THE WRITING
Event technology, production, software, and the occasional piece of conventional wisdom that probably deserves a second look.
September 11, 2026
I first wrote about conference pay-to-play in 2010. Sixteen years later, the terminology is better, the sponsorship decks are prettier, and we call it thought leadership, partner programming, and sponsored content. The underlying question is still the same: how much of your conference's credibility should a sponsor be able to buy?
Read the post →September 4, 2026
The big failures get attention. The small frustrations usually do not. But registration lines, unclear food labels, late speaker files, confusing workflows, and tiny bits of friction can quietly shape whether an attendee ever comes back.
Read more →August 31, 2026
Your computer probably remembers the Wi-Fi password even when you don't. Here's how to find a saved Wi-Fi password in Windows 10, Windows 11, and on a Mac.
Read more →August 30, 2026
The event industry has more software than ever. So why are planners still running important parts of conferences from spreadsheets, PDFs, email chains and text messages? The problem is not that event technology lacks features. In many cases, the problem is that software handles the system beautifully while making the last mile of actual event work harder than it needs to be.
Read more →August 30, 2026
Encore is preparing to go public, and its SEC filing gives meeting professionals something they rarely get: a detailed look at how the in-house AV business actually works. The filing explains exclusive on-site venue agreements, revenue-sharing commissions, an 80% capture rate, and Encore’s plans to capture more business inside the properties where it operates. For planners who have ever wondered why bringing an outside AV company can become surprisingly complicated, it explains quite a bit.
Read more →August 30, 2026
Four months ago, I wrote that Plannerwire was going quiet and might someday find a new role. Apparently “someday” meant August. Plannerwire is back, but we’re not rebuilding the old blog. We’re keeping the curiosity, opinions, and practical event experience...and getting much more deliberate about what deserves to be written.
Read more →New posts, useful tools, occasional industry arguments, and no “10 trends you need to know before breakfast” nonsense.
