Status: FED
· Kielbasa & Shrimp Croquettes
· Polish Sausage + Kale + Beets + Horseradish
· Shrimp Po Boys + Slaw + Gochujang Aioli
· Brownies
Guest #107.1: Cole Banning
Occupation: student, U of T, was in history, then religious studies, now creative advertising (transferring to another school), Improv in Toronto member
Sent thank-you: email (for the group)
Guest #107.2: Eddie Cheung
Occupation: student, U of T, Masters in computer science,
Improv in Toronto memberSent thank-you: see above
MINTZ
Before you ask 1000 strangers to take part in a social activity, you want to take it around the block?
BANNING
But at the same time, a lot of our ideas, we just have an idea and say, ‘let’s do it.’
BANNING
MINTZ
Well I think I understand because it bothers me too. But explain it out for me. Someone asking you, ‘We’d like to capture you doing what you do so why don’t you fake it for us.’
CHEUNG
BANNING
Putting that brand alienates people from sharing the video. It also alienates people who like our group. They’re coming to our events because they enjoy what we do. And they appreciate it and they know they’ll have fun. But once we …
CHEUNG
It’s up to you, Cole.
Guest #107.3: Ashkaan Mohtashami
Occupation: student, York Mills Collegiate
Improv in Toronto member Sent thank-you: see above
Guest #107.4: William Penman
Occupation: undecided
Improv in Toronto member Sent thank-you: see above
Guest #107.5: Amy Wood
Occupation: special person, without special needs, author of the superbly mean blog “WE'RE MORE IN LOVE THAN YOU ARE"
Contributed: Christian Moueix 2005 Merlot, Moulin de Canhaut 2006 Medoc
Sent thank-you: super-classy card
ME: At the dinner last week, you said something smart about viral videos. I totally stole it as my own for the column.
WOODSIE: Hah. As long as I can make "Corey Mintz is a fraud" t-shirts, we cool.
Prepping croquettes, making snack of potato skin stuffed with brisket.
WHERE’S WALDO & RICKROLLING THE MAYOR
BANNING
Then we ran a giant Where’s Waldo game.
Then we ran a giant Where’s Waldo game.
CHEUNG
That was your splash.
That was your splash.
BANNING
Yeah. That one pulled in, I think we had 1500 people attend the event. And then we eventually got kicked out of the Eaton Centre.
Yeah. That one pulled in, I think we had 1500 people attend the event. And then we eventually got kicked out of the Eaton Centre.
CHEUNG
And they’ve loved us ever since.
And they’ve loved us ever since.
MINTZ
So how did that work?
BANNING
We just made a Facebook event. We’ve gotten more professional as we went. But basically I made a Facebook event, Where’s Waldo. I didn’t even have any Waldos at this point. It was just an idea. People just latched onto it. The event just went crazy. There was probably 8000 confirmed guests. I mean, you’re always going to get less than that. And from that I said, we need Waldos. Someone should volunteer.
So how did that work?
BANNING
We just made a Facebook event. We’ve gotten more professional as we went. But basically I made a Facebook event, Where’s Waldo. I didn’t even have any Waldos at this point. It was just an idea. People just latched onto it. The event just went crazy. There was probably 8000 confirmed guests. I mean, you’re always going to get less than that. And from that I said, we need Waldos. Someone should volunteer.
MINTZ
What do you think the percentage is, of confirmed guests versus turnout?
CHEUNG
It varies.
What do you think the percentage is, of confirmed guests versus turnout?
CHEUNG
It varies.
BANNING
We say 15 percent. We’re getting 15 percent.
We say 15 percent. We’re getting 15 percent.
PENMAN
But we’ve done ones where we’ve got 10 percent and ones that were unexpected. We ran a scavenger hunt where we had 1000 plus confirmed. And we got half of that. we were totally unprepared.
CHEUNG
It’s totally dependant on the event, what kind of day. For Scavenger Hunt it was a bright, sunny Saturday. It was the first spring day, really nice and warm.
It’s totally dependant on the event, what kind of day. For Scavenger Hunt it was a bright, sunny Saturday. It was the first spring day, really nice and warm.
BANNING
I think it’s a challenge of running any of our events; trying to plan the event while also gauging turnout.
I think it’s a challenge of running any of our events; trying to plan the event while also gauging turnout.
MINTZ
Weather can make or break you, and also location. If it’s out of the way …
Weather can make or break you, and also location. If it’s out of the way …
BANNING
We ran one …
We ran one …
CHEUNG
No, let’s not …
BANNING
We ran one in Brampton
CHEUNG
I hate you
BANNING
And no one showed up. So, location.
And no one showed up. So, location.
MINTZ
What was the event?
What was the event?
CHEUNG
One of my band conductors from high school asked us to do something. So the mayor …
One of my band conductors from high school asked us to do something. So the mayor …
BANNING
He made it sound really good.
He made it sound really good.
CHEUNG
He made it sound really good, which is was. The plan was, the mayor of Brampton was supposed to be watching their big band.
He made it sound really good, which is was. The plan was, the mayor of Brampton was supposed to be watching their big band.
BANNING
It was in a market.
It was in a market.
CHEUNG
And that day the city council was supposed to be there. And the band slowly changes songs to Rick Astley’s ‘Never going to give you up’. And we would go and dance.
And that day the city council was supposed to be there. And the band slowly changes songs to Rick Astley’s ‘Never going to give you up’. And we would go and dance.
BANNING
Are you familiar with this?
MINTZ
So you were going to Rickroll the mayor?
Are you familiar with this?
MINTZ
So you were going to Rickroll the mayor?
CHEUNG
So we’re supposed to Rickroll the city council. Unfortunately no one showed up. So me and Cole are like, ‘Man, we really have to go through with this?’
BANNING
We did it anyways.
So we’re supposed to Rickroll the city council. Unfortunately no one showed up. So me and Cole are like, ‘Man, we really have to go through with this?’
BANNING
We did it anyways.
WOOD
So just two people randomly dancing?
MINTZ
And you’re taping it?
BANNING
The video is private now. I think it got up to 2000 views and every comment was …
So just two people randomly dancing?
MINTZ
And you’re taping it?
BANNING
The video is private now. I think it got up to 2000 views and every comment was …
CHEUNG
This is a waste of my time.
This is a waste of my time.
BANNING
Because it’s just an extremely awkward video.
We have our fair share of failed ideas.
PENMAN
And we’re also struggling with ideas that we’re trying out. So we’ll try it out with a smaller group of people.
And we’re also struggling with ideas that we’re trying out. So we’ll try it out with a smaller group of people.
Before you ask 1000 strangers to take part in a social activity, you want to take it around the block?
BANNING
But at the same time, a lot of our ideas, we just have an idea and say, ‘let’s do it.’
NINJA ATTACK
MINTZ
That video’s only about three minutes.
BANNING
It’s under two minutes.
It’s under two minutes.
CHEUNG
You want that short.
You want that short.
MINTZ
Because of attention span?
Because of attention span?
CHEUNG
Yeah. We found the optimum time.
Yeah. We found the optimum time.
WOOD
You get them while they’re still laughing. And they’ll watch it again too.
You get them while they’re still laughing. And they’ll watch it again too.
BANNING
The punchline is when those ninjas jump out. That’s funny. And then you give ‘em a couple more because they want to see more. And then we finished it with the guy running away.
CHEUNG
You finish it with the best one.
You finish it with the best one.
BANNING
And then right at the end they’re laughing. So they want to show people.
And then right at the end they’re laughing. So they want to show people.
Yeah, it's a Movember mustache.
THE MEDIA, THE MAN, THE MESSAGE & THE MOB
CHEUNG
Who said they would come film?
BANNING
It was City News. They want to fake, pretend we were planning and film us planning. And I was like, no.
BANNING
It was City News. They want to fake, pretend we were planning and film us planning. And I was like, no.
MINTZ
That’s TV.
That’s TV.
CHEUNG
It bothers me.
It bothers me.
MINTZ
What about that bothers you?
What about that bothers you?
CHEUNG
Faking. Everything about faking. Media. Media really bothers me.
Faking. Everything about faking. Media. Media really bothers me.
MINTZ
Well I think I understand because it bothers me too. But explain it out for me. Someone asking you, ‘We’d like to capture you doing what you do so why don’t you fake it for us.’
BANNING
But the thing is …
But the thing is …
CHEUNG
None of our planning …
None of our planning …
BANNING
We plan everything on our forums, really.
We plan everything on our forums, really.
CHEUNG
It’s not even that that bothers me. It’s that corporations, … am I going to get on that rant again?
It’s not even that that bothers me. It’s that corporations, … am I going to get on that rant again?
MINTZ
Do it.
Do it.
BANNING
This is going to be your whole article.
This is going to be your whole article.
MINTZ
Tell me about The Man.
Would've been a total sausage party without the charming presence of Woodsie.
CHEUNG
The other side of us … there’s a marketing … well, there’s a market for marketing, which wants to focus on these viral videos and wants to get out there and make a quick million bucks. And they see flash mobs, and they’ve been doing this for years, it’s the cliché. Once you see it nowadays it’s lost all coolness. You see people dancing in the street, you think, flash mobs. I’ve seen these in a video. I don’t care to stay.
The other side of us … there’s a marketing … well, there’s a market for marketing, which wants to focus on these viral videos and wants to get out there and make a quick million bucks. And they see flash mobs, and they’ve been doing this for years, it’s the cliché. Once you see it nowadays it’s lost all coolness. You see people dancing in the street, you think, flash mobs. I’ve seen these in a video. I don’t care to stay.
WOOD
As soon as there was a joke about flash mobs on Modern Family, I was like, well, I guess they’ve peaked.
As soon as there was a joke about flash mobs on Modern Family, I was like, well, I guess they’ve peaked.
MINTZ
But even in that episode, isn’t there a line from someone like, ‘Do they still do flash mobs?’
But even in that episode, isn’t there a line from someone like, ‘Do they still do flash mobs?’
WOOD
Well it’s that style of flash mob that’s the cliché.
Well it’s that style of flash mob that’s the cliché.
CHEUNG
Exactly.
This was actually a pretty lousy sausage. I didn't finish mine.
BANNING
I think what he’s saying is, what we do produces views. So businesses are attracted to us to try and market their products. So then it turns into this ninja video which ends with, ‘buy our product’.
I think what he’s saying is, what we do produces views. So businesses are attracted to us to try and market their products. So then it turns into this ninja video which ends with, ‘buy our product’.
MINTZ
Ninjas drink Sprite, don’t they? They love the limen flavour of Sprite. Because ninjas can be bought. They’re mercenaries. They would not be loyal to limes or lemons. So they would naturally be drawn to the limen taste of sprite.
Ninjas drink Sprite, don’t they? They love the limen flavour of Sprite. Because ninjas can be bought. They’re mercenaries. They would not be loyal to limes or lemons. So they would naturally be drawn to the limen taste of sprite.
BANNING
See, I never wanted to go with Sprite, but now that I hear …
See, I never wanted to go with Sprite, but now that I hear …
MINTZ
It’s not selling out. It connects. But I hear what you’re saying. The marketers are always looking for who’s doing something credible, skateboarding or whatever, ‘What are the kids doing?’
It’s not selling out. It connects. But I hear what you’re saying. The marketers are always looking for who’s doing something credible, skateboarding or whatever, ‘What are the kids doing?’
WOOD
I work in marketing. So I totally understand that’s what our clients … whenever someone says, ‘We want a viral video, we want a stunt,’ I’m like, no you don’t. It’s the worst idea ever. You can’t make something go viral. You do something awesome and then by proxy, it will be successful. The second you put your name on it, you’re making it suck again.
I work in marketing. So I totally understand that’s what our clients … whenever someone says, ‘We want a viral video, we want a stunt,’ I’m like, no you don’t. It’s the worst idea ever. You can’t make something go viral. You do something awesome and then by proxy, it will be successful. The second you put your name on it, you’re making it suck again.
WOOD
So have you worked with agencies?
CHEUNG
Ohhh… this is where I …
So have you worked with agencies?
CHEUNG
Ohhh… this is where I …
BANNING
Up to this point we’ve done it outside of Improv in Toronto.
Up to this point we’ve done it outside of Improv in Toronto.
WOOD
So as a side project.
So as a side project.
BANNING
So we’d say, we can plan an event for you guys and we can do this for you but it has nothing to do with us.
So we’d say, we can plan an event for you guys and we can do this for you but it has nothing to do with us.
CHEUNG
I agree with Cole.
I agree with Cole.
BANNING
Putting that brand alienates people from sharing the video. It also alienates people who like our group. They’re coming to our events because they enjoy what we do. And they appreciate it and they know they’ll have fun. But once we …
CHEUNG
(sings) Selling out.
(sings) Selling out.
BANNING
Yeah. Once we’re all wearing Sprite t-shirts.
Yeah. Once we’re all wearing Sprite t-shirts.
WOOD
Yeah, the very idea of putting improv in public space is kind of disruptive. So when brands want to somehow market that, it makes it so …
Yeah, the very idea of putting improv in public space is kind of disruptive. So when brands want to somehow market that, it makes it so …
MOHTASHAMI
It’s fake.
It’s fake.
WOOD
Yeah. For sure. It’s really staged.
Yeah. For sure. It’s really staged.
PENMAN
I think one of the reasons people like our events is, when people come up and ask, ‘Why are you doing this? Is this for some sort of cause?’ We just go, no, it’s because we like to do this. And then other people who see it are kind of more receptive to it. They’ll be like, ‘Ok, they’re just having fun.’ Instead of, ‘Oh, it’s some advertising gimick’.
I think one of the reasons people like our events is, when people come up and ask, ‘Why are you doing this? Is this for some sort of cause?’ We just go, no, it’s because we like to do this. And then other people who see it are kind of more receptive to it. They’ll be like, ‘Ok, they’re just having fun.’ Instead of, ‘Oh, it’s some advertising gimick’.
CHEUNG
Once you realize the video’s for advertising, how quickly do you just turn it right off?
Once you realize the video’s for advertising, how quickly do you just turn it right off?
WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS WORTH?
BANNING
There’ve been a lot of jobs where we’ve worked with companies, but it just doesn’t follow-through. It’s a lot of work to plan a full event, deal with everything. And it’s especially hard to get payment up front when they don’t even know what you’re going to do yet.
CHEUNG
It’s true. You can’t promise them anything.
It’s true. You can’t promise them anything.
WOOD
But you don’t want to give your ideas away for free. So where’s that line?
But you don’t want to give your ideas away for free. So where’s that line?
MINTZ
Well, you cannot promise anything in marketing, advertising or publicity, because it’s almost impossible to show results.
Well, you cannot promise anything in marketing, advertising or publicity, because it’s almost impossible to show results.
CHEUNG
You can’t promise other people’s responses.
You can’t promise other people’s responses.
BANNING
So it’s kind of been an ongoing process, especially learning about that world, trying to figure it out.
So it’s kind of been an ongoing process, especially learning about that world, trying to figure it out.
MINTZ
But you’re not soliciting. You’ve got people seeking you out.
But you’re not soliciting. You’ve got people seeking you out.
BANNING
Oh yeah.
Oh yeah.
MINTZ
And you’re young. It’s a time in your life when you may choose to catch hold of this and figure how to monetize it, how to turn it into a business, or be like, whatevs.
And you’re young. It’s a time in your life when you may choose to catch hold of this and figure how to monetize it, how to turn it into a business, or be like, whatevs.
BANNING
Yes.
Yes.
CHEUNG
It’s up to you, Cole.
MINTZ
Is it up to you? Are you the man?
Is it up to you? Are you the man?
CHEUNG
He owns us.
He owns us.
PENMAN
I think the way Improv in Toronto is going, we don’t want to move to become a business. All the side stuff, we don’t want to tie the Improv in Toronto name for that.
I think the way Improv in Toronto is going, we don’t want to move to become a business. All the side stuff, we don’t want to tie the Improv in Toronto name for that.
BANNING
For that advertising thing, we have a separate, an actual business …
For that advertising thing, we have a separate, an actual business …
CHEUNG
And what’s it called?
And what’s it called?
BANNING
Banning consulting. So yeah, we’re taking people up on those offers. But we’re not associating it with us as an organization.
Banning consulting. So yeah, we’re taking people up on those offers. But we’re not associating it with us as an organization.
MINTZ
You’re associating it with you.
You’re associating it with you.
WHY?
BANNING
We do it because we like doing it and it’s fun. We want to create things that are fun for people in Toronto. But if you do anything that you really enjoy, and I think eventually, as of this year we’re making a little bit of money. It’s cool that we can put that back into the people who have supported us for three years.
Date of publication: Saturday, December 3rd, 2011
1 comments:
Corey: We should be friends. You like food, I like food. You engage people in entertaining conversation, I engage in listening and laughing. You write your column, I read your column. See, it'd be great! Next time you have a dinner party, I should be there.
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