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 stories is to foster learning, celebrate our profession, and honor our clients and partners across the hospitality industry.
All content for Event Planner Confessions is the property of CSI DMC and is served directly from their servers
with no modification, redirects, or rehosting. The podcast is not affiliated with or endorsed by Podjoint in any way.
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 stories is to foster learning, celebrate our profession, and honor our clients and partners across the hospitality industry.
In this episode of Event Planner Confessions, co-hosts Cara Pratt, Ashley Currin, and Samantha Monroe unpack the rise of micro-events and what this shift means for planners and clients alike.
They explore why smaller gatherings are dominating the conversation, what clients are prioritizing now (hint: it’s not massive budgets), and the challenges that come with scaling down without compromising impact.
Whether you’re rethinking your event strategy or selling the value of intimacy over size, this episode delivers real talk and actionable insight.
👀 Subscribe for new episodes featuring candid confessions, event planner tips,
📍 Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction & Micro Events Trend Welcome, dropped earrings, and the rising demand for micro events. Why smaller gatherings are becoming a big deal in event strategy.
00:51 - Defining Micro Events: What Makes Them Special? Exploring the true definition of micro events, typical group sizes (10–50 guests), personalization, and targeted networking opportunities.
02:10 - Hyper-Personalization for Event Experiences How smaller headcounts enable customized itineraries, demographic-driven design, and curated guest experiences.
03:10 - Creating Impactful Micro Events Real-world examples of brand activation, immersive activities, talkable wow moments, and branded giveaways at intimate gatherings.
04:22 - Targeting Niche Demographics & Industry Offshoots How industry leaders use micro events to reach exclusive groups—like C-level executives or women in finance—during larger conferences.
05:58 - Satellite & Concurrent Micro Events Strategies for integrating micro events alongside macro conferences for deeper engagement and actionable discussions.
07:41 - Personalization Tactics in Small Group Events Naming attendees, customized welcome experiences, room drops, and leveraging attendee data for unforgettable moments.
09:32 - Using Technology for Intimate Connection Blending tech tools seamlessly and meaningfully into micro events to foster connection—not replace it.
10:30 - Surprise & Delight: Memorable Touchpoints Monogrammed gifts, surprise experiences, pajama parties, and the importance of thoughtful, tailored event swag.
11:07 - Deepening Connections & Networking Outcomes How micro events cultivate genuine, long-lasting relationships versus surface-level conference interactions.
12:09 - The True Cost of Micro Events Why intimacy and high-touch experiences mean higher per-person spend—busting the myth that smaller equals cheaper.
13:26 - Industry Trends: Tech, DEI, and ROI in Micro Events Which sectors are investing in micro events, and how organizers are using metrics to prove value and return on investment.
14:19 - Social Media ROI & FOMO Moments Why micro events drive more Instagrammable content, exclusivity, and create lasting online buzz.
15:49 - Staffing Challenges & Outsourcing for Micro Events The need for higher staff-to-guest ratios and the growing role of third-party event partners as teams shrink.
16:27 - Love It or Hate It: Interactive Event Planner Segment Rapid-fire takes on popular micro event elements: cutting guest lists, structured networking, purposeful entertainment, and long keynotes.
20:27 - Personalized Guest Journeys: Best Practices & Pitfalls Debate on scent bars, custom tastings, and why extreme personalization needs thoughtful execution.
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 stories is to foster learning, celebrate our profession, and honor our clients and partners across the hospitality industry.
