Julia Phillips, Potting Shed Events

Julia Phillips has founded and sold one successful events agency and now she's on her second, Potting Shed Events. In this first episode of Season 2 of Event's Dear Boy!, the business events podcast, she tells us about the secrets of her success. What does she love about events? And what does she put off? What have been her most successful events, and have there been any disasters?

Julia discusses the types of events her company specializes in, the importance of staying in your lane and excelling in what you do, and the challenges of managing client expectations. Julia also talks about the role of speakers in events and shares tips for speakers to engage and connect with the audience. She emphasizes the importance of caring about the outcome of the event and focusing on the experience of individual attendees.

Takeaways

• Focus on excelling in your area of expertise and staying in your lane

• Care about the outcome of the event and prioritize the experience of individual attendees

• Speakers should be relevant, concise, and leave space for questions

• Engage with the audience during breaks and networking opportunities

• Share knowledge and collaborate with others in the event industry

Sound Bites

"I love seeing a programme come together, of seeing an event go really, really well, of seeing an audience engaged, of seeing guests really enthused and motivated."

"My only interest is making sure the event goes well. My secondary interest is making sure the event goes so well that you never ever want to change event agencies and you want to stay with us forever."

"We can adapt without the client being aware that we're adapting. We can adapt to really make the most of the space that we have available."

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Overview

02:13 Julia's Role and Experience in the Events Industry

03:33 Types of Events and Specialization

04:09 Working with Different Industries and Being a Generalist

05:15 Julia's Love for Seeing Events Succeed

07:29 Challenges and Frustrations in Event Organizing

08:36 Balancing Content and Breaks in Events

09:38 Finishing Off Bits and Challenges of Quiet Peak Times

11:06 Creativity and Game Design in Events

14:18 Proud Moments and Event Disasters

20:05 Tips for Speakers at Events

21:52 Tips for Event Organizers

24:33 Sharing and Collaborating in the Event Industry

26:41 Wrap-up and Conclusion