Ethan West, Marketing Communication Intern at pc/nametag, sits down with Kyler Donovan, General Manager of Forward Madison FC, to chat about all things soccer, community, and behind‑the‑scenes magic of sports fan engagement! ⚽🥅

Kyler shares:

• How the club keeps sports fans engaged beyond the pitch
• How to seamlessly integrate event sponsors without disruption
• How intricate operations that make gamedays run smoothly.

Plus, we tackle some fun questions about what makes Breese Stevens Field such a special place for both players and fans! 🥇 Whether you’re a sports events enthusiast, a supporter of Forward Madison, or just curious about how the matchday experience comes together, this episode is packed with insights, stories, and laughs.

TIMESTAMPS

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00:00 - Introduction

01:25 - What’s special about Breese Stevens Field?

03:08 - Gameday operations

07:02 - Engaging fans before, during, and after the game

08:37 - Seamless sponsorship engagement

10:30 - Pivoting to accommodate variability

13:42 - Tying merchandising into event engagement

17:00 - Engaging college students in Madison

18:04 - Insight from a successful example

22:23 - Breaking into sports event management

24:55 - Emerging trends in the sports event industry

27:59 - Habits for planning a sports event

29:54 - Go-to snack and drink for Breese Stevens Field

31:21 - Kyler’s dream headliner at Breese Stevens Field

32:38 - Connect with Kyler!

🎤 CONNECT WITH KYLER DONOVAN: kyler@forwardmadisonfc.com

Transform your event's audience from "quiet" to captivated! This week, Meaghan chats with Roger Wolkoff, "The Guy with the Voice," and a professional emcee with 20+ years of experience. Roger shares his top secrets for creating an engaging atmosphere, from effectively warming up a crowd to expertly handling unexpected "uh oh" moments. Tune in for valuable insights on audience interaction, crisis management, and all the insider tips you need to make your next event a blast!

TIMESTAMPS

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00:00 - Let's Get Started

01:02 - Welcome, Roger Wolkoff!

04:04 - Find Your Strengths with Personality Assessments

06:59 - Roger's Involvement with National Speakers Association

09:00 - Gaining Experience as an Emcee

11:14 - What is an emcee?

15:05 - Top qualities of great emcees

19:10 - How to "read" the audience

21:08 - Excite and engage your audience

25:03 - Pre- and post-meetings with planners

28:54 - Roger's favorite event he's emceed

30:30 - Pre-show rituals to get amped up!

31:34 - Handling "UH OH" event moments

34:20 - A hilarious event story

35:59 - Favorite part of emceeing

37:02 - Difficult parts of being an emcee 3

8:22 - Surprising parts of being an emcee

39:42 - Tips for bringing excitement to events

40:42 - Connect with and hire Roger!

41:28 - Join your local National Speakers Association chapter

📖 FREE FOR LISTENERS: "Leveraging an Emcee for Event Success: A Guide for Event Planners." Get yours by sending an email to eventconnection@pcnametag.com and asking for your copy!

What can all event planners learn from fan conventions? More than you might think! In this episode, we're talking to the Convention Chairperson for Anime Milwaukee to get the inside scoop on the chaos and fun behind planning a 3-day event for 18,000 attendees.

TIMESTAMPS

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00:00 - Meet Kris Lugo - Convention Chairperson for Anime Milwaukee (AMKE)

03:27 - Kris's personal history with convention and event planning

06:18 - All about AMKE: the history and financial impact

10:11 - The secret to facilitating activities for all personality types

14:35 - How AMKE manages 24-hour programming for attendees

16:52 - Annual themes and how they can excite attendees and vendors

20:38 - Ideas for staying in front of your audience year round

25:56 - How corporate events can use con-like strategies to excite attendees

28:02 - Long live the Polkalator!

32:53 - How badge ribbons can engage attendees and vendors

37:14 - Creating and managing strong relationships with sponsors

39:56 - The pressure of creating a "bigger and better" event each year

42:29 - Words of advice for anyone interested in planning conventions

47:07 - Wrap-up and what's next for AMKE?

Subscribe, and connect with pc/nametag! 🎉 Get in touch by emailing us at eventconnection@pcnametag.com!