SOME TIPS FOR THE IMPROVISOR - From those handsome chaps and lasses at Dad’s Garage.
This was shared with me when I started performing and I come back to them often.
SOME TIPS FOR THE IMPROVISOR.
• Have a purpose. As an improviser and character in a scene. If you’re unsure, pretend to have a purpose.
• Be obvious.
• Pay attention to the details of what you’re doing and the audience will too.
• When in doubt have a strong change of emotion.
• Establish a platform before you introduce a tilt.
• Be good natured in the face of failure.
• Fail often.
• Make your fellow improviser look great.
1. Our “hero” is begging to be tortured. Torture him.
2. Move towards truth in scenes. Truth in human behavior is something the audience can always relate to.
3. Nothing is the audience’s fault.
4. Invest in your scene partner and you will be forced to react to their behavior.
5. Trust your instincts. Don’t be original.
6. Find solutions in your environment when possible.
Improvisors should read as much as possible.
You know your scene is in trouble when the phone rings.
Think of improv as the day they let the monkeys out of their cage.
-Mookie
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Adam, Cristi, Jason, Kevin, Michael, Mookie, Samantha, Tim
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2 comments:
I always liked the line about torturing the hero because it works on many levels. Within the scene, it is the narrative equivalent of putting obstacles in the way of the hero, of raising the stakes. I usually think of Ulysses' journey home or of the movie Kill Bill. Those moments of torture make the resolution so much sweeter and encourage audience investment.
This can also work on the level of the audience/host/improvisor. I think of the 185 structure in which Jason points at us randomly after getting a suggestion. This effectively raises the stakes of the "regular" 185 structure and gives the audience another reason to pay attention (as if our jokes weren't enough). This also puts Jason in the role of torturer, which has its own strange audience dynamic. It gets the audience on "our side" very early in the show and provides an opportunity for them to invest in use as performers.
Have a purpose, Be obvious, Pay attention to the details... Sounds like good tips for life, too.
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