Plantastic Events | Podcast

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn more about Crabapple Fest hosted by the City of Milton. Our guest speaker is Courtney Spriggs, the Milton Community Outreach and Engagement Manager. She creates community engagement and builds relationship through many community events. The City of Milton hosts many events and festivals throughout the year but one of their most famous festivals is the Crabapple Fest. The festival is the first Saturday in October in Milton and includes over 100 local antique and art vendors, kids' activities, local musicians, fantastic food, and more. You can spend the day shopping for one-of-a-kind items and enjoying all Milton has to offer!

Hot topics for episode 38:

1. History of City of Milton and Crabapple Fest
2. Community involvement for Crabapple Fest
3. Creative themes for different events
4. Different types of activities during the festival including kids’ activities

Produced by Stooge App (www.stoogeapp.com). Topics include: Crapapple Fest, City of Milton, Georgia, Festivals, events, foodie, marketing, awards, resources, social media, promotion, event managers, event planners. All for event professionals.

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn more about Sandy Springs Festival hosted by the Heritage Sandy Springs. Our guest speaker is Sarah Poland, the Director of Marketing and Community Events at Heritage Sandy Springs. The Heritage Sandy Springs mission is to promote history, steward a community park, and enhance the cultural identity of Sandy Springs. Some of the popular free events hosted by Heritage Sandy Springs include the Farmers Market, Concerts by the Springs, and the annual Sandy Springs Festival. The Sandy Springs festival includes arts and crafts, live music, cultural performances, a pet parade, Chalk Walk Art Competition, 10K and 5K race, children’s programming, classic rides, gourmet and festival food options, and much more.

Hot topics for episode 37:

1. History of Heritage Sandy Springs
2. Sandy Springs Festival and community involvement
3. Pet parade and Chalk walk art

Produced by Stooge App (www.stoogeapp.com). Topics include: sandy springs, festivals, pets, chalks, 10K, 5K, race, children’s programming, foodie, marketing, awards, resources, social media, promotion, organizing, event managers, event planners. All for event professionals.

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn more about how to manage your festival volunteers. Our guest speaker is Alana Moss with the award-winning Duluth Fall Festival. Alana Moss is the Former Chairperson for Duluth Fall Festival and currently manages the volunteers for Duluth Fall Festival. The award-winning festival roots go back more than 50 years and they brings in more than 300 volunteers. From installing decorations, to unloading and loading vendor stock, to working at the Festival Concession Stand, or managing a committee, you can be sure that there is a job for you. Today, she’ll talk about how she manages all the volunteers for Duluth Fall Festival.

Hot topics for episode 36:

1. Attracting the right talent
2. Leveraging social media to promote
3. Ways to motivate volunteers
4. Organizing and assigning shift slots

Produced by Stooge App (www.stoogeapp.com). Topics include: festivals, volunteers, events, cities, Georgia, Duluth, tourism, southeast, educational, marketing, awards, resources, social media, promotion, organizing, shifts, event managers, event planners. All for event professionals.

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn more about the famous and award-winning Forsythia festival hosted by the Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce. Our guest speakers are Cheri Lance, the President and CEO, and Priscilla Caldwell, the Program Coordinator at Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber hosts multiple festivals throughout the year but today they will talk about the Forsythia Festival. The Festival attracts 25,000 people and is held annually the second week in March in downtown Forsyth. This free, family-fun event features a two-day arts-and-crafts show, children’s fair, a 5K, sporting tournaments, live entertainment, and much more!

Hot topics for episode 35:

1. History of Forsyth-Monroe County Chamber of Commerce and Forsythia
2. Community involvement with the festival
3. Building vendor relationships
4. Different activities for all ages

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, chamber, Georgia, Forsyth, tourism, southeast, educational, marketing, awards, resources, events, event managers, event planners. All for event professionals.

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn more about the Southeast Tourism Society and what educational resources they offer for event and festival organizer. Our guest speaker is Wendy Thomas, she is the Director of Communications and Marketing at the Southeast Tourism Society and joined in 2015. Southeast Tourism Society unites all segments of the Travel and Tourism Industry including promoting tourism within the state, fostering cooperation, sharing resources and providing continuing education for the Southeast region. For more than 30 years, Southeast Tourism Society has established itself as a leader among travel organizations.

Hot topics for episode 34:

1. History of the Southeast Tourism Society
2. Top 20 festivals and events award program
3. Educational resources including marketing college for event organizers
4. Educational online webinars for event organizers

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, associations, southeast tourism society, tourism, events, southeast, Georgia, educational, marketing, awards, resources, and internship. All for event professionals.

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn about Chalktoberfest and the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. Our guest speaker is Bobbi VanHorn, she is the Marketing Coordinator with the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art. The Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art hosts award-winning events including the famous Chalktoberfest. Chalktoberfest has an exciting combination of their annual Chalk Art Festival with Marietta's premier Craft Beer and Wine Festival. You can enjoy your afternoon sampling craft beers and wines, live music from local artists, watching professional Chalk Artists chalk the streets and eating great food at the beautiful downtown square of Marietta. A great day out for all the family, the Chalk Fest is free to attend. All proceeds go to the Marietta Cobb Museum of Art.

Hot topics for episode 33:

1. History of Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art
2. History of Chalktoberfest
3. How Chalktoberfest brings artists from around the world

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, chalk, artists, drawings, culture, food, people, event, celebration, Georgia, beer, wine, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, performers, museum and Marietta. All for event professionals.

In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll get a chance to learn about the Japanese culture and the history of Japan and Georgia. Our guest speaker is Yoshi Domoto and he is the Executive Director at The Japan-America Society of Georgia. He also hosts the famous JapanFest, which is a 2-day festival and draws a crowd of 20,000 people! In its 32nd year, JapanFest celebrates the culture and people of Japan. The festival is organized by JapanFest, the Japan-America Society of Georgia, and the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, Georgia, with support from the Consulate-General of Japan.

Hot topics for episode 32:

1. History of Japan and Georgia
2. The upcoming festival themes
3. Japanese food, people and culture

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, Japan culture, food, people, cherry blossom, JapanFest, history, event, anime, celebration, Georgia, Japanese, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and performers. All for event professionals.

Let’s talk about festival volunteers. In this episode, you’ll get a chance to meet Uta Colwell from the National Banana Pudding Festival. She’ll talk about how she manages over 150 volunteers for the festival and how you can do the same. Uta is the volunteer manager at the National Banana Pudding Festival. Not only is she a volunteer for the festival but she manages and coordinates volunteers for the festival. She has worked with National Pudding Festival since 2010! The National Banana Pudding Festival has won the SFEA Best Festival Award and has been named a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event.

Hot topics for episode 31:

1. How to manage and coordinate volunteers during, before and after your festival
2. What are some the essential roles to set up for volunteers
3. How to partner with local organizations to recruit volunteers
4. How to set up shift slots for volunteers based on the different roles

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, bananas, cook-offs, volunteers, events, foodies, training, non-profits, and Tennessee. All for event professionals.

Festival and events often attract large crowds and poor planning can result increase the chances of attacks whether it’s during a live event or online. In the past, we’ve covered topics about security planning during an event but it’s important to talk about cyber security as well. Our guests include Aly Hussaini and Chang Han. They’ll talk about the importance of cyber security. Aly is the CEO of Stooge and has 5 years of experience with Salesforce. He has been coding since age 9 and has full-stack development experience, especially with SAAS and marketing automation. Chang is a developer for Stooge. He has 10 years of full-stack development experience and has development experience with marketing automation. Previously, he was a developer at Gamevil and Com2us.

Hot topics for episode 30:

1. The difference between internal and external security
2. The importance of having policies and procedures for cyber security
3. Best practices to secure festival data
4. Plan B preparation in case data is leaked

Produce by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: data protection, cyber security, policies, festivals, event planning, event managing, train, volunteers, security, coding, data, protection, safety. All for event professionals.

In this episode, you’ll learn about how to recruit, train and retain volunteers. Our guest Kari Weaver will talk about the importance of involving volunteers for your festival. She is the is the Director of Events at Atlanta Beer Festivals. She manages the relationships with vendors, helps with social media, and coordinates volunteers for all of the events. They host over 17 events per year throughout Georgia including Atlanta Winter, Spring and Summer Beer Fest, Atlanta Brunch Festival and four Wine Festivals too. Approximately 3000 or more people attend the festivals!

Hot topics for episode 29:

1. What are some of the advantages of having volunteers at your festival
2. How to find, recruit, train, and retain volunteers
3. What are some of the ways to give recognition to volunteers

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: beer pouring, volunteers, beer, wine, brunch, food, festival, event management, event planning, recruit, train, retain, and Atlanta beer festivals. All for event professionals.

In this episode you’ll learn about the video gaming industry in Georgia and you’ll get a chance to hear about an upcoming scholarship for event and festival organizers. Our guest is Andrew Greenberg. He is the director of the Southern Interactive Entertainment and Games Expo (www.siegecon.net) and interim commissioner of the Georgia Esports League (www.ggda.org), has been organizing large-scale events both domestically and internationally, for decades. In addition to SIEGE and GEL, he also helped organize the Mythic Journeys conferences (mythicimagination.org) that brought Deepak Chopra, Janis Ian, Robert Bly, Joyce Carol Oates and many more to Atlanta. He has organized environmental design conferences in the US and Mexico, and helped direct the Human Forum of Puerto Rico that brought together numerous Nobel Prize winners, activists and others to demonstrate the Power of People Making a Difference. He  chairs the DeKalb Entertainment Commission (www.dekalbentertainment.com/) and serves on the Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Commission. His upcoming game is Noble Armada: Lost Worlds (https://clickteam.itch.io/noble-armada-lost-worlds)

Hot topics for episode 28:

1. What is the Creative Industries Loan Fund
2. When and how GGDA AND GEL launched
3. How to work with media, gaming, and tech companies and exhibitors

Produce by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: gaming, virtual reality, Georgia, event planning, event management, vendors, exhibitors, SIEGE, GEL, video game studios, competition, education, and scholarships. All for event professionals.

Learn about fun ways to host trivia at your next event fun ways to host trivia and you’ll get a chance to learn about the culture behind sneakers! Our guests for this episode are Terry Francis and Mike Baker. Both are founders of The Sneaker University and Can I Kick It. The Sneaker University is a sneaker and urban culture convention held exclusively on college campuses. The events usually feature live music, sneaker customizations, door prizes, and surprises throughout the show. Can I Kick It? Is the South’s premier culture brand and sneaker accessories.

Hot topics for episode 27:

1. What are the different types of sneaker events hosted nationally
2. What are the different types of products that you can host at certain events
3. What is the sneaker culture

Produce by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: sneakers, culture, hip-hop, events, festivals, educational, universities, Tuskegee, vendors, Alabama, college campus, event planning, event management, social media. All for event professionals.

Learn about local, national and international festivals and events associations. You’ll get a chance to learn about the benefits of joining such associations and how you can join the associations with our guest Stephanie McIntyre. She is the Executive Director for the North Carolina Seafood Festival. She is also on the board of different associations including the Southeast Festivals and Events Association and the North Carolina Festivals and Events Association. She’ll also give you a glimpse about the North Carolina Seafood Festival.

Hot topics for episode 26:

1. What are the different types of festivals and events associations, locally, nationally, and internationally
2. What are the benefits of joining and why is it important
3. How much do you have to budget for these associations
4. What are some of the resources and awards hosted by these associations

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, event associations, festival associations, CFEE, educational, certifications, IFEA, SFEA, seafood, foodies, North Carolina, vendors, sponsors, guest speakers, conferences, event planning, event management, social media. All for event professionals.

Learn about the famous and award-winning National Banana Pudding Festival. You’ll also get a chance to learn how they host their famous cook-offs too. If you’re a foodie and you love banana pudding, get ready to go banana for this episode! Our guest is Peggy Owen and she is the co-chairman of the National Banana Pudding Festival which is a two-day festival in Centerville, Tennessee. At the festival, you’ll get a chance to see some of the best entertainment for all ages and live cook-offs. You can also stroll through the “Puddin’ Path” and taste ten different banana puddings made by local non-profit organizations. The National Banana Pudding Festival has won the SFEA Best Festival Award and has been named a Southeast Tourism Society Top 20 Event.

Hot topics for episode 25:

1. How, why and when National Banana Pudding Festival started
2. The unique types of banana puddings
3. How they host cook-offs and bring experienced judges
4. How they bring in worldwide attendees

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, bananas, cook-offs, judges, foodies, food, desserts, event planning, event management, budget, events, parade, festival, marketing, and Tennessee. All for event professionals.

Event coordinators are ranked the fifth most stressful jobs after firefighter and soldier! In this episode of Plantastic Events, you’ll learn about why event coordinators have one of the toughest jobs in the world but also learn about ways to reduce the stress and take mental breaks. Our guests are Nisha Khan and Dr. Fatima Wasim. They are from Raksha, which is a Georgia non-profit organization for the South Asian Community. Raksha addresses social issues such as family and sexual violence and divorce, as well as issues concerning children, senior citizens and new immigrants. Nisha is a Therapist and Dr. Wasim is the Clinical Director for Raksha and has a practice in Georgia. Both have a background in mental health and are here to talk about the importance of taking care of your mental health.

Hot topics for episode 24:

1. Why are event coordinators so stressed
2. How do you know when you’re stressed
3. How do you deal with burnout or stress
4. What are some of the mental breaks that event coordinators can take

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: mental health, festivals, events, coordinators, budget, event planning, event management, stress, burnout, breaks, psychology, meditation and health. All for event professionals.

Learn about the Georgia Peach Festival and the history of the peach in Georgia. You’ll also get a chance to hear the special recipe for the world’s largest peach cobbler. Our guest is Tisa Horton, she is not only the manager for the Austin Theater in Fort Valley but also hosts the famous Georgia Peach Festival. The Georgia Peach Festival is a week-long festival hosted in two Peach cities: Byron and Fort Valley. Georgia ranks third in the nation in annual production of peaches and are arguably the sweetest and tastiest grown in the world. The Georgia Peach Festival started in 1986 to honor peach growers for their contribution to our state's economy and to the food industry nationwide. The festival attracts over 10,000 people each year.

Hot topics for episode 23:

1. How, why, and when Georgia Peach Festival started
2. The famous celebrities that will perform at the festival
3. The world’s largest peach cobbler and the recipe to make it
4. The search for vendor and sponsors

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, sponsors, event planning, event management, budget, events, parade, festival, marketing, peaches, Georgia, Atlanta, and vendors. All for event professionals.

Events in Atlanta with Daniel Easton

Learn about Atlantic Station and how they host their community events in Atlanta. You’ll also get a chance to learn how you can host your event or festival with Atlantic Station. Our guest is Daniel Easton, he has been the Marketing Director for Atlantic Station for six years and initially joined to create the concierge services. Prior to his role, Daniel also worked with the Coca-Cola Company for 12 years. Atlantic Station opened in 2005 and is known as a city within a city with over 35 retailers and 17 restaurants.

Hot topics for episode 22:

1. The types of community festivals and events Atlantic Station hosts
2. Ways to host your event at Atlantic Station
3. Some creative ways to market festivals and events

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, sponsors, event planning, event management, budget, events, parade, festival, marketing, Atlanta, Atlantic Station and revenue. All for event professionals.

Get More Sponsors with Debbie Mason

Learn about new and exciting ways to increase your sponsorship for your events and festivals with Debbie Mason from Peachtree Corners. Debbie Mason has invested in Peachtree Corners for over 26 years! She helps the citizens of Peachtree Corners make memories through special events in Peachtree Corners. She helped create two local non-profit events, Peachtree Corners Festival in 2010 and Christmas in the Corners, Inc. (Parade) in 2013, and serves as the Chair for fundraising on both boards. Debbie also continues to serve on the boards of Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful, United Peachtree Corners Civic Association, and Fox Hill Homeowner’s Association.

Hot topics for episode 21:

1. How to do research on sponsors before meeting with them
2. Making a personal connection with large sponsors
3. Best timing to collect and secure sponsorships
4. Creative ways to retain sponsors and maintain communication

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festivals, sponsors, event planning, event management, budget, events, parade, festival, and revenue. All for event professionals.

Got Food? With Sarika and Mayuresh Mahatme

Learn about how food vendors handle their business during events and festivals and get an inside glimpse of Pot Bharoon, a famous local catering business. Pot Bharoon is catering company, which includes Indo-Chinese, South-Indian, North-Indian cuisines and custom cakes. They have years of experience in this industry and have perfected their food. They cater for many large events and have their booths at many different events and festivals. They are also planning to open up their restaurant in Georgia.

Hot topics for episode 020:

1. How and when Pot Bharoon started
2. How they work with festivals and events throughout Georgia
3. What makes them so unique
4. Learn about their custom cakes and unique catering business

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: festival vendors, foodies, food festivals, delicious foods, desserts, event planning, event management, cake, South Asian, cuisines, culinary, Indian. All for event professionals.

Taste of Alpharetta with Emily Dillard and Hilary Lew

Learn more about the famous Taste of Alpharetta with Emily Dillard and Hilary Lew and how they host over 30,000 people for their food festival.

This episode of Plantastic Events will give you an inside glimpse of the Taste of Alpharetta with our guests Emily Dillard and Hilary Lew. They manage the events at the City of Alpharetta including the upcoming Taste of Alpharetta, which has over 60 different restaurants and draws over 30,000 people! The festival also includes concerts, culinary competition, kid activities, art exhibits, and so much more. The Taste of Alpharetta is one of the most popular festivals in the South. Emily and Hilary will share how they host this awesome festival and so much more!

Hot topics for episode 019:

1. How and when Taste of Alpharetta started
2. How they find local vendors and diverse food options
3. What are some of the creative themes
4. What are some of the entertainments

Produced by Stoogeapp.com. Topics include: foodies, food festivals, delicious foods, desserts, cities, entertainment, volunteers, event planning, event management. All for event professionals.