Amanda and Darryl welcome fellow planners Hilary Howes and Barry Schieferstein to this week’s episode. We learn about their circuitous path to their current jobs, how they spent the last dozen and a half months in pandemic conditions, and what they are most looking forward to (and bracing for) in the future. Plus, we talk about the best time to launch and ways to price the virtual portion of your hybrid meetings. So listen, laugh, and maybe even scream at your podcast machine! Links Mentioned on the Show Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) Share your win of the week. Please email us: miracleworkerspodcast@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

Miracle Workers: A Podcast for Meeting Planners by Meeting Planners.

EP 29: The Rate is Too Damn High

Amanda and Darryl celebrate Pride Month with the great team at the LGBT Meeting Professional Association. They take a look at the world of Prefered Gender Pronouns (PGPs). When planners collect and use them for our attendees, are we inclusive and accomodating or are we pandering?  Should we even be asking for them in the first place? Is it pandering if we make a show of collecting them and don’t use the information? Links Mentioned on the Show HRC Guide on Pronouns: https://assets2.hrc.org/files/assets/resources/HRC_ACAF_Pronouns_101_(1).pdf LGBT MPA Scholarship fund: https://lgbtmpa.com/catalog.php?cat=2&pid=2 Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) Share your win of the week. Email us: miracleworkerspodcast@gmail.com --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP 28: Pronouns (Accommodation or Pandering?)

Darryl and Amanda are back. But not just on the podcasting machine...they are back in person. No Zoom window here. Join them as they discuss what their ideal virtual meeting component looks like, talk baseball, business travel, plumbing, and even egg rolls. This is the episode you’ve been waiting for (if you’re really bored). Links Mentioned on the Show PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP 27: Who are You and Why are You at My Table?

Everybody is talking about hybrid meetings but where do you begin? Most of us start with the budget, but if you’ve never produced a hybrid meeting what do you need? Our special guest, Shayna Moskowitz, the  Director of Meetings and Event Technology with Part 2 Events (part2events.com), breaks down the items that every planner should consider and some of the things she’d have on her “unlimited budget” event. Amanda bails out partway through to make Darryl feel more paranoid and our guests from MPI-Potomac’s ReConEx conference ask some great questions. TAKEAWAYS 1: Set your event goals up before anything else and stick to them with every decision 2: When budgeting for hybrid, think about both audiences and each unique experience. 3: Budget not only for the content but consider the exhibits and networking as well 4: Think about how to work additional sponsorship opportunities into your budget (interview desk, mobile app/event platform) 5: Can you expand your typical audience with the virtual side or use their in-person experience to sell memberships/upgrades? Links Mentioned on the Show PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP26: But How Am I Going to Budget for Hybrid??

We’re a year into what we never thought could ever happen. When will we return to face-to-face meetings?  What will “Normal” look like?  Why are you asking us? Do you think we just sit around our offices with a crystal ball?  What are we some sort of Miracle Workers? Well, yes, we are but even with those credentials, we can’t predict the future. What we can do is do our best to predict what might happen when we go back to in-person meetings. That includes liability protection, should we require vaccinations, what about the other groups in the venue. And we have barely even touched on our awesome new coffee cups... Takeaways: 1:  There’s no right answer about WHEN we are safe to return to in-person 2:  Insert yourself as a part of the discussion about returning in person 3: Have an honest conversation with your venue about room 2 space, health practices, and financials BEFORE you make a decision 4:  Just because you’re meeting safely, there’s no guarantee about those around you . You almost need to be doubly safe 5. Derrick Johnson, because we haven’t mentioned him yet today, and I don’t want his feelings to get hurt. Links Mentioned on the Show PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP25: Well That Was a Year

Are you an accidental meeting planner (like Darryl and Amanda), or did you plan...get it…” plan”...to be a planner all along?  Well no matter how you got here, you’re here now and it’s time to own it. But what happens when you want to move up or are forced to move out and onto a new position or even a new career entirely?  Our guest GiGi Blair is a professional career coach and she will walk us through some powerful first steps into making our professional visions a reality. This special “live-ish” episode was recorded in front of a virtual-studio audience from the MPI Virginia Chapter! Takeaways: Accept the fact that work has changed/is changing, sit with reality, and live in that truth. Take time to grieve if you need. Think like an entrepreneur, "If it is to be, it is up to me!" Create a vision board. Start thinking about what your core values/needs are. Also, consider joining a group of like-minded folks (a mastermind group). Build your personal brand: A=appearance, B=behavior, C=Communication If you are looking to make a change don’t forget about your hobbies or interests. There may be something of value that you can pull from to launch a new career. Links Mentioned on the Show PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ Gigi Blair, Career Coach: https://gigiblair.com/    Email: gb@GigiBlair.com Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) Thank you to the #MPIVirginia Chapter for their questions and patience to sit through this taping! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP24: You're a Meeting Planner. Now What?

Our focus is laser-locked on making sure our attendees have a great time at our events. Do they have enough to eat? Are they comfortable in those chairs? What can I do to make their lives better? But what about us? When did you take time out to look at your own health? In this episode, we explore just that. Our special guest, Patty Stern (pattystern.com), tells the story of how she finally took stock of her physical well-being (hint: it took a heart attack to get there). Meeting planning must be a stressful job. This is the second straight episode we’re talking about it (and not the last either). Takeaways: Find time to exercise, even a walk around the block can make a difference. Be that CEO that’s in the gym early. You are just as important. If you have to put it on your calendar to do it, fine! Take responsibility for yourself, colleagues, and others on site. Make sure to give some thought about what you and your team will be eating on site. Advocate for your health and never feel embarrassed about going to the emergency room multiple times if you don’t “feel right”. Proactively build your medical team and take full responsibility to stay on top of your medical records. Links Mentioned on the Show PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ Most Stressful Jobs In America: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/10-most-and-least-stressful-jobs-in-america/ Our guests are sponsored by Bright Box Bakery (brightboxbakery.com) --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

Ep 23: Take Stock Of Your Health (Part 1: Physical Health)

Did you know meeting planning is one of the top 5 most “high-stress jobs”?  Of course, you have, it’s one of 12 reasons that I have very little hair left!  Have you ever been ankle-deep in planning and that board member, or your boss, comes to you with yet another change?  What do you do? Do you rip them a new one and say that you hope they get hit by a bus and then a steamroller and then the USC marching band...oh wait that was the end of The Naked Gun. A better move is to take a deep breath and not just react but carefully respond.  Today’s guest Molly Marsh from AMR Management Services walks us through this process and leaves us with some tips on how to keep our cool when all we want to do is rip someone’s head off! Takeaways: Reaction is the first thing we feel.(fight or flight). The trick is to stop your internal voice from coming out and taking the pause to think through a proper response. This can apply to almost any interaction. It’s particularly good with professional environments where you’re being judged instantaneously. Be careful of body language for video conferences. Turn off your camera for a moment if you need. PLACE (Pause, Label, Ask, Choose, Empower) Links Mentioned on the Show PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP22: React vs. Respond

Welcome to 2021!  It’s a new year but Darryl is still taking things too literally. Amanda talks him off the diving board and back into pants as they welcome Shawn Cheng of the MCI Group to talk about Event Mapping and the D.I.V.E methodology. Takeaways: Event Mapping is a great way to design your event so it follows a specific path resulting in higher attendee engagement and satisfaction Even if you have the same meeting every year, design thinking and event mapping can help. Go back and look at your objectives. For example, has your target audience changed? How are you designing your event for them? Which Platform is the 3rd question. If you don’t have a strategy you need to create one. Then the journey then the platform. Shawns Best Engagement Idea: Give people more choice in how they engage: some like to say hello and then go back to checking email. Event planners have to use multiple options: chat, 1-1 meetings, verbal feedback, polls DIVE System (https://divebymci.com/) Define: agenda, target audience, success factors (KPI) Ideate: experience touchpoints, look at the bigger picture to find the best solution (virtual, hybrid, face to face) Visualize: plan the user experience journey and tailor the way your events will connect with the audiences Engage: How do you create the “WOW!” and how do you expect the audience to respond. To connect directly with Shawn, visit him at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawncevent/ Links Mentioned on the Show Mental Health Screening: https://screening.mhanational.org/ PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/  Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ Opening Theme: The Universe and my so-called life by Hans Atom (c) copyright 2014 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution (3.0) license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/hansatom/44772 Ft: Fireproof Babies --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP21: DIVE Right In: Event Design Mapping

2020 has FINALLY come to an end. Amanda and Darryl would have liked to provide a full fresh episode to send you out on but instead, they mailed it in and gave you a clip show. You should be grateful you got anything other than a lump of coal!   Listen as they look back on 2020, share some behind-the-scenes clips and talk bout their news year's resolutions.  Stay for the end where the US Marine Corps Band takes us out with their version of "Auld Lang Syne". Coronavirus and Financial Support Resources: Discount for MPI-Potomac Chapter members to either renew or sign up for new MPI Memberships: "GIFT20" ($75 of renewals or $125 off new memberships) good until 12/31/20 PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/MiracleWorkersPodcast/message

EP20: It's a Clip Show

In this episode we give thanks to all of you out there listening, our awesome guests (yes, Derrick Johnson), and for the great community of #meetingplanners who have allowed us to do this for this first year! We wish you a happy, healthy, and especially, safe Thanksgiving this year! A special thanks to Sheli, Jan, Shameka, Terry, and Linda for calling in with your messages of thanks! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/MiracleWorkersPodcast/message

EP 19: We're Thank-Full

This week Amanda and Darryl learn all about the new Pandemic Compliance Advisor course being offered by the team over at Health Education Services (https://healtheducationservices.net/training/pandemic-compliance-advisor/). They interview the creators/facilitators: Heather Seasholtz, CMP, DES, Mary-Ann Urbanovich, MS, CMP-HC and Shannon Majewski, CMP, CMM, HMCC. Sure there's lots of talk of duty (not doody) of care but so much more goes into this new role. Listen to learn more and for information on upcoming courses. Takeaways: 1) Pandemic Compliance Advisor is not the same as the meeting planner. You have to allocate somebody to this position. 2) Duty of care is the most important thing. Remember back to the Due Diligence section of your CMP training. 3) To get the latest guidance, look to your CVB partners, look to local health officials and take into consideration what may change between now when you’re planning and then when you show up on site. 4) Think about things that may never change. We will most likely always keep hand sanitizer on the registration desk and perhaps buffets will turn into action stations If you need help during these tough times or if you are fortunate enough to help others, please consider these organizations for the meetings and events industry: MPI Foundation: https://www.mpi.org/about/foundation PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/MiracleWorkersPodcast/message

EP 18: Pandemic Compliance Advisors

We round out our 3-part series on "Using Events to Change the World" by taking a look into discrimination based on sexual identity and orientation.  Our guests for this rather long (but ultra-important) conversation: David Jefferys, Executive Director/CEO of the LGBT Meeting Professionals  Association (LGBTMPA) Alex Carvalho-Lukachova, CMP; Sr. Meeting Planner with Kasier Permanente Together we explore both overt and subverted biases against the LGBT community as well as ways to combat them using our wallets, our brains, and our collective power.  We also talk about the merits of dog pee and realize that recording this episode so late in the evening on a workday has made Darryl a little more loopy than usual.   Takeaways: Respect everybody and let them present themselves the way they want Be direct and ask questions, but then sit back and listen so you can learn As with other areas of inclusion and diversity, money carries a lot of weight we should make sure to be spending our event dollars with groups and cities that promote equality Conversations are uncomfortable but we have to push to have those discussions. The more you see something the more normal it becomes. And the more normal and regular we can make our guests and teammates feel. We can take the lead! Customer Service is everything Some groups you join and others you are born into. Embrace it! Connect with the LGBTMPA: https://lgbtmpa.com/ If you need help during these tough times or if you are fortunate enough to help others, please consider these organizations for the meetings and events industry: MPI Foundation: https://www.mpi.org/about/foundation PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/MiracleWorkersPodcast/message

EP 17: Using Events to Change the World (Part III - All The Colors: Supporting the LGBT Community)

Darryl shuts up for (almost) an entire episode and Amanda gets to interview two of her best industry friends.  Join us for a "girl talk" episode covering what it's like to be a woman in this business and all the pitfalls they have to navigate, and the celebrations they get to enjoy!  We're joined by Iby Seltzer (http://www.eventsbyeb.com/about) and Andrias White (https://andriasevents.mypixieset.com/andrias/ ).  Takeaways: 1) Know the value of your time. It’s not about just being fair. You have to make sure you are meeting your costs and goals 2) Set Boundaries. We all want to be responsive but if our clients know they can call us anytime, then we are not getting that downtime/recharge time needed for good mental and physical health. 3) Seek Out a Mentor. Look for somebody different from you (gender, race, ethnicity, geographic location, even in a different industry) 4) Be Aware of Your Language (both audible and physical). Many of us don’t intend to hurt others but our words are not perceived the way we think they will be. Also, think of your audience and how they react. Links Mentioned In Today's Show: Vote.org: http://vote.org MPI Foundation: https://www.mpi.org/about/foundation PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP 16: Using Events to Change the World (Part II - Girl Talk)

Summer is over and Amanda and Darryl are back at it. Come hear how they spent their summers and what meeting-related lessons they learned.  No  take-aways this week, just good clean recapping fun! Links Mentioned In Today's Show: Vote.org: http://vote.org MPI Foundation: https://www.mpi.org/about/foundation PCMA Foundation: https://foundation.pcma.org/ Meeting Industry Fund: http://www.themeetingsindustryfund.org/ --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/miracleworkerspodcast/message

EP 15: What We Did On Summer Vacation

Hi, we're Amanda and Darryl. We're both meeting planners and created this pod to talk about the world of meetings and events from the planner perspective. Join us as we talk about everything from Wi-Fi pricing to last minute requests for kosher, vegetarian, gluten-free, low-salt meals.

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Miracle Workers: A Podcast for Meeting Planners by Meeting P...

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