SBIR Comedy Skit Plays in San Jose

"So You Wanna Get an SBIR," a comedy skit written by the Far West RTTC to provide an entertaining introduction to key elements of the SBIR program, made its second appearance on stage on the first day of a NASA SBIR/STTR workshop held in San Jose on May 30. The second day featured a session on SBIR Phase I preparation presented by Jim and Gail Greenwood. The two-day workshop was organized by the Center for Applied Competitive Technologies (CACT) / De Anza College and sponsored by the NASA Far West RTTC. The skit premiered last December for a brief one-day run at the ITEC conference in Honolulu, Hawaii.

The skit focuses on conveying valuable insight into things that small businesses should and should not do to improve their chances of winning phase I SBIR contracts with NASA. Following a format similar to The Dating Game, the skit is an entertaining program that unlocks the secrets and pitfalls on the rocky road to obtaining an SBIR contract. The skit is a novel way to laugh and learn what's really important about the intricate SBIR process through comedy and audience interaction. Each scene dramatizes key elements of the SBIR process. Cast members included an SBIR expert from the Far West RTTC and the SBIR/STTR Manager from NASA Ames.

The skit was conceived as an alternative to traditional slide presentations that are often used to describe the SBIR program. The skit format was intended to break down the barriers of formality that sometimes exist between SBIR program officials and small business hopefuls. The skit format succeeded admirably, judging by the extended question and answer period that followed each scene of the skit. Interchange between the audience and SBIR experts from the cast was vigorous and lengthy. The format definitely serves to break the ice with small business representatives who may be shy at first about discussing program issues with NASA officials.

The workshop program also included a presentation by a small businessman whose company has been successful in the NASA SBIR program. This feature of the workshop was also very well received by the audience. The program was rounded out by a traditional PowerPoint presentation on basic elements of the SBIR program and how to succeed, along with a lively round of NASA SBIR Jeopardy, presented by the NASA Ames SBIR Manager. This game was also very lively and generated a lot of audience participation.

The Greenwood's presentation on the second day of the workshop was also well received. The Far West RTTC is planning additional events for the express purpose of presenting the comedy skit again. It is a format that generates a lot of enthusiasm among audience members and really gets them involved in the learning process.