Improv for Sales, Storytelling and Life

If you’ve ever walked out of a pitch or important meeting with that sinking feeling of “If I’d only said SOMETHING different I could have landed the deal!” and then thought of something better on the drive home, you’re not alone.

The good news: you can get better at storytelling and thinking on your feet. This interactive event is for creative professionals who want to experience less stress in their networking lives and instead build their book of business easier and enjoy the ride along the way.

With Mark Carter and special guest Greg Werstler, you will learn specific strategies to help you stop guessing how to get more referrals and be able to create new opportunities for fun, profitable projects. You can expect to learn how to:

• avoid awkward conversations by using the famous “Yes… AND…” rule of improv;
• clearly explain your creative vision and know that you’re understood, instead of just hoping to get your point across;
• stop regretting what you DIDN’T think to say by leveraging in-the-moment-storytelling to build powerful marketing messages and be more persuasive in meetings;
• successfully land more clients by using great negotiation skills instead of stumbling through the sales pitch.

Everyone will take part in group improv exercises (nobody’s singled out; it’s all in groups), laugh and learn with your peers while creating meaningful connections.

Mark J. Carter
Mark currently serves as Board President for Chicago Improv Productions, the nonprofit that produced the Chicago Improv Festival (the world’s largest improv festival, founded in 1997). He’s been integrating improv into his events and every area of his business (and personal) life since 2007

Mark has helped build hundreds of professional events and is the creator of Idea Climbing™; a process that teaches people how to solve problems through mentoring and collaboration. It’s based on 16 years of interviews with amazingly successful people ranging from C-Suite executives, serial entrepreneurs and NY Times bestselling authors to multiplatinum musicians, accomplished improvisers and more.

Connect with Mark on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

Greg Werstler
Greg is the Creative Sales Director and CFO for CSz Business Chicago, the producer of ComedySportz, Chicago’s longest running all-ages improv show.  Greg has been a proud member of the event industry for more than 20 years, providing interactive entertainment and innovative training solutions.

In addition to being an emcee and facilitator, Greg recently earned a Master’s of Science in Management and Organizational Behavior from Benedictine University. In life and in business, Greg builds ensembles.

Wednesday, February 27, 2019
Columbia College
624 S. Michigan Avenue
3rd Floor
Library Reading Room
convenient to numerous El stations
metered street parking and various parking lots with evening discounts nearby

6:30 p.m. networking and noshing
7:00 p.m. program

$10 for members of Chicago Creative Coalition
FREE to students, alumni, faculty and staff of our host Columbia College
$5 for other students
$20 general admission

This program is sponsored in part by the Workbook. Thank you!

Workbook is an authority in the creative industry. For decades, we’ve helped creative teams find the best artists working in the commercial world. Top buyers trust Workbook for the photographers, illustrators, designers, and stylists they need every day. Finding the perfect match for your project is easy with Workbook.

Written by: mtanimura