All Access: Event Planning

Some events require imaginative thinking on how to cover them.

goto cuetime.io for more info on what he does

Eyal Simko is a Los Angeles-based entrepreneur, event producer, and creative director with decades of experience in live entertainment and event production. He began DJing at age 16 and eventually built his passion for events into One Up Entertainment/The One Up Group, producing corporate events, private celebrations, audiovisual productions, and large-scale experiences. More recently, Simko founded CueTime, a technology company developing timing and confidence-monitor tools for live events, broadcasts, and professional AV environments. His background combines event production, technology, creative direction, and entrepreneurship. We are talking about his new stage monitoring product! Cuetime.io

Nelson Brooks is an entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of Cabana Boys Events, a hospitality and event-services company specializing in high-energy party hosts and bartenders for private events. Brooks launched the business in Arizona in 2020, reportedly starting with only about $200, and expanded it into a multi-brand operation serving numerous U.S. markets. Brooks gained national attention when he appeared on ABC's Shark Tank Season 17 in January 2026. He entered the Tank seeking $225,000 for 10% of Cabana Boys Events and ultimately struck a deal with guest Shark Kendra Scott for $225,000 for 32% equity. Today, Brooks continues to operate and expand his hospitality businesses...

AND how it will affect the event planning industry!

it is in a Destination area? What attractions are nearby your event? This can help your event!

3 Quick Tips for Hosting a Successful Small Brunch is the subject. Hosted by James Lott Jr

Make sure links to a website are working. Links to tickets. Website info needs to be correct.

Yes you can get a degree or certifcation in Event Management. James explains!

Make sure you are providing good service for any questions and/or problems that come up pre, during, and post an event.

The flow of the event. James Lott Jr explains in detail!

10 Don’ts When Planning a Dinner Party (6-8 people) adn what do instead is included! Listen!

Edward Perotti is an internationally recognized event designer, television personality, author, and public speaker known for creating large-scale luxury events and immersive experiences around the world. He is the principal of EP Events & Experiences, a company specializing in high-end corporate events, social galas, destination weddings, and large public productions. Perotti has more than 30 years of experience in the meetings, events, travel, and hospitality industries, producing events that range from intimate gatherings to conferences and celebrations for 10 to 15,000 attendees. His work spans corporate incentives, Hollywood premieres, luxury weddings, and international destination events. Perotti began his career in hospitality as a hotel...

It's important that your flyers and marketing is easy to read. We talk fonts, font sizes and text.

Steve and James explore the ways you can get big brand marketing but on a smaller size budget. And they inadvertenly come up with a fun campaign for a brand. Steve TUrner's book PR That Works is out now and everywhere!

JLJ shares his best tips for setting up conferences, events.

Pre, during and post conference/show/event NEEDS to have good customer service. A clear line to help their clients/customers/attendees.

What to do when you have a speaker, for your event,  that might not translate to mixed audiences or speaks in highly stylized or academic terms.

Steve Turner has an excellent book out! James has a great convo with him. He is a Rockstar Publicist and Author of PR THAT WORKS-Real Strategies. Real Campaigns. Real Results at Amazon. Award-winning PR for B2B, tech, autos, and authors. St. Louis-based, clients nationwide. Top-tier results.
https://solomonturner.com 314-205-0800

When and what time should you offere dinner at an event? What is okay as a cocktail hour? What do people expect at 5pm vs 7pm? Take a listen.

Meaning anyone involved in the actual event: performers, speakers, models, etc. Make them promote too!

Ritesh Patel is a tech entrepreneur, event industry innovator, and co-founder and CEO of The Ticket Fairy, a next-generation ticketing and live-event platform designed to help promoters, venues, and event organizers sell tickets, grow revenue, and fight scalping using marketing automation, analytics, and AI-native tools. Before launching Ticket Fairy, Ritesh built a deep background in both technology and live entertainment — from coding software as a young technologist to producing and promoting hundreds of shows and founding the global LOCUS festival brand with events in Mexico and Bali. Under his leadership, Ticket Fairy has become a global platform supporting tens of thou...

Getting a fresh pair of eyes to look at something to finding the right co producer for events are key!

Many event spaces, hotels, banquet halls, and conference centers offer packages where a certain number of plates/meals are included at no additional charge. This isn’t random — it’s a strategic part of how catering and event pricing works. James Lott Jr explains!

When hosting conferences, luncheons, breakfasts, or dinners, the goal is always the same: serve large groups quickly, smoothly, and without stress. A two-sided buffet station is one of the most efficient and guest-friendly solutions. James Lott Jr explains why!

What you should know about sending materials to an event!

Communication and customer service are important while working with your Event attendees but also with your event vendors, speakers and performers. James Lott Jr gives an example.

James talks about how to handle all of your speakers/teachers/instructors for your event. From first ask to Pre Conference.

James explains what Force Majeure is, what "acts of god" are and how important it is to have in a contract!

JLJ talks about delegating responsibilities!

Be prepared ofr anything before the event! James Lott Jr explains!

Correct signage and correct placement of signs are an important part of an event.

James shares the do's and don'ts of flyer creation for events.

James and Jakob talk about the beginnings of this event business with the hottest spport out there! 
Jakob co-founded Pickleball Pop-Ups, the worlds first pickleball-as-a-service company, in 2023 with Adam Clay. Within 12 months, we became the USA’s #1 provider for “pop-up” pickleball activations at conferences, corporate events and festivals. 
In July 2024, they opened Pickleball 901 in Collierville TN. In just 14 days, they flipped an old Bed Bath and Beyond into a “pop up club” that has quickly become the preferred pickleball facility for thousands of players in the mid-south. 
Based in Memphis, TN.

James Lott Jr chats with one of the guys who came up with a fundraising system aimed to help schools, churches, non profits Fundraise.For more info togo Schoolauction.net

YES, another slight name change and a slightly new focus to this podcast!