Cassie Brown (TCG Events CEO and Owner) is well-versed in the codes that impact her events.
By Connie Lannan
April 6, 2026
Event planners are key players in the creation of a successful tented event. While fully adept at the creative side of the project, they might not understand all the code requirements, wind ratings and evacuation plans needed to make an event safe and able to pass the code official’s inspection. That can pose serious problems — if you don’t take steps to address it.
Cassie Brown, CSEP, chief experience officer and owner, TCG Events, Charlotte, N.C., has been an event planner for many years, catering primarily to high-end events requiring large structures. She is well-versed in the codes that impact her events.
“I know how many people I can put in a tent in a cocktail setting. I know how many people I can seat at dinner. I understand the math and how that works. I understand how many doors I need. I understand I can’t put my catering tent right on top, even if I want to. There are things that I’m just not allowed to do,” she adds.
Brown also knows that many event planners, especially those who are new to the field or have not worked with a lot of large, tented events, are not as knowledgeable.
“You have this whole younger generation of planners who don’t understand the safety of tents. I sat in a tent 101 education with a bunch of planners one day, and it was amazing to me the questions they had. They just don’t understand how they work. You can’t hold them totally responsible for not asking questions that they don’t even know they’re supposed to ask. I mean, they literally don’t know what they don’t know,” she says.
That is why she says conversations between tent rental companies and event planners in the beginning stages of an event are crucial.
Read full article below:
Preventing potential code issues starts with good communication with event planners
