Adventures In Venueland

Escape with us to the eucalyptus and redwood grove of Sigmund Stern Recreation Grove in San Francisco — home of the iconic Stern Grove Festival — as we sit down with the festival’s Marketing Director, Molly Fremgen. We learn about the magic behind this beloved concert series, now entering its 89th season in 2026, and the legacy of Stern Grove Festival as the nation’s longest-running nonprofit music festival — bringing free live music to the Bay Area since 1938. We dive into the nuts and bolts of producing a large-scale nonprofit concert series, from the challenges of live events to the creative solutions that keep the festival thriving. Molly talks about the pride the team takes in stewarding Stern Grove’s legacy, and how the organization uses its platform to support the broader live music and local business community in San Francisco. Molly also traces her path into live events — from producing a music festival while studying at the University of Illinois, to roles at MTV, AEG, Goldenvoice, and on the PR team at Coachella. We learn about Molly’s 500 mile hike of the infamous Camino de Santiago in Spain which happened at a crossroads in her career and helped guide her to her current dream role, and how her goalkeeping and manifesting has steered her to achieve career and personal goals. This episode is full of fascinating info, great career advice, and lots of laughs.Molly Fremgen: LinkedIn | EmailStern Grove Festival: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter ––––––ADVENTURES IN VENUELANDFollow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/TwitterLearn more about Event & Venue Marketing ConferenceMeet our team:Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & MarketingDave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest ResearchMegan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital AdvertisingSamantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & PublicityCamille Faulkner | Audio Editing & MixingHave a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

We’re off to the land of Oz as we chat with Christine Pileckas, the Director of Booking & Marketing at INTRUST Bank Arena in Wichita, Kansas. Christine, who recently celebrated her 15 year anniversary with the venue, gives us the lay of the land on the venue’s place in the city, the city’s place in the state, and how she juggles her roles at the arena. Recognized as one of the Top 20 busiest arenas in the world for their venue size, INTRUST Bank Arena is somewhat unique with its blended marketing and booking departments, which provide a synergy which help both excel. Hear how things are structured, what motivated Christine to add booking to her resume, some misconceptions about both sides of the industry, and how their approach helps them chase and market shows. We learn about how she got her start in live events, from a shifted major at West Chester University of Pennsylvania to an internship and starting role in New Jersey to her time in Wichita – Christine talks about how not being afraid to take risks and working for the job you want has led her to this point in her career. As we hit our 150th overall episode (119 main + 31 bonus) enjoy this conversation packed full of great career tips, fun marketing ideas and strategies, and lots of interesting information about the Air Capital of the World.Christine Pileckas: Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInINTRUST Bank Arena: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter ––––––ADVENTURES IN VENUELANDFollow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/TwitterLearn more about Event & Venue Marketing ConferenceMeet our team:Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & MarketingDave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest ResearchMegan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital AdvertisingSamantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & PublicityCamille Faulkner | Audio Editing & MixingHave a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

We’re headed north of the border to Hamilton, Ontario to chat with Nick DeLuco, Senior Vice President & General Manager of TD Coliseum. This is opening week for the venue, which will open after an extensive $300 million renovation by Oak View Group this Friday, November 21, with a kick off concert with Paul McCartney. We chat with Nick about the arena’s place in the Golden Horseshoe market, Oak View Group’s investment in the cutting-edge venue, and their music-first approach to the design and strategies. We talk about the balance of paying homage to the 40 year history while also blazing a new path with innovations – including unique floor level suites built into the lower bowl. As they approach their opening, we hear about how the team worked together on the project and their focus on being present during the busy opening week. Nick also walks us through his venueland history, from taking Sports Management in school and wanting to be a sports agent to an internship at his hometown venue in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario to his first job post graduation in ticketing in Mississauga. We talk about his path to opening new buildings in Kingston and New Brunswick as well as his time spent in Edmonton overseeing live events. Enjoy this fun look behind the curtain as they prepare to open this venue while also enjoying great career advice, fun stories, and recommendations for your next visit to Hamilton.Nick DeLuco: LinkedInTD Coliseum: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter ––––––ADVENTURES IN VENUELANDFollow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/TwitterLearn more about Event & Venue Marketing ConferenceMeet our team:Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & MarketingDave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest ResearchMegan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital AdvertisingSamantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & PublicityCamille Faulkner | Audio Editing & MixingHave a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

Just like your favorite venue ghost, we’re back to bring you spine-chilling stories, spooky event info, and harrowing Halloween haunts to make all your nightmares come true! 🦇 For this year’s frightful feature, we learn all about Paramount Theatre in Austin, which in addition to being haunted also presents an annual horror film series – Panic at the Paramount! 🎬 Our (g)hosts are joined by Javier Ramirez, Director of Marketing at Paramount & State Theatres and Moontower Comedy Festival (largest annual comedy festival in North America). Javier acts as our guide through an overview of both theatres before we dive into their horror film series. We learn about how Panic at the Paramount was created, their thought process with ticket pricing and branding around the events, and how various actors and legendary film director Robert Rodríguez have gotten involved in presenting films for the series. We then learn about the 110 year old Paramount Theatre’s three resident ghosts, which have been seen around the venue, photographed disappearing into the seats, and even… smelled?! 👻 Enjoy this fun annual Halloween episode to get you in the mood for today’s holiday.Javier Ramirez: Instagram | LinkedInParamount Theatre: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter ––––––ADVENTURES IN VENUELANDFollow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/TwitterLearn more about Event & Venue Marketing ConferenceMeet our team:Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & MarketingDave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest ResearchMegan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital AdvertisingSamantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & PublicityCamille Faulkner | Audio Editing & MixingHave a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.

Take a trip to the Queen City as we talk to Tim Murray, Athletic Trainer for the Cincinnati Cyclones, the ECHL pro hockey team that plays at Heritage Bank Center. Tim tells us about the Cyclones, a ECHL minor league hockey team affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL) and Toronto Marlies (AHL), gives us an overview of the roles of an athletic trainer, and what a typical day is for him for home and away games. Learn what makes a good venue from his side of the industry, the differences of being an athletic trainer with different sports, and what he loves about hockey. Tim tells us what inspired him to pursue this career, and walks us through time in school at EKU (where he became friends with Paul) and Murray State, and his path that led him to his current role. We discuss competitive drive and how he has competed in different events and currently competes in CrossFit. Tim tells us about his work in spreading awareness for Dwarfism and #DwarfismAwarenessMonth (October) – using his platform to educate people and advocate for those who can’t advocate for themselves. Enjoy this fascinating look into the athletic trainer side of the live events industry in this fun, educational episode.Tim Murray: Instagram | LinkedInCincinnati Cyclones: Facebook | Instagram | X/Twitter ––––––ADVENTURES IN VENUELANDFollow on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or X/TwitterLearn more about Event & Venue Marketing ConferenceMeet our team:Paul Hooper | Co-host, Booking, Branding & MarketingDave Redelberger | Co-host & Guest ResearchMegan Ebeck | Marketing, Design & Digital AdvertisingSamantha Marker | Marketing, Copywriting & PublicityCamille Faulkner | Audio Editing & MixingHave a suggestion for a guest or bonus episode? We'd love to hear it! Send us an email.