Kyle Hillman, CMM

#Eventprofs, Wearer of All Hats, Speaker, Fire Starter, Advocate, Paradigm Hater, Assn. Event Manager,

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

I thought I was successfully stepping away from event planning, but they’re dragging me back in so who are the young leaders on creative education formats and please do not recommend somebody that was popular 10 years ago. #eventprofs

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

My favorite thing overheard at the ASAE Annual Meeting just now: “we have the Cadillac of lanyards.”

Get deal done sales rep.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

So cue the setting up the auto forward to a folder rule for #ASAE26 vendor solicitations. If you have something genuinely new in tech - hit me up here. I will check it out - but no way am I reading these emails. #eventech #eventprofs #associations

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@tojulius How can you book a conference here if you think you might have issues coming in?

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

If you have a US event that relies on international travelers... I feel for you right now.

[Julius Solaris @tojulius]

Las Vegas lost two events accounting for almost 40k visitors in February.

Convention traffic down almost 20%

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@tojulius Seeing room block outpace registrations… which is troublesome to me. No real outlay with reservation and we are all used to canceling rooms. Hesitation to register.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@tojulius And because it makes sense I suspect they’ll close it, leaving us all to scramble again to find an alternative to CVent. I I still miss Regonline and Attendify

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@tojulius I still like Zoom events. It’s not great but for the cost honestly it’s a good enough shell which is really what most of these are anyway. Most people already have Zoom accounts and are familiar with navigating Zoom. It honestly just makes sense.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

I am likely moving to Blue Sky - if you DM and I don't respond, it is likely because I am not here. Likely.

[Julius Solaris @tojulius]

I spoke to an expert in tech pricing.

They told me how technology companies in the event industry purposely leave out the most needed features to inflate pricing.

Blaming it to 'complexity' to boost sales.

Then it all turns out into 'let us help you reduce stress' marketing.

That approach is systematic in many other supplier areas where unfair competition, price gauging, multi-year contracts are erased by macarons and double decker booths at trade shows.

You care for the industry and planners, show it! Especially during the most infaltionary years in decades.

Here is what planners want:

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

In-person events for a virtual platform was always interesting to me.

[Julius Solaris @tojulius]

Interesting move:
Zoomtopia in-person is invite only this year.

You can’t purchase a ticket.

You can only follow the event online on Zoom Events.

Very interesting move.

I remember Zoomtopia ‘22 with booths, Cvent partnership and Timbaland.

[Julius Solaris @tojulius]

The problem with many eventtech company is that they raise $10/15M and instead of spending on the product, they prefer to waste them on clueless sales people who send random messages and leave voicemails to lists acquired on the internet.

No marketing, no relationships, no strategy.

Just an urge to drive revenue.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@maddenifico Look, burn what you want - but it is wild to me to buy a Trump flag (supporting his pocket) to burn it.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@agfinn This: “And by demos, I mean give people a chance to use your software, hands-on, and ask your engineers the hard questions”

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

5.) I went to a Hyatt evening reception, and a salesperson from another chain cornered me and kept talking about their property, which was not a Hyatt property. Maybe it was a normal practice, but it felt icky. Don't do that.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

A few observations from the ASAE show floor.

1.) knd of surprised when I asked twice - can I see the software solution in action - and they say not at the show, but we can set up a time later. That's likely not to happen. Work is going to take over, and I am here and present.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

I found one vendor I was ready to sign up for. He was like “I will follow up later” and off I went to view other products that compete against his. If you are paying for a booth, be prepared to do deals.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@DailyDOOH No. It is that we are training vendors wrong? Are they sending the wrong people? It is not everyone mind you..but it is more than I would expect.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@tojulius Weirdest sales strategy. Imagine walking into a car dealership. Saying I want to buy that red car and sales saying, let me scan you, and I will call you next week on the phone to get it done.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@tojulius Julius, I literally grilled this guy for 15 minutes - then said, " Let's do it - a 3 month contract and evaluate (he does monthly agreements), and he said I have scanned you and I will follow-up. My jaw dropped.

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@agfinn I have no idea - I don't even like demos - the first time I ever asked for one because I was genuinely curious. I was told to schedule appointment later.. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[Kyle Hillman, CMM @HillmanEvents]

@atnguyen Facts