Special Event Studio: COVID Conversations: Recent Episodes
TO Live (Scott North & Will Cook)
Join Scott North and Will Cook - the private events sales team at TO Live, as they gather insight opinion from special events professionals as they adapt their workload to an ever-changing industry amid the global pandemic. Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
On a very special 20th episode of the podcast and our last episode of 2020, we have none other than TO Live’s own President and CEO, Clyde Wagner! In addition to talking about how our company has been navigating these difficult times, Clyde shares his own experiences in the arts and entertainment, moving from Broadway to film and television, to fashion, and how all of those experiences led him to his current station with TO Live.
Listen on Spotify >
Podcast produced by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian Credit Union for their continued support.
We wanted to thank all of our listeners for tuning in to our Podcast thus far, and we look forward to continuing the show into 2021. Have a safe and happy holiday!!
Joining us for Episode 19 of the podcast is entrepreneur, event manager, and President of TAP Resources - an Indigenous owned/operated event and site selection firm, Tuesday Johnson-MacDonald. She shares her business back story with Scott, discussing the founding of TAP, her past as a social worker, and the importance of embracing hybrid, live-streamed events during the current global pandemic.
On Episode 18 of the Podcast Scott is joined by the Founder, CEO, and Director of Client Happiness at Staff Shop Inc, Jennifer Menard! Between getting creative with titles and talking about the influence her personal triumphs have had on her career, Jennifer also shares the nuances of running a global event staffing company prior to and during the current pandemic.
After Scott and Will talk a bit of science, Evan Babins joins in to talk about his role as manager of event planning at Equitable Bank. Evan tells us what it’s like being named one of the top 25 young event planners from Special Events Magazine, and how he’s navigating the pandemic on both a professional level and on a personal level, with a recent addition to his family.
Joining us this week on the podcast are Erik Joyal the Owner of Ascari Hospitality Group and Kathleen Chiu their Director of Events + Catering. In this episode, we get a glimpse of the work Erik and Kathleen do at Ascari, and we learn what it’s like running multiple restaurants and catering venues in the heart of downtown Toronto, both pre- and post-pandemic.
Listen Now on Spotify >
Listen Now on Apple >
As always, thanks for tuning in and if you have any questions about the Podcast, TO Live or renting out Private Event Spaces at Meridian Hall, the St. Lawrence Centre (Toronto) or Meridian Arts Centre (North York) please contact host Scott North at scott.north@tolive.com.
This Podcast was presented by TO Live with Special Thanks to Meridian Credit Union.
In this week’s episode of the podcast, we have our first guest paring with Sonia Borkar, the Manager of Weddings and Social Event Sales, and Lizz McKenna, the Corporate Event Sales Manager. Sonia and Lizz share with us their experiences working on the Steam Whistle event teams, both in the past and present and as per usual, share their perspective on the future of the industry.
Our guest for this week’s episode is the vice-president of The Butler Did It, one of Toronto’s leading event staffing companies. John talks about The Butler’s 30-year history and the strong work relationships they have formed with numerous venues across the city, including our very near and dear Meridian Hall!
On a very special episode this week, Scott talks with Phil Pritchard, Vice President of the Hockey Hall of Fame and Keeper of the Stanley Cup! Giving us the inside scoop on life in the NHL Playoff Bubble, Phil tells us what it’s like traveling with Lord Stanley’s Cup (along with a few other trophies) and the evolution of professional hockey during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Listen now on Spotify >
Check out our Private Rentals page for more information on our spaces and address any questions, comments or rental inquires to Scott North via email at scott.north@tolive.com.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
On this week’s episode, Scott is joined by Peter Carruthers, a special event entrepreneur who built up a number of businesses from Presidential Gourmet, to 43 Degrees Design and now acts as CEO for his own event consulting firm. P.H. Carruthers. Scott and Peter look back at their 27 years of friendship and as with all our guests, discuss the current and future implications of running events during the COVID pandemic.
We’re incredibly excited to announce that this week’s guest is none other than the multi-talented Jian Magen, film producer and founder/owner of Magen Boys Entertainment Group. As per usual, host Scott picks Jian’s brain, gathering his insights on our industry as it stands, his current and future endeavors, and (unexpectedly) the importance of a good pair of underwear. You don’t want to miss this one!
Listen on Spotify >
Listen on Apple >
Learn more about the Magen Boys Entertainment Group
Check out our Private Rentals page for more information on our spaces and address any questions, comments or rental inquires to Scott North via email at scott.north@tolive.com.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
For our 10th Episode, we take a walk across the street (figuratively) and talk to Aaron Stocco, Manager of Special Events and Hospitality from our neighbouring venue, Hockey Hall of Fame. Scott shares a little about his experience working at the HHOF in the past and the pair reminisce and reflect on the past, present and future of events for the two premier event venues on Front Street.
Things get a little more technical on the podcast this week as Scott speaks with Aidan Cosgrave - event management/production guru and Owner of J.S.T Productions. We ask him what it's like working production for some of the largest events in our building on how he sees his aspect of the events industry evolving in the near future.
On a very special episode 8 of the Podcast, Scott is joined by fellow Dresden-ite Trevor Thompson - Reporter/Host for Fox Sports Detroit. Trevor not only provides some welcome hometown banter with our host but also shares what it’s like working in the sports industry and how they’ve adapted live broadcast events to deal with the ongoing global health crisis. Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Merdian Credit Union.
Scott meets with Jonathan Fruitman, Director of Sales & Marketing for Event Source to discuss the ins and outs of Event Marketing across a vast and diverse industry, while also looking at the numerous effects COVID-19 has had and will continue to have on it.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
Our guest this week is Janice Cardinale, Chief Huntress at The Idea Hunter. From sourcing event talent to finding the perfect artist to make any event Instagram-worthy, Janice talks shop with Scott, discussing the nuances of event head-hunting as well as the current and future event industry landscape!
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
Chef Bruce Berga discusses what it’s like to have a unique role inside the TO Live family, commanding the kitchen for private events and conferences at our very own Meridian Hall. From past, near-present, and now the uncertain future events, Bruce highlights his plan for large scale food service going forward.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
One of the premier event designers in Toronto, Rob Dittmer talks about his experiences at the helm of d3sign, the company he formed 13 years ago. Like many of our guests, he also discusses how he sees the events industry changing due to the pandemic and waxes poetically about his time working with Scott, and a certain Youtube video they made together.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
Today’s episode features Anju King, Director of Event’s, and Ticketing at Bell Media. Anju not only shares some of her experiences spearheading Events and Ticketing, and her connection to Meridian Hall through the annual CTV Upfront but also provides her take on how a company as large as Bell Media is adapting all of their events to a constantly changing private events landscape.
Connecting three of Toronto’s most iconic theatres and a diverse spectrum of talent, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical and concert events, family programs, and free community events.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
Kyle Brooks - CEO of Bespoke Audio Visual, an event media company based out of Toronto, tells Scott all about the technological nuances of staging and setup of past, present, and future events. Kyle also talks about how what his business looks like amid the pandemic and the importance of adapting the always-changing AV technologies and media to an evolving events industry.
Connecting three of Toronto’s most iconic theatres and a diverse spectrum of talent, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical and concert events, family programs, and free community events.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.
Guest Andrew Jackson - the founder of Jackson Events, tells us what it's like acting as a liaison between event planners and sports superstars, how he makes the two come together for special events and what that might look like in a socially distant future. He also shares what it’s like working with Canadian Hockey great Wendel Clark and growing up with golf aficionado (and podcast host) Scott North.
Connecting three of Toronto’s most iconic theatres and a diverse spectrum of talent, TO Live presents a full range of performing arts, theatrical and concert events, family programs, and free community events.
Presented by TO Live with special thanks to Meridian.