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Better Events

Better Events

Better Events Pod 270 Episodes Jul 1, 2026

Two event planners and producers, Logan Clements and Mary Davidson, share strategies and insights for creating, hosting, and attending better events. Each episode covers actionable tips on event strategy, interviews with innovative event creators, and advice for growing your business and career in the events industry.

Episodes

The Questions to Ask Before Saying Yes to an Event Jul 1, 2026 00:44:31 This week, Logan shares one of the most important skills she's developed as an event professional: knowing what to ask before saying yes to a project. She shares why she became more intentional about evaluating opportunities, what she needed to learn about scope, budget clarity, and client fit before she could confidently take on new work, and how she uses soft holds as a tool that benefits bo
Grief, Gatherings, and Connection with Dana Pake Jun 24, 2026 00:43:48 In this episode, Logan sits down with Dana Pake, founder of Lalago Experiences and death doula in training, a personal conversation about grief and it's space at events. Dana shares what three decades of lived experience with grief has taught her about connection, why grief shows up in rooms full of people more than we realize, and what most event professionals miss when it does. Logan also op
You Asked, We Answered: Event Bibles, AV Tips, Freelance Advice & More Jun 17, 2026 00:44:02 In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Vanessa Loney are back with another listener mailbag, tackling your questions across every corner of the events world. From what an event bible actually looks like to the best questions to ask your AV tech, F&B creativity, and how to celebrate your team without a monetary bonus, they cover it all. They also dig into the business side for freelancers, fr
Behind the Curtain: What It Really Takes to Plan Events for the U.S. Government with Brittany Carroll Jun 10, 2026 00:40:14 In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Vanessa Loney sit down with Brittany Carroll, Manager of Event Operations at the Library of Congress and former U.S. diplomat, to pull back the curtain on what it really takes to produce events at the highest levels of government. Brittany shares what most event professionals never see: the layers of protocol, the complexity of managing global delegations,
Are You Actually Staying Relevant in The Event Industry — Or Just Busy? Jun 3, 2026 00:44:42 In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Vanessa Loney tackle a question every event professional should be asking themselves: Are you actually staying relevant, or are you just staying busy? They dig into what relevance really means in an ever-evolving industry — from how you network and which conferences are actually worth your time to how intentional you're being about vendor relationships
How to Manage Multiple Events at Once Without Dropping the Ball May 27, 2026 00:39:44 This week, Logan and guest co-host Peggy Katz tackle a question sent in by a listener who asked: how many events can you realistically manage at once? Logan and Peggy share how many events they're each currently juggling, how their capacity has evolved over the course of their careers, and how to spot scope creep before it derails your workload. They also dig into the systems and habits that h
256 - What Your Graphics Operator Wishes You Knew with Cassy Albert May 20, 2026 00:36:26 In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Peggy Katz sit down with presentation designer and graphics operator Cassy Albert to pull back the curtain on one of the key roles in live event production - the slides! Cassy breaks down what a graphics operator actually does during a show, the most common mistakes planners and speakers make when preparing decks, and the best way to receive and organize sl
255 - How to Scale Your Event Production for Any Budget — From $10K to the Olympic Games with Peggy Katz May 13, 2026 00:34:10 In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Peggy Katz, a veteran producer with seven Olympics under her belt, dig into what it really means to scale an event based on budget, from scrappy under-$10K productions to multi-million dollar international spectacles. They break down how budget impacts your role as a producer or showcaller, the unique pros and cons of working at both ends of the spectrum, a
254 - Being Good at Events Is Only Half the Job (of Running an Event Business) May 6, 2026 00:45:45 In this episode, Logan and guest co-host Ryan Criswell tackle one of the most honest conversations in the event industry: being great at producing and planning events doesn't automatically make you great at running an event business. They explore the gap between event skills and business skills — from the early moments that revealed what they didn't know, to the systems and habits that have helped
253 - From Venue Coordinating to Event Curator with Tauti Kimbrough Apr 29, 2026 00:36:27 In this episode, we sit down with Tauti Kimbrough to explore what it really means to wear multiple hats in the event industry — from venue marketer to event planner to event host. Joined by guest co-host Ryan Criswell, we discuss how Tauti's unique experience on both sides of an event make her a better host, planner, and venue coordinator.SHOW NOTES:Connect with Tauti Kimbrough:Instagram: @tauti.k
252 - Designing Public-Facing Events That Actually Engage People Apr 22, 2026 00:37:37 In this episode, Logan sits down with guest co-host Ryan Criswell to explore the unique art of producing public-facing events — and what sets them apart from ticketed or corporate experiences. They dig into what meaningful engagement actually looks like when your audience didn't plan to be there, and how to measure success beyond a headcount. Plus, Ryan shares lessons from the public-facing world
251 - Speaker Management 101: Setting Expectations, Timelines, and Deliverables Apr 15, 2026 00:36:17 Managing speakers can make or break an event — and it starts with setting the right expectations. In this episode, we’re breaking down the fundamentals of speaker management, from when it should begin in the planning process to the key deliverables every speaker should have. We share best practices for communication, timelines, and what speakers actually need to be successful both before and onsit

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