Mischief Managed Episode 47 - "How We View Improv as Permanent"

In art form that is so temporary, we have a tendancy to view aspects of it as permanent.  We think an improv team will last forever, or take classes with only one person... improv is organic. It stops, and starts. 

If you need to take a break, go ahead. If you want to switch teams, go ahead.  If you want to change the style of your team, go ahead. 

The practice and study of improv is as ethereal as the show.  Allow your journey to ebb and flow, like your improv sets.

I did a study for fun. I looked at communities and how communities interact with one another like organisms in an ecosystem.  

This is a portion of that ecosystem when talking about "leadership."

How many improv workshops deal with "listening?"  Like a ton of them.  

One of the issues we have with online improv is that the skills we used to use in person (observation, peripheral vision, etc) we can't use in online improv.  Online improv is different - and it should be. It should have the same differences as a live play to a movie.

I talk about rediscovering listening, and how odd it is that some improviser are so resistent fo evolve.

What is your brand? Your unique selling point?  And why is that a benefit!

Firstly and leastly, I talk about this entire podcast and why I started it.  It’s all about DOCUMENTATION!! Which made me think I want to do a whole episode on “documentation.”

Then we get into the heart of the podcast which is the concept of “stop trying to find something, and just pick something.”  Sounds simple. In some respects it is MUCH MORE simple than we make it. In other respects the difficulty of finding something, comes from finding it as a group – not an individual.

I have been noticing a few trends in larger improv companies when addressing their lack of BIPOC representation on stage and as teachers.  Leaders tend to use the same reasons across the board - and sometimes they are reasons for past behavior, as well as an excuse for future behavior. 

The value of class is not always what comes from the instructors. I do my best to make my workshops and classes have value beyond what I teach.

In college and when taking classes at big improv institutions, I find the connections I make one of the most valuable experiences.

The problem with “Improv Community” is …

In this podcast about improv, I talk about the Improv Community. No, I don’t just say why it’s bad – but I talk about why it’s not the faultless gold trophy so many people champion it to be. I have learned recently that the “community” can be wrong! Which is such an odd thing to say.  I think it is.

Hope you enjoy!

Chaos.

Chaos can lead to exploration in art.

Also in improv, especially long form, the most impressive shows are not laugh-laugh-laugh, they are about “how did they do that?” Comedy is only a by-product of the process. Sometimes the laughter is misleading us to sacrifice the story or re-hash bits that everyone has already seen.

Lean into the chaos.

Enjoy it. Face it.

Sometimes it leads to beautiful discoveries.

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Finally feeling like I’m getting back into the swing of producing things!  Let’s talk about some of the physical tools you have when performing.  Your hands and face – and WHY they are some of the most dynamic parts of your body.  AND BONUS content at the end! 

Shhhh. It’s a surprise tip.