When Events Stop Feeling Like Checklists

Jun 30

Ever been to an event that felt more like a checklist than a real experience?

You show up.
Grab a name tag.
Listen to a few speakers.
Eat a catered lunch.
Leave with a folder you’ll never open again.

Too often, events are built around transactions—content to consume, boxes to check, seats to fill.

But people don’t remember agendas.
They remember how they felt.

Why RESET Was Different

I was hired to photograph and film an event called RESET, created specifically for oncology nurses. These are professionals who walk side-by-side with patients and families during some of the hardest, most emotional moments of their lives.

This wasn’t just another professional development day.

RESET was designed to give something back to the people who are always giving.

From the moment I arrived at the Biltwell Event Center in Indianapolis, I could feel the difference. The space itself was simple and welcoming. Brunch and vendors were downstairs. Speakers were upstairs. That layout may seem small, but it worked—it gave people room to breathe, space to connect, and time to slow down.

And the welcome? Personal. Thoughtful. I was handed a bag of Indiana-made snacks and told I had full freedom to photograph the day as I saw it. That kind of trust goes a long way—and it set the tone for everything that followed.

What I Saw Throughout the Day

As I moved through the event, the difference between content and connection became even clearer.

People weren’t just checking off boxes. They were fully present.

Friends hugging and laughing in hallways
Nurses asking for group photos
Vendors reconnecting with attendees from past years
Honest conversations happening in quiet corners

The environment encouraged community. And that came through in every image.

The Speakers Who Made It Matter

The speaker lineup wasn’t about hype—it was about empathy.

Kevin Surdi talked openly about having tough conversations at work. Practical, real, and grounded in day-to-day experiences.
Kelsey Tainsh, a two-time brain cancer survivor, shared a deeply personal story about resilience—one that hit home with the audience in ways that didn’t need explanation.
Rae Karim, a grief coach and author, unpacked the layers of loss with clarity and compassion.

Each voice added something meaningful. There wasn’t a wasted word.

Events Should Do More Than Deliver Content

RESET made me reflect on how easy it is to default to a transactional mindset when planning or attending events—especially in business or healthcare settings.

We obsess over timelines, speaker bios, seating charts, and food orders.
We structure everything down to the minute.
We make sure the binders are printed and the clicker works.

But in doing that, do we leave space for the things people actually need?

At RESET, the details still mattered. The schedule was solid. The vendors were prepared. The flow was smooth.

But all of that served a greater purpose: creating an environment where people could rest, connect, and feel understood.

And that shift—from delivery to meaning—is what made this event stand out.

Why This Work Matters to Me

RESET felt personal in a way that surprised me.

When my wife and I were newly married, she worked as a physician assistant in radiation oncology. I remember the emotional weight she carried after tough days. I remember the mental exhaustion. I remember the conversations she brought home—conversations full of empathy, loss, and love.

So when I walked into RESET, I didn’t just see an event. I saw people who carry that same weight every day—and a room that finally gave them space to set it down.