Attending the TAFE Conference in Fort Worth, Texas 2026 reminded me of two things, both of which I believe to be vital in event production. First the amount of dedication that is required to make an event of this magnitude happen is phenomenal. From the members who sit on the TAFE Board of Directors to the many vendors on the Trade Show floor who work countless hours making sure that everything is perfect for “The Success of All”. An amazing group of individuals who have missed holidays, birthdays, weddings and so much more in the name of “The Show Must Go On”.

The second reminder was something that I had feared was lost to the fast-paced ever-changing world called the entertainment industry. But much to my surprise, nothing was lost after all. What am I referring to? Wait for it…Drum roll please. It is so simple yet few and far between that you witness people who live and breathe working together. That’s right, this industry works best when it works together. When we collaborate it just works better.

From the moment that I started walking the Trade Show floor it became quite clear that these companies were not there defending territory or competing. They were there to collaborate, share ideas and were open to many opportunities working within a trusted partnership.

Something about it reminded me of my many years as a stagehand. Part of being behind the scenes, making sure that the stage was centered and safe, lights focused and addressed, audio pitched to perfection. Lights, camera, action. To accomplish all this madness in a short span of time means allowing yourself certain vulnerabilities. Because with every load-in/load-out there are many dangers within the countless components taking shape at the same time yet somehow friendships are being made, lifelong bonds are formed. Alongside the madness amid the chaos this is happening and it is a beautiful thing to be a part of and witness.

This was my biggest takeaway from the conference, and it was shared by everyone I talked to—from the husband and wife at Texas Stage and Lonestar Mobile Staging to all the great guys at Deep South Productions: Community is key.  We are the best version of ourselves when we all play well together in the sandbox, because there is more than enough sand for everyone to build a castle.