Live from Go West Live in Edmonton, this episode of Events: Demystified unpacks what happens when an industry event is designed with intention instead of habit.

Joined by Arthur Kerekes and Evan Babins, we break down:

• Why this 600-person conference felt more alive than many large-scale industry shows

• The RFP compensation problem and the creative labor conversation no one wants to have

• How thoughtful programming eliminates attendee burnout

• What makes a trade show floor feel like a retail experience instead of a fluorescent maze

• Why people, not production budgets, ultimately define event success

We also explore how schedule design, entertainment integration, food experience, and speaker selection can shift an event from transactional to meaningful.

If you plan events, speak at events, sponsor events, or attend them, this conversation will challenge how you think about experience design, energy management, and where the industry should go next.

Recorded live at Go West Live.

Real reactions. Real noise. Real insights.

00:00 Live from Go West Live: Why This Conference Feels Different01:47 Meet the Guests: Arthur’s AI Activations & First-Time Go West Impressions03:04 Evan’s Speaker Lineup + Arthur’s Interactive Game Show Reveal05:46 Industry ‘Dirty Secrets’: RFPs, Creative Work & Fair Compensation08:19 What Go West Gets Right: Fresh Speakers, Short Keynotes & Smart Agenda Design09:47 No Competing Sessions (Mostly): Programming Wins + Tech to Beat Breakout FOMO12:22 Networking Across Canada: New Connections, Canadian Hospitality & Value14:34 The Vibe Factor: Food Everywhere and a Retail-Style Trade Show Floor16:21 AV Production That Actually Delivers (No Extra Gear Needed)17:31 Design + Trade Show Energy Spills Into Social Events17:55 Instagrammable Activations & Surprisingly Great Food19:15 Small-Conference Feel: Community, Care, and Real Connections20:32 Entertainment That Feels Intentional (Not Slapped On)22:10 Sustainability-Focused Venue & Navigating the Multi-Level Layout23:51 Wrap-Up Hot Takes: Trade Show Vibe, People, and Wellness-Friendly Scheduling28:39 What Could Improve: Speaker App Tools, Rotating Cities, and US Marketing32:19 Where to Connect + Final Thanks and Sign-Off

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👉 Episode Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eventsdemystified.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share! Your support helps us continue to deliver insightful and engaging content like this.

Sponsored and Produced by Tree-Fan Events Production LLC.

Let's change the way we plan, produce, and experience events together!

Connect with your Podcast Host at the links below:

Book Anca to Speak at Your Event: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ancaplatontrifan.me/booking-page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ancatrifan/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anca.platon.trifan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eventsdemystifiedpodcast/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Original Podcast Music written and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fable Score Music. ⁠⁠

⁠⁠“Events: demystified” Podcast ⁠⁠is brought to you by ⁠⁠Tree-Fan Events⁠⁠, a leading woman-owned boutique event planning and production agency offering a comprehensive approach to event management and production, with a focus on enhancing the attendee experience with the #FIT4EVENTS™ framework for a holistic event cycle in order to create memorable events.

👉 Leave us a comment about how you think AV and AI will shape the future of events, and share this episode with others in the industry!

This episode of the Events Demystified podcast features Chris Carver, CEO of Sessionboard, and explores the significant shift in the event industry from AI or hybrid focuses towards trusted, author-based content and its role in bridging events, marketing, and revenue. Chris Carver shares his journey through various facets of the industry, his experiences with hypergrowth, and his immense contribution to redefining how content drives event growth. Learn about his ethos on hyperfocus, transparency, and honesty, and gain insights into the new age of event marketing, where content is king. If you are an event marketer or leader, this episode is packed with valuable lessons and future-forward strategies.

👉 Like and share this video to spread the knowledge.

👉 Episode Notes: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://eventsdemystified.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉 Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share! Your support helps us continue to deliver insightful and engaging content like this.

Sponsored and Produced by Tree-Fan Events Production LLC.

Let's change the way we plan, produce, and experience events together!

Connect with your Podcast Host at the links below:

Book Anca to Speak at Your Event: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://ancaplatontrifan.me/booking-page/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ancatrifan/⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/anca.platon.trifan/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eventsdemystifiedpodcast/

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Original Podcast Music written and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fable Score Music. ⁠⁠

⁠⁠“Events: demystified” Podcast ⁠⁠is brought to you by ⁠⁠Tree-Fan Events⁠⁠, a leading woman-owned boutique event planning and production agency offering a comprehensive approach to event management and production, with a focus on enhancing the attendee experience with the #FIT4EVENTS™ framework for a holistic event cycle in order to create memorable events.

👉 Leave us a comment about how you think AV and AI will shape the future of events, and share this episode with others in the industry!

This is Built From Within. In this episode of Events Demystified Podcast, Anca Platon Trifan recounts her recent experience at the Rainfocus conference in Salt Lake City.

// Please Follow & Subscribe for more episodes exploring performance, leadership, resilience, AI, and the inner work behind sustainable success.

Initially recounting a panic moment of losing her DJI video recorder at the Hyatt Regency, she delves into the deeper insights she gained from the event. Highlights include discussions on AI integration in the event industry, the evolving nature of AI from exploration to operational necessity, and the duality of advanced technology and basic human kindness. Trifan emphasizes the importance of fitness and mental health for event professionals, and discusses her upcoming talks and workshops, particularly focusing on the lessons she's learned from her experiences. Tune into this brand new conversation on the Events Demystified Podcast!

00:00 The Stomach-Dropping Moment

01:09 The Missing Gear Panic

03:13 Introduction to the Episode

04:22 Event Industry Insights from Rainfocus

06:21 The Human Element in Events

09:37 AI and Event Technology Evolution

18:48 The Importance of Physical Fitness

27:29 Upcoming Events and Final Thoughts

👉 Like and share this video to spread the knowledge.

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Subscribe for more episodes exploring performance, leadership, resilience, AI, and the inner work behind sustainable success.

👉 Episode Notes: https://eventsdemystified.com/

👉 Don't forget to subscribe, like, and share! Your support helps us continue to deliver insightful and engaging content like this.

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Sponsored and Produced by Tree-Fan Events Production LLC.Discover the future of events: https://ancaplatontrifan.me/booking-page/Let's change the way we plan, produce, and experience events together!

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Connect with your Podcast Host at the links below:Book Anca to Speak at Your Event: https://ancaplatontrifan.me/booking-page/LinkedIn: ⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ancatrifan/⁠⁠⁠Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/anca.platon.trifan/Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/eventsdemystifiedpodcast/

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Original Podcast Music written and produced by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Fable Score Music. ⁠⁠

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“Events: demystified” Podcast ⁠⁠is brought to you by ⁠⁠Tree-Fan Events⁠⁠, a leading woman-owned boutique event planning and production agency offering a comprehensive approach to event management and production, with a focus on enhancing the attendee experience with the #FIT4EVENTS™ framework for a holistic event cycle in order to create memorable events.