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SME Presents

Sloane Miller (S)   Mary C. Parker (M)   Erica Towe (E)

Improvising Your Creative Life™

Half-Day Virtual Retreat

Online

Get ready to stretch, flex, and expand your creative muscles.  Spend a day with other creatives playing, sharing, and most of all laughing all while using the tools of applied improvisational comedy.

Who Is This For?

Improvising Your Creative Life™ is a half-day virtual, experiential, applied improvisation retreat for creatives and innovators who:

  • Seek a creative spark and inspiration

  • Feel called to make connections with other artists

  • Are ready to stretch their creative viewpoint

  • Want a push to expand the creative toolbox

  • Know it's time to take their creative work to the next level

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Online

What

You'll Get

 

Virtual Community

  • Intentional space to connect

  • Pre-retreat virtual coffee chat mixer

  • Closing virtual reception

  • Breakout groups

Dynamic Workshop

Leaders

  • Intergenerational workshop leaders with 40 years of professional and certified experiences in teaching, coaching, counseling improv, performance, consulting

Creative Tools

  • Pre-event content

  • Applied improv exercises in telling your story, self-awareness, mindfulness, & confidence

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The Workshops

 

Become a Creative Dynamo

Workshop 1:

Improvise Your Story

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​Learning about and playing with the rules of improvisation, author and improvisation workshop facilitator Sloane Miller will address elements of storytelling through applied improv exercises that will turn you into a creative powerhouse, brimming with ideas. We will do applied improv exercises together as a group and then flex to writing solo using the applied improv exercises as writing prompts.

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What participants will learn

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  • ​You have an abundance of creative spark

  • You are a creative powerhouse

  • Using play, you will discover new ways into your story

  • You can generate content easily

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Discover How Bias Gets in the Way of Your Creativity

Workshop 2:  

Respond to Oppressive Sh!t with Joy and Laughter

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How can we use improv to interrupt the bias we carry with us?

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This workshop will teach you how to become a more compassionate listener in these challenging times.

 

Using the foundational components of listening in improv, participants will play games and learn how to be more mindful in interactions that increase awareness to be better humans.​

What participants will learn

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  • ​Enhance listening skills

  • Deepen self-awareness

  • Explore implicit bias

  • Design strategies to interrupt bias on and offline

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Confidently Share Your Work With The World

Workshop 3:

Be Bold Now

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The Be Bold Now experiential workshop will provide an engaging opportunity to explore how the tools of improv comedy can help us develop the inner confidence to be agile and adapt on the fly and express our authentic selves that we as artists need to make art and share that art with others.

 

This encouraging and supportive session will leave you energized to go out and create!​

What participants will learn

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  • ​Embrace failure

  • Be present

  • How to “Yes And” yourself 

  • Take mighty risks 

  • Develop confidence  

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  • Instagram
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Want to register your company to attend?

 

Email us about pricing for your group at improvyourcreativelife@gmail.com.

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Professionals: Please do apply these hours to your professional development or continuing education requirements as your license in your state allows.  Check with your professional licensing body directly.

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Note: These are NOT CE credits.

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Tickets Tiers

Sponsorship - We have one sponsorship ticket available as of 4/1.

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Tickets are first come first serve and can be found -> Get Your Sponsorship Ticket Here

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Have more to give toward the Improvising Your Creative Life half-day retreat: http://bit.ly/ImprovYourCreativeLife?

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Donate via PayPal. All funds received will go towards Pay It Forward Tickets. Sponsorship tickets - GIVE here: https://paypal.me/ECC1234

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For Those Who Can: If you have more, give more

$175.00 

 

For Those Who Need: Choose this if this is what you need

$125.00

 

Pay It Forward: Purchase a Ticket for Someone Else to Attend

$175.00

Intentional Reparation Tickets 

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We are also separately providing tickets specifically for Black, Indigenous, and POC via intentional reparations paid forward by both of SME’s presenters with white skin privilege. We have 1 more ticket available.  If you would like one of these tickets, please click on the link below to choose your ticket at checkout.

“The heart of improvisation is transformation.”


— VIOLA SPOLIN, FOUNDER OF MODERN IMPROV

 

SME was LIVE!

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Learn more about SME Presents: Improvising Your Creative Life™,  how applied improv can ignite your creative work and life, and what an applied improv game looks like in action.

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We go live again on March 15 at 12pm EST when we talk about who will benefit from IYCL and why you should come!

Want more?

We have three bonuses just for you!

Bonus #1:

Retreat preparation guidebook

Bonus # 2:

Certificate post-workshop

Bonus #3:

Creative flow meditation recording with Erica

Now, we are talking.  I'm ready to...

More about SME

Improvising Your Creative Life™

is a half-day retreat

of workshops designed to:

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  • Encourage active listening

  • Increase mindfulness

  • Develop the inner confidence

  • Express authenticity

  • Activate storytelling skills

  • Generate creative flow

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Meet The Women Behind SME Presents:

Sloane Miller (S)   Mary C. Parker (M)   Erica Towe (E)

In 2018, three creatives came together and found a common connection through improv comedy.  They met at Katie Goodman's "Improvisation for Life Certification" retreat.

 

While their focuses differ, Sloane (applying improv to creative writing) Mary (applying improv to bias and oppression), and Erica (applying improv to be more mindful and confident) connect on a desire to apply improvisation to deepen creativity.

 

Thus, Improvising Your Creative Life™ was born!

 
 

Sloane Miller

she/her

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Sloane Miller is a sought-after workshop leader, speaker, award-winning author, coach, and consultant.

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As a licensed social worker and experienced improvisational comedy performer, Sloane is exceptionally adept at harnessing the power of improv comedy to help clients solve problems faster, build better interpersonal skills, communicate more effectively, and discover their infinite capability for more yes! 

 

For the past 20 years, she has worked with private clients and as a consultant to the pharmaceutical, healthcare, food and hospitality industries, government, and not-for- profit organizations. Sloane earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Sarah Lawrence College, her Master of Social Work degree at New York University’s Silver School of Social Work, and her Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing and Literature at Bennington College. She is certified in Katie Goodman's "Improvisation For Life" Workshop Certification Program. She has been performing musical improvisational comedy professionally since 2014 in and around New York City. 

Mary C. Parker

she/her

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Mary C. Parker is an international applied theatre facilitator, speaker, consultant, and coach.

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As an experienced workshop leader, comedic improviser, and stand-up comedian, Mary applies humor to deepen humility and disrupt fragility, one laugh at a time. She does this through a praxis of applied improvisation, dialogue facilitation, theatre of the oppressed, and playback theatre where clients deepen their self-awareness and learn how to take actionable steps to address bias and oppression.

 

Mary has over 12 years of experience in leadership development, virtual and in-person dialogue facilitation, and anti-oppression consulting. She earned an MA in Applied Theatre from the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, a BA in Sociology from Emory University, and is an International Coach Federation (ICF) Professional Coach creditialied through Duquesne University Palumbo Donahue School of Business. Mary has researched and published in the areas of identity and stand-up comedy and structural racism in academia. She is certified in Katie Goodman's "Improvisation For Life" Workshop Certification Program and The Improv Place (Masterclass in Teaching). She has been performing comedy since 2014 and appeared in London, UK, Edinburgh, Scotland, Pittsburgh,PA, Boston, MA, and Richmond, VA.

Erica Towe

she/her

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  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Erica Towe is an educator, theatre and improv artist, storyteller, and transformational life coach.

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Erica is a long-time educator with a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Sioux Falls in the expansive and beautiful state of South Dakota.  She has taught all ages between the ages of 2-72 from South Korea to South Dakota and now in Eugene, Oregon. 

 

Erica has a Communications and Theatre Bachelor of Arts degree and has been a working theatre artist for the past 9 years, performing and teaching at theatres and educational programs in the state of Oregon. Through the Health Coach Institute, she is an ICF-certified Transformation and Habits Coach with a specialty in helping leaders and innovators find clarity in the midst of transitions and to take their career and creative projects to the next level.  She is also certified to teach Katie Goodman's "Improvisation For Life". 

 

As a teacher, coach, and applied improv workshop leader, Erica guides students, families, and professionals in how to use a creative mindset, improvisation tools, and Habits of Success to improve their outcomes in school, business, and life.

FAQs

Have questions about Improvising Your Creative Life™ day-long retreat?  

 

We have answers.

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Check them out below or email us at improvyourcreativelife@gmail.com.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What is your code of conduct?

CODE OF CONDUCT & IYCL COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS OUR POLICY We are providing a virtual experience and that can come with some limitations. We are doing what we can to address these limitations through additional personnel support s in the room in the form of a tech support person and other individuals to In order to address these limitations, we have drafted a code of conduct that attendees must commit to upholding during our time together. We intend to to create a space and temporary community that provides learning and engagement in the following ways:

Our conference is dedicated to providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone. If you engage in offensive behavior or harassment, you will be dropped from IYCL sessions effective immediately and will not receive a refund. Harassment is any unwelcome conduct that might reasonably be perceived to cause offense or humiliation to another person. Harassment does include personally abusive verbal or written comments related to a person’s identity (gender, age, sexual orientation, abilities, appearance, race, ethnicity, religion or lack of religion, technology choices, etc.). Harassment does include behaviors that demonstrate deliberate intimidation, unwelcome sexual attention, following/stalking or sustained disruption of activity. Behaviors that are not considered harassment are those that arise from a relationship of mutual consent. Harassment does not include disagreements on ideas, practices or frank discussion of controversial topics. – YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE IYCL COMMUNITY – I commit to not harassing other conference members. If I am told my behavior toward another is harassment I will try to listen and own the consequences of my actions. IYCL COMMUNITY AGREEMENTS Here are some guidelines for IYCL sessions and forums: ACKNOWLEDGE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN INTENT AND IMPACT Sometimes people say or do things that cause harm, even when it is not their intention to do so. But when we use our good intentions to deny (or avoid being accountable), more harm can be caused. In a global conference, it may happen that something we say can be misunderstood or misconstrued by someone from a different social, cultural, or political context. By acknowledging that intent and impact of our actions are two different things, a simple apology can take away any negative impact we may create. – YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE IYCL COMMUNITY – I commit to acknowledging the gap between intent and impact. NO ONE KNOWS EVERYTHING; TOGETHER WE KNOW A LOT We believe that each person has something to contribute to the conversation. We ask that you practice being humble, share what you know, and look for what you can learn from each person in the session. – YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE IYCL COMMUNITY – I commit to sharing what I know and leaving space for others to share what they know. WE CAN’T BE ARTICULATE ALL THE TIME Often, we hesitate to participate for fear of “messing up” or stumbling over words. We want everyone to feel comfortable participating, even if you don’t feel you have the perfect words to express your thoughts. Here is the place to try things out. Even if you “mess up,” we can work on the language together. – YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE IYCL COMMUNITY – I commit to participating with acceptance of my own imperfections and the imperfections of others. BE AWARE OF TIME Please respect everyone’s time commitment, and refrain from speaking in long monologues. – YOUR COMMITMENT TO THE IYCL COMMUNITY – I commit to focusing my comments to avoid long monologues.



What happens if I break the code of conduct?

If you engage in offensive behavior or harassment, you will be dropped from IYCL sessions effective immediately and will not receive a refund.



Who is hosting Improvising Your Creative Life?

About SME In 2018, three creatives came together and found a common connection through improv comedy. They met at Katie Goodman's "Improvisation for Life Certification" retreat. While their focuses differ, Sloane (applying improv to creative writing) Mary (applying improv to bias and oppression), and Erica (applying improv to be more mindful and confident) connect on a desire to apply improvisation to deepen creativity. Thus, Improvising Your Creative Life was born!



What is your mission statement?

Improvising Your Creative Life Mission ​ IYCL’s mission is to support opportunities to connect with fellow creators and innovators, generate creative confidence, empower artists to express authentically, and inspire motivation to keep creating. Through experiential applied improvisation exercises artists will write their story, mindfully address bias and increase self-awareness, and overcome the fear of failure so they feel confident to step up and take their creativity to the next level.



What is your refund policy?

Full refund if attendee cancels before EOD (end of business day) April 3, 2021. No refunds after April 3, 2021 except in illness/life/death circumstances in which case email us at improvyourcreativelife@gmail.com. No refunds if you do not attend the day of the event for any reason without notice.



Are there sponsorships available?

We have limited sponsorship tickets available. People paid full ticket price so someone else could; some people added on in check out to support someone else’s ticket If you want to join the IYCL retreat but are unable to do so due to finances, please email us at improvyourcreativelife@gmail.com to learn more about our sponsorship tickets.



Have we not convinced you to join us? Well don’t take our word for it, here is what some of our past workshop participants had to say about their experience with us:

Sloane Miller “Sloane’s workshop opened me up as an artist and reminded me that my writing should be fun! Sloane established a safe, supportive, and encouraging space. There was absolutely no pressure and I left feeling renewed and once again excited about my art. I’d highly recommend this workshop for anyone who wants to regain the joy and inspiration that originally drew them to their art.” — Sarah Doneghy, Writer, Performer Mary C. Parker “We could have not done this without Mary! Mary brought so much to this program and exceeded all expectations. Her expertise in dialogue facilitation and anti-racism work was invaluable. Anybody who gets to work with Mary in the future should consider themselves very lucky." - Michael J. Popovic, Coordinator for First Year Connect Program, SUNY Potsdam Erica Towe "Erica Towe brought so much energy to the session and was able to bring everyone along no matter what the comfort level was for each participant. We had nothing but rave reviews from our attendees!" -Brenda Peterson, Women Leading Montana Convening



What are your terms and conditions?

COPYRIGHT: Downloading, printing, or otherwise using the Workshop Materials for personal use in no way gives attendees any copyright or ownership rights in the Workshop or Workshop Materials. NO WARRANTIES: The workshop, materials, benefits, and information provided through the workshop is provided “as is” without warranty of any kind, and SMC and coach make no warranty of any kind, imprlied or express, as to its accuracy, completeness or appropriateness for any purpose. IMAGE RELEASE: Attendees hereby assigns the COMPANY the irrevocable and unrestricted right to use and publish photographs of the attendees or in which the attendees may be included, for editorial, trade, advertising, educational and any other purpose and in any manner and medium; to alter the same without restriction; and to copyright the same without restriction. The attendees releases all claim to profits that may arise from use of images. IMAGE RELEASE OPT OUT: If attendee wants to opt of this release, attendee is responsible for turning off attendee’s camera and changing attendee’s camera and changing attendes’s user name in Zoom. PARTICIPANT IMAGE RELEASE: If attendee volunteers to participate in an on-camera exercise, IYCL is able to use your image in the above way and that you can revoke that right at any time via an email.



Who is Improvising Your Creative Life for?

Anyone 18 + who considers themselves a creative, innovator, or artist and who is looking for connection, inspiration, and new tools to expand their creativity tool kit.



What are your rules of play?

I - Play to your highest INTELLIGENCE Y - Take care of YOURSELF C - Practice CURIOSITY & CONSENT L - LISTEN



What are you waiting for?

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Spots are limited, so sign up now and reserve your seat today.

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Have a Question? Contact Us

Improvising Your Creative Life™

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