Podcasting at a Conference: Transform Your Booth Into a Pop-Up Studio
How do you make the most of your conference sponsorship and booth setup? Sure, you could hand out branded notepads, pens, and other swag that will get tossed in the hotel trash bins.
Or… you could turn your booth into a pop-up podcast studio. This way, you engage your ideal clients during the event and also have a reason to follow up with them afterwards. Not to mention it gives you more ammunition to justify the conference sponsorship next year ;-)
Recently, I helped the Hinge team produce a live episode of the Spiraling Up podcast at the Association for Accounting Marketing (AAM) Summit—and I walked away with a deeper appreciation for what podcasts can do beyond downloads.
We weren’t in a studio.
We didn’t have polished scripts or multiple takes.
We had a table, a few mics, a camera, and a steady stream of conference attendees willing to step up and share their insights. The result? A dynamic mix of energy, some good laughs, and real-time relationship building that you just can’t replicate in a virtual interview.
Even if you’re not in the accounting industry, this episode is a great example of what’s possible by turning your trade show booth into a pop-up podcast studio:
The Power of a Pop-Up Podcast Booth
Live event podcasting is a different beast. You’re not just managing equipment—you’re managing people’s nerves, the unpredictable flow of a conference, and the noise (literal and metaphorical) that comes with being on-site.
But that’s also the beauty of it.
Over the course of the episode, we asked attendees to reflect on their biggest takeaways from the summit. Some came in ready with polished insights. Others hesitated—unsure about stepping in front of the mic. And yet, with the help of a thoughtful co-hosting team (shout out to Austin, Joe, and Mary-Blanche), those nerves quickly melted into thoughtful conversation.
We heard about the evolving role of marketing inside accounting firms. We discussed how AI is both a disruptor and an opportunity. We swapped stories about internal buy-in, content strategy, and what it really takes to push innovation forward in a conservative industry.
Engineering A Pop-Up Podcast Booth
Admittedly, if we had the right cables, devices, and microphones, we could have recorded the audio on separate tracks, giving us flexibility in post-production. But alas, we didn’t. And we had to get scrappy.
We ran multiple mic tracks through a mixer to minimize mic bleed, a fixed camera for the main video feed, an “iso-cam” on the guest chair, and I used my iPhone camera to capture B-roll. Below is a simple illustration of the setup:
The setup worked, and we were able to release the episode within a few weeks after filming. Looking back, there were definitely things I would have done differently. But overall, this was a smashing success.
The ‘Man on the Street’ Approach
If you were overwhelmed by the diagram of the recording setup above, don’t be alarmed. Recording at your booth is only one way to capture live podcast at a conference. Another way? Emulate your favorite sports reporter and record quick interviews in a ‘man-on-the-streets’ style.
While at the AAM Summit, I did this very thing when I asked sales/marketing leaders and practitioners what they believe is broken about the way accounting firms win new business today:
The ‘man-on-the-street’ style is lower effort, but it can generate some incredible content. I turned each of these quick interviews into short video posts on the Breaking BizDev LinkedIn page.
Honestly, you’d be surprised with how many people said ‘yes’ to this offer of coming on camera. I’d say 75% of people (complete strangers) agreed to sharing their thoughts on camera.
What Happens Off Camera Matters Just as Much
What struck me most wasn’t what was recorded—it was everything happening around the recording.
People gathered to watch and listen. Others stopped by to chat in between takes. I saw professional connections form in real time. There were laughs, nods of recognition, and moments where you could tell someone had just been truly heard.
That’s the kind of experience podcasts can create. It’s not just content, but a way to forge relationships with the right kind of people.
Want to Create This Kind of Energy?
Recording a podcast live at a professional event isn’t easy—but it’s worth it.
If you’re attending (or hosting) an industry conference and want to engage your audience in a fresh, meaningful way, consider how a pop-up podcast could fit into your strategy. Want to turn your booth into a pop-up podcast studio? Let’s chat.
