About the Episode
In this episode of Corralling the Chaos, Angela Alea, President & CRO of LASSO, sits down with Josh Klebanoff, Co-Founder and COO of Yoke Logistics, to explore the vital role logistics plays in event planning. From understanding the unique needs of the events and entertainment industry to leveraging technology for seamless operations, Josh shares insights on why an industry-specific logistics provider can make all the difference. They discuss the importance of clear communication, preparing ahead, and how the right tech tools can mitigate common challenges in logistics, ultimately ensuring the success of every event. Discover essential tips and strategies for optimizing logistics in this engaging discussion.
Meet Your Speakers
– Angela Alea: President & CRO of LASSO, Host of Corralling the Chaos
– Josh Klebanoff, Co-Founder & COO of Yoke Logistics
Listen
Watch
Takeaways
Takeaway 1: The importance of niche logistics providers in the event and entertainment industry
The event and entertainment industry relies heavily on logistics, such as equipment delivery and transportation. However, traditional logistics companies can be difficult to work with due to a lack of industry-specific knowledge and responsiveness. Josh Klebanoff, co-founder and COO of Yoke Logistics, emphasized how their niche focus on the event and entertainment industry sets them apart.
Josh explained, “We think that we’ve built this business by becoming a niche provider for the event space. We’re certainly not the cheapest, but we are not the most expensive by any means. We pride ourselves in answering any call or any email within 15 minutes, nearly 24,7 around the clock. That’s how this business, that’s how this industry operates.”
He also highlighted their dedication to understanding and serving their clients, “We’ve both been on the ground, we’ve been the people on the loading dock, we’ve been the people in the field on, on the stage waiting to get gear in production off and the truck doesn’t show. So that’s why we know that this is important.”
Takeaway 2: Communication and preparation are key to successful event logistics
In event logistics, clear communication and adequate preparation are crucial for minimizing mishaps and reducing costs. Josh stressed the importance of providing logistics providers with as much detail as possible ahead of time to enable them to offer the best service.
Josh said, “Communication is so massively important…we really rely on our clients to give us all of the details on the front end that they possibly can…The more notice that we can have within that 48 hour window, the better.”
He also explained how last-minute requests or changes can lead to increased costs and decreased service quality, “Those changes are maybe 30 or so percent of the time. Most of this is pretty set in stone…if we can know all of the details when our client knows them, that helps us tremendously.”
Takeaway 3: Technology plays a critical role in streamlining event logistics
The advancement of technology has significantly improved the efficiency and effectiveness of event logistics. Both discussed how leveraging technology can help mitigate common issues in the industry, such as communication breakdowns and last-minute changes.
Josh noted, “The more and more technology comes into play, the more we can reduce the human element. Because at the end of the day we’re all people, we’re all really busy people working at a thousand miles per hour.”
Angela echoed this sentiment, pointing out the need for the industry to adopt technology to remain competitive: “To be a company people want to come work for, to be a company who’s cutting edge, to be able to sell your services, you need to be tech enabled.”
Insights surfaced
– Logistics is a crucial component of event planning, often overlooked but vital for the successful execution of events.
– Yoke Logistics differentiates itself by focusing on the events and entertainment industry, providing quick responses, and understanding the unique needs of this industry.
– Communication is key in logistics planning. Providing all necessary details upfront can help logistics providers better service their clients.
– Technology can greatly enhance logistics planning by centralizing information, improving communication, and reducing human error.
– Contingency planning is important in logistics due to the unpredictability of events. Having a backup plan or access to contingency gear can save an event when things go wrong.