CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // In an effort to connect the many dots—that draw a picture of 2021—VEI has forged a partnership with talent platform Soundings that will benefit all affected groups. Under their new brand, Soundings Thrive, a vibrant members-only freelance community, the company is collaborating with VEI to offer offering additional education and networking opportunities for freelance event professionals to help them become workforce-ready for assisting virtual and hybrid events.

Soundings and the Virtual Events Institute announce exclusive North American partnership to offer freelance meeting and event professionals a launch pad into the world of digital experiences

EVENT CADENCE // Collaborative partnerships that create win-win situations for both parties are becomingly increasingly important. Partnerships help find and recruit adept talent for multi-channel market growth, and they harness creativity and innovative thinking for new avenues of inspiration.

We are excited to announce our partnership with Event Cadence for the next Platform Playground Mock Events program!

SMART MEETINGS // COVID-19, social distancing and furloughs, oh no. It has been a troubling year for those working in the meetings and hospitality industry, with pandemic precautions resulting in huge economic loss—and unfortunately, many unforeseen career changes. Throughout the year, Smart Meetings has been posting resources for the business owners, employees and independent planners navigating their way through this new reality. Whether you are job searching, adding new skills or trying to keep your business afloat, take a look at the best Smart Meetings career articles of 2020 can offer you some guidance.

CORPORATE EVENT NEWS // Take a behind the scenes look at how Soundings Founder and CEO, Tracy Judge, live-streamed her presentation for the 2020 Intrado Digital Media Summit.

Live-streamed from Rev Studio in La Jolla, CA.

SMART MEETINGS // Earlier this year we launched Soundings Thrive, a platform providing tools for freelancers to stay relevant in the marketplace and accelerate their business. Since the launch, our primary focus has been to help freelancers embrace their potential in the virtual event world.

Read about the top 5 things we have learned from launching the Platform Playground mock events program for freelancers.

Webcast Producers are known for their ability to combine a high level of customer service with tech-savvy to help configure, test and execute webcasts for live and virtual events. In support of clients, Webcast Producers set up and perform all necessary A/V tests by troubleshooting webcams, microphones and telephones to ensure optimum webcast delivery. 

THE MEETING PROFESSIONAL // Soundings Connect Founder + CEO, Tracy Judge, breaks down the questions and concerns meeting professionals should consider before they take their next steps in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic in the November 2020 edition of The Meeting Professional magazine.

Soundings Connect is searching for a Digital Marketing & Brand Management specialist to support the expansion of our business. We are looking for a passionate “swiss army” knife marketer who is excited to work with a growing start-up! Our team is 100% remote (even before COVID) and we are accustomed to working with employees and freelancers from all time zones.

MEETINGS MAGS // Freelancing has become a new ball game since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, as many companies cannot afford to keep full-time positions, but still need those tasks completed. Although many more professionals have had to join the freelancing community since March, Tracy Judge had the passion for the freelancing community two years ago–long before the pandemic hit–and founded her company Soundings Connect in order to directly connect meetings and events industry freelancers with customers.

FORBES // Since March, the world has wondered when we can return to normal, including the tradeshows and exhibitions we’ve attended in the past—the way we’ve attended them in the past. It may be a while. While social distancing and proper health hygiene—which includes wearing a mask—can allow some people in the door, the days of crowded trade show floors are so 2019. It may be a year or two—hopefully not longer—before we see those crowded aisles again.

MEETINGSNET // Meetings and events have been devastated by the pandemic. Here are some agencies offering gig work for laid off professionals, and some advice from industry bigs.

Learn the information you need to execute successful virtual events, including hands-on experience to build a virtual event using Cvent technology.

Learn the information you need to execute successful virtual events, including hands-on experience to build a virtual event using Cvent technology.

Continue to upskill with these free training courses provided by Coursera! Here are a few the Soundings Connect Team recommends.

Listen to Episode 4 of the Traveling Podcast with guest Tracy Judge, MS, CMP, Founder and Chief Connector at Soundings Connect. Hosted by Dan Sherman and Ryan Barth, CMP.

A weekly conversation with freelance event producers, agencies who utilize them, and many more! This week we chat with Founder & Chief Connector of Soundings Connect, Tracy Judge. She shares with us why she created a vibrant freelance producer network, how Soundings Connect is helping retool the freelance workforce and the launch of a new platform called Soundings Thrive to bridge the gap in professional development for freelancers.

REVIVE + INNOVATE // Over the past month, the national conversation has centered around the harmful effects of racial injustice and systemic racism in the United States. As the meetings and events industry continues to move forward and recalibrate in response to the pandemic, this moment implores everyone in our industry to carefully examine and improve their diversity and inclusion practices.