Remember that great scene from Animal House when the Deltas have all been expelled and Bluto (John Belushi) rallies the frat to one final pointless act of vengeance? Well, a couple of days ago, we shot a team of sales reps for a consulting company re-enacting that scene, applying their own internal personas and messages and more than a few inside jokes. It was impressive how over-the-top they were willing and able to be. As internal communications, the piece works brilliantly.
That’s just one example of the numerous send-ups, skits and mock spots we’ve produced just this month for different national sales meetings. These included: a mock election to promote a sales goal, complete with news coverage, campaign ads and room décor; a send-up of Cash Cab (a Q&A game show that takes place in the back of a taxi van); comedic “re-enactments” of actual meetings” (featuring high-level executives engaging in sight gags); and a few mock commercials.
All of this is in addition to a large main body of straightforward and serious multimedia presentations, from executive addresses to breakouts. We provide varying levels of creative, message development and production assistance in both the “gag reel” and main presentations, depending on the needs of specific companies, teams and individuals.
So what’s the point of the gag stuff? It’s not just about avoiding “Death by PowerPoint” tedium, which is a given these days at sales meetings. It’s about people connecting with each other by letting their hair down together and even risking a little embarrassment. And it’s about getting people to think a little more deeply about their business.
As creative “coaches,” we help them focus their thoughts and explore different execution options. It’s a challenging exercise; these are typically low-budget productions, and the people creating, producing and starring in them have their day jobs to do.
It’s really interesting to see how creative non-Creative (note cap “C”) types can be, and how deep their thought processes can be. And it’s exciting to hear audiences laugh together. The team-building effect is palpable and lasting, and really does promote alignment both within and among sales and marketing teams. And the effect is lasting; people remember the gags over time, and those shared experience help keep them focused on their shared interests.
To quote the immortal Victor Borge, “Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.”
