I started learning and then performing improv in Melbourne one year ago today. A lot has happened since then. He’s a little something I wrote about self-doubt, hip-hop shoes, redemption, and uh, poo.
Improv is About Balance→
I’ve always thought of balanced improv in terms of not having three scenes in a row be a boyfriend/girlfriend relationship, or not having three straight/absurd hard comedy scenes. This is something else that I read and said “OH” out loud to.
Need help finding the game of the scene? Point at your scene partner mid-sentence, scream “THAT WAS UNUSUAL” then punch them in the face.
It begins!
I’m currently in Chicago taking a improvised comedy intensive at the famed (amongst comedy nerds?) at the iO Theatre. Apologies if the updates are a little behind (or at weird times of the day).
Brian Huskey on UCB, Improv, and Being a Character Actor→
At best, you want to sort of feel like you’re unconsciously hanging out with your friends, creating a funny scenario out of nothing. You’re not aware that the audience is there, you’re just in the moment like, ‘That’s funny. I’m gonna add more to that.’ And then before you know it, you’ve got a fully fleshed out idea.
Lessons from the Masters, Volume 4: Mark Sutton→
Mark’s most lasting gift was this simple note: Realize what you’ve done at the top of the scene.
You walked on stage a certain way. Your face was conveying something. Everything you do from the moment you walked on stage is noticed. You can either make a choice to enter a certain way or simply let your body make the choice and focus on intensifying that. Your scene becomes immediately easier.
Color and Advance Exercise→
Performing at Harold Night
I’m performing improv with my team Your Elected King tonight. Catch The Improv Conspiracy’s flagship show Harold Night, 7:30pm at the Dan O’Connell Hotel, 225 Canning St in Carlton.
Please Ask Me a Ton of Questions on Stage→
“Repeat what you say, heighten how you say it”→
The concept of repeating words is not foreign to improv teachings. I’ve heard it many times before. But, with Ed it’s seems to not just be about the words. It’s about the how. How you say it, how you feel as you say it. Sometimes it doesn’t even need words, it could be just the how. You could be mad, frustrated, happy, whatever. As your partner repeats, you repeat and heighten the emotion.
Justin D. Torres on the teachings of Ed Herbstman at Camp Magnet