Epic Events Podcast with
Ben McCarthy

Innovating the Events Industry with TikTok, AI, and AV Trends

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  • Ben McCarthy

    Ben McCarthy is the Founder and Director of Premier Events, a leading full-service event agency based in the UK with an annual turnover of over £9 million. With more than 20 years of experience across AV, production, and event management, Ben is known for his fast execution, tech-savvy mindset, and ability to scale without sacrificing service.

About the Episode

Muhammad Younas sits down with Ben McCarthy, Founder of Premier Events, to unpack the practical ways event pros can keep up and stand out. From using TikTok to drive B2B leads to applying AI behind the scenes to cut hours of manual work, Ben shares the tools and tactics his team uses to stay lean, creative, and profitable.

You’ll also hear why AV decisions can make or break an event, how to keep clients coming back without long-term contracts, and why retaining talent gets easier when you hire specialists, not generalists.

It’s a crash course in modern event management, with none of the fluff.

Key Takeaways

  • Use platforms like TikTok for real B2B visibility and lead generation
  • Automate repetitive tasks using AI to save time and scale with a lean team
  • Start with generalists, then hire specialists to grow more efficiently
  • Don’t overlook virtual events; clients still value well-produced online experiences
  • Treat every event as your last chance to impress; retention is key
  • Track which content performs best organically before investing in paid ads
  • Focus on relationship-driven sales over cold outreach for long-term growth
  • Be on top of AV details to minimize the risk of failure during live events
  • Work with local vendors for international activations to avoid costly logistics
  • Invest early in experienced hires, even if it stretches your budget