The Event Connection

How do you plan a successful non-profit event with little-to-no budget? In this episode of The Event Connection, Geoffrey Sandler, President of the NACE Madison Chapter, shares strategies for balancing mission-driven goals with high-impact attendee engagement.  This episode is for event professionals looking for non-profit fundraising ideas, event sponsorship tips, or ways to recruit event volunteers. Geoffrey breaks down non-profit event planning challenges, best strategies, and tips for maintaining momentum once the event ends!    TIMESTAMPS ----- 00:00 - Introduction to Non-Profit Event Planning 00:57 - Meet Geoffrey Sandler (NACE Madison Chapter) 05:05 - The Best Parts of Planning Non-Profit Events 06:19 - Overcoming Non-profit Event Challenges 08:04 - How to Promote an Event with No Budget 10:44 - How to Find and Secure Event Sponsors 13:37 - Increasing Engagement at Event Registration 16:22 - Creative Interactive Activity Ideas for Events 19:59 - Effective Strategies for Getting Event Volunteers 21:38 - Maintaining Post-Event Momentum and Interest 24:09 - 3 Essential Elements Every Mission-Based Event Needs 26:42 - Connecting with Geoffrey Sandler & NACE ----- Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

Are you looking for fun ways to gamify networking events without the usual social burnout? In this episode of The Event Connection, we sit down with Melvin Adekanye, the Founder of JamSocial, to explore how event planners and attendees can create more interactive networking experiences. Learn how to help introverts thrive at your events by listening in to Meaghan and Melvin explore the psychology of introvert vs. extrovert networking and why traditional "icebreakers" often fail to create lasting impressions.   TIMESTAMPS ----- 00:00 - Introduction 01:28 - Meet Melvin Adekanye, Founder of Jam Social 03:36 - Melvin's Passion for Introverts 06:05 - Best Parts of Networking Events 09:48 - "Hi, I'm Bill Gates!" 11:35 - Sticking Out at Networking Events 11:58 - Worst Parts of Networking Events 15:46 - Difference Between Introverts and Extroverts 20:00 - "Border Collies vs. Iguanas" 24:58 - Storytime: "Sweaty Networking" 27:13 - Learning How to Approach People 29:30 - Event Networking and Gamification Activity Ideas 34:54 - Digital Networking Activity Ideas 40:25 - Interactive Badge Activities 43:39 - How to Leave a Networking Impression 47:13 - Questions to Keep Conversations Going 47:58 - FREE: Networking Conversation Starters Cheat Sheet ----- Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

What is the future of incentive travel? In this episode, Tina Husemoller, VP of Meetings and Incentives at Fox World Travel, explains why the industry is shifting from Return on Investment (ROI) to Return on Experience (ROE)! Whether you're a corporate planner or a business leader, learn how to design memorable programs that cater to diverse generational preferences while also prioritizing sustainability and cultural immersion.   TIMESTAMPS ----- 00:00 - Meet Tina from Fox World Travel! 02:58 - Top trends in incentive travel for 2026 05:50 - Selecting activities for incentive trips  08:48 - Travel preferences broken down by generation 11:14 - Trending destinations & hidden gems 14:29 - Engaging travelers before their trip 18:42 - Including culture in incentive trips 20:38 - Rapid Fire Q&A, Listener Questions! 20:43 - Incentive travel logistics & challenges 22:37 - Sustainable incentive travel 24:56 - Budget-friendly incentive trips 25:59 - Getting buy-in for incentive travel programs ----- Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

New year, new trends! Meaghan and Rylee go head-to-head to reveal their 2026 event design forecast. This episode is all about what’s hot, what’s not, and what attendees really want out of event design. We chat about moving away from "overly polished" into human-centric design that gives attendees authentic, tactile experiences. Think things like AI concepting, nostalgic themes, and interactive event badge designs attendees will actually want to keep! HOW TO GET RYLEE’S DECK: Email us at [email protected] and mention the "Event Design Trends presentation" to see all the visuals behind this podcast! Then, use Rylee's ideas to inspire your next mood board or client pitch.    TIMESTAMPS ----- 00:00 – Introduction  01:32 - Meet Rylee Hubbard!  03:19 - Pantone of 2026: Ugly or not?  04:42 - The Trend of "Imperfect by Design"  08:14 - Design Trends and Predictions  08:38 - Trend 1: AI Driven Design  10:34 - Trend 2: Candid Camera Roll  13:10 - Trend 3: Immersive Design  15:04 - Trend 4: Collage Aesthetics  17:07 - Trend 5: Sustainability Design  20:04 - Trend 6: Inclusive Design  22:10 - Trend 7: Exaggerated Fonts  24:53 - Trend 8: Nostalgic Mashups  28:07 - Graphic Design "Icks"  29:59 - Our Event Design "Hot Takes"  33:31 - Get Rylee's Event Design Trends Deck  ----- Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

Take your event planning career to the next level! Meaghan and Brooke go head-to-head to reveal their ultimate “Top 5” lists for industry professionals, including THEIR favorite picks for top event planning podcasts, events, influencers, and books. Here's where to spend your time and attention to stay ahead of the curve! Start by connecting with event influencers on LinkedIn, attending an event, checking out a new book, or subscribing to a good podcast (...like this one)! TOPICS COVERED: Best resources for event planners, event planning podcasts, event planning conferences, networking events, event influencers, best books for event planners   TIMESTAMPS ----- 00:00 – Welcome! 02:08 – Top 5 Podcasts 11:27 – Top 5 Events 20:30 – Top 5 Influencers 30:10 – Top 5 Books 45:01 – Closing Remarks  ----- Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

Event registration can either be totally fun or a logistical nightmare (IYKYK). In this episode, Megan and Meaghan share their favorite tips for transforming the conference and event registration process from a point of stress into an exciting first touchpoint for attendees! By the end of this episode, you'll know how to turn event check-in into an interactive experience, accommodate last-minute registrations, help lines move faster, and stay ahead of the game with event badge printing. TOPICS COVERED: Event registration tips for planners, how to streamline event check-in, last-minute event registration strategy   TIMESTAMPS ----- 00:00 - Let's get started! 01:49 - Event Registration Positives 04:06 - Event Registration Struggles 06:21 - Event Registration QUICK TIPS! 12:02 - Making Registration INTERACTIVE! 16:45 - Closing Advice & Secrets -----   Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

What makes a Gen Z attendee click? How can you deliver an authentic experience for Millennials? What does it take to truly impress a Gen X-er? In this special episode, our cross-generational panel: Ethan (Gen Z), Meaghan (Millennial), and Kindra (Gen X) explore how different age groups experience and engage with events. Brooke (Millennial) leads the chat in an honest, goofy, and surprising conversation about what they love (and what they can’t stand) when it comes to event experiences.   TIMESTAMPS ----- 0:00 - Let's get started! 02:45 - Ideal Event Destination 05:11 - Registering in Advance? 07:22 - Getting Caffeinated 09:17 - Frustrating Wait Times 12:15 - Perfect Event Size 15:00 - Favorite Networking Style 17:30 - Event Communication Preference 19:42 - Educational Session Lengths 23:02 - Off to Lunch! 26:32 - Connecting with Peers 30:19 - Late Night Entertainment 34:40 - Dream Keynote Speaker 37:49 - Last Remarks -----   😍 GET A SHOUT-OUT: Send a message to [email protected] to tell us which generation you are, plus some of your event-related preferences or hot takes. Your idea could be featured in an upcoming episode! Give us a rating and subscribe for more event planning ideas! 

Don’t get left behind with same-old agendas. Events in 2026 are all about “EYES LIGHT UP” moments! Brooke and Meaghan share activities, tactics, and strategies they’re obsessed with to help you make every event a must-attend experience, no matter your budget. 🔥🔥🔥 Hear what’s worked for key players in the industry, including Dragon Con, INBOUND, NACE Experience, and more!   TIMESTAMPS  --- 00:00 – Let's get started! 02:17 – “Eyes Light Up” moments 04:09 – Meetup Spaces 07:24 – Surprise Moments 12:16 – Philanthropic Activities 12:47 – Prospectus Alternatives 15:34 – City Exploration 24:30 – Engage Away the Venue 28:59 – Unique Activations 36:23 – Encouraging Connections 43:50 – Custom Room Keys 48:46 – Interactive Stations 50:00 – Event Themes 53:39 – Relaxation Lounges 54:23 – Networking Bingo 56:00 – Last Remarks, Good Vibes 💕 ---   😍 GET A SHOUT-OUT: Send a message to [email protected] to tell us a cool, weird, or fun event activity you’ve experienced. Your idea could be featured in an upcoming episode!

Ethan West, Marketing Communication Intern at pc/nametag, sits down with Kyler Donovan, General Manager of Forward Madison FC, to chat about all things soccer, community, and behind‑the‑scenes magic of sports fan engagement! ⚽🥅 Kyler shares: How the club keeps sports fans engaged beyond the pitch How to seamlessly integrate event sponsors without disruption How intricate operations that make gamedays run smoothly. Plus, we tackle some fun questions about what makes Breese Stevens Field such a special place for both players and fans! 🥇 Whether you’re a sports events enthusiast, a supporter of Forward Madison, or just curious about how the matchday experience comes together, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and laughs.   TIMESTAMPS --- 00:00 - Introduction 01:25 - What’s special about Breese Stevens Field? 03:08 - Gameday operations 07:02 - Engaging fans before, during, and after the game 08:37 - Seamless sponsorship engagement 10:30 - Pivoting to accommodate variability 13:42 - Tying merchandising into event engagement 17:00 - Engaging college students in Madison 18:04 - Insight from a successful example 22:23 - Breaking into sports event management 24:55 - Emerging trends in the sports event industry 27:59 - Habits for planning a sports event 29:54 - Go-to snack and drink for Breese Stevens Field 31:21 - Kyler’s dream headliner at Breese Stevens Field 32:38 - Connect with Kyler! ---   🎤 CONNECT WITH KYLER DONOVAN: [email protected]

Transform your event's audience from "quiet" to captivated! This week, Meaghan chats with Roger Wolkoff, "The Guy with the Voice," and a professional emcee with 20+ years of experience. Roger shares his top secrets for creating an engaging atmosphere, from effectively warming up a crowd to expertly handling unexpected "uh oh" moments. Tune in for valuable insights on audience interaction, crisis management, and all the insider tips you need to make your next event a blast!   TIMESTAMPS ---- 00:00 - Let's Get Started 01:02 - Welcome, Roger Wolkoff! 04:04 - Find Your Strengths with Personality Assessments 06:59 - Roger's Involvement with National Speakers Association 09:00 - Gaining Experience as an Emcee 11:14 - What is an emcee? 15:05 - Top qualities of great emcees 19:10 - How to "read" the audience 21:08 - Excite and engage your audience 25:03 - Pre- and post-meetings with planners 28:54 - Roger's favorite event he's emceed 30:30 - Pre-show rituals to get amped up! 31:34 - Handling "UH OH" event moments 34:20 - A hilarious event story 35:59 - Favorite part of emceeing 37:02 - Difficult parts of being an emcee 3 8:22 - Surprising parts of being an emcee 39:42 - Tips for bringing excitement to events 40:42 - Connect with and hire Roger! 41:28 - Join your local National Speakers Association chapter   📖 FREE FOR LISTENERS: "Leveraging an Emcee for Event Success: A Guide for Event Planners." Get yours by sending an email to [email protected] and asking for your copy!

What can all event planners learn from fan conventions? More than you might think! In this episode, we're talking to the Convention Chairperson for Anime Milwaukee to get the inside scoop on the chaos and fun behind planning a 3-day event for 18,000 attendees.   TIMESTAMPS ---- 00:00 - Meet Kris Lugo - Convention Chairperson for Anime Milwaukee (AMKE) 03:27 - Kris's personal history with convention and event planning 06:18 - All about AMKE: the history and financial impact 10:11 - The secret to facilitating activities for all personality types 14:35 - How AMKE manages 24-hour programming for attendees 16:52 - Annual themes and how they can excite attendees and vendors 20:38 - Ideas for staying in front of your audience year round 25:56 - How corporate events can use con-like strategies to excite attendees 28:02 - Long live the Polkalator! 32:53 - How badge ribbons can engage attendees and vendors 37:14 - Creating and managing strong relationships with sponsors 39:56 - The pressure of creating a "bigger and better" event each year 42:29 - Words of advice for anyone interested in planning conventions 47:07 - Wrap-up and what's next for AMKE? ---   Subscribe, and connect with pc/nametag! 🎉 Get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]! 

What happens when an event goes sideways? 🤔 Join Brooke and Meaghan as they dissect a real-life event that went viral because of many "oops" moments. You'll come away with seriously valuable event planning lessons you won't want to miss. From website woes to venue missteps, we'll cover how to avoid your own event mishaps and turn chaos into a win. Tune in for expert event organization tips and real-life event disaster recovery strategies.   TIMESTAMPS --- 0:00 - Let's get started! 02:51 - Festival Background 05:49 - The Website 11:35 - Ticket Tiers 15:45 - The Venue 18:08 - Registration Desk 23:40 - Sponsor Communication 31:04 - Attendee Activities and Engagement 37:18 - The Romance Ball 43:25 - Lessons Learned (Event PR) 44:03 - Ultimate Fallout 46:58 - Attendee Losses 47:28 - Positive Outcomes and Reflections ---   Subscribe, and connect with pc/nametag! 🎉 Get in touch by emailing us at [email protected]! 

Event promotion strategies don't have to be expensive or complicated! This episode explores easy tactics you can use to get the word out about your events, even on a tight budget. You'll come away with practical tips for using social media, email, content, partnerships, and more to quickly boost registrations!   ---- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Get to know The Event Connection Podcast! 01:14 - The Economy, Budgets, Tariffs, etc. 02:00 - Our experience with tight marketing budgets 03:39 - The pressure to "Do more with less" 04:41 - How to research your target audience 09:49 - Promote your event with social media 17:18 - Promote your event with email marketing 27:20 - Promote your event with content marketing 32:04 - Promote your event with sponsors, partnerships 39:58 - Tip: Create urgency and FOMO 44:28 - How to track event promotion data 47:33 - Unconventional (but effective) tactics to try 50:30 - Easy tactics to start doing today! 52:50 - Like, comment, subscribe, and email us!   FREEBIES: Get two cheat sheets ("25+ Free Ways to Promote Your Event" and "Early Bird Event Promotions Cheat Sheet") when you email us at [email protected] and mention our "Event Promotion" episode!

Forget your actual horoscope: Brooke, Megan, and Meaghan are once again predicting how the "stars will align" for conferences and events in 2025!  The Event Connection Podcast is back for episode two, and this week, we're talking about what's "in" and "out" for attendee welcome sessions, event badge design, ticketing strategies, and whether or not it's still cool to have conferences in first tier cities (spoiler: maybe?).  Join us for another chat about popular event insights, served with a side of humor from the Tag Team. ---- TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Get to know The Event Connection Podcast! 00:28 - Part II: What's IN and OUT with planners in 2025 01:28 - Trend 1: Presentations/sessions created with AI 04:51 - Trend 2: Branded tchotchkes, gifts, and event swag 07:56 - Trend 3: Reverse trade shows 10:31 - Trend 4: QR codes on event badges 12:50 - Trend 5: Welcome sessions for 1st time attendees 16:05 - Trend 6: Events in first tier cities 19:57 - Trend 7: Structured conference schedules 23:31 - Trend 8: Convention centers vs. non-traditional venues 27:03 - Trend 9: Tiered attendee groups (VIPs, general, etc.) 32:03 - One thing we're excited about for 2025! 32:29 - Meaghan reveals her answer 35:34 - Megan reveals her answer 38:05 - Like, comment, subscribe, and connect with pc/nametag! 

Join us for some wild speculation on event trends in 2025! In the debut episode of "The Event Connection" podcast, we're dishing the deets on the hottest (and weirdest) event topics we could find, including sustainable events, audience engagement, attendee networking, and sponsored restrooms (...HUH?)   Brooke, Megan, and Meaghan spill the tea on what's "hot" and what's "not" in a lighthearted (and slightly unhinged) discussion on which event engagement tactics to keep your eye on this year.   --- TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Welcome to the podcast! 00:29 - Meet Brooke, Megan, and Meaghan 02:42 - Event trend speculation...let's go! 03:05 - Trend 1: 40+ Minute Sessions 05:52 - Trend 2: Gamifying, networking, and engagement 08:12 - Trend 3: Panel-style Conference Sessions 10:24 - Trend 4: Unique badge delivery methods 13:25 - Trend 5: Hosting virtual events 17:10 - Trend 6: Sponsored restrooms (yes, seriously)! 20:54 - Trend 7: Business vs. smart casual attire 23:03 - Trend 8: Lunchtime networking activities 26:54 - Trend 9: Badge ribbons for networking 30:31 - Trend 10: Pickleball, healthy activities 33:29 - Trend 11: After-hours entertainment 40:19 - Trend 12: Closing Advice for 2025 44:38 - Like, comment, subscribe, and connect with pc/nametag!