My Life As An Improvisation Game

A little over a year ago I wrote a blog about improv. I was frustrated, annoyed, and defensive. Long-form was new to me and it was something I didn't understand and it didn't seem like anyone was interested in helping me understand it. Thus, I denied its importance and pretty much declared myself to be anti-longform. I was going to bring dignity to Doo-Run-Run if it was the last thing I'd do!

And this is why I both hate and love the internet. I can't erase that blog, no matter how hard I try. Instead, I must accept that I am a growing, changing person with growing, changing opinions.

Not only does this involve me accepting myself for who I am currently, but also for who I once was, and who I am growing up to be. And it is this self-acceptance that is truly the hardest thing I'll ever attempt to do.

I am constantly making the mistake of thinking I know everything about everything. This is something I am working on changing. I'd like to be the type of person who learns and grows, rather than one who believes she has reached the peak. Why would I want to believe I reached the peak anyway? It leaves me nowhere to go.

I've begun to read Truth In Comedy by Charna Halpern, Del Close, and Kim Johnson. I love this book! I have a very strong feeling it will be influencing not only my improv but my life.

Holy Cow! must work as a team. We must trust each other. We must react and build. And we must do it honestly.

I still love short-form. It's how I was introduced to improv. It's how I learned it. And it's downright fun to do (especially with a creative audience). It certainly isn't easy. But I've been doing it for ten years, and I think it's time to move into the scary unknown that is longform.

Jared has graciously offered to teach us how to do a Harold. Reading Truth in Comedy is adding to that effort, and I've asked the members of Holy Cow! to read it. I think anyone interested in comedy (or theater) should read this book. It has awesome exercises, tips, and the authors are quick to point out common errors made by inexperienced improvisers (I've highlighted many that I've noticed in myself).

The book stresses relationships, and the importance of creating relationships among characters. Thinking before responding, reacting truthfully and honestly, and respecting the ideas of everyone in the group. These three points are what I plan to specifically focus on in my personal journey of improv (and my life). Far too often, I don't think before I speak, and I act like I think others want me to act, and I often judge other ideas as "not as good". I want to change that.

Man. Improv is serious business!