Hey Greg, I hope this message finds you and possibly solves some of your event planning issues.
I worked in the event planning/hospitality/catering/rentals industry for nearly two decades.
What you described about venues not having the chairs or beverage services or whatever is pretty much how it is everywhere.
What you want to do is pick a venue you like that charges the least amount possible by cutting all the trimmings, then contact an event planning/rental company in the same area and have them deliver your tables, chairs, coffee stations, pipe and drape, and whatever else you need. You might have to drop a few thousand with an event rental company, but you will have control over the style of stuff you can get rather than playing it by chance based on the venue.
Marquee Event Rentals has a division in Austin, and there are a few others as well.
Let me know if you have any questions, I might be able to advise. I'm working with a few of your homeboys on the east coast.
Best wishes.
Neuron Crux
