FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Below are answers to some basic questions many people have about our team building and creativity training programs. We are committed to providing professional and effective business training seminars dedicated to: increasing teamwork, enhancing sales, marketing, and customer service strategies; complementing the design and development process; improving management communication skills; and boosting existing levels of creativity.

We specialize in developing frameworks that empower businesses and organizations to leverage their inherent talents, replenish energy levels, and increase the commitments to embracing the process of continuous innovation that is so essential to future growth.

How long are the seminars?
The range of the length of time for our team building and creativity seminars is wide - from a half-day (3 to 4 hours) to several days. Keynotes, conference presentations, and after-meal speaking vary in length in relation to the demands of the particular context. It's important to note that the length of any seminar or presentation is custom-designed around a client's needs (see below).

What are your fees?
Our fee structure is very competitive. Occasionally, visitors to this web site infer from our client list that our fees are quite bit higher than they actually are. On the contrary, we have been successful in serving a diverse group of clients over the last 10 years because our fees are in fact quite reasonable. This fact has resulted in our winning a number of competitive bids from government, corporate, and nonprofit clients over the years. Generally, our fees are determined by the number of trainers and the length of training proposed. We'll be happy to give you a quote over the phone. Call us at: 877-394-5005.

Do you customize?
Essentially, everything we do is customized around the client's needs. After all, you don't invite someone out to dinner and then tell them what to order. More to the point, at the core of all Improv is the ability to adapt quickly and effectively to any challenge a particular context might present. This makes it especially useful in effectively adapting to a wide variety of organizational development needs. You can find more about this here at our customization page.

For more information about how to get what you want from a trainer at a fee you can afford download our newsletter Yes ...and! and read the How to Hire a Trainer article.

Where does your training occur?
We conduct all our work at a location of our client's choosing. We have found this to be quite a bit less expensive than traveling to see us. We can travel to your site and conduct a workshop for less than it would cost to you to send five participants to see us.

At what point should your programs be used in a meeting or conference?
Because Improv has the exquisite ability to stir the imagination, penetrate rigid barriers, and inspire people to interact creatively, we find that it is most useful to have a program precede a meeting. This "primes the pump" for the activities that will follow. We also suggest utilizing our programs to create a natural break in the middle of a program allowing people to recharge and approach the second half with new vigor. Although our program can be used to close a meeting, we can't help but wonder about how that creative energy might have used more productively if it were unleashed earlier.

What do you mean when you say, "Humor is not enough?"
In no way do we wish to disparage humor programs or the substantial value of laughter in corporate and organizational life. Perhaps Scott Adams, the creator of Dilbert, said it best when he remarked that humor, "Is in the same category as giving people a certificate of appreciation instead of a pay raise. It's well intentioned but kind of what you do because you can't deal with the fundamental problems."

It is not necessary to eliminate fun while creating a more productive work environment. Our attraction to Improv is that in addition to consistently creating humor, it provides a collaborative problem-solving framework that replenishes energy levels and increases commitment to engaging in the innovation process.

Further, we present a replicable model of change (and humor) that can easily become ritualized within the organization's culture. We think the key question for us (and all change agents) should be: "What difference will your program make in my organization and our bottom line?"

Isn't it necessary to be a professional actor or comedian to do this stuff? It looks hard on TV when I watch Whose Line is it Anyway?
Actually, our training operates on the principle that the beginner's mind is the most fertile and capable of growth and change. All forms of Improv depend on the truth of the unrehearsed moment. People new to the form invariably delight in their spontaneous ability to be funny while participating in the realm of interactive discovery. These factors combined with our teaching methods give individuals and groups the confidence they need to be successful. Interestingly, it has been our experience that students new to Improv are often funnier, more believable and inspiring than many "professional" performers.

Can individuals and teams really change the way they approach risk and innovation?
We'll refrain from telling the psychotherapists' "Light Bulb Joke," but we believe that because Improv encourages each individual to construct their own unique way of approaching change and risk making it the perfect vehicle to expand possibilities for innovation. Improv training instills the "the pride of ownership" of ideas and processes. Individuals and groups are much more likely to participate embrace any process when they feel a part of it. Improv not only enables joint ownership, it supports people's differences within the creative process.

 What do you mean by saying that the training lasts long after you have gone?
Unlike programs that encourage static participation, Creativity Engineering's training provides individuals and groups with an easily understandable framework for fun, collaboration, and change that can be implemented by anyone at anytime. We work hard at engaging people in committing to integrating what they have learned into their daily lives.

This commitment is supported by the actual structure of the Improv exercises. They allow two or more people to successfully engage collaboratively within a very short amount of time. This becomes attractive for workgroups whether they are engaged in problem solving, information dissemination, or just taking a break to "lighten up." Finally, we really believe in this stuff! It has positively changed our lives and we want others to have the experience as well.

What about using Improv training as an after-meal presentation?
Unquestionably, Improv can enhance any mealtime program. Because, by their nature, these types of presentations have time constraints, we typically present shorter programs that match the requirements of the event. Given this framework, we suggest using Improv as a vehicle for "lightening up" rather than expecting it to accomplish major skill building. Seriously, What's So Funny?, for example, can be tailored to meet most time limitations and still retain its spirit of celebrating humor in everyday life.
company and employees.

For specific program descriptions please visit the Training pages.