e=mc2 events

The Great Rewind

Tue, 28 Oct 2025 17:50:16 GMT

Trends? What’s trending? Hmm… let me check my notebook, my spiral notebook.

Last year at GO WEST in Edmonton, I attended a panel on generational differences in life and work. What struck me wasn’t the differences, but the alignment. Two of the panelists, a Boomer and a Gen Z, began speaking about “like” things. Gen Z expressed a desire to slow down, minimize technology in their daily lives, and live as simply as the Boomer once had. That conversation stuck with me. It led me to ask my own young adult kids, ages 23 and 25, how they were feeling about the pace of the world today. Their answers were the same: to slow down, to breathe, and to find space to actually absorb the world around them.

We’ve been chasing innovation and technology for so long that it’s no surprise we’re now seeing a collective pause, and in many cases, a step back. Just like fashion, where everything eventually makes a comeback, we’re watching culture do the same. (Yay!) The difference is that this time, it’s not just silhouettes and shoulder pads returning, it’s a mindset. The 80s spirit of connection, creativity, and unfiltered living is re-emerging, not as a trend, but as a lifestyle shift. Across generations, but especially among younger audiences, there’s a growing movement toward reclaiming analog, tactile, and slower experiences. I call this The Great Rewind .

Landlines are reappearing in homes. Vinyl records are selling at their highest levels in decades. People are curating their phone screens to strip away clutter and distraction. These choices aren’t about nostalgia alone, they’re about creating space for connection, peace, and presence in an overstimulated world.

What’s especially interesting is the cross-generational bridge this creates. Gen Z and Millennials are actively engaging with Boomers to rediscover rituals that once seemed outdated: listening to an album from start to finish, picking up a phone connected to a wall, embracing experiences that require patience. The ritual matters as much as the result.

For our industry, this signals a shift in how people want to experience life and, by extension, events. It’s not about rejecting technology outright but about rebalancing, valuing simplicity, authenticity, and intentional design. The future may not be about racing forward but about re-learning the beauty of slowing down. This is The Great Rewind , and as event professionals, it’s worth paying attention to.

How this affects industry trends:

Fashion as Cultural Rewind

As usual, I head straight to the runways to see what will be trending in events, and what I’m seeing directly connects to this cultural “rewind.” Animal prints are back in a big way, leopard, zebra, cow, and snakeskin are being treated as modern neutrals. The Western revival is everywhere too: cowboy boots, fringe, denim, and embroidery are making a return (thank you, Cowboy Carter , and as a Calgarian, The Calgary Stampede). And then there’s the collegiate aesthetic, plaids, polos, and preppy knits are having their own reimagined moment. Everything old really is new again.

Designing for The Great Rewind

Analog | Familiar
Guests are seeking a slower, more tactile experience. Event design now calls for elements that feel familiar, whether comforting or playfully nostalgic. Recently, we created an activation that blended their AI technology with a rotary phone and typewriter. Unsurprisingly, guests flocked to interact, loving the hands-on experience.

Authenticity | Craft
We’ve already seen a shift toward crafting in sponsor activations and experiences. While digital still plays a huge role in immersive design, tangible, touchable elements in decor are making a strong return. Think layers, textures, and florals are finally having their moment again!

One trend we can all lean into came from my friend, David Merrell, Wabi-sabi in experience design promotes a slower, more mindful way of living that is centered on simplicity and tranquility. It can influence everything from how we eat to how we design, encouraging us to slow down and find joy in the everyday.

Rebalancing Overstimulation
Smaller groups, micro-events, and personalized experiences allow attendees to truly feel part of something. Personalization is no longer optional, it’s essential. Say yes to neuroinclusive and well-being focused designs, but pair this with choosing quality and meaning over attention-grabbing gimmicks. Faster and overstimulating is not the imperative any longer.

To balance your design aesthetics, think biomimicry or biophilic design, an approach that connects people to nature by incorporating natural elements into the built environment. It aims to improve well-being, reduce stress, and boost cognitive function through features like natural light, plants, water and natural materials. Engaging your lighting designer to envelope space with immersive breakout patterns mimics the sun beaming through foliage onto the forest floor.

Back to Basics
What’s more basic than sitting at a table and enjoying a meal with other humans? Not only is food often your highest budget line item, but food as a tangible design element is taking center stage in events, feeding not only bellies but connection and comfort. It’s a perfect way to tie in all the trends above, with plenty of room for playful ways to engage attendees through what they eat and drink.

Design thoughtful, inclusive, and ingredient-driven dining where simplicity and care take center stage. Menus are being designed with everyone in mind, Halal, vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, not as afterthoughts but as the starting point. Offerings are often deconstructed to invite personalization and play, allowing guests to curate their own experience. Restrictive no longer means limiting; it means elevated, intentional, and delicious.

The youngest adult generation is saying: less is more. For me, this is exciting! I grew up staring out a car window observing the world and dreaming up kooky ideas, as a creative there is nothing better than seeing people daydreaming instead of scrolling. The Great Rewind is here, and event profs, as catalysts of the future, we need to listen and design for it.

Not Centre Stage and Exactly Where I Belong

Wed, 23 Jul 2025 15:35:01 GMT

Our Experience Manager, Stephanie wrote a blog about the stage and what it truly means to her. Throughout this piece, Stephanie explains in her own words about the “e” way - it’s people and personalizations like this that make our events, conferences, productions, and incentive programs just feel different.

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Despite my absolute inability to dance, growing up I dreamt of being on Broadway. Being centre stage in a theatre performing Gershwin [ yes, at fourteen I really did love Gershwin ] and tap dancing the show away. Obviously, that’s not quite how it turned out for teenage Stephanie, but her curiosity and love for the stage would bring her more opportunities than she could have imagined.

When I began my journey with “e” the job felt mysterious. No show or event was ever the same twice. I learned that to be good at this job, it meant I had to be on top of everything, and to be great, I had to be ahead of everything. These might sound similar, but trust me, they are not.

As my time with “e” progressed, the mystery faded, and I found myself closer and closer to an unexpected and familiar friend, the stage. Only this time, I was behind the curtain.

I found a rhythm working with speakers from all sorts of industries and backgrounds. Many had never held a microphone or seen a teleprompter before. Often intimidated by the bright stage lights that blind them the moment before finding their mark. I learned that my dear friend had a tendency to make even the most senior leader nervous and my affection had a unique ability to put them at ease. And sometimes, just sometimes, even make it fun.

In the famous 1993 publication, The Book of Lists , the number one top rated fear in the world was revealed to be Public Speaking. For perspective, death ranked number six. This statistic has always stayed with me. That, for whatever the reason may be, many find speaking in front of people is literally worse than dying. As a proud former theatre kid, I have experienced my share of stage fright. As a proud current stage manager, I ground myself in the privilege of being the last person our speaker, presenter, host, CEO, or whomever, will see before stepping into the spotlight and facing their [ possible ] worst fear. That it is up to me to remind them, you’ve got this, you’re prepared, and if you picture everyone in their underwear that is totally up to you, but I wouldn’t suggest it.

Being behind the curtain may not sound as glamorous as Radio City Music Hall, but to many of those we work with, this IS their Radio City Music Hall. This is the biggest stage they will be on, and they are going on it – even if they can’t dance.

Maybe it’s not as impressive as a pirouette, but trust me, sometimes a smile, a glass of water, and a binder open to the right page is the choreography they need in anticipation of stage lights. To be ahead of everything.

It’s a wonderful experience to work with so many who are new to or nervous on the stage. To find a way to help them enjoy their moment in the spotlight. To be the first to congratulate them on an incredible performance as they step off is a gift I don’t take for granted. It feels purposeful and empowering to be the steady presence at the sidestage for those in the spotlight. Maybe it’s not centre stage at Radio City, but it is exactly where I belong.

Events: Gathering Around the Modern Campfire

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Tue, 13 May 2025 14:27:25 GMT

Earlier this year, our Keri was asked to write an article for Corporate Meetings Network . She delivered a thoughtful, timely perspective on the evolving role of events in today’s world. In "Events: Gathering Around the Modern Campfire," Keri explores how events have become more than just business functions; they’re powerful spaces for connection, storytelling, and shared experience. If you’ve ever wondered why certain gatherings just feel different, this one’s worth a read.

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I’m frustrated. Frustrated, and honestly, a bit embarrassed by humanity at the moment. A lot of that has to do with the way information is being shared, or more accurately, distorted, by many news and communication outlets.

We’re living in a time where it’s incredibly hard to get a clear picture of what’s actually happening in the world. The news I see isn’t the same as what my friends in other regions are seeing. And it’s definitely not the same as what different communities and corners of the world are reacting to. It’s like we’re all watching different versions of reality play out and it’s exhausting.

I grew up in a time when you could mostly trust that the information coming from reputable outlets was accurate. Journalists had a code; they told the truth, or at least tried to. Of course, we all knew which publications were a little more dramatic or sensational, but at least we knew. Headlines were consistent. News was delivered on everyone’s doorstep. There was some kind of shared baseline.

Now, with all the noise, misinformation, and “alternative facts,” I keep wondering, where do we go to hear and experience something that feels real? Where can humans come together, hear the same words at the same time, and actually connect to them?

Here’s the good news folks: Events. Meetings. Summits. Gatherings.

More than ever, our work matters. When we bring people into a room (physically or virtually), and put a message on a stage, we create something powerful. Everyone hears it together. Everyone reacts in real time. No algorithms. No misinterpretations. Just a shared moment.

I’m not saying events are always neutral or objective; of course we host groups with all kinds of different values, worldviews, and perspectives. But that’s not the point. The point is that we’re creating spaces for truth to be shared, seen, and felt together. That’s rare these days. And it’s meaningful.

Years ago, Colja Dams from Vok Dams coined the phrase “the campfire gene”, the idea that humans are wired to gather around something warm and real, to share stories, to feel less alone. That’s always stuck with me. As a Canadian, I totally relate to the idea of sitting around a backyard fire, or being out in nature, listening, talking, sometimes in conflict with the other humans around me, but still feeling connected as a community.

Events are the modern campfire.

They’re where we come back to ourselves. Where we open up. Where we challenge each other or simply nod along. Where we remember what it feels like to be human in a room full of other humans.

And in this noisy, confusing world, we need that more than ever.

In a world flooded with misinformation and manipulated narratives, and curated realities, events are one of the last places where people can come together and experience something real. They cut through the noise. They allow us to witness truth – not just through content, but through connection. That’s the magic. That’s the power. The campfire is still burning, and it lives in the spaces we create. Around it, we find our people, hear our stories, and remember what it means to be part of something honest and human.

Conversations Matter Through Times of Change and Uncertainty

Fri, 31 Jan 2025 21:52:35 GMT

A Message from Jocelyn: Conversations Matter Through Times of Change and Uncertainty

As valued clients and partners, you know that we at e=mc² firmly believe that Experiences Matter , Connections Matter , and Conversations Matter .

And now, more than ever, they Matter as we watch and read the news daily. They Matter as we monitor political developments and understand their impact on the event landscape.

In 2025, we know that decisions and policies are being made daily that will impact our clients and our partners —from regulations and compliance to budget considerations and public perceptions.

This changing landscape is creating a world where human connection is more essential than ever before. We are fully committed to our clients, our partners and our teams in each of the cities we operate across Canada to help our industry adapt and thrive, whether you are planning in Canada, the U.S., or around the globe.

In times of change, fiscal responsibility and brand reputation are more important than ever. We have a 23-year track record at identifying creative solutions without compromising quality and creativity.

Our commitment to delivering exceptional experiences remains unwavering and is driven by our four core company values: Invested, Insightful, Innovative and Honourable. We are honoured to stand by you as a trusted partner during these pivotal times.

Please do not hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or would like to discuss how we can best support your upcoming events.

We look forward to continuing our Conversations that Matter with you.

Best regards,

Jocelyn Flanagan

We've Joined Forces with the SÉNIK Group

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 17:57:40 GMT

We are excited to announce that our independent brands of e=mc² events, e=mc² productions, and fuze entertainment have joined forces with the SÉNIK Group of companies.

A message from our Founder & CEO, Jocelyn Flanagan

Pressing the button on the press release below is both nerve racking and exhilarating.

In 2001, “e” started as an idea to put on an event or two. 23 years later, we have created countless experiences, broken down barriers, stretched beyond our limits, and met a multitude of incredible people. Alongside our friends, colleagues, mentors, clients and partners, we have built this collective of brands, known as “e”, that reaches across the country [and the globe].

We have reached many milestones, and in the last few years, the question has been… What's next? How do we bottle up all that we have learned and experienced in the past 23 years and build for the next 23 [and beyond]?

We knew we needed a plan - a plan that would excite us, provide opportunities to our team, and continue to make experiences that matter for all of our amazing clients.

What better way to expand and grow than to sell our cherished company to friends - friends that we know will treat our people and our brands the way we do. Friends that will collaborate with us as we continue to expand our wings. Friends who will work with us to seek more opportunities, and friends with whom we can continue to push the industry into the future.

We have known these friends for nearly two decades. We have played together in the industry, worked together, motivated each other, supported each other and cheered each other on through the years.

Our exceptional team, alongside the SÉNIK Group of companies, our independent brands of e=mc² events, e=mc² productions, and fuze entertainment, are going to build something greater than we could have ever done alone. I’m excited for the future and to continue as the CEO of e=mc² and Executive Producer of many exciting projects.

Exciting News: e=mc² events and fuze entertainment join the SÉNIK Group to amplify live events for clients around the world.

Montreal – September 9, 2024 — The SÉNIK Group is excited to announce a bold new chapter in the world of live events! e=mc² events and fuze entertainment are joining forces with the SÉNIK Group, creating a powerhouse that will redefine how events are experienced across North America and beyond. This partnership is a game-changer for their clients, their teams, and the entire industry.

What does this mean for their clients? More creativity, more expertise, and more opportunities to captivate their audience. "This is a very exciting time for both organizations. e=mc² and Sénik have been industry friends and loud cheerleaders of each other for the past two decades, and this next step will elevate both organizations to create even more impactful experiences for our clients, our partners and our teams", says Jocelyn Flanagan, Founder & CEO of e=mc² events. Sebastien David, President of Sénik agrees: "By elevating our extraordinary teams of passionate event professionals, we are unlocking unparalleled potential to create more value and capacity for all of our clients. Together, we are set to become a driving force in North America's live event landscape." With over 43 years of combined experience, this passionate group of event professionals will push the boundaries of what’s possible, bringing innovative solutions, new markets, and unparalleled service.

The SÉNIK Group of brands is poised to deliver world-class live events and experiences that resonate, engage, and drive results. Together, this exceptional team of experts will provide impactful live events & productions, groundbreaking conferences, world class entertainment, and luxury bespoke incentives & meetings.

The SÉNIK Group proudly supports the following independent brands in its portfolio:

About e=mc² events

An industry leader in live event and conference design, management, and production, e=mc² events is committed to its tagline "The Experience Matters”. Since 2001, e=mc² events has delivered world-class, award-winning experiences to corporate, non-profit, and social organizations in over 40 locations globally, including the International Space Station. In 2023 e=mc² Productions was launched, offering exceptional live production and broadcast services. The team at e=mc² focuses on creating experiences that matter through purposeful strategic thinking, collaboration, and impactful human-to-human experience design and delivery.

About Sénik The Event Agency

Founded in 2003, Sénik quickly emerged as a key leader in the event industry, specializing in corporate events. The company grew rapidly, expanding to a team of 23 employees. With thousands of events managed globally, Sénik is distinguished by its expertise in handling large-scale projects and its commitment to innovation. In 2020, the company acquired Champagne Events, all while retaining its entire team despite the challenges of the pandemic. Today, Sénik continues to evolve, driven by its mission to create memorable and engaging experiences, always with a splash of fun.

About Champagne Events

Champagne Events specializes in creating unifying moments, combining charm, elegance, and excellence. Their unique concepts have allowed them to stand out across the country and shape the event industry as it is today. A member of the SÉNIK Group since 2020, Champagne Events is distinguished by its exceptional service and highly skilled client support. With over 30 years of experience, they can confidently say they are experts in the field. That being said, they continuously renew their ideas to offer expertise and innovation.

About fuze entertainment

With over 20 years of experience, fuze entertainment has delivered exceptionally creative event entertainment to all sizes and styles of events across North America, including corporate, non-profit, and private events. fuze offers a unique blend of entertainment professionals who pride themselves on providing custom entertainment solutions.

Breaking Into the Industry - Q&A From Our New Team Member

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 18:27:53 GMT

We are thrilled to introduce the newest addition to the “e” team: Chantal Walchuk.

Chantal brings a fresh perspective, high energy and a wealth of knowledge from her recent studies in the events industry. She earned her diploma in Hospitality and Tourism with a specialization in Event Management from SAIT, also graduated with honours. Chantal has also gained valuable insights through various school-related volunteer activities like Rocky Mountain Wine and Food Festival and taking on the Event Manager role for OneTalks 2024.

Chantal bring unique strengths to our team. We are excited to hear her insights on breaking into the events industry and how she landed her dream role with the “e” team.

Q&A’s

Q: What is your goal in the events industry?

My goal in the events industry is to continue to learn and grow at “e”. There is so much to learn within the industry and I can’t wait to see where it takes me. A personal goal of mine is to work and travel for events, I would love to be a part of projects all around the world. In the end, the type of events I want to be a part of create an impact, as events hold such unique emotional, physical, and mental impacts on everyone involved.

Q: What steps did you take to get into the event planning industry?

I started with schooling for Hospitality and Tourism and decided to specialize in Event Management. During my time in school I volunteered within school events and outside connections. I started a summer internship at an event venue as a Catering and Sales Assistant which resulted in a part time job while I was finishing my last year of schooling. I attended several events that I was able to connect with event professionals and build relationships. After graduating university, I was promoted at my previous job to a full time Event Planner position. Working towards my goal of joining the “e” team, I took every opportunity possible to expand my knowledge and skills and now have achieved my goal and I am here at “e” as an Experience Administrator.

Q: How do you stay motivated in a competitive industry?

Staying motivated in the industry is fuelled by a deep passion and enthusiasm for what you do. While starting out you can feel overwhelmed and a bit intimidated, but discovering your niche and setting realistic goals can make the journey smoother and more rewarding. With determination and drive, you’ll find that the challenges become opportunities for growth. Ultimately, the unique and fulfilling nature of this industry makes all the hard work and dedication truly worthwhile.

Q: What advice would you give someone just starting their studies in event planning?

I would say the most important advice that I can give that changed my life was to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. This was my motto for my last semester of school and I wish I started it earlier. I got out of my comfort zone and did things I never thought I would, like be on a panel on stage in front of hundreds of event professionals, be on the news, and take on higher roles at work and in school projects. These all seemed like the scariest things I could do but afterwards I felt so rewarded and was very proud of myself. This helped me gain more self confidence and helped me in my schooling and career immensely.

Q: What are some challenges you have faced as a newcomer in the industry, and how are you overcoming them?

One of the most exciting challenges I encountered was navigating the socializing aspect of the industry. Attending events where established professionals gather can initially feel a bit daunting, especially as someone new looking to make connections. To turn this challenge into an opportunity, I started preparing by developing key questions to spark conversations, which helped me engage more confidently. Additionally, leveraging social media platforms like LinkedIn was incredibly useful for starting connections and building a network. This proactive approach not only eased the process but also opened doors to valuable relationships and opportunities.

Q: What has been the most valuable experience that’s helped you grow within the industry?

The most valuable experience that has helped me grow within the industry was taking on the role of Event Manager for OneTalks. Being offered this opportunity through my capstone event for school gave me the chance to put the knowledge I have learned to the test and give me confidence within the industry. It also helped me network with event professionals and make some valuable connections that lead to this opportunity of joining the “e” team. Networking is a major part of the industry and any chance you can get putting yourself in front of event professionals will help you stand out and get your name out there.

To Wrap Things Up

Chantal embodies the drive, dedication, and passion necessary for thriving in the dynamic world of event planning and production. Her unique paths and experiences offer invaluable insights into navigating and excelling in this competitive industry. With a fresh perspective and enthusiasm, she is poised to make a significant impact at “e” and beyond. As she embarks on her journey with us, we eagerly anticipate her contributions and innovative approach she will bring to the events we create. Welcome aboard, Chantal- here’s to a future filled with exciting opportunities and memorable experiences!

Brain Science: Unlocking Creativity

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 14:35:03 GMT

Keri Miller's Pink Poodle Theory

Partner & Chief Creative Strategist, Keri Miller is excited to share this article that she wrote for Corporate Meetings Network about unlocking your creativity. Keri believes that more than ever we need to tap into our humanity to level up our individual creativity, technology is great, but humans are essential.

Keri wrote this article in partnership with ChatGPT, which is credited it at the end. It's her concept, opinion and thoughts...with a very detailed and long prompt to get a little help from AI. She particularly loved when the AI concluded that "Because in a world where AI reigns supreme, it’s our humanity that will set us apart and allow us to create magic”.

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For the past decade I have been presenting a speaking session called “The Pink Poodle Theory”, which is essentially the “aha moment” of when I discovered that my brain was curating and creating trend forward event designs, quietly while I worked and slept. In my session I speak about how Pinterest and other algorithm driven platforms are killing our creativity by taking us on a “see more like this” source path, a path that enables “copycat” creativity. And now, with the advancements and pace of AI in our industry, the colliding of AI technology and brain science has ignited my belief that human centered creativity will win the day!

Let’s start by talking about AI. Sure, it’s impressive. It can analyze data faster than you can say “innovation,” and it churns out designs and ideas with lightning speed. But here’s the thing: AI lacks that human touch, that spark of imagination that sets us apart. It might spit out a thousand variations of the same concept, but it can’t replicate the magic of a truly original idea born from the depths of our minds.

The Pink Poodle Theory is actually a science, if you are attracted to a pink poodle, you will start to see pink poodles everywhere. It’s time to tap into the powerhouse that is your brain’s reticular activating system (RAS) and your human emotional intelligence to unleash your unique creative genius! The RAS is like your brain’s personal assistant, filtering through the endless stream of information bombarding your senses and bringing your attention to what matters most. It’s responsible for that “aha” moment when a brilliant idea suddenly pops into your head seemingly out of nowhere.

But here’s the kicker: you can train your RAS to focus on creativity. By feeding it with stimulating experiences, exposing yourself to new ideas, and engaging in activities that challenge your imagination, you’re essentially priming your brain for moments of creative brilliance.

So, how does the RAS work its magic? Well, it’s all about attention. When you set a specific goal or intention, your RAS goes into overdrive, filtering out distractions and honing in on relevant information. This focused attention allows your brain to make unexpected connections, leading to those lightbulb moments that make creativity so exhilarating.

But creativity isn’t just about coming up with wild ideas; it’s also about emotional intelligence. Understanding the needs and desires of your audience on a deeper level allows you to tailor your events and meetings in a way that resonates with them on a profound emotional level.

And that’s where humans have the upper hand over AI. We possess empathy, intuition, and emotional intelligence – qualities that enable us to create experiences that transcend the ordinary and leave a lasting impact on our audience.

Studies have shown that emotional intelligence is linked to the limbic system in the brain, which is responsible for processing emotions and forming memories. When we design experiences that evoke strong emotions, we’re essentially etching them into the minds of our attendees, creating memories that they’ll cherish for years to come.

In today’s increasingly digital world, people crave authentic human interactions more than ever. By tapping into our innate creativity and emotional intelligence, we have the power to create unique spaces where people can come together, share ideas, and forge meaningful connections.

So, the next time you’re brainstorming ideas for your next event or meeting, remember to trust in your own creative abilities. Embrace the power of your RAS, nurture your emotional intelligence, and dare to dream big. Because in a world where AI reigns supreme, it’s our humanity that will set us apart and allow us to create magic.

Here’s to unlocking your creative potential, thinking like a human and revolutionizing the event industry, one brilliant idea at a time!

This article was written in partnership with ChatGPT which wrote this line: Because in a world where AI reigns supreme, it’s our humanity that will set us apart and allow us to create magic”.

Honouring National Volunteer Week

shaylene@emc2events.com (Shaylene Flanagan) — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 15:45:36 GMT

How does a volunteer in Edmonton, Alberta impact 26,000 lives in Tanzania, Africa?

We are honouring National Volunteer Week by highlighting our Marketing and Communications Coordinator, Shaylene, and her charity, Ground-Up Foundation.

Volunteer week is about recognizing and celebrating every volunteer and each contribution they are making to strengthen inclusivity and wellbeing. The theme for National Volunteer Week 2024 is Every Moment Matters.

We asked Shaylene to share her story and the origins of Ground-Up Foundation.

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This story actually begins with one of my partners, Kam Haji. Kam is from Tanzania and travels there on an annual basis. In 2018, he knew it was time for him to give back to his community and he worked alongside his dad to source and install a water tank at a local school.

He quickly saw the impact this water tank had on the students, the faculty, and the surrounding community, and an opportunity to do even more. When he traveled back to Canada, he connected with Garet Stewart and me [Shaylene Flanagan] and presented the opportunity to partner up and see how we could grow the cause together.

After an inspirational brainstorming session [over a few shared drinks and appies] we came up with the name Ground-Up Foundation. Ground-Up is rooted in “ building better futures from the ground-up ”. The name itself was inspired by the water sources we would rely on, which come from underground piping, but it was also about the bigger picture. We saw this cause as a chance to make a tangible difference in these communities and dreamt of all the different ways we could holistically impact these lives.

By providing access to one of life’s most basic needs, we created a chance for students to more easily access education and we instilled a sense of pride in their community. This was about changing futures, and it started from the ground up.

Recognizing that we needed one primary focus, we honed in on water and we continued to install tanks in the Morogoro region. We quickly claimed our name and incorporated the charity and we began engaging our friends and family. This led to the planning of our first fundraising event which took place less than one year after inception [fall 2019]. The first event was hosted at the same local pub we had our initial brainstorm in and we saw a flood of donations from friends, family, and generous strangers who were inspired by our cause.

This fundraiser has become an annual event that takes place each fall. It has grown and changed over the last 6 years and has become the leading source of our fundraising efforts. Each year, we host an in-person event that includes a silent auction, food, drinks, pay-to-play games, and a guaranteed good time! Our silent auction has become a hit, and thanks to our generous donors we are able to provide high ticket items such as hockey tickets and local experiences.

Over the years, we have seen the support of so many individuals, businesses, friends, and family and we are so grateful to each one of them. We have hired two on-the-ground employees who source schools and/or orphanages to install new tanks, monitor the current tanks to ensure they’re in working order, and report back if any maintenance is required.

We have built trusted relationships within the community and we are proud to say that we have been recognized as a registered charity in Canada and a Non-Government Organization abroad.

As of February, 2024, we have installed 26 water tanks which currently provide water access to over 26,000 students in Tanzania, Africa.

We have big dreams for the future and we can’t wait to see our organization grow as time goes on. This cause is humbling and incredible and consistently reminds me not to take anything in life for granted.

The theme of this year’s volunteer week, “every moment matters” is a direct tie to our initiative. Ground-Up Foundation was born from the desire to give back and thrives on the inspiration to move forward. Throughout the last 6 years we have seen and created countless moments that matter; we have impacted 26,000 students that matter; and we have counted every drop that matters.

If you would like to get involved with Ground-Up Foundation, whether by donating, spreading the word, or traveling to Tanzania, we welcome you.

You can learn more by visiting the Ground-Up Foundation website here .

Teamwork, Growth, & Unforgettable Experiences: My Beginnings with “e”

Tue, 10 Oct 2023 14:36:09 GMT

I’ve embarked on my fair share of adventures and when I landed in Calgary and met the “e” team, I dove right into the deep end. This journey is not for the faint of heart, but the rewards are boundless.

As I reflect on my first three months at e=mc² events, I am filled with a mix of excitement, gratitude, and a newfound sense of accomplishment. The journey has been nothing short of a whirlwind, and I am here to share the exhilarating experience of joining a team that truly embodies the values of honourable, innovative, insightful, and invested.

Those values are not just buzzwords at “e”; they are the backbone of everything we do. From cultivating ethical practices to seeking groundbreaking solutions, these values resonate in every corner of the organization. This collective commitment sets the stage for exceptional events that leave a lasting impact.

The Work

In those first two weeks on the job, it was all about getting the hang of things through orientation and training. Little did I know, I would be catapulted into the heart of the action immediately following. The fast-paced environment demanded a quick adaptation to the ever-changing landscape of event planning. I found myself absorbing information and acquiring new skills at a remarkable pace. The challenge was not only invigorating but also a testament to the team's commitment to continuous growth and excellence.

I was pleasantly surprised by the trust placed in me to take ownership of project pieces and decisions. This culture of ownership is a catalyst for growth, as it encourages creativity, resourcefulness, and a deep sense of responsibility. Each challenge has been an opportunity for personal and professional development. I learn something new every day.

The Dream Team

Coming from a strong and supportive team in my previous job, the transition initially left me a tad apprehensive. However, those concerns quickly dissolved as I realized that the team at “e” was not just welcoming, but also dedicated to nurturing a supportive environment. The ethos of 'honourable' extends beyond interactions with clients to the heart of how colleagues treat one another.

The camaraderie and support I found within the team were beyond my expectations. Amidst the whirlwind of activity, their unwavering unity turned colleagues into friends and mentors. It's often said that teamwork makes the dream work, and I couldn't agree more. The “e” team exemplifies this, proving that when a group of passionate individuals come together, exceptional things happen.

One of the most awe-inspiring aspects of my role has been the opportunity to learn from the industry's best. Interacting with seasoned professionals who are not just experts but also innovators, has been an unparalleled privilege. Their insights have guided me through complex challenges and opened my eyes to innovative approaches that redefine the boundaries of event management.

The first three months have been a whirlwind of learning, growth, and forging bonds with an extraordinary team. As I move forward, I am excited to continue pushing my boundaries, honing my skills, and contributing to the creation of remarkable experiences. I am eager to embrace the challenges that lie ahead.

Emotional Intelligence

Fri, 15 Sep 2023 16:45:31 GMT

Emotional intelligence in relation to event and conference planning & production has become a trending topic, but it’s something we’ve been aware of for years. Our founder, Jocelyn, has presented on Emotional Intelligence & Human Centered Design on a number of stages over the last couple of years, but in case you haven’t had the chance to see her in person, we thought we’d break it down for you here!

First things first! What is emotional intelligence and why is it important?

In short, it is the ability to manage your own emotions as well as understand the emotions of people around you. There are five key elements: social skills, self awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and motivation. Let’s break them down.

Social Skills

The first pillar of emotional intelligence is social skills. Put simply - being comfortable with interaction [something our industry specializes in] and understanding verbal and nonverbal cues.

How can you apply social skills to event & conference production?

One way to apply your social skills is by ensuring script read throughs and revisions. Regardless if it’s for a CEO or an award show host, when a script is written it's important to understand the audience demographics of course, but also how the language flows and if your response [or banter when two or more people are involved] is appropriate.

Always hold a live script read through either in person or on a video call so you can watch out for verbal and nonverbal cues and make revisions to suit the speakers more naturally. Without this, they might come across as Y2K robots programmed with jokes that don't land!

Self Awareness

The second pillar of emotional intelligence is self awareness - having a thorough recognition of your personal strengths, weaknesses and emotions.

Do you ever find yourself frustrated, tired and stressed on-site? Of course you do, you’re only human! But have you ever overreacted to a situation and then not seen a positive outcome because of those feelings? Understanding why you feel a particular way and how it affects the people around you is key to creating a positive work environment that motivates people to rise to the occasion and create an incredible experience.

How can you apply self-awareness to events & conferences?

Foster a culture of openness and understanding and keep your production offices as a private respite and safe space to talk through, take a break [and sometimes vent] to your team so you can move past the feelings and continue to be productive. In taking a moment for yourselves, you can effectively communicate and lead your teams to success!

Self Regulation

The third pillar of emotional intelligence is self regulation - the ability to understand and manage your own behaviour and reactions.

We like to create opportunities for guests to explore this when we design any space. Let’s face it, attending or speaking at an event or conference can be overwhelming [especially post COVID] before you take into account the current social/political landscape.

How can you apply self regulation to events & conferences?

Design with a variety of seating options so guests can choose the way they want to experience the content for their own comfort level. This can include having respite rooms for guests [or speakers] to take a moment to themselves, or performing smudgings during a difficult session on reconciliation; providing options for guests to manage their reactions will heighten your guest experience.

Empathy

The fourth pillar of emotional intelligence is empathy. This is arguably the most important of all the pillars because it refers to the ability to understand how someone else is feeling or will feel.

How can you apply empathy to event & conference production?

Be mindful of the moments you’re creating. Ensure that everyone in the room, including staff, speakers, presenters, guests, etc. feel cared for and comfortable at all times.

Take an intense speaker for example. Ask yourself, are they nervous, jet-lagged, is this their first time speaking? How would you feel in those instances? Being able to walk in another person’s shoes often allows you to better diffuse or alleviate the situation. So tell them “you’re going to do great”, offer them a coffee, or shake off the nerves with them [we’ve literally done this with speakers]! That moment of personal connection will prepare your speaker to do an amazing job onstage thus creating an amazing guest experience!

Motivation

The last pillar of emotional intelligence is motivation - having a personal drive to always be improving, a commitment to personal goals, and a readiness to seize new opportunities.

At "e", we follow a lot of processes but we constantly seek improvement in efficiencies and overall performance. After each event or conference, we complete a project review that is presented to our whole team. We believe there is always room for improvement and we should strive to do better than we have in the past, even if we've already achieved greatness!

How can you apply motivation to events & conferences?

Be sure to do an internal debrief as well as one with the client. During the internal process look at your wins, as well as some things that could be improved upon in the future. Not only will this help the team stay motivated to do good work [and to show off a little], but it gives them the opportunity to see the full picture in hindsight and equips them to make better, more informed decisions moving forward.

To Sum Up

Overall, by placing human needs, behaviours, and emotions at the forefront, we can tap into human emotion to create powerful and memorable experiences that matter [in your company and at your events or conferences].

A year with “e”!

Tue, 29 Aug 2023 18:44:14 GMT

My First Impressions

I saw a psychic earlier last year who told me she saw me in Winnipeg for work, which made no sense at the time, but during my final interview, an “e” team member mentioned that I would be helping with a project in Winnipeg and I knew the stars had aligned!

After finally settling down in Calgary, I decided it was time to transition to a place that was equally client facing, engaging, dynamic, and exciting, so when I was called for an interview with “e”, I was over the moon! It seemed like the perfect fit.

Not only has the “e” team welcomed me with open arms, but so have many of our trusted suppliers and vendors. Being a newbie here- I am so appreciative of that.

There was a lot to learn in the beginning, and there always is- which is part of the reason working for “e” is so engaging. The projects I’ve worked on have all been so different: conferences, fundraisers, awards ceremonies, company mergers, holiday parties- you name it. I have learned so much from the different projects I’ve been a part of, and also from the different team members I’ve worked alongside. For example, it sounds so simple but everything is figure-outable. I know that things don’t always go as planned on-site, and you have to improvise, but when Erin Brokovich couldn’t make her keynote speech in person for Energy Disruptors, luckily we had the technology on site to hologram her in! There was a lot of logistical work involved, in an extremely short amount of time, but the team pulled it off- and I was in awe. The “e” team, our contractors, suppliers and clients are always teaching me that together as a team we can make the impossible happen to create an amazing experience!

From working my first “e” on-site event at Energy Disruptors last September, to my most recent events in Victoria and Vancouver- it has been quite the ride! For those who don’t know, I am an avid traveler who has collected many stamps on my passport along the way. During my interview I was asked if I was okay with traveling for work, I, of course, gave an enthusiastic yes! - I just had no idea HOW much travel would be involved, and I must say that I love it- I’ve seen so many new cities this year. I was lucky enough to see an MLB [Major League Baseball] game in Kansas City, go hiking on Vancouver Island, explore Vancouver’s awesome restaurant scene, and the list goes on!

To sum it up, it has been a great year full of a lot of learning, adventures and excitement, and I really can’t wait to see what the future holds for me with “e”!

What the Duck

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Wed, 10 May 2023 17:20:05 GMT

The Official Story of the Rubber Duck

It all started with Gordon Lightfoot. His recent passing had me remembering, not just about his iconic career and music [I remember all his songs from my youth], but of the story I’m about to tell.

In 2012 we produced our first high profile event in Toronto, it was the inaugural fundraiser for TIFF [Toronto International Film Festival], celebrating the 50th anniversary of James Bond. It was and is one of our most ambitious and rewarding projects in our 22 year history.

We created a full James Bond inspired environment and experience on the waterfront of Toronto complete with 53’ trailers as décor, a retrofitted 320’ barge customized as a pier and a 450 person dining tent with three performance stages. The storyline was adventurous and included a branded helicopter, stunts into the water and yachts as props surrounding the reception pier. Load in was seven days long and tickets to the event were $25K per table.

Coined The Night That Never Ends, it was a spectacle that raised a lot of money and a lot of eyebrows around this new agency [us] producing events in the city. We loved the work and we were incredibly proud of the entire team. I remember the event, the partners and the team; the event was outstanding, but mostly I remember the rain. For the majority of the load-in the weather reflected a perfectly seasonal autumn, for the 20 hours leading up to the event, it rained, it poured, it was grey and unrelenting. We called in more tenting, bought sump pumps for the torrential water collection and covered everything within the tents and on the barge with tarps… and we waited. At one point our client gathered us all inside the venue and emotionally gave us permission to change the plan and bring everything inside – no one wants to execute the contingency on events like this and we opted to prepare and wait for mother nature to change her mind.

40 minutes to “doors” the sky opened up and the sun beamed in, we scrambled [as event profs do] and the show went on. It was wicked if not wet, and we were exhausted.

Fast forward one week and I was excitedly looking through the hundreds of photos of the evening. The pictures inside the tent consisted of a beautiful foreground of performances and happy guest faces, and a wet and drippy background, and while the guests may not have noticed, it was all I could see. I began photoshopping out the ugly and scarred for posting on our website. On the centre stage at the event a variety of famous artists performed during the evening, one was the incomparable Gordon Lightfoot. As I looked at the photo of him and began scrubbing perfecting the photo, a small yellow speck caught my eye…

It was resting on the stage, very closely to a monitor and as I zoomed in a little rubber duck came into focus.

I remember thinking that this was an incredibly weird thing and my mind ran with things like: Did a guest put that there? Does Gordon Lightfoot like rubber duckies? Who had seen it? Why had nobody moved it? Through the evening multiple crew members, staff and stage management would have walked near that area… why was it there? I was curious, furious and wonderfully happy at the same time. I immediately sent out an email to all the crew, attached the zoomed in photo and inquired about the owner of the duck. I remember stating something like the following: I know that sometimes operators and crew have little icons, or totems that they carry at every show, like a stuffed animal, tinkerbell in a bird cage… but I’ve never seen this duck before. I think one of you placed it there as a joke, something to take the piss out of since the rain came down so hard. I said, I’m not mad, I’m curious. I want to know who did this funny thing and I want to give them credit for this oddity.

Other than responses of “not me”, “no idea”, “that’s crazy”, “lol”, “I wish I had”, no one fessed up. The little duck was somehow orphaned at our high-profile event.

What transpired since has been nothing but memorable and for those in the know, the first few years afterward there were an amazing amount of rubber duck sightings, all of which were shared with me and then I shared with others.

The giant rubber duck in the bay in Hong Kong
Photos of rubber ducks in shipping boxes from suppliers
A huge blow up rubber duck that was borrowed from Paul Brandts tour and inflated in my office
An envelope and ransom letter with rubber duck enclosed, a creative reach out from a current employee
Random rubber duck gifts of all sizes and shapes…

In the ten years since that event the rubber duck has since immersed itself into our brand, as a bit of a fun icon, we’ve used it in our client events, it has been represented on Christmas trees, they have been conversation starters. It has also seeped into my personal life, floating in my drinks at my birthday, I’ve received duck dishes, and one infamous day when I came home and my son and his friends had placed over 30 tiny rubber ducks all over my house. We found one hidden, undiscovered 6 years later when we sold our home [we hid that one in a vent for the new owners to discover].

This isn’t really about an item that becomes a viral collectable in the life of a single human, it’s more than that. To me the rubber duck signifies the power of events. In the gathering of humans, in the front and back of stages, we create relationships, opportunities and memories that can last a lifetime, impacting our futures and building communities. This one tiny yellow spec at the foot of Gordon Lightfoot proves that it’s not all about the big and shiny, the celebrity and the things we want audiences to pay attention to - those are important but it’s about the one little nugget discovered by an attendee at an event that can be the inspiration that changes a life. It represents details and the need to create moments for individuals. We will never actually know what one thing a person takes from our events, conferences, productions, but that they will take something and it will be a game changer in some small way.

When we throw the duck to each other in our team videos, we are in fact passing on the power of awesome.

The originator of the duck on the stage deck has never come forward, none of our “rainy day people” have fessed up and the mystery is alive and well, I have my inklings… wink, wink, but please never tell.

WTD.

[What the Duck]

I Can’t Wait To Call My Parents

Thu, 04 Aug 2022 15:12:44 GMT

My First Three Months with "e"

There are a few moments in my life where I distinctly remember wanting to call my parents. When I got into university, when I landed in Australia for my year abroad, when I got my offer to join e=mc² events as an Experience Coordinator.

Joining “e” amid the pandemic was nerve wracking. It was hard to know what to expect with a virtual onboarding. As an extrovert and creative collaborator, the idea of being held behind screens felt limiting. Although my introduction was impacted by COVID-19, it was hardly limited at all. “e” is built together by a bundle of individuals who care about each other and love working together. The experience here is incredibly person to person, regardless of timezone or area code. Many of my fears (although not quite all of them!) disappeared within my first few weeks at “e”. I was welcomed to the company by one on one meetings, engaging training sessions, personal introductions, and a ten day work trip to Calgary. Those ten days are best described as a “jump into the deep end” scenario with a group of hardworking individuals ready to throw me a lifeline should I need it. The three events I worked on had an array of meticulous madness. Drag queens, Andy Warhol’s Marilyn, money guns, country music stars, and more incredible ideas that came to life in a very “e” fashion. I won’t ever forget watching a singer be lifted 20 feet into the air on a trapeze swing while singing “Levitating” by Dua Lipa.

Back in May, we produced the JUNO Opening Night Awards in Toronto; this was my first live event after joining the production team. Standing backstage, I was surrounded by some of Canada’s greatest musicians, songwriters and producers, but truthfully, I was much more nervous to be meeting my entire team in person. After nearly a month of completely virtual onboarding, I was onsite for the first time with the “e” team. The JUNOs brought on three full days of running, printing, diet cokes, and the extraordinary feeling of watching a live event come together.

Now, I wouldn’t consider myself very easily starstruck, so when a series of butterflies appeared I was slightly stunned. I was standing beside Serena Ryder just moments before she walked on stage to present an award to one of her esteemed colleagues. Backstage was silent and dark. Most artists and presenters prepared themselves by staying quiet and calming their nerves. I was pleasantly surprised when Serena introduced herself to me, asked me how my night was going. Then she thanked me, and my whole team for our hard work over the weekend. We chatted briefly before she was called into the wing and onto the stage to present. As she left, I wished her luck in her nominated category. “Thanks, Steph!” she responded.

I was sixteen when Serena Ryder released her album Harmony . I remember the day my dad brought home the CD for us to listen to the whole thing through. I had heard Stompa on 102.1 The Edge earlier that week and gushed over the catchy beat and clever lyrics. Quickly following, I learned “What I wouldn’t Do” on the guitar and performed it as an audition in my grade 12 year to earn one of my biggest solos at the time. I was obsessed. So when Serena won her seventh JUNO Award that night, and I watched her exit the stage, give a couple hugs, then head to her media spotlight, I couldn’t wait to tell my parents.

Being a producer at a high profile event like the JUNO Opening Awards provides so many moments we’re lucky to witness. It left me with memories I’ll never forget, like the unexpected joy that we shared as a team after we wrapped up. Our production team wound down after the weekend on a patio in downtown Toronto where I told everyone about my lowkey fan girl moment. My love of music and passion for songwriting is not a secret amongst my colleagues. Somehow, the story turned into our CEO, Jocelyn, and I singing “What I wouldn’t Do” at the restaurant table, pouring our heart and soul into every line. It is always humbling and exciting to meet someone you admire. I have been a fan of Serena and her music for over ten years. But how lucky you have to be to end up working everyday surrounded by a group of talented people you admire? This concept was certainly not lost on me that night, and when we finished up our table side solo, I couldn’t wait to call my parents.

21 Years is 2022

Thu, 21 Jul 2022 14:46:33 GMT

Here's to 21 Years, a Cause for Great Celebration!

It is true that birthdays always bring some mixed emotions, especially as some of us have passed some of the “big ones” recently - but I think we can all agree that a 21st birthday is a birthday with nothing but excitement, limited inhibitions, happiness, aspirations and the anticipation of a lot of FUN!

21. The year that we are finally drinking age in the United States. Funny that has always been a thing, since across the country we’ve been drinking since 18 and 19 legally. But for some reason, crossing the threshold to 21 and being legal “everywhere”, seems to be the cause of great celebration.

So I like to think that as e=mc² events turns 21, we too can look at this year with excitement, limited inhibitions, happiness, aspirations and the anticipation of a lot of FUN!

Looking ahead, it certainly seems this will be the case. We have lots of great opportunities ahead which include bringing back our past events that have been dormant during the pandemic, traveling to new event destinations across North America and Europe, taking our broadcast virtual learnings and bringing them forward to our live events, and building out our team across the country.

We look forward to creating emotional connections with our live audiences. We look forward to creating engaging, inspiring and motivational experiences for all of our clients and in turn being engaged, inspired and motivated ourselves.

In all of my blogs I speak to the strength of our team and this blog is no different. I do not celebrate this birthday alone. I celebrate this birthday with incredible team members across the country, who I am honoured to call colleagues and friends.

We lift each other up. We push each other to become better versions of ourselves. We lean on each other. We stretch the boundaries of the art of the possible. We do this with a tremendous sense of pride in what we do, and of who we are.

In this 21st year - we have a lot to celebrate.

So now that we are “legal everywhere” - I say watch out world, we’re all about to have a lot of fun!!

-- Jocelyn Flanagan

Can a Single Word Define a Year?

Thu, 20 Jan 2022 13:26:18 GMT

Through the Years . . . How a Single Word Can Make a Huge Difference

At the end of 2017 a small group of my friends pushed me to join them in naming a word of the year. Surprisingly, this was one of the most difficult things I have ever done – and many would say, I’ve done many things over the years.

I was never one to have New Year’s resolutions, nor was I really ever good at writing down goals, so I truly found this quite intimidating. How could I choose one word that I truly wanted to define me for an entire year? What word did I want to personify? That is a lot of pressure for one word.

And then a lot of pressure for me to “be.”

I felt this overwhelming vulnerability when it came time to share this word. I then pulled out my inner Brené Brown, looked vulnerability in the face and took a stab at it.

BOLD was the word of that year and in 2018, I needed that.

I must admit, as soon as I stated that word I felt it. I lived it. I breathed it and if I ever wavered or got nervous before a client call, all I had to do was look at the handwritten note on my desk and remember to be bold.

And surprisingly, it worked!

At the end of 2018 it was fun to look back and reflect on the success that BOLDNESS brought to me, and to the company – we had the best year financially since 2007 (during the oil boom), I had a personal best as an event producer and we had incredible events across North America.

In 2019, my word was JOY and I lived that every day. I made it a priority to have fun at everything I did. Clients brought me joy, our team was on fire and brought me a lot of joy and I took advantage of no travel restrictions and found joy on and off of planes, meeting new people and visiting friends and family.

In 2020, luckily I had the foresight (or blind luck) to choose LOVE as my word. I didn’t know it at the time, but love quickly became a word that was needed desperately in 2020 when COVID hit. Love for my family and friends, love for my team as we together navigated our way through a very challenging year and self-love as I struggled as a leader in this difficult time. Love (together with compassion) went hand in hand and got me through.

And on a really personal note, perhaps I should have written this word down years ago. Maybe I wouldn’t have been single for so long. But somehow I also found true love amidst the chaos of COVID.

In 2021, ENERGY was my word. By the end of 2020, I felt I was losing energy. I had lots of love, but was drained of energy so I thought if I deemed it as my word in 2021, I could get it back. With this word, I could give more energy to our team, who needed it more than ever after 2020.

I must say, I did try. I can’t say I succeeded all that well. Heading into 2021 I was optimistic in thinking that energy would come naturally and we would use that energy to spring back to the “good ol’ days.”

I used as much energy as I could to get us through. We had some incredible wins, we broke ground with merging technologies, we played in the broadcast domain and met some great milestone achievements. But it was really hard. My energy definitely waned as the year came to an end.

But what if energy hadn’t been my word? If I had even less energy, I’m not sure I would have made it.

So once again, I am grateful for that one word that did get me through the year.

This year, in 2022, my word came very quickly to me. There was no deliberating. I woke up one morning and had it.

DETERMINED .

Determined to take back control of our outcome for the year. There are so many things we learned over the past two years that we truly can’t control. But what that doesn’t mean is that we should sit back, hold our hands up in the air and continue to blame COVID for our results. Not anymore. At least I don’t want to. I believe that we can take some control back and I am determined to do so.

I am determined to:

Lead better

Love harder

Be bold er

Laugh more and live with joy

Put my energy to good use

Control the outcomes

And have a great year!

What’s your word this year?

Reimagining the Human Experience - Virtually

Thu, 18 Nov 2021 15:43:13 GMT

The Power and Humanity of a Digital Event

Hi, I'm Janel, Experience Producer at "e". I'm sharing with you my most memorable moments at the reimagined Junos Opening Night Awards from 2021, let's keep our walls down and continue to connect authentically.

From Sceptic to Convert

Standing in a warehouse in Oakville, Ontario, with 66+ laptops glowing in front of me, I never expected to be a convert to the power and humanity of a digital event. For the 2021 JUNO Opening Night Awards, our team endeavoured to create a live awards show that was not only engaging for audiences across Canada, but a meaningful experience for all the nominated artists. We took on the daunting task of coordinating the live announcement of 37 awards with over 180 artist nominees, virtually.

Infrastructure and Experience

In the lead up to the event, I was awed by the infrastructure needed to accomplish this goal. With 40 concurrent Zoom calls, 66 laptops, 12 virtual stage managers, 12 dedicated technicians and pages and pages of spreadsheets, not to mention the entire broadcast team and equipment I can’t even begin to itemize, we mapped out each nominee's journey down to the second and rehearsed the flow ad nauseam to ensure we did it right. The technology was impressive - but it was the people that surprised and humbled me the most;

Watching our partner teams from across Canada join virtual sessions to support and train each other. Seeing people from different backgrounds stepping in to lead and deferring to experts in other fields, admitting when they didn’t know the answer. Collaboration across live event production, IT integration and television broadcasting. Creating a new vocabulary to describe how we were working together. It was dynamic, challenging and ultimately rewarding.

The Coolest House Party

When the show day finally arrived, I had the privilege of watching it all unfold on the screens in front of me. Viewing the JUNO nominees’ Zoom calls was like being a fly on the wall at the coolest house party. At previous, in-person Galas, nominees would come with a table of their people; partners, bandmates, managers etc., they would spend the evening surrounded by the people they brought with them. Sure, there would be moments of interaction between tables, or collisions at the bar, but for the most part, they would stick to their own. They certainly wouldn’t spend time with their fellow category nominees.

Beautiful Human Interactions

Backstage at the virtual event, things were different. Each award category was a separate Zoom call and nominees were invited to join the show 15 minutes before their award was to be announced. They could watch the program on the call and meet with fellow nominees virtually. Our stage management team would jump into the calls to brief the artists, but ultimately they were left to their own devices. What resulted was an array of beautiful human interactions. The nominees had the chance to connect with their peers - they were each other's fans, and celebrated each other’s mutual success. In one call, where one of the nominees was a seasoned artist, with several JUNO awards to their name, we saw them counsel the less experienced artists on what it feels like to win a JUNO award and how to handle the ensuing attention that would follow.

In another category call, the artists were sharing stories about life on the road, and playing drinking games to pass the time before their award was announced, while others still were taking the time to introduce their families or give tours of their homes from where they were dialling in virtually.

Moments of Connection

My favourite moment happened when I logged into a call to provide some technical support, and happened across an artist performing a smudging ceremony for all the nominees in the category. It was a beautiful moment of connection across the internet that I was privileged to bear witness to. These moments weren’t recorded. There is no record of them ever taking place. In an event that was entirely virtual, we managed to capture the ethereal essence of an in-person gathering. It was a moment in time, fleeting, beautiful and human.

The digital landscape focuses heavily on the platform, the technology, the gamification and the user interface, but we have also found a new way to connect with others. We’ve stripped back the veneer and shown ourselves for the people we are - flawed, sensitive, caring and part of a human experience. As we move back into the physical event space, can we keep our walls down? Can we continue to show up as we are and let people see behind the scenes in our lives?

I think we can, and we need to work to make this happen.

For more inspiration, check out the video below:

From Photocopy Girl to Producer in one Year

Mon, 20 Sep 2021 16:34:07 GMT

Calgary Cares: 15 Minutes That Changed Lives

If I were to pinpoint the one event that took me out of my bubble, pushed me to entirely new heights and brought out the show producer in me, it was the one I volunteered at for five months before e=mc² events even began.

February 2001 - I was starting to seek out opportunities in the event industry, which was very limited at the time. I sought after the only name I knew and I called her until she agreed to finally meet with me. With some hesitation and exasperation in her voice, she told me that she was very busy with rehearsals for a show she was working on, but I could have 15 minutes of her time.

That 15 minutes changed my life.

At the meeting I was blown away. I was surrounded by models practicing their walks, dancers rehearsing their routines, clothing designers sewing, measuring, cutting, taping, and gluing. Music was blasting. People were running around everywhere. And then the drag queens came in and took the whole scene to a whole new level. I didn’t know what I had gotten myself into, but I knew I loved it.

I was asked to volunteer to be the photocopy girl and of course I agreed. I didn’t care what my role was, as long as I was privy to the insanity of this show.

This show was CALGARY CARES and it took place on March 17, 2001.

Fast forward four months and, in July 2001, we started e=mc² events.

In October 2001, through a serendipitous turn of events, Jim Button hired e=mc² to produce Calgary Cares 2002. Crazy. Exciting. Intimidating. Overwhelming. But, above all else, really, really cool. For all of those who know Jim, you know how lucky we were to have him as a client and friend.

Changing Lives Matters

Calgary Cares was a fundraiser for AIDS Calgary.

In the early 2000’s, anything to do with AIDS and the LGBTQ community was spoken about under the radar. It was hush hush. Don’t say anything too loudly, and certainly don’t dance about it. The proverbial closet door was shut and locked.

Well, the whole purpose of Calgary Cares was to open that door and come out dancing [strutting, really]!

This show started with a fairly conservative reception, followed by an avant garde 90 minute stage show of fashion, dancing, drag queens, musicians and acrobatics, and ended with the best and most diverse after party Calgary has ever seen.

Jim Button had brought together the most diverse audience I have ever seen in my entire career. From corporate leaders, to house moms, house dads, students, socialites, struggling artists, aspiring drag queens, government officials, and the list goes on.

The goal was to shift the paradigm, to open up dialogue, to break down barriers, to foster acceptance, inclusion and diversity, to dispel misconceptions and to celebrate. Celebrate together. As one community. A community that cares.

When I talk about how events change lives [and I do that regularly] I always think about this event. This event truly changed lives.

Volunteers Matter

When we said yes to the production of the show - I had NO idea what I was getting myself into.

We needed 300 volunteers on stage; dancers, models, choreographers, fashion designers, lighting designers, singers, musicians, painters. And we had to find them ALL!

We needed 50+ volunteers behind the scenes; stage manager, carpenters, runners, caterers, production assistance, etc.

And again, we had to find them ALL!

We assembled a volunteer creative committee, we put up flyers in all the new bars and clubs around Calgary looking for models and dancers. We were running auditions, we were meeting with drag queens and choreographers, and we were building a show.

During its nearly decade long reign as Calgary's "must attend event", volunteers were the backbone of this incredible production.

Diversity & Inclusion Have Always Mattered.

Without thinking about it, we had representation from every genre of dance and music, we had diversity in colour, in sexual orientation, in gender orientation, in age and size.

This was not because we were checking off political boxes, this was because it was the nature of the show; acceptance, belonging, and celebrating people for who they were.

We were building a show that mattered.

What I didn’t realize was just how much this show would matter. In hindsight I can say that we were ahead of our time.

This was a show of inclusion, of acceptance, of diversity, BIPOC, and celebration. While inclusion and diversity are key words of 2021, they were what this show embraced 20 years ago.

CALGARY CARES FAVOURITE MEMORIES / MOMENTS / LESSONS

Dewi Wood - I was told on day one that I should get a good audio producer and I was given a name: Dewi Wood. I made one call and within 20 seconds, I knew I just met someone that was going to be integral not only in this show, but in my life.
Dewi volunteered and produced music for our eclectic 90 minute show for 8 straight years. He held my hand every single year as the show started and I sat nervously wondering if all would go well. That was a phone call that changed my life.

Raining Men - One year, we had a Four Seasons theme. The vision was to have females dancing in raincoats with their umbrellas, and then to have a pile of men "rain" from the ceiling. We called the Climbing Club of Calgary and asked them if they would rappel from the ceiling at the Jack Singer Concert Hall in their underwear and land amongst 20 half naked dancing women. It was a phone call I’ll never forget. They said yes.

Dave Kelly - In 2002 Dave Kelly was the biggest celebrity I knew. As the TV morning show host, he was a BIG deal. I was not a big deal. So having Dave involved as the host of the show was so intimidating to me. The first time I had seen Dave was on stage at the show in 2001 when I volunteered as the photocopy girl; he was on stage in assless chaps.

Fast forward twenty years and I can honestly say Dave is the best host I have ever worked with. He is a very dear friend who happened to meet his lovely wife, Blythe, at that show. [She was one of the talented half-naked dancers in a raincoat from the story above!]

My Mom and the Drag Queens - After 6 years of producing the show, I was finally brave enough to bring my very conservative catholic mother to see a Calgary Cares rehearsal. My mom, who was a performer herself, loved the stage, but she was used to stages of opera, musical theatre and catholic hymns. I warned her about what she was going to see, then I walked her into the theatre and left her by herself as I ran a full run-through. I found her after the rehearsal in the foyer speaking with one of the performers. She was quite enthralled in the conversation. When I came up to them I heard my mom say “and what performance are you in?” and Johnny responded, “ well, Donna ~ I’m the fat drag queen”. It was classic. My mom was so gracious, and so impressed by it all and I do know that this event impacted her, as it did everyone else. HOWEVER, I did NOT invite her to the after party!

This was The Show that launched e=mc² into show production and, in particular, helped to define me as a show producer. Calgary Cares won many international awards from 2003-2007 for Best Entertainment Production and Best Event Produced for a Charitable Organization, solidifying our reputation globally.

Dear 20 Years

Wed, 21 Jul 2021 16:48:07 GMT

Dear 20 Years,

It is nice to meet you.

So far in my life, you have eluded me. Up until today I have never done anything for 20 years straight.

The most I ever lived in one place was 18.5 years. (Thanks mom and dad!)

The most I ever worked in any “real job” was two years.

The longest relationship I have ever been in is . . . well, let’s just say 20 Years you have eluded me.

And certainly, when I was writing a blog last year at this time amidst a global pandemic that nearly shut down our whole industry, I thought you would elude me yet again.

But here we are standing side by side and it is really nice to finally meet you.

You have brought me so many things for which I am eternally grateful. Extraordinary people and partnerships, creativity, imagination, resourcefulness and incredible learnings. You have also brought me tears, laughter, joy and pride.

Thank you 20 Years.

You’ve also taught me a thing or two about events. And one thing in particular I’d like to share with you today.

There is a moment during an event, which I refer to as the “fireworks moment”. It is that one moment that turns an event into magic [ you’ll often hear us refer to this as the “whizbang moment” ].

Sometimes it is literally the fireworks bringing an event to its climactic ending, or the moment a stuntman jumps out of a helicopter to start the show.

Or, it is the choreographed procession of 50 smiling Special Olympics athletes that brings the audience to its feet. It is the moment the scrim lights up to reveal the band members one by one all carefully positioned in a 100 foot wide by 36 foot tall scaffold structure. It is the moment the spoken word artist poignantly introduces business leaders and philanthropists to the stage just before the Blues Brothers perform. It is that moment when the CEO of a company walks through a curtain of fog into a crowd of 4,500 people to make a big announcement. It is the moment at an intimate event, taking place under the stars, when Sarah McLachlan plays that first note on the grand piano and the audience is in awe.

It is the moment that says it all and in the lead-up to this moment, I always find myself seeking out my fellow “e” team members.

You see, 20 Years, I never like standing alone in these moments. Why would I?

I want to be standing beside the co-creators of the magic to soak it all in. Sometimes we are holding hands in anticipation; praying it all goes well. Other times we are just standing side by side, breathless, waiting for the energy of the moment to fill our lungs.

Other times we are leaning up against each other, feeling the support of each other, getting ready for that “yes, we did it” hug. Often this comes with a sigh combined of relief and pure joy, and it is often accompanied by tears.

20 Years, I have enjoyed countless moments like these. And while I do remember these moments, what I remember more is who I was standing with at the back of the room. That is the real magic that I wanted to share with you.

So today, 20 Years, my “fireworks moment” is going to be standing shoulder to shoulder with my entire team sharing some bubbles reminiscing on the past while looking forward to a bright future in our very own Zoom Room . . . breathless with some tears welling up, but with the energy of you behind us propelling us forward saying out loud together . . . “WE DID IT!”

Thank you 20 Years and everyone who’s been a part of the “e” team along the way. Nothing would have been possible without each and every one of you.

Cheers!

Jocelyn xoxoxox

2001 - The "e"-Odyssey Part One

Thu, 01 Jul 2021 16:08:43 GMT

The Moment: How an elevator ride can change your life

This story gives a whole new meaning to the term “Elevator Pitch”. You see, it all started in an elevator. Well, maybe not officially, but that’s where things really took off.

The actual start is a much longer story for another time. Let’s just say that at 2pm on a Wednesday, Kenn Kristofferson, Lindsay Dann and I got together to discuss an idea. By 4pm on Friday, e=mc² event management inc. was incorporated and an office space was found. Kenn and I spent the weekend painting the office and on Monday we were up and running.

World Track and Field Championships

Two weeks later, Lindsay convinced us that we should all go to Edmonton to see the festivities happening at the World Track and Field Championships. Apparently, there would be lots to see, including backstage of the Paul Brandt and Colin James concert in the park.

Not knowing why a drive up to Edmonton to see a concert and some track and field champions would be all that relevant to me, or to our brand new company, I blindly jumped on the bandwagon and off we went. I don’t remember the drive, the track and field events or much of the backstage tour, but I’ll never forget the elevator ride at the Westin Hotel. It was then and there I learned that conversations matter and, in some instances, can lead to unimaginable opportunities.

The Elevator

Kenn, Lindsay, and I walked into the elevator where we met a man, who I didn’t know at the time would change the course of my life. I’m sure I said hi and turned to face the front as, back then, I would normally do during most elevator rides.

But this ride was different. Unprompted, Lindsay, standing next to me, said: “You’re Dick Wilson, aren’t you?” And off we went.

The next day, we ran into Dick and his wife Nancy in the lobby. We said hello and a few pleasantries and then Lindsay assured him that Kenn and I would follow up with him soon.

We had our marching orders: follow up with Dick Wilson who worked for this company called Alberta Energy Company (AEC).

Okay.

Check.

Got it.

We’ll call the nice man from the elevator.

Follow Your Intuition and Magic Starts to Happen

Not knowing exactly why and with no expectations, we called Dick and ended up booking a meeting with him.

We marched into his office, eager and ready to take on the world, but not really knowing what any of it meant yet. We soon found out.

Dick told us he was going to hire us to produce the corporate Christmas party for AEC alongside the existing social committee. Now remember, in 2001, the idea of outsourcing a Christmas party was very rare especially in corporate Calgary. But apparently this man from the elevator had a good feeling about us and also a lot of sway at AEC. He thought it would be a good thing to try out.

Had Lindsay not said a word in the elevator in Edmonton, our lives would be much different today. To be honest, I’m not even sure the e-team would still be around. Talk about a leap of faith on both sides!

That Christmas party came and went. It was attended by 650 guests (a HUGE number for us back then) and took place at the Palomino Room in the BMO Centre. I remember so many things about the event - the decor, the gifts, the fireplace on stage where the CEO and his wife sat and Farmer’s Daughters performing. But most of all . . . I remember the rush I felt through my body feeding off of the amazing energy in the room.

One thing is certain, I’m glad we followed our intuition and leapt not knowing what was on the other side. There was definitely some magic at play!

The Timeline - From an elevator to New York to 4,500 guests at Calgary Olympic Oval

After the Christmas party took place in mid-December, it was full steam ahead.

January – Kenn and I got a call from Dick. Something was brewing and something big was going to happen. He couldn’t tell us much, but he put us on alert that we were going to be involved in something large. Hold on tight.

Mid-February – We were brought into the circle of trust and learned that a large merger was about to take place and that we were going to be part of the launch. The entity was going to be the largest independent oil and gas company in North America. e=mc² was going to be hired as the event production company and we were going to officially launch this company on April 4th. To think not many months ago we opened our office doors for the first time.

April 4th – After only a couple of months to plan, I was on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange with the Chairman, his wife, Jamie Sale and David Pelletier, Dick’s favourite PR partner, Rosemarie Enslin, and a slew of technical producers who were going to broadcast the ringing of the NYSE bell.

Back in Calgary, Kenn was hosting the event for 4,500 employees, and where the CEO of the new company was having live conversations with us on the NYSE floor. [We were doing hybrid events long before COVID-19.]

April 19 – EnCana Day. With the launch over, it was time to celebrate and set the standard for what e=mc² events was about to become. And with that, we brought together 4,500 people at the Calgary Olympic Oval for the biggest corporate party this city had ever seen.

Phew. So that happened.

It was surreal. All at the same time, it was beyond exciting and exhilarating, frightening and intimidating, rewarding and life altering.

EnCana had just set a new standard in corporate Calgary on the purpose of events in relation to how to treat, honour and recognize their employees. They put their stake in the ground and all of corporate Calgary was watching.

EnCana arrived and, as a direct resu lt, e=mc² events was ready to take on any and all that came our way.

I can’t begin to imagine what our story would have been had we not gotten on that exact elevator at that exact time, nor do I want to. That elevator ride, without a doubt, granted us a start to a very cool future, surrounded by amazing people, experiencing great adventures together, while learning life lessons that will never ever be forgotten.

When you put all of this together and amplify it by embracing your intuition and following your gut, when you leap, the bridge truly will appear. Your very own odyssey awaits.

Some Valuable Lessons

There were many key learnings taken from this experience, but here are a few that stand out to me in hindsight.

Trust:

Find people you can trust and then trust them. Full stop. Trust your people.

One of the biggest lessons that came from working with Dick was to put your trust in the people with whom you build partnerships. This was never stated – that's just the way Dick made us feel from day one.

The details of this merger were of the highest confidentiality and often required us to sneak in after hours to work with Dick on getting all the insights we needed. So, not only were we trusted with information that only a handful of senior executives had, we were trusted to put on the event of a lifetime.

When you give unfettered trust to someone, they have no choice but to lean in and embrace it.

I, personally, did not know the magnitude of the road we were headed on with these large events, but I did know that failure was not an option. And when someone trusts you to do great work and failure is not an option, magic can happen!

Collaboration:

Dick introduced us to all stakeholders and partners from day one. There was no concealing information for or from anyone. Many things we heard were not relevant to us, but it certainly gave us the insight, the knowledge, and the deep understanding of who the client was, what the big picture thinking was and how our role intersected with others.

Unfettered access to information allowed us to produce cohesive experiences from start to finish. We took this art of collaboration into all that we did with our vendors and partners and have never wavered from this approach.

I will never forget our first large vendor meeting where we had 15 of us around the boardroom table and asked for everyone’s opinions on how to put this event on. Each of our suppliers (AV, lighting, décor, food and beverage, and entertainment) all looked at us strangely when they walked into the room.

I didn’t know at the time, but this was not the way things were done in the event industry, but it certainly became the way of the future. Our future.

Ask Questions & Be Resourceful:

This lesson actually started with my dad who taught me at a very young age to never pretend to know things. Pretending was fine until someone started paying you to, in fact, know things. How could I fake my way through opening a company on the New York Stock Exchange and then throwing the biggest party Calgary had ever seen?

The only way to succeed was to ask the right people the right questions. This was not always easy, as we didn’t want to come across as amateurs, but it was the only way.

It became very evident that if we pretended to know something we didn't, we were going to make huge mistakes. When failure is not an option, mistakes are not an option, therefore we asked every question we needed to find out the answers!

Enjoy What You Do and the People With Whom You Do It:

Dick Wilson, the man from the elevator, had surrounded himself with professionals who were also fun, positive and outgoing. He knew that he didn’t have to be the smartest person in the room, but he knew he had to surround himself with people who were experts in their own fields.

When we work as hard as we do, it is imperative to be doing so beside people who make us laugh, smile and who help us to become better versions of ourselves.

So thank you Mr. Wilson.

That fateful elevator ride was truly the start to something amazing and unforgettable. I am so appreciative of you, Nancy, your whole family, and your work family for embracing us, trusting us and letting us fly.

Our 2001 The "e" - Odyssey will continue with a story about the event that really did change the trajectory of our lives.

What Would Walt Do?

Thu, 20 May 2021 15:05:07 GMT

Opening Experience Design...the Disney Way.

Close your eyes and dream with us for a moment while we drift back into the not so distant whimsical yesteryears of live events. Your heels are high, your patent leather loafers shine and there's a little swag in your step. Cocktail glasses clink all around you and the stage is alight with song and dance. Your dear friends are to the left and right of you. Magic.

Now open your eyes.

Today, our design constraints are different than they once were. Guest comfort level is different. But the magic that our guests expect, the magic that our industry wants to create, THAT magic hasn't gone anywhere.

So let's dream together about the magic we will create in the future of event design. The answers might be closer than you think, perhaps they've been right under your nose all along. So, we ask: "What would Walt do?"

Well, Mr. Disney happened to create the most magical place on earth and, long before COVID19, created safe and spectacular experiences for people of all ages. He not only faced challenges head on, but he explored every nook and cranny of a challenge until he turned it into a magical opportunity to whisk people away to discover exciting and new experiences. Do you remember? Tomorrowland. Frontierland. And most recently, Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge.

Today, it is our job to embrace the challenges we face, to integrate safety into the events we produce and to bring the magic of events to the forefront in adaptive and unique ways - maybe even with Walt guiding and pushing us along.

So where do we start? We sat down with Keri and Trevor, magic-maker extraordinaires, to discuss their perspectives on how we design the future. Spoiler alert: it'll be quite the ride!

Q. In the interest of dreaming of the future, Trevor, what comes to mind when you think of being immersed back into a live event?

A . So many things. What excites me most about gathering together in person once again are the limitless possibilities to create new experiences that are even more meaningful than before. It’s been awe-inspiring to see how we have all adapted over the last year and I’m intrigued to see how live event experiences come to life in new and unexpected ways. It’s going to be a challenge, but never boring that’s for sure. Admittedly, I’m also looking forward to seeing people indulge in ways they hadn’t before. I hope guests will walk into events with more excitement than ever before. There will be a lot of anticipation alongside a bit of fear for some people . . . it is our job to make people feel as safe as possible while experiencing the unimaginable.

Q. Yes! - we are all craving that excitement again, while still understanding there will be differences in the design approach. In your opinion, how do we bridge the gap? How do we begin to wrap our head around designing spaces in this new way?

A. We will all need to ease back into live events in our own way. There will not be a one size fits all solution for sure. But . . . we already know there’s a way to get a certain amount of people together in a safe and extraordinarily memorable way. We sat down together as a team and started discussing theme parks, then asked each other: “What would Walt do?” Immediately, I thought of the Haunted Mansion experience at Disneyland. When I was a youngster, I remember a trip with my family to the Magic Kingdom - one of the most wondrous places on earth for people of all ages. While you might not realize it, every attraction in the park is hyper-controlled, built by master architects and created with safety and ultimately, a timed and strategically executed user experience in mind. Not many people forget their first time in the Haunted Mansion. Even the lineup conjures up feelings of chilling anticipation for what’s in store and is an experience in and of itself as you pass by manicured gardens and a pet cemetery. The experience starts when you line up. Once you enter the Colonial styled building (inspired by the Harry Packer Mansion in Pennsylvania) you are given your restriction and instructions, are corralled together safely with a specific number of people and the pre-show begins. Sound familiar? Experienced event producers are well equipped to create once in a lifetime experiences that are not only safe, but as memorable as your first time at Disneyland.

Q. That is a really interesting perspective! It helps visualize how we might move through a space - especially being able to relate to an experience the majority of us have already experienced.

A. Yes! In Canada, we have theme parks across the country complete with gravity defying roller coasters and other more subdued attractions. Not as elaborate as Disneyland, but many of us are used to these types of controlled experiences. Fly Over Canada in Vancouver is a great example of a multi-sensory experience that literally takes its guests from coast to coast to coast complete with scent machines and misting water emulating nature (Niagara Falls). Sound familiar again? We really can learn a lot from these types of attractions and transfer the techniques they use to the new era of events.

Q. I like that you mentioned experiences like FlyOver Canada, and Roller Coasters. Those experiences tend to have some extra steps in the process, safety checks, and the like. Keri, let’s bring your opinion into this question - will these processes translate to live experiences?

A. I love Trevor’s insight and idea of comparing theme park attractions with the opening of live events, and the anticipated constraints we can expect. Attendance could be tiered, they will be in smaller, controlled groups, with the goal of creating big impact with multiple, timed “showings”.

Let’s embrace the constraints of the restrictions to innovate and create awesome experiences that can develop as attendance restraints relax. COVID safety, while #1, isn’t going anywhere. We will adapt with the changes and these will become the new industry standards, which should not drive the experience, but facilitate it.

Theme parks outline the requirements before getting in line, for example, "you must be this tall to ride", or "riders under the age of 8 must be accompanied by an adult". Now translate that into public events. Once in the queue, you are ushered, just like at an airport, theme park ride, or drive in, through a series of bends and turns. What if each “check-point” was entertaining and engaging? A maze...but Amazing!

Once you’ve made it to the main attraction, you are placed in a log, spinning teacup, or car with your cohort, and transported through an experience designed to create anticipation, exude joy, and feel exhilaration, amongst moments of brilliance. We are then eased out of the experience, minds blown, excited and wanting more, often heading straight back into line.

We do not have to attend an event by sitting still, in separated seating and watch bigger content on a bigger screen than in our homes! What if we were moved through an experience, much like a perfectly curated museum, or theme park ride, safely with the event experience surrounding and engulfing us? Think of the Museum of Ice Cream - the scheduled crowd movement, the immersive rooms, the engaging and interactive creative spaces - which guests are willing to invest time and money in.

Q. That makes sense - we are all so adaptable! Particularly when information is communicated simply and clearly. Keri, can you think of a project that the team has executed that demonstrates participant movement in this way?

A. I’d like to think that all of our work is designed in a way that creates energy and impact for guests the way a theme park ride does! We write our design stories for the guests with a “walk in their shoes” methodology, with impactful and thought provoking content . We creatively hit all the senses. That methodology doesn’t change in these new circumstances. The physical logistics of gathering people to dance, celebrate and network changes, but the idea of immersing guests in a storyline does not.

One project in particular I recall that did this well and could easily be revised to today’s standards is our celebrated RGO 4.2 Relaunch from 2013. This event was created to move people through a space so they could see, feel and experience each location and its unique product or service offerings.

It was a journey. There were creative installations and engaging elements, featuring the client’s products in cool ways. It culminated in a speech and gathering, but today, that content could have been delivered differently. Today, that event would be a staggered 60-minute timed experience for 65 guests...stretched out over a day, rather than a 4-hour event for 400 people at once.

We would deliver bespoke moments to strategically curated guest groups, all through purposeful, impactful content, rather than it potentially being diluted or missed by people experiencing it on their own. The ROI for the client would be easier to achieve and analyze, really there are some amazing opportunities to rethink past events right now!

Q. Ok, let’s end on a fun one: If you could design an experience like the Museum of Ice Cream, but themed around a theme-park ride, what would it be? Give me an “elevator pitch” of what different rooms would feature.

Trevor : Ooh! Can we just swap out the ice cream for candy? No. Better yet, give us ice cream AND candy. (Our team has a huge sweet tooth. Okay . . . I have a HUGE sweet tooth.) Think Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, but with local confectionery and sustainable items all brought to life with brands from our own backyard. In this economy, we need to support our local partners!

For the after party, people could walk down the “garden path”, pull a carrot juice out of the ground, perhaps pear spritzer from a tree, or snag a spiked lemonade from a lemonade stand, and head into Hansel and Gretel’s gingerbread house, where candy cane dance floors await under marzipan chandeliers.

We think Trevor is hungry...

You get where we are going. The answers have been right in front of us all along. Thanks Walt [and team]!

THE END...or is it The Beginning?

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Zoom Fatigue to Room Fatigue?

accounts@cc94.com (Conscious Commerce) — Tue, 06 Apr 2021 18:23:26 GMT

Avoiding The Whack-A-Mole Effect

Ah, “virtual event”. The phrase of 2020 [next to “unmute”]. In our industry, this has effectively replaced “Stage”, “Venue”, and even, dare we say, “Live Event”or “Meeting”. Zoom fatigue for attendees is real. Being overstimulated with everything digital, virtual everything has us daydreaming about the days of hand shakes, body language and social norms...connecting in organic, tactile ways; talking in a room, together.

So what happens next? After Zoom Fatigue isn’t a thing - when the doors open to gatherings and events, how will our audiences behave? What will the new social norm be? Will we get overwhelmed? How long will our audience last - will they come and leave within an hour? Will Room Fatigue become a thing?

We sat down with our Chief Creative Strategist, Keri Miller, to reflect on how she has seen her very bubbly, extroverted nature shift.

“If anyone had told me a year ago that I, Keri Miller, would be content to stay home, not see people and that I would have a social and work calendar with NO in-person meetings, collisions or events for over 12 months, I would have literally laughed myself into a guffawing mess.

I’ve become a home-body, zooming (literally) from meeting to meeting, from virtual cocktail hour to virtual networking sessions. I’m tired all the time, my attention span is teeny. Even when engaged with good, solid content and the faces of people I love, I’m not the same “me” I was when this thing started. I fear that I will not be the Keri I once was, live and in-person.”

As event professionals, understanding our attendee demographic has always been key to the success of our events. “Who” was integral to the “why”. We planned timing, food and beverage, entertainment, engagement and design based on who our audience was. We took historic data and designed around how we expected and anticipated them to react.

We learned over the years how long certain demographics would stay, who would be last on the dance floor, who would sit up front, and who would hide in the back. We learned to change the space and adjust the energy through design, technology, entertainment and scripting.

Now, imagine your fatigue, and imagine walking into a room. A big room. A noisy room. A room programmed with lighting, audio, virtual reality, signage or brand activations everywhere you turn, social media cues, and people. A LOT of people. A room designed to engage you from the moment you arrive, to the moment you get home. Yikes!

Enter – the Whack-a-Mole Effect.

Keri muses “The thought of attending an event the way they were designed before COVID has me conjuring up visions of being beat over the head with something and wanting to hide or protect myself. Like a Whack-a-Mole Game. I come up for air to see who’s in attendance, find a friend or a martini, and duck to comfort in my own secret space!”

Who will our audiences be when the doors open? How will they interact and socialize with humans in person?

Anxiety post-COVID is real. All of our interactions, expectations, and behaviours have changed. Can we physically prepare, dress, go out and engage with other humans? How long can we stand? How do we feel on our feet? How long will it take for Room Fatigue to kick in? Will the inevitable need for tiered entry due to safety protocols create shorter event and engagement experiences, making the transition easier and more natural? Will the first events be 6 hours or 2 hours long?

As we pondered the ramifications of wearing the same pair of sweatpants for 380 days in a row, the idea of the Whack-a-Mole Effect begins to take hold. We need to consider how we are creating our next phase of events, for our next phase of attendees.

Our role and value is to really consider who is choosing to attend, what type of event they will choose to attend (in-person, digital or a hybrid of the two...yes, we must give them choice!) and engage them through purposefully designed spaces, tiered moments and relevant, awesome content.

Room Fatigue will be a thing. Let’s get ahead of it, plan for our new normal, allow humans to pop their heads up, feel the energy and avoid the hammer.

If you'd like to have a conversation about this or invite us to chat click the button below to reach Keri Miller

An Optimistic Outlook

Thu, 21 Jan 2021 23:40:30 GMT

How our 2021 Conversation about The Great Reset, really mattered.

Last week Keri and I had the opportunity to sit down with two of our international colleagues. Our dear friend and amazing host Dave Kelly guided us through a conversation about where our industry is at now, and where we believe it is heading.

Spoiler alert ~ we were all left with a sense of optimism for what is to come.

First a little bit about our guests. I met Colja Dams of Vok Dams i n January of 2002, just 6 months after starting e=mc² events. It was my first time at an international event industry conference. I was filled with anticipation and wonder about who I might meet and what I might learn. Having lived in Europe and being a fan of all things European, the very first session I attended was by a German event producer. I didn’t know who this producer was, what he was going to talk about nor how on earth it could at all be relevant to me and “e”.

Let me tell you, when someone is telling his story of logistical challenges of producing the launch of a new Lamborghini on the top of an active volcanic mountain in Italy - you tend to pay attention! That moment in time, that 45 minute conference session set a standard for me that I could not have imagined. There was my event life before that 45 minutes with Colja, and then 19.5 years of event life after Colja.

19.5 years later, we are still paying attention to Colja! We are still looking at him and his company as the standard to achieve when producing experiences for our clients. We were excited last week to get Colja’s thoughts of the industry and his perspective of what is to come.

As for our second guest, Dan Bolton , our history is much shorter, yet equally as impactful. I met Dan virtually for the first time just 1 week before our webinar. I already know that in a very short time I will be saying the same as I did above with Colja ~ that there was our event life before meeting Dan and our event life after meeting Dan. And that thought is very exciting to me!

Now, I had heard of Dan Bolton since the moment he started his agency in Dubai. I think everyone in our industry heard of the Dan Bolton Creative Management Agency. He came on to the scene and literally took the creative and entertainment world by storm. The great thing for us is that unbeknownst to Dan a couple of years ago he hired a close colleague of ours and the rest is history.

We had the fortune of being hired by Dan’s company just a few months back to produce a large international virtual event, and it was quite the exciting ride for our combined teams, managing time zones, international IT security, firewalls, short timelines, etc. While Dan, Keri, nor I were part of this project, our team's collaboration was the start of an amazing thing and it was a pleasure to finally meet the man and visionary behind the name.

Also, as it turns out Dan and Colja’s teams had just finished a collaboration in Dubai months before our webinar ~ so our webinar timing was perfect to show us just how small this world really is.

So ~ how did this conversation matter?

Dan gave us optimism as he shared that live events are in fact already being planned and encouraged in Dubai. Colja gave us optimism as he shared that hybrid events are something to embrace as the future, and not just as a placeholder until we “go back to normal”.

We shared our optimism that our value as event professionals is ringing true in this virtual world.

We spoke about The Great Reset.

While we are currently working digitally and virtually ~ our skills and insights as event professionals are not only needed, but are truly valued. Events as we knew them are gone, but the need for our industry is as strong, if not stronger than ever before.

We are all in the profession of human connection and while the connections are vastly different than they were a year ago, people are craving them. Yes, live events matter and they will return, but the hybrid model of live and digital will be the new normal. This is the time to reset how we will gather from here on out.

The Great Reset is where we put on our strategic hats and work with and encourage our clients to reimagine what they need from their future experiences and how we can deliver it.

Strategy.

This is the time we all get to play a bigger game. Historically, live events were a tactic in an overall corporate strategic plan, or were a social tradition or an educational and awareness vehicle. Over the past 10 months we have been able to look at events AS the strategy, not just as the tactic. Our first step is think different, to engage our clients in future forward conversations that will change the way they not only look at “events”, but their entire tool box of resources, to have people rally around their organization and brand. This is where clients need a knowledgeable, trusted partner to navigate these times with. We, event professionals, are that trusted partner.

Audience[s].

This is where we look at audiences in a new light. When events were live and live only, either guests attended in person or they didn’t. In some cases they were mandated to attend, and would come kicking and screaming while others would come sliding in, champagne in hand, across a ballroom.

As event professionals it was always our job to determine, in the physical space, how to reach each type of audience member ~ those who liked to be in the centre of the room, and those who needed a quiet corner; those who learned by listening and others who learned by doing.

We have learned that virtually we can reach audiences in new ways. Therefore going forward we have more knowledge at our fingertips to reach more audiences in ways that resonate with them even better.

For those introverts who don’t like loud crowds and small talk, we can engage them behind their screen and have them feel like they are still connected. For those extroverts who love the noise, the hustle & bustle, the crowds, etc. we will be able to get them back safely into the live experience. [more on this to come in an upcoming blog].

Money Talk.

This is where we work with our clients to look at their budgets differently. In hybrid events, we need to budget for both the live event experiences and the online virtual experience. So in fact, our budgets will be increasing over time, not decreasing. Live Event + Virtual Event = Hybrid Event

Colja pointed out that budgets are being pooled from cross disciplines in order to come up with the right strategic direction and funds to support them. Generally speaking these disciplines include events, social media, digital content and communications budgets. [more on this to come in an upcoming blog].

By strategically bringing these disciplines together in conversation and in budgets, we are able to use the tools that we have all developed over the past 10 months, combine them with the tools we have had in our live event experiences over the past decades and build hybrid events that reach each audience in the right, unique way.

With the right messaging, emotions and storytelling these hybrid experiences will culminate in human connections like we have never imagined until now.

My Optimistic Outlook.

During and reflecting on our webinar conversation, I gained a sense of optimism for our industry. There is a lot for us to all look forward to. We will not look the same as we have in the past, and let’s be grateful for that. We have all been there. It is time for new adventures. There is no going “back to the glory days”. We have an opportunity, and in fact an obligation, to forge forward and to “reset”, to build and to create new possibilities.

And in the words of the young Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman who made her name on the world stage on Wednesday ~ “There is always light, if only we're brave enough to see it. If only we're brave enough to be it."

So my fellow industry colleagues ~ let’s both see and be the light in the opportunities that lie ahead for us.

All the best,

Jocelyn

Don't miss out on "e" news and our next topics on our Conversation Matters webinar series, buttons to subscribe AND to watch the Global Outlook webinar are below.

#conversationmatters #eturnstwenty #emc2events

2021 - Shapeshifting with ENERGY

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 00:06:59 GMT

A kick ass message from Jocelyn to the team [and you].

Intro:

After a much needed break, I [Keri] sat down to my laptop, amongst a cluttered desk, to discover the annual new year message from my friend and business partner, Jocelyn. For those of you that do not know her well, she has a powerful, inspiring voice, one that we, at "e" love and need to hear often. When I opened my inbox and read the message below, I decided it was a message that everyone needed to hear, not just our team. I hope you find some inspiration and motivation in it, or at least feel like you've been hugged by a friend.

So, from her keyboard to our inboxes and on to your screen...Happy New Year from "e", we will see you in the arena. ~ Keri

Hello Team,

Well, here we are ~ 2021. Happy New Year!!

I truly hope you all enjoyed a very well-deserved relaxing holiday and some nice time with family and friends (albeit in smaller numbers than normal).

We made it!!! We made it through 2020 and we are now officially in our 20th year of operations. Crazy!

“e” in 2021 - this year won't be like any year we have experienced in the past. We are on the road to recovery, yet there is no blueprint on what this will look like. There is no book written yet on how to recover from 2020. We are in essence writing the book as we go, page by page, chapter by chapter.

While there are still uncertainties about when we will get back to being able to produce live events and what those might look like, what we did learn in the past 9 months is that we are able to translate our live event experience to the virtual space and we are showing our value more and more to our clients. That became very obvious with the tremendous work you all did over the last several months.

We will continue to shapeshift as we navigate through the next several months, identifying what our clients want to do, can do, need to do, and should do. We will help define what our industry will look and feel like, we will redefine who our partners will be in this journey, and together, we will reimagine what our business looks like. Together.

We will do this with the inspiration we spoke about at the end of the year...with the words of Brene Brown in her book Daring Greatly.

"I want to be brave in the arena. I want to be brave with my life. And when we make the choice to Dare Greatly, we sign up to get our asses kicked. We can choose courage, or we can choose comfort, be can't have both. Not at the same time".

I want to thank you ALL for everything you did for our company and for each other in 2020.

We all spent 2020 in the Arena.

We all were brave. Every single one of us.

We all made the choice to Dare Greatly. We signed up to get our asses kicked. We chose courage over comfort.

Yes - we got bumped and bruised along the way. But we learned every single day. We fought. We leaned on each other for support. We survived and we even thrived.

I am so damn proud of our whole team. You ALL shattered learning curves, broke boundaries, took risks and collaborated with each other in ways I have never seen in my 20 years with this company, and you were able to find some joy in these very challenging times.

So, my hope for 2021 is that we all continue to choose courage over comfort, that we continue to take risks, to learn, to fight, and to lean on each other for support along the way.

Of course, my hope is also that we are bumped and bruised a little less than in 2020 - but, I do know that given what we made it through last year, together, we are ready to take on what lies ahead.

As you all know, I choose a word every new year that is my driving principle in business and my personal life.

My word for 2021 is ENERGY.

en·er·gy

/ˈenərjē/

1. the strength and vitality required for sustained physical or mental activity.

What resonates with me about this word is not only the true definition, but also the words that are related to it: strength, toughness, power, vitality, stamina, efficiency, intensity, spirit, service, potential, dynamism, pizzazz, get-up-and-go, vim, zing & initiative.

We always speak about the "e-way": the secret sauce, the energy that we bring to our events, I believe the word is fitting as we leap into our 20th year and write our next chapter, together.

My commitment to you all is to give you and our company the best energy I can as we take on 2021 and I look forward to seeing what is ahead!

Jocelyn

[If you would like to join our next Conversation Matters webinar The Global Outlook for events in 2021 }

Going Virtual Can Make A Big Impact

Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:31:27 GMT

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND 2020 FAM TRIP

For meeting planners going virtual doesn't mean losing impact . . . even on a FAM tour!

First off, I’m going to say they nailed it! While meeting in person is still the preferred way of conducting and participating in a familiarization tour (FAM tour), the entire team at Meetings and Conventions Prince Edward Island (MCPEI) went out of their way to ensure no detail was uncovered and a big impact was still made in a virtual environment.

Very early in 2020, before the C-word was official, I was invited on a FAM tour by the team at MCPEI. I was thrilled to be heading to Prince Edward Island (PEI) in the fall of 2020 to learn more about the island (Canada’s smallest – but still very mighty – province) from the “insiders” and travel to the island of red sand, fresh seafood and, of course, the home of Anne of Green Gables .

The idea with any FAM tour is to meet in a location (hopefully with some new people) to get familiar with what it can offer incoming incentive groups.

Fast forward several months, I received the anticipated e-mail cancelling the in-person experience, but with an addendum indicating all was not lost and the MCPEI team was working diligently on piecing together a virtual experience to explore the island “from tip to tip.”

A virtual FAM tour!? HA! No . . . HA, HA, HA!

Okay, truth be told, I had every bit of confidence the MCPEI team was going to create something very special. And that they did. They knocked it out of the ballpark in my opinion.

In the months leading up to the virtual experience, I received regular communication (as did the other 30+ attendees from across North America) creating excitement and anticipation of my island tour. Ultimately, the MCPEI team created a three-day FAM tour. Attendees were asked to participate in a one hour Zoom call on each of the FAM tour days. The rest of the time, attendees spent exploring PEI at leisure through a fully customized interactive website.

Each day, a new section of the website was unlocked and we spent time clicking away on the website watching videos of the myriad of restaurants, accommodations, event venues and experiences the island offers. It was simple, easy to understand, and I loved that I could learn at leisure.

Impactful collective interactions by showcasing the best of the island.

A definite highlight of the “trip” was a large gift box that was couriered to my home office a week prior to the FAM tour. We were given explicit instructions to not peek, but to open the three gift bags together during our virtual meeting time. Unlike Christmas as a child when I was always on the hunt snooping around for presents, I didn’t peek. And, you know, I’m glad I didn’t.

The gifts were thoughtful, meaningful and, admittedly gave me goosebumps when the MCPEI team told us the significance of each item. I could feel the love and I felt connected to PEI more than I thought was possible without being there in person. (Highlights, for me, included: gouda cheese from Glasgow Glen Farm , a signed cookbook by Chef Michael Smith , a virtual reality headset for my smartphone (to get as close to exploring the island in person as possible), jam from the Prince Edward Island Preserve Company and a copy of Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery , to name a few.

I’m grateful for the friendly connections I made with the other attendees on the trip and the team at MCPEI – thank you Treena, Susan, Mary-Hellen and Nicole and to all your partners that participated in the FAM. In these lockdown days, it’s nice to know I can still meet new, like-minded people and learn from their experiences during these uneasy times.

I’m also grateful for the experience to learn more about Prince Edward Island (a small island with a LOT of heart) and all it can offer our clients in the future.

But why wait?

The world is on a path of reinvention and virtual events aren't going anywhere. Could there be a market for safely executed virtual FAM tours that still connect people to each other and to geographic locations if travel bans or restrictions continue. As an event planner, I say yes, a big yes. Any day of the week, I’d be keen to work with the team at MCPEI to create a virtual PEI experience for clients who’d be more comfortable sitting on the sofa than risking travel during this period of transition and reinvention.

Meetings and Conventions Prince Edward Island, my heartfelt thank you for including me in your very first virtual FAM tour. Big smiles all around. Until we meet again . . . in person or virtually!

Our team has been working on virtual social experiences that are engaging and meaningful. Drop us a line anytime to create impactful collective interactions and keep the conversations (and events) going.

Great things at our table

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Fri, 09 Oct 2020 20:28:37 GMT

It's Canadian Thanksgiving so here is a post about being thankful…for a wing, great things and the entire extended “e” team.

Every Tuesday for the last 19 years our entire team has gathered together to connect, to learn and to brainstorm at a full team meeting. Before COVID we used to gather in our boardroom or our Whizbang Rooms in each of our brick and mortar offices in Vancouver, Calgary and Toronto, often with team members joining in virtually from home or while on location, around the world.

Many years ago, I sketched out a boardroom table for our new Calgary head office. It was designed in the shape of an airplane wing, with a wide end and narrow end, to maximize sight lines for our big team meetings. From a seat at the table, your view was of all the people at the table, while forcing your perspective to the screen at the end where our other offices and remote workers, “zoomed in”. We could all see each other and at one time we needed a table add-on because our group had outgrown that giant table. We had grown wings and team members, producing wicked experiences all over the world.

Since March 2020 we have been hosting our team meetings virtually, and often the topics have been somber and sad, distressing and tear filled. They have also been game changing, with brilliant ideas and inter-country connectivity like never before. Our national team has never been so united, we have finally blurred physical lines and no longer differentiate ourselves by our locations. We have been agile and responsive while also doing our very best to be proactive and innovative. While some of our people and all of our locations have changed, one thing has stayed the same from the epic era of the winged table to now.

For 19 years we have started our team meetings with “great things”. A time when every member of our team could say one thing that was great for them, from their work or personal lives, always with the option for a “peppy pass” with no questions asked. This is where we learned about families, hobbies, history and spoke about being grateful for others and our lives. We still do great things each and every week, but now we share screens with photos of our families, projects, impromptu weddings and engagements and even a baby shower. COVID has clipped our wings, but not our spirit.

This Thanksgiving my great thing is that table. It’s symbolic of hope and anticipation for me, a table so large that it came in pieces, as we built the dream team and our brilliant company. It has seen and heard amazing things, hosted heated dialogue and brainstorms, pot-luck lunches, very fun and some very corporate meetings and been the surface in which the best ideas and designs were formulated, with the best people. The “e” that is emblazoned on it is different today, and while we do not sit at it anymore, the feeling of connection is the same…it has always been about all the amazing people that have sat at it, at the narrow or wide ends, virtually or not.

Happy Thanksgiving, Keri

As the person at "e" that has unlimited access to our social media, our website and our blog, I have taken liberties and posted something personal about all the amazing people that have ever been a part of "e", the projects and the business. It's a bit gushy, but I miss you all so much and hope you can share a great thing with those that sit at your table, masked or not, this Thanksgiving. xoxo

A HUGE shout out to Todd at Production Canada and Matt at Proshow that helped create this table, gifting it to us and being a part of the magic created at it.

Are you part of our 3 Degrees of “e”?

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Thu, 03 Sep 2020 14:22:31 GMT

Five years ago, 3 degrees of "e" and new conversations that matter!

As we open “conversations that matter” through our new webinar series [Conversation Matters] with e=mc² events , we thought we’d throw it back to a time when things were “normal” and the dialogue was easy, both of which explain our inspiration for what’s coming.

We have always prided ourselves on being a collaborative event agency – a company of kind, insightful, and invested people that opened the door to clients and partners to dream up amazing things and execute them together. We have also always believed in our value, our special secret sauce, and our “e” way – an energy that clients and guests have said “they feel” when they attend an event produced by our team.

Our mission is to create, connect and inspire, which is why five years ago we ran a series of live events – branded 3 degrees of “e” – hosted in our locations across Canada. These events were designed to bring together our network of clients, our industry partners and friends – to connect, to share ideas, and to start conversations.

As an event management agency, each of our locations strategized on the creative activations that were developed for each audience, driving home that our markets were varied and unique. In Vancouver, we hosted our event near the water; in Calgary we celebrated in our creative new head office space; and in Toronto, we took our guests to the rooftop of our building, sharing inspiration AND an inspiring view.

Not only did we invite people, we asked them to invite one or two people. We craved new friends, we wanted guests to make new friends and, ultimately, we wanted to be the connector of awesome things and opportunities that could happen.

As guests arrived at each location, we greeted them, took an instant snapshot of them and had them post it on our blackboard. We then asked them to draw lines between themselves and everyone they knew in the room. What we discovered was there really was only 3 degrees of separation. . .

Activities were created to showcase our unique team members [candy at Kathy’s desk, A’s in Audrey’s office, and ducks in Keri’s space], our playful culture [Mario Cart, Heads Up!, sailor hats], and to start dialogue [a conversation ball pit was featured in each location]. Connections were made, fun was had, and clients and partners alike were able to feel the “e” way and made a few friends as a bonus.

Today, we can’t create the same experience. Our offices are empty, our team is spread out [virtually everywhere!], and a conversation pit of 15,000 ping pong balls is a COVID nightmare. What we can do is develop a way for connections to still happen and for our clients and our partners to come together to start dialogue about important, truthful and timely conversations that matter. We can reach deep into our experience and history and share stories, but most importantly we can listen and learn from you, hear what you want to talk about, and create a conversation. Hopefully we all make a few new friends as a bonus!

This is why [Conversation Matters] with e=mc ² events was created.

We will launch the this website and provide a link on Sept. 14th, but we ask that you save the date and time [Sept. 22nd at 2 p.m. EST]. We have an amazing host [Dave Kelly] and a wicked featured "e" conversationalist [Jocelyn Flanagan] ready to talk about survival, sacrifices, wisdom, and Jocelyn’s take on the events/industry in 2021 and beyond. As you register, you will be asked to contribute topics that matter to you; this content will drive all of our future conversations.

If you are an event planner or an event company in Toronto or Dubai [or anywhere in the world] and you are reading this, you are part of our 3 degrees of “e” , so invite two friends and let’s connect and create new friends and new opportunities.

At 19, Numbers Matter

Tue, 21 Jul 2020 02:58:18 GMT

Celebrating 19 Years of "e" through numbers, starting with #1 [as in my first blog post EVER!]

We are 19 years old today. The company I founded is entering its 20th year and COVID-19 is here. Is our potential still as limitless as I once thought?

COVID.

There. I said it.

It is hard to think about much else these days.

How is it affecting our day to day lives? Should I leave my house? And if so . . . what colour mask should I wear today? The one with the flower? My patriotic maple leaf mask? The safety certified KN95?

Should I look at or even say hello to the woman in the grocery store going the wrong direction in aisle 9? What if she has COVID? Do I dare smile? What about that person sitting in the middle seat on the next airplane I am on? I’m sure if I keep my head down, don’t say a thing, look out the window and ignore everyone, then I will be fine! Right?

How is it affecting our families? Can I hug my dad when I go home for a visit or do I wave at him from across the living room as he watches the golf channel? How on earth will my mom, who is suffering badly with dementia, keep her mask on when we take her for a walk without it being crazy-glued to her face? Can I pick up my brother’s tennis ball when he and I revert to our childhood competitive rivalry – or do I have to kick it underneath the net and assume he has “the C-word”.

And then the obvious questions.

How is it affecting our business , our staff , our partners and colleagues, our industry as a whole? Which leads to which “industry expert” do I listen to in order to determine when we can resume some semblance of “normalcy”? . . . whatever that means.

I built the business with some very smart people, crunching some very important numbers, always guided by my intuition and COVID has me stumped. Some consider me an “industry expert” yet I certainly do not feel like I have the authority to answer this looming question.

However, I do have the authority to talk about all things “e”, why it has all mattered, and why COVID-19 does not and will not define us.

Here are some NUMBERS THAT MATTER.

1.75

The percentage of time that COVID takes up in our company timeline

Yes, it might be the most defining, terrifying, testing, making-or-breaking, number crunching, head scratching, mind-numbing 1.75% time in our history, but nonetheless, it is still less than 2% o f our existence.

98.25

The percentage of the other 18 years and 8 months of e=mc2 events’ journey

This is a journey full of moments of brilliance, human connections and inspiration, all worth documenting, celebrating and sharing far more than the 1.75% of late.

1,891

Live Experiences Produced [ah yes, that word LIVE is such a precious word!]

From exclusive dinner parties, to hologram-filled corporate leadership conferences, holiday celebrations, cottage soirees, premier charitable events, traditional cultural celebrations, celebrity filled floor hockey tournaments, AGMs, corporate anniversaries, international incentive trips, boat-in concerts, stampede parties, NY Stock Exchange openings, everything in between and yes, a bunch of virtual experiences [even before they were a “thing”.]

1,534,598

Guests Impacted

We have been honoured to share life’s milestones and moments with humans all around the world and know that the lives we have touched have memories like no other.

From event experiences ranging for audiences between 10 executives, 1,200 musicians, 600 philanthropists, 1,350 children, 4,500 employees and 5 goats and everything in between, our diverse audiences make our lives far more engaging and entertaining and they all keep us on our toes.

Our secret sauce of emotional intelligence, insight and infused energy known internally as “The e-way” has been felt by over a million and a half people. Take that COVID!

2,561

Awards Given

We have had the honour of producing awards shows for the best of the best in Canada - artists, business leaders, thought leaders, innovators, scientists, architects, restaurateurs, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, athletes, songwriters, performers. To name a few - Sarah McLachlan, Frank Gehry and Mr. Dressup.

We have awarded an honorary degree on the international space station and awarded hundreds of achievement awards for clients from places like Japan, Dubai, Indonesia, Europe, and in locations like Mexico, the Bahamas, Spain and the US.

Awards Received

We have proudly received a number of industry and business accolades over the course of our 19 years, nationally and internationally. Friendly competition within our industry colleagues around the world truly helps to push us harder, test our boundaries, encourage us to take some risks and raise the bar of our own events and our own leadership. The awards celebrate our work but more importantly the people that invested in it; our clients, our team and our partners.

99,339,000

Dollars Raised (net) for Charities

This is one of the numbers that I am most proud of. Our team has been able to support charitable events across the country and, by virtue of these events, we have changed the lives of so many special people. The number of tears we have cried witnessing key moments in each of these events is immeasurable. We owe so much of who we are today to organizations like Special Olympics Canada, Children’s Aid Foundation of Canada, Right to Play, SickKids Hospital, Ronald McDonald House, Toronto International Film Festival, Vancouver General Hospital, Children’s Wish Foundation, Calgary Urban Project Society, Look Good Feel Better, True Patriot Love Foundation and many, many more.

Thank you for trusting us to bring awareness and impact to your organizations, we are honoured.

Extraordinary Team Members

Over the past 19 years we have had the fortune of having 89 team members through our doors. Many of them have stayed for a long time, and others for a shorter, yet impactful time. Some have come, left and come back, some have come and left to start their own career and entrepreneurial adventures, while others have come and never left.

Each person who has entered our doors has left a lasting impression. e = mc ² is a story of people and I feel so fortunate to have been able to surround myself with so many extraordinary team members.

Our team over the years have had their shares of life's ups and downs. We have celebrated six weddings, many housewarmings and five babies [one due tomorrow! UPDATE: Isadora Ada DeGirolamo was born on July 22, 2020 - Congrats Marissa & Murray]. Team members' children have grown up and been a part of our work family, and we have sadly lost three incredible members of our team.

Industry Disruptions

In 19 years we have had the fortune and misfortune of bearing witness to some serious global and local events that have fundamentally disrupted our industry, let alone our business. 9-11 was mere weeks after our incorporation date, so we rode the wave of change off the get-go. This was followed by SARS, then the global recession, then the oil and gas crisis, and then . . . well, you know.

COUNTLESS

Lessons

The disruptive moments in time have been lessons in sociology, psychology, politics, economics, diplomacy, sheer will and resiliency. We are still learning.

And then, of course, there is all the learning about setting up a business, partnerships, contract law, accounting 101, people management, culture building, what NOT to do, etc.

We have become strategic experts in our client’s industries, encouraging our team to really understand them and know them. Oil and gas, mining, disruptive energy, HVAC, charitable foundations, commercial real estate, tech, robotics, marketing and music, so much music.

We have learned that the human element is the most fulfilling and the most challenging thing in our work, navigating emotion, personalities and life.

We have learned that we are an essential service to all of those whose lives we touch and we will continue to be.

REFLECTIONS MATTER

As e = mc ² events enters into our 20th year, the team and I will be sharing more reflections, learns and numbers of the past 19 years; telling some never-been-heard stories, recognizing all the team members who have helped to build our company and made us who we are, providing some insight into the ups and downs of this crazy journey, and enjoying my walk down memory lane.

As far as I see it, if you can’t dive deep, reflect and tell the truth in COVID times, when can you? Watch our social channels for our webinar series [Conversation Matters].

The last 1.75% of our time has not all been negative. We have challenged ourselves to innovate further and faster than we thought possible, come together stronger as a team and we are still changing lives - one virtual/hybrid and drive thru event at a time. We feel weak at the knees at times, but find strength in our team, our clients, our partners and our families.

I believe that COVID-19 does not define the company we have built and the work we have done. We are looking ahead to the future with a lens of optimism, knowing that there is a lot still in store for us.

“The Experience Matters” and will always matter. Thank you for being a part of our journey.

Jocelyn

#eturnstwenty

#theexperiencematters

Essentially Unlocking the Class of 2020

keri@emc2events.com (Keri Miller) — Thu, 16 Jul 2020 19:29:09 GMT

In June 2020, a community rallied to bring hope, joy and closure to graduates and their families.

As live event designers and producers we relish in celebrating life’s greatest moments, creating memories and changing lives through the work that we love. The key to those moments is human to human connection, inspiring people through multiple mediums and creating emotive experiences that can never be repeated. In most milestone celebrations rituals prevail, blowing out the candles, sharing of rings, crossing the stage, slideshows of human history, and the people that have impacted these lives, all brought together.

As COVID enveloped our lives and cancelled live gatherings and events we felt intense loss, fear and immediately understood that the way we do our business needed to change. Upcoming milestones were canceled or forced to go virtual, the bringing together of people became the one thing the world said was deadly and dangerous. As event professionals we are driven to innovate, to think differently, to advance through crisis and celebrate humanity regardless of the situations thrown at us.

Milestones Matter

My son is part of the Class of 2020, a massive group of youth that have been thrown the biggest curve ball of their lives. Stop, change everything and not only is your future at risk, but your immediate life milestone, one of the most important in life’s transition, has been canceled. Graduating high school is not about the marks, the scores, the school even, it’s about a launch into adulthood, a crossing over from your young self into a new life, a new direction and a big glorious future. There was an instant response form the live events community to want to give them a way to celebrate and for me, I knew that no matter what, my son and his group of friends would have a grad, small or large. He would wear the suit, see his beautiful girlfriend in her formal dress, take pictures, wear the cap and the gown and cross a stage. What that looked like was unknown, but in the end a group of us made it happen. Not just for him but for 1000 Calgary grads over 10 days in June 2020.

I started drawing out on a napkin what I felt a grad could look like if we contained the families in their own units (cars), ensured physical distancing and 'touchless' engagement. I drew options to give them the photos, the moments and the crossing the stage moment that would become their crossing over into a new phase of life. I designed it, timed it and handed it over to our president to see, his son was also graduating. With tenacity and passion he went searching for support from schools, school boards, calling every principle and engaging every student body possible. In the meantime, we started the process of approvals from the multiple levels needed to produce an event of this scale during a pandemic. Four weeks later we were given the go ahead, 15 people total, getting out of cars including all crew, security, volunteers and photographers. We assessed and determined that we could use cars, golf carts and contained units to execute it, always hoping we would reach phase two by opening day.

Community is Everything

Event partners came on, all suffering businesses, willing to invest what they could to ensure we made this happen, in the end, hard costs were covered, no one profited from this, but they were happy to get back to doing what they love.

Community sponsors wanted to help, but they too were unable to provide the funding that we needed. The school boards and faculty could not participate so we used the power of moms and media to get the word out, securing small groups and grads from all over the city, all wanting their moments. A huge team of event professionals came together to rally, to connect parents and grads, to form alliances that the schools would not support. We all came together to divide the intense work over four weeks, creating a brand, website, communications plan, health and safety plan, logistics, site management and also creating a very poignant production and video ceremony.

Honking is the New Applause

What ensued was ten days of moments that we will never forget. Graduates were able to choose to come, to graduate their way, to have a grad like no other. They experienced something they will never forget, secured by a priceless photo of them, in cap and gown, or formal wear, in, on top of, beside and streaming out of their cars, beaming with joy. With them were parents and siblings, dogs and supporters, all proud, crying and incredibly grateful for what we had done. The drive thru and drive in concept was unique, but what resonated more than anything was the spirit and energy felt on the grounds of the parking lot. The human connection, even from two car stalls away, through steel, was earnestly felt and heard through the endless honking and celebrating.

I was lucky enough and honoured to greet each and every car that passed through the event (except my son’s graduation day) congratulating each grad, seeing each proud supporter and telling them they could take their dogs up on stage, they could pop out of their sun roof, and they could have their parents video them from right in front of the stage as they crossed it. My favourite moments were when collectively the hosts, volunteers and crew would form a physically distanced gauntlet and wave good-bye to every car and family as they left. Families blew kisses, thanked us profusely and grads made hearts out of hands and honked until we could hear them no more.

While we went into this thinking that it was our professional responsibility to give the grads their milestone celebration because we felt they needed it, what we came to know and understand is the power of our work, it’s real. We touched lives and in turn we were touched. We all cried and wished we could hug, we were emotionally drained and yet excited for each and every time slot, graduation ceremony and family that came and went.

The Biggest Win!

The words and comments from families have been outstanding and the pride we feel is priceless. We created a physical opportunity for a milestone to happen during this crazy time, but the positive impact on the mental health of young adults, families, our team and partners is being spread throughout our communities, this is our biggest accomplishment. There are no words to describe what happened over the last two weeks of June 2020, but in the words of a parent “It was a gift to our family for our boys to graduate together and truly CELEBRATE their accomplishments. I am floored by the efforts made to create a magical life memory for all of us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart” – A mom.

Celebrating the milestones of life is essential. We as an industry of people that gather humans to educate, celebrate, connect and inspire are essential. The priceless learn from this is that while the world is telling us we can’t gather, we need to and we will, and we can innovate ways to make it happen, even during a pandemic.

It's Time to Head Outside. Patio Season is Here!

Wed, 20 May 2020 21:47:52 GMT

Tip: Don't be afraid to bring the indoors out. Inside pillows and throws are comfy and cozier than most outdoor accessories.

So far, in 2020, whether you live in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or beyond, our winter doldrums may have felt stronger than usual, for obvious reasons. We all need more to look forward to and with warmer weather approaching, many of us are turning our attention to our outdoor spaces and patios. That’s right, patio season (COVID or not) is right around the corner and I couldn’t be more excited about it.

As an event planner and all-around social person, I’m longing to open my front door as wide as possible (I may take it off its hinges for a while) to welcome my friends over for late night patio gatherings full of conversation, too much food and perhaps one too many Negronis (thanks Stanley Tucci for the inspiration). But, until that’s allowed, I’m still going to dust off those patio cushions, spark up the BBQ, hang the patio lanterns and hone my hosting skills in preparation for when our country comes back.

While respecting current social distancing regulations, there’s so much to enjoy in our outdoor spaces. Fresh air, BBQs, flowers blooming, string lights, reading in the sun and our four-legged friends wagging their tails as they run after their favourite toys. Enjoy some quiet time by yourself, or boost your WIFI connection, bring your laptop outside and enjoy a virtual cocktail party or dinner event with your friends and family. Because even though we may not be gathering in person, we are more connected than ever.

Patio Season Tips from Event Management Producer Trevor Howes

As patio season begins, here are some tried, true and new links I turn to for making the most of our outdoor space.

Gardening Tips and Inspiration

Toronto has been unseasonably cold this spring so as we wait patiently for our outdoor spaces to come to life, Garden Answer (Laura LeBoutillier) is an incredible resource full of tips, tricks and inspiration for green space ideas.

Event Planner Tip: To set your patio gardens up for success, make sure to pay attention to your region’s plant hardiness zone and buy plants and flowers accordingly.

Patio Furniture and Accessories

Patio furniture shopping can be overwhelming, but hang in there as you are sure to find something you love from lounge chairs to conversation sets. We splurged a few years ago on some pieces from the online store Article and loved what we got. The quality was excellent and the style range has something to suit everyone. Other online stores to buy outdoor furniture include Hudson’s Bay and Wayfair .

Event Planner Tip: Canadian weather can be harsh. When you’re looking for outdoor furniture, don’t forget to invest in furniture covers (or tarps). Your investment in outdoor furniture will last longer when protected from the elements. Don’t toss your money down the drain and keep those cushions plush and clean!

Food and Beverage

Where to begin!? Those who know me, know I love food. I’ll confess right here, right now, I love my Kraft dinner just as much as Julia Child’s coq au vin. I have a penchant for baking bread and there’s nothing that makes me happier than enjoying a meal with friends and family. In summer, I live for backyard BBQs that go long into the night. Family + friends + cocktails and mocktails + home cooked meals = perfect patio experiences and memories to last a lifetime.

Event Planner Tip : Where to begin? Don’t be precious. Cook what you love to eat and that will shine through. Here are some easy recipes to get you going.

Negroni Recipe

No Knead Focaccia Recipe

Spaghetti al Limon Recipe

Technology

Admittedly, while I’m an event planner whose job it is to stay on top of technology trends, I’m a bit of a luddite. Until recently, I can count the number of online purchases I’ve made using both hands. Like many of us, recently online purchases have spiked out of necessity. One purchase that proves helpful inside and out of the home is a WIFI router.

My partner is a tech wizard and installed the Nest WIFI router in a matter of minutes. Sketchy ZOOM connections be gone! The use of a WIFI router will ensure your WIFI connections are maximized. Perfect to keep your favourite Spotify playlist going strong on your patio as you entertain outdoors.

Reading

Second admission. I am not a reader. I wish I was, but I’m not. However, that makes reading even more enjoyable when I do carve out time to relax, sit down and turn the pages. A couple of weeks ago, yearning for pre-quarantine days and feeling super nostalgic, I randomly connected with some high school friends via Instagram.

Remembering an outdoor patio book club dinner-party we had together in Vancouver circa 2002 (we discussed Nick Hornby’s About a Boy) I thought it would be fun to recreate that experience. I’m happy to say, I’ll be hosting a virtual book club patio party from Toronto at the end of May (my friends joining in from Vancouver and Ottawa). Our selection of choice (endorsed by Reese’s Book Club #readwithreese) is “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens . And you better believe, there’ll be a Negroni or two enjoyed while we review the book and reminisce of days gone by.

Wishing you all a happy, healthy and safe patio season.

We can't wait to see you at one of our event management experiences soon!

Welcome Back to *SPARK

Wed, 20 May 2020 21:14:21 GMT

We are back and ready to share...

The SPARK is what "e" is all about. It's our team, our clients, our partners and it's what drives our business. We are officially welcoming back SPARK where we will share the stories that excite and inspire us. We'll share some of the work we've done, the work we look forward to and some of the things that just simply make us happy. Stay tuned, visit often and we hope you enjoy the stories we share...

Energy Disruptors 2018

accounts@cc94.com (Conscious Commerce) — Wed, 18 Jul 2018 18:49:00 GMT

"I was blown away by the 'eclectic' mix of speakers expertly hosted by the tour de force of Holly Ransom, the almost unbelievably cool main venue and the subject matter discussed and debated" - Jim Kelsall, Attendee

Energy Disruptors Unite #ED2018

1500 TRAILBLAZERS 1 COLLISION HUB 3 TEETER TOTTERS

THE EXPERIENCE

Energy Disruptors Unite had a bold ambition for its first year: to accelerate pragmatic and profitable solutions to the world’s biggest energy challenges by igniting a global movement of game-changing energy technologies.

Over 1500 participants including over 200 VIPs united at The Big Four on Stampede Park to rally together to ignite a global movement.

Held over two days and touted as the most “unexpected conference ever” by attendees and sponsors alike Energy Disruptors Unite 2018 took over Twitter nationally on it’s first day. This collaborative movement founded by three risk taking instigators included a curated line up of main stage speakers and panels, combined with disruptive conversations in breakouts and a energized networking space. The content proved heady for those in attendance with one blogger stating that he felt “wired and exhausted” after it was over. Featured speakers included Sir Richard Branson, Michael Liebreich, Susan Cain, Roz Savage and many more with the main stage hosted and moderated by the magnetic Holly Ransom. A disruptive, analog stage design was reflected in massive spheres and a custom soundtrack, curated scents and expert programming created an experience like no other.

A creative networking “Collision Hub” hosted guests to innovative and strategically designed sponsor activations. Designed to showcase sponsors particpation in the energy movement our team engaged with brands to customize how attendees would act and interact in their space – gone were the “booths” of traditional exhibitions!

Utility Sponsor Enmax wanted to be seen as a consistent and trusted partner in energy, a friendly face amongst the disruption. We created a space of play and comfort, a lounge where guests could recharge their technoloy while recharging themselves. Charging stations, a hammock hub, spa water and energy balls drew guests to interact within the brand.

EY desired to showcase their innovations while providing a space where one could cancel out the noise and discomfort of some of the content in a safe environment. Our team designed a space where guests used noise canceling headphones and relaxed and rested in bean bags and airfilled lounges, looking up and enjoying the main stage content in the safety of a “hug”. The centre was filled with candy and demos of the brands innovations.

Attendees used their own energy to teeter and rock while being recharged and stimulated by Tesla, IBM, Shell, Enmax, EY and The Calgary Chamber. Innovation and technology joined forces alongside comfort providing guests at #edu2018 an experience that mattered, to them.

Whizbang: Our featured entrance wall was a hit during the event. A shareable, digital experience that was only made better by the brilliant addition of the fully autonomous Roborace car.

Fascinating Lady

accounts@cc94.com (Conscious Commerce) — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 22:19:00 GMT

"Steadfast, Strategic and Sharp. She took her time building a foundation upon which she would create a rock solid business

Wellness with “e” – Mental Health

accounts@cc94.com (Conscious Commerce) — Thu, 01 Dec 2016 00:09:00 GMT

It is well known that the role of an event and meeting professional can be stressful, especially during busy business and personal times like the holidays.

Keri Miller – Event Professional of the Year!

accounts@cc94.com (Conscious Commerce) — Sun, 03 Aug 2014 18:00:00 GMT

Toronto, ON - Keri Miller, Partner and Creative Director at e=mc² events, won the 2014 Event Professional of the Year, the highest personal recognition possible in the Canadian Event Industry. The award was presented on March 27th at the National Star Awards Gala, organized by Canadian Special Events Magazine.