Viewing all posts under Meeting Planning


Lessons & Triumphs of Planning Red4Joplin 01/01/12

In an interview with Lindsey Rosenthal of Events for Good, we discovered the  details of her fund-raising experience for “Show Me” Support for Joplin, a red-tie event she planned in less than 3 weeks for Joplin residents and sisters Kiki L’Italien and Kylee Coffman (former Joplinites now living in D.C.).  I attended the fundraiser at Union Station’s St. Columbus Club to support Lindsey and this cause. Executive Chef Craig Mason was also the featured chef who prepared Spaghetti Red for the taste-off. Hear ab...

read more

How to Reinforce Your Convention Theme 01/01/12

A call back in comedy is a technique that takes something that was said before and ties it back into the current topic. The reminder results in a clever connection and can create some great humor. A convention theme can have the same effect by tying together common themes at breaks, the keynote speaker, break out speakers and the after dinner speaker. Simply take variations of your convention theme and have conference speakers call it back throughout the day. When you reinforce your theme it creates a congruence an...

read more

David Adler: Event Trends To Watch in 2012 (Part 2) 12/28/11

BizBash CEO and Founder David Adler seems to have a gift for connecting seemingly disparate pieces of information in a way that identifies important trends for the future of events and meetings. His presentations on the subject are fascinating and often spark engrossing discussions. Recently, he agreed to answer five questions on important event industry trends.  You can read his answers to my first two questions here.  These are the final three questions I asked, along with David's answers. Are there ...

read more

Participation Techniques You Can Use at Conferences 12/27/11

Here’s the summary handout for my workshop on participation techniques you can use in conference sessions that I’ll be leading at MPI’s World Education Congress 2011. Sources for additional information on these techniques can be found in the notes at the end of the list. Technique: Setting ground rules ‡* Brief description: Setting ground rules before other activities commence clarifies and unifies participants’ expectations. When to use: Start of session, worksh...

read more

Models and Bottles Are No More 12/27/11

Event planners are often not privy to the regulatory requirements that surround industries that are proprietary in nature. Over the years, bankers would joke about “Models and Bottles” when referring to their unlimited client expense accounts, but today, this is a joke that would not be taken lightly. Due to sudden downturn and heavy scrutiny of the finance industry, regulators have decreased these types of expense accounts and therefore keep a watchful eye. Other industries that require compliance with industry...

read more

BizBash CEO David Adler on Event Industry Trends to Watch 12/22/11

Founder and CEO of BizBash, David Adler is perhaps one of the most progressive thinkers in the events industry. He is known for being an engaging speaker and is also often the herald of some new trend or technology that seems to overtake the industry within short order. I recently asked David to share his thoughts on trends in the industry by answering five questions.  Not surprisingly, his responses were fascinating and full of useful information on what's coming down the pike. In fact, he gave me enough great con...

read more