Austin Improv

This notice was forwarded to me.




Hi folks:

Okay, so this is a bit 'out there', but I'm sure someone will appreciate
some decent money for very little work and a bit of adventure...

On Saturday, April 28, I am conducting a series of technical rescues as
part of a Search and Rescue Simulation in a national park outside of
Austin, Texas. The program calls for 6 actors - 4 to be rescued from
delightfully 'precarious' situations (with lots of attention to safety
from trained staff), and 2 to play a reporter and camera-person to
'test' the participants on media exposure and perhaps get some
additional footage.

Blood (mint flavor), ropes, maybe even a helicopter evacuation...

Now if this isn't applied improv, what is? The pay is pretty good
for the work, and it should be a blast.

Do we have any lurkers in the Austin area?


Please respond to me at:

improv -at- intellact [dot] ca

Thanks,

Andrew Welch, intellact
www.intellact.ca

This has the potential to be one fun day.

We had civillian volunteers help us do exercises like this when I was in the military. They played everything from lost hikers to foreign diplomats, to hostages. We would 'rescue' them and then have to deal with the results ( One time we wound up killing a room full of 'UN Hostages' when our breach team threw in the wrong grenade...oops.)

But you get to play the media and politicians and such and interact with some fine folks who are training to keep you safe. It's worth it if you have the time.

Plus, the helicopter ride is worth it. Where else can you get Star Flight to give you a free ride?

i'm busy that day but i can vouch for andrew welch. i met him at a conference and he really has his stuff together. he's been doing applied improv and improv learning theory work for years and years.

also, i'm him.

jeremy

precarious situations??? you prob don't have to act to be afraid.

Damn. I would love to do this (and future opportunities like it) but I also am busy that day.

nadine wrote:precarious situations??? you prob don't have to act to be afraid.

Eh, it's nothing too dangerous. Sometimes you're left on a ledge so the teams can practice their extraction of climbers who have fallen. Other times, you're stuck on the water in an overturned boat, or you're in a simulated car wreck.

They have people watching you at all times, and you're pretty safe.

If you want to get spooked, volunteer for the DPS or Police SWAT exercises. A lot of loud noises, shouting, and gunfire. It's like paintball but you don't get a gun.

Man, I hate that mint-flavored blood. What ever happened to good old Karo syrup and food coloring?

Would love to do it, but it's Eyeore's birthday.

i will be precarious whenever you want me to be, asaf

This gig still needs players and I received further information including what the roles are and the awesome amount of money that they are offering. Come on people, snatch this up. This is good experience and cash.


From Andrew:
The Delta Synergy Group (from Canada), a group I consult for, is
conducting a Search & Rescue simulation in Pedernales Falls State Park,
near Austin, on April 28. There will be 40-50 participants, conducting
3 or 4 rescues of varying technical difficulty. We are bringing in a
general facilitator, 3 trained rescue technicians, and 2 additional
ropes-trained facilitators, all to lead the program.

The additional staffing requirement has changed slightly, but the result
is less work and more money! We need 6 local staff for the following
roles:

4 'actors' who will be 'injured', found, and rescued, and two additional
actors to take on the roles of a reporter and cameraman during and
immediately after rescues. If these staff have any ropes training, then
so much the better - they might be able to assist with some setup ahead
of time, but once things get rolling, the first 4 will be 'occupied'.

The rescues may include a cliff rescue (either lift or lower), a
cut-away 'tree' rescue (parachutist stuck in a tree), a kayaker rescue
(non-whitewater), and a simple hill rescue (mountain biker slid off
path). Extractions just *may* include a helicopter for at least one
victim. Feedback to the participants on how the patients were treated
might also be asked for.

The compensation is $325 US for the day, plus $0.35/mile travel.

If this sounds like a fun day, or you know any 'hams' that might be
comfortable grilling the participants as a reporter (or that sounds like
fun for you!), let me know. (I think those people would get to observe
the most too, if that is of interest.)

You can send any contact information for confirmed interested parties
directly to me. improv@intellact.ca.

Damn! I've already got a commitment that day but that is some good scratch for one day's work.

I have a commitment for the 8 PM show that day - do you know what the hours of the gig are, Asaf? I'd like to do this, but not if I can't find a replacement for teching the 8 show

i know nothing more than what I have posted. If you contact him and find that information, please post it. As I posted I am not able to do the gig, so I am not delving any further into it.

So out of curiousity, anyone here sign up for this?

Chrisitina and I have sent off a follow-up for more information.

We have evening time commitments too, but we're both going to try to do it if we can work it into our schedules.