Uncategorized – Phil Mershon

How to Be a Great Emcee: 10 Things Event Organizers Wish You Knew

Phil Mershon — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 22:32:26 +0000

Every event organizer has a great emcee in might call them a dream emcee. Someone who commands the room without overshadowing it. Someone who makes speakers feel celebrated, audiences feel connected, and the whole event feel like it was designed just for them. The problem is that most emcees are hired based on charisma and availability, then left to figure out the rest on their own.

I have spent more than thirty years designing events and working with emcees at every level. I have seen what separates the ones who get hired once from the ones who get called back year after year. It is not raw talent. It is a craft. And craft can be learned.

Here are ten things that will make you the dream emcee every event organizer wants on their team, plus an above-and-beyond challenge for each one if you want to go further.

1. Great emcees know who they are (and who they aren’t).

This is the foundation everything else rests on. Authenticity consistently outperforms performance. Emcees who try to match someone else’s high-octane energy, or adopt a persona they think the room wants, almost always fall flat. The ones who own their natural style, whether that is warm and relational, witty and understated, or energetic and bold, build real connection. Audiences are remarkably good at detecting borrowed energy. Give them the real thing instead.

Above and beyond: Study one emcee you admire and identify the single quality that makes them effective. Then ask yourself honestly: is that quality natural to you, or are you borrowing it? Build your own style around what is genuinely yours, and let go of the rest. And one thing all emcees share in common? Genuine passion.

2. Great emcees serve as a connector, not a talker.

The five minutes before a session starts is one of the most underused windows in any event. Most emcees fill it with announcements, introductions, or small talk. The best ones use it to get the audience talking to each other. Skip the generic “introduce yourself to your neighbor” and try something unexpected. Cassandra Thompson recommends asking questions like: “What is something unique about you that nobody in this room would guess?” or “If you could master one skill overnight, what would it be?” or “What’s your favorite way to eat a potato.” The question should be fun, easy to answer, and just surprising enough to break the ice. Your goal is not to warm up the crowd. It is to get the crowd to warm up each other. A room that is already talking is already a win before the first speaker takes the stage.

Above and beyond: Build a personal library of ten to fifteen connector questions you have tested and know work well. Tailor two or three of them specifically to each event’s audience before you arrive. The more specific the prompt to the people in the room, the faster the conversation catches.

3. Unforgettable emcees position themselves as a peer, not just a host.

One of the fastest ways to build trust with an audience is to put yourself in it. Ramon Ray likes to say “I am here learning alongside you.” That lands differently than “Welcome to the session.” When you frame yourself as someone who is here to grow and discover with the crowd, not someone elevated above them, the audience relaxes. They root for you. They trust your recommendations. They believe your enthusiasm is real. Because it is.

Above and beyond: Share something specific and current that you are personally working on or learning related to the event’s topic. Not a general statement about being a lifelong learner, but something concrete: a tool you just started using, a challenge you are navigating, a question you came to this event hoping to answer. Specificity builds credibility faster than any credential.

4. Great emcees do their homework on every speaker.

A great introduction does two things: it gives the audience a reason to trust the speaker before they have said a word, and it makes the speaker feel genuinely celebrated rather than processed. That requires real preparation. Connect with every speaker before the event, not just the morning of. Ask them questions. Learn something real about them. Build your introduction around that, not around a bio the audience could have read in the program. Leslie Samuel takes this a step further by creating a unique introduction for every speaker: a rap, a skit, a song.

Above and beyond: Ask each speaker one question nobody ever asks them: “What is something about you or your work that most people would be surprised to learn?” Then find a way to weave that into your introduction. That single detail, the unexpected one, is often what the audience remembers most.

5. Epic emcees understand the audience you are serving.

Before you ever walk into the room, know who is in it. What are their backgrounds? What skill levels are represented? What did they come hoping to leave with? That context shapes every decision you make, from the tone of your connector prompts to how you frame speaker introductions to the kind of humor that will land. Ask the event organizer for an attendee persona brief. If one does not exist, ask enough questions to build your own picture. An emcee who understands the room can serve it. One who does not is guessing.

Above and beyond: Arrive early and spend fifteen minutes in the hallway before your first session. Introduce yourself to five or six attendees and ask what brought them to the event. Those conversations will give you real-time intelligence that no brief can fully capture, and you will find yourself drawing on it all day.

6. Great emcees find at least one crowd engagement moment in every session.

Every session you host should have at least one moment where the audience does something together. It does not have to be elaborate. A call for wins. A show of hands. A reference to something funny that happened the night before. A quick vote. What matters is that the crowd is reminded they are in a room together, not just watching something happen at the front. Those moments of collective participation help people feel like they aren’t alone and part of something bigger than themselves.

Above and beyond: In larger rooms where one-to-one conversation is impractical, use group-response prompts instead. Ask people to raise their hand if they have experienced a specific challenge. Invite a section of the room to shout out one word that describes their biggest goal. Even a simple “turn to someone near you and share one thing you are taking from this session” creates connection when you give people a specific prompt rather than an open-ended invitation.

7. Dream emcees make the speaker handoff a moment, not a gap.

When you finish your introduction, do not walk off stage and wait for the speaker to arrive. Stay center stage until they get there. Greet them with a handshake or a hug. Let the audience see a warm, human connection happen in real time. Then step back. That ten-second moment keeps the energy unbroken, signals to the speaker that they are welcomed, and shows the audience that this is a community, not a production. Leaving a gap between your exit and the speaker’s entrance is one of the most common momentum killers in live events, and it is completely fixable.

Above and beyond: Make the handoff personal. If you connected with the speaker beforehand and learned something meaningful about them, let that warmth show in how you greet them on stage. A genuine moment of human connection between the emcee and the speaker sets the emotional temperature for the entire session that follows.

8. Top emcees keep speakers on stage after their session.

When a speaker finishes and immediately walks off, the room loses a chance to honor what just happened. Hold them on stage for thirty to sixty seconds. Let the applause build. Add a personal note of appreciation when the session genuinely moved you. Offer two or three key takeaways to help the content land before the audience disperses. The most powerful version of this is a genuine, unrehearsed reaction: an honest response, not a performance. When the crowd sees you were actually affected by what they just heard, they trust you more, they trust the speaker more, and they feel the experience more deeply.

Above and beyond: If time allows, invite the speaker to stay for one quick question from the audience before they leave the stage. Frame it as a gift to the room: “Before we let this person go, here’s a question I’ll bet everyone is asking.” That single exchange often produces more memorable moments than anything that happened during the formal session.

9. Great emcees build running callbacks and humor across the event.

Single-session emcees host a room. Multi-day emcees build a relationship. The ones who are still being talked about at the closing reception are the ones who created something with the audience over time. A running joke that returns on day two. A callback to a moment that happened in the hallway. An inside reference that only the people who were there will understand. These threads make attendees feel like insiders and give people a reason to stay engaged across the full arc of the event. Think of yourself less as a host and more as a storyteller with a very long act.

Above and beyond: Keep a small notebook or note on your phone throughout the event. Write down the funny moments, the unexpected quotes, the things that made the room laugh or gasp. Those are your raw material for callbacks. The best ones are never planned in advance. They come from paying close attention to what is actually happening in the room.

10. Great emcees know they are on stage throughout the entire event.

The emcee role does not end when you step off the stage. You are a public figure for the duration of the event. Conversations in hallways, comments between sessions, reactions near a live mic: all of it is visible and audible to more people than you realize. Voices carry further than expected in conference environments. That is not a reason to become guarded or artificial. It is a reason to stay grounded in your professional best self, even when you think no one is watching. Your authority in the room is built on trust. Protect it as carefully as you build it.

Above and beyond: Use your visibility between sessions as an asset rather than a liability. Circulate intentionally. Introduce yourself to attendees who look like they are on the edges of the room. Connect people to each other. When you show up as a connector in the hallway the same way you do on stage, the trust you build compounds across the entire event.

The emcees who consistently get called back are not necessarily the most talented people in the room. They are the most intentional. They become a member of the event team by thinking about the experience of every person in that space, from the speaker walking on stage to the attendee sitting in the back row wondering if they made the right choice coming to this session.

When you orient everything you do around that single question, how can I help everyone in this room have a better experience, the craft takes care of itself. And the organizers who hired you will already be thinking about how to bring you back.

How Music Creates an Unforgettable Event Experience: Lessons from #SMMW26

Phil Mershon — Wed, 13 May 2026 13:47:40 +0000

How Music Creates an Unforgettable Event Experience

Most event leaders think about music last. A playlist here. A DJ there. Something to fill the silence between sessions.

At Social Media Marketing World 2026, we want to create unforgettable event experiences. This year we tried something fundamentally different. We treated music as infrastructure. As architecture. As one of the most powerful tools available for creating an unforgettable event experience.

Here’s what happened, what we learned, and why it matters for anyone who designs gatherings where culture and memory are the goal.

When a Song Becomes an Anthem

You walk into the opening keynote of a conference with over two thousand people. The lights dim. An original song begins. It feels timely, about the thing keeping you up at night: will artificial intelligence replace you?

Michael King takes the stage. He’s not just performing. He’s coaching. He’s speaking directly to your fear and offering you a mirror.

By the time he finishes, the room is quiet. Moved. Then something unexpected happens.

Over the next two days, speaker after speaker begins echoing the song’s central message: be authentically yourself. Stop copying everyone else. The song was designed as a timely theme song, but we never anticipated how it would become a conference anthem.

This is what happens when you think strategically about music as infrastructure for your event, not decoration. And it is why Social Media Marketing World 2026 became the most immersive unforgettable event experience we have ever produced.

We started with intention. Michael King and I explored what our audience actually feared. The answer was immediate and honest: people are scared that artificial intelligence will make them obsolete.

So he wrote a song called “Authentically Me” to answer that fear head on. We positioned it at the opening keynote to set the emotional and intellectual tone for the entire conference.

But here is the thing: we did not script what happened next. We created the conditions for it.

Two Songs, One Identity

Meanwhile, Brianna Shelko and her team at Level Up Music Productions were designing something different: a branded theme song for the conference itself. Not just a playlist. A theme.

The two and a half minute cinematic version opened the conference alongside a video created by Shawn Quintero. It expressed things attendees were feeling without words.

You left behind your family. You left behind your work. You made a big effort to get here. Let’s breathe. Let’s focus.

Then we reminded them of our promises: actionable insights, genuine connection, and permission to have a good time. Most importantly: you belong in this room.

That theme did not disappear after the opening. The instrumental and vocal versions became part of a carefully curated playlist woven throughout the entire event. Attendees heard it dozens of times, but not by accident.

How We Integrated the Theme Song Throughout the Event

The vocal version became the walk on and walk off music for every breakout session. We taught the audience to sing it on the main stage and choreographed a movement to go with it. We brought in a high school show choir on Thursday morning to create a highlighted moment.

By the end of the conference, the song was lodged in people’s minds. It became an earworm that people could not stop humming days later.

That is not accidental. That is what intentional, strategic use of music inside an unforgettable event experience looks like in practice.

Music Is Architecture, Not Decoration

Here is what we learned: music is not background. It is architecture.

Music shapes how people feel the moment they arrive. It calms the nervous system when attendees are surrounded by strangers. It creates emotional coherence across a multi-day experience. It gives people permission to be present instead of distracted.

And critically, it creates the conditions for unexpected moments to emerge. This is what I call serendipity by design: building the environment so that the moments you cannot plan are more likely to happen.

What Most Event Leaders Get Wrong About Music

Most conferences treat music as a commodity. They license a generic playlist, hire a DJ to fill transition time, and move on. The result is an event that feels like every other event.

Strategic music selection and integration does the opposite. It signals to attendees that every element of this experience was considered. It communicates that they are somewhere different. It tells them this gathering has an identity.

That identity is what makes an event truly unforgettable.

The Ripple Effect of a Strategic Soundtrack

When people hear that theme song weeks later on a playlist or in passing, they do not just feel nostalgia. They feel a pivot point.

They remember the insights they gained. They think about the people they met. They are reminded of what they committed to doing differently. Often, they tell a friend to come back next year.

This is the difference between entertainment and impact. Entertainment fills time. Impact changes behavior. A strategically designed unforgettable event experience uses music to drive both memory and action long after the event ends.

What This Means for Your Event

If you are a business leader or event owner thinking about what makes your gathering distinctive, this is worth your full attention.

Music is one of the most powerful and most underutilized tools available to you for shaping culture, creating identity, and generating the conditions for serendipity. When you align it with your message and your moment, when you integrate it throughout the entire experience rather than treating it as a detail, music becomes the connective tissue of your event.

That is one lens on what makes an experience truly unforgettable.

There are many others.

If you are ready to think strategically about designing an event experience your attendees will never forget, I would love to have a conversation.

CONTACT LINK: Let’s talk about your event

Phil Mershon is the founder of Unforgettable Experiences and the author of “Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences.” He has spent more than a two decades designing large-scale events that blend strategy, culture, and creativity. He speaks, consults, and coaches leaders who want their gatherings to matter long after the last session ends.

Why Most Presentations Are Forgotten

Phil Mershon — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 04:57:00 +0000

How to make a presentation memorable starts with a question most speakers never ask.

A friend would not stop talking about a podcast episode.

Three hours long. On personal freedom. I had zero interest.

I have two degrees related to the subject. I spent more than twenty years as a pastor. I had read the books, taught the principles, counseled people through the struggle. Whatever this podcast had to offer, I was confident I had already covered the territory.

My friend kept nudging. So eventually, more to quiet him than anything else, I pressed play.

Within ten minutes, I had not moved. Within thirty, I had paused it twice to sit with what I was hearing. By the end of the three hours, I had already ordered the book and signed up for a two-month program.

What happened?

The speaker described a problem I did not know I had. He named it precisely. He traced its edges. He told stories about people who looked exactly like me, people with credentials and confidence, and showed how the very things that made them feel secure were keeping them stuck.

He did not simply inform me. He provoked me.

That is the difference between a talk people appreciate and a talk that actually changes them.

The Real Reason People Forget Most Presentations

If you want to know how to make a presentation memorable, start here: most presentations fail not because the speaker lacks skill or the content is weak. They fail because they never create enough discomfort to make the audience care.

A talk that only informs is easy to forget. A talk that provokes is not.

Provocation is not aggression. It is the art of helping your audience feel the full weight of a problem so that your solution becomes not just interesting but necessary. When people understand what staying the same actually costs, they stop filing your talk away and start acting on it.

After working with hundreds of speakers across industries and event stages, I have found that the most memorable presentations share six qualities. Each one makes the talk harder to ignore and harder to forget.

6 Ways to Make a Presentation Memorable Through Provocation

1. Describe the Real Problem, Not Just the Surface Symptom

Most speakers name the symptom and move straight to the solution. The audience nods and forgets both by Tuesday.

The real problem is almost always buried. It is the thing beneath the thing.

When the podcast host described what personal freedom looks like when it is absent, he was not talking about vague dissatisfaction. He named specific patterns: the inability to rest, the compulsive need to perform, the relationships that suffered quietly while the person looked successful from the outside.

That specificity creates recognition. Recognition is what turns a passive listener into an active participant.

The takeaway: Before your next talk, ask whether you are describing the real problem or just its most visible symptoms. The deeper you go, the harder the talk is to dismiss.

2. Help Your Audience See Themselves in Your Story

A problem that belongs to someone else is interesting. A problem that belongs to you is urgent.

The podcast host told stories of people with advanced degrees, professional credentials, and decades of experience who still had not addressed this particular blind spot. He was not describing people who were lost or broken. He was describing people who looked like me.

That is when I stopped listening as an observer and started listening as a patient.

The takeaway: Identify the specific person in your audience who most needs to hear this. Shape your story so that person recognizes themselves before you ever ask them to.

3. Reveal What Is Beneath the Surface

Most people are aware of about ten percent of any given problem. The other ninety percent sits below the waterline, invisible and unaddressed.

The podcast host shared his own journey from denial to awareness. His starting point was not ignorance. It was confidence. He had built a life and an identity on top of an unexamined assumption, and it took something significant to make him look down.

That is where the depth of the problem lives. Not in the people who know they are struggling, but in the people who are absolutely certain they are not.

The takeaway: Where in your talk can you go deeper beneath the surface? Help your audience see what they have been avoiding. That is not frightening them. That is respecting them enough to tell the truth.

4. Make Your Story Relatable, Not Polished

There is a temptation, especially for experienced speakers, to position yourself above the problem. You solved it. You have the framework. You are standing safely on the other side.

Resist that.

The speakers who change people are the ones who let the audience see the journey, not just the destination. The podcast host did not present himself as someone who had never struggled. He presented himself as someone who had struggled in exactly the way I was struggling and found a way through. His starting place was my starting place. That made the path feel possible.

The takeaway: Share where you started, not just where you ended up. The audience does not need a hero. They need a guide who knows the terrain.

5. Amplify the Consequences of Inaction

A cardiologist who tells a patient they will die within thirty days without surgery will have that patient signing consent forms before they leave the office. The same cardiologist who explains that poor diet will cost them ten years of their life will often watch that patient choose the cheesecake anyway.

Urgency is not automatic. You have to create it.

This is not about manufacturing fear or overstating your case. It is about giving your audience an honest accounting of what staying the same actually costs. Not someday. Not in theory. Right now, in their specific situation.

The takeaway: Show your audience what another year of this looks like. Make the cost of inaction as vivid as the promise of your solution. When people can feel the weight of the status quo, they become willing to carry something new.

6. Deliver a Direct Solution to the Problem You Raised

Provocation without resolution is just pain.

Once you have helped your audience feel the real weight of the problem, you have made a promise. They are listening. They are leaning in. You owe them a path forward that is genuinely connected to the wound you exposed.

The podcast host offered one small, concrete first step at the end of his setup. It proved that change was possible, and that the larger process was worth pursuing.

The takeaway: Give your audience something they can act on before they lose momentum. If you have named a real problem and helped them feel its cost, a clear solution will not feel like a pitch. It will feel like relief.

The Provocation Checklist: A Quick Self-Assessment

Before your next presentation, run through these six questions:

The Real Problem Test. Am I describing the actual problem or only its surface symptoms?

The Mirror Test. Can the people in this room see themselves in my story?

The Iceberg Test. Am I going beneath the surface of the problem, or staying in safe territory?

The Journey Test. Does my story show my path from the problem to the solution, or position me above the struggle?

The Urgency Test. Have I made the cost of inaction visible and specific?

The Promise Test. Does my talk deliver a direct solution to the problem I raised?

If you can answer yes to all six, you are not just delivering information. You are creating an experience your audience will carry with them long after they leave the room.

What Provocation Is Really About

A talk that provokes is not a talk that makes people uncomfortable for its own sake. It is a talk that respects the audience enough to tell them the truth about where they are.

When you name the real problem, close the distance between their story and yours, reveal what they have not been willing to see, and hand them a genuine path forward, you are doing something close to what the best therapists do.

You are helping people become ready to change.

That is how to make a presentation memorable. Not because it was polished or perfectly structured, but because it reached someone in the room at exactly the moment they needed to be reached.

Do not settle for interesting. Aim for necessary.

Ready to Build Talks That Actually Change People?

If you want to go deeper on how to make your presentations more provocative, more memorable, and more impactful, I work with speakers one-on-one to develop talks that earn attention and drive real results.

Book a speaker coaching call with Phil Mershon

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ): How to make a presentation memorable

Q: What makes a presentation memorable?

A: The most memorable presentations do one thing most speakers avoid: they provoke. They help the audience feel the real weight of a problem before offering a solution. Information alone is forgettable. Recognition is not. When an audience hears their own struggle named precisely, sees themselves in the story, and understands the real cost of staying the same, they stop filing your talk away and start acting on it. Memorable presentations are not more polished. They are more honest.

Q: How do you make a presentation stick with your audience long after it ends?

A: The talks people remember six months later almost always share one quality: they installed a vivid image or story that carries the core idea. Facts fade. Feelings and pictures last. To make a presentation stick, connect every major point to a concrete story, a relatable character, or a visual the audience can return to long after the slides are gone. Then end with a specific action they can take tomorrow, not a summary of what you covered.

Q: What is the biggest mistake speakers make in presentations?

A: Describing the symptom instead of the real problem. Most speakers name the surface issue and jump straight to their solution. The audience nods and forgets both. The real problem is almost always buried beneath the visible one. When you take the time to expose what is actually driving the struggle, specifically and honestly, the audience can no longer dismiss it as someone else’s problem. That is when a talk shifts from informative to necessary.

Q: How do you open a presentation in a way that grabs attention?

A: Skip the credentials and start with the problem. Audiences do not yet care who you are when you walk on stage. They care whether you understand their situation. Open with a story or a moment that names the tension they are already living with. When the audience hears themselves in your first sixty seconds, they lean forward. You can earn the right to share your background after they have decided you are worth listening to.

Q: How is speaker coaching different from presentation training?

A: Presentation training typically focuses on delivery mechanics: how to stand, how to use slides, how to manage nerves. Speaker coaching goes deeper. It starts with the message itself, who the audience is, what problem you are solving, and whether your talk is actually designed to change people or just inform them. A good speaker coach helps you find the talk that only you can give, and then builds the delivery around that. The goal is not a polished performance. It is a presentation your audience cannot forget.

Phil Mershon is the founder of Unforgettable Events, LLC, a strategic event architect, keynote speaker, and speaker coach. He is the author of Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences and the forthcoming Creating Impact: How to Deliver Unforgettable Presentations. He has worked with hundreds of speakers across industries to help them deliver talks that are memorable, meaningful, and momentous.

Speaker Coaching: The First Mistake Many Speakers Make

Phil Mershon — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 14:45:47 +0000

I’ve seen brilliant speakers bomb.

Not because they lacked skill.
Not because their content was weak.
Not because they weren’t prepared.

They failed because they misread the room.

As someone who provides speaker coaching to leaders, executives, and event professionals, I can tell you this is the most common mistake I see.

Most presentations are informative.
Some are practical.
A few become permanent.

The difference is not talent.

It’s alignment.

And alignment begins with one thing most speakers rush past:

People.

If you don’t know who is in the room, you are forcing them to eat something they didn’t order.

When a Great Talk Fails

One year, a speaker made a painful mistake.

He had just delivered a talk to rave reviews at another event. Standing ovation. Glowing feedback. High scores.

So he brought the exact same talk to our audience.

He bombed.

Second-lowest scores of the entire event.

Nothing was wrong with his delivery. Nothing was wrong with his confidence. The problem was alignment. The two events were solving different problems for different people.

He had not read the room.

In retrospect, he realized something critical: what resonated deeply with one audience felt misaligned to the other. It wasn’t just emphasis that needed adjusting.

The message itself had to evolve.

Once he began working through a more intentional speaker coaching process—clarifying the audience, redefining the problem, reshaping the message—everything changed. His scores didn’t just recover. They rose into the top 10%.

Same speaker.
Same skill level.
Different alignment.

That is the difference speaker coaching can make.

Why Audience Clarity Is the Foundation of Speaker Coaching

In my speaker coaching work, I start with one foundational principle:

You cannot speak powerfully to people you haven’t imagined clearly.

Before outlining a talk, I ask clients:

Who exactly will be in the room?
Why are they there?
How invested are they?
What problem are they trying to solve?

Are they founders under pressure?
Employees required to attend?
Students exploring identity?
Leaders navigating uncertainty?

Are they there voluntarily or because their boss said so?

A room full of people who paid $2,000 to attend is different from a room full of employees required to be there at 8:00 a.m.

One group leans forward.

The other may lean back.

If you treat them the same, you will lose one of them.

Effective speaker coaching helps presenters adapt intentionally rather than guessing.

The Uncomfortable Question Every Speaker Must Answer

Here is the question most speakers avoid:

Is your talk connected to why they came?

Not why you were invited.

Why they came.

If there is a gap between your message and their motivation, you must earn the pivot. You cannot assume alignment.

When speakers miss this, audiences rarely revolt. They disengage quietly.

They nod.
They clap.
They forget.

One of the primary goals of speaker coaching is preventing that quiet disengagement.

Speaker Coaching Questions That Change Everything

When I coach speakers, I ask deeper audience questions than most expect. Often, event organizers struggle to answer them. That alone tells you why alignment gets missed.

Here are some of the core questions I use in speaker coaching:

What transformation or takeaway do you promise your audience?
What urgent problem or missed opportunity are you helping them face?
Who is your ideal audience? (role, mindset, season of life)
What is this audience thinking, feeling, and doing right now?
What is consuming their thoughts or worries?
What doubts, frustrations, or longings do they carry?
What outside forces are shaping their mood and attention?

The better these answers, the stronger the talk.

When You Adapt Too Much

Audience alignment is essential. But speaker coaching is not about constant reinvention.

Early in my career, I toured the Midwest for 90 days, speaking 60 to 70 times on college campuses.

Each night, I met with organizers to understand the audience. What were they struggling with? What mattered on that campus?

My talks became sharper. More relevant. More connected.

But then something subtle happened.

I got bored with my core message. So I started changing it. Then changing it again. Eventually, I shifted not just emphasis, but substance.

And I missed.

I missed the audience.
And I missed my purpose.

In trying to adapt too much, I diluted what made the message powerful.

Great speaker coaching teaches discernment.

Sometimes the core message must evolve for a new audience. Other times, the core remains steady while the framing adapts.

Wisdom is knowing which is which.

The Balance Every Powerful Speaker Must Master

Great speakers hold two commitments at the same time:

The message has integrity.
The audience has context.

You must be able to articulate your core idea in one clear sentence. That is your anchor.

But how you introduce it, what examples you choose, what stories you tell, and how you frame the problem must reflect the room.

If anyone could give your talk to anyone, it may be helpful.

If only you could give your talk to this audience in this moment, it becomes powerful.

That is what strategic speaker coaching develops.

Start Here

Before your next presentation, ask:

Can I clearly describe who will be in the room?
Do I know why they are there?
Does my message align with their lived reality?
Am I adapting wisely without drifting from purpose?

Because the talk may be yours.

But the transformation belongs to them.

And transformation always begins with people.

The Art of Community Resilience: Building Event Teams That Show Up When It Matters Most

Phil Mershon — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 11:00:00 +0000

When disaster strikes, it’s not just about how quickly you can rebuild – it’s about the strength of the relationships you’ve cultivated along the way. This summer, the Wichita Open faced an unexpected challenge that put those relationships to the ultimate test.

As I sat down with Dusty Buell, leader of the Wichita Open, and Ari Gross from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, I was struck by their incredible story of resilience, community spirit, and the power of authentic connections.

The Storm That Shook Wichita

Picture this: It’s 4:30 AM on a Tuesday, just days before one of the most anticipated events in Wichita. Dusty receives a text that would make any event organizer’s heart sink – a tornado had swept through the golf course, leaving destruction in its wake.

“When I pulled in there a little after 5 AM, it’s devastation,” Dusty recalled. “You don’t understand the magnitude of what happened until you show up and put boots on the ground and see it for yourself.”

With the Pro-Am scheduled to start at 6:50 AM the very next day, and the main tournament kicking off on Thursday, the clock was ticking. This wasn’t just a minor setback – it was a potential event-ending disaster.

The Power of Authentic Relationships

In that moment of crisis, something remarkable happened. The community that Dusty and his team had invested in for years showed up in force.

“My first call was to my buddies,” Dusty shared. “The guys that I’ve known since I was 4 years old and played on sports teams with. All I have to do is give them a call.”

But it didn’t stop there. As word spread, an army of volunteers materialized:

Local residents with rakes and leaf blowers
CEOs trading their desks for chainsaws
Lawn care companies arriving with trailers
Sponsors and stakeholders rallying their networks

Ari, representing title sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas, was amazed by the response.

“We show up and they don’t need us because there are so many volunteers already in action. I mean, what they were able to clear in just the first couple of hours…”

This outpouring of support wasn’t just about saving a golf tournament. It was a testament to the genuine connections and community spirit that Dusty, Ari, and their teams had fostered over the years.

Lessons in Resilience and Community Building

As we reflected on this extraordinary experience, several key lessons emerged for event organizers and business leaders:

1. Invest in Relationships Year-Round

The relationships that saved the Wichita Open weren’t built overnight. They were the result of consistent, authentic engagement throughout the year. As Dusty put it, “This is 365 days.”

2. Create a Sense of Shared Ownership

The volunteers who showed up didn’t see themselves as outsiders helping an event. They felt a sense of ownership and pride in the Wichita Open. This speaks to the importance of making your stakeholders feel truly invested in your event’s success.

3. Be Transparent in Times of Crisis

Dusty emphasized the importance of vulnerability and transparency when communicating with the community. This openness fostered trust and motivated people to help.

Brooksie Hughes talked about the importance of humor during monsoons in this episode.

4. Flexibility is Key

Both Dusty and Ari highlighted the need to be adaptable. When all your carefully laid plans go out the window, the ability to pivot quickly becomes crucial.

5. Focus on the Human Element

In the midst of logistical chaos, it’s easy to lose sight of the human connections that make events special. Ari’s team found unexpected bonding moments in late-night furniture assembly by golf cart headlights.

The Ripple Effect of Community Spirit

The impact of this community response extended far beyond saving the tournament. It reinforced the unique spirit of Wichita and created lasting memories for everyone involved.

Ari shared a touching personal moment:

“My husband has followed George Brett since he was 10 years old. He had an opportunity to interact with George and he froze. And it has been one of his greatest regrets in life. So when George shows up and he’s like hanging out in our space, and then Bill gets to follow like 18 holes of golf with his childhood hero. I mean, like, life is good.”

These are the kinds of magical moments that can emerge from crisis when you have a strong community foundation.

Building Resilience Into Your Event DNA

As we wrapped up our conversation, I asked Dusty and Ari what they would teach in a masterclass on resilience. Their responses encapsulate the spirit that turned potential disaster into triumph:

Dusty: “It’s never over. That there’s always a way to find a way if you have the will in your heart.”

Ari: “Attitude is everything… It’s really amazing what you can accomplish when you just choose not to be negative.”

The story of the 2025 Wichita Open is more than just an inspiring tale of overcoming adversity. It’s a powerful reminder of the importance of building genuine, lasting relationships within your community. When you invest in people consistently, they’ll show up for you when it matters most.

For event organizers and business leaders, the lesson is clear: Your most valuable asset isn’t your venue, your sponsors, or even your event itself. It’s the web of authentic relationships you weave throughout the year. Nurture those connections, and you’ll build an event – and a community – that can weather any storm.

The Art of Purpose-Driven Events: Creating Transformation That Matters

Phil Mershon — Tue, 23 Sep 2025 09:50:00 +0000

When it comes to planning events, it’s easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of big-name speakers, fancy venues, and cutting-edge technology. But as I’ve learned through years of experience and countless conversations with industry experts, the true measure of an event’s success lies in its ability to drive meaningful outcomes for attendees and organizers alike.

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Liz Caruso, CEO of Techsytalk, about the art of identifying and pursuing an event’s true goals beyond just revenue. Her insights offer a fresh perspective on how we can create more impactful, transformative experiences for our audiences.

Recording link

Looking Beyond the Surface

One of the first things Liz emphasized was the importance of digging deeper into a client’s goals:

“A lot of times people say more money or I need a bigger audience, but they haven’t really quantified what that looks like and they don’t… I find 8 out of 10 times they don’t even know where they’re at.”

This resonated with me deeply. As event strategists, it’s our job to help clients see beyond surface-level objectives and uncover the true purpose of their gathering. Here are a few strategies to help you do just that:

1. Ask the Right Questions

Instead of jumping straight into logistics, start by asking probing questions about your client’s long-term vision:

What problem are your attendees trying to solve?
What transformation are they seeking?
How does this event fit into your overall business strategy?

These questions can help uncover the deeper motivations driving the event and guide your planning process accordingly.

2. Focus on Community Building

Liz shared an interesting perspective on the types of clients she works best with:

“I’m a big community person. I really believe that we’re better when we’re connected to each other. So those are kind of the best clients for us.”

This emphasis on community-building can be a powerful guiding principle for your events. Consider how you can create opportunities for meaningful connections and collaborations among attendees, rather than just delivering information.

3. Align Expectations Early

One of the most critical elements in achieving an event’s true goals is ensuring that everyone is on the same page from the start. As Liz put it:

“If you aren’t able to articulate what you need and what you expect from stakeholders, vendors, attendees, whoever it is, then and you’re not able to ask them the right questions to figure out what their expectations are, you’re starting off failing.”

Take the time to clearly define and communicate expectations with all stakeholders involved in the event planning process.

Designing for Transformation

Once you’ve identified the true goals of your event, the next step is designing an experience that facilitates transformation. Here are some strategies Liz shared:

1. Rethink Traditional Formats

Liz challenged the conventional wisdom of slide-heavy presentations and theater-style seating:

“We try to eliminate or greatly reduce the need for AV. So smaller events, less, you know, stage and speaker type setups and more round table, intimate retreat type setups where they’re interacting with each other more.”

Consider how you can create more interactive, engaging environments that encourage participation and dialogue.

2. Embrace Experiential Learning

Instead of relying solely on lectures and panels, look for ways to incorporate hands-on, experiential learning opportunities. Liz suggested ideas like:

Taking a hike with a speaker to discuss a topic
Participating in a cooking class while exploring industry trends
Offering a variety of concurrent sessions with different formats to cater to diverse learning styles

3. Create Space for Reflection and Implementation

True transformation doesn’t happen in isolation. As Liz pointed out:

“For transformation to happen, there has to be, yes, some good inspirational aha content. There has to be time for reflection and I think there even has to be time and guided activity through the implementation of that.”

Consider incorporating elements like:

Guided reflection sessions after key presentations
Action planning workshops
Post-event accountability groups to support implementation

Measuring Success Beyond Revenue

While financial metrics are important, they don’t tell the whole story of an event’s impact. Liz shared some alternative ways to gauge success:

Attendee surveys focused on emotional experience and transformation
Social media sentiment analysis
Return attendance rates
Post-event action implementation (like the attendee who found a $10,000 idea in one session)

By broadening your definition of success, you can create events that not only meet financial goals but also drive lasting change for attendees and organizations alike.

Embracing Your Role as a Strategic Partner

As we wrapped up our conversation, Liz emphasized the evolving role of event professionals:

“Planners have to really be thinking about how they can sit in more of that advisory strategy role to stay relevant, you know, with this ridiculous AI wave that’s taking us over.”

This shift towards strategic partnership is crucial for creating truly impactful events. By focusing on uncovering and pursuing an event’s true goals beyond revenue, we can elevate our role from mere executors to trusted advisors and change-makers.

Remember, at the end of the day, our job is not just to plan logistics but to create experiences that catalyze transformation. As Liz beautifully put it:

“Bring people together with purpose… Let the humans show up as humans and give them space to connect with people on human levels.”

By keeping this human-centered approach at the forefront of our planning, we can create events that don’t just meet expectations – they exceed them, leaving a lasting impact that resonates long after the last attendee has gone home.

Psychological Safety and Full Out: Keys to Broadway-Inspired Event Excellence

Phil Mershon — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 03:42:00 +0000

our experiences and create transformative moments for our attendees. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Wendee Lee Curtis, a Broadway veteran with decades of experience, about her Broadway Blueprint. This conversation opened my eyes to the powerful lessons we can learn from the world of theater and apply to our events.

The Sacred Nature of Performance

One of the most striking aspects of Broadway culture is how performers view their work as sacred. This isn’t just a job; it’s a calling. As Curtis explained, “Broadway performers and Broadway really views the work that they do as sacred. We believe that the work that we do is sacred.”

This perspective shift can be game-changing for event professionals. When we approach our work with the same level of reverence and dedication, it elevates everything we do. It’s not just about putting on a show; it’s about creating an experience that has the power to change hearts and minds.

The Power of “Circle”

Curtis introduced me to a powerful pre-show ritual called “Circle.” Before every Broadway performance, the entire cast and crew gather on stage, holding hands in a circle. They speak words of encouragement and set intentions for the performance ahead. This practice creates a sense of unity and purpose that carries through the entire show.

While we may not be able to replicate this exact ritual at our events, the principle behind it is invaluable. Creating moments of connection and shared purpose among our team and speakers before an event can set a powerful tone for what’s to come.

Going “Full Out”

Perhaps the most crucial lesson from Broadway is the concept of going “full out.” As Curtis passionately explained, “If you don’t have full out that night, then you need to call out, and that’s okay, too.” This commitment to giving 100% or nothing at all ensures that every performance meets the highest standards.

In the event world, we don’t always have the luxury of calling out. However, we can create an environment that encourages and supports our speakers and team members in bringing their best selves to the stage. This might involve:

Providing pre-event support and coaching
Creating moments of connection and energy-building before sessions
Encouraging transparency about challenges or concerns
Offering resources to help speakers and team members get “in the zone”

Building a Deep Bench

Broadway shows are known for their ability to continue seamlessly even when lead actors are unable to perform. This is due to their robust understudy system and cross-training practices. Curtis shared a remarkable story of a show where five understudies performed in one night, including a leading lady who had never before performed the role for an audience.

While we may not be able to have understudies for every speaker at our events, this principle of preparedness and flexibility is crucial. Consider ways to build redundancy into your event planning:

Cross-train team members on different roles
Have backup plans for key sessions or activities
Create a culture where asking for help is encouraged and supported

Creating Psychological Safety

Underlying all of these Broadway principles is the concept of psychological safety. Curtis emphasized, “I cannot overstate the importance of creating a space that is psychologically safe for people to be transparent. Nothing good, nothing great can happen until people can be transparent.”

In our events, this means fostering an environment where team members, speakers, and even attendees feel safe to express concerns, ask for help, and bring their authentic selves to the experience.

Bringing Broadway Magic to Your Events

While we may not be putting on Broadway shows, we can certainly infuse our events with some of that Broadway magic. Here are some practical ways to incorporate these lessons:

Start with intention: Begin each day of your event with a team huddle, setting intentions and energizing the group.
Encourage “full out” performances: Create pre-session rituals for speakers to help them get in the zone and deliver their best.
Build your bench: Invest in cross-training and have contingency plans for key roles.
Foster psychological safety: Create channels for open communication and encourage vulnerability among your team and speakers.
Treat your event as sacred: Approach your work with the reverence and dedication of a Broadway performer.

By incorporating these Broadway-inspired principles into our event planning and execution, we can create truly transformative experiences that resonate long after the final curtain call. As Curtis so beautifully put it, “If we’re going to gather, let us gather so that we can change hearts and minds.”

Let’s bring that Broadway magic to our next event and create something truly spectacular.

Follow Wendee here:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendeeleecurtis/

Website: wendeeleecurtis.com/

Unconventional Connections: How Selective Attendee Vetting Elevates Event Experiences

Phil Mershon — Tue, 04 Mar 2025 06:36:00 +0000

Creating an event that truly resonates with attendees is no small feat. It requires careful planning, a clear vision, and a willingness to break from convention. Recently, I had the pleasure of speaking with Vincent Pugliese, the mastermind behind the innovative “Unconference” event. His approach to curating an ideal group of attendees through a thoughtful application process offers valuable insights for anyone looking to elevate their event strategy.

The Power of Intentional Curation

Vincent’s Unconference wasn’t just another run-of-the-mill gathering. It was a carefully orchestrated experience designed to bring together the right people in the right environment. The key to its success? A rigorous application and vetting process that ensured every attendee was there for the right reasons.

Quality Over Quantity

Instead of aiming for a massive turnout, Vincent focused on creating an intimate atmosphere with around 100 attendees. This allowed for deeper connections and more meaningful interactions. As he put it, “I don’t want people that I need to grab by the hand and pull into things. I want people that want to be there.”

Personal Touch in the Selection Process

Vincent took the time to personally speak with nearly every applicant before extending an invitation. This level of involvement allowed him to:

Gauge each person’s potential contribution to the event
Ensure a diverse mix of experiences and perspectives
Set clear expectations for the unconventional format

While time-consuming, this approach paid dividends in creating a cohesive and engaged group of attendees.

Fostering Genuine Connections

The Unconference was designed to maximize opportunities for meaningful interaction among attendees. Vincent implemented several strategies to facilitate these connections:

Curated Dining Experiences

One standout feature was the “secret dinners” organized for attendees. Vincent carefully matched people based on their interests and backgrounds, creating small groups for intimate dinners at local restaurants. This approach allowed for deeper conversations and relationship-building outside the main event space.

Comprehensive Attendee Profiles

To help break the ice and spark conversations, Vincent created a detailed program featuring each attendee’s photo and a brief bio. This simple tool proved invaluable in helping people identify potential connections and conversation starters.

Embracing the Unexpected

While meticulous planning was crucial, Vincent also recognized the importance of allowing for organic moments and interactions. He created an environment where attendees felt empowered to take initiative and shape their own experience.

Flexible Scheduling

Rather than adhering to a rigid timeline, Vincent allowed conversations and sessions to flow naturally. This flexibility resulted in some unexpected but highly productive moments, such as when attendees spontaneously organized their own discussion groups without prompting.

Memorable Finale

Taking inspiration from the importance of strong event closings, Vincent orchestrated a surprise ending by taking all attendees to watch the sunset on a nearby beach. This shared experience created a lasting memory and sense of community among participants.

Lessons for Event Organizers

Vincent’s approach to the Unconference offers valuable takeaways for anyone planning an event:

Prioritize attendee quality: Don’t be afraid to be selective in your invitation process.
Create opportunities for genuine connection: Design your event to facilitate meaningful interactions beyond surface-level networking.
Be flexible: Allow room for spontaneity and organic moments within your event structure.
End on a high note: Put thought into creating a memorable closing experience that will leave a lasting impression.

By focusing on these elements, you can create an event that not only meets but exceeds attendee expectations, fostering a sense of community and shared experience that will resonate long after the event concludes.

Remember, the goal isn’t just to fill seats – it’s to create an environment where the right people can come together, share ideas, and forge lasting connections. With careful curation and thoughtful planning, your event can become a truly transformative experience for all involved.

Connect with Vincent:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-pugliese/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vincent.pugliese.16

Website: https://mymembershipfreedom.com/

Unconference: https://www.theunconference.live/2026

https://www.linkedin.com/in/vincent-pugliese

How Symphony Orchestras Can Compete in the Netflix Era

Phil Mershon — Tue, 25 Feb 2025 05:47:00 +0000

In an age where entertainment is available at the swipe of a finger, symphony orchestras face an unprecedented challenge. Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming platforms have transformed how people consume entertainment, leaving traditional performing arts scrambling to maintain relevance. But innovative leaders like Holly Mulcahy, Concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra, are proving that live classical music can not only survive but thrive in the digital age.

The Modern Entertainment Dilemma

“We’re competing against Netflix with the subscription model. We’re competing against really good storytelling, and we’re competing with really big budgets,” explains Mulcahy. The pandemic magnified this reality, forcing orchestras to confront an uncomfortable truth: the traditional concert format needed reinvention.

Breaking Down Barriers to Connection

The key to competing in today’s entertainment landscape isn’t about matching streaming services’ production values—it’s about offering something they can’t: authentic human connection. Here’s how forward-thinking orchestras are making it happen:

1. Reimagining the Concert Experience

Modern symphony performances are evolving beyond the rigid formal structure of the past. Successful orchestras are:

– Creating pre-concert conversations that build anticipation

– Encouraging audience interaction during performances

– Designing multi-sensory experiences that combine music with food, wine, and storytelling

2. Breaking the Fourth Wall

Traditional symphony concerts maintained a strict barrier between performers and audience. Today’s most engaging performances actively work to dissolve this barrier through:

– Direct audience interaction

– Storytelling between pieces

– Post-concert meet-and-greets with musicians

– Community engagement initiatives

3. Emotional Programming

Just as Netflix crafts addictive storylines, modern orchestras are learning to program concerts that deliver emotional journeys. Mulcahy describes it as “creating an emotional meal” where each piece serves a specific purpose in the overall experience.

Digital Age Accessibility

To compete effectively, orchestras must remove friction points that deter new audiences:

– Simplifying ticket purchasing processes

– Offering clear guidance on concert etiquette

– Creating welcoming environments for newcomers

– Providing multiple entry points for different audience segments

The Human Element Advantage

While streaming services excel at convenience, they can’t replicate the communal energy of live performance. Successful orchestras emphasize this advantage by:

– Building community around performances

– Creating opportunities for shared experiences

– Facilitating meaningful connections between audience members

– Offering unique, unreplicable moments

Looking to the Future

As entertainment options continue to multiply, orchestras that embrace innovation while emphasizing human connection will find their audience. The key is not to compete directly with Netflix-style platforms but to offer what they can’t: authentic, shared, live experiences that create lasting memories.

Practical Implementation Tips:

1. Focus on storytelling throughout the concert experience

2. Create opportunities for audience interaction

3. Leverage technology for convenience while emphasizing human connection

4. Design multi-sensory experiences

5. Build community around performances

The Path Forward

The future of symphony orchestras in the streaming era isn’t about choosing between tradition and innovation—it’s about thoughtfully combining both to create compelling experiences that draw modern audiences. By emphasizing human connection while embracing contemporary approaches to engagement, orchestras can offer something unique in today’s entertainment landscape.

As Mulcahy notes, “When you actually listen without wanting to respond, but to understand, that’s going to be the first step of disruption.” This philosophy applies not just to the music itself but to the entire concert experience, pointing the way forward for performing arts organizations looking to thrive in the digital age.

The Most Underrated Skill in Event Production: How One Producer Turned a Monsoon into Magic

Phil Mershon — Tue, 18 Feb 2025 10:34:00 +0000

When crisis strikes in event production, most people immediately think about logistics, backup plans, or technical solutions. But after interviewing Brooksie Hughes about the legendary launch of Bryant Park’s Holiday Market, I discovered something far more valuable: the ability to find joy in chaos.

The Birth of a Crisis

Picture this: It’s 2002, and you’ve just been handed an impossible task. Launch New York City’s first Bryant Park Holiday Market in six weeks. Oh, and those European-style chalets the client wants? They’d take months to manufacture. As if that weren’t enough, Mother Nature decides to throw a monsoon at your load-in day, followed by a snowstorm for opening.

Most producers would crumble under this pressure. But Brooksie’s response? She laughed.

“If somebody was watching this on TV, they would be laughing their butts off,” she told me during our interview. “So I would say just be in that mindset because somewhere, someday, this story is going to be really funny.”

The Underrated Superpower

While technical expertise and crisis management skills are crucial in event production, what truly sets exceptional producers apart is their ability to maintain joy under pressure. This isn’t just about having a positive attitude – it’s about creating an environment where creativity can flourish even in chaos.

Here’s why joy is the secret weapon:

1. It Enables Better Problem-Solving

When Brooksie needed 100 Christmas trees four days before Thanksgiving, panic wasn’t an option. Instead, her team’s light-hearted approach helped them think creatively and find solutions others might have missed.

2. It’s Contagious

“If I’m not having fun,” Brooksie explained, “then how can I expect what radiates from what I’m creating to be fun for the guests?” Your team’s energy directly impacts the event’s success.

3. It Builds Resilience

That monsoon during load-in? It became part of the story, not the end of it. Joy helps teams weather literal and metaphorical storms.

Turning Theory into Practice

So how do you cultivate this underrated skill? Here are three practical strategies from Brooksie’s playbook:

1. Embrace the Sitcom Mindset

When things go wrong (and they will), imagine it as a scene in a sitcom. This mental shift helps maintain perspective and reduces stress.

2. Collect “Never Again” Stories

Instead of viewing mistakes as failures, treat them as valuable additions to your “list of things not to do again.” This transforms setbacks into assets.

3. Focus on the Story You’ll Tell Later

Remember that today’s crisis is tomorrow’s great story. This future-focused perspective helps maintain composure in the moment.

The Legacy of Joy

Twenty years later, Bryant Park’s Holiday Market stands as one of New York’s beloved traditions. What started in a monsoon has become a testament to the power of maintaining joy under pressure.

The market’s success wasn’t just about logistics, budgets, or even weather contingencies. It was about a team that could laugh in the rain, find solutions in the chaos, and turn crisis into opportunity.

Why This Matters Now

In today’s event production landscape, where timelines are shorter and expectations are higher than ever, technical skills alone aren’t enough. The ability to maintain joy under pressure isn’t just nice to have – it’s essential for survival and success.

The Next Steps

If you’re in event production, I challenge you to reflect on your approach to crisis. Are you solely focused on technical solutions? Or are you cultivating the underrated skill of finding joy in chaos?

Remember, as Brooksie showed us, sometimes the best response to a monsoon isn’t a better umbrella – it’s a better mindset.

The next time you face an “impossible” deadline or an unexpected crisis, try channeling this approach. You might just find that joy isn’t just an emotional state – it’s your most powerful tool for turning chaos into magic.

#EventProfs #CrisisManagement #LeadershipLessons #EventPlanning #EventInnovator

Connect with Brooksie here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brooksiehughes/

https://bahproductionsinc.com/