Event Speak with Big John
Our flagship show, Event Speak with Big John is hosted by music/experiential industry veteran, event guru, and CEO of Beyond Experiential, Big John. Our shared purpose is to create dialogue among professionals from all facets and fields of the global event industry ecosystem with the hopes of informing and inspiring the next generation of event professionals uniting them in solidarity on the new and soon to be expansive EventSpeak Network. About Big John: Big John got his start as co-founder and playing guitar in former Chicago band SweaterGirl and founding B17 Records where SweaterGirl would go on to sell over 70,000 records (when that was still a thing) completely independent. After 4 consecutive summers on the Van's Warped Tour as one of the first ever DIY bands to be invited to tag along Big John was ready for what's next and stumbled into the event industry in 2005. Big John stayed on the road managing Mobile Marketing Tours and bands for Warped Tour clients/artists for the next 7 summers as well as a plethora of experiential tours, campaigns, events, and initiatives that include some of the biggest brands and bands in the world. Having a unique edge and being side by side with the pioneers in the brands to bands movement post the crash of the record business in the early 2000's Big John's knowledge and experience in both fields is extensive. After logging over 300,000 miles through countless tours, Big John parked himself in LA and co-founded Beyond Experiential, an experiential agency focused on creating unique and impactful experiences based in the brand marketing, experiential, and music industry. " This show (EventSpeak) is my latest passion and I'm so stoked for everyone to check it out!" -Big John
Episodes
July 30, 2020 • 29 min
Pull up a chair and sit down with ever entertaining Amanda Younger one of Big John's former tour family and dearest friends who's also the Senior Event Manager for NYC Pride! Amanda talks with Big John on some of the positives that have come out of working remote during Covid-19 and transitioning several times on the game plan for NYC Pride 2020 (due to and ever changing Covid-19 landscape) -- to basically an all-digital f...
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July 28, 2020 • 30 min
Teeg is an encyclopedia of Event Industry knowledge and heads up the AAEP (American Association of Event Professionals), a nonprofit organization that is long overdue in the event/experiential world. Teeg discusses the benefits of being an AAEP member, why it is needed, what role it will play in the industries future -- as well as reminiscing about the early days of the event industry and how they both just fall face first into it...
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July 21, 2020 • 21 min
Big John sits down with the delightful Devin Bender to discuss how a recent college grad has achieved so much so soon in her career. Devin is a social media influencer, Playboy model, and recent graduate of Florida State University. Topics include; Healthy living, Brands approaching social influencers, how to have a healthy relationship with social media and where to get the best chicken wings in the country - Devin's "i...
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July 10, 2020 • 25 min
Big John travels across the pond (via Zoom) to sit down with Claire Grecian, Managing Director at Circle Agency. Claire discusses some campaigns Circle Agency is involved with in the midst of COVID-19, talks similarities and differences between Experiential campaigns in the UK and US and reminisces about how she stumbled into events, fell in love with the industry and stuck with it like so many of us do!
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July 8, 2020 • 27 min
The amazing Billy Burrs joins Big John to discuss his journey in the record industry from, Zoo Entertainment to Geffen Records and now is at The Syndicate all in an executive capacity. Billy has worked with the likes of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Black Keys, The Strokes and Cage the Elephant and talks about how the record and touring industry is being impacted by COVID-19.
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July 6, 2020 • 20 min
On this amazing episode Big John is joined by Mitch Mishske who will blow your mind with his knowledge of being a tour manager, emcee, host and driver. Mitch hails from Chicago but now calls a hippie commune home in Colorado (no lie it is the fruitiest place west of the Mississippi). Mitch is also the recurring driver for March Forth (a band like no other) and regularly emcees at the Ride Festival each year. He is also the host of...
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July 3, 2020 • 21 min
Big John sits down with the multi-talented Rachel Silvestrini of YouTube’s Movies, Music and Mayhem and regular competitor on Movie Trivia Schmoedown. Rachel and Big John swap road warrior stories from Warped Tour to Disney Theatrical Group as well as what it takes to get on tour.
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June 30, 2020 • 27 min
On this special “Diva” edition of EventSpeak, Big John sits with the Fabulous Ms Amy Armstrong. An internationally known singer and performer., Amy and Big John discuss how she courageously just beat cancer, she’s dealing with COVID-19 life in Mexico, and how musicians are finding new ways to connect with their audience.
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June 29, 2020 • 24 min
Join Big John as he sits down with Assist Marketing President and Founder, Joe Wroblewski, to talk shop on the staffing business, AAEP, and how they are adapting to COVID-19 life and what comes next.
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June 22, 2020 • 25 min
Join Big John on this special down under edition of Event Speak as he sits down with Richard Jones, Partner and Head of Experiences at Kreate Australia.
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June 18, 2020 • 18 min
Big John talks with Event Producer and all around great person, Bruce XuXin from Brain Trust, a boutique event agency in Beijing, China.
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May 29, 2020 • 37 min
Big John sits down with the legendary Steve Mallory, producer, writer and actor in many Hollywood productions including co-writer of “The Boss”, starring Melissa McCarthy. Give a listen as he reminisces about his days at creative agency, Edelman, and what it’s like launching a new series format during a pandemic. Enjoy!
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May 29, 2020 • 42 min
Join us as Big John sits down with the co-founder of On The Go Marketing, Ari Forman, and how he turned his passion into a thriving experiential agency.
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May 29, 2020 • 27 min
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May 28, 2020 • 21 min
Big John sits down with Experiential Production Director, Jeff Yeatman. Topics include the US experiential industry, the future of events, and virtual pizza classes. Buon Appetito!
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May 28, 2020 • 30 min
Big John sits with NYC based event and art world boss, Austin Fremont, to discuss her company, Fremont Blue Events, COVID-19 life in the Big Apple and being Andy Warhol's goddaughter.
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May 28, 2020 • 17 min
Big John talks with pro drummer and producer, Feudor Lockshin, on a special Russia with Love edition of EventSpeak. Feudor talks about the music industry in Moscow, his side-hustle in drum shields, thoughts on VR and life as a new Dad.
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May 22, 2020 • 18 min
Big John sits down with the CEO/Owner of Encore Nationwide, Larry Hess in this special Event Staffing edition of Event Speak.
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May 8, 2020 • 24 min
Conversation with the co-founder of Las Vegas based talent agency Posh Productions, Sierra Sapunar.
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May 5, 2020 • 31 min
Conversation with music industry mogul, Lucas Keller, founder of Milk & Honey LA.
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