Sunday

 

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10:30am – 11:45am

Fearless Growth for Today’s Business
Chris Evans, Bridal Business Consultant, Trainer, Evans Sales Solutions, LLC, Moorpark, CA

This session will show you how to courageously jump-start and grow your sales by explaining tips and techniques against a backdrop of three case studies.  The result? You’ll be energized by discovering the latest sales methods, whether you’re an experienced business professional or new to the business. Chris Evans will share how he has coached companies to success and how to do the same with your own business—fearlessly. You will learn:
•    How to tap into unlimited resources by using key technologies while bringing your own talents into the equation
•    Practical examples of business success that will have you leaving the session feeling energized, uplifted and motivated
•    How to master the toughest prospects
•    How to use current technologies and sales techniques to advance your company’s sales goals and ROI

 

Pop Culture & Events: Trends, Topics & Truths
Milena Santoro, CMM, CMP, PIDP, President & CEO, MS Productions, Edmonton, Alberta

This session will engage you with industry secrets of success and what is to come in 2013. Find out what’s in, what’s not, must haves and
the “ins and outs” of our industry and how to succeed in local, national and international markets. You will learn::
•    2013 trends in our global industry
•    The 10 “must-haves” at your events
•    Truths of our industry and how to plan for your success

 

You Are Not Special…. But You Can Be!
Connie Riley, CSEP, CMP, Vice President, T. Skorman Productions, Inc., Orlando, FL

You are among thousands of eager professionals entering the event industry annually. How can you separate yourself and build a successful career in an over-saturated market? What steps will grow your business and gain your company recognition? This session is filled with practical information gathered from industry veterans and will explore steps to help you become a recognized professional and an industry star. You will learn:

•    Tips from professionals to separate you from the rest in an over-saturated industry
•    How to create your own personal style and life balance
•    How to remain relevant in a constantly changing industry
•    Bringing value to your employer / company

 

The Destination Wedding Hot List
Kevin Covey, Owner, Kevin’s Parties, Co-Owner Destination Wedding Gurus; 

Laurie Davies, Owner, Five Star Weddings & Events, Co-Owner Destination Wedding Gurus;

Natalie Vishny, Owner, Swellegant EventS, Co-Owner Destination Wedding Gurus

Find out what 2013 holds for the $16 billion wedding market. The Wedding Gurus have been traveling the globe collecting the latest trends for this year’s hot list and they are ready to share it with you. In this fast-paced presentation you will learn how to position yourself in the destination wedding market both from the angle of the wedding couple and the venue. And venues, there will also be information for you on how to capture the destination wedding market. Find out what these affluent clients want, from food and beverage to travel and accommodations. You will learn:

•    What today’s luxury destination wedding entails
•    The best luxury locations around the world
•    Insider tips on service, sales and marketing that will improve your business
•    The latest trends on everything from food and beverage to hotel amenities

 

Noon – 1:15pm

Capturing Corporate Business in 2013
John Daly, CSEP, President, John Daly Inc. and The Key Class, Santa Barbara, CA

What will it take to get business in 2013? Proposals? Detailed renderings? What will it take to play the corporate game? For some time now, corporations have wanted more from you for less. How can you stay on top of the game and not give away your services? Using his month-long 2012 Porsche event as a case study, John Daly, the Guru of Event Design, will take you step-by-step through what it took to win the business, the challenges and how they were overcome and how to keep them coming back to you year after year. Through multimedia and his dynamic teaching style, be prepared to be fascinated by how this master has continued to work his magic for over 40 years. You will learn:
•    How to win corporate business
•    How to turn first-time corporate clients into long-term customers
•    How to make money instead of staying in break-even or losing propositions
•    The secrets of a master who has stayed on top for more than 40 years

 

Make It Happen:  How to Thrive in a Tough Economy
Filomena Felix, VP of Sales; Larry Green, CEO; David Price, VP of Product Development Rentals Unlimited, Stoughton MA

Whether you’re a one-person company or a one thousand-person company, we all deal with the same issues:  sales, operations and finances.  How do you make it happen? And at the same time, grow and have a financially successful company? Learn from three executives who make it happen everyday. Each will share their secrets of how and what they did to grow their company in a tough economy. You will learn:
•    How to restructure and repurpose using your staff as a solid foundation
•    Why networking is the best way to build new clients and sales
•    How to grow loyalty with your current client base
•    When to buy and when not to buy. When do you invest in new products and when do you reinvent yourself with current product?

 

Legal Issues in Social Media: The Event Professional’s Guide
Katy Carrier, Founding Attorney/Principal, Carrier & Associates, Los Angeles, CA

You can post, pin, tweet and blog, but are you opening yourself and your company to legal liability by not knowing your rights and responsibilities as a social media practitioner?
Find out at this information-packed seminar led by event industry attorney Katy Carrier. She’ll cover the many legal issues related to the use of social media in the event industry, including trademark infringement, copyright-protected images and graphics and how to respond to negative online reviews. Come with questions, and be prepared for a lively discussion. You will learn:
•    The proper practices for the use of copyright-protected photographs, graphics and text
•    How to remain in compliance with regulations regarding promotions, sponsorships, contests and giveaways
•    How to avoid trademark infringement in social media, and how to deal with infringers
•    How to limit potential liability through ‘terms of use’ and other contracts
•    How to deal with defamation of character in social media, including online reviews

 

Weddings Through the Decades
Hillary Harris, Executive Director of Special Events, Warner Bros. Entertainment Group, Burbank, CA

Does what happened in 1960 matter to how you design a wedding today? You bet it does! Come along for the ride as Hillary Harris takes you on a lively journey of weddings throughout the decades and how they were shaped by popular culture of the time. You’ll not only see where today’s trends began, but you will leave with an understanding of, and a deeper connection to, the wonderful world of being a wedding professional. You will learn:
•    Where wedding design has been, and where it is headed
•    How popular culture affects weddings and how that relates to what you do
•    A broad view of this industry and a deeper connection to it that will give you the edge you need to set yourself apart

 

1:30pm – 2:45pm

Projection Mapping: The New Frontier
David Corwin, Founder/Creative Director, Megavision Arts, Santa Monica, CA

You’ve read about and heard about it. If you attended the 2012 Spotlight Awards in Las Vegas, you experienced it. Projection mapping is just starting to hit the mainstream, and you need to understand what it’s all about to stay on top of your game. In this session, one of the masters of this technology shares his knowledge and experience in digital projection and 2D and 3D mapping. You will learn:
•    How to incorporate the latest technologies into events of all sizes and types
•    What projection mapping is, how it can be used and what the limitations are
•    How to use digital projection to transform spaces by creating virtual scenery
•    Techniques and tools that incorporate interactivity into a projected environment
•    How to calculate the costs of using digital projection

 

The Experience Imperative
J. Damany Daniel, Chief Imaginator, The Event Nerd, Dallas, TX

There was a time when an event’s success was measured by the number of people in attendance, the over-the-top “wow factor” or the ability of a planner to stay at or under budget.  “Savvy” events were those that left guests with a sense of connection with the brand or purpose of the event.  Today’s event attendees are smarter, and today’s clients need more out of their events.  It’s the job of every event professional to create an experience for their attendees, and provide measurable results for their clients. This session will show how using the latest technology and tools can make that possible. You will learn:
•    Some of the newest technologies on the market that can provide a point of connection with guests and provide measurements and metrics for clients
•    How to collectively brainstorm ways to use these technologies to give your events new life
•    How to work past the fear so often associated with using some of the newest technology and tools, using  hands-on experience
•    How to create an experience engagement plan by asking your clients the right questions and guiding them to insights they may not have even been aware existed

 

Boost Your Profitability: Tricks of the Trade
Matt Allen, President, MMD Events, Tampa, FL

Whether you’ve been in business for more than 50 years or you’re just starting out with your new company, your main goal is to make a profit. Through this interactive lecture you will learn not only how to retain a profit but how to understand your client better, therefore building trust and ultimately leading to more business for you. This session will explore why you need to offer the newest technology and products to out-do your competition and offer tips to boost your profitability. You will learn:
•    How to instinctively read your client before anything is said or done
•    The art of negotiating for a higher price in return for higher profit
•    How to diversify and stay relevant
•    How to create beneficial partnerships

 

Cultural Infusion:  How to Create Unique Wedding Designs With Ideas from the Global Diaspora
Therese Cole-Hubbs, Creative Designer & CEO, Electric Karma International, Houston, TX

Cultures around the globe offer a bevy of ideas that can be incorporated into the design of your client's events.  In this session, learn how with a little “cultural infusion” you can create  memorable experiences for your clients that are unlike anything they have ever seen or imagined. You will learn:
•    Current cultural design trends in weddings
•    Cost-effective ways to integrate cultural influences
•    How to incorporate cultural influences other than décor into your wedding planning and design
•    How to market cultural designing to potential clients

 

3:00pm – 4:15pm

ES General Session with Dina Manzo
Join us at this exciting featured session where returning favorite David Tutera will introduce party and event planner Dina Manzo to the stage. Dina will share some of her experiences and best ideas in party décor, event planning and so much more. Don’t miss this fun-filled session!

 

4:30pm – 5:45pm

Growing Your Business Through Stronger Client Relationships
Howard Givner, Executive Director Event Leadership Institute, Scarsdale, NY

In the quest for increased sales, we often focus on finding new clients.  Are we getting the most from our existing clients, who already know our work?  Many high-end service businesses thrive under the 80/20 rule, where 80 percent of their revenue comes from just 20 percent of their clients, and in fact it’s much easier to grow a current client than to find a new one.  This program will focus on a variety of key strategies you’ll need to retain, and expand, your existing book of business.  You will learn:
•    How to demonstrate your company’s value in a way that makes price less relevant
•    Properly manage client expectations
•    Ask for referrals without feeling awkward
•    Defuse an upset client
•    Give yourself the best possible chance to rebook a client after the event is over

 

How to Create Events with Good Taste: Design Events that Taste Good!
Michelle Nowak, Event Producer, Good Gracious! Events, Los Angeles, CA

Here’s a little secret to wake up your 2013 sales. To wow clients with new concepts, appeal to their sense of taste. Not design taste, but actual taste buds! More than ever, events revolve around food and beverage; in some cases it is the entertainment. Whether you are a caterer, designer or wedding and event planner, this session will help you discover ways to bring what you see on food shows—including trucks, pop-ups, chef battles, design and menu ideas and even bizarre foods—to your events. You’ll see case studies on some of the hottest food and beverage concepts featuring Top Chef-style contests and restaurant- style menus that physically take guests on a culinary journey, including some that have artfully incorporated the latest in mixology trends. You will learn:
•    How food and beverage-driven events work through case studies
•    Fresh ideas on how to design and sell events that revolve around food and beverage
•    How to implement today’s hottest food ideas such as trucks and pop-up restaurants
•    How to increase your business by partnering with caterers

 

Bridezilla Revisited: Dealing Tactfully With Difficult Brides and Clients
J.P. Reynolds, JPR Weddings, Sherman Oaks, CA 

Even the best of brides can have Bridezilla episodes and so can their grooms. Parents mean well but can drive you to distraction. Add on vendors who drop the ball and you can lose your sanity weeks before a wedding—unless you know the tricks for communicating in smart, healthy ways. Through interactive discussion, this practical skills-building workshop demonstrates how to deal constructively with brides, grooms, parents and vendors when their behavior is unpleasant and difficult. J.P. Reynolds illustrates tips and tricks with stories from his own 20 years of experience dealing with wedding couples and their families in his role as a wedding officiate. You will learn:
•    How to develop strategies for preventing your buttons from being pressed when dealing with such behaviors as verbal attacks,
      complaining and emotional manipulation
•    Tips for maintaining self-esteem when dealing with abusive people
•    How to listen so as to get heard
•    Why difficult people are difficult
•    The four worst words to say to a difficult person

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