It's a new year, and with it comes the list of arbitrary resolutions. Lose weight, read more, get off electronics, learn how to cook, blah blah blah... But maybe it would be nice to improve this year, huh? I mean, in one area. We here at improv high can't do much to help you shed those last five pounds. But we can give a hand in making you a stronger improviser in 2016. So, without further ado, I present your improv resolutions for 2016!
Return to the basics and refresh your understanding of them. In 2015 you may have noticed you said 'no' a lot. Maybe you've been neglecting to make a character, or trying too hard to be funny. You've been relying really hard on gimmicks and your craft has subsequently suffered from it, possibly. This year, you are going to review the basics, doing some simple scene work to remind yourself how to say 'yes, and' with interesting choices. Learning, studying, and understanding the very basic rules of improv allows you to expand upon their principle, creating a better quality of advanced performance. Study up!
Be brave enough to be a li'l dull. 2015 saw a lot of wild shots in the dark that bore no fruit. In 2016, dare to let comedy and material flow naturally, instead of forcing elaborate jokes and gags. Comedy comes from the truth (the Truth in Comedy, if you will), and starting off simple leaves room for the stakes of the scene to escalate to entertaining heights. You are good enough, and should worry less on stage.
Be a better story teller. A good scene needs a story, and that seemed to trip you up last year. This year you're going to do much better. The whole "point" of improv is seeing a suggestion come to actuality, and it is rewarding for the audience maybe as much as it should be for you. In 2016, develop and fine tune your story telling skills.
Create great characters. You've forgotten to be big, maybe. Sure, theatre mimics real life, but nothing is too fun about playing another generic young adult. Strive for bigger, better characters this year! Bigger characters open the door to better improv with bold choices. A character at the very least needs a quirk!
Love your scene partners. The best advice for the new year and the new you is to treat your scene partners a little better. It has been said time and time again that the better you make your partner look, the greater you will look, too. Feed them plenty of material, avoid denial and open ended questions, and try to stray from pitting yourself against them in a battle (improv is a group effort!).
Connect - with the scene, your partner, and the audience. Have fun and connect with what you're doing. Feel exhilaration every moment, and be in tune with your partner, your audience, and the scene. Learn some more about group mind here.
Be responsibly reckless and just make a choice already. You hesitated a bit too much last year. We forgive you! This year, stop biding your time and make a choice already! It doesn't matter what, that's the beauty of improv! Don't let your scene die, and don't become a mumbling mess. When words fail, think of something off the top of your head. That's kind of what improv is all about.
Think higher of yourself. Come on! You're great. Confidence will only help you. You wouldn't be in improv if you weren't capable, now would you? The harder you work and the better you feel, the easier it will be to unleash the awesome improviser inside of you. Now get out there and make 2016 your year!
Return to the basics and refresh your understanding of them. In 2015 you may have noticed you said 'no' a lot. Maybe you've been neglecting to make a character, or trying too hard to be funny. You've been relying really hard on gimmicks and your craft has subsequently suffered from it, possibly. This year, you are going to review the basics, doing some simple scene work to remind yourself how to say 'yes, and' with interesting choices. Learning, studying, and understanding the very basic rules of improv allows you to expand upon their principle, creating a better quality of advanced performance. Study up!
Be brave enough to be a li'l dull. 2015 saw a lot of wild shots in the dark that bore no fruit. In 2016, dare to let comedy and material flow naturally, instead of forcing elaborate jokes and gags. Comedy comes from the truth (the Truth in Comedy, if you will), and starting off simple leaves room for the stakes of the scene to escalate to entertaining heights. You are good enough, and should worry less on stage.
Be a better story teller. A good scene needs a story, and that seemed to trip you up last year. This year you're going to do much better. The whole "point" of improv is seeing a suggestion come to actuality, and it is rewarding for the audience maybe as much as it should be for you. In 2016, develop and fine tune your story telling skills.
Create great characters. You've forgotten to be big, maybe. Sure, theatre mimics real life, but nothing is too fun about playing another generic young adult. Strive for bigger, better characters this year! Bigger characters open the door to better improv with bold choices. A character at the very least needs a quirk!
Love your scene partners. The best advice for the new year and the new you is to treat your scene partners a little better. It has been said time and time again that the better you make your partner look, the greater you will look, too. Feed them plenty of material, avoid denial and open ended questions, and try to stray from pitting yourself against them in a battle (improv is a group effort!).
Connect - with the scene, your partner, and the audience. Have fun and connect with what you're doing. Feel exhilaration every moment, and be in tune with your partner, your audience, and the scene. Learn some more about group mind here.
Be responsibly reckless and just make a choice already. You hesitated a bit too much last year. We forgive you! This year, stop biding your time and make a choice already! It doesn't matter what, that's the beauty of improv! Don't let your scene die, and don't become a mumbling mess. When words fail, think of something off the top of your head. That's kind of what improv is all about.
Think higher of yourself. Come on! You're great. Confidence will only help you. You wouldn't be in improv if you weren't capable, now would you? The harder you work and the better you feel, the easier it will be to unleash the awesome improviser inside of you. Now get out there and make 2016 your year!
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