In episode 32 of their insightful podcast series, Jon Harris and Marisa Cali delve into "Mastering Audience Engagement and Focus." As they tackle this pertinent topic, the hosts divide their discussion into three distinct sections: Planning, Day Of, and Review. This episode is a treasure trove for event planners seeking to enhance audience engagement through strategic content alignment, innovative session formats, and meticulous post-event analyses.During the planning phase, Jon and Marisa emphasize the importance of tailoring content to match the audience's current interests. Marisa shares insights from Event Professor's Vision, highlighting the value of asking attendees what they want the event to cover. Jon discusses different session formats and the need for flexibility in response to audience engagement metrics. Their conversation underscores the significance of ongoing audience involvement and the dynamic planning process to ensure the event content stays relevant and compelling.On the day of the event, they stress the necessity of being prepared for anything, including having a versatile MC and planning multiple activities to fill any sudden gaps. Jon speaks highly of having a talented MC, while Marisa describes the effectiveness of voiceovers in maintaining the schedule. The episode concludes with a focus on review processes, urging listeners to go beyond traditional surveys and embrace real-time feedback and detailed team debriefs. They both advocate for structuring feedback collection well in advance to enrich future events' planning and execution.Key Takeaways:*Tailored Content: Ensure the event content aligns with what the audience currently finds valuable by conducting pre-event surveys or polls.*Flexible Planning: Incorporate different session formats and maintain a dynamic planning approach to keep the content fresh and engaging.*Effective Day-Of Management: Have a skilled MC ready to manage any unexpected issues and plan multiple activities to ensure seamless transitions.*Real-Time Feedback: Gather qualitative feedback during and immediately after the event to gain honest insights and improve future planning.
