What's the best improv compliment you've received?

[wiggies]

"That was the best improv set I've ever seen on this stage."

[kaci_beeler]

When 3 For All came to OOB this past September they watched PGraph's headlining show and they told us how much they loved it afterward. They were so kind and generous with their praise. When I remembered post-show that they had been in the audience it made me want to faint. I was so glad to just feel free on stage to play with my troupe, criticism was never on my mind during the show. But afterward, of course I wondered what they thought. It was one of the most nerve-wracking performances for us...to play for so many peers. When it went well, we all felt over-the-moon.

It meant a lot to us that 3 For All liked it especially because they were such huge inspirations to us early on. We took a lot of their teachings to heart and still do.

Before they left the after party, all three of them gave me a hug and told me I reminded them of Elaine May (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elaine_May), which is pretty much one of the biggest compliments I've ever received in my entire life. They said I had what she had, that I was beautiful, funny, and smart. One of them, Rafe, I think, said, "You've got this, keep it up."
It's always nice to hear encouragement from your peers/mentors, but especially ones that you so admire.

When I was in Shanghai this past November a Chinese girl said, "The girl with two hairs, she is comedy!" After watching me perform (with my hair in pigtails). It especially tickled me.

Seeing multiple narrative shows/troupes pop up all over the world from people who took our Intensive is a huge compliment to me. Sharing the work is already so much fun, and to see that fun and inspiration catch on and go places is an almost unbelievable.

This improv life is crazy, and I really love it so.

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

anything Bill Stern has ever said to me in my life.

[happywaffle]

Kaci wins the thread. (And deserves to.)

[Katie T.]

I am bad at remembering specifics and who said it, but feedback from a couple people that they love my characters. And I know specifically Karen DeWitt said I am known for getting lost in character. That struck me. I'm known? Really? Even if it was just the two people talking who ever had that thought, it's flattering. You're not really supposed to care what other people think, but we're so insular in our minds that being mirrored by other people is really helpful directionally. You know, so you can play to your strengths, and then add some complementary skills too.

[Jon Bolden]

Ruby Willmann came up to me after the opening night of Manhattan Stories and said "That was the best mainstage show I've ever seen." It caught me off guard. I wasn't in the show, of course, but it was really flattering to hear and seemed crazy that this hobby has spiraled into such a passion.

[happywaffle]

Ruby Willmann came up to me after the opening night of Manhattan Stories and said "That was the best mainstage show I've ever seen." It caught me off guard. I wasn't in the show, of course, but it was really flattering to hear and seemed crazy that this hobby has spiraled into such a passion.

I always like to say there's a 50-way tie for the best improv show I've ever seen, but FWIW, the opening night of Manhattan Stories was definitely in that group.

[Mike]

Improv for Evil was performing in the Long Fringe at Frontera Fest. We were presenting our "Cochise" format, and had various improvisers as guest stars. Tom Booker was in one show as a corrupt Hollywood-connected wig dealer who sold drugs from his shop. The audiences had been light for every performance, but we had the same tech crew for each show.

After the show I was feeling a bit down that we had performed one of the best shows in the run but practically nobody had seen it. That's when Jason Vines came over to the group.

"I was just talking to the tech guys," he said "And one of them gave us a great compliment. He says he's a film student and this show was way better than any of the scripted stuff they have been reviewing in class."

That one line made everything better for me.

[TexasImprovMassacre]

When Del Close remembered my name, and later gave me a joint.

Whoahh!!!!!

[booksherpa]

I had my graduation show tonight from the latest class I took. One classmate didn't show, one had a lot on her mind, there were issues at the theater, our teacher was unavoidably detained - a weird day. We ended up having a low energy meh show. Not bad, just.... not great. I also got feedback from my teacher about my Tuesday audition for the troupe (the same troupe that runs the classes) that I had been too much in my head for the auditions, and he knows I'm a better improvisor than that (first compliment!). It was good and accurate feedback, and I was happy to get it.

In the show tonight, my teacher put me in the hot seat in Press Conference (second compliment!) (like this: http://improvencyclopedia.org/games/Pre ... rence.html, but with 3 things to guess). After all the discussion about the show and my audition, I thanked him for putting me in Press Conference. He smiled and said that it was a test, from teacher to student. I thanked him for trusting me enough to throw me in the deep end in front of an audience. He responded, "If I can't throw you in the deep end, who can I throw there?" (best compliment of all!)

And he wanted me for his long form project, which turns out to be a La Ronde. Yes!

Next, getting the hell out of my head...

[karenjanedewitt]

Ryan Austin gave me a really nice one, although I can't articulate it too well.

He says I'm great at developing interesting characters that make unexpected but delightful choices.

Vague, I know!

[B. Tribe]

A girl once told me that "I started doing improv because of Bad Boys." I was embarrassed. I think she was also hitting on me which, as usual, I didn't figure out until later.

In college I got "You're my favorite Pappy (Parker Player)" more than once which was so great because there were so many other phenomenal members.

My buddy/former sketch writing partner Aaron in NYC consistently tells me that I'm one of the funniest people he knows and I love that.

[shando]

This has happened a couple of times, but the best compliments I've found are when someone reports back on something complimentary that has come up among other improvisers. Being held up as someone exemplary at a piece of the craft. The last time in particular had to do with me creating distinct characters, I didn't even get the full phrasing of what they said or who said it, but it was nice. In person compliments are great, but knowing that people are thinking about what you do and talking about you even when you're not there I find even sweeter.

[Spots]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfmFOAD4YYA

[apiaryist]

Not sure if it's the best, but the compliments I'm most fond of go like this:

"I didn't notice you on stage. There was just this old man that needed to be in the scene."