The Episode Every Overwhelmed Event Business Owner Needs to Hear

In this festive episode of Event Matters, David Watt is joined by Kershaw Partners, Mike Kershaw and Richard Dean, for a brilliantly honest (and often very funny) look at what’s really going on inside event businesses as we wrap up the year.

Together, they dig into why so many SME leaders feel overwhelmed, underconfident or unsure what’s actually causing the challenges in their business – even when things are going well on the surface. From the endless plate-spinning of agency life to the quiet panic that comes from comparing yourself to everyone else on LinkedIn, the trio explore the very real reasons event business owners struggle to diagnose their own problems.

They also talk about the moment everything changes: when you finally step back, look at the business clearly, and realise the situation isn’t half as dire as it felt. With some perspective, a solid plan and a bit of structured thinking, things suddenly feel far more achievable – and far less chaotic.

And because it's the Christmas edition, you’ll also hear stories from the glory days of the events industry: cloakroom catastrophes, hay bales, questionable safety practices and the kind of tales that prove events people have always thrived on a healthy mix of resilience and ridiculousness. They also reflect on how the Christmas party scene has evolved into something a little smaller, a little safer, and thankfully a lot less flammable.

Expect fun, relatable and practical insights on:

• Why event business owners often can’t see the real issues (even when they’re staring right at them)
• How imposter syndrome creeps in, even when the numbers say you’re doing great
• The magic that happens when ambition turns into an actual plan
• How “franchise thinking” can bring surprising calm to a chaotic industry
• Why hiring well matters – and why hiring in a hurry rarely ends well
• The often-overlooked power of existing clients (and why founders are always the best salespeople)
• What remote working has done to collaboration, culture and spontaneous genius
• And of course… how Christmas parties have changed since the days of 1,000-person bashes and unlimited everything

This episode is warm, funny and full of the kind of wisdom that only comes from decades in the events industry. It’s a reminder that while the work may be unpredictable, running a business doesn’t have to feel like a live event on the brink of going rogue.

Hosts:

David Watt, Partner at Kershaw Partners
Mike Kershaw, Partner at Kershaw Partners
Richard Dean, Partner at Kershaw Partners