Dakota Events Playbook: Episode 2

Dakota Rainmaker Podcast · Sep 9, 2026 · 28m

Welcome back to the Dakota Events Playbook. In this episode, Catherine and Dominique join host Rob Robertson to go deeper into how Dakota Cocktails actually runs today — from first rooftop event to a 30+-events-a-year program:

- What makes the right venue: exclusivity, cost, and atmosphere

- How Dakota decides which cities to visit and when

- Negotiating venue budgets around the $150-per-head benchmark

- Managing headcount and RSVPs so spend and turnout line up

- Why there are no pitches and no speeches — and why events stay free

- The night Dakota pulled off three events in three cities

-…