The Rundown: The Ultimate Podcast for Sports Event Presentation Interview with Michelle McComas
6 snips
Mar 9, 2021 Michelle McComas, Senior Director of Entertainment and Events for the Chicago Bulls and Emmy Award winner, shares her journey from WNBA dancer to NBA All-Star producer. She discusses audience-first presentation, building and branding performer teams like Benny and the Lovables, recruitment and training pipelines, tech-driven production, halftime spectacles, and using social and AR to boost fan engagement and sponsorships.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Condition Performers Year Round Like Athletes
- Treat performers like athletes with year-round conditioning and injury prevention. The Bulls run summer auditions, fitness boot camps, and provide athletic trainers and rehabilitation for entertainers.
- Schedule rehearsals immediately after the schedule release to bank routines before season start.
Audition For Skill And Mental Toughness
- Use staged auditions with clinics and week-long bootcamps to assess skill and mental toughness. Lovables auditions include pre-audition clinics, learning multiple routines, fitness tests, and interviews to evaluate attitude and team fit.
- Prioritize character and teamwork as much as technical ability.
Build A Repertoire Of Signature Pieces
- Creative ideas should be filtered by company initiatives and production feasibility rather than novelty alone. Michelle keeps signature repertoire pieces (holiday, pride, Latino nights) and refines them year over year.
- Leverage experts across DJs, video, lighting, and costume to turn ideas into executable shows.