THE FUTURE OF THE TUESDAY NIGHT JAM

[sara farr]

I would like to add something to the discussion this weekend:

THE FUTURE OF THE TUESDAY NIGHT JAM

I feel very strongly that the Jam serves the AIC on multiple levels:

1) Gives non-improvisers a place to come experience improv without requiring them to committ to a class; which in turn can act as a recruiting mechanism for beginning level classes.

2) Gives current improv students a place to go drill/practice the skills they are getting in their improv classes.

3) Offers a place where you can go scout out & recruit new players to be a part of your troupe.

4) Offers a fertile ground from which young troupes can grow.

5) Gives intermediate improvisers a place to practice their directing skills.

6) Helps foster a sense of community through a shared experience -- it is a place where you can go and play with a mix of improvisers both from a variety of different troupes, and those not in a troupe.

AND it is for ALL of these reasons, that the AIC needs to keep the Jam alive, and not rely on the good will of 2-3 people to keep it going.

In the beginning -- which was around May 2005 -- I & Vince (and later Wes) dedicated our summer to being at the Hideout every week to make sure there was always someone to play with, and to keep the Jam moving along. And because you could rely on the fact that there would always be someone there, and always someone leading the jam, taking suggestions for valuable stuff to work on -- the Jam grew into a place where you could go and do improv.

The benefits the AIC saw over that first summer was FIRST AND FOREMOST, the AIC itself seemed to come into existance around the birth of the Jam.

We also saw the formation of several new troupes: PGraph, The Leading Brands, and Improv For Evil.

Sometimes Andy Crouch & Dave Wallace would be there to lead the Jam and they got to use it as a rehearsal for Micetro, encouraging new improvisers to perform in the show.

Later it became a place where those same beginning level improvisers could practice directing Micetro-like games.

It was also a place where people could drop in and play -- like those Ringling Bros clowns. The Jam was THRIVING and our AIC was thriving with it.

Ultimately, having a host present makes sure the Jam happens. Additionally, having a host can offer some structure and a person dedicated to keeping it moving along. We used a schedule when we first started that gave the Jam a flexible structure so we could stay on track with whatever we decided we wanted to work on that week.

Those of us who have done this for a run of several months at a time know that it is a big committment when shared by only 1-2 people. BUT our community has a bunch of members -- offical or not. So if we work together, hosting the Jam doesn't have to be painful -- and in the end it will benefit YOU!!!

With all this in mind, I would like to suggest that the AIC require each of it's improv members to dedicate 1 night of their improv lives every (?) months to go and co-host the Jam with another member.

We could do this by troupe and ask each troupe to send 2 members once every 2 months, or we could do it another way that includes people not in troupes.

[vine311]

I wholeheartedly agree that the jam needs to be kept alive and well. I have not been able to participate in a long while due to other improv commitments but I do miss it and wish to return. The jam was instrumental in both my improv training and helping me feel welcome in this community when I was starting out. Back then Pgraph, Dav Wallace and the Leading Brands were leading things and it made a huge difference having some peeps with experience running the show. Later on IFE would take over and run the jam when we were the most experienced in the room. Anyone interested in keeping this community thriving with fresh blood should have a vested interest in keeping the jam alive. This is the number one place where newbies get over their fears and decide to dedicate more of their time and energy to the AIC and learning improv in general. It would be an enormous help if more experienced players would show up and share their knowledge with the new folks. I don't know if requiring every troupe to send a couple of members is the answer or not. It is a good place to start the discussion though.

I plan to make the jam a priority at least once a month, anyone want to join me?

[TexasImprovMassacre]

I'll get those lazy shower scene bums to help out! They haven't done a show in months, they've obviously got time!

I was recently raped by coldtowne and am now looking for more opportunities to practice improv.

...or I would host with you if you needed me to Mr.Vines.