Tag Archives: improvement

Mar 11

SWOT #16 – Beat Structure Rhythm

Subsequent beats leverage an aspect of an originating scene in setting up a new scene. But… As our goal in any scene is establishing and heightening patterns of emotional behavior, initiations of subsequent beats that clearly focus attention on emotional reaction get us to our meat faster and leverage the power of pacing and pattern in building a show.

The green improvisers’ tendency is to follow plot, to rehash the originating scene and/or to simply introduce an old character to a new character and/or situation and hope for the best.  While none of these moves are bad on their own, failure to focus subsequent beats on originating patterns of emotional behavior puts these follow-up scenes at risk of getting lost, growing stale and/or losing the momentum built earlier exactly when the form needs to be getting faster and tighter.

Beat Structure Rhythm

If this Weakness is identified, the following posts may prove helpful in coaching to the Opportunity:
* Subsequent Beats
* Subsequent Beats Class
* Memory
* Heightening with Tag-Outs
* Subsequent Beat Exercises
* Pattern Mechanics

Mar 9

SWOT #17 – Playing with Flexible Formats

I like formats.  Playing within The Harold’s dictated structure of Opening, 1A, 1B, 1C, Group Game, 2A, 2B, 2C, Group Game and 3A/B/C an improviser can spend less time on the wings worrying about what to initiate and more time focused on how to initiate.

I like rules.  Rules free us to play Pavlovianly and enable audiences to engage, even subconsciously, in the pattern.  Again, while rules indicate what gets said more creativity can be pumped into how what gets said gets said.

An improv group has a lot on its plate building something collaboratively out of nothing.  A set format and established rules can be helpful spines to flesh out – useful maps on which to erect roadside attractions.  An improv group though that is experienced in a wide swath of formats, a troupe that is working from the same rulebook, can grow to trust in its ability to be flexible.

Sure, at “Harold Night” every show’s content will be different and of-the-moment.  And, sure, a known format, like The Armando, can foster a loyal crowd week after week.  But.  But if a group of improvisers who know each other, trust each other and share the same language can get on stage and follow each other into a format made up in-the-moment?  That’s improv as improv does best.

Flexible Format Capable Ensembles

If this Weakness is identified, the following posts may prove helpful in coaching to the Opportunity:
* Kick The Duck Red Rover
* Flexible Long Form “Formats”
* Establishing Organic Forms

Mar 7

SWOT #18 – Confident Vulnerability

Don’t let becoming a good improviser keep you from becoming a great improviser.  Believing in your ability is good; being open to your weakness in committing to constant betterment is great.  Finding a personal understanding of what works for you on stage is good; staying receptive to the ideas of even the greenest improviser is great.

Confidence is not bulletproof.  Confidence is not brash, is not loud, is not immovable.  Confidence is a personal calm.

Vulnerability is not weakness.  Vulnerability is not meek, is not afraid to speak, is not constantly acquiescing.  Vulnerability is accessibility.

Practice makes perfect it’s said.  Through experience in improv a player grows to bring calm into the chaos and remain open to the moment’s possibilities.  The greatest players exude this accessible calm; they expose themselves on stage without fear.  It makes the audience root for them before they’ve said a word. Seek to emulate the classic Dead Head: Accepting who they are without shame and accepting who you are without judgment.

Yes, with practice confident vulnerability will come.  It also doesn’t hurt to practice confident vulnerability until what you fake you feel.

Confident Vulnerability

If this Weakness is identified, the following posts may prove helpful in coaching to the Opportunity:
* Get confident, stupid
* The Path to Unconscious Competence