Austin Improv

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.

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?

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

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.

Bump.

I assume this is still on?

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

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

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

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.

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

And taping shows.

Uh, what time exactly is the meeting?

1pm at the hideout.

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€