14 PUBLIC GAMING INTERNATIONAL • JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2023 UNLOCK YOUR CREATIVE BRAIN-TRUST REIMAGINE YOUR MISSION AND CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE As the producer and director of numerous stage events – from Cirque Du Soleil productions to Madonna’s 2012 world tour, Michel Laprise understands how to create a connection with people, engage them with content, and develop them as on-going supporters. What has worked in theaters in Disney Springs, Florida; stages in Montreal, Canada; and festivals in London, England, can also be effective in communities, businesses and workplaces. To illustrate his point, Laprise drew a large chalk circle on the stage. The circle represents the boundaries in which a performer leaves his current world and enters another dimension, within which he can become a different person. “Within this circle, whether it is in chalk on the street or on a theater stage, a performer has to catch the audience’s attention, show them their talents and leave them satisfied,” said Michel. “They must be generous with their talents so the audience walks away satisfied. This allows performers to continue with their craft and at the end of the day, pay for a roof over their heads through the support they receive from passersby on the street or the theater companies for which they work.” Michel explained the many similarities with how street performers attract attention (and revenue) and what businesses can do to support and promote their activities. Customers have many distractions, and you must work hard to get their attention. For a street performer, their customers are on their way to a meeting or the supermarket and he or she has to attract their attention and get them to stop and watch. “We have to make a connection with potential customers and that connection has to be made quickly and efficiently,” he said. “It’s all about the customer – what can we do to make them happy and want to stick with us. Like any business, a street performer needs customers to stay and put money in their hat. And if they’re satisfied with the product, they’ll tell others, and those people will become customers.” While the worlds of lottery and street performers might be different in some ways, it is the behind-the-scenes work that brings them closer together. Michel’s most recent work has been on a new Cirque du Soleil show for Disney, the first collaboration between the two powerhouse entertainment companies. The experience was eye-opening for both companies, he said, and provides lessons for all of us. Collaboration is key. Michel said that the circle that represents the performance stage is critical to their creative process. Even when they are on the road with a show, they meet often to ask questions and talk openly about how things are going and what can be improved. “This is important to our culture because everyone knows that all topics can be addressed and communicated,” he said. “You'll be able to be challenged as a manager, as people will speak up. And you’ll be able to hold everyone accountable for the success of the production.” When Michel is working on new products, he again uses the circle motif to make everyone feel comfortable. “The creative process, and something that can work for many companies, takes place around a round table, of course,” he said. “There is no hierarchy, everyone at the table has an equal voice. All departments are represented and at some point, we hear from everyone.” Michel said that he likes to work within the impossible because by removing “I” and “M” you have “possible.” In the planning stages, many of the Cirque shows appear to include impossible stunts and acrobatics that won’t make their way into the final productions. But when the different parts of the company work together, impossible becomes possible. “When we connect as a company, the end result is amazing,” he said. “There is a philosophy that together we can send each other to a higher level, more than we can if there are just a few people working on a project.” Michel said that the success of an organization is based largely on the people making decisions working together with those who provide support to co-workers. “With many different factions working together, the level of innovation is sky-high,” he said. “The end result will be a much better product for your customers.” The launch of a new product by a company is like the opening night of a new show. Many months of planning have led up to the big unveil. The road to get there can be bumpy but with everyone working together, the end result should be magical. “The bigger the challenge, the more we need to act together, regardless of what business you’re in,” Michel said. “For Cirque, on opening night we expand the circle of creation to include the audience,” he said. “We welcome their energy as it pushes our shows to new levels. The audience will also tell us where we need to make changes as they react differently to different parts of the show. It is a very dynamic process that doesn’t end with the premiere of the show.” n Following is an executive summary of one of the fabulous keynote speeches delivered at the World Lottery Summit Vancouver. Among many other theatrical innovations, Michel Laprise is the genius behind the Cirque du Soleil – Kurios which transforms the performance into a modern hero-quest story that captivates the modern audience.
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