Chicago Sky Spam

[Bacon]

Hey Guys,

Just wanted to let you guys know about this Chicago Sky (Chicago's WMBA team) e-mail that has been sent to many improv teams.

Basically the e-mail says that the Chicago Sky are interested in your improv team performing at a home game. In reality they are asking you to buy 50 tickets and in return you will get 5 minutes of stage time. Now I don't know what improv group would like to perform for only 5 minutes in the middle of a basketball court in such a large venue, let alone pay for it, but for some reason they are targeting improv groups.

[ChicagoSky]

Sorry you feel that way about my e-mail, but I think there are a lot of groups that are would love to perform for 5 minutes in front of 5000 people in a venue like the Allstate Arena! We have had dance groups, singing groups, cheerleaders, martial arts classes, even a Granny Basketball League come out to take advantage of this opportunity, and they all have given great reviews on the experience. The exposure they all got by being in front of all those people, not to mention the rush of performing in front of a crowd that big, was absolutely worth it for them. I know it's not a typical venue for an improv group, but how else to grow a fan base by getting in front of new people right?

I understand the cost of it may scare some groups away, but ultimately we and the groups that have come out in the past understand that there is always a cost to growing your business, organization, improv team, etc. If done right, the cost for the 50 tickets can be actually turned into a profit by turning around and selling those 50 tickets to your friends, family members, and fan base at face value (since we're giving them to you at a discounted price). That's not to mention the benefit to your improv team when people who saw you at our game like what they see and decide to support you at your other performances as well!

All in all, I'm glad you brought this up Bacon, if there were issues with the way I was approaching improv groups with this opportunity, I'm glad I got a chance to address them. I'm not trying to trick anybody, we've been doing this for the past 6 years, and plenty of performance groups have seen the benefit of this opportunity. I know how impressive the improv scene is in the Chicagoland area and wanted to get some talented teams a chance to showcase their skills in front of a larger crowd than they're used to. If anyone reads this wants to talk a little more about this, please feel free to give me a call, my name is David and my work number is (312) 994 5976, I'd love to hear what you have to say about this topic. Thanks!

[Bacon]

Thank you for your marketing rebuttal to my post, but I would like to point out a few things.

1. I don't think your e-mail is spam. I know it's spam. In the e-mail you say, "I think that your improv group would be a great fit to come out and put on a show!". You've never seen my group perform so you have no idea if we are a good fit. In your rebuttal you say "wanted to get some talented teams". False you want any team that will pay for tickets no matter how bad they are. You took my information off an improv website and are soliciting me to purchase something. That's the definition of spam.

2. Personally I don't feel your arena would be a great venue for any improvised show. It's not a good stage for any improv group and if you've seen a show or two in the city you would know this. We get "fans" by performing at smaller venues around the city. There are plenty of places to get stage time and be seen by people. I don't need to buy 50 tickets to get that done. We have a hard enough time soliciting our friends to come to a hour long improv show, let alone a women's basketball game where we would only perform for 5 minutes. You should also know that improvisors are typically poor artists so they don't have the money to purchase tickets.

3. You never say the tickets are for sale, but word your e-mail in such a way that they almost seem free. "For this particular ticket package, you would get around 50 tickets to use, distribute, sell, do whatever you want..."
Obviously your goal is to get someone excited and have them call you so you can explain. You also say, "I work with the Chicago Sky" and promote yourself like you're in charge of tallent before games, but really your job is ticket sales. So much so that you go on a message board with no replies and leave a rebuttal with your phone number hoping to sell these tickets.

4. 99% of improv teams aren't a business and aren't performing to make money. We perform around the city for free because we love this art.

I know you're just trying to do you job so I'm not upset. I just wanted others to know that it's a solicitation e-mail before they called. I'm glad that this post made you see the errors of your e-mail and you changed it so they don't have to see this.

[ChicagoSky]

OK, it seems that there is nothing I can do to sway your opinions, but that doesn't mean that other groups can't benefit from this. I actually did a good amount of research before e-mailing certain groups, we do have a standard for our performances, and any group that was interested in performing would have to send in tapes for us to see and judge whether they are actually a good fit for our Prime Time performance slots. So while I have not seen every single group I have e-mailed perform, it would get there eventually, and e-mailing a positive message probably goes over a whole lot better than if I said 'you guys might suck, but if you don't, you should give me a call!' I'd rather assume the people I reach out to are talented than thinking they aren't I guess. Also the Allstate Arena is the second busiest arena in the United States, granted, it is not a typical improv venue, but that doesn't make it a bad fit. I don't think there are too many downsides to performing in front of several thousand people as compared to several dozen. That would be like saying Old Country Buffet wouldn't be a good fit for a hungry person because there's too much food there. I think the best we can do here is agree to disagree, Bacon. You don't see the benefit in coming out and taking advantage of this opportunity, and I believe that the benefit far outweighs any initial cost that comes along with it. I respect your opinion, I just wanted to set some things straight so groups who want to get this kind of exposure wouldn't be getting the wrong idea.

[Cornproductions]

You are dead wrong Sky. You tighten the rope around your neck a bit tighter with every reponse you make.

[pinoy3D]

Wow, I haven't posted anything in the CIN in forever, 3 years at least. But I'm breaking my silence to call out ChicagoSky.

To use your OCB comparison, that would be like sending a hungry person in the middle of OCB, and telling him to open his mouth while people threw food at his face to see what sticks. He might get fed, but is it really worth it? I doubt your research included actually going to an improv show. And you've probably never heard of the iO 25th Anniversary debacle at the Chicago Theater, either. As Bacon pointed out, improv does not work on a big stage like that. I think any improvisor (or anyone who has experienced a live improv show with any common sense) will tell you that. And for 5 minutes? That deserves a big, "C'mon Man!!!" That's a waste of $50. You must have improvisors mixed up with stand up comedians.

[Douglass]

Originally Posted by ChicagoSky

I think the best we can do here is agree to disagree, Bacon. You don't see the benefit in coming out and taking advantage of this opportunity, and I believe that the benefit far outweighs any initial cost that comes along with it.

Bacon drop some knowledge on us. How much money did you pay a corporate marketing guy when you made that "Shit Chicagoans Say" video that got like a billion views and landed you on morning TV and shit plugging your Corn show with your friends?

[Bacon]

"OK, it seems that there is nothing I can do to sway your opinions"

On the contrary Chicago Sky. You can sway my opinion with a valid point or well thought out argument to my statements. You have provided neither in this discussion. Sure we can agree to disagree, but as you can see from other improvisors who have posted on this thread most will agree with me. Considering you are e-mailing improvisors this doesn't bode well for your argument.

Douglass - I spent zero dollars.

And since we are using this thread for self promotion, you can check out my improv team's website at www.SophomoreAlbum.com

[RedSoxFan]

I'm fairly sure this is actually how Nichols and May got their start, so I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss.