March 26, 2025 • 25 mins
Why do YOU stay in the events industry? Discover what keeps industry leaders passionate and inspired!
The events industry is fast-paced, high-pressure, and constantly evolving—so what keeps professionals motivated and engaged? 🎤
In this inspiring episode, Peter Schmidt shares his journey into event planning, how his "why" has evolved, and what keeps him passionate about the industry.
Topics include:
✔️ How top event pros found their purpose in the industry
✔️ What keeps planners and suppliers excited and engaged
✔️ How to stay motivated in a demanding field
✔️ Why relationships and lifelong learning are key to success
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome back to Event Therapy Podcast. And today, we are excited to talk about something that I think all of us have experienced or gone through in their life and really trying to figure out not only what is your why, but what kind of keeps you excited, invigorated about continuing in this industry from a planner or supplier standpoint. So we thought it would be fun to kind of go around the table and and and just figure out how did you get into this industry, kind of what was your entry why, and how has that changed or stayed the same, and what keeps you in it? So, Peter, I'm looking at you. I'm just right here.
(00:01):
Well, I'm He's right on my way. You. I'm like, I'm glad she's looking I'm glad she's looking your way and not my way first. You know? Guest first.
So Thank you. Thank you very much. Very mad, Artovio. Thank you. Yeah.
So long question, obviously. You kinda shortened this down. I think the service industry was always in my genes. It's something that I wake up in the morning, and I thought this would be where I feel comfortable and where I feel needed and wanted and that I could actually bring something to. Then I started out at hotels that was back in Germany on the on the service side and transitioned over to The US and fell into fell into sales.
It was kinda brought to me, based on my incredibly sparkling personality. Yes. I can ask for that. I'm right. Potentially being able to hold a conversation while looking people in the eyes.
I don't know what it was, but it, yeah, there was a lot of learning going on. Eventually, this mounted to being not so convinced about hotel sales anymore because of there was a bunch of circumstances, that just didn't ring all the way home. And then the third party world opened itself up to me naturally. Right? When you are in hotel sales, you deal as we have talked about, you deal with a lot of third parties.
But these third parties really moved mountains for their customers. And getting out of bed in the morning, with the awareness and with that challenge of showing up every day in your, you know, suit and tie and all that kind of stuff, like, in your best self, to really bring yourself and really bring that service to the customers and making them look incredible in front of their, superiors and leadership, that's really a calling that I that I followed since. And it's still jumping out of bed in the morning, 05:30. I love that. That's awesome.
That is cool. I love that. And I think your passion and dedication shifts through, and we all see that. Thank you. Speak to how incredible you are, not only at, you know, just getting into the day to day of what you do, but from a relationship standpoint and how much you really value that and that shows through.
So I would agree with you. I I definitely think it was your calling. Don't stop now. Don't stop. Keep going.
I I think you're 1 of the best. I said this before you even arrived today. Like, I think you are 1 of the best in the industry that I've met, and I feel like we've met a lot of people at the relationship part of the business. So I feel like you landed exactly where you should've. Peter's like, don't stop.
No. Keep going. Don't stop. Exactly what we did. We had whole conversation.
Is this happy hour? Is this the I remember because I was telling them the story about and I'll tell we can talk about it offline. But about totally tell when I first met you, I was younger in in the business, and, we were at a trade show, and it was 1 of those appointment shows. And there was hundreds of tables around the room, eight minute appointments, you know, two minutes in between. And you came as as the first time I had ever met you, and you sat down and you were like, can we are you tired?
Are you tired by all of this? And he's like you were like, let's go grab a cup of coffee out in the foyer, and we'll have our appointment there. And, you know, I was, like, just going from appointment to appointment. You know, you do kinda it was just so nice to walk away and just be able to talk. We didn't necessarily talk full, you know, let me tell you all about my hotel.
You know? It was just getting to know you, and I will never forget that because it was more of a personal experience. And I don't know if you remember the first time we had coffee together, but Of course. Name the place. I couldn't name the place.
I couldn't name the place or the show, but I remember meeting you. And I thought, wow. That was really great, and I remembered that relationship and that experience with you. Hopefully, you remember that with me, and it was just It was it was in Orlando. It was in Orlando.
You remember it. Let's go. To remember in Houston. That's awesome. And look at us now.
We're sitting here on a podcast. All adults. Yeah. When did we grow up? Wait.
Wait. Wait. I never I never will. But that's, just I'm gonna just jump in and talk about my way. I mean, I I intentionally to interrupt.
I wanna just give this back to you. I mean, you are memorable Thank you. The same way I appreciate it. Because you understand, relationships and you understand partnerships, and you are just a pleasure to be with. Well, thank you.
Well, I appreciate that. Well, I got I went to college for hospitality because I really loved the event side of things. I told everybody I wanted to plan events. I wanted to be behind the scenes and see an event come together. I was 20.
And I did not wanna work in the hotel business, but I needed to do an internship. And so I did an internship at a hotel because that was the easiest thing to do. And, like, very quickly was like, oh, I kinda like the hotel business, and I like the planning. You know, love seeing events come to life at a big convention hotel and thousands of people and, like, all the moving parts that go into that. So I got really excited by that, and I was before I even graduated from college, was promoted as a conference services manager at a big box hotel and lived there, I think.
I was there from, like, 05:30 in the morning till 08:10 o'clock at night, you know, doing events and, really did love that and really felt like, you know, that probably wasn't something I could do forever. But like, I bet you don't miss those hours. I it got me the start in the hotel business. I feel like I'm a better salesperson because I can understand the logistics of things. And but really fell into the you know, just getting to know my customers, getting to, like, be a part of their event, that real relationship part, and moving into sales, like, has stayed with this business because, obviously, the people and I know we're all gonna say that.
(00:22):
I mean, the people in this industry on the supplier side, the planner side, the vendors, like, they're just incredible people. And and the experiences, though, to add to that, because I know we're all gonna say the relationships is a %, I think, number 1 reason. But, really, the experiences that we get to have, the travel that we get to do, like, when we go to trade shows, when we go when you guys are on-site for client events. Like, it really takes you all around the country getting to do some really cool experiences. I mean, we get to, as suppliers, get to experience some really fun things when they're trying to show off to the planners.
So, and then the the my last why too is just the knowledge. The knowledge that this industry that can be shared amongst I feel like, especially through industry organizations like MPI, we all love, obviously, that's how we all met, really, but or at least developed our relationship more is that collaboration that exists among in our within our industry. It's not competition. It really is collaborative, and I just love, you know, how everyone kinda moves around and, you know, planners become suppliers, suppliers become planners. I just think that is another reason that I love this business so much.
You know, obviously, that's the relationships and the people. But those are my whys, why I started, and why I got here. And Can I can I ask a question? Yeah. Did you feel like, I think this is 1 of those items where the the new generations come in, and that's a little bit of a question mark for some of organ of the organizations.
Did you feel like you had to cut your teeth Yeah. In this industry? Because you just mentioned that big box hotel lots of hours. Yes. For sure.
I feel like I could I could never go back and probably do that job now. I definitely cut my teeth. However, I will say I think that that is a little bit lacking. I think people are seeing that in the market. You know?
We could do a whole episode, I think, on that. You know? I it's really, I think people I think it's a different generation, now that isn't really doesn't feel the need to cut their teeth so much. I think you bring up a good point though on that because I I I feel like most of us here, like, at this table did have to cut our teeth. Oh, yeah.
What part of this? Had to pay my dues and and work some crazy hours, and I almost feel like at the point now where I am in my career, like, okay. I've earned. You know? I've paid my dues to be able to not have to work those hours.
I don't know. It is kind of a little bit, like, you you look at other people coming in and, you know, they haven't necessarily I I think there's something to be said, and I I'm trying to tread carefully on this because cutting your teeth, it's not necessarily about paying your dues like you put in all these hours. You've learned so much. Experience. It is in self interest.
Exactly. You become a Yeah. You become a different professional. I'm not gonna say better, but you could become a different professional. Appreciate it and you appreciate people who do that later.
Yeah. Accreditation accreditation is obviously huge in in every industry. And I and I think everybody knows I'm not afraid to tread lightly. So, first of all, we have to we have to really kinda think about the fact that this is sort of a societal thing too. Right?
Like Right. The Internet, social media, things that have come along that let's we're not really dating ourselves, but let's just be honest. Like, at least for me, I was around before the Internet happened. Right? And so there are a lot of things out there telling new people coming into the workforce, be your own boss, start your own business, and nothing replaces experience.
And that's kinda what we're talking about right here. You you can't fast forward experience. You might be able to you might be able to get knowledge faster now because there's more information available, but you can't get experience faster. You and and so that I think is the biggest frustration is that people are being told you can jump from step 1 to step 100 just because. But if you don't know what all of those other steps in between 1 and a hundred are, this 1 quarter and then pay for $99.99 a month, I'll teach you how you know?
Yeah. You're right. But, like, you know what I mean? Like, we didn't at least I know there was nothing like that going on as I was coming up in the work world. It was like, get your ass to work, figure it out, learn, and when you're ready, you can go to that next level.
You know, at some point, we have to understand that experience can't be replaced, and so we should really never forget that. And I do think that you're starting to see this shift go back to it because we've hit such this extreme where the workforce and even probably people that are younger are realizing that doesn't this is not working. Like, we have ramped this thing up far enough to where we've gotta start coming back down to reality of that we have to get that experience. We have to pay those dues. And not only the fact that we have to, but the value in doing no price.
And I think that will happen. I you know, so many people don't look at it as it's an economy. It ebbs and flows. Yeah. You have peaks and valleys.
Yep. And we've been through that before. You know? I'm not trying to date ourselves, but we're, you know, all roughly have x amount of years of it. We're not spring chickens.
And, you know, I've been through 02/7 when Yes. The it was just you took whatever you could to get a job. And I literally went from making 1 thing to less than half. Not, I mean, not even half, you know, at all. And being and being happy with it.
It. And being happy with it. Yeah. Like, in a lot of ways, that time frame was like a precursor to COVID. Like, it was not not I wanna make sure who people it wasn't like COVID, but it was like a precursor to COVID.
I We are I remember We are so close to sounding like our parents. I'm just I know. Right? Yeah. I remember back when I walked the swamp the snow.
Right. Right. So Hey. It it did technically Yeah. In some parts snow two days ago here.
So Here we go. Florida. But you're right. I mean, the point is the experience, though, that comes from that, whether it's cutting teeth and feeling like I had to do that. I mean, I am for sure.
(00:43):
I mean, I I still to this day. I mean, every it's such ingrained in me. Everything I learned early in my career, all that hard work is still, you know, with me today. It's not like I did it. I didn't do it necessarily of it.
You know, it benefited my career growth, but that's not why. I mean, I really learned the hotel business and the events business and the meetings business by doing that. Yeah. And I think that will stay with me forever. So Well, I'm upset.
Oh, it makes you And even working on my wife still love the hotel business. There you go. And even after all that no. I think, I think a lot of times our our why can change. And from my standpoint, events wasn't even a thought when I was in college.
I wanted a business degree. I wanted to focus on marketing because I'm all about being creative and I like thinking outside the box and being innovative. And that's what I got. I got a business administration degree in marketing and that's what I was doing. I was running a marketing department.
And they had approached me in the essence of how can we bring more awareness from a marketing standpoint that's going to increase sales. Yep. So I went from, you know, coming right out of the gate and immediately getting thrown into doing roadshows every other week and then on property events in the weeks in between. So I literally was doing 52 week or 52 events a week, or week a year. I just I know.
I'm like, it's like it's like a tongue tie. And I I worked and did that for about over five years. And, you know, like I said, there's been peaks and valleys and everything, but I feel that it's kind of been 1 of those things that even when I took the next marketing job Hey, by the way, you do events. You do events. Exactly.
You know? And so so it just kinda kept becoming 1 of those things that I was like, okay. Well, events are just wrapped up in in this marketing gigs I've got. And and then it was, oh, you're really good at talking to people in relationships. You should handle sales too.
Yeah. And so then it evolved into that. And then I did become more of there were times that I think I was more supplier sales focused. I still always had the events and planning aspect on it. But then there was also times most recently where I was more planner focused, but there was a sales component to it Yeah.
With events. So it's kind of morphed and changed over the years. And I think what got me excited about it, it was was like the entry into marketing. But, like, what keeps me involved is that I see that I can be strategic. I can be innovative.
I can, I really like negotiating? I don't know. It's I kinda get a thrill out of it. When you win or when you lose? I don't lose.
That's challenging. She's a win winner. It's what we call a win win. But I feel like also another thing about it and I I'd be interested in everybody else's kind of aspect of it. Yes.
You can be innovative and creative, but it keeps you on your toes. It's always something different. Like it's not the monotony. And I like that. I need that.
And I kind of in a way feel like it gives me that instant gratification where it's to say if I worked for a traditional marketing department or a traditional, you know, in a sales or a PR aspect, a lot of times you have to wait till, like, the end of the year to see if you met your numbers to know if you have that win. Soon as you complete that event and it's a success, you gotta win. And so it's kind of like that constant, I wanna say instant gratification, but no, it's a shot of dopamine all the time. Yeah. So it's like you, you constantly get that that rush from it.
Right. Yeah. I love that. That's good. When the goals are closed, it's great.
I mean, you kinda the time is every quarter. Every quarter. I was like, here, quarter. I don't know. Every quarter.
Too funny. What about you, David? Tell us your why. Oh, okay. I bet.
No. Well, so, I mean, for me, I originally, this was I I didn't even know this industry existed quite honestly because my goal was to be an athlete. I've in in school, I played baseball, basketball, and that was my whole path in life. And, until I had to have reconstructive surgery on both of my ankles Oh. That, yeah, two two different times, 2 before I even got out of high school.
So, I had to really start thinking about what else did I like, and and I always kinda tell people I was, like, the class clown, but kinda like the in the corner class, the clown. I wasn't up in front, you know, telling stand up jokes. Guy, like, making the comments into that. Okay. Got you.
And I and I dark humor. And I also liked music a lot. So, you know, my my dad 1 day goes, you know, you have a face for radio. So that was good. Aw.
That's a dad joke. Sorry. So I was like, oh, that's not a bad idea. So my dad was in military. We were stationed on a navy base, and they had, like, a they had, like, a radio or, like, yeah, like, a radio.
And, like, this is right also, again, dating myself, when music videos started coming out. And, and so they right? So they had video production and and radio production. And I I remember that. Right?
(01:04):
Thank you. Yes. Thank you very much. I love it. War after you fought at the war.
No. Sorry. I digress. It's okay. And, so I was able to go to school half a day and then kinda go work over there on the other half of the kind of, like, coop, I guess, they call it.
I don't even know what the heck they call it now or if they even still do it. But, it was just a great experience since when I first got into it. So I thought, okay. I'm just gonna do radio all the time. And then, we were actually stationed in Bermuda, the island of Bermuda.
And so I came back to, Jacksonville because, really, it was the only other place we had lived multiple times. And so I kind of called it home, I guess. So I came back to take a broadcasting program, radio broadcasting program at a college here locally, kind of more like a trade college. Got all the way through that program. I was on the last semester, and they canceled the program because there was only 3 of us doing it.
So they were like, yeah. We can't justify doing the program anymore. So, I quickly got a job at in in radio. Quickly realized that you can't make very much money in radio, and you definitely cannot pay your bills with concert tickets and free CDs. So, somebody had told me about the events industry, during that process, and I just started getting more involved in it.
And I realized, okay. This is a cool way to to come to your point, I think, Elizabeth, about the audience is always different and the you know, like like, you know, and some of the other aspects of what we were doing prior to that, it was, like, the same people all the time. But this was kind of that, like you said, like, the shot of dopamine. Like, every time the audience was always different. And you could find ways to craft what you do, and there were some things that you would just do because you know that you you felt like they went well, so you kept doing them, but then you also were refining the process all the time.
So I used to love that. And then I just met some really, really cool people going to trade shows like we all do, picked up some mentors and and and and 1 in very specific person. And I think that, you know, that's when I realized, like, there's you know, like, this is this is something that, when we were talking earlier about the whole generation of missing the the value of experience and things like that, that's always very important to me because that was so ingrained in me. And I really see the difference between people who understand that and people don't understand that. And so that's why I'll talk about it till the cows come home.
So that's kind of where where I was to or my why for doing it just because I I, in a lot of ways, was kind of forced into doing it because what I thought I wanted to do, I didn't have the opportunity to do. But then I realized that I really loved doing this. And so now flipping to now why, I think, is because, I believe that it like, in anything, like, even if you have children, like, your 1 of your jobs as a parent is to teach your children how to be the next generation of leaders and the next generation of people in the workforce and so on and so forth, and I think in the industry as well. And and when you have the opportunity to be a mentor and you have an opportunity to kinda take some people under your wing and and and advise them on things that, will create a sustainable opportunity for them to be successful, especially when you're in an industry where you are your own boss, you are your own business owner, you are your own, person. You don't have, like, a big corporate, you know, umbrella that is kinda like as long as you do your job pretty well, you know you're gonna be be relatively safe, you know, in that regard.
And so to me, that's my why now is just being able to give back and and hopefully teach the next generation those types of things. Yeah. So You certainly do that, and I feel like this is a great opportunity to tell our audience about something big that happened for you this week. Oh, yes. I'm real big.
Yes. Well, you guys tell me because I won't be able to. Oh, well, David was selected to be in the mobile entertainment hall of fame. Yeah. Hall of fame.
I go there. It's only 1. Present. Okay. That's a big deal.
To to add to add to that, and David mentioned that giving back. So kudos kudos to you. Keep continue to learn, continue to to grow, and be president at the, North Florida MPI chapter, I think goes right in hand in hand with that, and it suits you well. It really suits you well. You're giving back, you're mentoring, and you're making everybody part of your, way of we're coming up, bringing up, doing it out of necessity, but finding the passion after all.
Yeah. Yeah. I think it's a well well taken point. Thank you. Well deserved.
I think that's something that we have all kinda connected on, really wanting to give back to this industry and and and really a lot of the basis for starting this podcast. Right. To be able to help others and to be able to have those kind of type of conversations. David, we're just so excited for you. Yeah.
What I was about to say is, okay, okay. So now don't be telling me I'm gonna be getting a writer before each of these films are all of his or hall of fame. No. No. I'll I'll still be the same old same old guy that just wants, Skittles and I don't know.
You know, that was just inducted. Yes. Yeah. That's a big deal. I do have to say I'm I'm, I guess, surprised.
Maybe I was numb to it because I thought a radio DJ is a celebrity in essence. Well yeah. But in some ways, you you could probably name maybe 5 or 6 radio DJs, but there are hundred well, there's probably not as many now because that industry has done a lot of consolidation as well. And Yeah. You know, everything is like, you know, you got a guy in Los Angeles recording, you know, and then, radio stations all over the place across the country are just, you know, picking up that syndicate.
That's the word I was looking for. Like, they're syndicating to all of these other programs. So what used to have hundreds of people doing it now probably has tens of people doing it. Right. Because you used to have, you know, a dish hockey in every area.
Yeah. And now that's not the case because, you know, your your bigger ones are kind of taking over, and it's really kind of narrowed in that. Yeah. The the major media companies started buying out all the local radio stations, and now they're all affiliates of, like, you know, 1 of the major organizations. So that's the reason for it.
I I was about going back to 1943. Oh, I'm sorry. Well, back then Y'all are are funny. Y'all are funny. Oh my goodness.
Alright. Well, I feel like y'all could go back and forth all day with each other. You too. This has been fun. I I I really found this insightful, and I think sometimes that's important.
(01:25):
And I would almost encourage all of our listeners and viewers to do this. Think about why you got in this industry and it's okay if that changed, but then what keeps you in it? I think it's important to look at that, reflect, see how far you've come and almost kind of reinvigorate and ignite yourself to find that passion again, because we all go through it. We all have those moments where we're like, oh, is this still the industry I want to be in? You know, or, we all have those tough days and sometimes it's nice to reflect back and maybe ask 1 of your colleagues, 1 of your friends.
It's so interesting. I think we all have different perspectives on how our kind of gateway in and then, like, what kept us. So it's nice to hear those perspectives. To to offer a bow, if you're not passionate about what you do, you're not gonna make it anywhere. Right.
It is I I know there's jobs out there and and callings that are necessity. Mhmm. But in this industry, the meetings and events industry, no matter which angle you take on this Yeah. If you're not passionate about it Yeah. Those hours are gonna not sit well.
Passionate about it, if you're not into relationship building, if, you know, we always say you are your own brand as well, whether you work for a company or not. Absolutely. Those, those are the key aspects. Everything else can be taught. Yep.
Everything else can be learned. Right. But it's at, it's those core things that I think, you know, will really allow you to succeed in this industry. So great point. Well said.
Well said, everybody. Well said. Alright. Well, thank you so much for just listening in today, and make sure you follow us at event therapy podcast on whatever social platform you have, Facebook or Instagram, and we'll catch you at the next event.
Welcome back to Event Therapy Podcast. And today, we are excited to talk about something that I think all of us have experienced or gone through in their life and really trying to figure out not only what is your why, but what kind of keeps you excited, invigorated about continuing in this industry from a planner or supplier standpoint. So we thought it would be fun to kind of go around the table and and and just figure out how did you get into this industry, kind of what was your entry why, and how has that changed or stayed the same, and what keeps you in it? So, Peter, I'm looking at you. I'm just right here.
(00:01):
Well, I'm He's right on my way. You. I'm like, I'm glad she's looking I'm glad she's looking your way and not my way first. You know? Guest first.
So Thank you. Thank you very much. Very mad, Artovio. Thank you. Yeah.
So long question, obviously. You kinda shortened this down. I think the service industry was always in my genes. It's something that I wake up in the morning, and I thought this would be where I feel comfortable and where I feel needed and wanted and that I could actually bring something to. Then I started out at hotels that was back in Germany on the on the service side and transitioned over to The US and fell into fell into sales.
It was kinda brought to me, based on my incredibly sparkling personality. Yes. I can ask for that. I'm right. Potentially being able to hold a conversation while looking people in the eyes.
I don't know what it was, but it, yeah, there was a lot of learning going on. Eventually, this mounted to being not so convinced about hotel sales anymore because of there was a bunch of circumstances, that just didn't ring all the way home. And then the third party world opened itself up to me naturally. Right? When you are in hotel sales, you deal as we have talked about, you deal with a lot of third parties.
But these third parties really moved mountains for their customers. And getting out of bed in the morning, with the awareness and with that challenge of showing up every day in your, you know, suit and tie and all that kind of stuff, like, in your best self, to really bring yourself and really bring that service to the customers and making them look incredible in front of their, superiors and leadership, that's really a calling that I that I followed since. And it's still jumping out of bed in the morning, 05:30. I love that. That's awesome.
That is cool. I love that. And I think your passion and dedication shifts through, and we all see that. Thank you. Speak to how incredible you are, not only at, you know, just getting into the day to day of what you do, but from a relationship standpoint and how much you really value that and that shows through.
So I would agree with you. I I definitely think it was your calling. Don't stop now. Don't stop. Keep going.
I I think you're 1 of the best. I said this before you even arrived today. Like, I think you are 1 of the best in the industry that I've met, and I feel like we've met a lot of people at the relationship part of the business. So I feel like you landed exactly where you should've. Peter's like, don't stop.
No. Keep going. Don't stop. Exactly what we did. We had whole conversation.
Is this happy hour? Is this the I remember because I was telling them the story about and I'll tell we can talk about it offline. But about totally tell when I first met you, I was younger in in the business, and, we were at a trade show, and it was 1 of those appointment shows. And there was hundreds of tables around the room, eight minute appointments, you know, two minutes in between. And you came as as the first time I had ever met you, and you sat down and you were like, can we are you tired?
Are you tired by all of this? And he's like you were like, let's go grab a cup of coffee out in the foyer, and we'll have our appointment there. And, you know, I was, like, just going from appointment to appointment. You know, you do kinda it was just so nice to walk away and just be able to talk. We didn't necessarily talk full, you know, let me tell you all about my hotel.
You know? It was just getting to know you, and I will never forget that because it was more of a personal experience. And I don't know if you remember the first time we had coffee together, but Of course. Name the place. I couldn't name the place.
I couldn't name the place or the show, but I remember meeting you. And I thought, wow. That was really great, and I remembered that relationship and that experience with you. Hopefully, you remember that with me, and it was just It was it was in Orlando. It was in Orlando.
You remember it. Let's go. To remember in Houston. That's awesome. And look at us now.
We're sitting here on a podcast. All adults. Yeah. When did we grow up? Wait.
Wait. Wait. I never I never will. But that's, just I'm gonna just jump in and talk about my way. I mean, I I intentionally to interrupt.
I wanna just give this back to you. I mean, you are memorable Thank you. The same way I appreciate it. Because you understand, relationships and you understand partnerships, and you are just a pleasure to be with. Well, thank you.
Well, I appreciate that. Well, I got I went to college for hospitality because I really loved the event side of things. I told everybody I wanted to plan events. I wanted to be behind the scenes and see an event come together. I was 20.
And I did not wanna work in the hotel business, but I needed to do an internship. And so I did an internship at a hotel because that was the easiest thing to do. And, like, very quickly was like, oh, I kinda like the hotel business, and I like the planning. You know, love seeing events come to life at a big convention hotel and thousands of people and, like, all the moving parts that go into that. So I got really excited by that, and I was before I even graduated from college, was promoted as a conference services manager at a big box hotel and lived there, I think.
I was there from, like, 05:30 in the morning till 08:10 o'clock at night, you know, doing events and, really did love that and really felt like, you know, that probably wasn't something I could do forever. But like, I bet you don't miss those hours. I it got me the start in the hotel business. I feel like I'm a better salesperson because I can understand the logistics of things. And but really fell into the you know, just getting to know my customers, getting to, like, be a part of their event, that real relationship part, and moving into sales, like, has stayed with this business because, obviously, the people and I know we're all gonna say that.
(00:22):
I mean, the people in this industry on the supplier side, the planner side, the vendors, like, they're just incredible people. And and the experiences, though, to add to that, because I know we're all gonna say the relationships is a %, I think, number 1 reason. But, really, the experiences that we get to have, the travel that we get to do, like, when we go to trade shows, when we go when you guys are on-site for client events. Like, it really takes you all around the country getting to do some really cool experiences. I mean, we get to, as suppliers, get to experience some really fun things when they're trying to show off to the planners.
So, and then the the my last why too is just the knowledge. The knowledge that this industry that can be shared amongst I feel like, especially through industry organizations like MPI, we all love, obviously, that's how we all met, really, but or at least developed our relationship more is that collaboration that exists among in our within our industry. It's not competition. It really is collaborative, and I just love, you know, how everyone kinda moves around and, you know, planners become suppliers, suppliers become planners. I just think that is another reason that I love this business so much.
You know, obviously, that's the relationships and the people. But those are my whys, why I started, and why I got here. And Can I can I ask a question? Yeah. Did you feel like, I think this is 1 of those items where the the new generations come in, and that's a little bit of a question mark for some of organ of the organizations.
Did you feel like you had to cut your teeth Yeah. In this industry? Because you just mentioned that big box hotel lots of hours. Yes. For sure.
I feel like I could I could never go back and probably do that job now. I definitely cut my teeth. However, I will say I think that that is a little bit lacking. I think people are seeing that in the market. You know?
We could do a whole episode, I think, on that. You know? I it's really, I think people I think it's a different generation, now that isn't really doesn't feel the need to cut their teeth so much. I think you bring up a good point though on that because I I I feel like most of us here, like, at this table did have to cut our teeth. Oh, yeah.
What part of this? Had to pay my dues and and work some crazy hours, and I almost feel like at the point now where I am in my career, like, okay. I've earned. You know? I've paid my dues to be able to not have to work those hours.
I don't know. It is kind of a little bit, like, you you look at other people coming in and, you know, they haven't necessarily I I think there's something to be said, and I I'm trying to tread carefully on this because cutting your teeth, it's not necessarily about paying your dues like you put in all these hours. You've learned so much. Experience. It is in self interest.
Exactly. You become a Yeah. You become a different professional. I'm not gonna say better, but you could become a different professional. Appreciate it and you appreciate people who do that later.
Yeah. Accreditation accreditation is obviously huge in in every industry. And I and I think everybody knows I'm not afraid to tread lightly. So, first of all, we have to we have to really kinda think about the fact that this is sort of a societal thing too. Right?
Like Right. The Internet, social media, things that have come along that let's we're not really dating ourselves, but let's just be honest. Like, at least for me, I was around before the Internet happened. Right? And so there are a lot of things out there telling new people coming into the workforce, be your own boss, start your own business, and nothing replaces experience.
And that's kinda what we're talking about right here. You you can't fast forward experience. You might be able to you might be able to get knowledge faster now because there's more information available, but you can't get experience faster. You and and so that I think is the biggest frustration is that people are being told you can jump from step 1 to step 100 just because. But if you don't know what all of those other steps in between 1 and a hundred are, this 1 quarter and then pay for $99.99 a month, I'll teach you how you know?
Yeah. You're right. But, like, you know what I mean? Like, we didn't at least I know there was nothing like that going on as I was coming up in the work world. It was like, get your ass to work, figure it out, learn, and when you're ready, you can go to that next level.
You know, at some point, we have to understand that experience can't be replaced, and so we should really never forget that. And I do think that you're starting to see this shift go back to it because we've hit such this extreme where the workforce and even probably people that are younger are realizing that doesn't this is not working. Like, we have ramped this thing up far enough to where we've gotta start coming back down to reality of that we have to get that experience. We have to pay those dues. And not only the fact that we have to, but the value in doing no price.
And I think that will happen. I you know, so many people don't look at it as it's an economy. It ebbs and flows. Yeah. You have peaks and valleys.
Yep. And we've been through that before. You know? I'm not trying to date ourselves, but we're, you know, all roughly have x amount of years of it. We're not spring chickens.
And, you know, I've been through 02/7 when Yes. The it was just you took whatever you could to get a job. And I literally went from making 1 thing to less than half. Not, I mean, not even half, you know, at all. And being and being happy with it.
It. And being happy with it. Yeah. Like, in a lot of ways, that time frame was like a precursor to COVID. Like, it was not not I wanna make sure who people it wasn't like COVID, but it was like a precursor to COVID.
I We are I remember We are so close to sounding like our parents. I'm just I know. Right? Yeah. I remember back when I walked the swamp the snow.
Right. Right. So Hey. It it did technically Yeah. In some parts snow two days ago here.
So Here we go. Florida. But you're right. I mean, the point is the experience, though, that comes from that, whether it's cutting teeth and feeling like I had to do that. I mean, I am for sure.
(00:43):
I mean, I I still to this day. I mean, every it's such ingrained in me. Everything I learned early in my career, all that hard work is still, you know, with me today. It's not like I did it. I didn't do it necessarily of it.
You know, it benefited my career growth, but that's not why. I mean, I really learned the hotel business and the events business and the meetings business by doing that. Yeah. And I think that will stay with me forever. So Well, I'm upset.
Oh, it makes you And even working on my wife still love the hotel business. There you go. And even after all that no. I think, I think a lot of times our our why can change. And from my standpoint, events wasn't even a thought when I was in college.
I wanted a business degree. I wanted to focus on marketing because I'm all about being creative and I like thinking outside the box and being innovative. And that's what I got. I got a business administration degree in marketing and that's what I was doing. I was running a marketing department.
And they had approached me in the essence of how can we bring more awareness from a marketing standpoint that's going to increase sales. Yep. So I went from, you know, coming right out of the gate and immediately getting thrown into doing roadshows every other week and then on property events in the weeks in between. So I literally was doing 52 week or 52 events a week, or week a year. I just I know.
I'm like, it's like it's like a tongue tie. And I I worked and did that for about over five years. And, you know, like I said, there's been peaks and valleys and everything, but I feel that it's kind of been 1 of those things that even when I took the next marketing job Hey, by the way, you do events. You do events. Exactly.
You know? And so so it just kinda kept becoming 1 of those things that I was like, okay. Well, events are just wrapped up in in this marketing gigs I've got. And and then it was, oh, you're really good at talking to people in relationships. You should handle sales too.
Yeah. And so then it evolved into that. And then I did become more of there were times that I think I was more supplier sales focused. I still always had the events and planning aspect on it. But then there was also times most recently where I was more planner focused, but there was a sales component to it Yeah.
With events. So it's kind of morphed and changed over the years. And I think what got me excited about it, it was was like the entry into marketing. But, like, what keeps me involved is that I see that I can be strategic. I can be innovative.
I can, I really like negotiating? I don't know. It's I kinda get a thrill out of it. When you win or when you lose? I don't lose.
That's challenging. She's a win winner. It's what we call a win win. But I feel like also another thing about it and I I'd be interested in everybody else's kind of aspect of it. Yes.
You can be innovative and creative, but it keeps you on your toes. It's always something different. Like it's not the monotony. And I like that. I need that.
And I kind of in a way feel like it gives me that instant gratification where it's to say if I worked for a traditional marketing department or a traditional, you know, in a sales or a PR aspect, a lot of times you have to wait till, like, the end of the year to see if you met your numbers to know if you have that win. Soon as you complete that event and it's a success, you gotta win. And so it's kind of like that constant, I wanna say instant gratification, but no, it's a shot of dopamine all the time. Yeah. So it's like you, you constantly get that that rush from it.
Right. Yeah. I love that. That's good. When the goals are closed, it's great.
I mean, you kinda the time is every quarter. Every quarter. I was like, here, quarter. I don't know. Every quarter.
Too funny. What about you, David? Tell us your why. Oh, okay. I bet.
No. Well, so, I mean, for me, I originally, this was I I didn't even know this industry existed quite honestly because my goal was to be an athlete. I've in in school, I played baseball, basketball, and that was my whole path in life. And, until I had to have reconstructive surgery on both of my ankles Oh. That, yeah, two two different times, 2 before I even got out of high school.
So, I had to really start thinking about what else did I like, and and I always kinda tell people I was, like, the class clown, but kinda like the in the corner class, the clown. I wasn't up in front, you know, telling stand up jokes. Guy, like, making the comments into that. Okay. Got you.
And I and I dark humor. And I also liked music a lot. So, you know, my my dad 1 day goes, you know, you have a face for radio. So that was good. Aw.
That's a dad joke. Sorry. So I was like, oh, that's not a bad idea. So my dad was in military. We were stationed on a navy base, and they had, like, a they had, like, a radio or, like, yeah, like, a radio.
And, like, this is right also, again, dating myself, when music videos started coming out. And, and so they right? So they had video production and and radio production. And I I remember that. Right?
(01:04):
Thank you. Yes. Thank you very much. I love it. War after you fought at the war.
No. Sorry. I digress. It's okay. And, so I was able to go to school half a day and then kinda go work over there on the other half of the kind of, like, coop, I guess, they call it.
I don't even know what the heck they call it now or if they even still do it. But, it was just a great experience since when I first got into it. So I thought, okay. I'm just gonna do radio all the time. And then, we were actually stationed in Bermuda, the island of Bermuda.
And so I came back to, Jacksonville because, really, it was the only other place we had lived multiple times. And so I kind of called it home, I guess. So I came back to take a broadcasting program, radio broadcasting program at a college here locally, kind of more like a trade college. Got all the way through that program. I was on the last semester, and they canceled the program because there was only 3 of us doing it.
So they were like, yeah. We can't justify doing the program anymore. So, I quickly got a job at in in radio. Quickly realized that you can't make very much money in radio, and you definitely cannot pay your bills with concert tickets and free CDs. So, somebody had told me about the events industry, during that process, and I just started getting more involved in it.
And I realized, okay. This is a cool way to to come to your point, I think, Elizabeth, about the audience is always different and the you know, like like, you know, and some of the other aspects of what we were doing prior to that, it was, like, the same people all the time. But this was kind of that, like you said, like, the shot of dopamine. Like, every time the audience was always different. And you could find ways to craft what you do, and there were some things that you would just do because you know that you you felt like they went well, so you kept doing them, but then you also were refining the process all the time.
So I used to love that. And then I just met some really, really cool people going to trade shows like we all do, picked up some mentors and and and and 1 in very specific person. And I think that, you know, that's when I realized, like, there's you know, like, this is this is something that, when we were talking earlier about the whole generation of missing the the value of experience and things like that, that's always very important to me because that was so ingrained in me. And I really see the difference between people who understand that and people don't understand that. And so that's why I'll talk about it till the cows come home.
So that's kind of where where I was to or my why for doing it just because I I, in a lot of ways, was kind of forced into doing it because what I thought I wanted to do, I didn't have the opportunity to do. But then I realized that I really loved doing this. And so now flipping to now why, I think, is because, I believe that it like, in anything, like, even if you have children, like, your 1 of your jobs as a parent is to teach your children how to be the next generation of leaders and the next generation of people in the workforce and so on and so forth, and I think in the industry as well. And and when you have the opportunity to be a mentor and you have an opportunity to kinda take some people under your wing and and and advise them on things that, will create a sustainable opportunity for them to be successful, especially when you're in an industry where you are your own boss, you are your own business owner, you are your own, person. You don't have, like, a big corporate, you know, umbrella that is kinda like as long as you do your job pretty well, you know you're gonna be be relatively safe, you know, in that regard.
And so to me, that's my why now is just being able to give back and and hopefully teach the next generation those types of things. Yeah. So You certainly do that, and I feel like this is a great opportunity to tell our audience about something big that happened for you this week. Oh, yes. I'm real big.
Yes. Well, you guys tell me because I won't be able to. Oh, well, David was selected to be in the mobile entertainment hall of fame. Yeah. Hall of fame.
I go there. It's only 1. Present. Okay. That's a big deal.
To to add to add to that, and David mentioned that giving back. So kudos kudos to you. Keep continue to learn, continue to to grow, and be president at the, North Florida MPI chapter, I think goes right in hand in hand with that, and it suits you well. It really suits you well. You're giving back, you're mentoring, and you're making everybody part of your, way of we're coming up, bringing up, doing it out of necessity, but finding the passion after all.
Yeah. Yeah. I think it's a well well taken point. Thank you. Well deserved.
I think that's something that we have all kinda connected on, really wanting to give back to this industry and and and really a lot of the basis for starting this podcast. Right. To be able to help others and to be able to have those kind of type of conversations. David, we're just so excited for you. Yeah.
What I was about to say is, okay, okay. So now don't be telling me I'm gonna be getting a writer before each of these films are all of his or hall of fame. No. No. I'll I'll still be the same old same old guy that just wants, Skittles and I don't know.
You know, that was just inducted. Yes. Yeah. That's a big deal. I do have to say I'm I'm, I guess, surprised.
Maybe I was numb to it because I thought a radio DJ is a celebrity in essence. Well yeah. But in some ways, you you could probably name maybe 5 or 6 radio DJs, but there are hundred well, there's probably not as many now because that industry has done a lot of consolidation as well. And Yeah. You know, everything is like, you know, you got a guy in Los Angeles recording, you know, and then, radio stations all over the place across the country are just, you know, picking up that syndicate.
That's the word I was looking for. Like, they're syndicating to all of these other programs. So what used to have hundreds of people doing it now probably has tens of people doing it. Right. Because you used to have, you know, a dish hockey in every area.
Yeah. And now that's not the case because, you know, your your bigger ones are kind of taking over, and it's really kind of narrowed in that. Yeah. The the major media companies started buying out all the local radio stations, and now they're all affiliates of, like, you know, 1 of the major organizations. So that's the reason for it.
I I was about going back to 1943. Oh, I'm sorry. Well, back then Y'all are are funny. Y'all are funny. Oh my goodness.
Alright. Well, I feel like y'all could go back and forth all day with each other. You too. This has been fun. I I I really found this insightful, and I think sometimes that's important.
(01:25):
And I would almost encourage all of our listeners and viewers to do this. Think about why you got in this industry and it's okay if that changed, but then what keeps you in it? I think it's important to look at that, reflect, see how far you've come and almost kind of reinvigorate and ignite yourself to find that passion again, because we all go through it. We all have those moments where we're like, oh, is this still the industry I want to be in? You know, or, we all have those tough days and sometimes it's nice to reflect back and maybe ask 1 of your colleagues, 1 of your friends.
It's so interesting. I think we all have different perspectives on how our kind of gateway in and then, like, what kept us. So it's nice to hear those perspectives. To to offer a bow, if you're not passionate about what you do, you're not gonna make it anywhere. Right.
It is I I know there's jobs out there and and callings that are necessity. Mhmm. But in this industry, the meetings and events industry, no matter which angle you take on this Yeah. If you're not passionate about it Yeah. Those hours are gonna not sit well.
Passionate about it, if you're not into relationship building, if, you know, we always say you are your own brand as well, whether you work for a company or not. Absolutely. Those, those are the key aspects. Everything else can be taught. Yep.
Everything else can be learned. Right. But it's at, it's those core things that I think, you know, will really allow you to succeed in this industry. So great point. Well said.
Well said, everybody. Well said. Alright. Well, thank you so much for just listening in today, and make sure you follow us at event therapy podcast on whatever social platform you have, Facebook or Instagram, and we'll catch you at the next event.
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