11.5.05 General Body Meeting

[deroosisonfire]

In just one short week we get to gather ourselves in the green room and make things happen! What things? I dunno. Submit agenda items here and I'll draw it up. Please submit items by 12pm on Saturday.

[valetoile]

Social Committee report on banquet goings on- 5 minutes

I'd like to see if anyone is interested in being AIC librarian. It's a role I feel is important and if implemented well could benefit the AIC, but do not personally have the time to devote to it. So a general call for interest?

[ChrisTrew.Com]

AIC E.D. = 5-10 Minutes for Report

[beardedlamb]

advertising committee will be there and need 10 or so minutes.

also, can we put the same year's eve show on the agenda? i don't have much to say about it but if we want it to be a success again, we should figure some stuff out now. maybe 5 or so minutes.

[Wesley]

Bump.

I assume this is still on?

Looks like I need to set side about 20-25 mins so far?

[ChrisTrew.Com]

Shannon and I's proposal for this crazy AIC and multiple venues puzzle needs 10 minutes.

[sara farr]

Chris, can you be in charge, or make someone be in charge, of updating the AIC online calendar? I love that the front page has what the shows are in "THIS WEEK'S SHOWS", but it would be nice if the calendar was just as current.

plink plink

[beardedlamb]

sara,
phil is in charge of updating the calendar on austinimprov.com when each schedule comes out. i'm sure it will be done soon if not already.
and i think roy is on top of updating the front page with this week's happenings.

[ChrisTrew.Com]

Please add "the future of the cage match" to the agenda.

[Wesley]

And taping shows.

[shando]

Uh, what time exactly is the meeting?

[deroosisonfire]

1pm at the hideout.

[deroosisonfire]

Austin Improv Collective General Body Meeting
November 5, 2006 1 – 4pm

Members Present: Jeremy L., Shana M., Chris T., Christina dR, Wesley B., Michael McG., Shannon McC., Valerie W., Kristin F., Orf, Roy J.

Executive Director Monthly Report
An overview of my month
I spent a majority of my Executive Director time making phone calls, writing emails, attending meetings, and writing myself little notes. I spent about 5 hours a week on this.


Some big things done this month
- The Fall Workshop schedule has been finalized and published
- Thursday Night Awesome has acquired the service of a promotions director, Kristin Firth
- Web presence improved - Myspace beefed up, AustinImprov.com errors fixed (Andy P.,
Bob A.)
- Shows have gotten taped (Phil, Doug, Greg)
- October’s first Thursday was a huge success (Jeremy Lamb)
- Representation at the B. Iden Payne awards (Rachel Madorsky)
- Booth computer all fixed and clean (Eric Heiberg)


Projects currently in progress
- The fund raising chair
- Separate website for AIC Education and Outreach (more workshops! More gigs!)
- The AIC Family Gathering
- Summer Camp (starting early!)
- Radio station contacts
- The AIC Library
- Waffle Fest Waffle Fest Waffle Fest
- see.hear.speak.two


Finance
- Erika’s report was passed around

Social
- AIC Banquet e-vites went out
- Ballots are being counted on awards
- Planning is being done for the photo

Advertising
- a ton of flyers were ordered
- putting up a calendar to highlight advertising events
- biggest problem is lack of manpower
- perhaps some sort of incentive program to encourage people to help out
- Jeremy is working on a plan to increase motivation
- Mike distributed ~200 promotional tickets using his network of connections
- we need to get AIC in online guidebooks – HOW DO WE DO THIS? Mike M. will get on it if we figure it out
- add survey into online ticketing program? Ask Bob A. about this
- add survey questions to box office protocol. Mike M. is going to ask Andy about doing this.
- the display window is painfully out of date. Andy needs to update this.

AIC Definition Proposal
- Shannon and Chris discussed the definition of the AIC and an AIC show.
- Shannon looked at models from other improv communities
- a two-tiered system: AIC-produced shows and AIC-affiliated shows
- AIC-produced shows: scheduled by the scheduling committee, open to any member of the AIC. Currently: TNA, 3fer, Double Barrel, Cage Match & Blank show. Rules: need to be open to everyone to submit to, give money back to the AIC. Benefits: AIC staffing, AIC-funded marketing, will be posted on Austin Improv calendar by advertising. Groups that perform in AIC-produced shows are expected to staff AIC-produced shows.
- AIC-affiliated shows: produced by another group (Coldtowne, Heroes of Comedy, etc.), not open to any group – scheduled by the producer. Benefits: will be on Austin Improv calendar (but they must do it themselves!). Does not get AIC-funded publicity.
- Who submits to the press? Ask Erika about this.
- Put info re: how to send out press releases online?
- education and outreach – can hire AIC to produce shows at various venues
- how much money from each theater for AIC-produced shows?
- Orf made the AIC member troupe application form.
- proposal passed unanimously

Number of Shows at the Hideout
- we just spent $400 on flyers – now is not a good time to cancel shows
- is it about business or audience?
- instead of cutting shows we should increase marketing
- Chris T. wants to propose moving the Cage Match to Coldtowne Theater in January/February or March/April to make it bigger and better BUT keep it an AIC-produced show. Vote on this in December.

Expanding the Community
- get students more involved in shows, meeting people in the community, coming to parties
- push the jam and up participation
- level 3 graduation show December 3 @ 8pm at the Hideout
- Shana encourages her students to go to shows, start new groups
- there’s not a road map to what to do after graduation
- older players need to play with new players more often
- not as many classes happening – we need to push them more
- mentors step up to coach new troupes to help get them running
- open slots in the schedule for newbie play
- Coldtowne Theater is doing a lottery show – one person from each improv class paired with some veterans and do a run of shows
- advertise classes better!
- student page on the website
- Christina and Wes will work on proposal for integrating students into the AIC community

Positions to be Filled
- AIC librarian is Kaci Beeler. Turn it into an archivist position.
- Fundraising chair is Julie Lucas
- Chris T. is making sure this is happening.

Same Year’s Eve show
- it is scheduled for Saturday, December 30
- we should market it
- set-up like last year
- social committee will organize the party
- Kristin Firth will produce this.

Season Passes
- for 2007.

Taping Shows
- it is happening some
- should happen more
- Kristin Firth committed herself to one week of Maestro taping
- easy to buy video cameras
- we should archive shows. Roy Janik offered to help people do that.
- tapes need to go on YouTube site. Roy will do this.
- Roy will sign people up to film Maestro. Other shows done on an ad hoc basis.
- $$ for tapes? Maybe from marketing.

Tuesday Night Jam
- we have no idea if it’s working to have an assigned leader
- Wes will talk about this at December meeting

AIC Website overhaul
- a committee in charge of this
- it is not sleek. It sucks.
- this is happening, Bob A. is in charge of this
- lots of people know about design
- ask on Craig’s list for someone to do this
- Orf is going to work with an expert to do this. Val and Wes have offered to help.
- e-mail Orf with message
- merch should go on this

Failure to complete responsibilities
- it’s happening with Blank Shows, hosting duties, box office
- people were publicly shamed
- Chris is going to talk to these people

Promoting AIC
- next t-shirts need the website on them
- good to promote as a brand
- name recognition helps with getting funding from the city of Austin
- put AIC logo on flyers


For next meeting:
- individual membership proposal altered to say “play in AIC-produced or AIC-affiliated showâ€