Planning Coachella - Reiko Wei

<p><strong>What hidden design choices make a 125,000-person festival feel effortless—and what happens when being off by just </strong><em><strong>one foot</strong></em><strong> throws everything into chaos?</strong> Why do some festivals become cultural icons while others collapse spectacularly? And how did one architect watching the <em>Fyre Festival</em> documentary suddenly realize, <em>“I could do this a million times better”</em>—and then actually go do it?</p><p>In this episode, Reiko Wei, design production manager at Goldenvoice (the team behind Coachella &amp; Stagecoach), pulls back the curtain on the invisible systems, political negotiations, spatial puzzles, and human-centered decisions that shape the world’s most iconic music festivals. She reveals how a show built on <em>1200 acres</em> needs precision down to a single foot, why the fire marshal has the ultimate power, how Gen Z is reshaping festival culture, and why physical spaces for real connection matter more than ever in a post-COVID world.</p><p>If you’ve ever wondered how a “giant party” becomes a safe, seamless, deeply human experience—or why these events still matter—this conversation will change how you see every festival you attend.</p><p><a href="https://goldenvoice.com/">https://goldenvoice.com/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.coachella.com/">https://www.coachella.com/</a></p><p><a href="https://www.stagecoachfestival.com/">https://www.stagecoachfestival.com/</a></p><p>Chapters</p><p>00:00 Understanding Coachella: The Festival Experience03:19 The Role of Logistics in Event Planning06:41 Reiko&#39;s Transition from Architecture to Event Planning10:10 Collaboration with Authorities and Stakeholders13:35 The Evolution of Coachella: Adapting to Change17:00 Designing for Experience: The Importance of Flow21:15 The Art of Curation in Festivals25:02 Shifting Audience Dynamics Post-COVID27:11 The Importance of In-Person Connections30:43 Navigating Loneliness and Community31:51 Reflections on the Current Era</p><p></p>