Partnerships on the stage and off the field
Storytime from my tenure with Detroit Opera about partnerships within your community
In January 2023, two major American basketball teams - the Detroit Pistons and Chicago Bulls - flew to #Paris for a regular season game. The two teams travelled earlier in the week to stave off the jet lag and during the prior days and several events were planned to commemorate the occasion. One such event was held at the Paris Opera House, where the Pistons team was treated to an experience that left an indelible impression:
“I had never heard an opera singer in person. I’m an opera fan now, said forward Isaiah Livers. “There was a guy walking around and singing at the same time. It was cool. The architecture, just by looking at it, you can tell it’s been around for a looooong time. I was going around asking people how much they thought this place was. Everything was beautiful. Did I mention that I’m in love with live opera music now? The lady that came out of nowhere, the mood, the tones … she was just killing it.”
When I read of this experience in The Athletic, now a The New York Times company, I had two vastly different responses:
“Oh yes! People are experiencing new performances and responding! First person exposure really has an impact!” and
“oh c’mon!!! The Detroit Opera House is two blocks from the Pistons home court!”
While I don’t have any connections at the National Basketball Association (NBA), I do know the Detroit City FC. I reached out to their Creative Director and invited the team to one of our rehearsals for the opera Madama Butterfly. We shared resources to document the event - a tour of the Opera House, which none had visited before, and interviews about their experience.
On the tour, I mentioned the mindset and connection between the stage performance and a soccer match. "Everyone has a part to play on the pitch and also on the stage - the singers (players on the pitch) contribute, the stagehands (those off the field or unseen) moving the sets and the lighting etc - as well as the costumes (or kits), as well as the orchestra. While watching, be mindful of all the moving parts that make this performance happen, which is similar to your match day."
The DCFC Marketing Coordinator was so inspired, she wrote an article about the evening. The video, blog, and collaboration together resulted in the highest traction on the Detroit Opera’s social media and website to date. The synergy of the collaboration also inspired DCFC to photograph their new season merchandise around the opera house. We could both engage with new audiences and boost our presence in the city. A win-win for both teams!
Links: VIDEO CASE STUDY BLOG
Articles: The Athletic Associated Press