06/03/2026
Hey friends, can we talk about AI and stolen concepts? 😅
As many of you know, Character Connection Co. has spent more than a decade creating immersive events, character experiences, and magical memories for families across Oklahoma and beyond.
Lately, we’ve noticed something alarming. 🚩
We’re seeing more and more events being advertised with heavily AI-generated graphics, copied event concepts, duplicated event structures, and even stolen performer photos.
Sadly, some of these organizations have even attended our own events, hired our performers, partnered with us in the past, or even sat in meetings where we originally presented these event concepts as a proposed partnership. While imitation may be the sincerest form of flattery, there is a difference between being inspired by an idea and simply copying someone else’s work..
The bigger issue is that it damages public trust.
Families spend their hard-earned money on experiences. They deserve to know exactly what they’re buying.
Before purchasing tickets to ANY event, here’s what we encourage you to look for:
✨ Research the organization.
Do they have real photos and videos from past events? Not stock photos. Not AI images. Actual event photos with actual guests.
✨ Look up the vendors listed.
Legitimate events are typically proud to showcase their vendors, performers, sponsors, and partners. Take a few minutes to verify that those businesses actually exist.
✨ Ask to see real photos.
If an event is advertising princesses, superheroes, fairies, or other characters, ask to see the actual performers and costumes that will be attending. A beautiful flyer means nothing if the character who shows up looks completely different.
[Looking at you Temu Belle with a nose ring...]
✨ Read the reviews.
What are previous guests saying? Reviews often tell the real story.
✨ Ask questions.
A reputable event company should have no problem explaining exactly what guests can expect.
And if you’re wondering how to spot an AI-generated flyer, here are some common signs:
🚩 Strange hands, fingers, eyes, or facial features.
🚩 Characters that look “almost” like the real character but not quite.
🚩 Random text, misspelled words, or details that don’t make sense.
🚩 Different art styles mixed together in the same graphic.
🚩 An event company that has no real photos of past events but somehow has dozens of “perfect” promotional images.
At Character Connection Co., every graphic, event concept, costume, performance, and experience is created with intention.
When we first started, we didn’t have fancy software, marketing teams, or AI tools. We spent hundreds of hours teaching ourselves graphic design, photography, costuming, event production, storytelling, and marketing. We made mistakes. We practiced. We learned.
Today, we’re proud to say that all of our promotional graphics are designed in-house through a labor of love.
And yes, AI is becoming a reality in the business world. Used thoughtfully, it can be a useful tool or even a jumping off point. But let's be honest, using AI to create misleading advertisements, fake event imagery, or promotional materials that don’t accurately represent your event isn’t innovation—it’s cutting corners.
Maybe this is an unpopular opinion, but when I see a flyer that is obviously AI-generated, it doesn’t build trust. It does the opposite. It immediately makes me question whether the event itself is real, whether the advertised experience actually exists, and whether the organizers care enough about the details to deliver what they’re promising.
Authenticity matters.
Real performers matter.
AI can generate images.
Copycats can replicate ideas.
But neither can create the next great idea.
That’s the part that still belongs to human beings.
And we vow to continue innovating and creating. ✨
