August 21, 2025 • 20 mins
What makes a dental conference speaker truly unforgettable and what swag is actually worth stuffing into your carry-on? In this episode of Back in 10, Savanah and Jen break down their top speaker picks, the qualities that keep attendees engaged (and emotional), and the giveaways that hit harder than a logo tote bag. Whether you’re planning your next CE trip or curating your own booth swag, this episode dishes up the real talk you didn’t know you needed.
Special thanks to Chris "The Wizard" Stone of Rock Solid Media, our recording partner!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Chris Stone (00:00):
All right, ladies and gentlemen, the divine divas in three.
Two, one
Jen Steadman (00:06):
back in 10 is a podcast for dental leaders who do it all
and need 10 minutes to themselves.
Savanah Carlson (00:12):
It's about real conversations, not curated ones, the
kind that happen off the clock behindclosed doors, and between the chaos of
running a practice and running life.
Jen Steadman (00:21):
Hosted by Savannah Carlson and Jen Sedman, two women who've led,
learned, and laughed through it all.
Savanah Carlson (2) (00:28):
This show brings honest stories, leadership truths, and
the occasional sassy take on what itreally means to lead in dentistry today,
Jen Steadman (00:36):
because sometimes the best leadership happens when
you step away for 10 minutes.
Savanah Carlson (2) (00:41):
This is back in 10.
Hello everyone.
Welcome to back in 10.
I am Savanah.
And I'm Jen, and this episode is acontinuation of our meeting Mayhem
Week, where we talk about dentalmeetings, dental conferences things
(01:05):
we like about them, what makes itimpactful for us as dental leaders.
And today we want to revisit aprevious episode about speakers.
How we choose what speakers wesee, what is it that they discuss
or how do they present That reallyresonates with us as dental managers.
(01:28):
And to recap, we had mentioneda few of our top speakers.
Now let's, let's go back over that, Jen.
So who was in that, that top five?
Initially, we had no particular order,no hate to anyone who's not on the list.
These just popped into ourbrains as our top five right now.
Who are hot in the industry.
Jen Steadman (01:48):
Yes.
Katherine?
I tell Belt Katherine andI tell Be communication.
Yes.
Judy K Mossoff.
Judy k Mossoff.
Oh, I'm so sad she's retiring.
I know, man.
Theresa Duncan.
Td all the way baby.
Carrie Weber.
Carrie
Savanah Carlson (2) (02:07):
Weber.
Legacy.
She's a legacy.
She comes from legacy and she is a legacy.
Yes.
Uhhuh, Dave Anderson, Steve Anderson fire.
There is a fire in thatband when he speaks.
That is so engaging and you come out ofthat refreshed and just raring to go.
(02:27):
Love, love that.
Jen Steadman (02:29):
Yeah.
And I think, look, Savannah with those,industry speakers that we're talking
about here, let's talk about some ofthe things that we feel like make them.
Fantastic.
Like some of the things that we lookfor to that we know we're gonna get
something out of the course, right?
Like we've been to, so both of ushave been to so many courses with
(02:51):
all of those and many others, butwith all of those specifically.
So I think one of the thing, thebiggest things for me is that speaker's
really engaging with their audience.
Like you feel like you'rehaving a conversation with them.
It's not.
Them speaking from a podium, I'llsay like, you are there with them and
(03:12):
they are, you're equal, and they'rethere to support you and guide you
even if you've never met them orhad a conversation with them before.
They make you feel like they got you.
Yeah.
And they know what you'vebeen through and they can.
Offer some advice and some guidance.
Yeah.
I think that's one of the biggest things.
Savanah Carlson (2) (03:30):
I love that they're not speaking at
you, they're speaking with you.
It is that conversation.
I agree with you, Jen, on that.
For those, those five that we mentioned,I've always felt as though it is
a conversation and I love, I lovethat you brought up that they make
you feel like they've been there.
That support is really huge when you'resitting in this three hour course and
(03:50):
it, it does help with the engagement.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Jen Steadman (03:54):
And I think one of the other things too is when I walk away, I
know what they wanted me to get out of itand what I can do to implement anything.
Like I, I have steps in my head.
I know actionably what I cando, and I don't feel lost.
Like I've been in classes beforewhere I leave and I go, what?
(04:19):
What the hell did they talk about?
I don't understand.
And I was fully there, fullyengaged, and I just man, it
completely went over my head.
Or I have, I don't know,like in a haze almost.
Mm-hmm.
Um, that's the last thing that you want.
You want people to leave feelingrefreshed and yeah, I've been in some
(04:40):
of those classes with, with thosespeakers that I've cried, y'all know?
Queen crier over here.
I just, I cry.
But.
It hits you in a certain way that likeyou can feel it and you feel the emotions
behind it because again, they make youfeel like they've been there with you and
that they can just support you through it.
It just, it hits, it hits different,
Savanah Carlson (2) (05:02):
and there is a real importance to where
you're seeing this speaker andmore importantly, the difference
between an educational course or.
A keynote motivational course.
I've been to educational classeswhere I feel like I'm sitting in fluff
and on a cloud, and I say to myself.
(05:23):
This is not what I invested in.
Mm-hmm.
I would've gone to the sparather than sit here for three
hours and hear extra motivation.
I'm not saying that that's notimportant, that's not what I'm saying.
But if I go to an educational course, Iexpect coming out of it to have actionable
items that I can take back and implement.
And I feel like those topfive that we mentioned, I've
(05:45):
always left their courses with.
Yeah.
Three different items of changeI knew I could implement easily.
Yeah.
And they gave me the tool to be able
Jen Steadman (05:54):
to do that even when it was a keynote, whether it's a 20
minute, you know, keynote 45, or it'sa five hour course, two day course for
some of them that I've done before.
I've always had actionablethings come out of those.
Savanah Carlson (2) (06:11):
But
Chris Stone (06:12):
they are people that also invest in themselves, right?
Like we've been talkingabout this whole week, right.
Is investing in yourself andlearning and growing and those are
things that they have done too.
And we talked about changein the last episode and how
sometimes change is hard, man.
You think that they're differentfrom when they started too.
(06:33):
Like everything has changedbased on feedback and what you
learn and how people, take in theinformation that you give them.
There's so much thatcomes along with that.
They just know their craft of speakingand how to do it and how to make
people understand what their pointthat they're trying to make is.
Savanah Carlson (2) (06:53):
It also is valuable to me at least
when real world scenarios are.
Crafted into their presentation.
Mm-hmm.
I understand what you're telling me.
I understand why it will help X, Y,z be successful, or why it's going
to implement this type of change.
Give me an example.
(07:15):
Show me that what you're saying workswhen a speaker's able to, to present to
me why it works, how it's worked, andthat it has worked successfully invested.
Totally invested.
Look at td, look at TheresaDuncan's courses about insurance.
Insurance is not, themost engaging discussion.
(07:38):
It isn't.
But as a dental insurance nerd, I, Iwill see Theresa Duncan over and over
again because she makes an engagingand she brings it back to scenarios.
Yeah.
And she stays on top of it.
She stays on top of it.
She's current.
Yeah.
Yes.
Yeah.
I wanna see some washed up speaker from85 years ago who would really doesn't know
(08:00):
what's happening in the dental industry.
Jen Steadman (08:03):
I don't, no.
Someone that's asking thequestions and is listening.
That's huge.
That's huge.
I know one of the thingsthat I learned oh my gosh.
More what?
More than 10 years ago.
Way more than 10 years ago, 15 yearsago maybe, from Judy Kay was all about
what people bring with them, right?
They're boats and she makes it fun.
(08:24):
She makes it so you remember, so Iremember Boat and it's an acronym,
beliefs, opinions, assumption, assumptionsand truths like, and I borrow that
genius very often because it's a greatanalogy and just having things that.
People can understandeasily and can remember.
I probably wrote that down 15years ago and I haven't looked at
(08:47):
it since because it's right here.
It's ingrained in my head now becauseit makes total sense to, so just
yeah, look for different speakers,look at what their topics are and see
if any of them are gonna help withyour practice and with your team.
I think as we talk about conferences andstuff too, Savannah, we're talking about
(09:08):
like things that we bring back with us.
So yes, lots of education, lots oflearning, but can we talk about the swag?
Savanah Carlson (2) (09:15):
Oh, swag.
I could go on forever about swag.
Jen, what has been yourfavorite p piece of swag?
Like if you had to pick one,you have to pick one right now.
I'm asking you one.
I have mine in my head.
I broke it recently, but I had it.
Jen Steadman (09:32):
I know what it is.
I know.
Okay.
It was a recent one and I thinkit's something that we are hoping
that we can do in the futurefor our lovely listeners too.
You know, something to just likeget you in the Zen and to bring
you back to like, I don't know.
Scent is everything.
(09:53):
It just makes you remember things.
So I'm gonna say the traveloil diffuser humidifier.
Yeah, that's been a fve.
I remember when we got that Savannah,we cracked that sucker open and in the
hotel room and just, yeah, amazing.
Savannah traveled with her essential
Savanah Carlson (2) (10:12):
oils and subsequently we got Jen, her essential oils too.
So now Jen has her travel essential oils.
Yeah, mine is right back here
Jen Steadman (10:22):
on the table.
I have stress running right now.
This is from the hotel that westayed at Savannah in Oklahoma.
That smells beautiful.
Savanah Carlson (2) (10:30):
I am with you.
I loved the oil diffuser because.
I could use it anywhere.
I could put it in my office turn.
Yeah.
Yeah.
100%. But I think a constant,awesome swag gift is a solid pen.
Give me a solid pen.
(10:51):
I'll, I will talk to you for25 minutes at your booth,
especially Jen's types of pens.
If you would like to knowwhat Jen gives out, you have
to reach out to her directly.
Become a client or do a demowith her, and then she'll tell
you what kind of pens she gets.
Yeah.
But a solid
Jen Steadman (11:08):
pen, I want like a, yeah, like a heavy weight pen.
Not super heavy, you know,like there's a sweet spot.
I don't want a thin classic one.
I want one that writes really smooth.
Yeah.
I'm telling you, there'scertain ones that are just.
Yeah.
You know, but a pen I would say notebooks.
Mm. Sometimes those are a little, eh,you know, I think everyone's really
(11:32):
specific in what they want in a notebook.
I'll say.
One of the other things, honestly,that I love is a good water bottle.
I know a lot of people don't likewater bottles, but, oh, yeah.
Oh, that was from my class.
Savanah Carlson (2) (11:45):
Yeah.
Sorry.
The backside says whoactually supplied this swag.
But now it has a back intent stickeron it, so we're double swaging it.
Jen Steadman (11:54):
I just had a really good idea for a swag item, but I feel
like I wanna do I lock it up in myhead and talk about it later with you?
Yeah, we're gonna use us.
I want something that I can use.
Savanah Carlson (2) (12:08):
I got this piece of swag.
Oh yeah.
It's a key chain flashlight that hasall different frigging modes on it.
Yeah, it has a red light in it.
This is something that
Jen Steadman (12:19):
I use.
I got a pen that has a Phillips andFlathead mini screwdriver in it.
Oh, I love that.
And you just unscrew it, flip itover, and then it's a screwdriver.
I love that.
Amazing, amazing lip
Savanah Carlson (2) (12:34):
balms.
Those are always, always fun lip balms.
Mm-hmm.
Jen Steadman (12:39):
I think if you're going to a sunny place, I would get a UV lip balm.
That was something I alwaysgave to patients too.
It's great, especially inthe summertime, swag that's
Savanah Carlson (2) (12:50):
not only multipurpose, but is
not wildly over the top.
I love, to, to rock a little rhinestonehere and there, but honestly companies,
when you invest that much money ina full rhinestone bag, that can only
be used really for that conference.
(13:10):
I feel like that's a waste of your money.
And then what happens when it goes home?
Like it just gets handed down toa pre-teen or it gets trashed.
Jen Steadman (13:17):
My kids have a lot of the swag that we have been gifted.
Mom, gimme a swag bag.
I wanna see what's there.
They do.
They like wait for it.
They're like, what did you get?
What did you get?
So you need to.
There's certain conferences that theygive a lot more swag at, I will say.
But always leave a little bit ofroom in your carry on for extra swag.
(13:42):
I'll say for companies decidingon swag, do not have it be any
liquids over three ounces or glass.
'cause a lot of people Yep.
Or glass or something really heavy.
I was at a conference board, they'relike, oh, you won this big basket.
And I'm like, that's great.
I can't do anything with that.
I can't, I'll have theinsides of the basket.
(14:04):
But you keep the basket.
Yeah.
Or like, but even the stuff in the basket,I'm like, how am I gonna get this home?
Mm-hmm.
Chris Stone (14:10):
You know?
So if you are doing like a giveawayor something like that, always have
the option that you will ship itto that attendee so then they don't
have to worry about it, becausethat's just, oh, that's a great idea.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Just because it's,sometimes it's too much.
Sometimes it's too much.
Savanah Carlson (2) (14:28):
I really liked the ring lights.
There was one company, one one year thatgave out ring lights for your cell phone.
Jen Steadman (14:35):
Mm-hmm.
Savanah Carlson (2) (14:36):
That's when Wolfies became a craze.
I don't know, I'm old now people,
Chris Stone (14:40):
but no, I love, love a good ring light.
Someone gave out like the extentthe selfie stick extenders
before too usable items.
You want it to be something too, thatwhen someone, when they're walking
around, when someone's walking aroundwith your item, if someone else sees
it, they go, where did you get that?
Because yes, they're gonna come over toyour booth to get that swag, but they're
(15:03):
gonna come over and talk to you, makethem talk to you before they get a big
Savanah Carlson (2) (15:10):
thing.
Yeah.
One thing.
I explored when I was a vendorat a large event was how am I
gonna get people to my booth?
What is going to entice people?
So I had a, a really nice G Swaggift at the booth, and I had a
(15:31):
exciting but kind of mediocregift that people could wear and.
Would create conversation.
So I had these scrunchiesthat lit up and glowed.
So by the end of the day, there werepeople walking around with these
light up, glowing, scrunchies in theirhair, on their arm, in their bag.
(15:52):
And it got to the point wherelike, oh, you're the boot
that has the glow scrunchies.
Oh, can I have one?
Oh yeah, sure.
Do you mind, like, can I just scan yourbadge for a second and then we can,
we can chat about what we do and I'llhappily give you a, a glow scrunchie.
And even better if you schedule oryou secure this membership, you're
gonna get this awesome cup too.
So let's just chat.
Have something that's gonna bringpeople to your booth that's noticeable.
(16:16):
Mm-hmm.
So like, even if you have an awesomepen, if you're not that well known
yet in the dental industry and youwant more leads, make it visual.
Make people ask other attendeeslike, where'd you get that?
Yeah.
Where'd you get that big umbrellahat that says on vacation?
Oh, you got it.
(16:36):
From that big finance company.
Okay.
I'm, yeah, I still have mine.
I do too, please.
I still have like my friendship braceletsand stuff like Uhhuh, one of the, that
company I won't say who it is, I will justtell you their primary color is green.
They, their swag is on point always.
(16:59):
Whoever is marketing for swagat events there, it's on point.
I think that we'vecovered most of our Yeah.
Exciting swag and whatmakes it accessible.
Jen Steadman (17:10):
Agreed.
Yeah.
I would say I don't need a bag.
I don't need, I don't need a bag.
I have bags of bags.
My husband calls me the bag ladybecause it, at one time there
were so many like dental bags inthis house that it's just, nope.
Savanah Carlson (2) (17:28):
If
Jen Steadman (17:29):
you're gonna give
Savanah Carlson (2) (17:29):
a bag, don't, yeah.
Don't give those grocery reusable bags.
Give like a cosmetic bag.
There was one HR company who gave out.
Maybe it was like, I think they labeledit like the hangover bag or something.
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Yeah, yeah.
Uhhuh and it was, it was a fulllittle travel bag that you could
throw in your car, in your pursewhile you're hiking on the boat.
(17:54):
Mm-hmm.
You could,
Jen Steadman (17:55):
that type of bag is, is useful.
It had all the essentials.
It had like bandaids and everything.
Uhhuh.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
I think look, and if you'regonna do like a bag though, you
know the ones that like fold up.
Like a little tiny one that folds upthat you can like stick in your purse or
stick in your car if you ever need it.
That makes more sense than like a bigbag that I'm gonna put over my shoulder
(18:16):
and it's like bright yellow that I'monly gonna use at the conference.
Like I think the point of this is.
Give people something that they'reactually gonna use after and
not have it be a one-time thing.
You want them to likewear it out, use it out.
And for people to see that, not justat the conference, but in general, so,
Savanah Carlson (2) (18:36):
mm-hmm.
Jen Steadman (18:37):
Yeah.
100%. Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
There you go.
Look at that, man.
We text on a lot.
I know, man.
Yeah.
Clocking out.
Savannah
Savanah Carlson (2) (18:48):
clocking out to clock back in.
You know what I'm saying?
I know.
Bye y'all.
See you later.
Thanks for spending a fewminutes with us on back in 10.
If
Chris Stone (18:58):
something made you laugh, nod or feel
Jen Stedman (19:01):
a little more human, share it with a friend and make
sure that you're subscribed.
Savanah Carlson (2) (19:05):
You can also follow us on Instagram at Back in 10 Pod for more
behind the scenes updates and probably
Chris Stone (19:12):
a little chaos.
We're not here to have it all figured out.
We are just here to tell you thethings that we wish someone had told us
Savanah Carlson (2) (19:19):
and remind you that leadership doesn't
have to be perfect, just real.
We'll be back in 10.
All right, ladies and gentlemen, the divine divas in three.
Two, one
Jen Steadman (00:06):
back in 10 is a podcast for dental leaders who do it all
and need 10 minutes to themselves.
Savanah Carlson (00:12):
It's about real conversations, not curated ones, the
kind that happen off the clock behindclosed doors, and between the chaos of
running a practice and running life.
Jen Steadman (00:21):
Hosted by Savannah Carlson and Jen Sedman, two women who've led,
learned, and laughed through it all.
Savanah Carlson (2) (00:28):
This show brings honest stories, leadership truths, and
the occasional sassy take on what itreally means to lead in dentistry today,
Jen Steadman (00:36):
because sometimes the best leadership happens when
you step away for 10 minutes.
Savanah Carlson (2) (00:41):
This is back in 10.
Hello everyone.
Welcome to back in 10.
I am Savanah.
And I'm Jen, and this episode is acontinuation of our meeting Mayhem
Week, where we talk about dentalmeetings, dental conferences things
(01:05):
we like about them, what makes itimpactful for us as dental leaders.
And today we want to revisit aprevious episode about speakers.
How we choose what speakers wesee, what is it that they discuss
or how do they present That reallyresonates with us as dental managers.
(01:28):
And to recap, we had mentioneda few of our top speakers.
Now let's, let's go back over that, Jen.
So who was in that, that top five?
Initially, we had no particular order,no hate to anyone who's not on the list.
These just popped into ourbrains as our top five right now.
Who are hot in the industry.
Jen Steadman (01:48):
Yes.
Katherine?
I tell Belt Katherine andI tell Be communication.
Yes.
Judy K Mossoff.
Judy k Mossoff.
Oh, I'm so sad she's retiring.
I know, man.
Theresa Duncan.
Td all the way baby.
Carrie Weber.
Carrie
Savanah Carlson (2) (02:07):
Weber.
Legacy.
She's a legacy.
She comes from legacy and she is a legacy.
Yes.
Uhhuh, Dave Anderson, Steve Anderson fire.
There is a fire in thatband when he speaks.
That is so engaging and you come out ofthat refreshed and just raring to go.
(02:27):
Love, love that.
Jen Steadman (02:29):
Yeah.
And I think, look, Savannah with those,industry speakers that we're talking
about here, let's talk about some ofthe things that we feel like make them.
Fantastic.
Like some of the things that we lookfor to that we know we're gonna get
something out of the course, right?
Like we've been to, so both of ushave been to so many courses with
(02:51):
all of those and many others, butwith all of those specifically.
So I think one of the thing, thebiggest things for me is that speaker's
really engaging with their audience.
Like you feel like you'rehaving a conversation with them.
It's not.
Them speaking from a podium, I'llsay like, you are there with them and
(03:12):
they are, you're equal, and they'rethere to support you and guide you
even if you've never met them orhad a conversation with them before.
They make you feel like they got you.
Yeah.
And they know what you'vebeen through and they can.
Offer some advice and some guidance.
Yeah.
I think that's one of the biggest things.
Savanah Carlson (2) (03:30):
I love that they're not speaking at
you, they're speaking with you.
It is that conversation.
I agree with you, Jen, on that.
For those, those five that we mentioned,I've always felt as though it is
a conversation and I love, I lovethat you brought up that they make
you feel like they've been there.
That support is really huge when you'resitting in this three hour course and
(03:50):
it, it does help with the engagement.
Absolutely.
Absolutely.
Yeah.
Jen Steadman (03:54):
And I think one of the other things too is when I walk away, I
know what they wanted me to get out of itand what I can do to implement anything.
Like I, I have steps in my head.
I know actionably what I cando, and I don't feel lost.
Like I've been in classes beforewhere I leave and I go, what?
(04:19):
What the hell did they talk about?
I don't understand.
And I was fully there, fullyengaged, and I just man, it
completely went over my head.
Or I have, I don't know,like in a haze almost.
Mm-hmm.
Um, that's the last thing that you want.
You want people to leave feelingrefreshed and yeah, I've been in some
(04:40):
of those classes with, with thosespeakers that I've cried, y'all know?
Queen crier over here.
I just, I cry.
But.
It hits you in a certain way that likeyou can feel it and you feel the emotions
behind it because again, they make youfeel like they've been there with you and
that they can just support you through it.
It just, it hits, it hits different,
Savanah Carlson (2) (05:02):
and there is a real importance to where
you're seeing this speaker andmore importantly, the difference
between an educational course or.
A keynote motivational course.
I've been to educational classeswhere I feel like I'm sitting in fluff
and on a cloud, and I say to myself.
(05:23):
This is not what I invested in.
Mm-hmm.
I would've gone to the sparather than sit here for three
hours and hear extra motivation.
I'm not saying that that's notimportant, that's not what I'm saying.
But if I go to an educational course, Iexpect coming out of it to have actionable
items that I can take back and implement.
And I feel like those topfive that we mentioned, I've
(05:45):
always left their courses with.
Yeah.
Three different items of changeI knew I could implement easily.
Yeah.
And they gave me the tool to be able
Jen Steadman (05:54):
to do that even when it was a keynote, whether it's a 20
minute, you know, keynote 45, or it'sa five hour course, two day course for
some of them that I've done before.
I've always had actionablethings come out of those.
Savanah Carlson (2) (06:11):
But
Chris Stone (06:12):
they are people that also invest in themselves, right?
Like we've been talkingabout this whole week, right.
Is investing in yourself andlearning and growing and those are
things that they have done too.
And we talked about changein the last episode and how
sometimes change is hard, man.
You think that they're differentfrom when they started too.
(06:33):
Like everything has changedbased on feedback and what you
learn and how people, take in theinformation that you give them.
There's so much thatcomes along with that.
They just know their craft of speakingand how to do it and how to make
people understand what their pointthat they're trying to make is.
Savanah Carlson (2) (06:53):
It also is valuable to me at least
when real world scenarios are.
Crafted into their presentation.
Mm-hmm.
I understand what you're telling me.
I understand why it will help X, Y,z be successful, or why it's going
to implement this type of change.
Give me an example.
(07:15):
Show me that what you're saying workswhen a speaker's able to, to present to
me why it works, how it's worked, andthat it has worked successfully invested.
Totally invested.
Look at td, look at TheresaDuncan's courses about insurance.
Insurance is not, themost engaging discussion.
(07:38):
It isn't.
But as a dental insurance nerd, I, Iwill see Theresa Duncan over and over
again because she makes an engagingand she brings it back to scenarios.
Yeah.
And she stays on top of it.
She stays on top of it.
She's current.
Yeah.
Yes.
Yeah.
I wanna see some washed up speaker from85 years ago who would really doesn't know
(08:00):
what's happening in the dental industry.
Jen Steadman (08:03):
I don't, no.
Someone that's asking thequestions and is listening.
That's huge.
That's huge.
I know one of the thingsthat I learned oh my gosh.
More what?
More than 10 years ago.
Way more than 10 years ago, 15 yearsago maybe, from Judy Kay was all about
what people bring with them, right?
They're boats and she makes it fun.
(08:24):
She makes it so you remember, so Iremember Boat and it's an acronym,
beliefs, opinions, assumption, assumptionsand truths like, and I borrow that
genius very often because it's a greatanalogy and just having things that.
People can understandeasily and can remember.
I probably wrote that down 15years ago and I haven't looked at
(08:47):
it since because it's right here.
It's ingrained in my head now becauseit makes total sense to, so just
yeah, look for different speakers,look at what their topics are and see
if any of them are gonna help withyour practice and with your team.
I think as we talk about conferences andstuff too, Savannah, we're talking about
(09:08):
like things that we bring back with us.
So yes, lots of education, lots oflearning, but can we talk about the swag?
Savanah Carlson (2) (09:15):
Oh, swag.
I could go on forever about swag.
Jen, what has been yourfavorite p piece of swag?
Like if you had to pick one,you have to pick one right now.
I'm asking you one.
I have mine in my head.
I broke it recently, but I had it.
Jen Steadman (09:32):
I know what it is.
I know.
Okay.
It was a recent one and I thinkit's something that we are hoping
that we can do in the futurefor our lovely listeners too.
You know, something to just likeget you in the Zen and to bring
you back to like, I don't know.
Scent is everything.
(09:53):
It just makes you remember things.
So I'm gonna say the traveloil diffuser humidifier.
Yeah, that's been a fve.
I remember when we got that Savannah,we cracked that sucker open and in the
hotel room and just, yeah, amazing.
Savannah traveled with her essential
Savanah Carlson (2) (10:12):
oils and subsequently we got Jen, her essential oils too.
So now Jen has her travel essential oils.
Yeah, mine is right back here
Jen Steadman (10:22):
on the table.
I have stress running right now.
This is from the hotel that westayed at Savannah in Oklahoma.
That smells beautiful.
Savanah Carlson (2) (10:30):
I am with you.
I loved the oil diffuser because.
I could use it anywhere.
I could put it in my office turn.
Yeah.
Yeah.
100%. But I think a constant,awesome swag gift is a solid pen.
Give me a solid pen.
(10:51):
I'll, I will talk to you for25 minutes at your booth,
especially Jen's types of pens.
If you would like to knowwhat Jen gives out, you have
to reach out to her directly.
Become a client or do a demowith her, and then she'll tell
you what kind of pens she gets.
Yeah.
But a solid
Jen Steadman (11:08):
pen, I want like a, yeah, like a heavy weight pen.
Not super heavy, you know,like there's a sweet spot.
I don't want a thin classic one.
I want one that writes really smooth.
Yeah.
I'm telling you, there'scertain ones that are just.
Yeah.
You know, but a pen I would say notebooks.
Mm. Sometimes those are a little, eh,you know, I think everyone's really
(11:32):
specific in what they want in a notebook.
I'll say.
One of the other things, honestly,that I love is a good water bottle.
I know a lot of people don't likewater bottles, but, oh, yeah.
Oh, that was from my class.
Savanah Carlson (2) (11:45):
Yeah.
Sorry.
The backside says whoactually supplied this swag.
But now it has a back intent stickeron it, so we're double swaging it.
Jen Steadman (11:54):
I just had a really good idea for a swag item, but I feel
like I wanna do I lock it up in myhead and talk about it later with you?
Yeah, we're gonna use us.
I want something that I can use.
Savanah Carlson (2) (12:08):
I got this piece of swag.
Oh yeah.
It's a key chain flashlight that hasall different frigging modes on it.
Yeah, it has a red light in it.
This is something that
Jen Steadman (12:19):
I use.
I got a pen that has a Phillips andFlathead mini screwdriver in it.
Oh, I love that.
And you just unscrew it, flip itover, and then it's a screwdriver.
I love that.
Amazing, amazing lip
Savanah Carlson (2) (12:34):
balms.
Those are always, always fun lip balms.
Mm-hmm.
Jen Steadman (12:39):
I think if you're going to a sunny place, I would get a UV lip balm.
That was something I alwaysgave to patients too.
It's great, especially inthe summertime, swag that's
Savanah Carlson (2) (12:50):
not only multipurpose, but is
not wildly over the top.
I love, to, to rock a little rhinestonehere and there, but honestly companies,
when you invest that much money ina full rhinestone bag, that can only
be used really for that conference.
(13:10):
I feel like that's a waste of your money.
And then what happens when it goes home?
Like it just gets handed down toa pre-teen or it gets trashed.
Jen Steadman (13:17):
My kids have a lot of the swag that we have been gifted.
Mom, gimme a swag bag.
I wanna see what's there.
They do.
They like wait for it.
They're like, what did you get?
What did you get?
So you need to.
There's certain conferences that theygive a lot more swag at, I will say.
But always leave a little bit ofroom in your carry on for extra swag.
(13:42):
I'll say for companies decidingon swag, do not have it be any
liquids over three ounces or glass.
'cause a lot of people Yep.
Or glass or something really heavy.
I was at a conference board, they'relike, oh, you won this big basket.
And I'm like, that's great.
I can't do anything with that.
I can't, I'll have theinsides of the basket.
(14:04):
But you keep the basket.
Yeah.
Or like, but even the stuff in the basket,I'm like, how am I gonna get this home?
Mm-hmm.
Chris Stone (14:10):
You know?
So if you are doing like a giveawayor something like that, always have
the option that you will ship itto that attendee so then they don't
have to worry about it, becausethat's just, oh, that's a great idea.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Just because it's,sometimes it's too much.
Sometimes it's too much.
Savanah Carlson (2) (14:28):
I really liked the ring lights.
There was one company, one one year thatgave out ring lights for your cell phone.
Jen Steadman (14:35):
Mm-hmm.
Savanah Carlson (2) (14:36):
That's when Wolfies became a craze.
I don't know, I'm old now people,
Chris Stone (14:40):
but no, I love, love a good ring light.
Someone gave out like the extentthe selfie stick extenders
before too usable items.
You want it to be something too, thatwhen someone, when they're walking
around, when someone's walking aroundwith your item, if someone else sees
it, they go, where did you get that?
Because yes, they're gonna come over toyour booth to get that swag, but they're
(15:03):
gonna come over and talk to you, makethem talk to you before they get a big
Savanah Carlson (2) (15:10):
thing.
Yeah.
One thing.
I explored when I was a vendorat a large event was how am I
gonna get people to my booth?
What is going to entice people?
So I had a, a really nice G Swaggift at the booth, and I had a
(15:31):
exciting but kind of mediocregift that people could wear and.
Would create conversation.
So I had these scrunchiesthat lit up and glowed.
So by the end of the day, there werepeople walking around with these
light up, glowing, scrunchies in theirhair, on their arm, in their bag.
(15:52):
And it got to the point wherelike, oh, you're the boot
that has the glow scrunchies.
Oh, can I have one?
Oh yeah, sure.
Do you mind, like, can I just scan yourbadge for a second and then we can,
we can chat about what we do and I'llhappily give you a, a glow scrunchie.
And even better if you schedule oryou secure this membership, you're
gonna get this awesome cup too.
So let's just chat.
Have something that's gonna bringpeople to your booth that's noticeable.
(16:16):
Mm-hmm.
So like, even if you have an awesomepen, if you're not that well known
yet in the dental industry and youwant more leads, make it visual.
Make people ask other attendeeslike, where'd you get that?
Yeah.
Where'd you get that big umbrellahat that says on vacation?
Oh, you got it.
(16:36):
From that big finance company.
Okay.
I'm, yeah, I still have mine.
I do too, please.
I still have like my friendship braceletsand stuff like Uhhuh, one of the, that
company I won't say who it is, I will justtell you their primary color is green.
They, their swag is on point always.
(16:59):
Whoever is marketing for swagat events there, it's on point.
I think that we'vecovered most of our Yeah.
Exciting swag and whatmakes it accessible.
Jen Steadman (17:10):
Agreed.
Yeah.
I would say I don't need a bag.
I don't need, I don't need a bag.
I have bags of bags.
My husband calls me the bag ladybecause it, at one time there
were so many like dental bags inthis house that it's just, nope.
Savanah Carlson (2) (17:28):
If
Jen Steadman (17:29):
you're gonna give
Savanah Carlson (2) (17:29):
a bag, don't, yeah.
Don't give those grocery reusable bags.
Give like a cosmetic bag.
There was one HR company who gave out.
Maybe it was like, I think they labeledit like the hangover bag or something.
Oh, yes, yes, yes.
Yeah, yeah.
Uhhuh and it was, it was a fulllittle travel bag that you could
throw in your car, in your pursewhile you're hiking on the boat.
(17:54):
Mm-hmm.
You could,
Jen Steadman (17:55):
that type of bag is, is useful.
It had all the essentials.
It had like bandaids and everything.
Uhhuh.
Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
I think look, and if you'regonna do like a bag though, you
know the ones that like fold up.
Like a little tiny one that folds upthat you can like stick in your purse or
stick in your car if you ever need it.
That makes more sense than like a bigbag that I'm gonna put over my shoulder
(18:16):
and it's like bright yellow that I'monly gonna use at the conference.
Like I think the point of this is.
Give people something that they'reactually gonna use after and
not have it be a one-time thing.
You want them to likewear it out, use it out.
And for people to see that, not justat the conference, but in general, so,
Savanah Carlson (2) (18:36):
mm-hmm.
Jen Steadman (18:37):
Yeah.
100%. Mm-hmm.
Yeah.
Yeah.
There you go.
Look at that, man.
We text on a lot.
I know, man.
Yeah.
Clocking out.
Savannah
Savanah Carlson (2) (18:48):
clocking out to clock back in.
You know what I'm saying?
I know.
Bye y'all.
See you later.
Thanks for spending a fewminutes with us on back in 10.
If
Chris Stone (18:58):
something made you laugh, nod or feel
Jen Stedman (19:01):
a little more human, share it with a friend and make
sure that you're subscribed.
Savanah Carlson (2) (19:05):
You can also follow us on Instagram at Back in 10 Pod for more
behind the scenes updates and probably
Chris Stone (19:12):
a little chaos.
We're not here to have it all figured out.
We are just here to tell you thethings that we wish someone had told us
Savanah Carlson (2) (19:19):
and remind you that leadership doesn't
have to be perfect, just real.
We'll be back in 10.
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