I might have a way to make improv notes feel a bit less like being stabbed in the throat
Yep, sometimes classes make me feel like shit. As if I’d paid a painful amount of money to find all the different ways I am terrible at improvising.
Hey Improvisers
Learning to ‘yes, and’ in London.
A dog made me improvise properly
A couple of months ago I did my first improv show. I was nervous as a bag of nervous. It was fine. I didn’t do much.A couple of weeks ago I did my second improv show. I couldn’t care less. It was amazing. I did everything I possibly could. ¶ Understanding this change is important for me. I never want to be as panicked and annoying as I was before the first show and I always want to be as relaxed, supporting and natural as I was during the second. ¶ The main difference for me was the days leading up to that show.
John BannisterMar 23
Gotta start doing stuff wrong
Aw man, I have a thousand things I want to do. And I do none of them because I’m just not ready yet.That is bullshit. I totally am ready to do them. ¶ I’m just not ready to do them good. ¶ That’s where the shit happens. I’m not going to get much better at improvising in front of an audience unless I improvise in front of an audience. ¶ But I’m not going to create good stuff until I get better at creating bad stuff. ¶ So to hell with all this anxiety about producing finessed content. Let’s make shit until people enjoy it!John BannisterFeb 9
Improv books? Good thing? Bad thing?
In my first level one class, I asked if there were any books I should be reading to help with my training.“No! No no no. No. Don’t.” — Paraphrasing ¶ I was politely discouraged. Perhaps, after completing my training, I could go back and read up on them for my own interest. But the best thing to do would be to pay attention in classes, act on the notes and try not to overthink things. ¶ Books are the best though! And each and every one deserves to be read. ¶ So, why hide away from them? ¶ The discouragement was a legitimate and valid response.John BannisterJan 18
Good things — 10 Jan
I’ve been putting all some of things up on the Twitter account. Here’s a little round up of some of the bits I’ve found most interesting.The Armando ¶ Just started level 4 with Monkey Toast which ends with a performance of the Armando. In looking into the history of it, it turns out it used to be called: ¶ The Armando Diaz Experience, Theatrical Movement and Hootenanny — IRC Improv Wiki ¶ It also turns out, ASSSSCAT 3000, the UCB free show, is essentially a renamed Armando. Bravo tried recording an ASSSSCAT for broadcast. I don’t think anything further came of it, but it’s a great example of some strong improv.John BannisterJan 10
John BannisterDec 31, 20154 min read
