Hello!
This post is about students, recently graduated students and improvisers who have found themselves wandering from a jam to a Maestro to other one-off shows and still wanting more.
I'd love to hear your input about troupe creation based on the following questions...
1. Would you want to be a part of a troupe? Why?
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
also any thoughts on coaches, rehearsal spaces, etc would be interesting.
With love,
Ruby
p.s. I'm not posting this on behalf of any theater. I'm just interested in the thoughts of students, especially since the improv community has grown so large lately.
Emerging Improvisers - This Post is for You!
Discussion of the art and craft of improvisation.
Moderators: arclight, happywaffle, bradisntclever
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- mitchmills Offline
- Posts: 69
- Joined: May 13th, 2013, 11:10 am
Re: Emerging Improvisers - This Post is for You!
Great questions!
1. Would you want to be a part of a troupe? Why?
Yes. More chances to do improv. More chances to practice and stretch and grow and try stuff. Potentially more stage time. More choice over who to play with and how and what we play, especially when and if stage time becomes a reality. I've done a couple of Maestros and a Fancy Pants, and those were fun, but I don't want those to be the only improv I get to do outside of classes.
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
I've just started the process, and have never done it before, so I'm not sure. Have rounded up some awesome on-board people. The hardest part so far seems to be coordinating people's schedules and finding space to play, but I doubt that's specific to improv. Haven't gotten to trying to book shows, get coaching, etc. yet.
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
Hang out together and play together as often as possible. Try to figure out what, if anything, it wants to do as a troupe beyond just hanging out and playing. Then maybe, depending on answers to that question, try to get some shows booked, get coaching, etc. But really, I don't know, we're just winging it.
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
Nothing overwhelming so far, just a tad unsure of how to proceed at times. At this point I'm not even sure if we're asking the right questions most of the time. I'd love to see a thread or forum of veterans answering your questions and talking about how they formed troupes, things that worked and didn't work, tips & tricks for new troupes, etc. I'm sure it's all very dependent on the specific people involved, but it'd still be great to hear different people's thoughts and approaches.
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
Perhaps a forum area to match up people available to coach and troupes looking for coaches, unless something like that already exists?
1. Would you want to be a part of a troupe? Why?
Yes. More chances to do improv. More chances to practice and stretch and grow and try stuff. Potentially more stage time. More choice over who to play with and how and what we play, especially when and if stage time becomes a reality. I've done a couple of Maestros and a Fancy Pants, and those were fun, but I don't want those to be the only improv I get to do outside of classes.
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
I've just started the process, and have never done it before, so I'm not sure. Have rounded up some awesome on-board people. The hardest part so far seems to be coordinating people's schedules and finding space to play, but I doubt that's specific to improv. Haven't gotten to trying to book shows, get coaching, etc. yet.
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
Hang out together and play together as often as possible. Try to figure out what, if anything, it wants to do as a troupe beyond just hanging out and playing. Then maybe, depending on answers to that question, try to get some shows booked, get coaching, etc. But really, I don't know, we're just winging it.
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
Nothing overwhelming so far, just a tad unsure of how to proceed at times. At this point I'm not even sure if we're asking the right questions most of the time. I'd love to see a thread or forum of veterans answering your questions and talking about how they formed troupes, things that worked and didn't work, tips & tricks for new troupes, etc. I'm sure it's all very dependent on the specific people involved, but it'd still be great to hear different people's thoughts and approaches.
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
Perhaps a forum area to match up people available to coach and troupes looking for coaches, unless something like that already exists?
Re: Emerging Improvisers - This Post is for You!
I love this! Mitch - go ahead and post any questions you have on this thread. I promise, people will answer.
(psst - in terms of rehearsal space, I have had multiple troupes rehearse at RLM on campus. It has huge open classrooms in the evening).
(psst - in terms of rehearsal space, I have had multiple troupes rehearse at RLM on campus. It has huge open classrooms in the evening).
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- Jennifer3001 Offline
- Posts: 47
- Joined: February 9th, 2013, 3:50 pm
Re: Emerging Improvisers - This Post is for You!
Great thread - I'm finishing level 6 right now at The Hideout
1. Would you want to be a part of a troupe? Why?
Yes. It would not only provide an opportunity to play, but also to play with people who are on the same mindset as you. If you do workshops, you might do them together or at least try them together.
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
No. I don't know that it's limited to just Austin though. To be fair, I haven't actually tried, personally, to create a troupe. I have tried to be in one but found scheduling to be an issue.
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
Practice and submit to shows
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
I think for a troupe to be successful, everyone must be on the same page. Meaning that everyone must be committed to practicing on a regular schedule, and working with a coach so that you're not creating tension by giving each other notes. I also think that it's important to want to do the same kind/format of improv. Grounded, outlandish, Harold, blue, etc... I think everyone goes into it with the best intentions, but maybe doesn't realize either the amount of time they have/want to spend or what the creative focus will be.
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
Maybe something where people who are interested in being in a troupe come together. Like a mixer or jam specifically for that. It could be a place to get people together to discuss what time commitment they're able to do, as well as see what kind of chemistry they have. I only know the people I've met and the current jam's aren't on nights when I can attend.
also any thoughts on coaches, rehearsal spaces, etc would be interesting.
I have had sessions with two coaches and found them to be very useful. It gives you more specific feedback about what you than notes after Maestro's. Or suggestions about transitions, spacework, etc... Considering that the coaches I used are in multiple troupes, it was pretty easy to find time to have them meet with us.
I've rehearsed at RLM before and it's a good/free space. If there are other free spaces, I'm not aware of them.
1. Would you want to be a part of a troupe? Why?
Yes. It would not only provide an opportunity to play, but also to play with people who are on the same mindset as you. If you do workshops, you might do them together or at least try them together.
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
No. I don't know that it's limited to just Austin though. To be fair, I haven't actually tried, personally, to create a troupe. I have tried to be in one but found scheduling to be an issue.
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
Practice and submit to shows
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
I think for a troupe to be successful, everyone must be on the same page. Meaning that everyone must be committed to practicing on a regular schedule, and working with a coach so that you're not creating tension by giving each other notes. I also think that it's important to want to do the same kind/format of improv. Grounded, outlandish, Harold, blue, etc... I think everyone goes into it with the best intentions, but maybe doesn't realize either the amount of time they have/want to spend or what the creative focus will be.
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
Maybe something where people who are interested in being in a troupe come together. Like a mixer or jam specifically for that. It could be a place to get people together to discuss what time commitment they're able to do, as well as see what kind of chemistry they have. I only know the people I've met and the current jam's aren't on nights when I can attend.
also any thoughts on coaches, rehearsal spaces, etc would be interesting.
I have had sessions with two coaches and found them to be very useful. It gives you more specific feedback about what you than notes after Maestro's. Or suggestions about transitions, spacework, etc... Considering that the coaches I used are in multiple troupes, it was pretty easy to find time to have them meet with us.
I've rehearsed at RLM before and it's a good/free space. If there are other free spaces, I'm not aware of them.
Jennifer Brinlee
Hideout Levels 1-6
Played: Student Showcases, Maestro RAW, Maestro, Theatresports, Ice Cream Sandwich & Fancy Pants
Hideout Levels 1-6
Played: Student Showcases, Maestro RAW, Maestro, Theatresports, Ice Cream Sandwich & Fancy Pants
Re: Emerging Improvisers - This Post is for You!
1. Would you want to be a part of a troupe? Why?
Definitely! When I've been in a coherent class, shows are way better and more fun than other performance opportunities. I want more of that!
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
I think there are plenty of opportunities for new troupes to form and get stage time. Finding people to troupe with, or getting invited to a troupe is a mystery to me so far.
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
Get a common vibe, do rehearsals to give each other feedback and find the kind of shows the troupe wants to do. Submit to do shows, promote themselves, climb the ladder.
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
Not being overbearing in organizing rehearsals and such, how to deal with bad shows, how to deal with people coming and going or when the troupe should put a bow on it and call it quits.
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
A way to know who's looking for people to join their troupe or who's looking to join a troupe, a troupe starter kit that explains organizing rehearsals, applying to shows, getting coaching, etc.
Thanks for starting this thread!
Definitely! When I've been in a coherent class, shows are way better and more fun than other performance opportunities. I want more of that!
2. Do you feel like it's easy to create a troupe in Austin?
I think there are plenty of opportunities for new troupes to form and get stage time. Finding people to troupe with, or getting invited to a troupe is a mystery to me so far.
3. What are your thoughts about what a troupe does once it's created?
Get a common vibe, do rehearsals to give each other feedback and find the kind of shows the troupe wants to do. Submit to do shows, promote themselves, climb the ladder.
4. What overwhelms you about creating a troupe?
Not being overbearing in organizing rehearsals and such, how to deal with bad shows, how to deal with people coming and going or when the troupe should put a bow on it and call it quits.
5. What could help make creating a troupe easier for you?
A way to know who's looking for people to join their troupe or who's looking to join a troupe, a troupe starter kit that explains organizing rehearsals, applying to shows, getting coaching, etc.
Thanks for starting this thread!