Tickets are now on sale for "BUSINESS BUSINESS BUSINESS", a 75 minute corporate satire, celebrating and teasing the world of the modern startup industry. The evening will be story-driven, incorporating the chaos of The Wolf of Wall Street with the technical precision of elite circus. Why this show now? Because in the age of information, we want to celebrate and rediscover our humanity. If you'd like a better picture, please refer to our pitch deck.
The concept was born last summer, when Collin and Shane Miclon introduced me to a clowning exercise of the same name at Circus Smirkus Camp. For 45 minutes, Collin and his fleet of campers charged around the Ruby Tent wearing blazers and shouting corporate lingo. It was an exercise in commitment, energy, and improv joyously burned into my memory. Afterwards, the brothers approached me about creating a new show. Having just completed my run of LIQUID a Punk Rock Circus as co-producer, I felt confident enough to launch this new endeavor.
A few months later, things are really moving. We've signed a contract with a wonderful venue in Brooklyn called Circus Academy New York, and our premier is set for May 8. Our budget is just over $50,000, and covers two forms of insurance, total payroll, and of course, venue fees. We have four revenue streams in place:
1. Ticket sales. Our primary revenue source. With general pricing at $40/ticket, we need to average 100 tickets a show to break even without fundraising or concessions. The house seats 135. That means to fully recoup, we need to sell just 74% of every house, which feels incredibly achievable to me.
2. Corporate Packaging. Staying true to our source material, we're offering two kinds of corporate packages. One is a 20% discount for businesses bringing their staff to the show. The other is in collaboration with my college classmate Brian Furey, a NY based comedian, instagram personality, and corporate coach. We're offering corporate coachings and an evening at the show as one comprehensive offering.
3. Concessions! Popcorn and mocktails and merch, oh my!
4. Crowdfunding. Maybe you can't come to the show. Maybe you can! But either way, we'd dearly love your support. We are confident this budgetary model is strong. With your extra assistance, we can lessen a little of the risk.
Finally, I wanted to express what this show means to me. Ever since college, all I've wanted to do is create work and support my friends. This feels like the first real opportunity I've had to a. marry my disciplines of circus and storytelling, and b. create something financially sustainable, with a potentially long life ahead.
If you are moved to support us, please join this train as a backer by pledging. And if the timing isn't right on this one, that's ok. This show is about the value of personal relationships, and I sure as heck value you.
With gratitude,
Jacob & Team Business Business Business
