Check out this awesome video by Jill Bernard. I took a workshop with Jill about two years ago, and she was so awesome and refreshing. It’s reiterated in this video, but Jill definitely taught me to let go in my improv and to like what I did on stage. It’s easy to always be judgmental while I was in the moment improvising, and especially once I got off stage. Thanks to Jill, I let that go, at least a little bit!
Tag Archive: yes and
I have been out of the improv game for 51 days, and each moment seems like an aching pain to my body. While I was living in North Carolina and more specifically for the last year, I have been doing improv in some form or another about five nights a week. To get out of the game cold turkey as I moved across the country has been a hard transition to make. While the wheels are slowly starting to turn in the direction of reintroducing improv into my life, here are my thoughts on why I need improv.
We live in a world of no, and sometimes negativity comes along with that. In the everyday world we hear the same old answers ad nauseam, “there is not enough money in the budget, it can’t be done, that won’t work.” While living in that world on the everyday, it is so nice to walk into a place where you know that every single option put on the table will be accepted and heightened! “Yes and,” invigorating and refreshing to the soul!
Improv is journey taken together. When you and your scene partner are on stage, you have to be going in the same direction, even if it doesn’t appear that way to the audience. Whatever the adventure put forth, there needs to be an acceptance of that is where the scene is going. Sometimes that doesn’t happen in the real world, hey lets go here this weekend, doesn’t always end up being a cool trip planned and implemented. The journey wanted and needed!
The ultimate creative outlet, at least for me! As you can tell from this blog, I am a bit of a nerd when it comes to creativity. I thrive on it, my way of life. I was recently on the phone with a college friend and I was talking about creativity. She said with the most direct of tone, “you certainly are creative!” I have come to learn I am great with the idea generation, but not necessarily the details on making it happen. In the real world I need to live in those moments of creativity, and then get down to business. In improv it’s the other way around, I need to get down to business, and then be endlessly creative!
Being a bit goofy! I love to be goofy, weird, sarcastic, and a little crazy. Something else I need to really temper in the real world. It makes people uncomfortable and question your validity, especially when you are the boss. I need to be goofy, and that is where the improv outlet helps me the most. I love scenic, game based scenes, and I think they are even better when it feels true to life. But, I love myself a good scene that goes to crazy town!
Wow, it felt good to get that out. I have been feeling a bit of angst recently, and this was my diagnosis! Now the hard part, making the improv happen!
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Image of Del Close from improvcomedy.org
Del Close is considered by many to be the father of modern improv. He created the harold which is the most widely performed improv format. He worked to create improv into the art form it is today. On of my harold coaches always pushed us to have the theme of our show be artistic and a commentary on life. As we were pushing to do those types of harolds I always felt that is probably what Del always wanted.
Sunday marked the anniversary of the day Del died in 1999 at a Chicago hospital. Here is a link to a short little article by the Chicago Reader, which chronicles the last couple days of Del’s life. The article is an excerpt from the book by Kim “Howard” Johnson, The Funniest One in the Room: The Lives and Legends of Del Close (Chicago Review Press).
I have come to love improv for many reasons, the art of creating something from scratch in a collaborative environment, the art form, a place to comment on the world, its fun(ny), but I think mostly because it is a supportive place to create. That place I don’t think we find many other places in the world, but we find it on the improv stage. And I think that is all summed up in this quote by the master!
“And tell them all that we succeeded where others have failed. We created Theater of the Heart, a theater where people cherish each other to succeed onstage. Tell the students, Theater of the Heart.”
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Check out this video of one of my last shows at the DSI Comedy Theater. I sat in with Ladies Night an awesome improv, stand up, and storytelling comedy show by all female comedians, except for me on my last weekend! Enjoy!
The DSI Comedy Theater in the snow after the last show of the 2012 NCCAF!
The last two weeks of my life have been an improv explosion of awesomeness, which is probably a pretty good thing since my next foray onto the stage might not be for a while. With improv week of the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival and the next weekend featuring several shows where I got to perform in a bunch of them as a sendoff, who could ask for anything more. I would say a pretty picture perfect ending to my DSI improv career.
During the North Carolina Comedy Arts Festival I got to run tech on the main stage, which was a pretty awesome responsibility. I was pulling the lights on some impressive acts including: teams from Boston, New York and Chicago, featuring Armando Diaz, Emo Philliips, Death By Roo Roo and Dual Exhaust. Signaling the end of a show while not on stage can be a pretty tough task, it’s an art form and a philosophy onto itself. There is always the worry did I pull it too soon, and the improvisers had a great button up their sleeve, or did I let it go on too long and missed the biggest laugh.
While there were some I felt good about there were others when I questioned myself, but all of them seemed to be at the right moment in the end. In the middle of my set I did receive some encouraging words about calling shows and making whatever moment you choose the right moment. If you miss an out, and can also bet the cycle will repeat itself and in another 3-4 minutes there will be another button to call your black out. The proudest moment of the night came during the Roo Roo number. First of all, Roo Roo put on a master class performance, which certainly makes the calling of a show easier. The moment came around where we had reached back to an opening bit from the set, and I made the signal to pull the lights. Seconds later I looked down to see a text from the festival director that said, “now.” Vindication on the highest level, it was pretty perfect!
I also got some picture perfect endings on the stage. The next weekend I got to perform in several shows, and was allowed to sit in with some of my favorite teams. I loved hosting my two last Improv Slam shows, which feature short form improv, a specialty of mine. I got to tell stories for Mr. Diplomat our headline show, and watching the headliners take my stories and turn them into scenes was such a fun experience. Then I got to close it all down with my awesome harold team Omaha 9 performing our signature form, suggestion box.
But I must say, the ultimate moment of the end of my time in Carrboro came during the Giuseppe show, which is the high school team I have been coaching for the last couple months. We had our festival show on Sunday night, and I decided to change up their montage opening the day before, to a warm up activity called Wizard’s Dual which they had been totally knocking out of the park. My team then went on to do an awesome montage that they blacked out perfectly by brining the beginning and the suggestion back in the end. I was just so proud to watch them perform at a higher level then where I received them, which is always great when life works out that way.
To top of that show, it’s a tradition for the team to run to the doors, and high five the audience as they leave. The second they threw open the doors of the theater, snow was falling, a pretty rare event in North Carolina. The excitement of screams they released at that moment was complete joy, and a pretty picture perfect ending to my time with them. It’s always a lucky moment when the lights get called on the chapters of our lives at just the right moment. While I am sad to be leaving North Carolina for a new adventure, I know that I am leaving at just the right moment!
Say Yes And By Avish Parashar
Week in and week out I preach the message of “yes and” on this blog. It will change your life, it will take you to new places, and it will make you happier. Recently, I received an advance copy of the book “Just Yes And” by Avish Parashar, and it was great to sit back and read a book walking right along my philosophy. Following the improv theory about staying in the moment, Parashar encapsulates the idea of life being a series of moments where we get to navigate through with the positive movement of “yes and” or the not so positive outlook “yes but.”
This book clocks in at a solid 89 pages, highlighting one of its best attributes, the ease of reading. I knocked it out on a flight from Chapel Hill to Chicago and felt like I had the time to take it all in. The pages flowed quickly and the thoughts came rapidly, making it an enjoyable and thoughtful read. This book focused on one main concept, changing from a “yes but,” to a “yes and” philosophy, which brings it to its greatest weakness a bit of repetitiveness along those lines. On the flip side, it is great to really delve into one portion of your thoughts and theories. I recently took an improv workshop on initiatives, and we spend4 ½ hours just doing them, and boy did it push me to the limits of learning on that skill.
The crocks of the whole book highlights how Parashar shifted into the “yes and” mindset, highlighted by his first story. Parashar was unwilling and uninterested in going to see his college improv comedy team perform, eventually a stubborn friend forced him there, and the rest was history, and his life was changed. It is amazing how those small moments can sometime pass us by, and we might never walk down that path of unleashing a new life journey.
Some of the most important points highlighted the idea of how we “yes but” out of control, this lets us stay in our little bubble. We “yes but” out of fear, because we are afraid to take the trip down the path less traveled. In all of those instances the communication with ourselves is almost just as important as our communication with other people. Parashar talks about how to “yes and” yourself a dilemma we all find ourselves in from time to time as the gateway to pushing the yes and philosophy into the outside world.
The part of this book that really made sense to me was the section starting on page 48 where Parashar discussed how to become a superstar. He talked about Seth Goodin in the book, and this section particularly reminded me of my favorite book Linchpin by Goodin, but took it to the next level of inserting the “yes and” philosophy into those theories. Parashar describes, “saying ‘yes and’ is how you get the reputation for reliability. That is how you become a superstar.”
As with all philosophies there is the shadow side. How do I become a “yes ander” and not become a push over, or become overwhelmed. Parashar has some great antidotes to help with that also. Each of his chapters feature simply described to do lists on how to take his ideas and put them into practice. He also describes how, “being skilled in the art of redirection is not about being a pushover. It’s about being one of those rare people who helps others get what they want while still getting what you want.”
Overall Say Yes And is an excellent little read, which takes the art of improvisational comedy and drops it into the modern world of work, family, and relationships. A simple read that will put a positive spin on your current processes of getting things accomplished in an easier and more positive way. The book is being released today February 28th, and if you order through amazon today, you can submit your order number to receive $200 of downloadable bonuses. Also check out Parashar’s website www.SayYesAnd.com for more information about the different services he offers.
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The DSI Comedy Theater
I recently accepted a new job, and started the process of moving across the country from my current life. I have been living in Chapel Hill North Carolina for the past 4 years, and very quickly I received and offer for a new job, accepted, and got whisked away in the process of moving and transition. The great things about transitions is we get to sit back and be introspective, we see the good the bad and the should have done’s! I have really enjoyed these last couple weeks, and I think they have really forced me to solidify my life philosophies and purpose going forward. While this has been something I have been thinking about for a while, this direct major crossroad in my life has forced me into action. So sit back relax and enjoy as I wax and wane a bit about what I have discovered.
I have always been an easy and quick transitioner. When I went to college, within one evening I had friends and a purpose, when I moved to Arizona the first time, I quickly found my way and excitement. When I moved to North Carolina, none of that happened. Maybe it was because for the first time in my life I didn’t have school, and it took me awhile to find out what that meant for me. Maybe it was because I didn’t find the friend connections to really push me. For whatever reason, I spent a lot of time struggling. So much I thought about leaving during that first year, I thought about my options and what that would mean to make another transition so quickly. Happily I did not do that, and truly that was probably never actually an option, but the thought process existed.
Then a few things changed. First and foremost I took an improv class at DSI Comedy Theater. Improv was something that I was enamored with for a long time. I loved Whose Line, I watched the improv team at my grad school, and just wanted to always give it a try. I knew DSI existed, and why I waited so long, I am not sure, but the right things come along at the right time. From that first night of class, with the ever awesome Paula Pazderka, I knew this was the thing I wanted to do.
My staff on the last night I lived in North Carolina
At some point I also found another shift. In all fronts, I found some people who truly cared about me, be it at work, church and the improv world. I am reminded directly of the Amy Poehler Harvard graduation speech, “find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” I found some great people, the one’s who challenge you on a continual basis, the one’s who want you to be a better, the one’s you can argue and debate with in a mutually beneficial way, where everyone leaves the conversation better.
Life in improvland flourished. Soon I was a company member, I kept collecting teams to be apart of, soon I was allowed the awesome privilege of teaching and coaching others. Improv became a very important outlet and purpose in life. I had friends and deep connections outside of work, one of the best outlets that I developed in going to a place where I did not have family or friends before moving there.
One thing I have always known about myself is I need to be connected on an emotional level to the things I am apart of, and the people I am with. I found these things in improv, DSI is a real gem, a place where “yes and” truly lives and people get to work together to make great things happen on stage. The Newman Center where I have been attending church was a place where I was also finding community. At work I had solidified a great friend group and hired a staff of students I truly cared about and worked best in my style of supervision. All of these things add up to a very difficult place to leave, hence the current state of separation that I am working through.
Through all of this work I have learned several things. First and foremost I am 100% emotionally connected here. I am a Tar Heel and I am proud of that, I have gotten to meet and work with amazing people. At my core I am an improviser, that is something I will NEED to have in my life forever more, and probably the thing I want to spend the most time with going forward.
Also, over the last couple days I have received very humbling words of thanks and love from all aspects of my world. At work we had a goodbye lunch that was every emotional and kind. At DSI I was given the opportunity to perform several shows over my last weekend and was given maybe one of the nicest gifts I have ever received, in which people wrote out what the liked about me the person and as an improviser. I have had many authentic and genuine conversations with people recently about what I meant to them, some that I have known and many impacts I have had on others that I was unaware of. While it has been amazing to have these conversations, I wish we took the time to tell the people we love that we love them on a more regular basis. There are so many people I want to say nice things to, and tell them this is what you did for me, and sadly with my limited time schedule those things won’t be able to happen. I hope to not let that occur in the future and be freer with my authentic conversations.
Lastly, this whole experience has really allowed me to fully actualize my life philosophy. At some point during this past year I started using the following to phrase “live you life and do good!” 
For the first part I think we need to spend more time actually living the life and doing the things we want to do. Everyone spends too much time not doing what they love, or day dreaming about that cool idea instead of going out there and actually doing it. Limit the should have done’s, create an actual to done list! No one else is going to tell us to follow our dreams or take that big step, actually its quite the opposite most people ask you to think out your options and take the safe bet, but we should not. As in an improv scene we need to make bold choices early and often. And the last part is do good, a pretty simple adage. If at every moment I ask myself am I doing the right thing or doing something that is good for myself and others then I am probably on the right track.
Recently I have been very lucky to have received the opportunity to teach the improv 101 class at DSI Comedy Theater. It has been an amazing experience, very educational and challenging. I have enjoyed every moment of the process, and after each class I head home usually unable to fall asleep. My adrenalin is flowing and I am processing everything out on how to improve and what I want to get the group to work on the following week. On Monday I was substitute teaching a class because another instructor could not make the session, and for the first time while instructing I felt in total control of the situation.
As a believer in the strengths philosophy, the ultimate question is what strengthens us and makes you excited to go to work, and what weakens you or makes you not excited to get started. Teaching improv always gets me going, the whole day before I class I have a higher level of energy and excitement in my non-improv life. It is pretty awesome to find one of those things that really gets you going and strengthens you.
Every time I move into the next level of doing something, everything seems to be moving at a faster speed. The first time I was in an Improv Slam show, I got off stage thinking that went fast. Same with the first time I captained the team or was in a harold show. The more experience you get, the slower everything seems to move. The same thing was happening while I was teaching. Class seemed to move fast, I was nervous about getting everything in, and making sure I hit all the talking points. During Monday night’s class, everything was running in slow motion. For the whole time I felt in control, I was able to step in and give good side coaching, call scenes at the right time, and fully engage the group. This all came into clarity for me when we got to the end of the class, and we were going to have a bit of extra time. As we were processing out the last activity, I analyzed what was left on the schedule, rearranged the schedule and edited the activities, and we ended right on time, without skipping a beat.
While I have found the groove with teaching, I have also settled into a pretty cool teaching style. While at the beginning I was always thinking about making sure I hit all the marks and stating all of the take aways, I settled into pulling the information out of what the class responses were. I think it’s better to construct the information out of what the students are experiencing and allowing the curriculum to catch up with us. I think the reason I love teaching improv so much is that it really fits in with my constructivist vision of how meaning is created. The classes run how I think almost all educational setting should work, active engagement, followed by processing what happened, and moving forward with how to improve.
I am really happy with where I am at in the realm of teaching improv, and in the speed with which I got there. Sometimes I think I am a better teacher of improv then and actual improviser. It is really cool to give people a great experience in class, and to welcome them positively into the world of improv. Hopefully my continued work in the improv classroom will translate into future success on the improv stage. Along with that, in finding a passion, it will be a consistent goal to find ways to continue to incorporate teaching into my regular schedule.
When explain to people I perform improv most people’s reaction is how do you do it, it must be so hard, aren’t you scared when you get on stage. Improv on the whole is really hard to do, so as I get into the rest of this post I don’t want to downplay that fact, or pretend that I am any good at it. But to actually do improv, it’s not that hard, it is actually pretty much exactly like a lot of other things that we do every day in our lives.
When I get up on stage before a show, I am usually not nervous. It can be stressful to make sure everything is together, warm up, get a show list together, and make sure the team set up for success. But Before I step foot on stage, I always take a moment to remind myself, once we get up there, we are going to make everything up. On top of that, if we are truly “yes anding” each other, whatever happens will be the right choice, accepted, and heightened into something worthwhile.
Tonight I was watching Arizona play basketball on television, and it really dawned on me how much the game of basketball, or any sport really, is so much like improvisation. When the players head down the court, the probably have some plays or a game plan in mind, same thing for improv, then stuff happens on the court and the players have to react through their instincts to what is happening to reach their objective. Conversely, each player is constantly reacting to everything that all of their teammates are doing, if someone goes rogue or starts breaking the overarching rules of the game, the whole structure breaks down.
Every day in our lives we are improvising. Maybe we wake up with a game plan or a schedule, but we don’t have the script to the actual words we will say or the reactions we will need to make. Constantly we are working off of and reacting to what the people around us are doing. If we can see the patterns, building the connections, and make the best decisions, the scenes of our lives will end up going in a positive direction. Sometimes things do not work out the way we want them, we receive some notes, and we get back out there and do it again. That is improv, that is life!
The New York Magazine just did an article on the history of the Upright Citizen’s Brigade, an improv comedy group and now theater focused in New York City. the organization is currently celebrating its fifteenth anniversary. The theater features performers that are now all over the comedic world from Saturday Night Live, Hollywood, to multiple television shows. This is an interesting read with quotes by many hilarious people!
http://nymag.com/arts/comics/features/upright-citizens-brigade-2011-10/
