How do I start improv?
I am not a performer or teacher… yet. The reason I ordered your book is I have been told by spiritual guides in my life that I should learn improv. Left to my own devices, I would not have considered it because I am basically a shy, self-conscious woman, especially when it would come to thinking on my feet in front of an expectant audience.
They say (whoever they are) that it is wise to face our fears so I suppose that is my motivation. It also resonates in me now that I have been alerted to it. I do tend to think and say things in the moment that either make others laugh or listen so who knows…
I bought the book because I am unable to find improv classes in my area. I thought reading about it would be a good start.
Home School Improv
I understand your point of view. In my early acting training I was ‘taught’ to improv and I hated it. But then I picked up the book: Impro by Keith Johnstone and began reading the theories behind the improv along with improv games and exercises. It was transformational.
Here is a big learning from Impro: People who say yes are rewarded by the adventures they have and people who say no are rewarded by the safety they attain.
The stage (or a theatre/storytelling space) should be a safe place to say ‘yes’… because we’re all just pretending. So why not?
Also I might suggest my friend Patricia Ryan Madson’s book (www.improvwisedom.com). She is a former teacher at Stanford University and wrote a book about how to bring the principals of improv into your non-theatre life.
I might suggest that you invite a few friends over to your house and play a few games. If you’re not having fun… then move on to another game or change the game until you are having fun. That’s actually how I started BATS Improv in San Francisco (www.improv.org).
We get together, play and see what happens.
Still hesitating…
Thanks for the helpful information, William 🙂
I definitely get how doing improv could be loads of fun. My fears enter when there is a paying audience involved. The pressure to be funny, entertaining or worth their time and money might interfere with my ability to go with the flow.
Pressure = Fear
Ohhh… he said… getting it. Right… in front of an audience… a paying audience.
You are right that the pressure to be funny can be paralyzing… wanting to make it worth their time and money to watch what you ‘just make up.’
I understand. Years ago when I auditioned for “Whose Line Is It Anyway…” I felt that fear grip me deeply… preventing me from doing anything …even my breathing, which is automatic…was affected.
My thoughts? Start playing and you’ll discover how entertaining it is… just to have fun… even to fail… hey, an audience likes performers who risk and fail… and if your purpose is to entertain… then maybe a little failure is just right.
I’ve also written a short article about fear: Being Obvious and Eliminate Fear
The game structures carry a self-realizing entertainment factor… which can take the pressure off the performer. A game like “Alphabet” (where the lines of dialogue begin with sequential letters of the alphabet) holds it’s own ‘hook’ for the audience to focus on… so you’ll find out when you play these games… they’re totally fun.
But… here is my warning… the games can be seductive because they work so well… doing improv without ‘games’ is risky… and the stage is not valuable (or entertaining) if it isn’t risky.
Thanks for setting me straight on your situation.
I look forward to hearing how it goes for you… and your friends.
Get the The Playbook so you have hundreds of games in your pocket when you need them.