IMEX16 Full of Nice Memories

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 new tools and ideas to your work and your team.

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 build trust in those who would deliver the event in our selected destinations and venues.

Why you return a second, third or in the case of IMEX a sixth time it 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. 

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!

It is a place of connecting

1. In-session actionable learning 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.
2. 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.
3. To the latest trends 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.
4. To sustainable thinking, the list of initiatives keeps growing and many of these ideas can be easily implemented at any event.
5. 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!
6. 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. Leaders indeed.
7. To business. Ultimately every investment of your resources must lead to this, and when you bring the world together, business happens.

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. 

Dandelions vs Orchids

 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.

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. 

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.

At IMEX next week they are embracing this new concept of sweatworking 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.

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.

U2 and the Mobile Mind Shift

I have loved U2 since Joshua Tree because their music is honest and awesome.  I have seen them perform multiple times over the years (lucky me!) and now, 25+ years later, love how they have embraced all the #eventtech available to elevate the human experience.  One of my favorite moments was when they brought up a thrilled audience member, tapped into her own phone and had her film and project what she was seeing on the gigantic double sided, catwalk enabled screen that filled the stadium. From close-ups of each member to panning the audience so they could be on the screen too - she maximized the experience. And... she has that memory stored on her device forever. They aren't scared of mobile - they are maximizing the opportunities of a mobile enabled audience. We know this one concert added to the 70 million daily Instagram photos, was seen by many of the 745 million daily Facebook users and was part of the 700 million tweets posted daily. #U2


From another human experience, having spent many years planning medical meetings, many specifically focused on HIV/AIDS, I also appreciate as they have grown they have used their power for good establishing among other things, Red, a charity to support creating an AIDS free generation. Some of you may remember this time, it wasn't that long ago when AIDS was a new and frightening disease, and if we can work to eradicate it, as we have smallpox, polio and other diseases through research, medical care and most importantly, education for those most affected, this is something I can get behind.

Mobile in action during the concert

Now those mobile moments.  This is something I talk about frequently as I speak on experiential design, event technology and most recently, the importance for meeting and event professionals to embrace the reality that our participants are arriving with their devices in hand, and more than ever are relying on mobile to provide their access to information, their work functionality and social connections, and to capture and share their memories.  What Forrester Research refers to as the Mobile Mind Shift is happening in life, in retail, in the way we research, discuss and purchase products and services and 100% in the way we experience meetings and events.  Are you considering how to integrate the BYOD reality into your plans - amplifying your brand and growing your event community's stories? Plus capturing their thoughts and feelings about your event, and being able to "see" in real time what is happening in your events?  Isn't it time?  

Oh, and if you have the chance to see U2 on this tour - go!

If Nicholas Sparks Wrote an Event

Nicholas Sparks understands the importance of place, of timing, and wastes no words. I have read most of the stories, and been drawn into most of the movies, feeling my own heart break as he weaves love and loss, pleasure and pain, eyes wide open to the reality that life does not usually come easy, that we don't always make choices that make sense, that families are complicated and events can't always be controlled, and in the end it is often the messy bits which make us the people we are.  

Just another great story

If we approached events with the same understanding of storytelling, allowing our audience to grow from hearing and sharing the tough stories, creating balance to focus on what matters and believing words are precious, we would create much different spaces. Much different conversations.  

I have been inspired by many speakers over the years. Storytellers such as Lisa Ling, Aron Ralston, and this year by Robert Fogarty at FICP's Annual Conference in Hawaii with his astounding Dear World project - the speakers that shake you up with tales of their own, and of others, these are the people I want to be inspired by. Stories where every image, every word has a place. 

When we create events, it is the conscious choices we make, in destination and venue(s), layout and design, programmed content balanced against white space and time for informal conversations, sound and lighting, decor - intrinsic vs created, ambient or focal entertainment, food and beverage, and all the thoughtful discussion leading to these decisions which determine the overall planned guest experience. When we market, we hope to capture the attention of the "right" people, those who will benefit from and create the energy of the event as it takes its shape and form. We need to create the environment and provide the information in digestible formats so their choices can be made easily, where conversations can flow, relevant and actionable takeaways can be inspired, and ultimately where they leave feeling richer for the time spent.

What have you been to lately that you felt this happen - where you leave more prepared, more inspired and bigger than when you arrived?  I would love to hear about it!     

Event Alley Fun

Content. 48 hours of content uploaded every hour. How do you possibly find that all important "Context" within the Content? Finding what is relevant for you, relevant for your industry is a challenge. I am a voracious consumer of content and always have been, so when I was invited to be part of Event Alley Show this year, I thought it seemed like a great idea.

Lindsey preps for a live show
at MPI WEC this year.

So far, so good!  The Event Alley Show guests are what define the show, and we have had some amazing people join us including most recently Evan Greene, the CMO of The Recording Academy (the Grammys), Simon T. Bailey, Julius Solaris, David Merrell and Chad Kaydo on trends and the business of design, Ruud Janssen and Roel Friessen discussing Event Model Generation and so many more.  We have also done live episodes from PYM Meetings, MPI WEC and the IRF Annual Invitational.  Explore and see what you can find!

We also occasionally do audio only Show Plus episodes and have talked with Roger Simons of MCI about event sustainabiliity, Andrew Walker about MPI's CSR initiatives and King Dahl about large scale events, among others, and I enjoy hearing what these smart people have to share with us.  In teaching Sustainable Event Operations at BCIT earlier this year I used a number of the interviews - with Shawna McKinley, Mariela McIlwraith, Karen Swim (PR) and Michele Sarkisian (EPCAT and human trafficking) as we explored the people - planet - profit impacts of events and meetings.

We have recently updated our playlists and the range of subjects from Technology to Event Design to Sustainable and Responsible Meetings provides excellent listening no matter where you play in the meeting and event space.

I definitely have some favorite episodes - but encourage you to check out our YouTube channel for the videos, or Event Alley Show on iTunes or Stitcher if listening podcast style fits your life better. 

Karate Kid Lessons for Event Planners

There are many lessons in martial arts that can apply to life and also to event planning, and having just watched it again with my own two "karate kids",  these are the ones that struck me.

1. It takes discipline.  To be good at anything, you must apply yourself and learn first the basics (wax on, wax off; hang up your jacket, pick up your jacket) before you can get better at what you do.
2. It takes hard work.  There is no easy way to produce a great event.  You can get more efficient, but there are not short cuts. Goals, objectives, marketing, registration, logistics, production schedules, technology integration, engagement, interaction, each has to be done in its own time.
3. There will always be someone out to get you.  That is life, choose your friends well and be kind to your family, support those that support you.
4. There are winners and losers.  Nearly every piece of business is competitive - that is the nature of the beast.  Put your own best foot forward, accept winning and losing graciously.  But do your best to win.
5. Take risks.  Use your fear to your advantage. Use the adrenaline, use the fire and try new things.  But make sure you are asking the right questions of the right people to ensure the risks are the right risks.  
6. You can always use a good teacher. Sometimes they are people you seek out. Sometimes they find you.  Sometimes you need them back.  Lessons are everywhere. Accept them.
7. The human factor.  There is always a human factor to everything and human nature tends to give power to the negative.  Remain focused, seek the positive solution and move forward with determination.  When you believe you are doing the right thing for your clients, for the guests, make the effort to explain why you think it will work. 
8. Hello and thank you. If you only learn two words in every language, these two will get you a long way.  Show people they are genuinely welcome, and thank people for their help.  I have had the opportunity to work in many places, and have had an even better opportunity to share places with our children, and this they too have learned.
9. Don't cheat. You will be caught out. Keep your promises.  You only get one chance at integrity.
10. Don't give up. Let the people who can and want to help you, help you get back up.  Tell them how they can help you, then accept their help.  But do it knowing that ultimately, even when people have your back, it us up to you. I know when I produce an event, I don't do it alone. I do it with a cast of many, and each of them supports me, and each of them requires my support.  Seek solutions together.
11. Respect. Respect people for what they bring to the team.
12. Never say never.

What lessons would you share?