Well, the great thing is anyone can improvise. The hardest thing is getting out of your own head, leaving preconceptions behind. I know – easier said than done. But the sooner you say to yourself, “I CAN DO THIS!” The sooner you will, and the sooner you will begin to get better.
In my mind the best improvisers, from an entertainment perspective, are very well rounded individuals – as performers and as people. Many comics pigeonhole their styles. “I am a political satirist.” OR “I am a clown!” OR “I am an impersonator.” OR “I am a musical cabaret artist.” It is great to have a specialty, but why not be able to hang in all areas?
STEP 1: Learn the basic techniques of Improvisation by taking a class or JUST DOING IT. Then continue to get better (and better and better). Take more classics. Watch other shows. Learn from others successes and failures. Like any art, or none artistic profession, the day you stop trying to improve yourself is the day you should retire. There is no plateau. Only up or down. NO single artist knows it all. I learn new things every day from my students. Or things will click as I explain them to others.
STEP 2: Become a better performer. Become a better actor, singer and dancer. Take Classes. CHALLENGE YOURSELF!!! I recommend taking it one step further and take classes in Direction and Writing. As an Improviser you serve as writer, director and performer all in one moment. The more you know the better you get. And again, you will never know everything.
STEP 3: Read books about history and literary classics. The more you know the more topics you can improvise. Classic literary characters from Shakespeare, Dickens, Hemingway and hundreds others provide a wealth of characters to play. And audiences love references they know. You can stir a number of emotions and thoughts by referencing or becoming a classic character.
STEP 4: BE TOPICAL. Watch the news and today’s top TV shows and movies. For the same reasons as knowing the history and classics, know pop culture allows you to play to any audience. HOT TIP: If you hate a lot of today’s TV like I do, watch shows like THE SOUP on E! and TMZ on Fox. These shows will show you the biggest scandals and funniest moments, often from the worst shows on TV. Why watch Jersey Shore (sorry if you actually like this crap LMAO)? Watch the SOUP and you will learn all the characters and see the best clips for 20-30 shows every day. Similarly, TMZ shows off all the best scandals and you get to know the biggest names in pop culture. Finally reading the newspapers and following the news, you stay up on the most important topics your audiences face every day – politics, the economy etc. These topics allow you to really keep an element of intelligence in your comedy and drama.
STEP 5: KNOW THE BUSINESS! Read books and trade magazines. Network with other performers. Go to other shows to see what your colleagues are doing.
I agree with everything here except for the part about TMZ. I think people are better off watching ET, Access Hollywood or E! News because it’s less about annoying paparazzi and more about actual stories on projects going on in show business. They occasionally have funny bits but I have trouble stomaching it when they stalk celebs and say mean things to get a reaction from them.
I like the site and posts. Love the exercises you have outlined.
-David
Thanks David & Laurice. This is going to be an ongoing series based on a workbook I designed for NYC DOE program we are developing.