PCMA Interview with Michael McCurry of Experient

Extra! Interview with Michael McCurry of Experient

The Meeting Planners podcast source for what’s new and exciting in meetings and events industry!

(Audio is above- separate video clip of Mr McCurry below)

Michael McCurry is in the above opening video which was played at the 2010 PCMA event. One of the great transitions the production team came up with.

Mike McAllen of Grass Shack Events & Media interviews Michael McCurry of Experient and of the Blog McCurrys Corner at the PCMA Dallas meeting.

Michael talks on how he got into the Events Business, his association with PCMA, his role with Experient, technology, social media, his blog, Second Life and Event Camp organizing team he is part of.

Please leave us a question or comment, which we will try to address on the show ASAP!

Mike McAllen: Alright, so welcome back to the Meetings Podcast. We are in Dallas PM – PCMA, should get that right probably. I will be with Mike McCurry. Hi Mike.

Michael McCurry: Hey, how are you doing Mike?

Mike McAllen: I’m very good. It’s really good to meet you in person.

Michael McCurry: Absolutely.

Mike McAllen: Yes, we’re kind of old friends online.

Michael McCurry: Yes, yes almost a year.

Mike McAllen: Yes. It’s interesting. So, why don’t you tell me a little bit about yourself and how got into this business and then we’ll take it from there.

Michael McCurry: Sure, I’ll be glad to do that. Well, you know it’s funny I graduated from college and at the time my dream was to make enough money to move to Colorado and be a ski boom and on quarter just – it’s was a quarter I decided to go to a hotel and interview as a bartender, thinking that you know I could make some quick money in making drinks and then get a cash on my pocket and then head off to Colorado. Well, unfortunately or fortunately I guess it worked out in different way.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: I interviewed with a couple of hotels and they both offered me front desk job which was certainly a lot different than a bartender job.

Mike McAllen: Or a ski boom.

Michael McCurry: Yes exactly and so I kind the grew up in this business because both of my parents were association execs and so I kind the had a little bit of understanding of it and I was always intrigued by hotels, so I decided okay fine, I’ll give it a shot. So, the rest is really history. I went on to work for High Hotels for about six years, well I work in the hotel for six years should I say and then in the mid 80’s was contacted by a meeting management company called Conferon. I’d actually done a couple of meetings for them as a convention service manager in the hotel side and they offered me a job and I’ve been with them ever since and the company is now called Experient but I just started my 25th year in September.

Mike McAllen: Wow, pretty awesome.

Michael McCurry: So, yes – you know a lot of us in this industry did fall into it and its kind the crazy that way.

Mike McAllen: Yes, that is one of the questions I usually ask to somebody, how did you get into this crazy business and almost every single person is falling into it.

Michael McCurry: I mean now a days people go to school for this.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: I did.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: I mean I have a degree in business, marketing and had no clue what I was going to do when I graduated except I just got that piece of paper and figured you know now – now the world is good.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: And boy, it’s been a wild ride.

Mike McAllen: Yes and it’s interesting here to be at PCMA about how all this students which I really like, with all these young people that are all into this.

Michael McCurry: Oh yes.

Mike McAllen: And they bring a lot of energy because you know how gets after awhile through in this business.

Michael McCurry: Right.

Mike McAllen: You start – its start to be kind of triage too, you’re triaging along and then you see – and that help so much to be able to talk to somebody. I saw you on the bus the other night, talking to some young lady and mentoring her.

Michael McCurry: Or she was mentoring me, one of the two, I’m not sure that’s true but you’re absolutely right you know, the energy that they bring to the industry you know, when they’re new in it and they’re going to school for it, trying to figure their careers out, they’re just all over it.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: And of course you need to have a lot of energy pretty much at all levels in business but certainly in the entry level area.

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: You know where you’re working on the floor for hours and hours on your feet.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: Working crazy hours and all that stuff so.

Mike McAllen: And so what’s your role now?

Michael McCurry: I have a really – for the last 10 years or so I’ve been working as an account manager. My official title is strategic account manager and actually that was kind of an evolved position from what used to be what we called an account executive. So, essentially what I do is I manage the relationships between our customers and our operating department in our company. So, I’m really – you know, I refer to myself as a dot connector, I think I even wrote that in a blog. In essence my job is to understand my customers, understand how they operate, understand their business, understand what their business issues, what their business challenges are and then come up with solutions or propose solutions or options for them to consider to make their – to resolve whatever those challenges are and to improve their – the quality of their business. And you know, sometimes you know, that could mean recommending a solution that we have internally of course which would be the most profitable to do it but sometimes I have to make the tough decision and point them in into a different direction because we don’t have the right solution for what their situation.

Mike McAllen: Yes but that’s important to build relationships.

Michael McCurry: So, I’m consultant. It’s really you know, you could call it a consultant, some of – those terms out there or trusted adviser or – but really I’m just really in the relationship building business and helping people solve their business challenges.

Mike McAllen: Yes, interesting. I have to say – I have similar conversations with somebody at lunch today, a meeting planner and talked to them and they were talking about you know, I do a lot of corporate work, I don’t do it – don’t do a lot of you know, she was a government planner. I have one client that’s a government planner but it was interesting I was talking to her about it like it is more about the relationship because even if you’re not making any money from that client you always want to help, I mean you’re a nice guy. I’m a nice guy, sort of I guess.

Michael McCurry: Sort of, yes whatever.

Mike McAllen: Nice guys but you really want to build that relationship because you never know who they know and that’s the main thing with business side of it, you never know who they know.

Michael McCurry: I think it’s fair to say that both you and I and many of our friends, mutual friends are people that care.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: You know their interest in business goes deeper than just making a buck.

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: You know, we care about our reputations, we care about building a legacy, we care about you know, making a difference in the world that we live in and the world we work in, so that’s – you know, we got to have a passion for your business because it’s not a nine to five job, it’s not – and it’s you know, it’s different everyday.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: And you know, sometimes very stressful, sometimes not so stressful.

Mike McAllen: So, when we’re in the – when I was in the luncheon yesterday, you face was plastered all over the place in there – on the big screens which I thought was very funny, they make a cute little video which – you know, they done a really good job. I’m amazed. You know, I’ve only been to this one and I’ve been to MPI and this is 8,000 times better.

Michael McCurry: Wow, well that’s good to know. I’m sure Debra Saxton would like to know that.

Mike McAllen: Yes, well but it’s true. I mean just in general and me looking at it from a production side it is just, everything is just sharp and looks good, content is great, very cool I mean and I don’t have any interest on any of it really, I’m coming in as an attendee.

Michael McCurry: Right, right.

Mike McAllen: So, I mean that’s kind – I know you’re part of PCMA.

Michael McCurry: Right, yes I’ve been a member of PCMA since 1993 and really extremely active in it since 2001. The first few years I was involved, I was still active but not like I am now, I mean I’m pretty deeply involved in the leaderships side of the organization and really on the innovation side and trying to help the organization move forward with technology and processes and you know, getting – getting hook up properly into the social media philosophy and I think they’ve embraced it, you know, they do certainly this event. This week is not perfect by any means but they’ve taken a lot on and they’ve you know, if they may not have hit the home run but they’ve certainly hit a triple, you know, I mean they’ve done a lot of fine things.

Mike McAllen: And they say – went to the press conference and they were talking about it as a laboratory, this is a laboratory for them, they try a new things but doesn’t work being on – I mean they webcasting it which is fantastic to bring people in.

Michael McCurry: Right.

Mike McAllen: And all – and the Crowdvine thing.

Michael McCurry: I’m looking forward to see an archive of the webcast because obviously since I’m a live attendee I haven’t seen it.

Mike McAllen: Yes, I haven’t either.

Michael McCurry: But I am curious of how the quality turns out on that. But – from all appearances it seems like they invested the right technology and resources …

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: … to do it right and you know, it’s nice that they’re offering six sessions webcasted free to anyone, so.

Mike McAllen: Which makes total sense because people will see that though – nobody wants to sit at their computer and they see all this people networking learning the stuff, they want to get here.

Michael McCurry: Right.

Mike McAllen: It’s a great thing.

Michael McCurry: And then – and then for the members that couldn’t be here because they didn’t have the financial resources or perhaps they didn’t have the time available because of other commitments, they at least get to sit at their desk and watch some of the content and capture a little bit of a flavor of the excitement you know and you know, that creates loyalty.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: Membership loyalty.

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: And somewhere down the line you know, hopefully next year they’re going to have the resources and the time available to come and you know, they’ll be excited.

Mike McAllen: Sure, sure, sure. So, you talked about innovation, now you’re a blogger and your blog, what’s your blog URL?

Michael McCurry: It’s www.michaelmccurry.net, right?

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: And I’ve – have the blog in place since March.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: So it’s been about not quite 10 months and that’s been a terrific experience and you know, I do have kind of natural, I guess talent or skill in writing.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: Plus it’s something I enjoy doing, so I think that goes a long way towards making you a successful work kind, when you enjoy writing. Sometimes it’s hard to get it done with all the other commitments you have going on but I’ve really, you know, it’s been really a good experience. It’s been a great place for me to get out there, things that I’m thinking about and you know, I use my blog, not just as a forum for airing business issues but really just as king of place to talked about things that I’m passionate about. So, sure many of those things are business focused but you know, even life issues and family and other things and that I’m passionate about such as music and that kind of stuff so.

Mike McAllen: I saw the post you did, the Google wave stuff, it’s very interesting. I mean you’re involved in everything. I mean you are like – you and I were similar because we’re always trying new things, innovation things.

Michael McCurry: I would consider myself an early adopter, certainly from my age group I am, you know, I mean most people that are 53 years old aren’t that quick to jump on the technology band wagon, you know, or change processes. I really – I embrace change, I really do.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: You know, certainly I walk into change sometimes with a little bit of apprehension but it’s a little bit accelerating turn it, to go into a new avenue.

Mike McAllen: And you can push that along, you never know what’s going to come up that will help your customers; you will help your clients, help your friends to – what they’re doing. I know you’re also in Second Life and you do little DJ in there and do a little, you know you do some interesting things.

Michael McCurry: Yes.

Mike McAllen: And that’s a whole different virtual worlds and it all ties together, it really does.

Michael McCurry: You know Second Life was actually my first exposure in the social media.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: That’s where I got started and I just bump into it. I mean it was 2006 and I was reading a business week article, you know, major business magazine and there is this huge article on Second Life and it was like right around Thanksgiving I think and so I had a little bit of extra time on my hand, I think I taken sometime off and so I like – so I read this article and like I’m going to check this out, this is unbelievable and wow, I mean Second Life is kind the out there, I mean a lot of people.

Mike McAllen: Well, there’s learning.

Michael McCurry: I put off fire a little bit because it’s so out there, it’s more out there than anything else.

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: That – that really is available online at this point other than maybe wanted to work out craft.

Mike McAllen: Right, right.

Michael McCurry: But it really as a fantastic place for folks that are artistic, you know, as you mentioned I am a DJ, I’m also – I’m a musician and a song writer, so I’ve used the Second Life as a place to do what’s called a virtual gig, you know, both with live music in and with DJ’ing in virtual clubs.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: And I develop quite an audience doing that and I actually was making money doing that – putting that up together you know because as you know Second Life is a monetarian – monetizing based venture. They have their own currency actually which trades on the currency exchange, so its kind the crazy.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: But.

Mike McAllen: But it’s innovative.

Michael McCurry: Oh yes.

Mike McAllen: And it’s new and it’s – and there’s things in there, I mean modeling things in there, people are in there. I mean we are at the Aloft Hotel last night for that twit up and Aloft Hotel come in there and they – before they build any hotels they put them in Second Life.

Michael McCurry: They did.

Mike McAllen: To have people walk through and go they like this or that.

Michael McCurry: Right.

Mike McAllen: I mean those are things that are, you know, like I said to think about things differently is where our business is all about.

Michael McCurry: Well, you know, Dan Parks.

Mike McAllen: Dan Parks.

Michael McCurry: Has this Virtual Convention Center in there which is fantastic.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: And he is definitely making a living doing that and because it’s cool. I mean if you visit that place, it’s like – I mean it’s not like being where we are right now but it’s still it’s pretty interesting.

Mike McAllen: It is. Yes there’s a lot, a lot going on. I mean that kind of stuff is – but it’s coming into what we talked about this meetings, you’re going to fly all this people in or you know, you’re not – some of this people can’t come and just like you said a webcast, you could do sessions, you know, project them in Second Life and people could come attend that way and then they …

Michael McCurry: Absolutely.

Mike McAllen: … they got a physical presence too. I mean it’s not the same thing of course but you know.

Michael McCurry: But you know, they call them avatars the Second Life as you know, you know, Virtual Convention Center, you can sit down in a meeting room next to somebody else, another avatar.

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: And you’re having a conversation with him you know.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: And they even have voice chat available you know, in there now, so you can have a voice conversation if you want it to but yes it’s quite interesting.

Mike McAllen: Yes and you’re very – well we’re going to be putting on the Event Camp and that’s coming out in New York coming up, that should be pretty fun to hang out at and we’ll probably talk about a lot of different things there and probably encourage people to come to that if they can, if they’re in New York on February 6.

Michael McCurry: Correct at the Roger Smith Hotel.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: That’s going to be quite an interesting event.

Mike McAllen: It will.

Michael McCurry: You know, because it’s kind of crossing the boundaries from what’s – what’s a normal conference, there going be – no they’re calling in un-conference because you know, some of the sessions are not going to be define, you’re going to show up there and as an attendee and.

Mike McAllen: Talk about whatever you want.

Michael McCurry: Yes, talk about whatever you want.

Mike McAllen: And maybe that’s the place where you can get together and throw out some ideas that you, you know, a place like this where you can find – there area so many people that here appears that you can talk to about things. It’s another great place to go and sit down and say, hey I’m thinking about this and that.

Michael McCurry: You know, and it kind the want you — you know, one of the premises of that, I know you know this because you’re on the committee as well behind the you know, the Event Camp is to have more affordable alternative for people …

Mike McAllen: Right.

Michael McCurry: … that can’t afford to spend hundreds and thousands of dollars to go to an event like this one we’re at. You know, because the registration fee that Event Camp is 75 bucks.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: So your biggest investment really is going to be the – even if you’re flying from out of town, the airline ticket and then the hotel room but I think the hotel room is even a really good deal, so.

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: So, I mean it’s just, you know, a very minor investment and then in exchange for that you’re going to hold there your programming and to bills.

Mike McAllen: And networking and yes it’s going to be a good deal.

Michael McCurry: And it’s – and it should be first class, so it’s going to be exciting to see how that one …

Mike McAllen: Yes.

Michael McCurry: … turns out. I know that they’ve already gotten quite a bit a – we just opened registration and this way, you’re going – where you got people.

Mike McAllen: Yes I’ve already talk to several people here about it and I’m excited about going you know. Well, a lot of New York people that I know that are like excited about it.

Michael McCurry: I would think certainly you know, the New York, New Jersey even Washington DC area will get people coming on trains and.

Mike McAllen: Yes, I’m hoping to put one on – will lead up that one in …

Michael McCurry: California?

Mike McAllen: Out of the West Coast California. I think it would be good too. I mean – and this will be good again like a laboratories to see how they work and try to get them down to where they’re free which would I think that would be the best thing to finally get it down if you could figure out how to do it.

Michael McCurry: Well you know it’s – you know, the business model is really build on sponsorships for the most part which isn’t – which is not how – well this conference does have a lot of sponsorships as well but there still a major registration investment you know.

Mike McAllen: Yes, yes.

Michael McCurry: And so.

Mike McAllen: But this is a lot of cool and this is huge and that one will go [crosstalk] [0:18:12].

Michael McCurry: Yes, yes. I’m 35 – well, who knows maybe we’ll have an Event Camp that’s probably even be like that because it wouldn’t have the intimacy to it.

Mike McAllen: Yes, yes, yes you’re right.

Michael McCurry: But.

Mike McAllen: Alright, well Michael thank you very much for talking with me and I’m sure we will do a few more podcast.

Michael McCurry: It’s my pleasure.

Mike McAllen: We’re shaking hands now because it’s audio.

Michael McCurry: Thanks for the opportunity to have a conversation, yes it’s great.

Mike McAllen: Yes, yes. Okay, well thanks a lot. I’ll talk to you soon.

Michael McCurry: Alright.

Mike McAllen: Okay.

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