Here's something improv related that I'm still trying to understand: Why do people care what other cities think of our scene? Also, how would they know much of anything about it?
I mean honestly, Kansas City hasn't exactly been sending out TONS of representatives to other festivals. And the out of town improvisers we bring in for the festival perform their shows and get to watch the other acts from out of town. What do y'all expect? The only real way to get big time national notoriety, which I could personally care less about, would be to have an open call festival, and mix national acts in with local acts. Having lots more local troupes going to other festivals would help too.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Don't call it a comeback.
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The motivation is because the implied mission behind the name City3 is that we build our tribe up so well, that we are known as the 3rd city for comedy.
While that is the impetus for our name, certainly, our actual mission as described in both legal and internal documents states nothing of nation-wide import, let alone ranking of regions.
The name is more tongue-in-cheek than anything. I mean, how do you say to anyone with a straight face that your ultimate goal is third place?
That ain't what Lance Armstrong would do! And we don't even have nut rot.
I can't wait to turn the festival completely over to I-A so they can make it that big! Retirement is nigh! Bwa ha ha ha ha.
OK. Here's the only time having awareness of our "scene" outside KC mattered to me:
1. Like Tommy said, when we were trying to attract acts to our open-call festival.
2. When Tim Mason ended up in iO classes, and Charna pulled him aside after his first session to find out how he knew what he was doing. He said he was from Lighten Up, and she said, "That explains it."
One is practical. The other is ego.
I care because there is a part of me that is very proud of what I do and very proud of the city I come from.
There is a need inside me to perform and seek validation from the audience. I think as performers, thats why we work to get better.
If we make KC known for great improv, then any of us will be accepted into any festival easier. Performers from around the country will be more likely submit to our festival bringing their knowledge to us. It's a win win for everyone.
Plus, I just want to be famous.
I could give a shit what other cities think of us. They're not the ones coming to our shows.
Well, OK, I guess I do see some merit in being viewed in a good light by out of towners. At the same time, I'm not real sure if it's relevant yet. What I mean is, there are benefits to it, but I think Jared hit it on the head, that we should be much more concerned with building up our own audiences and scene before we really need to get into what other groups think about it.
T-Bird! My main man!
Ok wait, so is the KC festival now going to be an open call? Meaning teams from other cities will actually get to submit to be in the festival? Meaning not invite only? Potentially even people who are from KC but now live elsewhere?
Makes sense to me. There are many people who are from KC and should have the chance to perform ahh hemm (clearing throat) on stage with other "KC" performers. By opening it up, you're opening yourself up for networking. Even for making a little money from the submissions you'd bring in. Whether it's the individual performers or the city in general, who knows what opportunities could open by not being so exclusive.
Just my two cents.
Hey Mo,
As far as I know, not as of yet. BUT, if you have a group in mind, I'm sure the festival board would love to hear about any groups containing locals gone good. It's a main focus of the festival right now, and partly why it hasn't become open submission yet.
I agree, submission fees would be some added dough, but having the specific vision there is for the festival now i.e. locally targeted, with out of towners gone, done good, It wouldn't seem fair to other groups without the KC connection submitting and having to pay the fee.
I think.
If I'm way off, ask Trish about it. She is more involved in the what we do and why we do it. I haven't been much help in planning the upcoming festival. Work's been too much in the way.
KCiF at this time is invite only.
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