Top 5 Trends Seen at Catersource + The Special Event 2025
Likewise, Jen Trotter (Lip Service Makeup) talked about communication boundaries in her session Sorry, Not Sorry - Learn to Master Apology-Free Communication . Avoiding apologizing when you’re not at fault and avoiding using the word “unfortunately” when something isn’t actually unfortunate (your prices, for instance) empowers your language by setting expectations and creating ownership around your time and energy. “Having boundaries and saying no is not mean,” said Trotter. “You cannot give people your best or be in business for a long time or support your family if you’re constantly caving to everybody. You just can’t.” In her session Burn-Out & Mental Safety: Why Healthy Boundaries, Delegation & Time Management is Not All You Need , Charessa Sawyer, LMSW, CEP (SC Visionary Planning and Production) pointed out that boundaries are important for individuals to protect time and energy and manage client expectations, but the industry still has a ways to go when it comes to shifting systemic issues like overwork culture and industry expectations—not to mention the guilt and pushback event pros often face when they do set boundaries. Event professionals have time and again faced the difficult issues of the industry, and these days, more pros are empowering themselves by setting boundaries and working toward what Sawyer calls “mental safety”—“honoring your own energy, reclaiming your joy, and creating a life that supports your well-being, not just your productivity.” Taking notes from larger culture The best event inspiration has always come from a variety of spaces—magazines, architecture, fashion, social media—but pop culture and major international events at large are playing a dominant role in popular event themes. Attendees got a taste of this trend when Pzazz Productions put on a thrilling Wizard of Oz/Wicked - themed performance for the Opening General Session, with intricately costumed stilt walkers, electric violinists, and dancers, and a mic-drop grand finale that featured Christine Dwyer, who has played Elphaba (the show’s main character) on Broadway. Miro Diamanté, DMCP (Accent Indy, a DMC Network Company) and Kate Patay (Terramar, A DMC Network Company) dove into some of the major trending pop inspirations in their session Pop Culture's Influence on 5.
Setting her own boundary, Charessa Sawyer, LMSW, CEP (SC Visionary Planning and Production) started her session Burn-Out & Mental Safety: Why Healthy Boundaries, Delegation & Time Management is Not All You Need with a brief meditation.
Revisiting Catersource + The Special Event 2025 Check out the following recaps from the conference, and make sure to stay tuned to specialevents.com for more post-conference coverage. • That's a Wrap on CS+TSE Ft. Lauderdale; Next Up, LA • Special Events Announces the 2025 Gala Award Finalists • Connect Social Kicks Off Catersource + The Special Event 2025 • Attendees Transport Through the Years at the 2025 CS+TSE Opening Night Party • Catersource + The Special Event Honors Industry Legends at Closing Night Celebration • Among the Action: A Look at the 2025 CS+TSE Trade Show Floor Thank you to every speaker, sponsor, attendee, volunteer, exhibitor, and more who made this show such a thrilling success.
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SPECIAL EVENTS SPRING 2025
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