When Culture Deserves Better Planning: How Project Management Can Save Essence Festival
“We didn’t get the Superlounge right this time.”
With those words, Essence Festival of Culture offered a heartfelt explanation for what many attendees experienced as yet another logistical letdown. While the transparency is appreciated, the frustration voiced in the comments tells a deeper story: repeated gaps in planning, miscommunication, and operational execution.
At an event designed to celebrate Black culture at its highest level, the bar should be just as high for planning and delivery.
The Real Cost of Missteps
From unclear logistics to last-minute changes and premium experiences that miss the mark, the consequences are more than just online backlash. These operational gaps result in:
Loss of trust among new and loyal attendees
Negative press and social media sentiment
Decreased sponsor confidence
Refund requests and financial loss
And ultimately: repeated damage to the brand
These are all problems that project management is built to solve.
Essence Is the Mecca—Let’s Keep It That Way
Essence Fest is more than a festival—it’s the Mecca of rich culture, familiar faces even among strangers, and generational joy wrapped in celebration. It’s where we go to feel seen, loved, and inspired. We want that to continue for another 31 years and beyond. And for that to happen, the planning behind the scenes has to evolve. We can keep the vibes, elevate the execution, and build a future that saves time, money, and maybe even a few tears.
Here’s Where The PM Suite Comes In
When Essence posted their public statement, my inbox lit up. Friends, colleagues, and clients sent me the carousel saying the same thing: “They need you.” And honestly? They’re not wrong. The gaps being called out aren’t unique—they're the very reasons why The PM Suite exists.
At The PM Suite, we specialize in turning high-visibility, high-stakes projects into seamless experiences from behind the scenes forward. We're not here to critique—we're here to fix it.
Here’s how we could have supported Essence:
✅ Pre-Festival Planning & Roadmapping: Creating a master operational timeline that includes stakeholder alignment, capacity planning, and venue constraints; months before showtime. BUT actually stick to it and keeping resources accountable (even if people are rotating on/off the project).
✅ Cross-Team Coordination: Ensuring internal teams, sponsors, vendors, and talent are all on the same page with deliverables and communication plans. While also providing follow-up because just sharing the plans doesn’t mean people will adhere to it.
✅ Contingency Planning: Anticipating risks—like renovations at Caesars Superdome—and preparing alternative experiences that still meet expectations.
✅ Clear Communication Channels: Executing announcements with precision; before frustrations build online.
✅ VIP Experience Mapping: Creating tiered touchpoints that feel thoughtful and elevated, from first email to final encore.
The Culture Deserves Precision
Essence Festival is more than a party—it's a legacy. And legacy events demand legacy-level execution. When execution doesn’t match the culture you’re celebrating, you create a disconnect that project management can bridge.
Don’t let poor planning overshadow powerful moments.
It Takes a Lot to Pull Off a Festival Like This
Let’s be clear: putting on an event like Essence is no small feat. Coordinating venues, talent, vendors, sponsors, volunteers, and tens of thousands of attendees—across multiple days and locations—is a massive undertaking. It’s layered, it’s high pressure, and it takes real strategy and structure to keep everything flowing. The effort deserves respect. And the team deserves support.
Ready to Elevate the Experience?
We help brands like Essence avoid costly missteps, reclaim attendee trust, and operate at the level their audience expects.
Let’s talk.
📧 letsconnect@thepmsuite.com
🌐 www.thepmsuite.com