Masters of None: The Event Industry’s Crisis of Competence

In today’s fast-paced events industry, the pressure to appear indispensable often outweighs the need to be truly qualified. It’s a space where everyone’s a “strategist,” a “consultant,” or a “curator” - but when it comes time to deliver, the stage is full of theatrics and empty spotlights.

Dr. Seuss’ Cat in the Hat offers a disturbingly accurate metaphor for this phenomenon.

The Cat arrives full of bravado, spinning plates, balancing fish, and flying kites indoors. He dazzles with multitasking flair but leaves a mess in his wake.

Similarly, too many self-proclaimed “event experts” are bouncing from gig to gig, leaving chaos behind for someone else to clean up—usually a silent, underpaid backend team or exhausted internal staff.

Then there’s the Jack of All Trades, charmingly versatile but profoundly shallow. In our industry, these are the ones with a CV a mile wide and an inch deep. They’ve done “digital marketing,” “venue ops,” “branding,” and “diplomatic protocol” - yet never held a stable role in any of them.

Their depth of knowledge is as superficial as a LinkedIn endorsement, often bolstered more by mutual name-tagging than measurable know-how.

And let’s not forget Bartleby, Melville’s quiet rebel, whose only true skill is in saying, “I would prefer not to.” These professionals show up to a meeting, absorb nothing, delegate everything, and when it’s time to lead—vanish.

They’re not interested in building excellence; they’re here to pass time until the next job title gets printed.

The root of the problem? A hiring culture more concerned with buzzwords than background. Recommendations based on social media likes and conference selfies. Roles handed out through whispered WhatsApps rather than due diligence.

This obsession with the “who you know” shortcut has eroded the industry’s professional integrity.

What the events world needs isn’t more jugglers—it’s more builders.

We must shift from informal endorsements to formal credentialing. From charming generalists to certified specialists. From LinkedIn popularity to real, verifiable background checks.

An ISO certificate, a PMI credential, a verified protocol training - these carry more weight than a dozen heart emojis under a photo from an opening ceremony.

Because ultimately, the Cat leaves, the Jack moves on, and Bartleby never lifts a finger. And the only ones left holding the bag—and sweeping the floor—are those who actually cared enough to be trained for it.

The next time someone hands you a flashy CV or a name-drop-laced recommendation, ask them this: “Can you do the job, or are you just here to wear the hat?”