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Posts Tagged ‘DSI’

May
28

IndyWeek stalks Zach

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Last week I got an interesting request from a writer at The Independent (@IndyWeek), our Local weekly. For the Annual Best of the Triangle Issue they wanted to track my whereabouts, QUOTE Foursquare-style, for an entire week, Wednesday May 26th – Tuesday June 1st. THANK GOD I already use Foursquare.

Here are my first three days.

THE ZW TIMELINE: I typically work until 2am (often later) and wake up by 830am everyday. The DSI Comedy Office IS my house, so its really just a quick brush my teeth, make coffee and get back to work.

WEDNESDAY MAY 26th

12pm DSI Comedy Theater to meet with Boys & Girls Club Rep about DSI fundraising

230pm Chick-fil-A at University Mall (No Spicy Chicken Sandwich yet) I go here whenever I schedule meetings in the area. Or do I schedule meetings when I need Polynesian sauce?

430pm Chapel Hill-Carrboro Chamber of Commerce to check-in with Laura Morrison about a Non-profit Roundtable I’m leading on June 9th.

730pm Anna Maria’s at Carrboro Plaza to meet with Aaron Keck about DSI Witness News (My Little Italy comfort food = BAKED ZITI with Italian Sausage).

9pm DSI Comedy Office, Back to work for the night.

THURSDAY MAY 27th

12pm DSI Comedy Theater to manage Justin, our WalkCarrboro Social Media Intern

1pm Carrburritos to meet with Kevin Browning about CageMatch and improv. We sat outside and enjoyed burritos Mejor, Guac and Sour Cream on the side. My Favorite Meat on the inside. Can you guess what it was? It’s the special and NOT the Tofu.

3pm Weaver Street Market for black UNSWEETENED iced tea meeting with Zannie Gunn.

4pm Back to DSI Comedy Theater, work up until IMPROV 201 class at 7pm.

10pm Armadillo Grill for my “Office Hours” — Eat chips, queso and talk comedy.

FRIDAY MAY 28th

1130am FullSteam Brewery to tour the new space and talk potential @DSIcomedy performance opportunities with my friend (and incredible Entrepreneur) Sean Lilly Wilson.

1230pm Tyler’s Restaurant at American Tobacco to enjoy lunch with Ginny Skalski (we talked about blogging, My spa addiction, Shakori Hills, LED lighting and boys — I ordered the french dip, but the pulled pork looked great).

3pm Dry Clean Warehouse on Airport Historic Martin Luther King Blvd. Actually DCW is on Homestead, so there goes my joke. I get my shirts pressed. What?

7pm DSI Comedy Theater for shows, MISTER DIPLOMAT FREE COMEDY Every Friday.

9pm The Station / Southern Rail for a Mocha Stout with Nieman & Poole wedding guests (and a lot of old friends). Home by 130am and blogging by 2am.

Tomorrow I plan to get up early, drink coffee, shower, iron pants, get my shoes shined, buy a crisp new white shirt and new black belt, rehearse for the Nieman & Poole Wedding at the Old Well, drink a couple Blue Cups at He’s Not, AND EAT PIG! Ahh, to enjoy my weekend.

You’ll get the whole 7 days on IndyWeek.com next week.

Exciting, I know.

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Posted in community, personal, social media | 1 Comment »

Apr
27

Improv and Youth Leadership

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Last week the Chapel Hill-Carrboro YMCA asked me to organize an interactive comedy show to close out their annual day-long Leadership Rally for students from all over the state of North Carolina. Of course I said YES! (AND! then promptly booked DSI Comedy TourCo to back me up on stage).

It was a true All-Star show because our objective was simple: Offer an interactive improv comedy set that engaged as many students and student ideas as possible, to make them the stars of the night. I wanted to show what a true LEADER could do with the spotlight by turning the focus on our volunteers. We supported the student volunteers unconditionally and set THEM up to succeed in every game. Why? Because when THEY experienced success, we did too. And when people see you as a Manager or Leader that truly cares about the success of your TEAM first, they jump at the chance to work with you.

Imagine managing a team of people who are not only excited about the work itself, but excited to do whatever that work might be FOR YOU as a Leader. The fundamentals of improvisation can help to breed that type of passion and team loyalty, which creates a pretty sweet by-product, personal satisfaction (and comedy). Do you want the world to be a better place? Do you want to help the next generation?

WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

Look for an improv class near you and sign your kids up for it.

DSI classes (and summer camps) help students: Improve verbal ability; Enhance active listening skills; Build body awareness and Boost self-confidence. Improvisation can have a positive impact on students both on- and off-stage. By learning performance games in a safe environment, DSI students are encouraged to take risks and they develop the ability to both tell stories collaboratively and work in the moment.

Oh, it works for adults too. (details online)

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Posted in improv, leadership | No Comments »

Feb
1

Cannonball Run FTW!

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So a fat guy, two priests, Burt Reynolds’ moustache, a racial stereotype, TWO racial stereotypes, OK — a lot of racial stereotypes and a LOT of 80′s cleavage walk into a bar… Taproom? JUST KIDDING! But it’s starting. Our 10th Annual NC Comedy Arts Festival hits Carrboro 3 days from now.

And this year, at least for me, my local company and staff, it might feel like the CANNONBALL RUN. We kick off the largest comedy party in the Southeast on Thursday February 4th, presenting over 60 shows at DSI Comedy Theater, The ArtsCenter, Hamilton Hall (UNC Campus), Local 506, Mansion 462 and Cat’s Cradle, with our last film screening at the Varsity Theatre on Saturday Feb 27th.

Sketch week, http://www.nccomedyarts.com/sketch/schedule/
Standup week, http://www.nccomedyarts.com/standup/schedule/
Improv week, http://www.nccomedyarts.com/improv/schedule/
Film week, http://www.nccomedyarts.com/film/schedule/

I’m super excited — I mean, the adrenaline has already started pumping. Did I mention that DSI COMEDY won Business of the Year last week? We did. And I found out on Friday (thanks to @mollybuckley) that our own Carrboro Mayor Mark Chilton AND Chapel Hill Mayor Mark Kleinschmidt both issued proclamations resolving that February 2010 be recognized as DSI Comedy Arts Month. I know, right? AWESOME.

So get your tickets. Make plans now.

SEE YOU AT THE THEATER!

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Posted in festival production | No Comments »