Mark Sutton taught us that we can respond and be truthful and supportive through our own character. Letting go of your own deal hurts the scene more than helps it.
Discussing a Bit with Matt Holmes – The Secret to Improv→
I boiled down all these elements into three simple steps that I could follow.
- Do something.
- Do it more.
- Do it bigger.
Things From Improv Books I’ve Read→
Lessons from Ben Rodgers→
“Being specific doesn’t mean just saying your burger’s from Carl’s Jr. Try to give your character a philosophy and fill out the universe they live in.”
The sooner you know how to play your game, the sooner you can start tagging.
Diaries of a Wannabe Improviser: You’re Not as Important as You Think→
Look at your partner. Do they seem nervous, happy, tense? Take this into account. Give them something to work with, but give it to them one step at a time. Do the Cha-cha. Move back and forth between the two of you. “Hey Bobby, thanks for coming to meet me in this mediocre coffee shop.” See how they respond.
This is my challenge to you: be more aware of the interaction between you and your stage partner than of what you want to happen next. Forget what you have “planned” for the scene. Keep your ideas, but allow space for your partner’s ideas as well. If you keep moving with this dance, you’ll get to a place that you never could have achieved on your own.
I Care→
Play Like A Great Team→
What is needed is: swagger. A posture of confidence. Without that, a house team looks like a bunch of students.
