Better Events

In this episode, Logan and Mary are back with a follow-up to one of their most popular episodes: Speaker Management 101. This time they go deeper, tackling the situations that don't show up in the basics. From setting tech check and rehearsal expectations to managing speaker nerves, egos, and last-minute changes, they cover what actually happens when speakers go off script, over time, or off the rails entirely. They also get into how to handle high-profile and VIP speakers differently and the systems and tools that make the whole process smoother. If you produce events with speakers, this one belongs in your rotation.
SHOW NOTES:
Link to Speaker Management 101 - Episode 251
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1ziiFRedmdL3tI6d1HdrPc?si=535abf91aa364a15
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok1N8jYqULU
Purchase our template, including a speaker management tab: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/better-events-conferencemeeting-event-planning-workbook-template-excel

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference
Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest
Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free
THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!
——
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@bettereventspod
@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)
@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and Mary are back together for a long overdue life update. Mary shares what life has looked like since returning from maternity leave, including the honest realities of running a business with a new baby, whether her identity has shifted, and what has been harder and more rewarding than she expected. They also look ahead at what they're each hoping this next chapter brings. It's the kind of conversation that goes well beyond events and into the messier, more meaningful parts of building a life and a business at the same time.

SHOW NOTES:
Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference
Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop
Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest
Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free
THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!
——
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@bettereventspod
@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)
@epeventsllc (Mary)

Mary is back from maternity leave and she's catching up on every episode she missed. In this solo episode, she shares her reactions to some of the guest co-host conversations that aired while she was out, including her take on the business behind venue management and the public versus private event debate, dressing for comfort on event day, staying visible and relevant as an event pro, and what our episode with a graphics operator taught her about one of the most underappreciated partnerships in live event production. If you've been listening while she was gone, this one is a fun way to revisit it all through Mary's eyes.

SHOW NOTES:
Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference
Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop
Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest
Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free
THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!
——
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@bettereventspod
@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)
@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this solo episode, Logan pulls together three of her most practical production-focused YouTube videos and adds her own commentary along the way. She covers the audio files your A/V team actually needs before your next event, the three things she always checks before an event starts, and how to adjust on the fly when a speaker or segment runs long. If you produce events and want to feel more confident on show day, this episode is a great one to revisit before your next event.

SHOW NOTES:

Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference
Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop
Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest
Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free
THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!
——
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@bettereventspod
@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)
@epeventsllc (Mary)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Erin Leonard get into a question a lot of event pros have quietly wondered about: how do you actually break into big events? From trade shows like CES to the Olympic Games, they talk about how smaller companies and independent planners can find their way into large-scale, high-attendance events, what those opportunities actually look like, and how to position yourself to be part of a bigger team. If you've ever watched a massive event and wondered how to get a seat at that table, this episode is your starting point.
SHOW NOTES:
Purchase tickets for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference
Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop

Connect with Erin Leonard:
Website: https://erinleonardevents.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinleonardevents/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/%E2%9C%A8-erin-leonard-cmm-66155a59/
Learn more about the pod, Better Events Conference and more: https://bettereventspod.com/the-latest
Want our updated free run of show template? Download it here: https://bettereventspod.com/templates/p/run-of-show-template-free
THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review!
——
FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM:
@bettereventspod
@loganstrategygroup_events (Logan)
@epeventsllc (Mary)