Event Tech Podcast

Brandt Krueger
Event Tech Podcast

Event Tech Podcast is the premiere place for event profs to stay in the know about the latest and most innovative tech. Join us for a thought-provoking journey on how tech can evolve our industry.

  1. 6 DAYS AGO

    The Opposite of Brain Drain: Navigating the Evolving Event Industry Job Market

    Brandt Krueger and Will Curran discuss the current state of the event industry job market, exploring the influx of returning professionals, the impact of AI on hiring processes, and strategies for standing out in a competitive landscape. They delve (I really do use that word - BK) into the growth of the events sector, the shift towards specialized roles, and the importance of adapting to new technologies. Discussions Include: The resurgence of professionals returning to the events industry post-COVIDThe impact of AI on job applications and hiring processesThe growing emphasis on high-touch, immersive events in marketing strategiesThe balance between generalist and specialist roles in the evolving job marketQuotable Quotes (Should you choose to share): "It's not AI that's going to come for your job. It's going to be someone who knows how to use AI that's going to come for your job." - Brandt Krueger (though we both say it all the time now, I just happened to be the one in this episode- BK)On why people are coming back to the industry: "Event people are fun. And, you know, there's so much love in the industry, even amongst competitors. Friendpetitors!" - Brandt Krueger"If you're looking for a job, if you're a freelancer or someone who's looking for a full-time position, AI is gonna be your friend." - Brandt Krueger"Never stop learning. I mean, we talk about this all the time, it's obvious, but this is just a reminder that if you right now are sitting here and you haven't learned something new in the last year that is like game changing, you think is life changing, right? It's probably time ... this is your call to action." - Will Curran

    38 min
  2. JAN 7

    Bonus EP 02 (Feb 2023): AI Revolution in Event Design- Unleashing Creativity with New AI Tools

    In this bonus episode from February 2023, hosts Brandt Krueger and Will Curran are joined by Wayne Johnson Jr., Creative Director at EideCom, to discuss the revolutionary impact of AI tools on event design and production. They explore how AI is transforming the creative process, from generating stage designs to streamlining proposal creation, and debate the future implications for the events industry. Discussion Include: The evolution of AI tools in event design and their potential to revolutionize the creative processUsing AI to generate stage designs, event layouts, and visual conceptsLeveraging AI for faster turnaround times and improved client presentationsThe importance of human creativity and taste in conjunction with AI-generated contentQuotable Quotes (Should you choose to share): "We are using it as a tool - it just allows us to do more you know with less and in faster time" - Wayne Johnson Jr."I feel like AI is the car for the mind. You don't have to think about balancing, you don't have to think about pedaling, you just say go and you put a little effort and it takes you exactly where you want to go." - Will Curran"It's not automation, this is a tool for someone creative like Wayne who's going to recognize the colors and things like that... it's garbage in, garbage out." - Brandt Krueger"All of these tools are just going to make us better at our jobs and better at what we do and better at giving the client what they want as quickly as possible." - Brandt Krueger"AI is just another burnt stick. We've always been artists who use whatever tool comes to them." - Wayne Johnson Jr. Personal apologies to Wayne for misplacing this episode. You rock, man!

    49 min
  3. 12/22/2024

    Bonus Ep (Feb 2023): Bing, Bard, and Managing a Community with ChatGPT

    In this BONUS episode (recorded in February 2023 and recently found in the couch cushions), Brandt Krueger and Will Curran dive deep into the latest developments in AI technology, focusing on the recent announcements from Microsoft's Bing and Google's Bard. They discuss the potential impact of these AI-powered search engines on various industries, including event planning, and explore the implications for content creators and information providers. Discussion Points:• The recent announcements of AI-powered search engines by Microsoft (Bing) and Google (Bard)• Potential applications of AI in the event planning industry, such as venue finding and RFP processing• The importance of staying current with AI technologies and their potential impact on various job roles Quotable Quotes (Should you choose to share):• "If right now you're like 'Hell no, this is not going to work, this is not going to help me,' I would be really afraid. I'd be pressuring you right now to at least be playing with this stuff to be aware of it." - Will Curran• "The future for your job is not 'Can you do these things?' but 'Can you use these tools now to leverage even further?'" - Will Curran• "I think hopefully what folks are taking away from this is the clear difference in how we are talking about this again versus how we've been talking about the metaverse and stuff like that." - Brandt Krueger• "Every week for the last month solid, something new has popped into my head of like, 'Oh, I know how we could use this' or 'Oh, I know how this is going to impact events.'" - Brandt Krueger

    42 min
  4. 10/22/2024

    Behind the Scenes of the Eventex Awards

    Brandt Krueger and Will Curran sit down with Veselin (Vesko) Milev and Dessislava (Dessy) Marinova from Eventex to explore the world of event awards and event technology. As Eventex celebrates its 15th anniversary, Vesko and Dessy share insights into the global reach of the Eventex Awards, the evolution of their fully online format, and the impact of the Evalato awards management software. The team also dives into how creativity and innovation are recognized on a global scale and the fascinating trends emerging in event management. Discussions Include: The growth and global reach of the Eventex AwardsHow Evalato simplifies the awards judging process and ensures fairnessThe shift to fully online awards and its sustainability benefitsTrends in event design and technology across the worldUsing Eventex winners as creative inspiration for future event planningThe importance of transparency in award scoring and feedbackPredictions on how AI and sustainability will shape the future of event awardsQuotable Quotes: “Eventex is not just about competition; it's a learning experience.” – Vesko Milev"It’s not about the size of your event; it’s about the creativity and achieving your goals." – Brandt Krueger“Sustainability and AI will continue to drive the future of event management.” – Dessy Marinova“The software takes into account how you score in the morning versus the evening—personal bias gets neutralized.” – Vesko Milev

    43 min
  5. 10/10/2024

    Navigating the Tech Spectrum: Consumer, Prosumer, and Professional Gear

    Brandt Krueger and Will Curran dive deep into the distinctions between consumer, prosumer, and professional audio-visual gear. Using personal experiences and industry examples, they explore the evolution of tech and how it affects everything from home setups to event production. From audio chain optimization and home theater upgrades to the balance between cost and quality, the conversation touches on the nuances of choosing the right gear for the right application. Whether you're looking to refine your home theater or optimize your event tech, this episode is packed with insights into making informed tech decisions. Discussions Include: Differences between consumer, prosumer, and professional-grade equipmentAudio chain optimization for home studios and theatersWill’s home theater journey: From Sonos to high-end in-wall speakersExploring the balance between quality and budget with tech purchasesUsing Dante for digital audio networking and audio routingBuying used gear: When to take the leap and the risks involvedThe ubiquity of networking gear and its impact on event tech setupsAnalog vs. digital: Pros and cons of keeping audio fidelity highQuotable Quotes: "Buy once, cry once." – Alex Lindsay and the Office Hours panel"As you move from consumer to prosumer to professional, the improvements start to become incremental, but the costs don’t." – Brandt Krueger"You can start low and work your way up, but the key is understanding where the trade-offs are." – Brandt Krueger"Sometimes the satisfaction from gear isn’t linear to the price—you can obsess over small improvements." – Will Curran

    46 min
  6. 09/24/2024

    How Voice Cloning Might Affect the Future of Events

    In this episode, Brandt and Will experiment "live" with the latest in voice cloning from ElevenLabs, and discuss the implications for the events industry. They explore how tools like ElevenLabs' voice cloning and AI-generated sound effects could revolutionize event production and multilingual accessibility. From instant voice cloning that mimics the hosts' voices to generating custom sound effects on the fly, the discussion highlights the incredible potential - and some concerns - surrounding these new technologies. They also touch on the importance of security measures, like establishing a family codeword, to protect against potential misuse of AI-generated voices. Discussions Include: The power and accuracy of AI voice cloning with tools like ElevenLabs.Practical applications for event tech, including creating multilingual event content and custom sound effects.The potential impact of AI on jobs in the voiceover and sound design industries.Security concerns and the importance of family codewords to guard against AI voice spoofing.Quotable Quotes: "This was terrible a year ago... now it's really pretty good because the only thing they're focusing on is the text-to-speech stuff." — Brandt Krueger"Imagine the future though, that I could put a voice filter over myself and completely change my voice too." — Will Curran"Professional voiceover actors should be a little nervous about this and you should start looking into your contracts." — Brandt Krueger"We could just change [our voices] over to Morgan Freeman it'll be awesome." — Will Curran

    51 min
  7. 09/10/2024

    Event Connectivity Unleashed: From Starlink to Solar-Powered Networks?

    In this episode of the Event Tech Podcast, Brandt Krueger and Will Curran explore the expanding landscape of internet connectivity for events. The duo discusses how advancements like Starlink and Peplink are revolutionizing how we think about internet access, making it possible to host events in previously unreachable locations. From streaming live video from the middle of the desert to setting up robust networks in remote national parks, Brandt and Will discuss the tools and technologies that are breaking down barriers and opening up new possibilities for event planners. They also touch on the potential of solar-powered networks, the implications of widespread satellite internet, and the creative opportunities these technologies present for future events. Discussions Include: Starlink's Impact on Event Connectivity: How Starlink's satellite internet is transforming connectivity, allowing for reliable internet access anywhere.Peplink and Speed Fusion Technology: Combining multiple internet connections to create seamless and stable networks for events.Outdoor Event Possibilities: Exploring how enhanced connectivity could make outdoor and remote events more viable and engaging.The Future of Event Tech: Speculating on the next steps in internet technology, including solar-powered systems and drone-supported events.Quotable Quotes: "In this day and age, connectivity is on a whole different level than we’ve ever seen before." — Will Curran"It’s not just about staying connected anymore; it’s about how far we can push the boundaries of where and how we host events." — Brandt Krueger"What would you do if you had internet access literally anywhere?" — Brandt Krueger

    37 min

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

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Event Tech Podcast is the premiere place for event profs to stay in the know about the latest and most innovative tech. Join us for a thought-provoking journey on how tech can evolve our industry.

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