What are the applications? How can I use improv in our organization?

Funny you should ask!

Our workshops are based on improvisational theatre techniques and bring a transformational experience to your audience. Participants walk away with a deeper sense of their own capacity for creativity and productive communication. These are far - reaching life skills that will positively impact every aspect of their work and personal growth.

Improvisation is the perfect vehicle for training and skills improvement. It's a fact that people learn better in a climate of fun and participation. We learn best in a hands - on environment. The uniquely cooperative nature of improv provides the ideal format for optimal learning.

Improvisation can provide problem - solving skills. Being comfortable and at ease when under pressure is essential to problem solving and crisis management. You'll grow in confidence and enthusiasm for facing even the most difficult challenges.

Improvisation helps you manage change in positive ways. The 21^st century brings change at an unprecedented rate. The difference between the successful company and the one left by the wayside will be its ability to adapt. Improv is the ultimate flexibility exercise.

Improv can provide concrete skills for creativity and innovation, the lifeblood of any corporation. In today's competitive global marketplace, maintaining the status quo is not enough. Improv prepares you to see the opportunities in every situation, and to have the confidence to act on them.

The Trainers

For a combined 35 years, Jim, Molly and Mark have motivated and coached thousands of people to expand their creativity, better communicate and connect with others, and to have fun doing it. Together, they now combine the best of their techniques, talents, and expertise to provide unsurpassed excellence and innovation in corporate training. Through their lively presentations, their audiences become part of the presentation.

Out of the Blue founders Jim Detmar, Molly Cox and newest partner, Mark Bergren's personal expertise further enhance these effective techniques. Their background of business acumen and success in leadership, sales and service and theatre sets a solid foundation for their talent and presentation skills. Jim, Molly and Mark are a dynamite "triple threat team" that distinguishes Out of the Blue from every other corporate training firm.

"I never imagined that a 9 hour, one and one - half day program could be so engaging and seamless. The workshop topped off by your customized sketch and improv was unsurpassed by any other program our association has had." - J. Belting CCM, G.M. Dellwood Hills

Each workshop is custom designed to emphasize your particular need and area of interest. We have a solid track record of work with some of the nation's most successful businesses.

Working within your stated goals and focus, we provide customized programs that provide real and concrete skill sets to the participants.

They will learn:

• Customer Service
• Unique Leadership Skills
• Creative Thinking Techniques
• "Active Listening"
• To be Innovative & Spontaneous
• Enhanced Communication Skills
• Sales Tools through Improvisation
• Teambuilding

Our workshops on customer service, teambuilding, creativity and communication are among the most prized by companies seeking to achieve excellence.

"When it comes to workshops, my level of interest has never been higher!" - Allen Greenspan

Corporate Comedy -- From Out of the Blue Direct to You

Wherever you need us, that's where we'll be. Convention site, hotel, corporate offices, or sandy beach in Bora Bora, we deliver top - notch training and entertainment. (We do our best work in a tropical paradise. Something to keep in mind if you're torn between Cleveland and Cancun.)

Our Corporate Comedy is training & entertainment linked into a seamless "laugh & learn" package. Whether your event goal is "just for laughs," or it's a new product rollout that just needs an inventive, inspired custom comedy twist, Out of the Blue will do it with "the funny." Humor enhances learning.

"Oh my gosh! You are so funny! Thank you for entertaining us at the Minnesota Speakers Association Gala and Silent Auction. The customization you did to include bits about the meeting industry were terrific. The real genius of your group is taking ideas from the audience and integrating them into your sketches." -- Nancy, President, Minnesota Speakers Association

Our Choice Choices for Comic Relief - The Sky's the Limit!
(Don't worry - we're not talking about your budget).

Custom Sketch Comedy & Improvisation Show
Consisting of original sketches & improvisation, or simply the spontaneous hilarity of improvisation, Out of the Blue's standard entertainment offering features a cast of 4 or 5 actors and a musician who perform in a high energy, fast - paced comedy revue format.

We are skilled at working closely with you to tailor write sketch material to your exact content needs. And - our menu of audience interactive improvisation pieces; from scenes to songs to satire, is virtually endless. Out of the Blue partners are experienced - Our partners have created customized entertainment for hundreds of companies across the country over the past 15 years.

Just for Laughs
Got a dinner? Got an hour? Need some sure - fire funny that'll have your attendees laughing uproariously and asking each other "how the hell do they do that?" We'll bring our sharp - witted cast of pro performers & our unique style of satirical comedy and improvisation to your stage at a moment's notice.

Game Show
Yes we have them - and we'll design one just for you, with your training and entertainment needs in mind. Chock full of interaction, information and just plain fun, a customized "Jeopardy," "Family Feud," or "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" may be just what the network ordered to reinforce the bone - dry details of that new business plan or marketing strategy for your audience.

Talk Show
Got a program, product, or policy you need them to grasp? Dissatisfied with the level of information retention results you get from lectures or memos? Maybe Regis will have better luck. We can present your material in a talk show format, a la Letterman, Oprah, or even Springer - minus the bleeped out language, of course.

It's a great way to make your message both memorable and fun. Better still, it's a very effective counter to resistance to new ideas and change. We create a climate of enthusiasm and receptivity that can disarm even the most chronic nay sayer.

Mock Speaker
Motivational speakers are the standard for corporate events. Some are great, and some are well, just football players... Out of the Blue will create a "mock speaker" just for you that will at first have your audience taking notes, and will then have them rolling in the proverbial aisles.

Whether it's a Tony Robbins takeoff, your new Vice President of Synergy, or a customized corporate "expert" on your company, we'll create a send - up speaker that will set up your CEO's speech, or just send them off laughing.

Master of Ceremonies
Presentation and packaging is essential to a positive perception. (You can test this theory by putting a tiffany ring in a Wal - Mart plastic bag, and placing a Wal - Mart rhinestone in a blue Tiffany box. Place both on a table and ask a colleague to take her pick.)

So naturally, you'll want your carefully planned event and program of events to be presented to best possible advantage. Our polished pros will do just that. They can ensure seamless transitions, professional introductions, sustained interest, and high energy levels. Seasoned and intuitive, they carefully observe audience response, spotting the subtle first signs of lagging interest, hostility or fatigue, while also noting the points of strong receptivity. The emcee then adapts to the moment to skillfully guide the proceedings and control the climate.

Roasts & Tributes
Delight your honoree and audience alike with professionally delivered testimonials, tributes, or walks down memory lane. Imagine the look on the face of your CEO or Employee of the Year as his "kindergarten teacher" climbs to the podium to reminisce about "Little Stinky's" escapades.

You fill us in on the person, set the guidelines on tone, and we'll do the rest. We can go from gentle tweaking to uproarious irreverence, and everything in between.

Atmosphere Antics
Planning a theme dinner, event, or trade show and want it to really come to life? Maybe it's a 1940's style corporate anniversary banquet, an Academy Awards theme Kick - Off evening, or a disco dance party that the CFO (God bless him) says is a "must do?"

Well, you may have the sights and sounds, and perhaps even the smells. But you may be missing - the characters!Ê Never fear - they'll come from Out of the Blue. We'll provide atmosphere actors who get it just right, whatever the theme. They'll mix and mingle with humor, energy, and spot - on authenticity.
Don't hesitate to give us a casting call.

Full Productions

So you want to make a "Big Production" out of this? Well so do we!

Your next national sales conference, product rollout, or awards event will open to rave reviews, coming from Out of the Blue. We'll be with you all the way - helping you dream it, theme it, and dress it up. Out of the Blue will be your show doctor, from conception, to delivery - without the labor pains. And all you have to do is name the show!

Out of the Blue partners have years of experience as creative directors, writers and producers for clients such as Butler manufacturing, Norwest Banks (Wells Fargo), Charles Schwab, and Disney Business Productions.

We provide:

• Complete Creative Direction Services
  - Scripting, Music & Lyrics, Show Direction, Speech Writing & Coaching
• Original Comedy Shows
  - written for you and with you
• Video & Multi Media Production
• World Class Singers & Dancers
• Atmosphere Performers
• Corporate Take - Offs
  - from "Star Wars" to "Mad TV" to "Nightline" to "Jerry Springer"
• Interactivity Expertise

So what's the "Big Production?" Your next event, created by the professional producers from Out of the Blue!