Better Events

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)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Erin Leonard sit down with Shannon Werkhoven, a decade-plus event pro and venue sales manager at two iconic Live Nation venues, to talk about the one thing that separates planners who consistently book work from those who don't: personal brand. Shannon shares when she realized her own brand was actually working for her, what makes an event planner stand out from the venue side of the table, and the real difference between having a personal brand and just having a social media presence. If you want to be the planner clients think of before they even start searching, this episode is your roadmap.
SHOW NOTES:
Register for the 2026 Better Events Conference: https://app.swapcard.com/login/event/2026-better-events-conference/registration
Purchase our on-demand How to Start an Event Planning Business Workshop: https://bettereventspod.com/workshop
Connect with Shannon Werkhoven:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-werkhoven
Connect with guest co-host Erin Leonard on 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)

In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Erin Leonard have the AI conversation that's been on a lot of event pros' minds but not enough of their podcasts. Erin came in with some honest hesitancy about AI, and rather than gloss over it, they dig straight into it. They cover where AI still earns its place in their workflows, where planners are leaning on it in ways that might actually be hurting them, and whether the pushback on AI is making face-to-face events more valuable. Whether you're an early adopter or have barely touched it, this one is for you.
SHOW NOTES:
Erin's Platform Sandals: https://www.oofos.com/products/womens-ooahh-plus-slide-sandal-black?variant=44307457179763
Logan's snackle box: https://amzn.to/3U5cY4g
Chelsea Fagan's Financial Diet - AI Newsletter: https://thefinancialdiet.beehiiv.com/p/what-we-should-worry-about-when-we-worry-about-ai?utm_source=thefinancialdiet.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=what-we-should-worry-about-when-we-worry-about-ai&_bhlid=3ecf9fae55fd7787d2209713a1593109b6ec868e&jwt_token=

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)