Creating "Peak" Moments at Events is More Important Than Ensuring Nothing Negative Happens

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Disney is intentional about creating peak moments in their theme parks to keep guests engaged, despite the inevitable negative moments like long lines and expensive food. By focusing on memorable experiences like meeting favorite characters, going on favorite rides, and seeing parades and fireworks, these positive memories outweigh the negatives and create a lasting impact on guests. Similarly, in any event, identifying and creating peak moments can help people forget or downplay negative experiences.

This week I was really excited to speak with my friend and former colleague Phil Mershon about his new book, Unforgettable: The Art and Science of Creating Memorable Experiences. Phil is the director of experience for Social Media Examiner where for over 12 years he has created amazing customer experiences at events like Social Media Marketing World and the Social Media Success Summit. Phil and I worked together at Social Media Examiner and throughout his 30+ year career he has been creating memorable experiences for businesses like non-profits, schools, and churches.

In this new book Phil has compiled the knowledge that he has accumulated throughout his career into an amazing guide for both event creators as well as conference or event attendees. I’m sure you're aware of the adage, “This meeting could have been an email.” Well in many ways if you're anything like me you have been to conferences or events that feel like they should have been a meeting. Phil’s book looks to correct this trend by laying out the principles and best practices for building unforgettable events with truly useful takeaways.

In this conversation Phil lays out some of his tried and true techniques for creating events both in person and online that generate team building while encouraging the interplay between in-person and online interactions. Phil also points out how events can minimize distractions and create an environment conducive to both focus and engagement. In many ways Phil sees himself as a kind of “game designer” responsible for creating experiences that are both engaging while simultaneously being rewarding and fun. Listeners will gain valuable insights into maximizing the impact of in-person events, improving engagement and productivity, and developing a deep understanding of attendees' needs while also improving their own attendee IQ to get the most out of their next work event or conference.

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