Jun 18 2020
EY 11 BIRDS OF A FEATHER with Michelle Newbon
A first-ever, on Episode 11, Michelle Newbon debuts her playful, industry-related poetry! Michelle and I talk about the inspiration of her poetry, and about the state of the events industry in general. We also yak about the value of having a Content Manager on your next show, the importance of processes and managing content, the key attribute successful Content Managers must posses, Yea or Nay on Google Docs, and, oh yeah, did I mention some groovy poetry! Michelle Newbon LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellenewbon/ Email: michelle@mnewbon.com Website: http://mnewbon.com/contact.html Terri Walters: Twitter: @TerriLWalters - https://twitter.com/TerriLWalters LinkedIn: @TerriLWalters - https://www.linkedin.com/in/terrilwalters/ Email: Terri@MoonfishProduction.com Event Yak: Website: https://www.eventyak.com/podcast Facebook: @TheEventYak - https://www.facebook.com/TheEventYak/ Email: terri@eventyak.com Moonfish Production, Ltd.: Website: www.moonfishproduction.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/moonfish-production-ltd-/ Facebook: @MoonfishCreative - https://www.facebook.com/MoonfishCreative/ Email: info@MoonfishProduction.com Episode 11 By the Numbers: 00:00 | Terri Walters Meet, Michelle Newbon: Events Industry Content Manager, Poet. 03:11 | Michelle Newbon Musings from an unemployed Lives Events Producer. “Production Blues” by Michelle Newbon. 04:55 | Michelle Newbon Event Poetry? Here’s what I know. 08:58 | Michelle Newbon On what individuals in the Events Industry are doing to adapt to this unprecedented disruption in the Events Industry. Will it ever be the same? 14:33 | Terri Walters / Michelle Newbon Talking content! “Content Ditty” by Michelle Newbon. 17:04 | Michelle Newbon The mechanics and evolution of Event Content Management. 24:18 | Michelle Newbon Google Docs? The pros and cons of events tools & technology – establishing how the team works best. 29:18 | Michelle Newbon The key to being a great Events Content Manager… and my best single piece of advice! 37:09 | Michelle Newbon Loving the Industry. “Flying High” by Michelle Newbon. 39:01 | Terri Walters / Michelle Newbon Where is the Events Industry going from here? 45:59 | Michelle Newbon “Looking Ahead” by Michelle Newbon. All poetry, printed with permission, by, Michelle Newbon From: Musings from an unemployed live events producer... Production Blues Screeching to a halt with the sound of big thunder. We’re all wondering… how do we not go under? At first, they were saying maybe by summer? Consensus now is 18 months, Dang, what a bummer. This whole thing is seriously $%^#’d. 6 feet apart onsite Yeah right … and good luck. I go on Linked In ‘cause I know that I should, perusing it all, until I don’t feel good. There are all these things that I’m supposed to do… programs as acronyms to brighten the view. The PPP and the EIDL. the SBA and oh what the hell! I applied and submitted and am standing by, but have no idea if I should rejoice or just cry. I make a checklist at the start of each day to make me think that I’m well under way… But then I’m all done and it’s eight-thirty-two, no emails to answer, and nothing to do. There are webinars and zoom calls with industry experts! I can learn all day long But why does my brain hurt? I’ll try not to think about it. until this thing passes. I’ll work on my hobbies, but I feel like molasses. Just get ahold of yourself, it’s a brand-new day! Drink your half capp, It’ll all be ok! But why do I feel that I’m so under gunned? Cuz it’s a global pandemic and this ‘aint no fun. It’s been my way to end on a good note but all I can say is that’s all she wrote! Content Ditty The world of live events is its own kind of beast. A ubiquitous allure, Sucks you in to say the least. Now add in the Content and consequences rise. You think you got this thing? Success or just demise. No one wants to do it way too many details. At first it seems so easy, and then it’s off the rails. With themes and creative, Writers and graphics Strategizing nightly, Its mental gymnastics. Too many files with all the wrong names Drowning in word docs They all look the same. What do we name it? And where does it go? Email it or post it? No one seems to know. Put it on Drop Box Someone made some folders Stick in the root, look for one called “older”. Pre-pro’s gaining steam as we lay down all the tracks, gonna’ do this thing Vegas and we won’t be looking back. Check in and set-up and see what’s transpired is my inbox intact or is it on fire? Then there are rehearsals and all that that entails… go grab all the files you don’t want to fail. “That’s the wrong version! We wrote it last week!” The tension’s so strong You’re all up a creek. But prompter is on it and graphics is too. Its correct after all… The production team knew. The talent is late and catering’s a mess the PA’s stuck in traffic, but now I digress… The CEO is here with a brand-new script She says no to full-frame Only wants to PIP. “And oh by the way, …in the DSMs Current and next please and some green M & M’s.” “My slides are in progress … 4:3 on white …with a few animations Just to give it a bite.” “Oh and one more thing if I do recall… there might be 2 demos or likely none at all.” And so it goes… Kindling to flames, Heads are gonna roll, And someone’s taking names. But no matter what We all do take our cue. The show it turns out flawless Thanks to the entire crew. Flying High I have no regrets about wondering if… I appreciated enough what’s gone over the cliff. I always knew how special it was to be part of it all… the production team buzz. How we’d come together and put on a show. We’d build that car as it drove down the road. The stress of it all has always been rife, but I never imagined not wanting this life. The rewards run deep because of us all… heeding the siren and answering the call. The friendships we’ve made are like family indeed The alchemy onsite forging our creed. To sit here now knowing what will not be is to experience grief and melancholy. We all understand that virtual is the way But we’ll never forget what we had in the day. You can’t get there from here without being together We all know that, we are birds of a feather. Looking Ahead Stopped in time and standing still. Seeking the view that’s over the hill. It’s not written and we don’t know, what’s ahead and how to go. “The show must go on” has always been the way. We won’t go down. We’ll have our day. We’ve been working since this whole thing to carve a new path and make it sing. It’s hard to see through the clouds right now But I’ll be damned If we can’t figure out how. Suffice to say We’re a hardy lot. We don’t give up, and we give all we’ve got. It’s a big F-U to what’s gone down but we’ll ride that emotion to bring it around. And I guarantee and pinky swear that the show’ll go on, that’s a truth … and a dare.
