ9_PiHqv7gOUqsGrcszQQru_Yw8-WT9hLmuYQXJTO13sVcTreRx089A1S-BkVDc/s320/SWilliams_20160422_0942.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So it begins... Gleneagles and the whole group</td></tr>
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</div>
<div class="p1">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So it Began, Glorious Gleneagles</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As meeting and incentive planners we have all been to fabulous resorts, on beaches and golf courses, with activities and fine dining, the places which create memories and build loyalty through shared experiences. In the world of golf courses, Gleneagles in Scotland is what can be considered an<b> aspirational destination</b>. I had no idea it would have the same effect for our small group of event professionals who gathered here, brought together with support from the IMEX Hosted Buyer Program (which we avidly attended first) and under the auspices of the International Special Event Society (now ILEA) to meet and share ideas in a setting which really should be experienced.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Described as a playground, it is so much more. While a good leisure destination for obvious reasons – world-class golf and past host to the Ryder Cup, a stunning spa, endless pools, and a range of activities from the historical such as shooting and archery to the sublime, it is also a perfect incentive destination for these same reasons. It boasts true world-class(ic) dining with table-side preparation in its feature restaurant; the thoughtful cuisine echoed in its banquet service. Our group of 30 began our Gleneagles adventure with a delicious lunch in the clubhouse, vibrant with spring golfers enjoying the same. After lunch it was time to dig into our agenda and a nearby meeting room was reached through the most scenic of paths.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Whisky and Getting to Work</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1">The afternoon allowed us to begin the process of answering the pressing questions facing our industry, bringing together the collective expertise from many sectors of the event industry on two continents. The evening was a fantastic experience in long table dining featuring luscious scallops followed by the most delicious local venison and ending of course with chocolate before we retraced our steps to the </span><span class="s2">Blue Bar</span><span class="s1">, an open air bar featuring couches, blankets and firepits and local whisky, of course.</span></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSikY-OeEJpETLoZAMinbcN4fQS_uPDrOMtjcO6KB2AFtV3O_Zdn1CjLowgsX1EKonu47o8MWsB_P5g3Q4xGb4sHQZUD1WVVmtPp-tXGtMsUT_RKFkXgbK3PD08F3GjNEIc-105H2WGu0/s1600/SWilliams_20160421_0902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSikY-OeEJpETLoZAMinbcN4fQS_uPDrOMtjcO6KB2AFtV3O_Zdn1CjLowgsX1EKonu47o8MWsB_P5g3Q4xGb4sHQZUD1WVVmtPp-tXGtMsUT_RKFkXgbK3PD08F3GjNEIc-105H2WGu0/s320/SWilliams_20160421_0902.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A typical dinner at Gleneagles</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The following day dawned crisp, with some heading out early to test the small course before our day began, while others enjoyed a run through the trails, deer leaping past, and others stayed in their comfortable rooms or moved in the fabulous fitness centre before the day began. It was time to come together again, and <b>this day brought a series of unexpected learnings as the group opened themselves to growth, sharing and discussing the real threats impacting the event industry</b> including safety, security, economics and perceptions. The sheer depth of knowledge and experience in this group enabled a lively and multi-faceted discussion ably facilitated by Sean Blair of <a href="http://www.meeting-facilitation.co.uk/" target="_blank">Promeet</a>, who taught us by example the experience and humility it takes to be a great facilitator – this is not a skill easily mastered!</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRtCMUZHLceSYlGZhJ68kYEy6GODu44dgRY6IAEibXS0vXR4LXxj1SG8UWtACLE9eDCAWr7iGk58O0YeSh1va2-mpPWOj6QPPO_UqAgx1fo04mzBMbj6_961t2jfRkdHe0_b3cW_qRxc/s1600/SWilliams_20160421_0823.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRtCMUZHLceSYlGZhJ68kYEy6GODu44dgRY6IAEibXS0vXR4LXxj1SG8UWtACLE9eDCAWr7iGk58O0YeSh1va2-mpPWOj6QPPO_UqAgx1fo04mzBMbj6_961t2jfRkdHe0_b3cW_qRxc/s320/SWilliams_20160421_0823.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharing, learning, discussing, debating, dialoguing... communication nexus!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="p2">
<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">People Make Glasgow</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We also had a visit from the Glasgow team this day as we just could not squeeze in a visit there with our packed schedule. What struck me was how this city has used the building of a fabulous new multiplex and the hosting of the Commonwealth Games to regenerate an entire area of a city, breathing life and culture for both residents and visitors. I had the opportunity to visit friends working on the Commonwealth Games before they happened in this city and to see it through their eyes. We thoroughly enjoyed our short time there – so I can only imagine how much fun those members of our group who were able to stay on and head over to see Dierks Bently in concert in Glasgow had!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Rethinking Space and Awesome Incentives</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1">Soon enough it was time to depart for Edinburgh where the Summit would continue. As we departed there was one small stop to make at the</span><span class="s3"> </span><span class="s2">new Gleneagles Arena</span><span class="s1">, 25,000sf / 2,500sm of flexible space, with excellent rigging throughout. What struck me most throughout our time viewing<b> Gleneagles and meeting the staff was the true understanding of the market for both meetings and incentives,</b> and the need for flexibility and adaptability in working with the planners – in each area we saw they offered multiple options for use of the space and ideas for what could be done. This is indeed a perfect playground for adults with six-star dining, one of the most beautiful spas I have seen (and I have seen a lot on three continents!), fabulous outdoor options, and more. I also appreciated the small touches, including all activities for adults also come in junior size, making this a fantastic destination for a family incentive, a trip that often ends up at a theme park resort. Consider the reactions to these historic activities which can be so much more meaningful and memorable, and offer that precious family time to incentive trip recipients. I am certainly thinking of ways to come back with a group!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Sorry, I Have Dinner at the Castle Tonight</span></b></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just after arriving in Edinburgh I had a text from back home asking if we wanted to come over for “Takeout Friday” and I had to say “Sorry, I can’t make it, headed for dinner at the Castle!” After a short time to check out the neighbourhood immediately around the Sheraton Grand Edinburgh, renovated and gorgeous since my last stay there it was time to head to the Castle! I am a bit spoiled in this being my third trip to Edinburgh and also the Castle, where I have been during Festival in August and had the amazing opportunity to experience Tattoo, an extravaganza of bagpipes from around the world, so my expectations ran high. We were not disappointed, arriving with our small group shortly after the grounds had closed for the day we were led up, up, up to see the Crown Jewels and hear about their storied past, before heading down for a traditional dinner in a room with a view to the city to be treated to a very fun traditional show full of cheeky Scottish humour which was enjoyed by all. Of course we didn’t want it to just end there so on our return to the hotel we had to check out a local pub; with its local singers and tasty brews it definitely added to our experience in Scotland.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfH0HOpd3vYHCy6-j0rMYOjuBUx_jo03YRoGGMzDp4N6iH1Vqfzf31YShZT10tIKYOveQPNL2NDx1E_7pdI29Wx6hl2Uv-Nqfvrhrv81uKsGIjk-Ndd4P-Cx1M2ovP1OO-D_Hc-raQIJQ/s1600/SWilliams_20160422_1546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfH0HOpd3vYHCy6-j0rMYOjuBUx_jo03YRoGGMzDp4N6iH1Vqfzf31YShZT10tIKYOveQPNL2NDx1E_7pdI29Wx6hl2Uv-Nqfvrhrv81uKsGIjk-Ndd4P-Cx1M2ovP1OO-D_Hc-raQIJQ/s320/SWilliams_20160422_1546.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The bagpiper, the castle, and behind us the city.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"> <b>@EICC shows off</b></span><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Our final day of the Global Event Summit supported by IMEX, Visit Scotland and ISES began very auspiciously as we toured the Edinburgh International Conference Centre. Now, we have all toured many hotels and conference centres over the years and we would be lying if we said we were excited about this tour… and then we stepped into the building. Tables were set, lighting was on and the coffee and tea were fresh and hot and being served as we liked it by their staff. <b>How to describe the <a href="http://www.eicc.co.uk/organising/" target="_blank">sheer delight</a> as we sat in the theatre seats, ready for what was sure to be another destination presentation, when BAM! The whole theatre began to spin including the tech booth,</b> and joined another whole section of the theatre, showing us how they have an amazing space that can be 300 + 300 + 600 in plush, tiered seating, or how they can all be put together to create 1,200, perfect for symposia or a concert. The delights continued as we saw rigging points that a car can hang from, another multi-level flexible cabaret seating space for 900 and many foyer spaces filled with natural light. Then it was back to business and another full and facilitated day where we addressed many issues, which will soon become a white paper for the industry under the auspices of the newly renamed #MyILEA or the International Live Events Association.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f65cxH44NRZVGqR4Nj1oKNEUHtkSxlI3ejTnje3hQv8raxaG-mxSBpy5D3IIqyBj22fh2kzjcIpJFIjB95HpwZdDnXL6-lCv3Xq_LF-MVzMzc6onWzY007YaWLZAn8NaG7zF7Hor4wc/s1600/SWilliams_20160423_2049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4f65cxH44NRZVGqR4Nj1oKNEUHtkSxlI3ejTnje3hQv8raxaG-mxSBpy5D3IIqyBj22fh2kzjcIpJFIjB95HpwZdDnXL6-lCv3Xq_LF-MVzMzc6onWzY007YaWLZAn8NaG7zF7Hor4wc/s640/SWilliams_20160423_2049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All grown up on the Royal Yacht Britannia</td></tr>
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<span class="s1"><b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">How to Wow!</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span class="s1">Step One, outfit all the men in full kilted regalia; for the women, a tartan sash to complement their outfits. Step Two, all aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia where champagne is chilled and the opportunity to explore this ship which for many years was used for royal relaxation and entertainment is enjoyed. Step Three, <b>bring on the haggis, </b>in the most ceremonial fashion of course, with poetry and a sword to slice it with. Have a toast from the “first man” of events, Dr. Joe Goldblatt and then serve your guests a delightful meal with invisible service, the level where you never see your glass filled and yet it is never empty. We simply can’t leave the yacht until we have had our own personal tattoo-style performance which we watch from the deck of the ship, and then it is time to leave this fantasy and head back to our hotel for a final nightcap, and the ceremonial drinking from the </span><span class="s2"><i>quaich - the traditional Scottish friendship cup</i></span><span class="s3">.</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8nopwpRptv9qzsZUR_G7mRoDwQ8YF9BOGWsNpPqbifR5pHjxiS9vBRKN78beduAKPL8pcWSfiu-q3rwMGslKEk1pmlU6gD0fLYjqz1IX8wZBebQK7tkvKBysHNrw8ws5bM8zrdasoAE/s1600/SWilliams_20160423_2229.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc8nopwpRptv9qzsZUR_G7mRoDwQ8YF9BOGWsNpPqbifR5pHjxiS9vBRKN78beduAKPL8pcWSfiu-q3rwMGslKEk1pmlU6gD0fLYjqz1IX8wZBebQK7tkvKBysHNrw8ws5bM8zrdasoAE/s400/SWilliams_20160423_2229.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We were in awe - this is what it really looked like as pictures were being taken!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNnNA-HOdsv7RbRxm3RehRTtKAAAV97Mb2mx6sIL-H4cfW4PlSSjcyvM2606UgbAM2zj6wysQcZjweYuGT-uk2eZmlnvNY_y5zX3iPh3mXhyphenhyphenWveLkdDIErMtj70pLkNkni194_y77Rpw/s1600/SWilliams_20160423_2196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguNnNA-HOdsv7RbRxm3RehRTtKAAAV97Mb2mx6sIL-H4cfW4PlSSjcyvM2606UgbAM2zj6wysQcZjweYuGT-uk2eZmlnvNY_y5zX3iPh3mXhyphenhyphenWveLkdDIErMtj70pLkNkni194_y77Rpw/s320/SWilliams_20160423_2196.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One Square, Batch 2</span></b><br />
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Of course on a group trip there has been the occasional post-event cocktail enjoyed on return to the hotel and while you might have expected us to enjoy Scotch whisky the hit of this trip was the local gin. The Sheraton has partnered with local Summerhill Distillery to create One Square Gin, with the<b><a href="http://www.sheratonedinburgh.co.uk/en/gin-experience" target="_blank"> botanical mix developed by their own Gin Concierge</a></b>, and straight up on ice or with tonic, this was a refreshing treat to end our final evening and round out what has been a spectacular week of sharing, learning and immersing ourselves in both the possibilities of Scotland and the future of our industry.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As we began to share pictures we had many other #eventprofs from around the world share their memories of meeting in Scotland, and it being among their favorite places to host programs in what was for many decades of planning meetings and incentives. For those who have not been to Scotland, I simply don’t know what you are waiting for! </span></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In one sentence...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">All these photos are courtesy of Visit Scotland and Simon Williams Photography - he was EVERYWHERE!</span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-28233185476107908652016-04-18T23:34:00.001-07:002016-04-18T23:34:39.443-07:00The Lost Art of the Question<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Asking questions is a lost art. Yes, I just said that. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe4HzmVRsQHdEPc8n8FlLaTy-v80GHOrXWJLmD-udxs6OioasLKF0IyNBlUdS_zxlcBIjjjG7Bea3kyoOBvFC3o7G13YTVsDgsPcU-1bULSUNk9B5iggE0UEsQddcMgHEPJvkr-bT9GQ/s1600/art+dali2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHe4HzmVRsQHdEPc8n8FlLaTy-v80GHOrXWJLmD-udxs6OioasLKF0IyNBlUdS_zxlcBIjjjG7Bea3kyoOBvFC3o7G13YTVsDgsPcU-1bULSUNk9B5iggE0UEsQddcMgHEPJvkr-bT9GQ/s320/art+dali2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As humans, we are good at asking questions that don't mean much ie "How are you?" or "How are things going?" - often not waiting for the answer. What we need to get better at in developing events is asking questions both in developing the event and in delivering the event. Imagine if in the table above you sat down, and were unfamiliar with the art of Dali - you may question why everything is the way it is... a little "off" and always interesting. You may also be shy to ask, or worried that you may be the only one. In events we need to make sure there are safe ways to create comfort for questions - it is often in the search for answers that innovation is found.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Questions allow you a safe way to look at new solutions from different perspectives. </b>Imagine if instead of presenting the (creative, out of the box, on-target) idea for an event, you instead were able to put your stakeholders in a room and instead of saying "here's the plan for our conference" opening up the door to them to potentially rethink the approach to the event by asking questions that get to the heart of objectives. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At the Exclusively Corporate Day at #IMEX16 the first presenter of the morning <a href="http://www.kaihan.net/" target="_blank">Kaihan </a>Krippendorff shared with the group the importance of questions and creating space for disruptive thinking. </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Kaihan is truly an expert on "disruptive thinking for future expansion" and to be introduced to this concept even briefly made me want to go out and buy at least 3 of his 4 books to better understand how to increase our mental agility using the patterns our brain responds to, and how to use various narratives to better understand and tell our own stories. It always comes back to starting with questions - to ensure you are on the right track and to open up to new ideas and ways to approach what we are doing. Check out his website, and begin your Question Journey.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now back to comfortable learning spaces for your participants. We have SO many ways to ask questions, including using apps where the question can be typed in with a name or anonymously and the group can up-vote, making it easier for the moderator to choose in what is always limited time to continue the conversation between presenters and audience. (yesterday we used Sli.do all day, while ICCA's session used another tool from Corbin Ball, and there really are an endless array available to try). There is the "old-fashioned" microphone, and the new tossable Catchbox which is a million times easier (no runners needed) and so much fun it encourages questions from the floor. However you do this - bring back the questions! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHpFadcFbZY5p06iV5O0eYNbt0_an42DnITO42flY-1R63CoMN__-7D8XmQ1vEcsefXhLRMyntzOCgA7MYF3TOevHi-6vxGhsVzBbrM7bqrbQpHlcrg213TMyueibTuXGc3l0Qt_JUPM/s1600/Audience-Guy-Stand-Talk-2.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHpFadcFbZY5p06iV5O0eYNbt0_an42DnITO42flY-1R63CoMN__-7D8XmQ1vEcsefXhLRMyntzOCgA7MYF3TOevHi-6vxGhsVzBbrM7bqrbQpHlcrg213TMyueibTuXGc3l0Qt_JUPM/s320/Audience-Guy-Stand-Talk-2.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"></span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-70864928175861124632016-04-12T08:46:00.001-07:002016-05-18T09:29:59.256-07:00Dandelions vs Orchids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqpxU9mSXrfuDrYuWiEomXCFgH1oqnnMP0RHvapajSeq_bI-brAB2ctql4worJNvs6MrA8d0goz2WDWNrtqjlU7LpOBcDlUz71bWMkVVnz8B07WA15Rk01vS74MK2AGvr-5o9xeAyWU4/s1600/20160409_103854_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAqpxU9mSXrfuDrYuWiEomXCFgH1oqnnMP0RHvapajSeq_bI-brAB2ctql4worJNvs6MrA8d0goz2WDWNrtqjlU7LpOBcDlUz71bWMkVVnz8B07WA15Rk01vS74MK2AGvr-5o9xeAyWU4/s320/20160409_103854_resized.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This is Henry. Henry doesn't know that dandelions are considered weeds, he just knows they are pretty. He also knows how to win hearts with cute smiles and by bringing the girls, including his mom Jayne and I said dandelions. He doesn't know we are snobby event planners, exchewing these, carnations, baby's breath (really what baby breathes out flowers!?) and other "lesser" flowers in our never ending quest to design beautiful event environments for our guests, adding stylized flowers, props, lighting, entertainment and seating into gorgeous destinations and stunning venues around the world.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph1N4AdWtrSfY9ty9bFzLWXpPURlUwh8CNIQDq5WyoO_pm0NQqHzrx7vUT6HpFDIJUEOY_GHqGjHkyQpm_UbTCChXzy-imopfk0fNbT-Mjeiua9BS8A-4L4BB64ySh03kg5C2FYloWpU/s1600/20160409_104852_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiph1N4AdWtrSfY9ty9bFzLWXpPURlUwh8CNIQDq5WyoO_pm0NQqHzrx7vUT6HpFDIJUEOY_GHqGjHkyQpm_UbTCChXzy-imopfk0fNbT-Mjeiua9BS8A-4L4BB64ySh03kg5C2FYloWpU/s320/20160409_104852_resized.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Henry also doesn't understand time, or our lack of it as we rush to meet the demands of our clients, in ever-shrinking time frames. He doesn't know as we answer texts while holding him, tired from running through fields of clover that we have forgotten how to just stop and hold onto the moment. That moment of stillness with the one or two people more special to us in the world than any others, never to be replicated and too fleeting as they race to grow up. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">There are lessons in love, laughter, play, learning, and being fully engaged in the moment we can learn from Henry as we work to design event spaces that tap into this sense of joy we once felt running through dandelions, oblivious to all but the birds we chase in front of us. In a world ever more dominated by the small screens in our pockets, sending us information - good, bad, indifferent, horrifying, smile-inducing - at all hours of the day and night; our attention deficit selves so continuously inundated it is not only challenging to find this elusive "balance", it is nearly impossible to allow ourselves time to just stop, listen and enjoy. As event designers it is equally challenging to create environments where our guests can find time and space to learn, be inspired or motivated, to connect to ideas and people, and to just breathe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">At IMEX next week they are embracing this new concept of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MShB_gyEwI0" target="_blank">sweatworking</a> inviting all to join a 5k run - and here is the real secret - when you are doing a run you really can only focus on the motion of your body, and the people around you. You may be in motion, but you are still taking time for a positive for yourself and those with you - you have to be engaged in the moment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I had two wonderful hours with Jayne and Henry before heading home to enjoy time with my own family, and I deeply thank Jayne and Henry for this time of nothing more than fresh air, sunshine, a good breakfast and my beautiful dandelion.</span></div>
Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-29377067533408049872016-03-20T09:53:00.000-07:002016-04-11T16:36:17.156-07:008 Favorite New Resources<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herb gardens at the Downtown<br />
Grand Las Vegas (yes they<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the past year I have come across some great resources for (sustainably minded and tech forward) event professionals and it is time to share. <b>I look forward to any comments back that include your favs! </b> I have looked beyond my norm of the twitter feeds and LinkedIn forums and the more obvious daily or weekly reads which for me land in my inbox and which I explore by time and headline – like most of us! These include the PCMA Daily, EventTechBrief, BizBash, MeetingsNet, EventsUncoveredTV, #EventTech, TechsyTalk, EventManagerBlog, MeetingsPodcast(now also found on MeetingsNet), Skift, Padracino and a few more. These are all worthy of finding time to explore and are also mentioned on many other great lists. Below are others which all have positive impact for me and our industry - and possibly YOU so have fun discovering those you might not be familiar with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Blogs</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://liesegardner.com/fuel/" target="_blank">Fuel: Passions that Drive Us </a>is Liese Gardner’s ode to doing, seeking and sharing what we love and in every word ,she nails it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://eventcellany.com/" target="_blank">Eventcellany</a> by Shawna McKinley always leaves me feeling as an individual (and we are as an industry) are still on the very cusp of truly doing events more sustainably – and provides thoughtful steps to help us all – working together – finding ways to improve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Podcasts</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.bizbash.com/gathergeeks" target="_blank">GatherGeeks by BizBash</a> launched in 2015 and I have listened to each episode where I have found the in-depth interviews to be an excellent source of forward thinking ideas and how to apply these to events. It is an auto-download on Stitcher for me and I catch up on the way to work. (monthly)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.sustainablelivingpodcast.com/" target="_blank">Sustainable Living</a> by Jenise Fryatt and Marianne West</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For those of us trying to do it a little better every day, this is full of useful tidbits and is truly from their hearts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Books</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trending-Topic-Something-Social-ButWhat/dp/9491680064" target="_blank">Trending Topic</a> - We have to do Something with Social Media #ButWhat by Gerrit Heijkoop and Paula Vos is defined as a management novel. What this offers to the reader who wants to learn more about using social media to promote your events and strengthen your association community is a highly readable romp through the anxiety ridden days in the planning process where you don't know how you will get your registration numbers where they need to be. This provides usable information and more importantly context –the WHY to use social media as one of your tools. A refreshing change from the usual checklist format we often find this type of information offered in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.briansolis.com/" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.briansolis.com/" target="_blank">X: the Experience where Business meets Design</a> by Brian Solis is masterfully designed and a great study into marketing across all spectrums with a focus on the digital. While not directly about events the principles can be applied in many ways across your business as well as experiential events. I wish all informational books were this beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.thethirdplate.com/" target="_blank">The Third Plate</a> by Dan Barber delves deeper into the stories behind two of my favorite TedTalks by this thoughtful Chef and the story of his farm, restaurant and mission to change the way we think about food - production,distribution, waste and how we can all participate in this most human of topics.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Visual Strategic Tool</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.eventmodelgeneration.com/about/" target="_blank">The Event Model Generation</a> is an in-depth and well thought out multi-part tool developed over the last two years. I have worked on many events and conferences over the years and it is rare that I do these events with a deep understanding of the WHY and what the <i>true</i> desired outcomes of the varied stakeholders are. This is a tool designed to ensure that every member of the team has this information at hand as they work through this and other important questions, and finish with a visual map on one page - the storyboard of this generation - before they bring the magic to life.</span><br />
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Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-24689897229838672582016-02-13T16:16:00.000-08:002016-02-17T10:35:45.565-08:00SuperBoob and Real Life<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrhqO-uGkZvloJNhbCAbL_CFJrHawIuTVpW8hCT1F_4DyFs__03hlQLS7t6M5Xp_rIuNXQv_NYTIkZ8pZsTk35lWzNIP137SdMf9Gh4kbXS38Totb01Hd6sIO7p8yrIyvEjGBitK0VVQ/s1600/Screen+Shot+2016-02-13+at+3.51.25+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihrhqO-uGkZvloJNhbCAbL_CFJrHawIuTVpW8hCT1F_4DyFs__03hlQLS7t6M5Xp_rIuNXQv_NYTIkZ8pZsTk35lWzNIP137SdMf9Gh4kbXS38Totb01Hd6sIO7p8yrIyvEjGBitK0VVQ/s320/Screen+Shot+2016-02-13+at+3.51.25+PM.png" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Samme Allen "we need to talk about our cervix, it's just another body part,<br />but one that can get cancer."</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">All of us have had <a href="http://tahiralovesevents.blogspot.ca/2011/04/scars-and-healing.html" target="_blank">"stuff"</a> happen in our lives we didn't expect. We have friends and family we have lost, who have suffered from and </span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">survived disease, who have had life-altering surgeries, who through no fault of their own are now paralyzed, those who are living with many degrees of depression or anxiety. We all know someone who has come out stronger from a breakup, or more tragic loss, and amazed us with their strength. We have watched our children fall down and get back up, or are managing with aging parents, or just trying to keep up with all that has to be done every day. This is life, and we are living it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I have so many people I admire who have openly shared their stories, including <a href="http://www.studiotalk.tv/show/jos-cervical-cancer-trust" target="_blank">Samme </a>Allen above on being diagnosed (in time) with cervical cancer and who is now a strong voice for early and consistent testing. Have a listen as this interview is a good reminder that there is NO excuse. #FearNoSmear </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">My chiropractor of 20+ years saved me from the curse of constant headaches. I met Dr. M after several years of debilitating pain in my 20s. I had taken 1,200 (!) Tylenol 3's and just been moved on to stronger medication and deciding this was not the life I wanted I started regular treatments with him and was able to change the way I was living. He was diagnosed with MS in his 50s and chose to take early retirement to focus on his own health and spend more time playing tennis with his wife - a decision it took 3 years to make while he continued his practice and shared his story with many of his patients, proving that remaining active can be a life-improving choice.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">This week the fun, energetic and somewhat inimitable <a href="http://jasonallanscott.com/" target="_blank">Lord Jason Allan Scott</a> shared his story on his <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-guestlist-podcast/id1075350822" target="_blank">Guest List Podcast Episode 10</a> (episode TLG-010) and this is worth a listen - for any day you think you are having a tough day - know you are never alone!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Oh and SuperBoob... that is how I now refer to my left breast because it has a titanium chip where they removed a (BENIGN!) calcification after two mammograms could not prove it was nothing and a biopsy was required. They do this implanted chip so in a worst case scenario they know where to remove a cancerous lump, and in cases like mine, they know where to keep an eye out in the future. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">To all of you who have been there, a giant hug coming your way - just because.</span><br />
<br />Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-40405369233362735772016-02-01T09:04:00.001-08:002016-02-01T14:12:52.674-08:00Digital Disruption is Alive and Well at Events<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDz1-GP5YmFam92ngzn016Na_LVTTu5kDULu3FQTuU3O-Cy3Ujh4mFk9ro_kERy234lM0PRtn9HCFJk9S9THznThW7BNPSJ9nnWdAKCEJ4J4QiBMB5KjbDwIBZqlB0xjPWpt2SNBIuxg/s1600/I+heart+BCTECH_13.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDz1-GP5YmFam92ngzn016Na_LVTTu5kDULu3FQTuU3O-Cy3Ujh4mFk9ro_kERy234lM0PRtn9HCFJk9S9THznThW7BNPSJ9nnWdAKCEJ4J4QiBMB5KjbDwIBZqlB0xjPWpt2SNBIuxg/s320/I+heart+BCTECH_13.PNG" width="179" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our BCIC Robot Sheldon<br />
tours the show floor at the<br />
#BCTECH Summit</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">Digital Disruption </span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">has already happened. Our meetings and events will never be the same again. Digital disruption has seen the majority of the global population having a device or two in hand most of the time. At its simplest iteration we now have nearly ubiquitous mobile event apps and an ability for everyone at your event to socially share what they are experiencing across multiple platforms, at their discretion and not yours!</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">During the planning process our clients are googling their way in - requiring videos of all the acts we recommend, often rejecting these based on quality of video vs. our quality of known experience; sending us their Pinterest boards, Instagram shares, TED Talks and links to speakers they like or gorgeous event environments found on-line which may or may not be realistic for their budget, location, type of event and theme or environment being created. Don't get me wrong - these shares can provide valuable insight into what will please your client and (potentially) their stakeholders but it does require more management at times as you edit or adapt based on what is shared.</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We have seen social revolutions started on-line, which begs the question - how do <i>you</i> use the tools available to connect and strengthen your own communities? We have the opportunity to use a myriad of tools to build communities online including LinkedIn forums, Facebook events and groups, virtual chat rooms and lounges attached to hybrid software (MediaSite, Inxpo, Kubi and more), internal forums and discussion boards on your association website as simple examples. These allow us to connect to our own meeting and event communities, our associations, and even festivals where 100,000+ are having a "shared" experience. This new digital age can be your best marketing tool at the same time it can be your biggest challenge as your audience become your storytellers - you have to set the "stage" and the "performance" - comfortable environment, thoughtful and thought-provoking speakers, food, beverage and entertainment that makes sense for the showcase to <i>wow</i> those there live and sharing virtually. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">With technology</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;"> omnipresent in our lives and at our events, w</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">e need to be aware of how mobile technology can benefit our experience</span><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">. When we set a room we consider how the space design will influence behaviours and enhance learning, and now we need to extend technology from the main stage AV into the audience. As a short list, we can add in</span></span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">flipped learning (watching a video prior to the session for knowledge-based discussion)</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">watching a second screen in-hand with an ability to take notes, ask questions and share</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">avoid the in-room mic runners and the inevitable, awkward wait with the ability to ask questions directly from a device with a plethora of text-based, moderated tools or </span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">CrowdMics where every phone has the potential to be a microphone</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">taking notes and images and sharing these with at-home or remote teams in real-time</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;">post ideas and photos direct from devices to a virtual audience </span></li>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">We no longer live a life outside technology, our connection to the outside world is with us at all times and in the hands of our participants as well. As meeting professionals we need to stay focused on</span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: 14.85px; line-height: 16.632px;"> lifelong learning and adapting to the curve balls the world will continue to lob our way. This digital integration of f2f and virtual participation can indeed change the world, one meeting or event at a time.</span></div>
Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-43128894762103546192016-01-26T19:36:00.003-08:002016-01-26T19:37:38.403-08:0050 Fun Events Tech Ideas - Almost Live<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2iOoFNcP0W527lrSX1_39INIIqRQazJO4ozMhZ3UazDNJMh20WZRbMO_9zdf9Gls2HPITkj0U-8GJhbJfc8-8ndD0F-Yv2VAFYzPRpPPuSMGkElEx_2TaTU0BbUSKadPAfCIJ8HIB0E/s1600/20151217_104753_resized.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="110" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu2iOoFNcP0W527lrSX1_39INIIqRQazJO4ozMhZ3UazDNJMh20WZRbMO_9zdf9Gls2HPITkj0U-8GJhbJfc8-8ndD0F-Yv2VAFYzPRpPPuSMGkElEx_2TaTU0BbUSKadPAfCIJ8HIB0E/s200/20151217_104753_resized.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">One of my favorite sessions to deliver is about #eventtech - and this session I originally developed looks at dozens of technologies impacting us. This was done originally last March and changes every single time I deliver it - because technology and how we use it changes constantly. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">For The Special Event in January in Orlando I was unable to attend live - it was just a few days until we opened the #BCTECH Summit - and so I proposed using (gasp!) technology to deliver the session, and they agreed to try it. The team at <a href="http://www.avstrategies.ca/" target="_blank">AV Strategies </a> took time to shoot, edit and improve the video, and Laura Lopez of <a href="http://www.socialtables.com/" target="_blank">Social Tables</a> was our on-site, in-room session leader, ensuring the session was not only informative but interactive. At the end I joined the session for some live Q and A from home, and overall it was very well received. If you are thinking of alternative ways you can deliver sessions - this might work for you!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">The link to the <a href="https://youtu.be/H_ubFib-JPs" target="_blank">TSE 2016 Session</a> can be found here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5977250857674994974.post-61425330668944259902015-11-08T08:04:00.000-08:002015-11-08T08:04:31.452-08:00When is Social Media Not Social?<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4S_RX30O2lnJ8-vbd94ZaQDcsnjCDxwBWLY2fO7nGVhuaMFQoB_DXq6SZONqfxnKW8mFaM9hTI43dY5dPGOF7GCq-xpmGkCdIjmr1anGMT5-QEwRkVrIibwdxeE4cIusPhJncKAcNtE/s1600/2015-10-12+16.14.46.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4S_RX30O2lnJ8-vbd94ZaQDcsnjCDxwBWLY2fO7nGVhuaMFQoB_DXq6SZONqfxnKW8mFaM9hTI43dY5dPGOF7GCq-xpmGkCdIjmr1anGMT5-QEwRkVrIibwdxeE4cIusPhJncKAcNtE/s200/2015-10-12+16.14.46.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and "Speaker Sue" at last meet IRL (oct 2015)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC-XJ74aLK-3a5Ip-r1cu86399I2hyHyu5MaGDahnkBhWTb1EBMPbpgY1qAVAu5kR619sYwRolIpFVBhT5bYj0SiVc1ZrfQZsQiSagWl8B8EwB2nKmn8lZ5LikQbBiIT0Ksm2TrgWZQA/s1600/2015-08-07+10.19.34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWC-XJ74aLK-3a5Ip-r1cu86399I2hyHyu5MaGDahnkBhWTb1EBMPbpgY1qAVAu5kR619sYwRolIpFVBhT5bYj0SiVc1ZrfQZsQiSagWl8B8EwB2nKmn8lZ5LikQbBiIT0Ksm2TrgWZQA/s200/2015-08-07+10.19.34.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coffee with my SM Hero Matt Bologna of BizBash</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Social Media. Two words. Social is the active part of this combination. Media is a tool. What <a href="https://storify.com/jenisefryatt" target="_blank">Jenise Fryatt</a> taught us as #EIR in the early days of learning how to use this twitter tool = Engage, Inform, Retweet. Engage with people - yes PEOPLE who are actively sharing interesting content and ideas - start and continue conversations because when you meet these people IRL (in real life) you will find yourself with new friends, colleagues and interesting conversations immediately. It is rather awesome the power of online conversations turning into a live, interactive, intelligent conversation, often with a beverage in hand. (aka why I love IMEX- see previous blog for all the social media friends I have the opportunity to see there!) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Engage. Note the word being overused - conversation. When Social Media is not social - ie a one - way dumping of information out, it is an advertorial, not social media at its best. When you are not engaging with other content, or responding to any reaction to your content sharing - you are kind of missing the point - and mostly you are missing the opportunity social media brings - for you personally, for your organization, and especially if you have a small business you are trying to grow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Inform. Sharing content without interaction-boring. Sharing content others can interact with - good idea. Sharing content with #hashtags to create conversation around a topic of interest to many - very good idea. Being part of a community such as #eventprofs brings rewards, including friendships born out of common interests. Being part of weekly chats such as #contentchat or #assnchat around topics that affect your professional life -- growth opportunities. Sharing content you have created - now we are talking!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Retweet. So simple - hit the retweet button and BOOM you are sharing relevant content with those in your community. Add a comment, ask a question, add to the discussion and your impact is growing. BTW this is the only one of the three that applies to Twitter only in terminology - every platform has a way to like, share or comment - so consider the platforms that make sense for you and your business, get comfortable with a couple, and get sharing!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Want to learn more? <a href="http://beatcreativemarketing.com/" target="_blank">Michelle Bergstein Fontanez</a> joins me via skype to talk Social Media at a live Vancouver ISES meeting soon - join us if you want to delve into personal and business-friendly social media best practices.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://isescanada.ca/vancouver/event/ises-vancouver-educates/" target="_blank">ISES Educates November 17</a></span>Tahira Endean CMPhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09400334975585811307noreply@blogger.com1