Dumb Angels or Smart Apes? A Manifesto on Success Without Pandering

Why So Many Events Talk Down to Their Audience — and Don’t Have To

When events fail, it’s often for the same reason: They assume the audience is dumber than it is.

Some planners overcorrect by chasing spectacle—noise, gimmicks, hype, and “engagement” theater. Others default to safe, bland programming that offends no one and excites no one. Both approaches talk down to the room.

This is the false choice.

Great events don’t pander, and they don’t posture. They trust the audience’s intelligence and give them something worth rising to.

That’s the philosophy behind Dumb Angels or Smart Apes?—a provocation about taste, attention, and why audiences respond more deeply when they’re challenged rather than coddled. Whether you’re planning a corporate offsite, conference keynote, fundraiser, gala, or private event, the same principle applies: people don’t want to be dazzled instead of thinking. They want to be engaged because they’re thinking.

The most successful events I’ve worked on didn’t rely on spectacle alone. They created moments of shared insight—experiences that respected the audience and rewarded curiosity.

If you’re an event planner tired of gimmicks, filler content, and “safe” programming that nobody remembers, this work is for you.

Because audiences aren’t dumb.

They’re waiting to be treated like they’re smart.