We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Amy Angelilli a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Amy thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

I started doing improv about 20 years ago in Philadelphia as a hobby. When I moved to Denver in 2007, I got more serious about it and during that second phase of my journey I discovered that the tenants of improvisational theater are the keys to being a good human being. I started seeing how practicing improv – off the stage – made people better versions of themselves. And how amazing to see improv – which is cooperative play – as a tool for personal and professional development, right?

My first attempt at using the tool in a real-world way under The Adventure Project umbrella was as a way to help people create authentic online dating profiles. Can we play our way into authenticity using this tool? Yes, we can. The business has changed – a lot – since then as once it — and I — moved to St. Augustine, Florida is developed into a five-level improv school.

Amy, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

The hobby turned into a business once I discovered the benefits of improv — personally and professionally and then began to communicate it to others. I was about 10 years into my own improv journey when I saw it as a tool – and practice – off the stage. Now I run a five-level improv school for grown-ups, I host after school programs and summer camps for kids, and I lead team building, bonding, and development for organizations. The improv adventure is one that is personal as students and clients can benefit in so many different ways. Of course some want to use it to perform on the stage while others get out of their own heads, learn how to successfully interact with other people, develop empathy, work in a team, collaborate better, communicate better, and fail better because through improv people strengthen resilience skills. We’re also more creative, better able to actively listen, more inclined to pivot in new directions when we need to, and, we have fun even if we do get out of our comfort zones doing so. In Western cultures we play to win, so cooperative play isn’t a practice. Imagine recess for grown ups where we play for no reason but because it’s good for us, and, we develop soft skills along the way. (Or as I call them – essential skills.)

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

When COVID hit I was doing literally everything in person … how else would you do improv, right? Well some colleagues and I started experimenting with improv playshops over zoom and that became the norm. I’m also a certified laughter yoga leader … laughter yoga is breathing, stretching, clapping, laughing, meditating, and relaxing – in a group of people – in person. That practice was adapted for zoom and took off. Organizations wanted exactly that – something to relax and connect team members from their homes. I stared leading virtual laughter yoga zoom sessions for groups all over the country – without ever leaving my house. I never would have imagined doing so before practicing the improv pivot and rising up to what the circumstances needed at the time.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

This may sound old fashioned but it’s also the truth – word of mouth. I have had so many new students and new team building clients as a result of people talking with their friends, family members, and colleagues. Because I’m a solopreneur, I don’t have a lot of resources for marketing and advertising, and, I can make people feel good – the old saying is true … people really do remember how you make them feel. And sometimes I make mistakes or make choices that aren’t the best … I remind myself and my students and clients that we’re all human, so we’re all in this together. Being authentic helps. I may be a long-time improv practitioner – I’ve been a human being for an even longer time!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://adventure-project.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theadventurepro/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theadventurepro
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amy-angelilli-6b85282/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/amyadventurepro
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFSEOmEizTsFQhSHmte0rvQ