Articles & Resources
Stay in the know of the latest industry news and updates.
Soundings Blogs.
We're excited to share that Soundings Founder & CEO, Tracy Judge, and Talent Experience Coordinator, Nikki Gonzales, sat down with Michael Lyons ahead of the Ladies Who Lead Lunch: Provocateurs' Roundtable with Soundings!
New survey data from event professionals reveals a workforce that loves the work but is quietly exhausted, and shows why peer connection, not more content, may be the strongest fix.
If you’ve ever tried to figure out what you should be making in the events industry, you’ve probably done what most of us do: search your title, find a salary range, and immediately wonder whether you’re underpaid, overpaid, or looking at numbers that have absolutely nothing to do with your job.
McKinsey's new global survey and our own 12-month benchmark study measure different industries. Put side by side, they tell one story: adoption is not the hard part anymore. What you do with it is. And our industry is behind on more than one front.
We're excited to share that Soundings Founder & CEO, Tracy Judge, was recently featured on Smart Meetings' Smart Start Radio podcast, discussing how event professionals can move beyond AI experimentation and start using it strategically!
Skift recently dug into a question we deal with on a regular basis: why does salary data for event professionals look so inconsistent? Barbara Scofidio at Skift raised the topic in a story on confusing salary benchmarks in the events industry (Meeting Planner Salaries: Why They Never Agree), and it's worth unpacking here.
We're excited to share that Soundings Chief of Staff, Nikki Gonzales, has been named to Meetings Today's inaugural Trendsetters of Tomorrow list, recognizing 10 emerging meetings and events professionals shaping the future of the industry!
The organizations pulling ahead right now aren't the ones with the biggest teams. They're the ones who've figured out how to combine two strategies that, on their own, are useful, but together, are the winning formula: agile staffing and skills-based hiring.
We're excited to share that Soundings Founder & CEO, Tracy Judge, was recently featured in a Skift Meetings article digging into why meeting planner salary data is so inconsistent across the industry!
Most organizations wait to staff up until they're understaffed, post a role, wait weeks to fill it, and hope the person they hire is as good on the job as they were in the interview. That's not a talent strategy. That's damage control.
We're excited to share that Soundings Founder & CEO, Tracy Judge, was recently featured in the July-August 2026 issue of The Meeting Professional!
We're excited to share that Soundings Founder and CEO, Tracy Judge, was recently featured as a guest on a podcast episode exploring how AI is changing the events industry!
Preston Krzyzak, Growth Manager at Soundings, was recently featured in a Meetings Today article exploring how live events can help combat the global loneliness epidemic.
Choosing an event staffing partner isn't just about finding qualified talent. It's about protecting your organization from unnecessary risk while ensuring your events run smoothly.
An Offstage with Soundings® recap of our session at Cvent CONNECT by Tracy Judge, CEO & Founder of Soundings.
Founder and CEO of Soundings, Tracy Judge, weighs in on the event industry's contractor classification challenges in a new Skift article examining how agencies are navigating growing scrutiny over temp worker misclassification.
For decades, the meetings and events industry has relied on one of its greatest strengths: a highly skilled, flexible workforce capable of scaling up or down to meet the demands of every event.
For meeting professionals, agencies, and corporate event teams, compliance is no longer simply an operational consideration – it's becoming a strategic business imperative.
For decades, workforce development has followed a familiar pattern. Universities prepared students. Employers hired graduates. Then organizations taught people what they really needed to know to succeed in their roles. That model was already beginning to change. AI is accelerating the shift.
In her latest "Work in Progress" column for The Meeting Professional, Soundings Founder and CEO Tracy Judge explores how the future of work in events will not be defined by job titles, but by how effectively individuals and organizations identify and evolve their skills.
We're excited to share that Soundings Founder & CEO, Tracy Judge, was recently featured in Smart Meetings!
Soundings set out to answer a question we couldn't find good data on anywhere: how is AI actually changing the way people work in business events, not in theory, but in practice?
Deep dive into how business events professionals actually engage with AI, and what your relationship to this technology is going to be.
Preston Krzyzak joined hosts Taylor Smith and Hannah Elston to dig into the reality behind the Gen Z labels, unpacking what the next generation actually wants from their careers, from flexibility and financial security to community, purpose, and work-life balance.
You may be wondering – if travel is getting harder, more expensive and more scrutinized… what actually needs to change? The answer is not to reduce travel, but to be more intentional about why it exists.
In her latest "Work in Progress" column for The Meeting Professional, Soundings Founder and CEO Tracy Judge makes the case for destination-aligned team design, integrating local freelancers and employees into event planning from the start, not just for onsite execution. The result: reduced travel costs, lower carbon impact, less burnout, and stronger destination partnerships.
Soundings Founder and CEO, Tracy Judge, a proud CSU alum, has been appointed to the California State University (CSU) AI Workforce Acceleration Board.
As Customer Success Manager, Tori’s relationship-focused role will help ensure talent placements deliver the highest impact for our clients.
Abby brings extensive experience in the meetings and events industry to her role as Head of Account Success…
Articles.
Learn more about our strategic partnership with SITE, and the benefits available to you!
The fourth installment of SITE Global’s acclaimed inSITEs series, Destination inSITEs, reveals emerging preferences for new and unique destinations, highlighting a growing focus on safety, security, and cost considerations.
Read the latest Work Trend Index highlights the importance of taking regular mental breaks, revealing how these pauses can support brain health, boost productivity, and enhance overall well-being in today’s high-demand work environments.
Soundings’ CEO and Founder, Tracy Judge, dives into powerful strategies for driving growth and resilience in associations, highlighting how community connections and a spirit of innovation can redefine success and create lasting impact.
A new Freeman trends report measures the gaps between the way organizers design their event programs and the preferences of a new generation of event attendees — and what the most innovative event organizers do differently.
Halloween is quickly becoming a major player in the event industry, rivaling other major holidays. Explore why this spooky season is capturing the hearts of event professionals
Freelancing can be rewarding, but it often comes with a sense of isolation. This article explores the challenges of freelancer loneliness and offers tips on creating a strong, supportive network
Stress at work can push our nervous systems into “survival mode,” leading to a perpetual feeling of being overwhelmed. Techniques for switching off survival mode can easily be woven into our daily routines.
Unionized hotel workers in Boston began a three-day strike this week, while nine other cities could see similar walkouts with little warning. Meeting groups using those cities should be ready to get creative.
Too often we make the mistake of thinking attending a workshop or getting a certification is the long and short of career development. In reality, it’s just one part of the equation.
Event professionals were invited to discuss long-standing industry practices that may need a fresh approach. Explore their insights on which 'sacred cows' of the events industry should be reevaluated and what innovative alternatives could take their place.
The freelance boom in the events industry is here to stay, according to Soundings Founder & CEO Tracy Judge. She dives into the shift toward agile, flexible staffing models and how they're revolutionizing talent strategies in business events.
From compressed timelines to hotel rates, event profs share the biggest challenge they're facing right now.
Many senior women meeting planners and department heads are better at ‘making it happen’ than promoting their value to the C-level. Their jobs could be at risk because of that.
At the core of this year’s IMEX America is the overarching theme of “impact.” But what about the impact we are making on our industry’s rising talent and young professionals? That’s where mentorship comes into play.
Whether you lost a job or an opportunity, or are simply facing a personal challenge, your ability to respond (and how likely you are to bounce back) can be shaped by the way you talk to yourself.
From florists and fabricators to entertainment, lighting, and gifting experts, these event vendors and suppliers are enhancing live experiences in unique ways.
Staying ahead of the competition requires a flexible and efficient approach to project management. Explore the benefits of incorporating agile methodologies and how to successfully implement them.
Destination management companies come equipped with tons of resources—here's how to better work with them.
Anyone can learn to communicate more effectively—and it can have a profound impact on your quality of life and career trajectory.
Three industry veterans, with their fingers on the pulse of corporate meetings, share their insights on how workplace culture may be forever changed.
Super Bowl LVIII will take place on February 11 in Las Vegas, with sustainability as a top priority for hosts and organizers.
Recent research shows that experiencing awe and wonder can positively affect our mental and physical health, ultimately benefiting our personal and professional lives. With the right perspective, and a little bit of effort, we can teach ourselves to generate childlike wonder in all sorts of places.
ChatGPT isn’t the only AI tool that should be in your toolbox. Peep the thousands of other AI tools that have been released since the generative AI boom.
The work of events organizers is more important than ever, says innovation expert Shawn Kanungo, but he asks: Are you willing to disrupt yourself to stay competitive?
Learn how to improve the essential skill of active listening including reading body language, maintaining your attention, and controlling your emotional response to others.
Compare your independent meeting planner practices, pricing strategies, and earnings with those of your peers.
BUSINESS INSIDER // Worker misclassification is costing gig workers thousands of dollars in lost payment and benefits from employers.
Most people think classification comes down to what you call someone. Contractor. 1099. Freelancer. It doesn't work that way – It's about the relationship, not the label.