Palm Springs, CA • Feb 7—9, 2024
The Event Retreat
Recharge, Reflect, Refocus
What is The Event Retreat?
The Event Retreat is a physical gathering for event producers to help you recharge your batteries, reflect on the past year, and refocus for the year ahead.
Join us in the serene Palm Springs and dive into a transformative journey tailored for independent event producers. Discover a unique blend of strategy, process, and self-reflection, all while networking with a close-knit community.
This is not just another conference. It's an intimate experience, intentionally capped at 10 attendees, to ensure each of us gets the attention and space we need.
If you're driven by a passion for growth and positive change for yourself, your business, and your clients, this retreat is your sanctuary.
The Schedule
It all begins with a welcoming reception the evening of February 7th where you can get to know the other attendees and we set the stage for what's to come.
The next two days are divided into insightful mornings and expansive afternoons. We'll delve deep into strategy on the first day, then explore systems & processes the next.
In the mornings we'll present some prepared materials and work through some exercises. We'll also take turns sharing both the successes and the struggles from the past year in each of our businesses.
Each afternoon is all yours. You can rest and relax by the pool, reflect on your learnings, engage with fellow attendees, or get right to work refining your business. You're free to spend your time however feels the most valuable to you in the moment.
In the evenings we'll reconvene for dinner and a purely fun, social activity.
Wednesday, February 7th
- 7:00pmOpening Party & Reception
- 7:45pmWelcome to The Event Retreat!
Thursday, February 8th
- 9:00amStrategy Session, pt. 1
- 10:15amCoffee Break
- 10:45amStrategy Session, pt. 2
- 12:00pmCatered Lunch
- 1:00pmReflection time
- 6:00pmGroup Dinner
- 8:00pmPalm Springs Village Fest
Friday, February 9th
- 9:00amProcesses Session, pt. 1
- 10:15amCoffee Break
- 10:45amProcesses Session, pt. 2
- 12:00pmCatered Lunch
- 1:00pmReflection time
- 6:00pmGroup Dinner
- 8:00pmGroup Activity (TBD)
The Location
Join us in sunny Palm Springs, California!
Palm Springs is a desert haven made popular by Hollywood vacationers and boasts some of the best of mid-century modern architecture. Temperatures in the winter months are usually in the 70s, making it the perfect escape from wetter, grayer climates.
Our home base will be co-host Isaac's winter home, Casa Paloma—a 1937 Spanish-style retreat located just a 5-minute walk from downtown Palm Springs. With historic charm, the perfect size heated pool, and ample outdoor seating, it is the ideal place to have conversations, break into small groups, and lounge in the afternoons.
When it comes time to eat, we'll enjoy catered lunches on-property and dinners out on the town.
Travel
By Air
Fly PSP – Palms Springs International Airport
Traveling to Palm Springs is easier than ever thanks to their newly renovated Palm Springs International Airport (PSP), located just minutes from downtown Palm Springs and the Convention Center. The airport is served by numerous carriers from major cities.
By Ground
Palm Springs is rather compact with an amazing walkable downtown, so having a car during your stay is definitely not necessary. However, renting a vehicle delivers accessibility to some of those out of the way highlights including hikes at Indian Canyons, going up the Palm Springs Aerial Tram or taking a day trip to Joshua Tree.
FAQs
About your Hosts
Isaac WatsonFollow Isaac on Mastodon
Isaac Watson is an event strategist and entrepreneur who founded Kickass Conferences in 2016. He has produced over 50 conferences and gatherings worldwide, specializing in event strategy and design for communities. He is also an avid traveler and advocate for sustainable entrepreneurship. He splits his time between Vancouver, Washington and Palm Springs, California, with his husband Justin and their dog Zeus.
Learn more about Isaac
Brian RichardsFollow Brian on Mastodon
Brian Richards is an event producer at WPSessions and has been running events for 15 years. His current speciality is virtual event production for his own conferences as well as others. Brian helped many clients pivot to virtual events during the pandemic and personally organizes WordSesh and WooSesh. He has, at times, organized these events entirely solo thanks in large part to the systems and processees he's developed.
Learn more about Brian