EP 144 | What’s Really Working in Events: A Candid Look at Trade Shows vs Small-Scale Experiences

Trade shows still dominate the event calendar and budgets, but are they delivering the same value they once did? Small-scale experiences are rising in popularity but many teams miss the mark when trying to replicate them. In this honest and tactical episode, Matt Kleinrock sits down with Aleksandra Panyukhina, Experience Marketing Director at Pixelz, to unpack what’s actually working right now—and what’s getting in the way. From her experience designing intimate, high-impact events to the realities of expensive trade shows with unclear ROI, Aleksandra breaks down the choices every event team is facing in 2025. ✅ What defines a “good” trade show—and why so many fall short ✅ The overlooked power of small events (and why size isn’t the strategy) ✅ A framework for evaluating where to invest time, money, and creative energy Join us live to learn how to future-proof your event strategy and make smarter bets with every show. --------------------- Connect with Aleksandra Panyukhina LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/apanyukhina/ Connect with Matt Kleinrock LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-kleinrock-9613b22b/ Company: https://rockwayexhibits.com/ 🚨 Register for the show: https://tinyurl.com/EventMarketingRedefined