Funny, They Don't Look Like Comedians

NEW YORK, March 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Peppercom announced today it has formalized an offering called "Comedy Experience featuring Comedian Clayton Fletcher."

The new solution has been perfected over the past five years and is unique in the public relations world. It blends comedic story telling strategies and techniques with the very serious communication needs of major organizations to help clients break down barriers, improve internal communications and culture, enhance executives' storytelling abilities and, critically, enhance morale.

To date, Peppercom's Comedy Experience has been implemented in a wide range of industry association groups, major Fortune 500 corporations, professional services firms and universities. It's proven especially effective in post-merger scenarios in which leadership needs help in transitioning two very distinct cultures into one.

Comedy Experience is a result of a relationship that kicked off when agency co-founder Steve Cody began performing stand-up comedy under the tutelage of comedian Clayton Fletcher. As he performed comedy, Cody noticed his business skills becoming exponentially better. He decided to include stand-up comedy training as a mandatory part of Peppercom's management training. From there, it blossomed and became a full-blown client offering.

Truth is the link between comedy and business
The new offering will be led by Fletcher, Peppercom's Chief Comedy Officer, and partner Deborah Brown, who said: "Every organization aspires to be authentic and transparent. Stand-up comedy and communications are founded on the same core principle–truth. The best stage comedians begin with the truth in creating their material and the best corporate communications must always be based on truth. That's why Comedy Experience is a holistic solution. It begins (or enhances) a process that enables an organization to heighten its transparency and credibility to all constituent audiences. And, that's a game-changer."

Michael Lasky of the law firm, Davis & Gilbert, recognized the new solution's value and asked Peppercom to lead a comedy experience for his team. He said: "Although there are many smart and knowledgeable attorneys, the industry as a whole is not as ethical as many of us would like, and we're often the butt of jokes.  We are also too often viewed as stiff and impersonal. Peppercom helped us to understand how to incorporate humor into our business dealings with clients to more effectively connect with clients. The experience also showed us how we can start to change our reputation with the public at large."

Major universities have seen Comedy Experience as an ideal addition to their executive education programs.

"Peppercom has conducted its Comedy Experience workshop three times for Syracuse University's Executive Education program and for the Association of Cable Communicators," said Maria Russell, Director, Communications Management Professor, SI Newhouse School of Public Communications, Syracuse University. "The workshop always gets positive feedback from the attendees, and it's an unexpected way to improve communications that these professionals can now incorporate into the workplace."

How it works
Peppercom's Comedy Experience is a custom-built, intensive, interactive program in which participants learn the immediate connections between comedy and business, are "schooled" on the four types of stand-up comedy, and then, one-by-one, perform live routines in front of their peers. Peppercom coaches provide instant feedback and, critically, review videotapes with each individual afterwards.

"Science has proven that exercise, chocolate, and laughter all cause the release of endorphins, or 'love chemicals,' in the brain," said Fletcher. "It turns out comedy is a great way to get your audience to fall in love with you. And it's cheaper than buying them all chocolates!"

Comedy Experience featuring Clayton Fletcher is Peppercom's second new service offering this year. In January, the company launched Audience Experience which, in partnership with customer service author and expert, Emily Yellin, helps organizations take an outside-in look at their audience's experience, close gaps and enhance messaging.

To find out more, please visit www.peppercom.com. 

Peppercom, Inc., a strategic communications firm headquartered in New York, focuses on understanding the business of a client's business. In addition to being a full service public relations firm, the agency includes H2O Associates, a digital and interactive firm, whose services complement a solution set that already includes: PepperDigital, PepperCommotions and Audience Experience. Peppercom is currently ranked number 30 on a national industry list by PRWeek and was named a finalist for the 2012 PR Week Midsize Agency of the Year.

SOURCE Peppercom