Last Chance to Register to Join Us Live! Tomorrow’s the day. Don’t forget to RSVP to hear Phil Libin, Sherry Huss and Michael Kolowich.

As the events industry faces decisions of whether to cancel, mandate vaccines, or look for government guidance, it might be time to take a more scientific look at the options. Freeman, the global leader in event logistics, has been working with Epistemix, a data research company, to use data and analytics to model the safety of holding an event. Epistemix simulates the health impacts of key COVID-19-response decisions such as how to best distribute vaccines, reopen schools, host events, and return to offices.

Jon Cordier, Epistemix’s CEO and founder, addressed event planners’ concerns at a recent Freeman meeting. The data showed that the number of COVID cases at events is lower than in the rest of daily life. “The single most important driver is vaccination coverage in a city,” said Cordier. For about $2,400, the company can simulate the event population, factoring in local vaccine rates and some mitigation, such as masks, to estimate the safety of an event. Plus, the population attending events tend to be vaccinated at higher rates than the general population. Will data prevail in an emotionally fraught environment? Can you create a “safe bubble” at an event? Watch the webinar.

Experiment and Learn - Marco Gilberti:
We now have permission to experiment and learn from mistakes. Big tech companies are building clouds for a hybrid world in fields such as telemedicine, remote work and education. We can learn from these and apply the findings to events. 

If you analyze for-profit organizers, they're struggling to monetize digital. But they are seeing increasing revenue on the digital side. Go back to basics and think h”How can I help the seller connect with the buyer?”.

All three speakers agreed that events are being reworked the same way that work is reworked. A five-day forty-hour office work week and a three-day large event face similar challenges. 

Finally, if you think we’re heading back to the office “just as soon as we lick this pandemic” think again. This week my Techonomy column explains why the WFH change is going to stick and ultimately be as important as the Industrial Revolution was for an earlier generation.

It’s harder than ever to hide the cracks in big tech’s foundation. Two examples, read the WSJ’s Facebook files and follow the NYT coverage of the Elizabeth Holmes Theranos trial.