This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip spotlight's planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world.
Name: Andrew Roby
Company Name: Andrew Roby Events
Job Title: Event Producer and Storyteller
Years of Experience: 16
How do you think you are positioned, after months of persevering with the pandemic, to take advantage of our new and disrupted meetings/events landscape?
If I'm honest, it's tough. I've never seen so much change happening in the event industry than I do right now. Spending time debating if in-person is better than virtual or what is better than hybrid has been the conversation with each of my clients. It's rocky and risky each time we produce an event because of the pandemic, but with that comes a lot of experience that makes the next event safer and more exciting. No matter what we do, I believe that our experience has got us this far and will certainly get us past today's meeting/events landscape.
As our community moves forward with planning in person meetings, what new technologies or processes are you implementing that you may have not looked at before?
When it comes to event tech, the metaverse and NFT landscape has my full attention. I'm no longer worried about CRMs or a virtual event platform or how to create the next TikTok video. I want to know how the metaverse will extend audience engagement virtually and in person and how non-profits and other organizations can use an NFT to help raise resources for their causes. When it comes to processes, I will say we are slowing down to speed up. We are reducing the amount of clients we take on to avoid going back to pre-pandemic work habits that was toxic in the first place. Over the past 2 years I have cherished not working a lot. I know many may not say the same. I just want to spend more time with friends and family than I do every Saturday with a client on my feet working.
As we see virtual meetings transition back to face to face, hybrid meetings are beginning to be the vehicle to return to normalcy. What are your thoughts on hybrid meetings versus traditional fully in person meetings?
I see the benefit of a hybrid event and really wish more people took advantage of this. I think many event professionals are making it a virtual or in-person and not believing that hybrid is a real valuable option. What I also fear is so many people just don't know or want to know how to effectively do a hybrid event which goes to my first point. For me, if I can do hybrid, I'm going to do it and allow my client to reach a larger audience and I hope many consider this as well.
In your opinion, what do you think the biggest value for your attendees is in regards to returning to live events?
Human connection with complete strangers and old friends is a very real thing. You cannot have the same energy level online than in a room full of people who are hyped and listening to an amazing Keynote. Nor can you network your butt off as if you own the room when you are virtual. Seeing a smile, getting a hug, the emotions, the synergy, all of these things are reasons why in-person will always rule, respectfully.
As the pandemic fades away and we return to face-to-face events what do you hope changes, either for planners or hoteliers, in the traditional RFP and proposal process as a result of all of the learnings from the last 20+ months?
The one thing I want to see changed is the ability for us all to work together regardless of the color of our skin or anything else. We all have the ability to keep the doors open for another event professional through a referral or bringing them onto an existing event. When we get a RFP, really consider giving your clients a diverse team that helps to elevate the client and guest experience. By now we all should know how resilient we all are.
This post is part of the HopSkip Planner Spotlight Series where HopSkip spotlight's planners across the industry to bring awareness of how they adapted to COVID-19, communicating and lessons learned and sharing how they are viewing the meetings and events industry in a post-pandemic world.