Unexpected Productions Chosen for Yelp Coast-to-Coast Conference

For the second year in a row, Unexpected Productions, Seattle's most established improv theater, and improv school, located at the Gum Wall in Pike Place Market, is receiving national recognition at Yelp HQ in November.

Unexpected Productions was chosen to represent Seattle at Yelp's Coast-to-Coast: Community-Powered Progress conference, honoring 100 top-rated businesses on the site. This is the second year it has received the honor.

In addition, Unexpected Productions' Marketing & Development Director, Kent Whipple, was asked to join Yelp's 21 member Advisor Alliance, a select group who will present and lead discussions at this year's event. Whipple is teaching a workshop on using storytelling to improve a business' Yelp page.

"This is my second Coast-to-Coast conference. I am so psyched. It is an incredibly informative and fun event. Business leaders get to meet businesses from all over who use Yelp in unique and profitable ways. We learn and share ideas and represent our amazing small businesses. I am excited to use the storytelling skills I have learned at Unexpected Productions with so many business leaders." said Whipple. He will be joined by two Seattle business leaders; Karl Mueller, Intrigue Chocolate Co. and Robin Wehl Martin, Hello Robin Cookies.

The Yelp Adviser Alliance is an exclusive group comprised of critical thinkers who have figured out the most effective ways to use Yelp to grow their business and they're not quiet about it.

"Kent is a master storyteller and arts marketer who draws on personal experiences in business and in life to connect with people in inspirational ways. He's a consummate networker known for his business savvy, and has been a great partner to Yelp, speaking to business leaders about his success using the platform at events he's hosted and panels he's been a apart of," said Yelp's Manager of Local Business Outreach, Corey Dane.

"Coast-to-Coast brings together the people behind 100 top-rated businesses in cities all across North America. We will recognize the achievements of enterprising citizens of Yelp and arm them with resources to help them continue to grow," explains Dane.

Gum Wall night "As an improv company that does ten shows a week, we are used to listening to our audience. Our improvisers partner with the audience at every show. We teach the art of taking objective criticism as part of our improv school. We take our reviews to heart. We listen and learn. We have a 34-year reputation to honor and we can only grow and learn from the input of our audience family," said Whipple. "We are incredibly proud of our 4.5 star rating and 249 reviews. I am excited to share with others our techniques of using our Yelp page to tell our story, said Whipple from the Market Theater in Pike Place Market.

"Cultivating conversations between business professionals is central to Yelp's mission. When butchers and bakers, and yes, even candlestick makers are given a platform to collaborate, these effective entrepreneurs, eager to support one another, exchange their top tips and help community grow," said Dane.

"This November 15-16, we're uniting the people behind 100 top-rated businesses across North America at our San Francisco headquarters for our second annual business leader summit, Coast-To-Coast: Community Powered Progress!," concluded Dane.

Attendees of this all-expense paid trip will explore social media strategy, learn tips on growth, and meet like-minded business leaders at Yelp's high-tech headquarters in downtown San Francisco, California. They'll also learn about how and why Yelp got started, and get the inside scoop on upcoming innovations during sessions with the CEO and other leaders at Yelp.

About Unexpected Productions

Market Theater Consistently voted Best Live Comedy in Western Washington, Unexpected Productions is the heart of improv in the Puget Sound. For 34 years we have focused on the art of storytelling in its work, taking suggestions from YOU & weaving them into stories & scenes. They perform 10 shows a week and are the home of the most established improv school and corporate training program in the Puget Sound.

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