So, this month’s blog is going to be a bit of an inside job. I’m going to take a slightly meta turn and talk about my newsletter journey.
Yes, that’s right. I’m using my blog to talk about my newsletter.
Let me know if you experience deja vu; that’s a clear sign that Agents are nearby and I’ve caused the Matrix to glitch.
Anyhoo, if you’d told me a few months ago that I’d be popping into your inbox every Monday morning, I’d probably have choked on my tea and biscuits.
You see, running the day-to-day of Maverick Event Show Crew – you know, finding amazing freelancers for big events all over the world – can be pretty time-consuming (and knackering), so the idea of adding yet another thing to my neverending To-Do list felt about as appealing as climbing into a spacesuit after eating a spicy curry.
But, wouldn’t you know it, a few people whose opinions I respect suggested that a newsletter could be a good way to get the Maverick name out there, build a bit of a community, and generally keep in touch with everyone. “It’ll be great!” they said. “Really easy!” they said.
So, I dubiously took the plunge, and Maverick on Monday was born.
And I’m actually really enjoying it. There’s something quite satisfying about sitting down each week and sharing what’s been going on, musing about the ups and downs of the events world, and having a bit of a laugh.
The first part of my friends’ predictions was spot-on; it is great. The second part…meh, not so much. Easy, it is not.
First off, the weekly thing. Every Monday, rain or shine, knackered or not, Maverick on Monday has to land in people’s inboxes. That’s a promise I made, and I’m sticking to it. However, this does mean that I’ve made a rod for my own back when it comes to coming up with new content. Some weeks, ideas flow out of me like a rain-swollen river; other weeks, it’s like trying to get blood out of a stone.
Then there’s the whole making it valuable AND entertaining balancing act. I don’t want to just bore you with endless self-promotion (though I sneak that in where I can *wink*). I want to share genuinely useful stuff, whether it’s tips for freelancers, a bit of behind-the-scenes insight into the events world, or even just a bit of a rant about something that I know irritates other people just as much as they irritate me (cash flow, I’m looking at you!).
In terms of what I talk about in it, it’s a real mixed bag. One week, I might be sharing my frustrations with the admin side of running a business, and the next I’m deep-diving into the importance of a good showcaller (yes, you really DO need one!). I’ve also mused on the challenges of staying positive in this industry, the costs involved with pitching for new business, and even the slightly controversial topic of why we use citations at awards events and when exactly we deliver them.
It’s not all serious stuff, though. We have a laugh too! I like to share anecdotes, industry news, and generally try to inject a bit of positivity into your Monday morning.
Has it been worth it? That’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? It’s still early days, so it’s hard to put my finger on any new business that’s come directly from the newsletter. But I’m getting lovely feedback from people, and it feels like I’m building stronger connections, which is never a bad thing.
Plus, let’s be honest, it can’t be doing the business any harm, right?
So, there you have it. The (slightly) chaotic story of my Maverick on Monday journey so far.
If you fancy signing up for the Maverick on Monday newsletter and getting a dose of events industry insights, useful tips, musings, and occasional rants delivered straight to your inbox every week, you can subscribe here: Maverick on Monday.
You’ll get one email from me a week, that’s it. I promise. I won’t pepper you with spam (Mmmm, peppered spam…), and I won’t be passing your information on to anyone else. Pinky promise.
Wish me luck, and I hope to see you on the mailing list soon.
