The Second City
The World's Premier Comedy Club/Theatre and School of Improvisation
Travels From
Illinois
The Second City Speaker Biography
Make 'em laugh. Help 'em learn.We do two things our clients cant do: use humor to bring truth and perspective to their business, and use improvisation to improve communication, collaboration and innovation.
Why humor works in business.Since things are only funny when theyre true, its no wonder theres so little laughter in the workplace. (Ouch.) We know that a little humor can go a long way in creating a transparent, open culture where people are truly engaged in their work. We also know that laughter probably isnt a corporate priority unless you work for us. But, done right, a little funny business can improve your business and your corporate culture.
Why improvisation works in business.Improvisation is the art of creating something out of nothing, and given the importance of creating new ideas, relationships and products, wed say businesspeople could become better improvisers. Business requires agility and rewards flexibility, yet most companies are policy bound and risk averse. As the best improvisers in the world, we develop learning programs that help clients create, innovate and adapt on the fly when the best laid plans go awry.
Sure were a little unconventional, but we bet you are, too. If youre ready to try new solutions to old problems, heres where we can help:learning and development communicate, collaborate, innovate and have some fun while you learn internal communications & event support respect your audience, ditch dull monologues and create lively dialogues video use the media your people actually use in real life to inform, persuade and motivate your organization nentertainment the juggler you hired for last year's conference is busy. Reward your people with some real entertainment
Funny Business: the Live Customized Comedy show
Our most popular offering, custom shows are clean, one act revues (approx. 50-60 minutes) prepared and customized specifically for your company. A third of the show is made up of original scenes crafted by our writers and based on the day-to-day life of your company and business. Additionally, the revue includes equal parts “best of” Second City sketches and improvisation — all carefully chosen to fit your audience. You approve all content and we work hard to make it suitable to your organization.
Creating a Culture of Diversity & Inclusion in the Workplace
All of us are better than one of us. In this event, the Second City addresses the topics of Diversity & Inclusion and Gender Equality in the workplace. Their business relies on developing the best ensembles, and they know that if you get the right team with various points of view and experiences together, great things can happen.
Interactive Talk Show
Our talk show helps you transform what could be a series of podium speeches into an opportunity for your executives to connect with an audience. You get to pick the guests, and our host will tee-up their talking points with light questions and a little fun – we’ll also include “commercial breaks” as live scenes throughout the show. These "commercials" are custom-written sketches that tee-up the topics of the day, generating hearty laughs and a great transition into discussions between our host, the guests on stage, and the audience who we involve via roving microphone (thanks, Donahue). The talk show typically runs 60-90 minutes.
BizQuiz: the Game Show About Your Company
Our customized game show, complete with an over-the-top host and competitive contestants, is a great way to convey some interesting facts and insights about your company, new products, or internal process changes. This 45-60 minute show has an open format & we can even use your executives or guests to show off their knowledge on the unique details of the industry (think “name that acronym” or “buzzword bingo”).
Improv Keynote
Audiences loathe flat, cookie-cutter monologues posing as ‘keynote speeches’. Our improv keynotes are interactive, funny experiences that encourage your audience to “think outside the box” and become more innovative in their careers. We start with a focus on Innovation, the very element that has allowed The Second City to create award-winning productions on stage and television— then we combine presentation, demonstration, audience participation and entertainment elements in a perfect blend. Each keynote contains sharp, funny, hosting supported by hilarious videos to reinforce the learning points. Improv keynotes typically run 45-60 minutes.
