Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation

gary hirsch 44, Male portland United States: Share

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AIN 2009 Portland, OR

95 members

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Armandos pre conf
3 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Belina Raffy Nov 23.

OHHHHH MYYYY GODDDD! Can we do this in my home town every year!!???
4 Replies

Started this discussion. Last reply by Mike Weaver Nov 19.

gary hirsch's Events

The You Name It Show Interview with Gary Hirsch

December 9, 2009 at 6pm to January 29, 2010 at 7pm – Gallery Paradiso

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gary hirsch added an event

The You Name It Show Interview with Gary Hirsch at Gallery Paradiso

December 9, 2009 at 6pm to January 29, 2010 at 7pm

A recent interview about my interactive art exhibition inspired by my improv work.

on Thursday

Belina Raffy replied to gary hirsch's discussion 'Armandos pre conf'

Hi! I really loved the whole workshop too. Specifics that stuck were: -The feeling of laughing and learning all day -The feeling that choosing way out of my comfort zone was the right one -Armando's gentle style of teaching -The scenes that jumped i…

November 23

Mike Weaver replied to gary hirsch's discussion 'Armandos pre conf'

I really appreciated the entire workshop, especially the thought to be wait, keep the mouth shut and notice more...and the next step in the scene will emerge. I felt like for the first time I had broken through truly into advanced improv, like the i…

November 23

Kat Koppett replied to gary hirsch's discussion 'Armandos pre conf'

In general, I really liked the simplicity of the work and the exercises. More specifically: - the idea of sticking with your own initial offers and incorporating others without blocking yourself. and the exercises of - starting with a confession -…

November 21

gary hirsch added a discussion

Armandos pre conf

What stuck with you?

November 21

Mike Weaver replied to gary hirsch's discussion 'OHHHHH MYYYY GODDDD! Can we do this in my home town every year!!???'

Gary, Since being back to Ohio I've recommended Portland as a destination to a number of people already, especially Edgewood...amazing and fun place to stay with great beer. Thanks to you and the other from Portland for a great experience and reall…

November 19

Michael Burns replied to gary hirsch's discussion 'OHHHHH MYYYY GODDDD! Can we do this in my home town every year!!???'

Working hard here in New York's Capital District to nurture a tiny improv scene, I was frankly a little jealous at what a hopping town Portland seems to be! I have a feeling I'll be back your way at some point...It was really great meeting you, Gary!

November 19

Leif Hansen replied to gary hirsch's discussion 'OHHHHH MYYYY GODDDD! Can we do this in my home town every year!!???'

Port Townsend, Port Townsend, Port Townsend! :) Ya did a grrrreat job connecting us all to Portland Gary, and what a fun night out watching you guys perform. As much as I love PT, Portland is a very cool town its true. Thanks, Leif

November 18

Profile Information

Where do you live and work? (City)

Portland Oregon

Professional Skills

doodler, painter, improviser, teacher, dog walker, squash player, daddy-man, high self esteem/low self control

What is your main interest in this network?

Education, Social, Networking, Finding Partnerships, Improv Resources

What kind of person are you?

Morning

What kinds of improv-related services are you involved in?

Teambuilding, Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Communcation, Leadership, Presentation Skills

Share a favorite 'improv epiphany'

Be interested, not interesting

More about you: (Short Bio or any other details you'd like people to know)

Gary has a hard time sitting still. He is the co-founder of OYF, an accomplished improviser, a wanna-be marine biologist, and a voracious illustrator/doodler .

Gary has been teaching and performing professional improv for seventeen years. He is the founder of Super Project Lab (www.superprojectlab.com) a long-form improv group based in Portland. Gary also is the founder of Doodle House (www.doodlehouse.com), which features his illustrations and wearable art.

Gary sits on the faculty (ouch!) as an adjunct instructor in The School Of Business Administration, Portland State University, and at Wieden + Kennedy’s experimental advertising grad school, “12”. Tightly clutched in his hand, Gary holds a Masters Degree in Arts Education, from Case Western Reserve University, and he is not letting go of it.

I need help with...

Learning...really...learning........ about anything.............I don't have enough time or patience to read very much...I learn from messing around and playing.....so anyone who wants to help me with that is welcome to it!

Work Website

http://www.oyf.com

Blog or other personal website

http://www.superprojectlab.com, www.doodlehouse.com

Check out my...(book, workshop, etc.)

http://www.doodlehouse.com

How did you hear about this network?

like a cave man I was there at the beginning

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Gary hirsch's Blog

A new Book from On Your Feet

Hey AINers
We have just given birth to a new book and I thought it would be relevant since many of you present, facilitate and lead meetings It's called:

The Deeper, Funner Facilitation Cookbook… Continue

Posted on July 7, 2009 at 5:30pm —

Looking for recommendations for 2-3 South African Imrovisers for Corporate work

I am at the early stages of a project, but need to identify 2-3 improvisers that live in South Africa that could be part of a training, performance and facilitation for a large audience in S.A. They need to be experienced in all three aspects. Please only recommend if you have had extremely positive personal experience with them....or are one yourself!

Thanks

Gary
gary@oyf.com

Posted on April 15, 2009 at 6:46am — 2 Comments

Great venues for improv workshop in NYC?

Anyone have suggestions for a venue? This session will be focusing on kids, so anything kid like would be great.

Thanks Gary
gary@oyf.com
503-449-7269

Posted on March 26, 2009 at 4:36pm — 2 Comments

We wrote a book- so here is a shameless plug

We wrote a book. It took six years. It's about improv. It's about business. Its about organizations like Nike, FedEx, Intel and others using improv to help them communicate better, build stronger relationships (internally or with customers), propel people into action and get to new… Continue

Posted on November 1, 2008 at 12:00am — 6 Comments

Comment Wall (17 comments)

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At 2:50am on April 20, 2009, Maia Jordaan said…: Hi Gary

It is quite difficult to quote a set fee at this point in time as the costs depends on who we get to perform (based on level of skills as well as artists' availability). But to give you an idea of costs for top notch improvisers:

The Skype discussion will probably be around R400 - R500 per hour
The Conference Fee will probably be around R 7000 - R8000 per day (if they are not needed for the full duration of the day we might be able to charge per hour to bring costs down & depending on who we work with, the rehearsal fee might be slightly lower than the actual performance fee - but as I mentioned this depends on the artists). Do not forget to add artist's S&T on the day of the conference. This is probably around R 250 per day.

The above fees are therefore not cast in stone - merely a broad overview to assist with your budget planning & research.

If you need any further assistance (venues, AV, rehearsal venues, etc) please do not hesitate to contact me - I will happily assist where needs be and can also act as your event manager / link here in SA.

In future please contact me on maia@creativecollective.co.za

Just a few more questions to assist in finding the right person:
With regards the facilitation - could you perhaps expand a little on what you will need the performers to do?
How much research will the performers need to do outside of rehearsal & "skype chat" time?
I imagine you will need improvisers with an acting/performance background & not a dance/performance background.
What amount of hours will the performers work on the day of the conference?
If you could perhaps also include the kind of improvising you do / explain how you work, it might help in finding the right person. I strongly believe in bringing the right kind of people together to ensure win-win situations.

Many thanks for the birthday wishes :) and no worries about not being able to tell me who the client is at this point in time - I perfectly understand.

Good luck with all the planning. Hope to hear from you soon.

Best wishes

Maia

At 3:09pm on April 19, 2009, Burgert Kirsten said…: Hi Gary
Yes, I would love to work with you on a project. I have a friend who is a brilliant improviser and facilitator, who has done a lot of shows and workshops with me. So you’ve got your two extra improvisers/facilitators.
I know about On Your Feet. I met Robert Poynton in 2007. Also read the article you wrote on being a business without being like a business – Loved it. Just got the book Everything is an offer as well. For future correspondence please e-mail me on burgertk@gmail.com. My skype name is Burgert Kirsten.
Regarding the cost range for our involvement – we don’t really have a fixed price. It depends on the size of the group and the type of client. I went on your site and saw that you also don’t have fixed prices. .. So you know what I’m talking about. But I also saw that you usually charge between $12000 and $16000 for one day workshops which is really A LOT in SA rand. What do you usually pay external facilitators?... I guess I’m answering your question with a question.
Looking forward to here from you again
Burgert

At 1:56am on April 17, 2009, Lieselotte Nooyen said…: His name is BUrgert kirsten!

At 7:45am on March 2, 2009, Alieke van der Wijk said…: Gary! Thanks for th present you send me. Nice! And... august in Holland sounds fine to me.
There is also an opportunity that you come in july... I'm staying in France, so my house can be al yours. It's up to you

Hug

Alieke

At 2:16pm on November 14, 2008, John Fort said…: Hi Gary-
Congratulations on your book. I look forward to getting a copy of it when it is not on back-order. I called a couple of weeks ago asking if you knew of anyone who was using improv-based exercises to facilitate the collaborative management of natural resources in the developing world. I've been looking around here on the AIN, but I haven't come across anyone yet. Any suggestions of where to look or how to look more effectively.

Thanks for your time and wisdom.

Best,
John

At 1:53am on November 13, 2008, Alieke van der Wijk said…: sounds fine! Almost summertime; and the summer holidays haven't been started yet!

At 11:32am on November 9, 2008, Alieke van der Wijk said…: Gary!!! Congrats on the book! And what a nice picture :-)

Is it already time to explore the "comming to holland an ride a bike situation"

At 4:14am on November 7, 2008, Raymond van Driel said…: Hi Gary,
shame I can't come to the book launch. Can I buy it on Amazon??

regards
Raymond

At 12:19pm on November 4, 2008, Sue Walden said…: Hey, Gary... congrats on the book!!!!!!!!!! Way to go.

Now a word about ME: I'm personally relieved to hear about the six years. I've been working on #2 for 3 years now and was feeling very discouraged... you have re-inspired me.

Back to you: I can't wait to see your book. and wish I could be there for one of your launch parties.

Please email me at Sue@improvworks.org. I have an off-line question.
:D Sue

At 9:29pm on October 11, 2008, Leif Hansen said…: Hi Gary, I didn't know you were going to be at Chicago -very cool, I'll finally have a chance to meet you face to face. Congrats on the book btw, I received the invite today. Hopefully I can make your release party.
Cheers,
Leif