March 2005

In This Issue:

Featured Event Idea - Mother's Day Outreach

Real Stories - Case Study: Family Outreach on Mother's Day

Performer Profile - Kerri Pomarolli - Quirky, Spunky... Just Hilarious!

Special Promotions - ImpactCards ~ Referral Rewards Program

Effective Resources - Event Planning Guide

Event Planning Tip of the Month - Considering a Project Team

News & Updates - Team & Performer News

Joke of the Month - "Bargain Savvy" Featuring Kerri Pomarolli

Mother's Day Outreach

May 8, 2005

Mother's Day is the third most highly attended Sunday service of the year, so make the most of your opportunity to reach mom and the whole family... and keep them coming back! Show a live comedy "teaser" during Sunday services, then invite guests to return that evening for the full show! Treat mom to a "royal" evening complete with red carpet, fine refreshments and outstanding entertainment!

Target Audience

Location

Site Set-Up

Decorations

Event Activities & Schedule

• Time: Open the doors at 6:30, serve dinner/refreshments at 7pm and wrap it all up by 9pm to respect everyone's time
• Shuttle: If you need to shuttle guests from one area to another, rent a limo or horse-drawn carriages rather than a bus

Refreshments

Entertainment

• Introduction: Have the emcee/host introduce the opening act
• Opening Act: You may choose a variety of opening acts... comedians, illusionists or variety acts, lively music (choose music and a band that unchurched guests will enjoy by avoiding songs meant for community worship), or other engaging entertainment.
• Introduction: Have the emcee/host introduce the headlining act
• Headlining Act: Host a hilarious Outreach Comedy performer to leave your guests with some extremely positive memories of your Event!
• Close: Have the emcee/host giveaway a door prize to one lucky mom. We recommend a day of pampering at the spa. Thank guests for coming, mention the visitor information booth (and any specifically interesting activities various ministries are doing), and invite them to return!

Visitor Welcome Table & Ticket Sales

Volunteers Needed

Ideas & Tools to Get the Word Out

Budget Booster Ideas

Added Outreach Impact

Case Study:

Family Outreach on Mother's Day

Here's an outline for a simple and effective Mother's Day Event that can reach the extended unchurched relatives of your Church Family! Mountainview Community Church of Rancho Cucamonga had such success with this Event in 2004, that they plan on hosting an even larger version of it this year! Here's a few tips on how you can too.

Event Basics

Customer Interviewed: Pastor's wife, Dody DeYoung

Organization Name: Mountainview Faith Community Church

Event Name: "Comedy Night "

Event Type: Mother's Day Outreach

Event Dates & Time: Sunday, May 8, 2004 - 7pm

Event Location: Church building (previously an Edwards Movie Theater complex), Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Location Profile: In a suburb of Los Angeles

Attendee Type: Church members and outreach to extended family (mothers, mothers-in-law, etc.)

Price per Attendee: $10

Total Attendees: 180 (expecting only 150 - they had to add additional chairs!)

Behind the Scenes Efforts:

Publicity Tools Used:

Cutting Costs:

Team Efforts Included:

About the Event

Event Purpose:

The Event was held in honor of mothers, as an opportunity for church members to invite their mothers and mothers-in-law, and to keep families together on this day (in the past they'd held women-only Events to honor mothers).

Event Content:

The evening's schedule of events included... homemade spaghetti served in the Champion Center (their onsite gym and multi-purpose room), and an evening of light comedy with Kerri Pomarolli.

Site Set-Up: 

The dining area was setup with tables, chairs and a food service area. The Event moved to a different room with theater seating for the comedy portion of the evening.

Decorations:

Decorations included floral centerpieces and linen tablecloths.

About the Comedy Performance

Performer: Kerri Pomarolli

Performance Type: 45 minutes of stand-up comedy

Message: No message was given as the purpose of the Event was to provide a fun, non-threatening environment for mother's to enjoy themselves and be introduced to the church.

Results

Response to Performer:

"Everyone enjoyed Kerri. She was funny and had a good sense of humor."

Response to the Event in General:

"We received very positive feedback on the Event. Everyone loved it and we're planning to host another one this year! This time we're adding a magician for a children's show so that more people will feel free to bring children."

Additional Comments

Biggest Concerns Heading into the Event:
"Food wasn't in the original budget, so we had to brainstorm a way to provide dinner at a reasonable cost."

How These Concerns Were Addressed & Resolved:

"We had each women's ministry member (10 total) cook two pounds of spaghetti and a crock pot full of spaghetti sauce."

How This Compares with Past Events:
"This has been a popular event, especially for us to do it again and this time even bigger."

Would You Do This Event Again?

"Definitely! We are planning one this year already."

What Would You Do Differently Next Time?

"This year we plan on bringing a magician in for children. We would also like to bring in an opening comedian for the main show eventually."

What Would You Say to People Planning a Similar Event?

"I think it's a great community outreach. It's something light with a great community draw that gives us the opportunity to have at least one touch point with them. And our church has a great advantage as well, since most of the community has been in our building before when it was a movie theater."

Stand-Up Comedian

Kerri Pomarolli

Quirky, Spunky... Just Hilarious!

Where are you from, and what was it like growing up there?

I was brought up by a Presbyterian mom from Alabama and a Yankee Catholic dad from Michigan. We lived in Detroit then moved to Atlanta, Georgia. I was the only Italian kid in the Dutch Reformed Christian School and going to mass on Sundays... very confusing but great for my material later in life! Ironically my schools just had me back for being a "role model" to do comedy and talk about my book HA! (They thought I was nuts when I went there, and couldn't wait to get me out!)

When and how did you become interested in being a standup comedian?

I was working in Hollywood as an actress doing TV and film and it got harder and harder as a Christian to find good roles. Not only that, but I felt like I had to find a way to be more effective for God's kingdom onstage as well as off. One day as I was praying I heard the words "Stand-Up Comedy!" I said "NO WAY," but ya can't argue with God, and He always wins. I said "Yes," and away we went... the two of us making jokes for Jesus and it's been a wild rollercoaster ever since.

How did you become a Christian?

Well I always knew Jesus, but I basically told God I'd win my Academy Award and mention His name. It wasn't till about 5 years ago that I turned over my life outside of acting and comedy to Him completely--I learned to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. I found a little Four Square church that preaches the Word and had potlucks, and I was sold. I never looked back and when God became my true love instead of Hollywood or the pursuit of a husband, everything else fell into place.

What's your favorite thing about being a comedian?

I get to say whatever I want and it's usually ok because I have a mic in my hand, and people are under the impression they have to listen to me! Also, I love outing my other's issues of parenting to the world!

What are some of your current struggles and triumphs?

Definitely having a southern mom who's obsessed with me getting married has been cause for great strain but even better material. I ended up writing this book about my struggle as a single woman called "If I'm Waiting On God Then What Am I Doing on the Christian Chatroom? Confessions of a Do It Yourself Single!"

I couldn't find a book where people were real about what it's like to be single today, and wanted to know what God says about it. Most authors wrote "I didn't get married till I was 17 and I'm so glad I waited!"

I just started writing these stories, and then 4 years later it was picked up by Zondervan publishing and people all over the country are responding to my crazy neurotic stories. It's crazy because I was terrified to be so "out there" with my failures but I believe that is what God wanted me to do so others could know that...
A. We're all a little crazy, and
B. We're not alone!

How do you see the Lord moving through your Comedy?

I want the world to know we Christians can laugh at ourselves too... whether I'm in a church, club or corporate show, I do the same act. God has called me to be bold about being a Christian and the non-Christians are fascinated by my life because they don't expect to see me out there at the bar with them after a show. But that's exactly where I've had some of my best conversations about Christ. One of my comedian friends became a Christian and I know part of that was him talking to me and other Christians right where he was... and that was not in a church setting.

Where do you see yourself in the next ten years?

Married Married Married... please God, married and with kids so my mom doesn't kill me! I see God bringing back more TV and film opportunities now even though I gave that up to Him. That was killer I had to pray "Lord if I never act again then that's ok." But now I see He has a place for me as a Christian in Hollywood, but now He calls the shots and there won't be any compromise. He's really saying "We have to do this all or nothing Kerri... no lying about your age... you're not 18 anymore honey!"

What's your favorite Bible verse and why?

Isaiah 53 where it talks about how persecuted Jesus was. When I feel like the world hates me or feel rejected, God quickly reminds me His own son was rejected first and "led like a lamb to the slaughter," and why should I think I'm any better than Jesus? It 's my honor to stick up for Him.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

I have a serious email addiction even though I'm not on the chatrooms anymore. It's pretty bad I have to find some support group... maybe they meet online? I love to try to be domestic and pretend I cook.

My two favorite toys are my computer for email and my cell phone because I suppose you could say I need validation quite a bit!

What's you're all time favorite gig?

I performed for a Christian women's convention up in northern California once. It was outside with 400 women, and in the middle of my act the power went out... pitch black... not only that, but this huge horse of a dog ran out onto the stage. I just told all the closet smokers to get out their lighters and let's go on with the show. Some did and some got flashlights and lamps and we rocked out! I never laughed so hard at one of my own shows, but it was this crazy night and these ladies were just hilarious.

Anything else you'd like to share?

I started out doing Christian comedy in clubs until I found out they would let me do it in churches and I found out that was a world where people really would get "our jokes!" I appreciate churches taking the risk to try comedy and the way God is growing this ministry by leaps and bounds. I'm appreciative of the veteran comics that have taken the time to mentor me and share their wisdom. It's much different than Hollywood and people have taken me under their wing to help me and other newer comics grow. That has been amazing!

Click here to read more about Kerri Pomarolli and watch her video clip!

Monthly Website Promotion

Receive   500 FREE DIY Postcard Mailers!

Receive 500 FREE DIY (Do-It-Yourself) ImpactCards™ when you book an Outreach Comedy Event before March 31, 2005!

What is a DIY ImpactCard™?
It's an oversized direct mail postcard designed to invite people to your church. Available for your own customization on a laser printer or copier. Each design is available in packs of 500 cards. Using the same professional graphics and printing techniques for the front, your church can personalize and print the reverse side in your church office using a conventional laser printer or copier.

Each Do-It-Yourself Package Includes:

• 500 ImpactCards™ with a blank reverse side
• Compatible with all laser printers and photocopiers
• Available 3 ways:

   

  1) Pre-cut 8.5" x 5.5"

  2) Uncut "printer sheets" 2 per sheet, 8.5" x 11.125"

  3) Uncut "printer sheets" 4 per sheet, 12.5" x 19"

How do I choose a design?
For a selection of all ImpactCards™, click here or visit www.outreach.com to view all products available. Please keep in mind that you will want to choose only a DIY design for use with this promotion.

*Booking minimum required. Offer good on new Events only. Not valid with any other offer. Must mention offer to Event Coordinator at time of first contact. Promotion good towards Do-It-Yourself designs only.

Referral Rewards Program

*Qualifying Referrals must book an Event, valid on referral's initial Event only, new clients only, with a minimum Event price of $1000.

Event Planning Guide!

Features:

3 Ring Binder. 96 pages.

1 CD ROM with worksheets and forms.

The Event Planning Guide gives your everything you need to organize an effective Outreach Event. Based on the 3 P's of Event planning: Pray, Plan and Promote, the 96-page guide features planning schedules, discussion guides, budget and fundraising ideas, preparation checklists, follow-up guidelines and more! If you find this eNewsletter helpful, you'll LOVE the Event Planning Guide!

Considering a Project Team

Adapted from the Outreach Event Planning Guide, pg. 16.

General Manager, Paul Pickard

Welcome a new addition to the Outreach Comedy team! Paul Pickard began work with us in mid-February, and is now a permanent addition to our team. We know you'll find his Event planning and customer service experience helpful as you plan your Event. Click here to learn more about Paul and the rest of our team!

DVD Sampler 2005

Keep your eyes peeled for the 2005 Outreach Comedy DVD Sampler in the mail this April. Enjoy nearly 2 HOURS of hilarious LIVE comedy footage!

"Bargain Savvy" Featuring Kerri Pomarolli

My family has the gift of bargain savvy. My favorite shampoo growing up was Holiday Inn. My mother not only steals it, but displays it in our guest bathroom with our Howard Johnson towels. She says it's not stealing, it's making memories. Every Bible in my house was a Gideon Bible. That's probably why my baby blanket said Delta on it, but mom said I was "First Class."

Click here to read more about Kerri Pomarolli and watch her video clip!