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Growing up in an entrepreneurial family, Shana Merlin announced, in no uncertain terms, that she would never become an entrepreneur; but she has had to eat her words. In 2003, she turned her love of improv into Merlin Works, a company that uses techniques from improvisational theater for entertainment and corporate training. She has been voted the Best Improv Teacher by the Austin Improv Collective – just one of the numerous awards Merlin has received for her work. The high-octane performer-turned-businesswoman also lists some of the nation’s most important corporations as her
clients.
8:00 AM
Just waking up. I had a show last night so I was out late. My early-riser husband Jon is already out the door. Today I’ll work out at the gym, but other days I go for a run in my Bryker Woods neighborhood. I like to listen to a podcast. My favorites are Radio Lab and This American Life. Then home to shower.
9:00 AM
I’m blessed to have a creative career – a blessing and a curse to get to do what you want and make a living. When it stops being fun, I know I’m in trouble. Finding balance is important so I don’t get burned out. If passion runs out – the product suffers.
Being an entrepreneur can have its drawbacks. The business is built around me so calling in sick means cancelling – so many times I go on sick. With a bout of flu, I called a co-teacher to cover for me but she was stuck at O’Hare. During Best of the Fest at FronteraFest, I had a 102° fever and had to cancel. Sara Farr, our musical improviser, joked that it took three cute guys to equal one Shana. I was so busy on Valentine’s Day that my husband had to come to the show just to see me.
When you start your own business, it’s hard to believe it’s real. You have to tell people you have a business. My husband believed in me, but I was the last person to be on board. It took a long time to get collateral and a website. Now it’s very real. I’m doing the taxes with QuickBooks and even sending out 1099s.
10:00 AM
To grow the business, I have been saying “yes” to speaking at community groups. Lots of free gigs but I meet a lot of contacts. One of my favorites was the Austin Game Developers Conference. My presentation got the highest rating of all the sessions. It was an all tech crowd but that gig got me a premier client – Microsoft in Seattle.
My students started asking me to teach at their businesses and that’s another way I started working with corporations. I am off to work with a group from a major accounting firm. This group is very averse to taking risks or making mistakes so I change tactics to get them engaged. By the end of the day, they will love the process and leave with renewed confidence. Best of all, they will have fun.
3:00 PM
I’m working on training faculty and staff – co-teachers, so now there are two teachers for every class. I’ve been teaching improv since 2000 and developing curriculum ever since. It’s a lot like jazz improvisation. The musicians practice how to use the instruments and study structure in music, and then they play. In theatrical improv, our bodies are the instruments and we study stories, let go and just play. It’s all about how to be your best when you are on the spot.
5:00 PM
I pick up dinner on the way home. Chill for half an hour and watch The Daily Show. I cuddle with the cats. Lucy is really Jon’s cat. I may be married but Bunny is my feline boyfriend – cute and naughty. I try to be quiet and take a half hour to recharge.
6:45 PM
Time to put on makeup and get ready for the two evening shows. Merlin Works has a partnership with Gnap! Theater Projects. Owner Shannon McCormick produces and directs tonight’s first show, Lola. It’s inspired by the German movie – where you see the same story three times with different endings.
11:30 PM
As the second show ends, I’m recalling some embarrassing moments from shows past. After nailing an improvised Broadway musical with another troupe of mine, Girl, Girls, Girls, I practically floated off stage; then a cast member observed, “Your shirt is inside out.” Felt like a rock star for a few moments then a total dork.
After tonight’s shows, I’ll go out with fellow players and students. If it was a good show, then we talk about that. If it wasn’t so good … then we talk about something else.
1:00 – 2:00 AM
Time to head home and indulge in ice cream – my guilty pleasure before bed. Jon will already be asleep. Tomorrow is Saturday and I’ll get to sleep in, then we will have a big breakfast and read The New York Times before I leave to teach two public improv classes.
More Info:
www.merlin-works.com
www.gnaptheater.org