Industry Insider Chat: Impact Entertainment

This month we catch up with Impact Entertainment President Alan Jacoby to talk about the merging of cheer and dance with gymnastic events through a new alliance with USA Sports Production.

First, tell us a little about your organization, Impact Entertainment.

Impact Entertainment is a full service sports & entertainment special event, marketing, and sponsorship consultation company. We produce a variety of events throughout the United States ranging from concerts to rodeos. We have created an alliance with USA Sports Production on our gymnastics competitions, so it is a natural fit to work together on cheer and dance competitions as USA Sports Production owns the Champions Cup Series. It is a competition company that produces more than 15 cheer and dance competitions annually.

You’re hosting cheer competitions for the first time this year after success in the gymnastics market. Tell us what you have lined up…

We will be hosting the Purple & Gold National Cheer & Dance Championships in Baton Rouge, La. at the RiverCenter on March 7-8, 2009 and the National Challenge Cheer & Dance Championships in Athens, Ga. at the Classic Center on March 14-15, 2009. We currently host two large gymnastics invitationals in conjunction with the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University collegiate meets and wanted to add another dimension and competition opportunity to the event. Cheer & Dance seemed like a natural fit to add to the weekend. The competitions are both open to all teams ­ All Star, school and youth league ­ with no qualification required. We will also offer individual, duet, and trio competitions for both cheer and dance. With the cheer venues being so close to campus it offers the opportunity for teams who are in a facility with gymnastics to bring all of their teams to compete in one city, in one weekend and support each other. It also gives everyone the opportunity to visit the college campus and get a feel for college living.

For a cheerleading team that’s considering coming to your event, what would you tell them to convince them to compete at your event?

We will promise a well-run, organized, on-time competition where every participant is recognized in an Olympic-style awards ceremony. We may not have all the frills that some of the other competitions have with lights, smoke and 6-foot trophies, but we¹ll provide the opportunity for a great competition experience. Our registration fees are reasonable at $70 per participant, with no crossover fees and every team is guaranteed to compete twice. Every participant receives a medal and event souvenir and every team receives a trophy. Quality, not quantity, could be our motto.

Anything else you¹d like to share with our readers?

I feel that if teams add these competitions to their schedules, they won¹t be disappointed. The Champions Cup Series is in its 4th year of hosting competitions and has created a strong base. If you haven¹t heard of these competitions yet, you will in the near future. The events are run with strong principles and good basics, with emphasis on a good competition experience for all participants.

Finally, for someone wanting more information, how should they reach you?

For the National Challenge in Athens, GA visit our web site at http://www.nationalgymnasticschallenge.com/

For the Purple & Gold Championships in Baton Rouge, LA visit http://www.purpleandgold.info/.

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