The results are in!
We had SAIT Event Management students survey event profs at GO WEST, to find out what you love, find cringy, and look forward to in our industry.
We crunched the numbers and tallied the trends; now, we’re sharing it all with you.
Here’s how to do this:
We lovingly nicknamed you according to how long you’ve been in events —
• 1-5 years in: Newbies
• 10 years in: Mostly Millennials
• 20 years in: Lifers
• 30+ years in: Event Vets
Set your calendar to busy for the next little while and dig in – you had a lot to say, and we did not hold back.
You gave us a mix so good we made a playlist!
Plus, we broke your music taste down based on how long you’ve been in events. Here’s what we learned.
Newbies
Your top song: Espresso – Sabrina Carpenter
You’re fresh on the scene, but your playlist is already legendary. From Sabrina Carpenter’s “Espresso” to Coolio’s “Gangsta’s Paradise,” everyone looks to you for what they should be listening to (and you always know).
Mostly Millennials
Your top song: Unstoppable – Sia
You’re a blast at karaoke night. Whether spinning Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” or Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” you know every word. Bonus points for P!nk’s “Get the Party Started”–it’s what you do best.
Lifers
Your top song: Juicy – The Notorious B.I.G.
Every genre, every era, no skips. Whether Madonna, Imagine Dragons, AC/DC or Eminem, you’ve mastered the art of the mixtape. A connoisseur of feel-good anthems and nostalgic jams, you know every night is a good night if the playlist is right.
Event Vets
Your top song: Thunderstruck – AC/DC
You’ve seen trends come and go, but you know great music stays forever. Your playlist is packed with musical GOATs like Queen, Foo Fighters, Chaka Khan, and Journey. You have strong musical opinions, and you know what? You’ve earned them.
It’s not all bops and bangers. After 30 years in the industry, some of you prefer Stéphane Grappelli. You know your eardrums are precious.
A few of you prefer silence or audiobooks. Tell us, is it true crime or Love is Blind recaps that get you in the zone?
Here’s where you’d sneak in and what it says about you!
Newbies
Your Most Crashed Event: Taylor Swift Concert
You’re all about the buzz of the crowd, whether it’s belting out lyrics at Coachella or a Kendrick show, or hitting up Comic-Con for a selfie with your favorite celeb. If there’s a big name and a big crowd, we know where to find you.
Mostly Millennials
Your Most Crashed Event: The Met Gala
You’ve got a taste for high fashion. One night, you’d be slipping into the Met, the next, courtside at Wimbledon. Whether it’s Paris Fashion Week or the Oscars, you’d love a wardrobe budget and front-row seat, tyvm.
Lifers
Your Most Crashed Event: SXSW
You’ve seen it all and have great taste. You’re not just sneaking into The Grammys—you’re at the afterparty. You’d love to take in CES Las Vegas, wish you’d been at the Royal Wedding, and dream of bumping elbows at TED Talks.
Event Vets
Your Most Crashed Event: World Economic Forum
You’ve mastered the art of the exclusive. Super Bowl suite? Been there. G7 Summit? You’ve got a seat. Maybe you still sneak into Burning Man for old time’s sake, but these days, you prefer IMEX Las Vegas because, let’s be real, your network is the real VIP pass.
Grand Beatbox Battle – to which we respond, “Boots and cats and boots and cats and boots and cats.”
A Dental Event – You’re the friend who always has floss in their bag. We’d love to know: what else do you do for fun?
Newbies
Your top tech: iPhone
You’re all about making smarter connections–from scanning QR codes at check-in to networking with interactive business cards, you’re always one step ahead. And let’s be real, your phone is basically an extension of your hand.
Mostly Millennials
Your top tech: EventMobi
You’ve got the rhythm of event planning down. Whether prepping in EventMobi, or making smart shortcuts with ChatGPT, you know how to stay on top of it all. Bonus points for Social Tables—because organization is your love language.
Lifers
Your top tech: Asana
You’re the go-to problem solver, the management magician. With Jotform in one hand and Asana in the other, you make the impossible look easy–and so streamlined. Add in Perplexity AI for last-minute brainstorming, and you’re unstoppable.
Event Vets
Your top tech: EventMobi (a crowd fav!)
You’ve seen it all and have your trusty favs. Whether designing in Vectorworks, planning with Swoogo, or whipping out your trusty spreadsheets, you keep things running like a well-oiled machine.
One of you did mention pens, and we love that for you. Never change.
Nice! Security tech made the list–we see you profs with geofencing and access badges on the brain.
Newbies
Your Biggest Ick: A Swag Bag Full of Junk
You entered the industry in a time of digital everything, but you’re here for real, sustainable experiences. No gimmicky swag, awkward breakout rooms, or paper drink tickets. You’re ready for less waste and more authenticity.
Mostly Millennials
Your Biggest Ick: A Boho-Themed Wedding
You’ve seen it all, and the term “rustic chic” sends you running. You were there when Eventbrite felt revolutionary, you’re tired of rambling keynotes, and you never want to see burlap again. You’re here for innovation and getting to the point.
Lifers
Your Biggest Ick: A Silent Auction with Clipboards and Paperwork
You survived the era of overhead projectors, the Harlem Shake, and chocolate fountains. Now, you’re all about a better experience—less paper, shorter banquets, and a hard no to forced team-building games.
Event Vets
Your Biggest Ick: A Paper RSVP Printed by a Dot Matrix Printer
You remember the pre-internet days of faxing, 80s rock, and décor being “drape everything in swagging curtains.” Now, you just want seamless logistics, better playlists, and zero bureaucracy blocking your creativity.
One of you really hates “people leaning on my stuff.” How many times has this happened to you?
You’re super tired of closing out the night to Billy Joel. Someone has heard “Piano Man” one too many times.
And here’s what you each love most, according to your votes.
Newbies
You love: The endless opportunities ahead
You’re here to get creative, learn, and meet new people. You already know every event feels invigorating, and love the energy here. You want to grow your network and show what you can do.
Mostly Millennials
You love: Learning new things
You’re focusing on building expertise, embracing the tech evolution, and growing your personal impact on the industry. The ever-changing nature of the game keeps you excited, proving that variety really is the spice of life.
Lifers
You love: Pulling off something mind-blowing
You’re focusing on nurturing relationships, pushing creative boundaries, and leaning into the powers of AI in your workflow. Bringing your visions to reality is the reason you get out of bed every day.
Event Vets
You love: Your teammates
We’ve gotta give it to you. You’re passing on knowledge while keeping an eye on innovation. Survey says: you appreciate the people who’ve made this journey unforgettable. You have a real sense of pride in your work and our growth as an industry, and know just how special it is to see events come to life. We love that you’re eager to pass on that knowledge, as you see networking, community and lifelong friendships as one of the best parts of a life as an event prof.
Turns out, whether you’ve been in the industry for 3 or 43 years, meeting new people and forming connections remains your number one, and we couldn’t agree more. We’ve each been helped by so many teammates along the way, and we are excited to help the next gen as they come up.
Now we’ve gotta know: were your answers what you expected? Report back!
