Downtown Block Party - looking for performers

Miggy · Post by **Miggy** » October 16th, 2006, 2:55 pm

I'm on the board of the Downtown Austin Neighborhood Association (DANA) and we have an annual block party that takes place in Republic Square. We have good attendance in total numbers but a lot of people come and go kind of quickly so we're trying to improve our entertainment offerings this year. Can anyone think of a way of threading improv into this setting? If so, we'd love to have you there. It takes place on the evening of Wednesday, November 8th.

We will be having a band for part of the time so there is already a stage with microphones on it if needed. The other features of the party are food, a quick ceremony for our 'urban light' and 'urban blight' awards which the mayor will be there for. This year we're also raffling off the chance to take the first swing at the destruction of the Intel shell (which is being razed for the new federal courthouse).

We have about 800 paying members (mostly downtown residents) and we cross-promote this with the DAA (downtown chamber of commerce) and the Austin Parks foundation. Combined our e-mail lists go out to several thousand people.

Again, if anyone has any way of getting improv entertainment or AIC promotion into this, please let me know. I would like to see both occur ideally.

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » October 16th, 2006, 4:43 pm

we did a well hung jury show in that park once where we transported my entire living room and set it up near a hill. it was a good show. sorry for the size of the picture.

i doubt we would be allowed to take up this much room and surely someone can come up with a better idea, but this would certainly grab attentions and give us a space that was clearly defined. people could just watch from all sides or join in if ballsy enough.

Miggy · Post by **Miggy** » November 8th, 2006, 9:13 pm

Well, we didn't have any improv at the event this evening and I wasn't a big fan of our band either but I did have to share that I somehow won the raffle!

It sounds rigged and I offered to give it back but they told me I was stupid and that's only done at an auction where giving it back would raise more money. Anyway, whenever it happens in the next month or two, I'll be the person to press the button to destroy the Intel building! Hooray! Unless I get sponsored by AMD or something, I'll be wearing an Austin Improv shirt like Eric did with his time on TV. Anybody else have some sort of Improv Everywhere idea we could do with this?

Also, at the event this evening, I did some networking and met some great people from the Blanton and the Arthouse. The Blanton was veryinterested in a re-dux of the improvised tour thing for an upcoming event. The arthouse didn't know what to do with us but said they're open to talking more.

-Mike

Miggy · Post by **Miggy** » February 6th, 2007, 5:18 pm

City Council, DAA, DANA, etc.. are all working to stop this and find a better use for the land (the $65M for the actual building hasn't been funded yet and doesn't look like it will be soon). Unfortunately it literally takes an act of congress to stop it at this point.

At the momment, though, it's scheduled for Sunday Feb. 25th 7am if anyone wants to see it all go boom.

Intel shell to be imploded Feb. 25
Federal courthouse will replace failed project.
Click-2-Listen
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Tuesday, February 06, 2007

The unfinished Intel Corp. building will go out with a bang â€” literally â€” on Feb. 25.

The federal General Services Administration said Tuesday that a contractor will implode the downtown building at 7 that Sunday morning.

It will cost $1.3 million to demolish the building.

Intel once planned a design center downtown, but abandoned the project during the tech downturn in 2001.

It will be replaced by a $65 million federal courthouse with 211,690 square feet.

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » February 6th, 2007, 7:15 pm

i have to film this.

shando · Post by **shando** » February 6th, 2007, 8:18 pm

Miggy wrote:Well, we didn't have any improv at the event this evening and I wasn't a big fan of our band either but I did have to share that I somehow won the raffle!

Anyway, whenever it happens in the next month or two, I'll be the person to press the button to destroy the Intel building! Hooray! Unless I get sponsored by AMD or something, I'll be wearing an Austin Improv shirt like Eric did with his time on TV. Anybody else have some sort of Improv Everywhere idea we could do with this?

Oh man, this is the greatest.

Marc Majcher · Post by **Marc Majcher** » February 7th, 2007, 5:14 pm

Miggy wrote:I'll be the person to press the button to destroy the Intel building! Hooray!

You really need to wear a Coyote costume for this. Maybe draw up some elaborate blueprints to show people, involving rocket skates, a pile of birdseed, and several anvils.

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » February 7th, 2007, 5:22 pm

majcher wrote:You really need to wear a Coyote costume for this.

Please.

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » February 7th, 2007, 5:25 pm

Or we need to dress up like the Intel men from the dot com bubble days, and protest Miggy destroying our home.

sara farr · Post by **sara farr** » February 8th, 2007, 1:33 am

I say we sneak a bunch of fireworks into the building so when it explodes, it does it with color and sparkles that spell out AUSTIN IMPROV.

Jessica · Post by **Jessica** » February 9th, 2007, 10:01 am

You really need to wear a Coyote costume for this. Maybe draw up some elaborate blueprints to show people, involving rocket skates, a pile of birdseed, and several anvils.

My family will be attending this illustrious event. I would love to dress up like road runner or something to make this more exciting.

Miggy · Post by **Miggy** » February 9th, 2007, 1:38 pm

our lobbying efforts seem to have failed:

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/n ... intel.html

Boooo!

Oh well, I still get to blow it up. I guess that's a nice consolation prize.

-Mike