with Phil Mershon | Crafting Unforgettable Events

Host Lauren Teague sits down with author Phil Mershon to dive deep into creating memorable experiences and building a tribe of loyal fans for your brand. They explore the power of harnessing big ideas, making intentional choices to enhance business relationships, and the science behind crafting genuinely unforgettable events. Listen to them discuss the importance of first impressions, overcoming resistance, and the future of personalized event experiences. Plus, you'll hear fascinating insights into the creation of a mobile app for customized event journeys and the art of building a community of like-minded individuals. Get ready to be inspired and learn valuable strategies to turn your brand into a fan favorite during your next event or activation.

The Guest:

Phil Mershon is the director of experience for Social Media Examiner. He's been designing the Social Media Marketing World experience for over a decade. Drawing from over 25 years in creating customized events, Phil loves to create memorable moments and transformational experiences. In addition, Phil is a jazz saxophonist, a pickleball enthusiast, and the author of Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences.

In this Episode:

• 00:01:57 Phil Mershon is an event planner who seeks to create transformative experiences at events that leave a lasting impact.

• 00:04:07 Create meaningful and unforgettable experiences by combining positive moments and understanding the science of storytelling, providing a guide to crafting personalized events or books.

• 00:08:34 Harnessing your big idea, letting others shape it. Apply it to various aspects of life and business. Focus on making intentional choices to make it easier and more beneficial for others. AHA moments in research on memorable experiences and emerging science.

• 00:12:13 Exhaustion hampers engagement in storytelling.

• 00:16:37 The Exploration Place museum in Wichita fails to create an inviting atmosphere for its primary audience, causing negative first impressions and a need to overcome inertia.

• 00:17:14 A positive impression encourages people to be interested and engaged. Overcoming resistance and isolation is crucial for connecting with others.

• 00:22:31 Audience encouraged to express gratitude and pledge presence at event.

• 00:25:55 Retention business is important as it is cheaper and more effective than acquiring new customers. Word of mouth marketing is crucial. Creating a connection before the event is key.

• 00:29:20 Plans to form a community with shared interests, fostering organic discussions and diverse connections.

• 00:34:04 Listening and engaging with individuals to address concerns and offer support.

• 00:35:36 Creating a personalized mobile app with interactive features for events, aiming for a video game-like experience with user-selected choices.

• 00:39:26 Qualitative feedback led to the creation of a show for agencies.

• 00:41:36 Data helped identify the target audience's preferences, leading to improved music choices.

• 00:46:49 Met sister on flight, brother on team, from Oklahoma City, 2 hours away. Enjoyed conversations about field, attention to detail in practice.

• 00:49:47 Phil Mershon, author of Unforgettable, discusses creating memorable experiences and the three M's: memorable, meaningful, and momentous. He shares a story about Herman Effinghaus' research on attention and forgetting.

• 00:51:35 Foster connections before events to empower attendees. 

Here are three ways to support Lauren Teague and the Brand to Fan Show: 

• Hire Laure