How does Mercedes Jackson’s method outperform traditional event planning strategies?

I focus on turning sponsorships into the primary funding source, so I am not relying on my own money or my clients’ pockets to make an event happen. Traditional planning often starts with “what’s our budget?”; I start with “who benefits from this audience enough to pay for it?”

Because I’ve produced 10+ events fully funded by sponsors (including my own birthday), my method forces you to:

1. Design events that brands actually want to underwrite
2. Build repeatable sponsor relationships instead of one‑off deals

What part of your current event strategy do you feel is holding you back the most: funding, sponsors, or access to opportunities?