Informal togetherness 24. November 2025

#concert experience design

Audiences often stay in their own groups - the shared music connects them, yet distance persists. The Concert Experience Design Informal togetherness breaks down these invisible barriers. From the entrance onward, artists, directors, or organizers greet all guests personally using "du" (the informal "you"). This creates tangible closeness right from the start: the informal "du" atmosphere runs through the entire evening - from welcoming the guests, to announcements, the intermission, and the farewell. Everyone is invited to offer "du" to a stranger and strike up a conversation.

​Encounters are actively shaped, and the sense of community grows with every exchange. The goal is to foster closeness and connection within the audience - even among people who didn't know each other before.

Design - Greeting guests at their arrival works with individuals and small groups; a spacious foyer or forecourt offers additional opportunities for encounters. The team is empowered to welcome guests actively and openly. Shared wording and optionally a public announcement before the concert create clarity and anticipation, though they're not required. The team stands at the entrance in eye-catching outfits or with microphones, ready to greet guests using "du." The challenge for all: make at least one new acquaintance and invite other guests to use "du." During the intermission, contacts can be facilitated; after the concert, people are asked about positive encounters and fresh impressions.

​Variants - Smaller versions focus on fostering informal togetherness at the entrance; larger ones actively involve everyone - including onstage artists and staff at the bar and info desk.

​Experiences - The prototype shows how crucial coordination among all involved is, so the idea can be lived and experienced throughout the venue. The audience gratefully embraces the personal, welcoming atmosphere, remembers names and encounters, and leaves feeling part of a community

This Concert Experience Design was developed as part of the Inside Artists residency program of the Beethovenfest Bonn, funded by the Liz Mohn Foundation — in collaboration with the program team of the renowned classical festival and other artists.