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Event Planner Confessions: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Cohera
Welcome to Event Planner Confessions, a Cohera podcast.Every week, we dive into the candid, unfiltered stories of event professionals navigating the vibrant world of event management. From behind-the-scenes wins to lessons learned the hard way, we explore how creativity, collaboration, and a little chaos come together to create unforgettable experiences.Hosted by the team at Cohera (formerly CSI DMC), we spotlight the people and passions that shape the industry, revealing what really goes on when the lights go up, the guests arrive, and the magic happens.Tune in for insights, laughter, and confessions that celebrate the power of human connection and how events truly have the ability to change the world, one story at a time. Disclaimer: These confessions and stories have been altered to ensure anonymity and protect the identities of the individuals or entities involved. Any identifying details have been modified. The purpose of sharing these sto
Latest Episodes
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- Yesterday16 min
The Furniture Company Behind The Biggest Events in America
Furniture is often treated like the last thing event planners figure out. But the right furniture can completely change how a room feels.In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Ashley sits down with Sarah Bradley and Renee Pool from AFR Events to talk about the furniture company behind major events. From new event furniture collections to national-scale logistics, this conversation looks at how furniture rental has become a major part of event strategy, room design, and attendee experience.Sarah and Renee share what planners should know about designing with furniture earlier in the process, why flexible room layouts are changing the way people gather, and how AFR supports events across the country through inventory, warehouse systems, regional transfers, and fast-moving logistics. They also explain why strong communication between planners and rental partners can make a major difference when timelines are tight and expectations are high.In this episode, you will learn:Why furniture should not be treated as a last-minute event detailHow event design is shifting toward more flexible room environmentsWhat planners should think about when selecting furniture for a roomWhy national-scale rental logistics matter for large or complex eventsHow AFR manages inventory and regional transfers across marketsWhy planner-vendor communication is key when timelines move fast Great event design is not just about how a room looks. It is about how the room works, how it feels, and how quickly the right partner can help bring it to life.
- 2 weeks ago18 min
The Art of Knowing What's Cool in Events
Some event ideas feel impossible until the right creative partner figures out how to make them real.In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Ashley sits down with Melis Feingold, Senior Director of Creative Partnerships at Cohera, to talk about the art of spotting what’s next in events and turning inspiration into live experiences. Melis shares how she pulls ideas from fashion, technology, automotive, brand experiences, Instagram, and global event conversations, then traces those ideas back to the source to find the vendors, materials, and partners who can actually bring them to life.From building immersive guest experiences with a Food Network chef to using vendor relationships, budget transparency, and creative problem-solving to make ambitious ideas possible, this conversation shows what it really takes to move from “that looks cool” to “how did they even do that?”In this episode, you will learn:How Melis spots creative trends before they hit the events industryWhy inspiration often comes from outside the event worldHow to turn an Instagram scroll into a real event activationWhy vendor relationships are conversations, not just ordersHow to balance jaw-dropping ideas with real client budgetsWhy the guest journey should guide every creative decisionThe most memorable event ideas are not just the wildest ones. They are the ideas that get traced back to the right source, shaped by the right partners, and turned into something guests can actually feel.
- 4 weeks ago12 min
We Planned an Event for Event Planners (This is How We Did It)
Planning an event is already hard. Planning one for a room full of event planners raises the stakes even more.In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Cara, Sam, and Ashley go behind the scenes of Cohera’s inaugural “Imagine That” event and unpack what it takes to create an internal event for people who live and breathe meetings and events every day. From bringing nearly 400 employees together after becoming one company to designing moments that felt intentional, energizing, and connected, this conversation explores the pressure of creating an event for an audience that knows exactly what good looks like.The hosts discuss why Imagine That was more than just a meeting, how they thought through the attendee experience, and why the smallest details can make the biggest difference. They also share how last-minute pivots, personalized touches, peer-to-peer moments, and strategic breakouts helped create the kind of energy people could feel throughout the event.In this episode, you will learn:Why planning an event for event planners creates a different kind of pressureHow Cohera approached its first company-wide Imagine That eventWhy internal events should be designed around energy, connection, and shared purposeHow small details can shape the entire attendee experienceWhy last-minute pivots can create some of the most memorable event momentsHow strategic breakouts and peer-to-peer conversations help teams feel more aligned Great events are not just built from logistics. They are built from energy, intention, and the moments people remember after they leave the room.
- Apr 21, 202627 min
The Event Theme You Need to Stop Using
Event creativity in the DMC world isn't about copying Pinterest boards... it's about building something no one's ever seen before. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Cara Pratt sits down with Danny McMillan, Director of Design and Development at COA Orlando, to unpack what it really takes to stay creatively sharp when you're producing thousands of events a year. From his journey as an intern in Boston to leading one of the largest creative teams in the Orlando market, Danny shares the behind-the-scenes truth about how top DMCs push past cookie-cutter theming and deliver experiences that actually surprise attendees.They dive into the tension between what clients think they want and what will actually land, why "be creative" can't be the whole sentence on an RFP, and how inclusive event design isn't optional anymore. Danny also drops a hilarious confession involving 20 hand-assembled wire chairs, a living room full of boxes, and a promise he'll never make again. How to build trust within a creative team so every proposal has an edge Why "cookie cutter creativity" is killing your competitive advantageWhat to do when a client says "just be creative" and gives you nothing elseHow to pitch bold event concepts without diminishing the client's original visionThe overdone event themes you need to retire immediately (looking at you, Vintage Florida)Don't risk losing your next bid because your creativity didn't match the client's undefined vision. Learn how to ask the right questions, propose in threes, and deliver experiences that attendees have genuinely never seen before.🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to like and leave a review!
- Apr 7, 202628 min
The Real Business of Events
In this episode, we sit down with Nicola, CEO of ELX — the exclusive community for senior event leaders at enterprise companies. Nicola shares her winding career path from incentive travel dreamer to leading one of the most talked-about communities in the events industry.We dig into what makes ELX different, why event leaders feel so isolated in their roles, and how Chatham House rules create a space for real, unfiltered conversation. If you want to learn more about the community, visit https://www.eventleaders.com/.Nicola also gets into the data that keeps her up at night — like the fact that 28% of senior event leaders have no KPIs for their events — and why shifting from the "events business" mindset to the "business of events" mindset is the key to getting a seat at the table.Plus, she shares her biggest event confession: a Palm Springs rain disaster that had her avoiding outdoor events for her entire career — until dinner on Wrigley Field changed everything.What you'll learn:What ELX is and who it's forWhy measurement needs to start before you plan a single thingHow to make the case for your events using business languageWhat it takes to become an ELX-eligible leaderHow to spot and avoid burnout in a high-pressure events role
- Mar 24, 202616 min
What Technology Can’t Replace in Events
Tony Lorenz has spent 30 years in the events industry — building a company from the ground up, selling to Freeman, leading PRA through 16 acquisitions, and now serving on the board at Cohera. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, Tony shares how he scaled PRA from $65M to $200M, why the DMC category needs to move upstream, and how AI should be treated as a partner — not a replacement — for the human intuition and taste that make great events possible.Plus, Tony shares two hilarious confessions: the time his team lost a five-star general's luggage right before a Colin Powell keynote, and the time he flew to Hawaii for a $4M event… and didn't even know which island it was on.🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to subscribe and leave a review!
- Mar 10, 202618 min
What Actually Gets Attention at Trade Shows
Join us for an insightful conversation with Ronnie Collins from Visit Anaheim as we explore what it takes to create truly engaging trade show experiences in today's distracted world. In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, we dive deep into strategic booth design, the importance of experiential engagement over traditional swag, and how to maximize value during appointment-based shows like IMEX and IPW. Ronnie shares why hydration stations and intentional conversation spaces outperform tchotchkes, and how Visit Anaheim is preparing for their brand refresh launching in 2026.🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!
- Feb 24, 202623 min
Why Attendance Looks Different Now
Join us for an honest conversation about the evolving landscape of industry conferences and trade shows. We're breaking down what really influences event attendance decisions—from the macro factors like budget constraints to the micro moments like unexpected traffic jams.🔔 Love the podcast? Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe!
About Event Planner Confessions
Welcome to Event Planner Confessions, a Cohera podcast.Every week, we dive into the candid, unfiltered stories of event professionals navigating the vibrant world of event management. From behind-the-scenes wins to lessons learned the hard way, we explore how creativity, collaboration, and a little chaos come together to create unforgettable experiences.Hosted by the team at Cohera (formerly CSI DMC), we spotlight the people and passions that shape the industry, revealing what really goes on when the lights go up, the guests arrive, and the magic happens.Tune in for insights, laughter, and confessions that celebrate the power of human connection and how events truly have the ability to change the world, one story at a time. Disclaimer: These confessions and stories have been altered to ensure anonymity and protect the identities of the individuals or entities involved. Any identifying details have been modified. The purpose of sharing these sto
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