How about this code modification result:

public function scopeEventSearch($query, $search) {
        if ($search != null) {

            $searchTerms = explode(' ', $search);

            $query->where(function($q) use ($term,$searchTerms) {
                foreach($searchTerms as $term) {    
                    $q->orWhere('event_name', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')
                    ->orWhere('venue_name', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')
                    ->orWhere('address', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')
                    ->orWhere('city', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')
                    ->orWhere('state', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')
                    ->orWhere('zip', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')
                    ->orWhere('description', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%')

                    ->orWhereHas('categories', function($c) use ($term) {
                        $c->where('name', 'LIKE', '%'. $term .'%');
                    });
                });
            }
        }

        return $query;
    }

if still same or error (i have no time to test the modification code), please wait for next answers. #cmiiw