SafePlace Fundraiser Show approved!!!

improvstitute · Post by **improvstitute** » February 28th, 2007, 12:28 pm

The SafePlace Fundraiser Show has been officially approved. The show will take place on Thursday, April 12 at 8PM in the downstairs theatre of the Hideout.

If there are any others interested in being a part of this show, please PM me so that I can get we can develop the look of the show.

Also, if you have already agreed to be in the show, I NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. Please send that ASAP.

Finally, if you want to participate in the SafePlace Walk on Saturday, April 14th, I NEED YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS. Please send that ASAP.

Thanks so much for your time and consideration for such a worthy cause!!!

Ted

andrea · Post by **andrea** » February 28th, 2007, 12:42 pm

this is awesome!!

ggg is committed to the show and ready to do whatever we can to help

nadine · Post by **nadine** » March 1st, 2007, 11:04 am

ted, thank you for championing this.

i did the safeplace volunteer training (http://www.austin-safeplace.org/site/Pa ... nteer_home)
which was 40 hrs, and very eye opening. and not to mention extremely depressing, at about the same time i started my level 1 improv class at the hideout.

it's scary how widespread domestic violence is.

York99 · Post by **York99** » March 1st, 2007, 11:54 am

I'm all for safety, but why are we competing against one of our own shows in a slot that is always somewhat struggling for attendance? This will absolutely crush TNA for that night. People will see the line-up of that show and think that, since they are there to see a show anyway, might as well let the money go to a good cause. I know I would.

ChrisTrew.Com · Post by **ChrisTrew.Com** » March 1st, 2007, 12:23 pm

Maybe we can marry the two?

improvstitute · Post by **improvstitute** » March 1st, 2007, 1:30 pm

York99 wrote:I'm all for safety, but why are we competing against one of our own shows in a slot that is always somewhat struggling for attendance? This will absolutely crush TNA for that night. People will see the line-up of that show and think that, since they are there to see a show anyway, might as well let the money go to a good cause. I know I would.

This is a good point Justin and I understand the concern. I don't really want to have a competing show. However, I have to put on the best show I can on the best night I can otherwise I won't maximize the fundraising potential of the event. I publicly offered this as a collaboration project (hoping other troupes, venues, shows, etc. would want to be a part of this), but I only heard from a few individuals who expressed interest. I asked if this should be an AIC event and the only response to that was that it needed to be voted on since the proceeds were being donated (and I understand the need for that). I contacted specific people about collaborating and got little or no response. I really wanted this to be something that could benefit everyone in the AIC (from a publicity standpoint), but I didn't feel like the AIC as a community really wanted to be a part of it. The people who felt strongly about it contacted me right away. I am sure there were others that would be involved if it weren't for a scheduling conflict.

So, I decided to just work with the people who contacted me and hope for the best. I am sorry this conflicts with the TNA show, but I had to do what was best for the cause.

As for Chris' suggestion to marry the show, I am open to the idea. The problem is that I had to jump through alot of hoops at SafePlace to get approval for this. They are very concerned about the unpredictability of improv and are concerned that it could quickly turn ugly or blue or any number of things that this audience might find offensive. I would need to have complete confidence that all parties involved are aware of what is off limits. Basically it needs to be treated as a family show.

Also, Sean agreed to donate the downstairs theatre space. He did not agree to donate the upstairs space. If we combine these shows, we would need to make sure the Hideout gets paid for their portion of the upstairs theatre take. Would TNA agree to donating the rest of the proceeds? Is TNA an AIC show? If so, will the AIC donate it's portion of the proceeds? I cannot guarantee any AIC radio or TV plugs at this point. I needed that information a week or two ago when I was making my proposal.

Again, I am open to this idea. Let's see what we can do moving forward. If you have ideas for a collaboration, PM me or email me at trutherford@austin-safeplace.org.

HerrHerr · Post by **HerrHerr** » March 1st, 2007, 2:06 pm

I know people are busy with their various troupes and shows, but isn't this the sort of thing the AIC is supposed to be doing? Doesn't this help out our non-profit status a bunch?

I will help out with this effort in some capacity. I think it's a very smart idea to put on shows like these.

We're good people. Let's show Austin this.

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » March 1st, 2007, 2:25 pm

Yeah, excellent work Ted. If it weren't in conflict with PGraph's Thursday show, I'd be there. And hopefully when we do a kick-ass job this year, we can expand out further, like you originally wanted.

I'd walk, except that it's on April 14th, which is my 30th birthday. So I donated instead.

Jules · Post by **Jules** » March 1st, 2007, 2:27 pm

I agree that we should be doing shows like this. And Ted has been mentioning it for quite some time. Girls is proud to help out and I also think the AIC would benefit from being involved. Its exactly the kind of linking and name recognition that would benefit both parties.
Julie

York99 · Post by **York99** » March 1st, 2007, 2:29 pm

This is a great cause, no doubt. And I agree that we should be doing things like this periodically anyway. I would say that to maximize an audience, it would probably be best to cancel a 3fer and/or double barrell. Since it would be using improvisers, nobody would get screwed on stage time. The publicity is great for the AIC. The cause is good, if you're into helping people. More people could come because it's a weekend night.

The only issue would be that the troupes wouldn't get paid. I doubt anyone would raise too much of a stink about that, though.

You know who would be good to take control of this issue? Someone else.

nadine · Post by **nadine** » March 1st, 2007, 2:42 pm

Ted, I'd be happy to help with ushering the show or doing lights (in case my troupe isn't volunteering to perform, which is still under discussion).

Great job plowing through in the beginning when the response/interest was light.

Nadine.

improvstitute · Post by **improvstitute** » March 1st, 2007, 3:01 pm

with radio and TV plugs, the chronicle, and anybody else that will plug it (that other paper, the Austinist, et al) I feel like the show will sell out with no problem. I am not worried about it from that standpoint. We could probably sell out both theaters on Thursday night. However, I would like to have it on a weekend night rather than a weekday. It would either need to be on Friday the 13th (oooooooh) or Friday the 6th. If this change is going to be made, I need to hear from all parties involved.

I already have GGG, Junk and IFE (penciled in until confirmation) ready to play. Plus a few other individuals that want to play or tech. All of that on April 12th. I would only be willing to move it if those people would be willing and able to move it. I would have to know that ASAP.

Again, it may be too late to get the AIC listed as an official sponsor. That went to The Hideout and perhaps Laughs For Lives (there are other issues that may prevent that from happening). I had to make a proposal to the ED of Safeplace and she agreed to The Hideout as a sponsor. She may very well cut it off there. I would have to ask. But...the AIC could do some marketing of it's own and get that word out.

So...what next? I thik the best thing is to keep it on April 12th at this point. How about combining or canceling TNA that night and let's use both spaces for this event? See my earlier post about the logistics of that.

valetoile · Post by **valetoile** » March 1st, 2007, 7:03 pm

I don't think the double scheduling will be a problem at all. The people who arer going to come out for the safeplace show probably wouldn't have known about an improv show at the hideout that night anyway. A whole new audience may be exposed to improv. If people came specifically for the THursday Night Awesome, I doubt they'll change their minds. And if the safeplace show is sold out, the overflow an be directed to TNA. Even nif it did affect TNA's attendance, low turnout one night isn't going to kill it, and it will benefit the impov community as a whole in the long run.

andrea · Post by **andrea** » March 1st, 2007, 10:09 pm

this is exactly what i wanted to say but for some reason i was having trouble coming up with something tactful.

thanks val!