Writer's ? (Improv) Block

Mike · Post by **Mike** » July 25th, 2007, 10:02 pm

Is there an equivalent of "Writer's Block" for improv? And what do you do when it hits?

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » July 25th, 2007, 10:34 pm

Sure. Everyone hits peaks and valleys in their development. Usually getting away for a little bit and getting some non-improv stimuli helps. Or stop performing, but keep watching improv troupes you really like.

ChrisTrew.Com · Post by **ChrisTrew.Com** » July 25th, 2007, 11:05 pm

And know that if you're stuck and not feeling good about the improv then there is probably a really sweet streak right around the corner.

arthursimone · Post by **arthursimone** » July 26th, 2007, 12:45 am

I prescribe Napier's book while seeing more shows

for a severe slump, take a 2-3 night to chicago, nyc, s.f., etc.

Asaf · Post by **Asaf** » July 26th, 2007, 1:36 am

Kareem is spot on. Take a break and do some non-improv stuff. Before you go back into improv make sure that you are having fun with the idea of doing it.

I think improv can become a chore like anything else and people forget about the fun to be had. They instead get bogged down with all this other shit: obligations and self-judgment, etc.

DollarBill · Post by **DollarBill** » July 26th, 2007, 3:18 am

I preffer powering through my slumps. I'm in one now, actually. Sometimes it just takes finding out which is the next skill I want to work on to make things interesting again. Right now I think it's that we are working on specific forms in class, and thus I don't feel the freedom that I normally have. Maybe it just feels like I have to work a lot harder without my fellow Cupholders to bounce off of (miss you guys/girl). Whatever it is, I hope I pull through soon.

Whatcha gonna do with all that slump? All that shitprov in that slump?
I'm gonna work on object work and emotionally investing myself in scenes.
My slump, my slump, my slump, my slump. My suck-butt, fuck-up slump.

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » July 26th, 2007, 9:08 am

when a cupholder is missing, a slump can be expected for both parties.

i say stay in it. the times when i'm away from performing are excrutiating and beyond any pain i get from doing bad work. and i've seen too many folks who are at your level of experience who just never come back. you can scale back and get into other things all the while. stay in it.

in my personal opinion, stick with live direction and stay out of books. this is just me. i don't like books.

starkserious · Post by **starkserious** » August 3rd, 2007, 1:09 pm

in my personal opinion, stick with live direction and stay out of books. this is just me. i don't like books.

Jeremy you sound like George Bush!

"I glance at the headlines just to kind of get a flavor for what's moving. I rarely read the stories, and get briefed by people who are ... probably read the news themselves

- President George Bush
[/quote]

beardedlamb · Post by **beardedlamb** » August 3rd, 2007, 4:56 pm

STAY THE COURSE!