Something special happened in Albuquerque. Over 60 signed up, we rolled up our sleeves, and spent an afternoon asking a question that doesn't get asked nearly enough: what if the people who already run this city's most important gatherings took the lead when things go sideways?

ReadyWhen the Lights Go Out is built on a simple but powerful idea — the venues and event professionals who manage large crowds, communications, power, and logistics every single day are exactly who communities need when a crisis hits. We put 16 anchor venue types on the table: community arts centers, libraries, festival grounds, performing arts venues, makerspaces, civic centers, and more. Each group of six got their own mix, then faced real-world pressure: a heat dome, rolling outages decided by a dice roll, and decisions that couldn't wait.

Then we rewound five years. What if we'd built these relationships before it happened? That conversation hit home. Venue and event professionals left realizing they don't have to wait to be invited to the resilience planning table — they can set it.

The tabletop flowed into a networking and resourcing intensive: finding partners, identifying funding, and turning good energy into lasting plans.We've already been invited to bring ReadyWhen the Lights Go Out to NYC, Baltimore, Claremont, and back to ABQ. Dates coming soon — we'd love IFCPP members to join or co-host. Watch this space!