INSIDE THE WHITE HOUSE: Having been part of the Washington D.C. news media for several years, I was privy to a number of press conferences and high-level meetings. One of the more interesting parts of these gatherings was the immense amount of planning and preparation that went into making it all work seamlessly. I've also had the pleasure of working with several of the National Embassies in D.C., and was part of those efforts for State dinners and presentations.
Sadly though, I was never part of the White House Press Corps, only gathering from colleagues what it was like beyond those rather sacred doors. I remembered all the stories when I came across this article from AXIOS, where recently they were able to detail what goes on in preparation for a press conference at the mansion. It's a fascinating peek into the planning for an event that has to come off like clockwork every single time. Add to this the heightened level of security that has to accompany every moment the doors are open to the outside world.
Planners at every level take the time and make the effort to see that every detail is covered, and every possibility is anticipated. It's a testament to those in our industry how often this large scale of work is conducted and controlled by a small staff of dedicated people, as in the WH case they do it with a veritable army of workers and experts.
Let's hear from the professionals in the audience. How about a short story of the most difficult higher-level event you've been involved in, and the tricks of the trade you brought to the fore? Drop me an email at berlinerspeaks@gmail.com and we'll feature select comments in the future.
WHAT EXACTLY IS A "PREDATORY CONFERENCE"?: I've spoken at and attended numerous conferences over the years, and never had an issue with the bookers, the agencies, the companies involved, the on-site personnel, and especially the meeting/event/conference planners in charge, all exceptional professionals. Save for one time. I was asked to speak at what was proposed to me as a trade conference in California. We went thru the early discussion and concept phase, had exchanged the talking point ideas to fit their audience, and agreed on the terms of a contract. Having been involved in legal cases during my career, I'm probably one of the few people who reads everything in a contract, even the "boiler plate" material. Nothing gets past me.
Good thing. Buried in the deep fine print was a "Marketing charge" of $1500! It was noted that in order to pay for the upfront marketing and PR, I would be asked to make a "refundable deposit" that would be returned in the final payment. Uh huh. Sure thing, pal. When I tried to reach the organizers, I left 4 messages with no return call. A little deeper dive, and I discovered this was a shadow company and nothing more than a scam that several rookie speakers had fallen for.
it all came flooding back when I read this report from "Nature", including a 2-part investigation into predatory conferences. Worth the read, and certainly worth the education for those at every level of the industry.
THERE'S COMEDY TO BE HAD AT THOSE MEETINGS!: According to a new survey from Barbican Business Events, more than three-quarters (77%) of the meeting and event planners they surveyed have incorporated elements of the arts and culture into their conferences and meetings. One-fifth of those respondents integrate these elements significantly or completely. Turns out that as everyone gets back to live meetings, there's a push for the entertainment side to keep the event fresh and keep the attendees engaged.
As I like to tell people, comedy is one of the best ways to entertain, and there is definitely an art form to making people laugh. That's why we started "Event Laughers", our exclusive service that provides nationally touring, professional comedians for events on-location, via a digital feed, or recorded for playback at any time. What also sets the service apart is the customization of comedy. Every performance is written with elements fed to the comics. The type of event, the people involved, snippets of fun facts and everything that makes it something special.
One recent client had 3 comics prepare material that was played back at specific times over the 3-day conference, including a 10 minute "command performance" at the show close. Went off without a hitch, and it's an event everyone is still talking about.
YOUR TURN: Let's hear stories of your experiences and share them with the community. Drop me a note at berlinerspeaks@gmail.com and fill me in. Rock On, True Believers.
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