We The People of the Bovine Metropolis Theater shall strive to create unique performances that are FUN for the Audience and for the Players. At The Bovine, group mind means more than individual performances, where truth creates laughter, and where connection is valued above comedy.
The mission of the Bovine Performers, Coaches and Producing Team is to positively influence their immediate communities and the world through connection, acceptance, being present in every moment, and having FUN!
We value FUN — fun for our Players, fun for our Audience, and fun on and off stage. All rules and guidelines are designed to reinforce the value of FUN as decided by the members of Bovine House-Teams, Coaches Council and Producing Team as of September 2011. FUN can be had by all, through embracing the core values of the Bovine Metropolis:
The Bovine Metropolis’ 6 Values
1) Group Mind: The concept that the group is more important and powerful than the individual. That as individuals we are in service to the art of improvisation and the group;
this helps us discover something larger than the sum of the Players.
Group Mind is demonstrated by:
- Showing up to rehearsals and shows on time
- Willing and ready to have fun
- Being positive and accepting
- Enjoy being a part of the group
- Valuing and listening to the input of all members equally
- Supporting each individual in the group and helping them succeed
- Promoting the idea of Group Mind
2) Coaches: Individuals who provide an objective eye, an insight to individual development, and help foster an environment where group mind can flourish.
Coaches can demonstrate this is by:
- Showing up to rehearsals and shows on time
- Willing and ready to have fun
- Teaching and mentoring improvisers
- Communicating effectively in person and in writing
- Committing to the individual and the group’s improvisational development
- Being accountable and keeping high standards for the group
- Focusing on the success of the Bovine Metropolis Theater
3) Creativity and Improvisational Development:
Being committed to surprising yourself and your audience with your choices, actions and improvisational forms. Individuals who push themselves and the art form in an effort to expand the art while entertaining the audience.
Teams and individuals can demonstrate this by:
- Creating and performing new forms
- Taking chances and pushing themselves on stage
- Inspiring other individuals and groups to push the art form
- Produce shows that are surprising, yet still enjoyable and understandable from an audience prospective.
- Actively pursue opportunities to learn about the art through workshops, classes, and discussions
- Actively creating opportunities and times to play with others.
4) Enthusiasm for Bovine House-Team Performances:
By encouraging people to see Improvisation, we grow the art form, increase the energy in any given show, and we show pride in our efforts, team and the Bovine theatre community.
Teams and individuals can demonstrate excitement by:
- Positive and joyful participation
- Promoting shows and events through social media
- Word of mouth
- Email, posters, postcards, etc.
5) Support of the Individual, Team & Bovine Community:
Creating and maintaining a safe and supportive environment helps builds trust on and off stage. Fostering a sense of play encourages more risk taking during performances.
Teams and individuals can demonstrate this by:
- Fully participating in shows, rehearsals, and warm-ups
- Attending Improvisation shows when not playing
- Having “mistakes” on stage become golden gifts
- Being positive and professional before, during, and after a show
- Serving as an example to outside groups
6) Being a Part of the Bovine Community:
Having the opportunity to grow as a Player and a group, to learn from each other by being part of a larger community. Having a shared language, rituals and understanding.
Teams and individuals can demonstrate this by:
- Understanding you are a member of the larger Bovine Community
- Sharing experiences and insights with individuals
- Positively supporting all groups whether you are a member or not
- Be excited to attend events at the Bovine Metropolis Theater
- Exude love for the art of Improvisation
Article I.
The Bovine House-Team Community
Section 1.
Bovine House-Team Players
- Players must be cast on a team by audition
- Players must attend 4 out of 6 rehearsals
- Players must attend 4 out of 6 shows
- Players must follow the theater/show’s rules and guidelines for play. If they are asked not to play one night by the producer of a show (for any reason), this affects their overall attendance
- If a Player can’t change performance nights with their team, the Player will be assigned a new team on the same night or be offered a spot on the Alpha Squad.
We want Players who are dedicated to improving as performers, are happy to be performing at The Bovine Metropolis Theater and are excited about their group. Playing on a Bovine House-Team is a privilege, not a right.
Players may ask their Coach for a Hiatus. A Hiatus is a period, of no less than 2 weeks and no more than 6 weeks, where the Player is taken off “Active Player” status, but still a member of the Bovine House-Team. On Hiatus, a Player may not perform with the Bovine House-Team. Before a Player is taken off Hiatus they must attend at least one rehearsal before performing with the Bovine House-Team again. The team’s coach will determine when a player returning from hiatus has attended enough rehearsals and is ready to join the Bovine House-Team on stage.
All Players are responsible for holding up the standards of the theater, including but not limited to knowing and applying the following living documents:
WELCOME TO A BOVINE HOUSE-TEAM : http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/improv/bovine/view=BOVPage/PageContentID=58
BOVINE METROPOLIS : ETIQUETTE FOR PERFORMERS: http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/improv/bovine/view=BOVPage/PageContentID=53
BOVINE METROPOLIS: DRESS CODE FOR CASTS & BOVINE HOUSE-TEAMS: http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/improv/bovine/view=BOVPage/PageContentID=56
BOVINE METROPOLIS: LANGUAGE & CONTENT GUIDELINES: http://www.bovinemetropolis.com/improv/bovine/view=BOVPage/PageContentID=60
Section 2.
Coaches
The function of a Coach is to be dedicated to rehearsals, shows and giving effective notes in an effort to advance the players and the team.
Coaches:
- Communicate with the performers regarding scheduling of rehearsals and performances
- Communicate with the Producer for your show, about scheduling issues, and known absences
- Run rehearsals, making sure that 4 out of 6 are lead by the assigned Bovine House-Team Coach.
- Attend shows or make arrangements to watch, and give notes on 4 out of 6 shows
- Give notes that are focused on increasing the fun for every Player on the team
- Be the primary disseminators of information from the Coaches Council to the Active Players
- Participate in auditions to fill open slots for your team, when needed
- Make sure all Players follow the rules of the Bovine and the show in which they are performing
- Run the day to day business of their team without having to go through the council
- Build Group Mind through being positive and accepting
- Support the Bovine Community by attending shows and being active outside the Bovine House-Team
- Foster an environment of support through being enthusiastic and giving honest, immediate feedback.
- Help promote and generate enthusiasm for groups, shows and the theater in general
- Push Improvisation skill-building through the teaching of technical skills, proficiency, and taking risks on forms and new ideas
Coaches are selected by the Bovine’s Executive Producer in tandem with the Artistic Director. The basis for selection is willingness to enact the principles and guidelines set down in this document and the evaluation of the prospective coach in their abilities to create and foster a fun and supportive team, group mind and to aid individuals in their growth of the art form.
Each Coach chooses the form for their team based on the cast or personal vision. Each Coach determines, based on their own vision and on Players available, how large their team will be. Teams need to be at least 1 Player and no more than 16 Players.
Each Coach keeps records of the member’s attendance, determines what constitutes a Quorum to have a rehearsal, and is authorized to compel the attendance of absent members or ask them to leave the Bovine House-Team in an effort to create Group Mind.
Each Coach casts their Bovine House-Team. The Coach may ask Players to transfer to Alpha Squad or to a Bovine House-Team that plays on the same night if, in their determination, the individual Player is not contributing to group mind because of play styles, skill set, or other factors. If a Player is not contributing to group mind because of attendance to rehearsals or shows, then they will be dropped from the team and asked to re-audition.
A Coach is an outside observer to give objective feedback to the group, for that reason Coaches must not perform with the team they coach. Coaches may play on a Bovine House-Team on which they are not the Coach.
Section 3.
Coaches Council
The Coaches Council is made up of all the Coaches of active Bovine House-Teams. Their goal is to improve the quality of play on the Bovine stage for all troupes, across all shows and to have the best teams and Players be rewarded with more playing time. The Coaches function as a group focused on increasing fun.
The Coaches are the most direct way in which the Bovine mission of teaching and mentoring improvisers is achieved. The Coaches Council enthusiastically takes on the responsibility of fostering an environment of creativity and collaboration, where improvising individuals learn to build group mind in order to create mind blowing performances.
The Bovine is a “teaching theater” where improvisation skills, etiquette, and professionalism are all taught by example and experience. The Coaches Council serves as the leading example for other Bovine improvisers.
The Coaches Council members are responsible for all aspects of Bovine House-Teams, including, but not limited to, casting, coaching, team creation and re-evaluations of team fit. The Coaches Council meets each Quarter to look for ways of improving the Bovine House-Teams.
The Coaches Council runs all auditions for Bovine House-Teams. Coaches who are looking to expand their cast must do so through the audition process. Long Form Bovine House-Team Coaches may also expand their cast at anytime by asking active members of Alpha Squad to join their Bovine House-Team. Other than that exception, no players may be added without auditioning.
Any problems arising between Coach and Players or between two different Bovine House-Teams or between Bovine House-Team and The Bovine must be addressed by the Coaches Council. If no resolution can be reached by the Coaches Council, the Producing Team is asked to resolve the matter.
Section 4.
The Bovine Metropolis Theater Producing Team
The Bovine Producing Team includes the Executive Producer and the Artistic Director. They may include any advisors or employees they want to add to the group who will serve in the best interest of The Bovine Metropolis Theater.
The Producing Team has a fiduciary responsibility to the Bovine Metropolis Theater. They serve the needs of the theater, keeping in mind that the Bovine Metropolis Theater is set on creating an atmosphere of fun, trust, encouragement, development, and pushing the art of improvisation in a sincere aim to make the world a better place. This is accomplished by fostering collaboration through the fun, study and practice of improvisation.
Article II.
The Bovine House-Teams
Section 1.
Bovine House-Team Creation
Bovine House-Teams represent and reflect all the values of The Bovine Metropolis Theater. They are the heart of the theater. They make the Bovine a fun place through the practice and implementation of The Bovine Metropolis’ 6 Values.
Coaches be the starting point for all teams. If someone wants to coach they need to let the Bovine Metropolis Theater Producing Team know that they would like to be considered for a coaching position. When a Coach is approved and joins the Coaches Council, they start the process of creating a new team. They go to the next scheduled audition as a Coach and cast their team. With few exceptions, new teams are given first choice for Players. The Coach of the new team may also choose from members of the Alpha Squad to cast for the Bovine House-Team.
Bovine House-Teams be are given a night to perform and put on a standard performance rotation. All newly formed, re-named teams will start on an off night. Once the team is cast, they will be given a 3 month rehearsal process before being put in the standard rotation of performances. After 6 months of its inception (3 months of performing), and after at least one more round of auditions, the team will be “set”. All active Players on the team at this 6 month mark will be considered “Original Members”.
Each Bovine House-Team is given an 18-month run, with the following exceptions:
1. A team that is moved to a “premier” night by Election, continues the duration of its original run or 12 months, which ever is longer.
2. A “premier” night team that receives top honors in voting at the end of its 18-month run is given its own weekly show with time, day and run-duration determined by the Executive
Producer.
All Bovine House-Teams will be retired at the next audition date after its 18-month run.
Run-times begin on the date of a team’s on its first performance.
Section 2.
Alpha Squad:
Alpha Squad is an off night team that does not move and will not be retired. They are dedicated to individual feedback and performance. The main role of Alpha Squad’s Coach is to develop and accentuate (foster) positive Improvisation values, and remediate any individual behaviors that might diminish the fun of any Player or Group, or the theater in general.
Players from Alpha Squad get the advantage of one-on-one feedback. The Coach will advocate on behalf of the players and theater in the casting process during auditions.
Alpha Squad supplements its ranks every Audition. An Alpha Squad member may only stay on the team through two audition cycles. The member may pass on auditions or retain their slot on Alpha Squad if they audition for another team an do not get a placement. Once two audition cycles have passed, members must either re-audition for Alpha Squad or audition for another team.
The Coach of Alpha Squad communicates assessments of each Player on the squad to the Coaches Council when auditions come up or when players are needed to move up to a Bovine House-Team. Active Members of Alpha Squad do not have to audition to be cast on an off night team. Once a Player is no longer on Alpha Squad they must audition to be placed on a team.
On The Spot Development Cast:
The On The Spot Development Cast is a Bovine House-Team that plays on an off night and does not move nor can it be retired, but can be re-named at the discretion of its Coach. On The Spot Development Cast is dedicated to training and developing players in an effort to get them ready to audition and become members of “On The Spot”.
On The Spot Development Cast does not have separate auditions, rather it is a part of the “On The Spot” auditions. “On The Spot” has priority in casting for its show. The Coach of “On The Spot Development Cast” casts for his or her team from the remaining auditioners.
On The Spot Development Cast active members must audition every 6 months to be placed in On The Spot or to retain their space in the On The Spot Development Cast .
Bovine Video Production Unit:
The Bovine Video Production Unit is a project oriented team whose writers and actors are comprised of Active Bovine House-Team members. Active Bovine House-Team Players can commit for a video project rotation by signing up for a specific video project. They may submit scripts, perform and help with other aspects of creating video sketches to be featured on the Bovine Metropolis website and elsewhere. Crew members of the Bovine Video Production Team do not have to be Active House-Team members.
All materials developed by the Bovine Video Production Unit are the properties of the Bovine Metropolis Theater. After the completion of a video, Active Bovine House-Team members may sign up again to develop another video or not without affecting their status on their Active Bovine House-Team.
Materials selected to be produced and the accepting of Active Bovine House-Team players to the Bovine Video Production Unit to participate in a video project is at the sole discretion of the Coach of the Bovine Video Production Unit.
Section 3.
Bovine House-Team Maintenance.
When vacancies happen in a team, the team must wait until the next audition cycle to fill out its ranks through audition or add a player of Alpha Squad. If a team falls below 50% of its Original Members it is renamed, moved to an off night, and allowed to add new players from Alpha Squad or the next audition cycle. The new team finishes the original team’s 18 month life cycle. If a team falls below 30% of its Original Members it finishes out their scheduled run for the quarter, and at the next audition it is retired.
No Bovine House-Team may cancel more than 2 rehearsals in a scheduled 6 rehearsals time frame. A Coach canceling rehearsals due to schedule conflicts with the Coach, low attendance in rehearsals, etc. (exceptions include emergency performances, recognized holidays, Acts of God, etc) results in one of the following actions as deemed appropriate by the Couches Council:
- Expanding the teams members through auditions
- Redistributing the Active Members on the team
- Replacing the Coach
- Retiring the team
At least half of all Active Players on any Bovine House-Team must be at any and all performances. If less than half of Active Players are at any given performance, the team may still perform that evening, however, when a Bovine House-Team has 2 performances in any quarter where less than half of the Active Players perform, the matter will be brought to the attention of the Coaches Council. The Bovine House-Team in question is either sent to an “off night”, expanded by audition, or retired, whichever is deemed appropriate by the Coaches Council.
Each Bovine House-Team must keep notes of its shows, rehearsals, and ‘Ah-ha moments’, and on a set rotation, each team is required to publish insights, ideas, and opinions on the Bovine web site blog. These blogs may be written by the coach or by an Active Player as selected by their team. Blogs should inspire, give insights, and opinions that could help the Bovine Community or Players with the art of Improvisation.
A Bovine House-Team can request a new Coach if they find that their Coach is not providing the leadership, accountability, focus, standards, time, communication, and vision that the group requires. At least 80% of the group must agree that a new Coach is a necessary action.
The Bovine Producing Team can remove any Coach or Player for cause at any time. Cause being defined as someone who is not adhering to this document, or is in some way creating a hostile and/or unsafe environment at the theater. In addition, if he/she fails to support the individual, the team, or the Bovine Community in its effort to improve improvisation, create fun, and build the community, is also cause for removal as decided by the Bovine Producing Team.
If a coach leaves a team, the Coaches Council must look at the options available to determine. Whether the Active House Team should be assigned a new Coach or be retired.
Section 4.
Casting
We believe that auditions are a seminal part of our beliefs at The Bovine. Auditioning is the only way an improviser may become a member of a Bovine House-Team.
Casting will be done at least 2 times a year once during the Winter and once during the Summer, with extra auditions scheduled as required with a 2 month advance window as determined by the Coaches Council.
Players must audition every time they want to be considered for a new team, with two exceptions:
1) People who have auditioned for and are currently an active member of Alpha Squad, may be placed on an “off night” team during the Coaches Council as part of the casting process without requiring a re-audition by the Player.
2) Players who are Active Members of a Bovine House-Team may ask for a lateral transfer to a different team. Players can ask to move from one team to another team playing on the same night at any time. They will then be placed on a Bovine House-Team without the need of a re-audition, as determined by the Coaches Council that would be the best fit for the player, teams and the theater. Players who ask for a lateral transfer to a different team on the same night, may also be offered Alpha Squad if due to Group Mind, size limitations, etc a good fit cannot be found on the same night.
Players who are on a team which has been retired must audition to be placed on a new Bovine House-Team.
Auditions will be separated according to what night the Bovine House-Team performs. In other words, “off” night teams will have one audition time, “premier” night teams will have a different audition time and so forth, in order to allow Players to select a night based on their schedule and talents. The Separate Auditions will be held the same day when possible. A Player may audition for both a “premier” night and an “off” night.
Players who audition that have good Auditions, but are not cast due to limitations of size and/or questions of “good fit” will be offered a spot on Alpha Squad.
Section 5.
Elections
There are multiple nights for teams to play. The Bovine Metropolis Theater wants to ensure that the Bovine House-Teams that are doing the best work get rewarded with the most play time.
Bovine House-Teams move from “off” nights to “premier” nights and back based on a vote held every 6 months. The vote is polled from the Bovine Community (current students and active regular performers in Bovine produced shows that are not Bovine House-Teams), Bovine House-Team Members, The Coaches Council, and the Producing Team. Elections are held in the spring and fall, and apply to the next quarter schedule.
The voting-share break-down is as follows based on current, active members:
Bovine House-Teams: 30%
Bovine Community: 30%
Coaches Council: 30%
Producing Team: 10%
Elections are based on The Bovine Metropolis’ 6 Values that the Founding Bovine House-Teams have deemed crucial for creating a fun, creative, and exciting environment in which to perform. Each Bovine House-Team Player, Bovine Community Member, Coach (as part of the Coaches Council), and member of the Bovine Metropolis Theater Producing Team gets one vote for each role in which they actively participate.
Ballots consist of 6 measures, one measure for each of The Bovine Metropolis’ 6 Values. Voters vote for the top three Bovine House-Teams on each measure. The votes are tallied and percentages apply. The Bovine House-Teams that receive top honors will moved or stay on a “premier” night. Teams that do not receive top honors are placed on “off” nights.
The results of the election with regards to the Bovine House-Teams, who garnered top honors are published on the Bovine website. The Coaches Council is given full voting details in an effort to encourage, build, and remediate teams. Feedback on each Bovine House-Team’s strengths will help the Coaches build and encourage Bovine House-Teams. The results will be given out on an individual basis, if asked for; however in an effort to create a more positive environment, the complete voting tallies will not be published.
In the event a ‘Premier Night’ Bovine House-Team dissolves, has to be moved (due to low performer attendance), or is retired in the middle of an election cycle, the Bovine Producing Team selects a team to move to the premier night, until the next election.
Section 6.
Bovine House-Team Rehearsal and Play
The Bovine Metropolis will do its best to provide all Bovine House-Teams with rehearsal and performance space. If a Coach and the Bovine House-Team prefers to rehearse outside of the Bovine Metropolis Theater they need to get permission from the Executive Producer. The Bovine will try to provide as much infrastructure as possible to provide allow the Coaches and Bovine House-Teams to focus on fun.
If a Bovine House-Team desires to perform outside the Bovine, the following guidelines must be followed:
- The team’s Coach must ask the Executive Producer for permission to play outside the Bovine. In general, teams will only be allowed to play at another theater when the Bovine is dark, or in special circumstances (i.e. an approved fundraiser, Improv Festivals, etc.)
- Teams must consist of the current Bovine House-Team members only
- If someone plays with a Bovine House-Team who is not currently on said team, they are listed as a Guest Player or a Special Guest
- Teams must be identified the following way: “House-Team Name’ a Bovine Metropolis House-Team”
If more than 50% of the Active Players of a specific Bovine House-Team are playing together, it is considered a Bovine House-Team performance and the above guidelines must be followed. Teams not adhering to these guidelines will be sent to the Coaches Council for action.
Active Bovine House-Teams at Ratification January 1, 2012
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“Alpha Squad”
Joshua Kirk: Coach
Tim Camarillo
Matt Fogel
Jim Gaffney
Jessie Hanson
Miko Khan
Lannie Pihajlic
Dayna Scott
Carrie White
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“Ball Pit Popcorn”
Dee Morgenthaler: Coach
Meredith Badler
Haley Driscoll
Brandon Ehrhart
Lindsay Giachetti
Jessie Greaves-Smith
Jessie Hanson
Tom Hobelman
Allison Schnettler
Micah Smidt
Andrew Smycheck
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“Factors”
Kat Bond: Coach
Asa Erlendson
Chris Gropp
Michelle Marlowe
Laura Miner
Carla Steckman
Jeanette Cerami
Samantha Provenzano
Connor Duffy
Robert Rosenthal
Nick Trotter
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“Blood and Mints”
Carl Anderson: Coach
Reid Fenlaw
Liane Houseman
Danny Kolendowicz
Jaimie Kulikowski
Jared McBain
Lauren Von Englen
Arash Zedeh
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“Have A Nice Play”
Eric Farone: Coach
Sam Gallaher
Erika Gonzalez
Brian Kaplin
Natalie Kilkenny
Macy Matarazzo
Spencer Reedy
Cheryl Pack
Jean Schuman
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“Dungeon Cave”
Eric Farone: Coach
Kat Bond
Asa Erlendson
Liane Houseman
Scott Piebenga
Joshua Robinson
Spencer Rybacki
Kent Welborn
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“The Fillers”
Keith Rains: Coach
James Clark
John Everett
Deb Hultgren
Josh Kirk
Kim Kutt
Christine Lederman
Jason Metter
Rollie Williams
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“The Contestants”
Matt Fogel: Coach
Emma Myers
Holly Jackson
Kelly Calderon
Nicole Nelson
Tony Nguyen
Travis Grant
Meredith Young
David Schultz
Brian Lampert
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“Platypus Surprise”
Spencer Rybacki: Coach
Suzanne Crawford
Tim Doran
Brandon Ehrhart
Asa Erlendson
Natasha Gleichmann
Chris Gropp
Doug Johnson
Will Nuessle
Robert Rosenthal
Lannie Pihajlic
Andea Rutherford
Andrew Smycheck
Michele To
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