Summary Ashley Stanford, the co-founder of Ice Cream Social, discusses the impact of COVID-19 on the event industry and the changing social aspects of events. She emphasizes the importance of social media in event marketing and shares effective strategies for event organizers. Ashley also highlights the significance of partnering with sponsors and leveraging gamification in event marketing. She provides insights on maintaining momentum and engagement, determining event size and goals, and finding and partnering with complementary events. Takeaways COVID-19 has significantly impacted the event industry, leading to the need for innovative marketing strategies.Social media plays a crucial role in event marketing, allowing organizers to engage with attendees and create buzz.Partnering with sponsors and leveraging gamification can enhance event marketing efforts.Maintaining momentum and engagement throughout the event cycle is essential for success.Event organizers should carefully consider event size and goals, as well as identify and collaborate with complementary events.Chapters 00:00Introduction and Background 05:26Impact of COVID-19 on the Event Industry 09:02The Changing Social Aspects of Events 11:30The Importance of Social Media in Event Marketing 14:38Effective Event Marketing Strategies 20:33Gamification in Event Marketing 25:11Maintaining Momentum and Engagement 29:01Determining Event Size and Goals 30:36Finding and Partnering with Complementary Events 32:47Shameless Plug