No More Bad Events Scott Bloom, eSpeakers

JT is a driving force at Smart Meetings, helping to shore up the helm since the unfortunate passing of Marin Bright, former CEO and Founder of Smart Meetings.
But the late Marin Bright mentored her well and now JT— with a background in fostering the growth of startups, spotlighting individuals and their achievements through various awards programs and magazine articles— is bringing the best stories to the forefront. And in this case, it’s AI.

She dives right into the pivotal role AI is beginning to play in the events industry. She touches on a variety of aspects of AI—its current perception, potential benefits, and inevitable concerns and ethical considerations. JT shares insights from webinars, personal stories of AI's practical uses, and highlights from their work at Smart Meetings Media company. She also shares a lot about engineered prompting, which, according to JT, is the key to using AI effectively. Sounds complicated, right? But it’s really only a matter of asking AI the right questions.

In this episode, Johnny Crowder, a highly popular keynote speaker and mental health care advocate, discusses the crucial role of addressing mental health openly, particularly in the workplace. Crowder, who has a personal history of mental health challenges, emphasizes how vulnerability can foster stronger connections and understanding within professional settings. The episode delves into ways event professionals can integrate mental health into their programs, underscoring the positive impact it can have on both attendees and organizers.

Scott and Johnny explore the shifting attitudes among executives towards more authentic discussions on mental health, reflecting a broader trend of embracing personal stories within professional spaces. Crowder shares insights into practical strategies for managing stress and avoiding burnout, such as using physical loci of control and creating music playlists to foster calm.

Furthermore, they discuss the Cope Notes program, founded by Crowder, which aims to provide ongoing support beyond his speaking engagements. This episode highlights the importance of introducing and normalizing mental health talks in various professional environments to facilitate not only individual well-being but also collective improvement in workplace culture.
Whether leading corporate wellness training or touring with his Billboard-charting heavy metal band, Prison, his infectious positivity and firsthand experience with multiple diagnoses uniquely equip him to provide realistic insight and inspiration amidst the pains of hardship with care, levity, and unconventional wit. You gotta hear this to believe it!

In this insightful episode, host Scott Bloom welcomes Russell Reich, a seasoned expert in the event industry and creative extraordinaire.  They begin with a look at how ADM Creative Group crafts epic conversation starters that keep the chit-chat going long after the event. ADM calls those starters “conversation machines” for client engagement.  He explains that these machines have one output, and that is to prompt, generate, and support a particular kind of conversation over an extended period of time… otherwise known as sustainable events.

As the conversation deepens, Reich remarks on the stifling effects of corporate influences on event storytelling. He encourages embracing tension and conflict to create more engaging narratives within the corporate structure. He refers to those moments as “chase scenes,” which, of course, further prompts an exploratory discussion about how this approach enhances client relationships and produces solid results.

There’s more. Emphasizing the importance of emotional leadership, Reich shares insights on helping executives overcome their fear of vulnerability during presentations, noting the audience's appreciation for speakers who step out of their comfort zones. On that note, Reich delves into the art of presentation, offering methods to make executives more at ease on stage and maintaining audience engagement through innovative formats.

He also underscores active listening and theme-centered messaging as pivotal to creating memorable and impactful events. Wrapping up, leadership principles are broached, with Russell underscoring the value of empowering others through curiosity and open collaboration, rounding off a comprehensive episode that fuses the best of event creativity, organizational strategy, and leadership philosophy … leading, of course, to … No More Bad Events.

In this fun-filled episode of "No More Bad Events,” host Scott Bloom is joined by guest Dietmar Dahmen, an internationally renowned keynote speaker known for his dramatic flair and presentations, as well as interactive storytelling. Dahmen shares his philosophy on creating memorable events that engage audiences at a deeper emotional level, emphasizing the importance of theatrical elements and pop culture references to captivate attendees.

Dahmen’s background in advertising and marketing guides his unique approach, aiming to transform the audience's knowledge and inspire action through bold and straightforward communication. He believes that while information leads to conclusions, it’s the emotional experiences that drive actions. He argues passionately— and advises event professionals accordingly— that in this world of events, it's all about creating a lasting emotional journey. A journey that people are willing to invest in enthusiastically, time and again.

Dahmen also discusses his use of unusual and fun metaphors – from superheroes to sledgehammers and sharks — to drive messaging home. His stories and insights will not only entertain you but provide a masterclass in what truly drives action in our audiences.

In this episode of "No More Bad Events," host Scott Bloom interviews guest Rob Bezdjian, the founder of Zaven Global, an independent third-party event planner. Rob explains that his company provides a range of services, including securing room blocks, arranging discount airfare codes, managing event operations, and consulting for large corporate clients with internal event teams. He emphasizes his company's focus on partnerships rather than client relationships, striving to add value and facilitate fabulous experiences for event participants.

As the conversation progresses, Rob discusses the concept of continually improving and disrupting the norm to meet evolving needs, the importance of adapting to market changes, and the potential impact of technology on the event industry. He delves into innovative concepts such as "fancations" and "brandcations," which involve leveraging the influence of social media personalities and brands to create unique, engaging experiences for attendees and promote brand loyalty. He talks about the power of brands for marketing initiatives and the potential to create unique events that enhance brand loyalty.
Lastly, the interview also touches on the significance of being a generalist in one's career and the value of networking in the hospitality industry.

Overall, the episode provides insightful perspectives on event planning, collaboration, and the future of the industry, offering valuable advice and thought-provoking ideas for young professionals and established industry experts alike.

This episode of No More Bad Events explores the cutting-edge approach of XDA in revolutionizing event experiences. Alongside guests Anna Mader and Matt Schrader, host Scott Bloom probes into XDA's ethos of "redefining greatness," which Anna articulates as a commitment to continual improvement, creative risks, and solving problems. Matt reinforces this ethos, advocating for challenging the status quo to yield superior outcomes. They reflect on heightened audience expectations post-COVID, underlying the need for engaging and surpassing these anticipations. The conversation also delves into the philosophy of balancing kindness with boldness and how client relationships are formed based on shared values.

There’s more. The agency's approach to creating a sense of community and belonging through experiences is also discussed, as well as the value of integrating elements from fan events such as Comic Con into the corporate events. Leadership support, client collaboration, and shifting audience culture are also recognized as essential factors in successful event design.

Lastly, storytelling is amplified, with a nod to the hero's journey as a compelling structure for audience engagement. This episode promises to be an engaging deep dive into the innovative strategies XDA employs to deliver events that are not just enjoyable but make an indelible mark on attendees' lives.