AIC branches out of the Hideout -- IMPORTANT

[York99]

know that this post is very long, but it is also very important. So please read it.

Seeing as the AIC is the AUSTIN improv collective and not the Hideout Improv Collective, we want to start a discussion regarding the ColdTowne Theater as another venue in the AIC and not a wholly separate entity.

As the Austin improv scene continues to grow and blossom, probably (and hopefully) the ColdTowne Theater will not be the last venue to open separately from The Hideout. We need to start taking in to account how the AIC will handle this expansion. We think of this situation not in terms of competition, rather in terms of growing the market. If handled correctly, our synergy can make the improv in Austin greater than the sum of its parts.

In our discussions about this issue, we came up with a plan. A new venue – in this case the ColdTowne Theater – should give a set amount of money to the AIC general fund on a weekly basis. Having a set amount, as opposed to a cut of the door, works better because it takes away an accounting headache for the new venue and it makes it so the AIC doesn’t have to police the activities of the newcomer. We also suggest that the amount starts out to be more manageable (read: not a huge expense). This lowers the barrier to entry which facilitates a growth in the improv community.

This ties very closely to the topic of what constitutes an AIC show and what constitutes an AIC member. Our policy is that any student of ours can see a show at the ColdTowne Theater for free always. We would like for AIC member to be able to see shows at the Hideout AND ColdTowne Theater for free always and, conversely, have our students be able to see shows at the Hideout for free.

We want to start a discussion on this topic, so please weigh in with your opinion on this matter or any other topics that you think may arise from this issue. Keep in mind that ColdTowne is very much interested in working with and being active members in the AIC. We want to perform regularly at The Hideout and we are not initially scheduling improv for our theater on Friday nights. We are very cognizant of the fact that we wouldn’t be in this position without you.

[kbadr]

I think it would be a good idea for an AIC venue to turn over a to-be-determined number of performance slots over to the AIC scheduling committee (maybe after some trial period of time, to build up audiences at the new venue), so that each venue gets the same treatment as the Hideout. That's how I've always envisioned things being run, to keep everything tied to the AIC in more than just name.

This could also mean that shows like "The Cagematch" and "The Threefer" would be branded beyond just being Hideout shows, which is pretty cool.

But you're right, this does bring up the sticky "what's an AIC show?" question that we tried to tackle at the last general meeting and failed pretty miserably.

[nadine]

I support another theatre for AIC

some things to think about:
- hosting duties and scheduling (the awesome scheduling commitee will have to devise an algorithm that makes it work for 2 venues)

- I think students at the hideout get 2 free tickets per class (those AIC tixs that Andy printed out)...

- theatre support weekends (maybe once a quarter, alternate between theatres?)

[kbadr]

It sounds like we need more post-it notes with Responsabilties and Benefits associated with being an AIC Venue (tm)

[beardedlamb]

this does bring up the sticky "what's an AIC show?" question that we tried to tackle at the last general meeting and failed pretty miserably.

i don't think it was a total failure. it's just difficult to make these kinds of decisions with 10 people at a meeting representing a group made up of, what, over a hundred?

this is a big issue that needs to be "officially" discussed as a unit, however possible that is. but talking about here is very useful especially for those who can't make it to meetings.

communication : good :: bad : awful

[Jastroch]

Just a note regarding staffing at CT Theater. All staffing will be handled by us directly. We have interns taking classes for free and the host and tech will either be one of us or someone we select. So you needn't worry about that.

[taminelson]

more, please.

[shando]

In our discussions about this issue, we came up with a plan. A new venue – in this case the ColdTowne Theater – should give a set amount of money to the AIC general fund on a weekly basis. Having a set amount, as opposed to a cut of the door, works better because it takes away an accounting headache for the new venue and it makes it so the AIC doesn’t have to police the activities of the newcomer. We also suggest that the amount starts out to be more manageable (read: not a huge expense). This lowers the barrier to entry which facilitates a growth in the improv community.

I have to say, I think the notion of the ColdTowne Theater having to pay any money to the AIC makes me a bit nervous. The AIC exists to promote improv in Austin. Period. It does not exist to act as some protection racket to which a show has fork over money to be considered an official improv show in Austin. We need to have a better revenue model than tapping into the pockets of the venues and performers who participate in improv. If we're trying to also make improv a liveliehood for people, I don't know if we should be cutting ourselves off at the knees like that.

ACOT doesn't receive money from it's member theatres--it's not like Zach Scott, SVT, the Rude Mechs, etc. etc. cough up money every week so that they can take advantage of ACOT marketing. ACOT exists to provide them the service and ACOT in turn makes their money through grant writing, membership dues, donations, and percentages of unearned income from their sponsored projects (like the AIC). I would like to see us moving in the same direction.

When SVT opens it's space, I would love to have a ton of improv shows in there on a regular basis, but if the precedent is set that one has to pay a figure to the AIC to even be considered an AIC show, we'll definitely have to rethink that decision. I also think that venues that want to have improv on a regular basis shouldn't feel the pressure to make the scheduling at that venue a decision of the collective. ColdTowne, in taking on the risks of running the theater, should maintain full rights as far as booking goes.

To me it seems that AIC needs money to provide for a)marketing expenses for all improv projects in Austin and b) some kind of stipend for an executive director to make sure that these things happen. I really think we should sell memberships that then get you into AIC shows at discounted prices--if you're a performer this can be soemthing very small. 10 bucks for the year with full voting rights and all the responsibilities that come with it. Something like $20 or $30 bucks for the year for other folks who just want to watch shows and feel like they're part of a larger community--Dance UMbrella, Austin Film Society, ACoT and other service organizations do this. I think we should move in this direction as well.

Sorry this is a bit rambly. The set cut thing Justin proposes just makes me nervous. If ColdTowne wants to do that, hey that's their decision, but I think we should be cognizant of any precedents we might be setting.

[valetoile]

member people? member troupes? member venues? member schools? this getting to be a lot of different kinds of memberships on a lot of different levels. It sounds very complicated. We have the AIC running as both a production company and as a resource organization- maybe we can be both, but let's not conflate those two purposes.

This is going to be a weird and complicated thing to figure out. If we're going to talk about it at the next meeting (October 1), let's bring some models of similar organizations to discuss- ACOT, San Franciso Improv Collective, etc. See how they do it, the distinctions the make, and we can pick out the parts we think will work for us.

[sara farr]

I am reading this and have opinions, but I agree it is complicated, and it hurts my brain to think about it right now so I'm going to bed. Hm.

[Wesley]

This is going to be a weird and complicated thing to figure out. If we're going to talk about it at the next meeting (October 1), let's bring some models of similar organizations to discuss- ACOT, San Franciso Improv Collective, etc. See how they do it, the distinctions the make, and we can pick out the parts we think will work for us.

This specific thing has been said time and time again and never happens, at least not until 1 person is personally responsible for it happening ("Well how do other organizations handle this? We should find out." Next meeting - "Anyone look any of that up? No, OK").
Someone specific, an individual, needs to be tasked with gathering and bringing the pertinent information.

[shando]

This is going to be a weird and complicated thing to figure out. If we're going to talk about it at the next meeting (October 1), let's bring some models of similar organizations to discuss- ACOT, San Franciso Improv Collective, etc. See how they do it, the distinctions the make, and we can pick out the parts we think will work for us.

This specific thing has been said time and time again and never happens, at least not until 1 person is personally responsible for it happening ("Well how do other organizations handle this? We should find out." Next meeting - "Anyone look any of that up? No, OK").
Someone specific, an individual, needs to be tasked with gathering and bringing the pertinent information.

I am out of town for the upcoming meeting, but I will take ownership of this for the meeting after that if that is acceptable for people.

[Wesley]

But you're right, this does bring up the sticky "what's an AIC show?" question that we tried to tackle at the last general meeting and failed pretty miserably.

This is precisely why I've been hammering the drum of refining and defining things such as what is an AIC show (I brought it up because we did one show a month at the Carousel. Look at what it is now) and who are members and what does being a member mean? I hate the mantra of "That's not a problem...yet" in order to dodge sticky and sensitive issues because these things can become "problems" very quickly--as we are seeing here.

Here's my personal goal for the AIC at the moment: A clear roadmap to growth and success.

What the roadmap is, how it is structured is secondary to me. The primary goal is just getting a roadmap in place.

That is why I've pushed for defining roles, responsibilities, even *gasp* "punishments" for failing to meet those responsibilities. It is not because I'm an OCD stickler for authority--it is becuase all successful entities, be they profit or non, have a pretty-well defined structure. I'm for defining it now so that we can seemlessly grow moving forward. You CAN have structure AND remain artisitc. It is a paradox that a little structure may actually make one MORE artistically capable.

If we just lay out what being an AIC venue means--if it means anything--we can easily add new venues whenever we want because both parties will already know what it takes and what it means. Also, we should not come up with a "band-aid" solution for ColdTowne's venue that won't apply to SVT or the next venue to come along. We should use this opportunity to put in place a pretty permanent definition.

Same with issues like membership. No, it isn't an issue now, but it WILL be. To use my stand-by example, what happens when we do get grant money from the city and "members" can apply for it for travel stipends or advertising expenses? We'll have to be able to know who qualifies. Or, more immediately, voting on issues and positions within the organization.

Yes, sometimes I have a passionate idea or two on how things should happen (and most of those will come from how corporate organizations are structured simply because they tend to work and succeed and I deal with it intimately on a daily basis). But...believe it or not, most of the time I do not actually care so much how an issue is decided. Just that it is decided.
(The times I care the most is when we over-complify what are essentially very simple processes.)

I don't care really how we define member (i.e. is there a fee?), just that membership is deifned. I don't care so much on how we vote on issues (plurality vs supermajority, etc), just that how we vote on issues is deifined. I care less about how we do most things, than I do about the fact that we actually do them.

That said, I'd like to reiterate my earlier point that we should, at the next meeting or two, tackle what it means to be an AIC venue and not just for ColdTowne, but for all future performance spaces. In doing so, we will most likely have to tackle what the AIC wants to be, since it does currently have dual roles. If we cannot reach or approach a consensus, I'd propose two general body meetings in October as I think the discussion warrants a clear resolution as soon as possible. I'm sick of having the same discussions month after month when we could have new ones and move forward and grow.

[ChrisTrew.Com]

Is this a huge enough topic that it should be its own meeting?

[mcnichol]

Is this a huge enough topic that it should be its own meeting?

Good call.

I held a meeting with myself just now to answer that question, and it was decided that the answer is 'yes.'