If I were to find a last-minute sponsor to IMEXAmerica2022, this is what it would mean to me...

*I apologize in advance for the typos, I'm typing this in a frenzy for a Hail Mary*

Okay LinkedIn fam,

I know this is last minute, I understand. 

I really fought long and hard for this one, I did. Until the very last moment, honestly just accepting that I will yet again miss another #IMEXAmerica2022 😭 

for the simple and frustrating fact that I’m in year 2 of a startup that started as a passion project and bloomed into a whole production company, of one - me. The Connect  <3

THE STRUGGLE

And I’m really only 6 months IN in because most the two years, I was splitting my time and energy between P3 and a check/salary. I couldn’t risk financial instability as a #singlemom 

But after I “broke up” with my dream job (February 1st, 2022 💔) , I re-committed my time and energy into creating communities, producing events and providing opportunities for Black creatives, entertainers and live event professionals. I haven’t regretted it a day since. I'm working in my purpose and having the time of my life slowly building this beautiful new space in live events and entertainment. Even if it means not having the financial means to make it to career-changing event conferences and cool events that would surely provide the event and business solutions and partnerships that would solidify the foundation for my event production startup to launch on. What a grown up's dream come true lol

I'm also a Single Mom but Kid Duty Free (this literally never happens)

Also, as I mentioned earlier, I’m a single mom, so attending conferences in the middle of the week like IMEX will Tuesday to Thursday is incredibly difficult for the parent event planners, producers, organizers, vendors and business owners who have little humans to care for, especially school-aged. All the moms and those who can’t afford childcare. These are legitimate school nights parents need coverage for, and I haven't had a partner to leave the kid at home with, especially for multiple days and nights.

BUT! This is the first year my son has lived with his dad with weekend visits to me (a major life change, #bigboythings #healthycoparenting story for another time. Its been a bittersweet season for sure - sweet because i saw the silver lining that, for the first time in 8 years, I am available on weekdays/weeknights/mid-week events now 🫢 for the first time in what feels like a lifetime, I’m able to travel and attend these events and conferences I’ve only known “as seen on tv” or in the digital era of #virtualevents, our laptops. I get to attend IRL 😍

I'd arrive ideally well in advance for the MPI Keynote at 8:30am, but best best would be to make it to the "Be Well Lounge" that opens right before at 7:30am. I'm also not the type to just walk into an event hot off the plane - I'll require time to shower and change, of course. You think I'm kidding but I will be watching my notifications like a hawk after I publish this lol and see what kind of miracle the Lord feels like showing today, because I would be on a 4am flight to Vegas so fast! It's nothing but a quick skip down the tarmac from LA!

VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: this week our Housing Association votes for the new executive board Wednesday at 7pm and we have our first parent teacher conference of the year scheduled at my son's elementary school at Thursday the 13th at 12pm. Missing or being late is non-negotiable.

It's looking like Tuesday morning - Wednesday lunch , it could be me and you #IMEXAmerica2022. For one day/night only lol Will it happen? Is there a sponsor out there?

#EVENTPROF DIE HARD aka why I want to attend IMEXAmerica2022

Another thing you have to understand (i know this is getting long-winded but it’s all important so please stay with me)... am a ride or die #eventprof! It actually gives me JOY to attend events like Bizzabo 's Event Strategy Form and the Event Design Summit by Skift Meetings . I even purchased both the "Event Design Handbook" and "Design to Change" by the Event Design Collective, which has been blowing my MIND in event design and strategy mapping and I cannot wait to receive my certification! Ruud Janssen, DES, CMM I see you'll be at Booth F729 recording a live podcast! How cool! Another event genius I had the pleasure of virtually meeting but would be honored to meet in person and discuss some of the approaches you teach with the #EventCanvas. Omg...will we have a chance to participate in a session with a real life Event Canvas? I haven't had the chance to blow out my own yet but if you have a wall-sized Event Canvas for us to "doodle" on as we mind dump and strategize I might literally pee my pants with excitement.

Anyways... even though I'm an eventprof die hard who has been planning and producing events for 10 years and am bold enough to fangirl thought industry leaders, I am still so so new to this world of events. I only really just discovered the online fam and the deep-trench trade shows thanks to a pandemic and virtual communities. Only recently discovered the Disney world of event tech, such as virtual venues and engagement integrations. Two years in and I'm drooling-dreaming of a chance to go and learn and connect and grow and think and speak and learn some more.

Like you guyssss!! It’s event tech and design and strategy and LEADERSHIP, all talking about everything events, vendors exhibiting their new products and services, community events where we just get to mingle but it pulls event planners and producers and platform reps from all over the world.

I've got a Jason Weinberger from Bizzabo in my email inbox now tryna holla at me trying to be my new virtual venue boo lol But all of these virtual date demos and experiencing the platforms as an attendee with at these virtual event just aren’t cutting it. I love the chance to test new platforms, meet with their team, pour over their decks - and their have been touched when I have found myself in the demo

As a matter of fact, maybe the first CEO of a virtual event platform was @LawrenceCoburn. I was invited by twine's then-Head of Community Engagement and now Head of Customer Success Anh Nguyen, CMP to my first #eventprofsbreakshit meetup where we got to test out twine and their cool approach to virtual networking, with pre-loaded questions and groups. It was too much fun and one of the rare times I was able to talk shop with event lovers from Canada, the UK, and all across the States. It was that much more impressed to find out one of the attendees in the demo mixer was Lawrence, the founder himself. I absolutely loved that level of involvement and attention to detail by leadership.

SN: I was so inspired and grateful for the new friend in Anh Nguyen, CMP that I asked her to join me on "Events & Etc" to talk intentional networking in the virtual space - check us out here!

A chance to meet my new event friends!

As I was saying, attending IMEX America 2022 this week would be an amazing opportunity to FINALLY get to meet my #pandemyfriends Anh Nguyen, CMP , John Pistotti , Sean Specie - are you guys going ? I know Keneisha Williams you said you can’t right? Will there be anyone from the #BlackInEventsNetwork? I'll double check the Slack.

And what about Juliet Tripp ? We’ve never OFFICIALLY connected, but we’re so aligned and have been social media buddies - I would be devastated to miss an opportunity to grab a coffee with you or wait until the next time I’m in the UK 😩

I will surely make time to shake hands with Julius Solaris (of Skift Meetings, Swapcard, Hopin, and Boldpush), Kyle Hillman, CAE, CMM and Jonathan Kazarian (CEO of Accelevents), who all took the time to reach out and inquire the status of my attendance. If you would've told me I would be connected with I'd love nothing more than to message them back saying "hey guess what, I'm here!" lol You'll have Julius's follow up that inspired this last minute hail ma

THE POINT, PLEA & PLAN

Anyways, I’m saying all that to say…I’m deep in the #startupstruggle and as much as I prayed to God something would shake for me to make it to this MAJOR “cool kids” event that is literally only a FIVE HOUR drive from my home 😤… IMEX starts tomorrow, my budget won’t allow for the gas/car maintenance or airfare, or lodging expenses.

I am tagging my event friends and favorite brands to ask if anyone knows of any last-minute sponsorship or funding opportunities?

It would be a dream come true to make

I event downloaded my badge, ready to print!

THE PLAN

So. The moment I receive sponsorship funds, I will book the next flight out of LA to Las Vegas, a quaint hotel room (I don’t need much, but I’m down to roomie if anyone offers! Anyone hosting an #eventprof sleepover in their hotel room/suite? Ladies? 

EXPENSES for a 24 hour trip to IMEX, Oct 11th-12th

LAX to Vegas, round trip flight 

A hotel room for 1-2 nights (or roomie)

Miscellaneous memory cards for DSLR, external hard drives, portable batteries - I can grab these on the go

*Note, will I require a media pass?

BENEFITS & INTENTIONS / personal agenda

So if this were to work, if I could secure a sponsor overnight to attend the IMEX America 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada tomorrow. 

Two days: all day Tuesday, Wednesday morning. Consuming EVERYTHING I CAN, I’ve already peeped the directory for exhibitors and networking events. I could literally REPORT LIVE for a special segment of my #LinkedInLive weekly event news broadcast “Current (in) Events” that airs live every Tuesday at 10am! 😮 I just thought of it while typing. Wow how amazing would that be lol Reporting for you live from IMEX!!

I'd arrive ideally well in-advance to the 7:30am "Be Well Lounge" and the MPI Keynote at 8:30am. Then I'll let the day take me and I’ll capture ALL the content!! 😍 I’ll visit and interview as many event professionals, service providers, tech businesses and platforms as I can - see the expense request for memory cards so I can do quick dumps throughout the day and maximize content capacity.

I'd connect IRL with the event brands and platforms I've fallen in love with these last 3 years, including RingCentral Events (Formerly Hopin) , BizBash Accelevents , Bizzabo , etc. and too many more to list - surely more than I can squeeze into one trip, but I will do my damndest!

I'd meet as many of my eventprofs friends as possible with Tuesday night spent squeezing in midnight coffees/afternoon teas with my jetlagged UK event profs friends and whatever meetups I can squeeze in between Wednesday morning sessions.

Then I'll fly home Wednesday afternoon, surely sad to be missing the end leg of IMEX but remember the non-negotiables, Wednesday night HOA Meeting and Thursday afternoon Parent Teacher Conference.

IN SUMMARY

Long story short, I'm seeking and accepting sponsorships to fund my trip to IMEX America 2022 to attend and report and connect with event brands, businesses and professionals. If interested, please email business@jazmynbreanna.com.

If you'd like to send a direct love offering, human to human because you care, my CashApp is $JazmynBreanna, Venmo is @Jazmyn-Breanna and you can even find me on Zelle at business@jazmynbreanna.com. I thank all my sponsors in advance.

Even if I don't make it this week, I am setting the intention now to attend next year. We can start those conversations now as well!

Thank you in advance!

xo,

Jazmyn