Transforming Field Events Into Revenue Growth Engines

Learn how to incentivize event attendance and align sales and marketing efforts to turn field events into revenue growth engines.

In this episode, Teagan Shurtleff, Senior Events Marketing Manager at Monte Carlo, chats with our host, Stephanie, about how she revamped their field marketing strategy by integrating sales and marketing efforts, leading to increased pipeline and revenue growth.​

Traditional tactics like email and social weren’t cutting it

Monte Carlo recognized that traditional event marketing tactics weren’t driving qualified registrations—particularly for smaller, regional events. 

They introduced "Data Leader Dinners"—intimate, city-based gatherings designed to foster meaningful connections and drive high-intent leads.

Aligning sales and marketing to boost attendance

They started incentivizing Sales Development Representatives (SDRs) to invite prospects, with attendance counting as a qualified meeting. 

This approach ensured that both sales and marketing teams were aligned in their objectives. Marketing handled logistics and content, while SDRs focused on personalized outreach and follow-ups.​

Enhancing engagement

To increase engagement, they implemented several thoughtful strategies. Personalized reminders and inquiries about dietary preferences increased engagement and showed attendees their presence was valued. 

They also provided Uber codes to simplify logistics, making it easier for guests to attend. Additionally, custom gifts or assignments were introduced to reduce drop-offs and maintain interest leading up to the event.​

Effective on-site strategies

They used color-coded badges to identify SDR-sourced guests and customers, allowing staff to tailor interactions accordingly. Detailed notes were collected for each SDR-invited guest to aid in personalized follow-ups post-event.

Measuring success and ROI

They tracked metrics from registration to attendance, opportunities, and conversions, establishing benchmarks based on city size and historical data.

For more practical insights and takeaways, tune in to the episode now.

In F.R.I.E.N.D.S style, this episode discusses the following event fails:

The One Where the Seating Diagram Didn’t Match the Seating Chart
The One Where Lindsey Had To Become IT Support on the Fly
The One Where Steph Forgot To Eat
The One Where None of the Volunteers Showed up for Their Shift
The One Where We Ran Out of Space at a Keynote
The One Where We Ran Out of Food and Water
Speakers
Teagan Shurtleff
Head of Events, Monte Carlo
Teagan Shurtleff, the Head of Events & Field Marketing at Monte Carlo, leads a dynamic team in crafting memorable and impactful events across the globe. With a flair for blending spectacular moments with strategic outcomes, Teagan has over a decade of experience in turning every gathering—from swanky wine and dine dinners to groundbreaking tech shows—into a must-attend event. Whether she’s crunching numbers or unleashing creativity, she ensures every event not only dazzles but delivers. Recently, Teagan has been focused on enhancing operational efficiencies, aligning cross-functional teams, and ambitiously scaling Monte Carlo's events program to new heights.
Stephanie Christensen
Experiential Marketing Leader
An experiential marketer with 15 years of experience building events and community for top B2B SaaS companies. She has done over 350 events ranging from 15-15,000 attendees. She is passionate about connection, community, and creating meaningful moments that inspire and grow businesses. When she's not working she enjoys spending time with her 3 children, skiing, running, and eating chocolate chip cookies.