AIC Meeting Notes - 6/1

[Asaf]

Sorry for the delay on this:

In Attendance:
Michael Jastroch, Shawn Leventhal, Michael McGill, Asaf Ronen, Roy Janik, Tiffany Weber, Kaci Beeler, Jon Clinkenbeard, Shana Merlin, Erin Molson, Topping Haggerty, David Lampe, Erik Adams, Justin York

AGENDA:

1. AIC General Updates
2. Hideout Business Update
3. Hideout Artistic Update
4. Coldtowne Theater Update
5. Gnap Theater Update
6. Financial Update
7. Markeing Update
8. Proposal: AIC funding troupes to travel to festivals
9. New Items



AIC General Updates from Asaf Ronen, AIC Managing Director

* Last month the AIC submitted grant for city funding
* Received sizable donation from Matt Pollock (hug him when you see him) with a matching donation on its way
* Shawn Leventhal has launched the newsletter - currently we have approx. 450 names in the mailing list and more every week.
* Shawn also got us a meeting w/ Central Market: We have the first of hopefully many Paying Gig for a Thursday night Happy Hour
* Thanks to Jessica Arjet and her crew, the Book People gig for Lightning Thief went well



Hideout Business Update from Michael McGill

* Continuing Negotiations w/ Sean Hill, the Hideout's current owner; Sean's been given 3 proposals to look over
* There are currently three conditions for taking over the lease:

1. Having an understanding of the lease with the coffee house
2. Having The Hideout be a separate identity from FlimFlam (Sean's other corporations)
3. Establishing a clear start date

* A handful of improvisers will possibly taking over the theater in the summer before taking over the lease, but contingent on having a final agreement
* There will be a plan on improving the Hideout



Hideout Artistic Update from Roy Janik, AIC Artistic Director

* Classes promotion and expansion are being planned including one-off and specialty classes
* Revamping the curriculum to differentiate from other improv schools in town
* Considering the possibility of a Post Tuesday Night Jam show; lottery for jam participants? Jams?
* The Threefer Madness audience is down; looking at changing show, marketing, or something else
* Kaci's working on logo/marketing image for the Hideout
* Sean Hill will retain the Heroes of Comedy Brand; Maestro will stay with the theater
* Potential festival/fundraiser for new AC in the works



Coldtowne Update from Michael Jastroch and Justin York

* There will be a Liquor License soon
* New Cage Match cycle starting this week. The AIC Onion ad is focusing its attention there to get audience numbers up. Next cycle it will move to Saturdays at 9pm, btwn Stool Pigeon and Coldtowne Show switching back to 2 troupes, instead of three.
* Thursday nights will in turn become a solid sketch slot.
* Starting to book shows at the US Art Authority - not necessarily straight up improv, more comedy shows w/ a hook/gimmick/concept events. They are looking for big ideas and one time events to book in the space, so talk to Michael Jastroch if you have any.
* High School Improv League-Nat Miller working on making High School long form league, having sent out letters to every high school. There are also plans to start a week-long high school intensive in August



Gnap!/ Merlin Works Update from Shana Merlin

* Merlin Works classes going well, will have 101-601 starting in July.
* Corporate events are picking up as well
* We'll have an improv mixer/audition/casting event in August open to anyone in town. It's like speed dating for improvisers. It's for people looking to form/join a troupe, people in troupes looking for more members, students, teachers, and anyone who wants a workout. People will announce what they are looking for/why they are there, we will have a long warmup where you get a chance to have 1 on 1 interaction w/ lots of different people, then we will do some scene work. At then end, everyone will fill out a form indicating who they would like to work with and be coached by. Then I will do my best to match everyone up.
* Talk to Shana if you have ideas, questions, or are interested in teaching.
* Gnap! Theater Projects is in discussions/plans to expand improv show offerings at SVT. More info to come.



Financial Update from Financial Officer Michael McGill

* $3900 in bank
* $2700 checks going out
* Onion Ad renewal coming up for $2k+
* We have $15000 budget in this year's proposal submitted month ago. We will find out the results thisSeptember/October. The 1st year maximum = $5000, must have $10,000 budget which includes matching funding.
* Matt Pollock donated $1000 to AIC and his company matched it. If you see Matt, hug him.



Marketing Update

* Two types of marketing being approached: (1) brand of the AIC as a whole, directing people to the website; and (2) specific marketing about specific groups, trying to make rockstars in the AIC. We need to differentiate troupes from each other through better blurbs and getting high quality troupe photos taken for those that don't have them.
* Shawn Leventhal is the Marketing Director and is in charge of the newsletter. Send to marketing@austinimprov.com all your info that you want in newsletters. They are composed on Sunday nights. Different events will be spotlighted each week. Give a head's up to Shawn if you have something special spotlighted. He's open to feedback, let him know if there's something he can do better. There are currently 450 addresses for the newsletter now.

* Vote to increase Constant Contact Address Numbers. Upgrade costs $250 per year.

Yay: 12
Nay: 0
Abstain: 1
Passes!

* Tiffany Weber is the Marketing Intern and will be sending out weekly press releases for the AIC. She is working w/ Asaf on troupe branding
* Remember our Hideout show Fridays at 8 is called Threefer Madness. Please change over to that name in your hosting.
* Also, if you are hosting please encourage people to sign up for the email list.
* We are looking at a new round of T-shirts to be made before Out of Bounds. Tiffany is a graphic designer and has made 2 designs.
* There are still 56 of the last T-shirt design. We brainstormed ideas for selling the T-Shirts we have.




Proposal: AIC funding troupes to travel to festivals
There was a proposal on the table as to whether the AIC could and/or should help Austin troupes with travel to festivals.

The AIC does not currently have the funds alloted for this, but a discussion was had by which Asaf could make plans to raise money for such allotments.

The argument for the proposal is that festivals raise Austin's visibilty in the national scene and provides troupes with new ideas and techniques that benefit our community as a whole.

It was discussed that $500 would be a good goal for an endowment. There could be a grant process within the AIC community to apply for it.

Kristin suggested that it would make more sense to bestow grants to troupes to assist with local projects: hiring a photographer, help with website domain and design, promotional materials such as posters, coaching costs, rental costs for fundraisers, etc.

It was discussed that $100 would be a helpful endowment for local endeavors.

Email Asaf about any ideas on making this happen or what would be helpful to your troupe.

Meanwhile, if your troupe needs assistance, let the AIC know. It's possible they can help with your fundraising efforts or connect you with materials and contacts.



New Items:

* From Michael McGill: Officer terms are overdue. Elections will be held 1st Sunday of August. We need to deepen the bench, as Asaf is not guaranteeing his continuation of his role due to other obligations. There is an open call for candidates, nominations, people to throw their hat in the ring
* From Roy Janik, Artistic Director: Threefer quality is abysmal. A higher quality show will bring in more audience. This scheduling round, Roy will make a point to make every show high quality and something he'd be proud of.
* Albert Im is looking for more people to play Monday nights at Kick Butt Coffee.
* Erik Adams is the new comedy contact at the Austinist.

[kaci_beeler]

From the ColdTowne report.

* Thursday nights will in turn become a solid sketch slot.

This is too vague a note as to be false.
I've already had questions come to me about it.

[Asaf]

My apologies. It was regards to the Tuesday 10pm slot only.

[Jeff]

My apologies. It was regards to the Tuesday 10pm slot only.

Tuesday?

[Asaf]

Thursday.

[smerlin]

My bad too. I was subbing in for Kristen as the note taker and it was my first time, so there are some gaps and vagueness in there, along with some other mistakes, I'm sure. Sorry.