First Applied Improvisation Road Show hit Geneva!

On Friday November 3rd 2006, AIN-Europe successfully organized its first of a series of Road Shows taking Applied Improv to a number of internationally orientated European cities. This pioneering event hosted by Sparks Creative Communication Training is a concrete outcome of the Amsterdam AIN-Conference held earlier this year. Participants there discussed various strategies to bring Applied Improv closer to local business communities.

The Geneva Road Show example gathered the following AIN members: Amy Carroll, Todd Montgomery, Paul Z. Jackson, Renatus Hoogenraad and Richard Pineault. It was meant to generate an “easy to use” concept available to all AIN members. It focused specifically on the business-like message all of us need to get across by answering important questions like: “How is Improv relevant to our training needs? How do I justify this to my gatekeeper/budget controller? We’ve already got a great corporate culture – why do we need your help? What makes Improv different/better than the dozens of other approaches to training/coaching/change management/etc. that are out there?”

All these questions (and I’m sure many more) are everyday life for Improv trainers. By having a well-defined and sharply focused message prepared in advance on how Improv can be used for business the event turned out to be a real eye-opener for the targeted audience!

It also proved a wonderful opportunity for AIN members to work together and put their competences at the Networks disposal. As Paul Z. Jackson mentioned to participating AIN members afterwards: “Many thanks for making another part of the Improv dream come true.” And this dream did, in fact, attract the attention of the local Geneva Business community, even though Applied Improv is a fairly new training method in Switzerland.

Here are some figures: About 600 people were invited throughout Switzerland, 40 registered for the event and 30 attended the event. A majority of the guests represented major international organizations and companies. A week after the event 3 companies already showed “advanced interest” in the method and are willing to implement Applied-Improvisation-related trainings in their organizations……. And the next Road Show is scheduled for March 2007 in London!

For anyone wishing to organize a similar event in their region or town a comprehensive record including evaluations and a time line will soon be available online.

Renatus Hoogenraad
Sparks Creative Communication Training - Geneva

Posted by Renatus Hoogenraad on November 15, 2006 08:14 AM in About AIN
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