Producing concept events for companies is a complex art. It’s not just a matter of “let’s do something special” – it’s a process that requires deep thinking, understanding the audience, and precise alignment with business goals. But on the way to the perfect event, many companies encounter the same mistakes over and over again. Let’s understand what the most common mistakes are when choosing a concept for corporate events – and, most importantly, how to avoid them.
Mistake 1: Choosing a concept that doesn’t suit the target audience
This is perhaps the most common and harmful mistake. In a company, people get excited about a brilliant idea, but forget to ask the most important question: is it suitable for our employees?
What does it look like in practice?
In a young technology company, a classic and formal concept is chosen that is more suitable for an old company with older employees. Or vice versa – in a conservative company with a high average age of employees, a trendy and noisy concept is chosen that does not speak to them.
The result: discomfort. Employees feel that the event is not for them, there is no engagement and they leave with the feeling of “we did not understand the idea”.
How to avoid this mistake?
Before choosing a concept for corporate events, it is important to get to know the audience. What are the ages of the employees? What is the organizational culture? What do they like to do in their free time? Are they techies or field workers? Formal or casual? The concept should evoke the feeling of – “this is exactly us” – and not like something foreign that was forced on them.
The important rule: a good concept starts with understanding the audience, not from the enthusiasm of the person planning the event.
Mistake 2: Concept is too complicated
There are concepts that sound amazing on paper, but in practice – they are simply too complicated for people to understand or connect with them.
What does it look like in practice?
A concept with three layers of meaning, requiring participants to “understand” the idea, or a concept that requires employees to dress a certain way, participate in complex activities, or follow a complex plot.
The result: confusion. People don’t understand what’s going on, feel left out, and instead of having fun – they waste energy trying to understand.
How to avoid this mistake?
The golden rule is simplicity. The concept should be clear within seconds of entering the event. If it needs to be explained – it’s probably too complicated. A good concept is one that is immediately “grabbed” – seen, understood, and gets into the atmosphere.
The simple test: If the concept can’t be explained in one sentence – it’s worth simplifying.
Mistake 3: Ignoring the business message
A corporate event is not produced just for entertainment purposes – it has a business purpose. But sometimes, while getting excited about the concept, we forget the original purpose.
What does it look like in practice?
A company wants to celebrate the launch of an innovative product, but the chosen concept is “80s” – fun, nostalgic, but has nothing to do with the product or innovation. Or the company wants to strengthen teamwork, but the chosen concept is competitive and emphasizes the individual instead of the collective.
The result: a nice event, but the business message is lost. Employees don’t remember why they came, and the company doesn’t achieve its goals.
How to avoid making the mistake?
The concept should serve the goal. If the goal is innovation – the concept should be innovative. If the goal is collaboration – the concept should encourage it. Before choosing a concept, it is worth asking: How does it serve what we want to achieve?
The guiding question: After the event, what do we want employees to remember and feel? The concept should lead to this.
Mistake 4: A concept that is logistically difficult to execute
There are wonderful ideas that are practically impossible to execute within the budget, time, or space available.
What does this look like in practice?
Choosing a “winter in Switzerland” concept that requires bringing real snow – for a summer event in Israel. Or a “time travel” concept that requires a complete change of design several times during the evening. Or a concept that requires special equipment that is difficult to obtain or does not exist in Israel.
The result: either giving up on the concept halfway through, or a huge financial investment that was not planned, or compromises that empty the concept of its content.
How to avoid this mistake?
Already at the stage of selecting the concept, it is important to check the feasibility of execution. Is the appropriate place available? Are the necessary suppliers available? Is the time sufficient? Is the budget appropriate? A professional production company will know how to assess what is possible and what is not, and will offer alternatives if necessary.
The wise principle: A good concept is one that can be executed perfectly, not one that requires compromises.
Mistake 5: Not testing the concept in advance
Often, the concept remains in the head or on paper until the day of the event. There is no visualization, no samples, no “taste” – and suddenly, on the day of the event, it turns out that it does not look like we thought.
What does it look like in practice?
The concept sounds great in the planning meeting, but when you see it in practice – the colors don’t work together, the design doesn’t hit the mark, or the atmosphere doesn’t feel right.
The result: disappointment. A feeling of “this is not what we imagined,” and it’s impossible to change because it’s too late.
How to avoid this mistake?
Professional production companies provide visualizations, samples, or even pilots of parts of the concept. It is important to see how the design looks in practice, how the colors fit together, how the atmosphere is felt. You can also go see similar events that the company has produced, or ask for photos and detailed documentation.
The guiding rule: Never approve a concept based solely on a verbal description. See, feel, understand what it will be like.
How do you choose the right concept?
After we’ve recognized the mistakes, what is still the right way?
- Start with the goal: Why the event? What do you want to achieve?
- Get to know the audience: Who is coming? What suits them?
- Keep it simple: Clear concept > Complex concept
- Check performance: Is it possible?
- See examples: What does it look like in practice?
- And most importantly – work with professionals.
In conclusion, producing concept events for companies is a profession that requires experience, creativity, and a deep understanding of organizational dynamics. A good production company will not only execute the concept – they will help you choose the right idea, identify pitfalls in advance, and make sure that the event will really achieve its goals.
