Wait for it…

9 Mar

There is truth in the classic statement, “wait for it…”, a statement to build/put emphasis on the statement that follows. Once you learn how to see the comedy in a scene, you will be tempted to jump on it every time it presents itself to you. You jump from comedy to comedy pouncing on every […]

Emotion, Emotion, Emotion

8 Mar

Most people learn the mechanics of improv with the first year or so of taking classes… at least you begin to recognize the benefit of them and can recognize them in scenes, or the lack of them in scenes. Usually after a year, you can tell if a scene is missing agreement, listening and so […]

Training = back door denial

21 Feb

Training = back door denial

The problem with training in an improv scene is that it is pretty boring to watch, no matter how interesting the training is. Training scenes generally involve someone training and then someone implementing the training that was just given them. So basically, we see someone do something and then the other player does the exact […]

Getting to the “real” problem using agreement

20 Feb

Getting to the “real” problem using agreement

Agreeing in Improv There was a scene in my beginning improv class this morning that went something like this: A: “I am here to pick up your sister.” B. “You know she has kids, right?” A: “Yeah! That is why we are going to Peter Piper Pizza!” B: “You know she is looking for more […]

Improv and the Law of Reciprocity

19 Feb

So I have been taking a little breaking from improv performance. I have been teaching a couple of improv classes, so I am definitely getting my fit. It is interesting to me how difficult it is to write about improv. When I teaching, dozens of ideas come across the class, inspired by myself or what […]