#187: Michael Stelzner – How to run profitable events (without sponsors or selling from the stage)

This podcast episode interviews Michael Stelzner about the financial aspects of running successful events. The conversation covers high event costs (food, production, labor), strategies to mitigate these (e.g., using non-hotel venues, leveraging volunteers, negotiating hotel room blocks instead of catering), and ticket pricing strategies to ensure profitability (aiming for 25-40% profit margins). Stelzner advocates for making ticket sales the primary revenue source, rather than relying heavily on sponsorships, and emphasizes the importance of creating a positive attendee experience to foster repeat business and word-of-mouth marketing. He suggests a minimum of six months planning time for a first event and highlights the unexpected benefits of building community and strong relationships through events.