Choosing the right event management partner is one of the most important decisions a company makes when planning a major event. Many organizations start their search with the largest, most recognizable agencies in the industry (Maritz, BCD, etc.).
But we all know the saying: bigger isn’t always better.
Do any of these sound like your current situation? You want:
- Scale and capability, but not layers, slow communication, or rigid processes
- Transparency and collaboration
- A partner who understands your audience and your business, not just your event
This is often where large agencies struggle.
Boutique agencies like GoGather can deliver enterprise-level events with partnership that is faster, more transparent, and more adaptable than what many big agencies can offer. If you are exploring alternatives to large event agencies, here is everything you need to know, including how GoGather compares and why so many organizations are making the switch.
Why enterprise businesses switch from large event management agencies to boutique agencies like GoGather.
Many event teams initially gravitate toward enterprise agencies because of their size and perceived stability. But once planning begins, they quickly realize that the traditional model often struggles to keep pace with the demands of modern events.
Here are the most common reasons organizations switch from large agencies to boutique agencies like GoGather.
More visibility and control.
Large agencies often operate through proprietary systems or closed workflows that make it hard for clients to see what is happening behind the scenes.
- Budgets may only be updated periodically
- Vendor communication may move through several layers before decisions are made
- Timelines can shift without real-time visibility
- Decisions can be (painfully) slow
This lack of clarity creates frustration for marketing, operations, and leadership teams that need accurate, up-to-date information. The black box of enterprise agency planning just doesn’t work for organizations that need transparency and collaboration.
Here’s how GoGather takes the opposite approach: Clients receive real-time dashboards, budget and timeline updates, and open communication channels. You see everything as it happens, which means better decisions and fewer surprises.
Faster decision-making.
Large agencies are built on highly structured processes. Every stage moves through specialized teams, layered reviews, and internal approvals.
This structure supports quality control, but it also slows everything down. When timelines shrink, when leadership pushes last-minute changes, or when the event needs to pivot quickly, that structure becomes a bottleneck.
GoGather operates on lean processes, senior ownership, and rapid communication that allows decisions to happen faster. Our teams have the training and expertise to be able to make decisions and pivot with our clients when needed.
Partners who understand your audience.
Many of the largest event agencies specialize in industries like pharma, finance, or global technology brands. They excel at incentive programs or experiential productions, but they are not always aligned with audiences like:
- Manufacturing and industrial teams
- Trucking and logistics leaders
- Construction and home services
- Franchise owners and operators
- Operational, blue-collar, or dispersed workforces
These audiences engage differently. They respond to practical content, hands-on experiences, and events built around real-world applications. A standard corporate template does not always resonate.
GoGather specializes in these industries. We understand what motivates these attendees because we have spent years designing programs for them. This level of audience alignment creates better content, stronger attendee experiences, and more impactful events.
Consistent, senior staffing from start to finish.
Enterprise agencies often rely on rotating specialists. A sourcing team starts the project. Then a planning team manages logistics. Then an on-site team takes over on-site. While each team may be highly skilled, the constant transitions create gaps in context and history.
Clients end up repeating themselves, re-explaining objectives, or clarifying information that was already shared earlier in the planning cycle.
GoGather provides a single, senior-led team that stays involved from kickoff to execution to post-event reporting. That consistency saves time, increases accuracy, and builds stronger relationships.
More cost efficiency.
Large agencies come with significant overhead.
Their pricing often includes internal markups, proprietary technology fees, layered staffing and vendors, and high minimums. Companies that want enterprise-level planning without enterprise-level spending often find themselves priced out or forced to justify inflated line items.
GoGather offers flat-fee pricing structures that help clients understand exactly where their money goes. This is included as a line item from day one, and all other expenses are tracked carefully and accurately.
Plus, our budget tool offers more than an ugly Excel spreadsheet; it’s color-coded, detailed, and clearly categorized to provide you with the best insights. Our dashboards include categorized charts that help you compare budgeted to actuals and forecast spend throughout the planning process.
More unique solutions.
Long-standing partnerships at legacy agencies may make it difficult to pivot to the best event solutions. Whether it’s registration technology that doesn’t fit your needs or layers upon layers of “solutions” that just add cost, the solutions provided by large agencies can sometimes lack agility.
Boutique agencies often dive further into best-fit solutions with their clients. GoGather’s extensive Affiliate Network gives clients the ability to find the best vendors for their event instead of being pigeon-holed into clunky solutions.
How GoGather compares to large event agencies like Maritz.
Alternatives to Maritz, BCD, Jack Morton, and other enterprise agencies often fall short on either scale or quality. That is where GoGather is different. We deliver the same capability but with a more modern, agile model.
Here are the largest differences you will notice.
GoGather provides full transparency throughout planning.
Budget transparency is one of the biggest drivers behind switching from enterprise agencies. With many large agencies, clients may only receive updates at fixed intervals or may not see detailed expenses at all.
GoGather removes that frustration by giving clients real-time budget access, consistent updates, and clear documentation of every decision.
Planning becomes a shared process rather than a managed one.
GoGather moves faster and adapts quicker.
Speed is one of the biggest competitive advantages smaller agencies have over large ones. Our project managers are senior, proactive, and empowered to make decisions quickly.
When clients need to move fast, we do not require a million internal layers of approvals. This flexibility is especially valuable for:
- Events with tight turnaround times
- Leadership-driven changes
- Programs with complex stakeholder groups
- High-growth organizations
- Franchise or field-heavy industries
GoGather is built to adapt, shift, and iterate quickly while keeping quality high.
GoGather scales without the layers.
You do not have to choose between a boutique partner and an enterprise agency. GoGather delivers multi-thousand-attendee events with efficient staffing and smart processes that avoid the complexity often found at large agencies.
Our boutique internal team ensures planning resources are focused and efficient, while our large network allows us to bring in experts where needed and provide a strong onsite team for your event.
Whether your event has 500 attendees or 20,000, GoGather can scale with your needs without adding bureaucracy.
GoGather integrates seamlessly with your team.
Enterprise agencies often feel like vendors fulfilling a scope of work.
GoGather operates like an extension of your team. This collaboration improves communication, ensures alignment across stakeholders, and creates a shared sense of ownership for the event’s success.
Signs your company may be ready for an alternative to a large agency.
If you are evaluating Maritz or another enterprise agency and experiencing any of the following challenges, a more agile partner like GoGather may be a better fit.
- You want real-time visibility into budgets or decisions
- You want to eliminate long approval chains
- You want more personalized attention
- You need faster response times
- You prefer consistent staffing
- You want a more collaborative planning model
- You want clear, predictable pricing
- You want more flexibility with vendors
- You want better alignment between event goals and business goals
When these needs rise to the top, large agencies can feel too rigid, too distant, or too slow.
Ready to start planning? Let’s chat about how this event can be even better.
