Host an IAN Event
Bring the indie agency community together in your city — here's everything you need to know
IAN events are where independent agencies stop competing in silence and start connecting in person. Whether it's agencies showing off their best work or battling it out over trivia, these nights are fun, low-pressure, and genuinely useful for the people in the room. We run two formats — pick the one that fits your city, or let's talk about doing both.
Two Ways to Bring IAN to Your City
Select an event to see the full details
Show Off
Agencies take 5 minutes each to share what makes them unique — their story, their work, their vibe — followed by a quick Q&A. It's not a pitch. It's a celebration.
IAN Trivia Battle
Teams divided by role — Leadership vs. Creative/Strategy vs. Operations vs. Accounts — compete across three rounds of trivia. Fun, competitive, and people actually talk to each other.
Select an event type above to see everything involved
What is Show Off?
The signature event series where indie agencies come together to celebrate their work
The Format
5-minute presentations where agencies share what makes them unique. No rigid rules — just authentic storytelling followed by a quick, fun Q&A.
The Experience
Not your typical networking event. It's show and tell for grown-ups — with drinks, local food, and fellow indies who get what you do.
The Energy
It's electric. Agencies get inspired by each other's stories. The room buzzes with ideas, laughter, and genuine excitement about indie creativity.
Started in New York · Expanded to Cincinnati · Nashville is next · Your city could be too
What You Need to Host Show Off
Everything required to create a successful Show Off event in your city
- ✓Capacity for 75-100 attendeesYour office space is ideal — it showcases your agency culture while saving on venue costs. Make sure there's comfortable space for both presentations and networking.
- ✓Clear presentation areaAll attendees need to see the presenter and screen clearly. Think about sightlines and room layout.
- ✓Networking spaceAmple room for mingling before and after presentations. This is where the real connections happen.
- ✓Easy accessibilityConsider parking, public transit, and ADA compliance for all attendees.
- ✓Insurance coverageWe carry $2M in liability insurance and can provide any documentation your venue needs.
- ✓Microphone systemWireless mic preferred for presenter mobility. Have a backup wired mic available.
- ✓Large screen or projectorMust be visible from all areas. Test beforehand with sample presentations.
- ✓Presentation laptopWe bring the laptop — just make sure you have the necessary adapters for your screen/projector.
- ✓Sound systemFor background music during networking and clear audio during presentations.
- ✓Light appetizersWe cover the tab — but we'd love your help sourcing local favorites. Easy-to-eat finger foods that won't distract during presentations. Include vegetarian and dietary options. Plan for 2-3 pieces per person. We prioritize working with minority-owned businesses.
- ✓Bar setupAlso on us. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. Local craft beers are always a hit — you know your city's favorites better than we do. Consider minority-owned beverage suppliers.
- ✓Someone at the doorA friendly face to welcome guests and handle check-in. Could be an intern, team member, or volunteer.
- ✓PhotographyCapture presentations and networking moments. These photos become valuable for future promotion. Consider partnering with local photographers.
- ✓Videography (optional but nice)Recap videos and social content. Great for showcasing the event's energy.
- ✓Social media coverageLive updates during the event are a bonus. Use event hashtags and tag participating agencies.
Show Off Event Budget
These numbers are for reference only — to give everyone a sense of what goes into producing an event. This is not your responsibility. IAN and our sponsors cover event costs.
Show Off Event Night
A typical evening flow — we can work with whatever start time suits your city
Why Host Show Off?
Be the hub of your local indie agency scene and create an unforgettable evening.
Agency Space
Connections
Agency Profile
For Presenting Agencies
Want to share your story at Show Off? Here's what we need:
- High-resolution logo — For promotional materials and on-screen display
- Presentation deck — Preferably Keynote, showcasing your work and story
- 5-minute presentation — We'll run slides while you present
- Submit one week early — Ensures smooth technical setup
What is IAN Trivia Battle?
A team-based trivia night that gets agency people from different shops actually talking to each other
The Concept
Teams divided by role — not by agency. Leadership vs. Creative vs. Operations vs. Accounts. It creates natural mixing between shops and genuine conversation.
Why It Works
It's fun, low-pressure, and creates organic interaction. Nobody thinks it's a sales pitch. People just show up, compete, and have a good time.
The Energy
Competitive, loud, and a lot of laughs. Three rounds of elimination trivia, a championship showdown, and prizes for the winners. People remember this one.
How the Game Works
75-100 attendees, with 40-60 competing across four teams and everyone else playing along from the crowd
Team Leadership
CEOs, Presidents, Managing Directors, Principals, Partners
Team Creative / Strategy
CCOs, ECDs, CDs, Art Directors, Copywriters, Designers, CSOs, Strategists, Planners
Team Operations
COOs, CFOs, Project Managers, Producers, HR, Finance
Team Accounts / Biz Dev
Account Directors, Account Managers, New Business Leads, Client Services, Growth
Team Huddle
Full team collaborates on answers. 4 questions per team, 1 point each. Lowest scoring team is eliminated. Tiebreaker: 2 sudden-death questions, then coin flip.
Audience Round
Not on a team? You're still in the game. Between competition rounds, we run special trivia for the rest of the room — with their own prizes. Nobody's just watching.
Solo Spotlight
Individual team members answer solo — no help from teammates. You can "buy a hint" from the crowd for a $20 donation. 1 point per correct answer. Lowest scoring team is eliminated.
The Final Showdown
3 questions, 45 seconds to collaborate and write answers. Bonus scoring: 3 points if 2 correct, 5 points if all 3 correct. Tiebreaker: 1 nominated team member answers 2 questions head-to-head.
What You Need to Host a Trivia Battle
Same size crowd as Show Off, different setup — think team tables instead of theater seating
- ✓Capacity for 75-100 attendeesYour office, a bar with a private room, or a restaurant event space all work great. The vibe should be casual and social — not corporate.
- ✓Team seating areasFour teams of 10-15 people each need to huddle, talk, and write answers together. The rest of the crowd needs comfortable spots to watch and play along during audience rounds. Think clusters of tables — not theater-style rows.
- ✓A host/emcee areaDoesn't need to be a stage — just a visible spot where the trivia host can address the room and keep energy up.
- ✓Networking flow spaceRoom for people to mingle before the game starts and after it wraps. The bar area or a lobby works well.
- ✓Easy accessibilityConsider parking, public transit, and ADA compliance for all attendees.
- ✓Insurance coverageWe carry $2M in liability insurance and can provide any documentation your venue needs.
- ✓Microphone for the hostWireless preferred so the host can move around the room. A handheld works fine — doesn't need to be a headset.
- ✓Screen or monitor (optional)Helpful for displaying questions or scores, but not required. The game can run with just the host reading questions aloud.
- ✓Sound systemFor background music during networking and so the host can be heard clearly during the game. A decent Bluetooth speaker can work in a pinch.
- ✓Light bitesWe cover the tab — but we'd love your recommendations on where to order from. Finger foods people can grab while they mingle. Nothing fancy required — apps, sliders, snack plates all work. Include vegetarian and dietary options. We prioritize working with minority-owned businesses.
- ✓DrinksAlso on us. Beer, wine, and non-alcoholic options. If you're hosting at a bar or restaurant, we'll set up a tab or drink tickets. You know your city's best local craft beers better than we do — point us in the right direction.
- ✓Someone at the doorA friendly face to welcome guests and handle check-in. Could be an intern, team member, or volunteer.
- ✓PhotographyCapture the teams, the competition, the reactions. These photos are great for your agency's social channels too.
- ✓Social media coverageLive updates during the event are a bonus. Tag the teams, capture the winning moment, use event hashtags.
Trivia Battle Event Budget
These numbers are for reference only — to give everyone a sense of what goes into producing an event. This is not your responsibility. IAN and our sponsors cover event costs.
Trivia Battle Night
A tight two-hour format — networking, competition, and done at a reasonable hour
Why Host a Trivia Battle?
A different energy than Show Off — same community impact, and people have a blast.
Across Agencies
Space & City
Real Connections
What IAN Takes Care Of
You provide the space and hospitality — we handle the rest:
- All trivia content, game design, and hosting
- Food and drinks — we cover the tab
- Registration and attendee management
- Pre-event marketing (LinkedIn, newsletter, IAN TV)
- Outreach to local agencies
- On-site event production and crowd flow
- Sponsor coordination (to help offset costs)
Ready to Bring IAN to Your City?
Whether it's Show Off, Trivia Battle, or both — let's make it happen.
Let's Talk About Hosting