--- title: "Thursday Buzz: Decoding Experiential Events" id: "39798" type: "post" slug: "thursday-buzz-decoding-experiential-events" published_at: "2017-09-21T21:11:11+00:00" modified_at: "2026-03-16T20:23:43+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/09/21/thursday-buzz-decoding-experiential-events/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2017/09/21/thursday-buzz-decoding-experiential-events.md" excerpt: "Here are a few creative ideas to make your next meeting more compelling. Also: How to coach a rude employee to be more professional." taxonomy_category: - "Meetings / Events" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Aspiring Leader" - "AssociationsNow" - "event planning" - "experiential events" - "meeting design" - "Meetings" - "Mid-Level Professional" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Director" - "Manager" taxonomy_persona: - "Association Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Thursday Buzz: Decoding Experiential Events “Experiential” is the buzzword *du jour* for event professionals, but what does it mean for your next meeting in a practical sense? A [recent post from MeetingsNet (opens in a new tab)](http://www.meetingsnet.com/event-design-ideas/stop-paying-lip-service-making-events-experiential) looks back to ASAE’s Xperience Design Project earlier this year, where management advisor and author of *The Experience Economy,* James Gilmore, told attendees how to make meetings more interesting and engaging. Gilmore instructed event professionals to think about their meetings using the “Four E Model”—entertainment, educational, esthetic, and escapist experiences. You could apply this model at the beginning of the event in the registration line. “Why organize the lines based on attendees’ last name?” asks Sue Pelletier. “Why not organize them by state, or region, or job title, or main challenges they face?” And for a little color, hire a comedian to entertain people in line. Gilmore also suggested experimenting with lighting techniques to make sessions more colorful and aesthetically pleasing. Have you considered adding an educational component to your meeting invitations? Provide a factual nugget or ask a provocative question that can get people talking. ### Tough Talks > How to Help an Employee Who Rubs People the Wrong Way [https://t.co/BQqMHxGgUQ (opens in a new tab)](https://t.co/BQqMHxGgUQ) > > — Harvard Business Review (@HarvardBiz) [September 21, 2017 (opens in a new tab)](https://twitter.com/HarvardBiz/status/910881972758749184?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) **One of the hardest things about being a boss** is having an uncomfortable talk with a direct report who is behaving badly and turning people off. But, as the leader, it’s your job to help employees be their best in the workplace. *Harvard Business Review* provides a [few tips for internal meetings (opens in a new tab)](https://hbr.org/2017/09/how-to-help-an-employee-who-rubs-people-the-wrong-way) to help get an employee on the right track. The first step is to prepare thoroughly. Know what you want to say and what you want your employee to take away from the meeting. Also consider your personal tone and style. “Emotions are contagious,” Sevenshift CEO Caroline Webb told *HBR*. “If you go in full of awkwardness, that will radiate itself. If you go in with a desire to criticize, you are more likely to have a combative conversation.” ### Other Links of Note **A little creative marketing inspiration.** A ski resort took a bad review and turned it into a [piece of advertising genius (opens in a new tab)](https://medium.com/words-for-life/a-ski-resort-used-a-1-star-review-in-its-brilliant-ads-so-now-im-inspired-945ba7f31fe9) , reports copywriter Luke Trayser. **Looking to write a popular blog post?** Meeting designer and facilitator Adrian Segar reveals the [secret formula behind his most-trafficked posts (opens in a new tab)](http://www.conferencesthatwork.com/index.php/marketing-2/2017/09/how-to-accidentally-write-a-popular-blog-post/) . **Don’t waste your volunteers’ valuable time.** *Engaging Volunteers* shares [tips for running a more effective meeting (opens in a new tab)](https://blogs.volunteermatch.org/engagingvolunteers/2017/09/15/how-to-conduct-effective-volunteer-meetings/) . (ilbok/Getty Images Plus) [Raegan Johnson](https://associationsnow.com/author/raegan-johnson/) Raegan Johnson is a contributor to Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/raegan-johnson/) Tags: [#Aspiring Leader](https://associationsnow.com/tag/aspiring-leader/) [#event planning](https://associationsnow.com/tag/event-planning/) [#experiential events](https://associationsnow.com/tag/experiential-events/) [#meeting design](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meeting-design/) [#Meetings](https://associationsnow.com/tag/meetings/) [#Mid-Level Professional](https://associationsnow.com/tag/mid-level-professional/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoTerin Bates, MBA, CAE, CX-PRO, Shares Her Experience at the 2026 ASAE Annual Meeting & ExpositionAugust 18, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/08/18/terin-bates-mba-cae-cx-pro-shares-her-experience-at-the-2026-asae-annual-meeting-exposition/) - [VideoThe Adaptive Leader: Integrating Values and Strategy to Thrive Under New LeadershipDecember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/15/the-adaptive-leader-integrating-values-and-strategy-to-thrive-under-new-leadership/) - [ArticleBack to Basics: Why Relationship Building Is the New Innovation for Future-Proofing Association MeetingsSeptember 15, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/09/15/back-to-basics-why-relationship-building-is-the-new-innovation-for-future-proofing-association-meetings/) - [VideoASAE DELP Reunion 2025 & Introduction of New ClassAugust 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/08/18/asae-delp-reunion-2025-introduction-of-new-class/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2017%2F09%2F21%2Fthursday-buzz-decoding-experiential-events%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !