Ep 321. PODHOUSE SAN ANTONIO: Don't Go To Live Events and Trade Shows Without a Plan! - Side Hustle Squad

Transcript

Mike Garvey (0:01)

Are you ready to kick back and get inspired? Grab your favorite drink, pop the top and join the side Hustle Squad with Mike Garvey. This podcast is the perfect resource for anyone who's already started their side Hustle or is just considering taking the lead. With in depth interviews featuring guests from the green industry and beyond, you'll gain valuable insights and learn what it takes to succeed in running a business while juggling a full time career. From personal stories to practical tips, the Soc side Hustle Squad podcast has everything you need to turn your passion into a thriving business. Now, here's your side Hustle Squad host, Mike Garvey.

Eric Triplet (0:52)

We are at Pod House HQ Studios. We are in San Antonio, Texas. We're at the Sponsor Games with Justin Moore and he's the author of the sponsor Magnet. And I'm super excited to kick off this event and be in Pothouse 2 debut for 2026. We're super pumped about it, but we want to do something most contractors never really do when they come to conferences. This is what we wanted to cover today. Most most people show up to conferences with expectations. Like I spend a bunch of money, I'm going to learn some stuff and it's going to transform my business and I'm going to get better and pop, pop, pop. They move on. And so most of them show up with expectations, but they never really define what exactly it is that they want from the show. Like what are their expectations? It's a big difference. Showing up with expectations and defining expectations is completely different. So when the event's over, you know, there's things that are said. Like I'm not sure if it was worth it. I didn't really get what I expected. I wanted to get something. You know, I thought I was going to come home with some magic juice, the silver bullet. But here's the truth. If you don't define what success looks like before you arrive or even I'll throw this out there. Even a lot of times when I look at my full spectrum for my year, I know like these are the things I need to do. These are the places I need to land to put me in a position to win. And then I book them out and then on the plane I'm like, let me really super, super define what's going to happen here. I'm not saying that's the right thing. I just saying that's what I get caught in. So as I come to this event, I was on the plane in the airport, you know, waking up at 3:30 in the morning to get to the, you know, airport. Like, I'm starting to process, like, what's gonna. What's gonna define my success when I get home? How am I gonna know this event really was worth it when I get back? So, I mean, the truth is, if you don't define the success that you're looking for before you arrive or on your way to the arrival, you'll never really know if you it or not. So, again, here I am. This is San Antonio, Texas. This is Pod House 2. I'm sitting here with my brother Jason Triplet, and Mike Garvey from the Side Hustle Squad podcast. And we're going to lay out exactly why we came to sponsor the sponsor event, the sponsor Games Texas, what we're. What we're planning to accomplish, what our hopes, goals, and dreams are, and how we plan to squeeze every ounce of ROI from this trip. Because we're away from our business, we're away from. From our animals. I left my dog at home. I'm pissed about that. I miss Valor. You know, we're away from our family, our wives, our, you know, kids, all that stuff. We're away from that. So, like, how can we squeeze every ounce out of this trip? Okay. And of course, this is still like the. The testing phase of Pod House number two. And there's some. Definitely some. Some content they want to share here.

Summary

Side Hustle Squad – Ep 321: PODHOUSE SAN ANTONIO: Don't Go To Live Events and Trade Shows Without a Plan!

Host: Mike Garvey
Guests: Eric Triplet, JT Triplet, Mike McAllowitz
Date: March 31, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the importance of having a strategy when attending live events and trade shows, particularly for entrepreneurs and podcasters in the green industry and adjacent spaces. Broadcasting from Pod House HQ Studios in San Antonio, TX, at the “Sponsor Games” event, Mike Garvey and his guests openly discuss expectations versus reality, the necessity of detailed planning, and how to maximize return on investment (ROI) when attending industry events. The conversation balances candid, actionable advice with plenty of humor and live event anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Arriving at Events: Expectations vs. Defined Goals

Define Success Ahead of Time
- Most attendees arrive with vague expectations but not sharply defined success metrics. This often leads to post-event disappointment.
- "[...] if you don't define what success looks like before you arrive or on your way to the arrival, you'll never really know if you [achieved] it or not."
  — Eric Triplet (02:18)
Event Participation Requires Intention
- Attendees need clarity about what they want to achieve, especially considering the costs of time, travel, and being away from business and family.
- The group underscores squeezing "every ounce of ROI" from such trips, using planning as the tool.

2. Networking: Going Beyond Your Comfort Zone

Active, Targeted Networking
- Mixed teams at Sponsor Games pushed people to interact with new faces, though staying with familiar groups sometimes limits growth.
- Eric demonstrates assertive networking by proactively meeting people and seeking open-ended conversations.
- Mike: “That’s an awesome ability to be able to do that. Not everyone can do that. I don’t know if I could do that really like to just hey...” (11:40)
Strategically Expanding Connections
- Instead of random mingling, the group discusses collecting social handles, learning about others’ niches, and identifying potential collaborators.

3. Live Example: Meeting Will, the Fitness Trainer

Addressing Difficult Questions Directly
- The team shares an example where Eric directly asks why a 40-year-old woman would pick Will, a fit 40-year-old Black man, as her menopause fitness coach.
- Will responds transparently, explaining his niche and approach, turning an awkward conversation into a trust-building moment.
  “Why would a 40-year-old white lady going through menopause go to a Black fitness male trainer for advice?”
  — Eric Triplet (15:17)
Leveraging Unique Niches
- Will's niche is super-specific, proving that precise focus and authenticity can rapidly build a following, evidenced by his viral TikTok moment.

4. Maximizing Event ROI: Planning vs. Flexibility

Pros and Cons of Detailed Planning
- Eric is identified as a “planner and analyzer,” always seeking to observe, then execute methodically.
- JT admits he’s more comfortable improvising and adjusting on the fly.
- “I feel like he analyzed the room just like he analyzed Connex. And then we executed on day two. [...] I like to sit back and watch it and just tell me where you need me to be.”
  — Mike McAllowitz (44:31)
Team Synergy
- Having both planners and improvisers can balance group dynamics, ensuring adaptability without losing sight of objectives.

5. Brand Partnerships: Authenticity is Key

Working Only with Brands You Believe In
- Panelists agree they only want to partner with brands/products they actually use and trust, favoring long-term collaborations over quick deals.
- “I don’t want to have 30 sponsors. I want a solid just a handful—just the ones I know are going to be daily use or weekly use.”
  — JT Triplet (31:47)
Building Two-Way Relationships
- The team distances themselves from “sponsor whores” who chase deals for the sake of compensation without genuine brand affinity.
- Mike: “I want to be on a team that—I want to be Michael Jordan. I want to be on one team. I don’t want to be LeBron… flailing, [jumping] from one thing to the next.” (29:35)

6. Elevator Pitches & Self-Presentation

Sharpening the Elevator Pitch
- The group critiques each other’s ability to succinctly communicate what they do.
- Eric’s example: “I specialize in building low-maintenance aquatic ecosystems for fish and aquatic plants, but more importantly for people.” (54:18)
- JT, feeling small with “only 105 subscribers,” is encouraged to own his unique journey and story, learning that everyone starts with humble numbers.
- “None of this is overnight… it’s a snowball just like your business.”
  — Mike McAllowitz (55:33)

7. Setting and Tracking Event Goals

Concrete Objectives for Sponsor Games
- Eric’s goals:
  - Collaborate with 10 different content creators
  - Record at least 5 podcasts
  - Establish clear, actionable arrangements with brands (backpacks, boots, banking)
- "I want to leave Sponsor Games with real, actionable steps—like how we're going to approach the brands we've already talked to."
  — Eric Triplet (63:30)
Follow-Up & Accountability
- Post-event self-evaluation is necessary: Did we meet our goals or fall short? Where do we improve?

8. Event-Specific Insights (Podhouse San Antonio & Sponsor Games)

Using the Event Space
- The group contemplates bringing select attendees back to their rented Podhouse studio to network and record, but they weigh crowd control and privacy with NDAs.
Small But Diverse Event
- Sponsor Games is smaller (<100 people) and not lawn/landscape specific, facilitating broader connections—“this is like a side hustle convention” (Mike Garvey, 64:21).
Learning From Others
- JT: “My goal was to just learn from people who are doing it and hopefully gain some knowledge on how to grow my personal podcast… my goal… is to just shut the up and learn.” (65:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Not Showing Up Without a Plan:
“If you don't show up with a clear plan, you're basically gambling that the event is going to magically deliver some kind of value and change your fing life. It just doesn't fing work that way, right? But when you show up with intention… that's where conferences become rocket fuel for your business.”
— Eric Triplet (75:00)
On Building Real Brand Relationships:
“I don't want a brand deal with someone that's like, 'Hey, let's do this for a month or two.' I'm… looking for longer relationships with brands.”
— Eric Triplet (28:47)
On Authenticity and Niche:
“He found that niche, dude, and I need to find that light bulb.”
— JT Triplet on Will’s success as a menopause fitness coach (20:22)
On Being Your Own Advocate:
“I want to go through the whole crowd and just be like, hey, what's your social? What's your handle?”
— Eric Triplet (52:02)

Timestamps for Important Segments

00:52 – Setting up at Pod House HQ and the thesis: define your event goals
06:02 – Importance of not expecting results without work and planning
10:03 – Eric’s approach to open networking, moving between groups
14:52 – Meeting Will, discussing direct objections and niche building
21:25 – Preparation: Being deliberate and prepared for every interaction
26:09 – Specifics: What the team hopes to get out of the Sponsor Games event
28:47 – Authentic, selective brand partnerships over short-term deals
44:16 – Balancing planning with adaptability in event settings
52:31 – The elevator pitch debate; how to present yourself to new contacts
58:18 – Recording at least five podcasts, controlling access with NDAs
63:30 – Ensuring post-event actionable steps and brand communication
75:00 – Closing thoughts: The episode’s core lesson on intention and event ROI

Episode Takeaways

Don’t Attend Events Without a Plan: Set measurable goals (people to meet, podcasts to record, sponsors to connect with) ahead of time.
Network with Purpose: Plan your networking, move beyond your group, and have a clear self-presentation.
Value Long-Term Brand Relationships: Seek to partner only with companies and products you genuinely use and believe in.
Be Ready to Adapt: Even the best plans can go sideways; flexibility and quick thinking are essential.
Debrief and Follow Up: After each event, analyze results versus goals—accountability is critical for growth.

This episode is a master class in being intentional with professional development, making every event count, and building relationships that serve both your brand and your community. Perfect for entrepreneurs, podcasters, and anyone looking to maximize their industry networking ROI.

Further Resources

For more advice and stories like this, tune in weekly to the Side Hustle Squad Podcast.
Connect with Mike Garvey and guests through the links in the episode description.