Phil Mershon

I’ll never forget when Blake looked at me and said, “I hate this event, but I was bored and wanted to get out of the office.”  That contradiction intrigued me. Which was it? Boring or good enough to pay over $2k to attend? Regardless, his indictment of the event being boring registered with other attendees. […]

I recently watched a CEO try to take a Zoom call from a Tuscan villa. She had spent thousands to be there, yet found herself stuck in the same patterns she was trying to escape. That’s when it hit me – the power of location isn’t just about being somewhere beautiful; it’s about creating an

You’ve done everything right. The speakers are outstanding, the venue is perfect, the schedule is meticulously planned, and your event technology is cutting edge. Yet something’s missing. Despite checking all the boxes, your events still aren’t creating those electric moments of connection that transform attendees into passionate advocates. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone—and

As an event strategist who’s produced hundreds of events, I’ve noticed a fascinating trend: the most memorable moments often have little to do with how much money was spent. Instead, they’re connected to how people felt when they walked in the door, the unexpected delights they experienced, and the genuine connections they made. This insight

“Your checklists are killing connections.” When operations expert Jordan Gill dropped this bomb during our recent interview, I had to pause. Here was someone who built her reputation on systems and processes, telling me that over-managing events was actually destroying their impact. But here’s the revelation: There’s a fundamental difference between managing an event and

Your event ends on Thursday. By Monday morning, it might as well never have happened. Harsh? Perhaps. But according to customer experience expert Brittany Hodak, we’re facing a crisis in event engagement that goes far deeper than attendance numbers or day-of satisfaction surveys. “The biggest threat that you have is something that may not be

When was the last time you danced at a business conference? If you’re like most people, the answer is probably never. But after speaking with event innovator Sigrun, I’m convinced we’re missing a crucial element in our event strategies. Her recent client conference in Zurich not only achieved record-breaking sales but created transformational moments that

In a world drowning in PowerPoint presentations and endless Zoom meetings, event organizers face a critical challenge: how to create truly memorable experiences that transform audiences and drive lasting impact. Recent neuroscience research reveals that traditional presentation formats may be working against our brain’s natural learning processes. But there’s hope – and it might come

The landscape of food blogger conferences is crowded with events catering to beginners, but what happens when content creators outgrow basic “how-to” sessions? The Flavor Media Summit offers valuable lessons for anyone considering launching an advanced conference for experienced professionals. The Power of Finding Your Niche When Megan Porta and Melissa Erdelak launched their high-touch

Have you ever walked into an event and felt uninspired—like the organizers were only focused on the speakers and the content? Meanwhile, the surroundings felt like an afterthought. The truth is, attendees may remember great content, but they remember how you make them feel even more. When an event goes beyond the basics—using intentional activations