How to Build Ethical and Effective RFPs That Vendors Actually Want to Answer

Episode notes

Is your RFP helping you find the right partner—or just the best guesser? In this solo episode of Production Value Matters , host Matthew Byrne takes listeners behind the scenes of one of the most misunderstood—and misused—tools in event planning: the RFP. With decades of experience on the receiving end of these requests, Matthew unpacks why so many RFPs fall short and how to write ones that actually work. From budget transparency to submission ethics, this episode is a must-listen for anyone sending or responding to RFPs. You’ll learn why withholding information doesn’t create leverage—it creates confusion—and how sharing your objectives and constraints sets the foundation for real, impactful collaboration. Matthew also outlines a simple, seven-part RFP structure that will help event professionals get better proposals, build better relationships, and ultimately deliver better events.