Social Media And The Future Of Meetings

This summer it was my honor to be part of a main-stage panel celebrating the 40th anniversary of the National Speakers Association.  The conversation turned to the future of the speaking profession and meetings industry. The landscape of national meetings, association meetings, and corporate events is shifting and both groups (speakers and meeting professionals) must…

Can a #Hashtag Fill Your Next Event?

Could a number sign followed by a few letters help fill your event? The answer is YES if it is part of a well designed social media marketing plan! Really?! Yes, really! What is a #Hashtag? Digesting information on Twitter can be like trying to drink from a fire hose – way too much!  A…

What’s for Lunch?

Heart Healthy Lunch Ideas for Your Event! Recently a client asked for some recommendations for what to serve at a luncheon event.  As I compiled a list, I thought perhaps other event professionals might be interested in some suggestions as well!  (They are great for lunch or dinner at home too) Here you go: Salmon…

Event Planning Tip: How to have a great invocation!

Great tips from our pal Jon Petz, author of Boring Meeting Suck, on making an positive impact with an invocation (if you choose to have one) at your next meeting. Jon Petz is an engagement expert. He ensures your meeting or event attendees are engaged into the meeting objectives, team, environment, work effort and passion…

Tips for Busy Event Planners: Fighting Silent Auction Burnout

Is the idea of pulling together yet another silent auction stealing enthusiasm for your event? Are you having a hard time finding a committee member who will volunteer to lead your efforts? Are big-ticket items harder to get? Are your attendees bidding less? Isn’t it time to try something, anything, else? But what? I am…

4 ways to tell if your PowerPoint will bore your audience.

Ticket to Naptime? How do you know if your PowerPoint will bore your audience? Do any of these fit? If the print out of your slides can double as your handout… …your PowerPoint will bore your audience. If you feel the need to annotate your slides… …your PowerPoint will bore your audience. If anyone could…

Honor Your Sponsors — without boring your audience!

Honor your sponsors. It’s a tough thing to do. You need to make your sponsors feel appreciated, but your time is limited and your program is full. How do you hit all of your goals, keep your audience entertained and still get people out the door by 1:00 pm? Be creative and have fun. Use…