For many annual meetings, the Great Resignation has resulted in erosion of loyal, regular attendees and an increase in first-timers, whose experience can be improved with guidance on the best course for them to follow during your program. In his book, The Paradox of Choice, author Barry Schwartz writes: “Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.” For complex conference … [Read more...]
Key Vendor Service-Level Expectations
Key vendors who service the events industry lost a great deal of experienced talent during the pandemic and they haven’t fully restaffed. Here’s how event organizers can ensure they are still getting the service they require. Catering and convention services managers, AV/production project managers/producers, general service contractors, and housing and registration service providers — these are the professionals who keep events humming. But during the pandemic, many account and project … [Read more...]
Putting Plan B into Play for Your Main Stage
Last fall, two of our consulting clients were scheduled to have their annual conferences in Orlando. In late September, Hurricane Ian pummeled central Florida, triggering a significant number of flight cancellations. Group No. 1 had no choice but to cancel its in-person event. Fortunately, this association had already planned a digital version of the conference to be held four weeks after the in-person event. This virtual extension quickly became the back-up plan for the in-person conference. … [Read more...]
Anti-Discrimination Resources for Associations
IStock Photo by Bulat Silvia Last year’s Supreme Court ruling that repealed Roe v. Wade, leading to some states legislating restrictive access to reproductive rights, are considered discriminatory practices to a growing number of professional associations. Some associations and meeting organizers are reevaluating their site-selection requirements for future meetings as well as how to mitigate fall-out from members as they move forward with meetings at destinations previously … [Read more...]
Betsy Bair to Retire from VCC
Betsy Bair, Vice President, Strategic Narratives at Velvet Chainsaw, will retire as of March 31, 2023. For the past seven years, Betsy has been instrumental in project managing many of VCC’s most complex client engagements. Her passion for studying and learning the business of each of our clients is unparalleled. Betsy is a client favorite and has fostered ongoing connections with many of the association leaders she has supported. Our team will miss Betsy most of all. She lifts … [Read more...]
Event Planning Has Risen in the Ranks of Most Stressful Jobs
Before the pandemic, one could argue that jobs with life-and-death consequences were surely more stressful than planning an annual conference. But things have changed. According to a study by the World Scholarship Vault, event planner stress levels are hitting a new high — the third-most stressful job in the world for 2023. Meanwhile, nearly every article I read or industry panel I attend is proclaiming that our industry is nearing a full recovery. If this were the case, your stress levels … [Read more...]
David Beckett Joins the Velvet Chainsaw Team
We are extremely excited to welcome David Beckett, Vice President, Business Model & Performance to the Velvet Chainsaw Consulting team! To me, this is kind of like getting the band back together! I had the privilege to hire and work closely with David at Experient as well as when I was on the board of Eventcore. He knows what it takes to pull off the largest and most complex events in our space. David brings to the table a unique balance of business acumen, out-of-the-box thinking … [Read more...]
Panel Sessions 3.0 for 2023
For years I’ve been a fan of bringing in more outside voices to make mainstage sessions more valuable and deliver more impact. While keynote speakers can still be a significant attendance driver, I think 2023 is the year to resurrect the industry panel. What you don’t want to do is go back to the same old playbook — four or five industry experts sitting at an elevated head table. We can and must do better by mixing it up. Next-generation panels will incorporate these design principles: A … [Read more...]
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