I’m more than half way through level 301 at UCBNY and it’s been interesting. My instructor Chris Gethard may be one of the most brilliant thinkers I have ever had the pleasure of working with. He is insightful, straightforward, and extremely astute in his observations about improvisers and their work. I have been humbled, on several occasions, by his on point notes which have really catapulted my understanding of Improv as an art-form rather than just a means for a cheap laugh.
I have, however, been thinking a lot about improv recently and not enjoying my progress in class or practice group. This has been largly to my thinking too much about what I’m doing wrong and holding onto my mistakes rather than noting them and letting them go. I have been putting undue stress on myself to perform.
For all the credit I give Mick Napier and his excellent book Improvise, learning the rules of improv as taught by Del Close in Truth In Comedy is a necessity. Mick teaches a far more organic form of Improv that, while being a great addition to Del’s teachings pushing forward an improviser stuck in a rut, it’s major failing is if you aren’t following the ground rules in improv chances are your scenes will suffer.
As I alluded to earlier, things over at UCB had definitely become more interesting. Jon Daly, our instructor, was called away for a writing gig out in California and was replaced by Neil Casey of Death By Roo Roo. At first I was very nervous about the instructor change 5 weeks in to an 8 week class, but Casey proved to be an excellent instructor.
As I’ve talked about earlier, Improv 201 at UCB is a very different change of gears from Improv 101. I believe this is mainly due to the move from single scenes toward the linked long form “Harold” scene work. 201 is a lot more cerebral than 101.
The other day while exploring second beats, our teacher, Jon Daly, said something which resonated with me that I thought I would share with you. A second beat in long form, is a continuation of the game from a first group of scenes, not a continuation of the plot. Confusing? How about an example?
Finally my Improv 201 class, at UCB, is starting to come together. I’ve been having a rough time in class from the first day. I started Improv 201 directly after 101. In fact, I started 201 one day after finishing 101. This lack of time to reflect, sort of threw off my improv game. I jumped into 201 unprepared that the change in teaching styles and curriculum would effect my abilities, but it did.
I’ve always prided myself on having very little inner thought about my improv. I really try not to edit, think, or pre-plan my scene-work. Just jump out and hope for the best. My motto in improv has always been “dare to suck,” meaning that you have to be prepared to fail in order to be able to succeed. This motto had worked until I hit 201, where the sucking really wasn’t the problem, but rather the daring. Read on…
