Wednesday 23 April 2008

Going the extra yard



I’ve just done a gig in North America for a consulting firm. It was a gathering of brilliant minds and I was probably the stupidest guy in the room – which was very refreshing.

I flown back with BA and 90% of the staff onboard was great (helpful, friendly and so patient they should all be decorated). The 10% left was assigned to my area… We had those comfy combo-seats facing each-other where you can really spread your legs all the way. But by doing so, thanks to some brain dead design, I was blocking access to a couple of seats in the middle area. My stewardess expressed her discomfort by stamping generously and repeatedly on my feet.

With a little practice in improvisation she would have kindly asked me to keep my legs for myself before take-off and I would have been charmed and obliged. In this particular case, she just resented me and made sure I was resenting her. A waste of resentment if you ask me.

Picture credit: wikimedia

Friday 18 April 2008

Theatre doesn't have to be boring





Yesterday I saw Dr Faustus at the Landor Theatre in London. John Wright directed three magnificent actors in an interpretation of Marlowe that envisages Lucifer and Belsebuth as two burlesque artistes giving Faustus a cheap ride for his soul. Bold, surprising, moving and impeccably delivered. I expected nothing less from the man teaching such inspired workshops at the Wright School. When a great director conspires with a great cast, the result is a great night out. Catch it if you can!

Transformation is a mark of good theatre. Those three actors took us on an emotional journey that transformed both them and us, the audience. It wasn’t exactly the same people that walked in and out of this theatre. I swear!

Fionnuala Dorrity as Lucifer. Picture Credit: Third Party

Wednesday 16 April 2008

Cruising


Today I had a talk with the people organising the training for P&O cruises. I recently cross the English Channel on one of their ferry and the service was absolutely brilliant. The staff was both relaxed and helpful and it was as if they were sharing a special experience with us passengers (yes, I love boats).

So I wanted to know how the company managed to motivate their people so well. The gentleman I talked to at P&O told me how their efforts to better their customer service led them to reform their management style – knowing that they wouldn’t change frontline staff attitude and leave the rest untouched.

He pointed me to Fish, the training programme that helped them do just that. I though I never heard that name before (most Human Resources publications send me to sleep in about 3 seconds) but I remember now that Cathy Rose Salit, a fellow improviser from New York, mentioned them to me.

Fish looks very interesting (went on their website and got the book), and some of their key principles remind me of what we are doing at imprology with the Far Games, although they only mention improvisation once on their website. Anyone out there with first hand experience with Fish willing to share the knowledge?

Picture credit: wikimedia