First of all, I think it's fantastic that we all support and enjoy each other's shows as much as we do. I dont' think that should stop or be curbed in any way, but I have a professional quibble:
I was always taught that improvisers don't give suggestions when they're in the audience at an improv show. There's the danger of looking like a "plant" which damages our credibility in an artform where people are already skeptical of how much we're actually improvising. And it takes away from the paying audience's experience by denying them the fun of giving a suggestion and connecting with the show.
What do you guys think about that?
Oh, and on a related note, I find it offputting when improvisers are laughing or cheering louder or more often than the rest of the audience in a show. Either on stage or off. Whether you're genuinely that entertained by the improv or you're trying to encourage a quiet crowd to be more vocal, I think it's ultimately more alienating than joyful or helpful.
I don't want us to stop enjoying and supporting each other, I just think that as professionals we should be careful to let the audience have their experience.
Improvisers don't give suggestions...
Discussion of the art and craft of improvisation.
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- Brian Boyko Offline
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Generally, there are two times I'll give out a suggestion at an improv show.
"Can I get a suggestion for an occupation?"
"Gynecologist"
"Proctologist"
"Jizz Mopper!"
-- then I'll come in with "Lifeguard" or "Hot Dog Vendor."
The other time?
"Can I get a suggestion for something you did as a kid."
(Silence.)
(Count to three.)
"Draw on the walls!"
Of course, I generally don't consider myself an improviser, I consider myself a regular, although that's changed since I started doing Maestro lights and managed to wrangle people for the (now one-night-only) Conspiracy butter.
"Can I get a suggestion for an occupation?"
"Gynecologist"
"Proctologist"
"Jizz Mopper!"
-- then I'll come in with "Lifeguard" or "Hot Dog Vendor."
The other time?
"Can I get a suggestion for something you did as a kid."
(Silence.)
(Count to three.)
"Draw on the walls!"
Of course, I generally don't consider myself an improviser, I consider myself a regular, although that's changed since I started doing Maestro lights and managed to wrangle people for the (now one-night-only) Conspiracy butter.
I agree for the most part on improvisers not giving suggestions, but then again how does the audience know you are an improviser unless they have seen you play, or you have a sink on your t-shirt? If the general audience doesn't give a suggestion, or only gives suggestions like "RUMJIZ_" then someone should help out the people on stage.
As for laughing and cheering, I don't think you should suppress it if your having a good time. This is true for everyone except for Jay B. If I'm performing, I like hearing an identifiable laugh. This includes Jay B. This also includes Jay B from the light booth. My favorites in no particular order are Bob A, Buckman, Shana, Rene Pinnell, Troy Miller.
As for laughing and cheering, I don't think you should suppress it if your having a good time. This is true for everyone except for Jay B. If I'm performing, I like hearing an identifiable laugh. This includes Jay B. This also includes Jay B from the light booth. My favorites in no particular order are Bob A, Buckman, Shana, Rene Pinnell, Troy Miller.
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- Evilpandabear Offline
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- HerrHerr Offline
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If the audience is silent after asking for a suggestion, the person taking a suggestion should adapt a little bit and find a way quickly to make a suggestion happen...that is our job. If it's still silent, then I do not have a problem with an improviser making a suggestion...especially if it's an honest suggestion.
I too love hearing laughter from people I know, especially if it comes from a real moment that catches the laugher off guard.
I too love hearing laughter from people I know, especially if it comes from a real moment that catches the laugher off guard.
Sometimes it's a form of love just to talk to somebody that you have nothing in common with and still be fascinated by their presence.
--David Byrne
--David Byrne
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- Brian Boyko Offline
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What I think might be disconcerting (on the subject of identifiable laughs) is that I usually laugh when everyone else does. Or sometimes I don't. But often I'll laugh at something -really- subtle that no one else in the audience gets or laugh at a setup knowing way before the audience where it's going...
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- phlounderphil Offline
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There's nothing wrong with that Brian, it's called....intelligence...and be happy you have some! It seems to get rarer and rarer.[/i]Brian Boyko wrote:What I think might be disconcerting (on the subject of identifiable laughs) is that I usually laugh when everyone else does. Or sometimes I don't. But often I'll laugh at something -really- subtle that no one else in the audience gets or laugh at a setup knowing way before the audience where it's going...
I totally understand your point of view, Andy. It is important for the audience to have the opportunity to connect with the show by having their voice heard and their suggestion taken at the top of the show. And I know I'm guilty of getting caught up in the moment and giving too many suggestions. Dave Buckman caught me at it during the Level 4 grad show, but he also handled it in a very good natured way that seemed to inspire more suggestions from the audience.
I strongly believe MORE suggestions are better than none. The improvisers should have a choice on suggestions. They should be able to take something that INSPIRES them. We should be warming up the audiences to the point where there are lots of people INSPIRED to shout out suggestions. If that's not happening, it can hurt the energy of the show. So, if the audience is not inspired by the person on stage seeking a suggestion, it seems to me that giving them a jump start by shouting things out in example often triggers them to do the same.
[On a related note, what's happening with the role of Master of Ceremones for the Friday night shows? Is that still part of the duties of the host team? I'd like to talk about this at today's AIC meeting.]
Also, I love watching improv. It just so happens that in the past year I have taken some classes and I am now playing with a troupe. But unless I'm on stage, I still think of myself FIRST as a fan and an audience member. And when I'm watching a show, I laugh at what I think is funny. And I don't laugh at stuff I don't think is funny or don't understand. I'm sure there are some insider improv things I laugh at, too, now, but most often that stuff doesn't make me respond with the kind of genuine laughter and applause that good improv does. And I know there are things that tickel me - a perfomers physical body language, facial expression, obscure art reference, etc. -- that no one else thinks is funny or laughs at.
I've been to a LOT of improv shows in the past year and I know that genuine laughter and applause are contagious, AND their presense or absence can make or break the energy of the show.
So, though I've started to curb my need to shout out suggestions during the opening of the show, I not going to deny the improvisers my laughter during it.
I strongly believe MORE suggestions are better than none. The improvisers should have a choice on suggestions. They should be able to take something that INSPIRES them. We should be warming up the audiences to the point where there are lots of people INSPIRED to shout out suggestions. If that's not happening, it can hurt the energy of the show. So, if the audience is not inspired by the person on stage seeking a suggestion, it seems to me that giving them a jump start by shouting things out in example often triggers them to do the same.
[On a related note, what's happening with the role of Master of Ceremones for the Friday night shows? Is that still part of the duties of the host team? I'd like to talk about this at today's AIC meeting.]
Also, I love watching improv. It just so happens that in the past year I have taken some classes and I am now playing with a troupe. But unless I'm on stage, I still think of myself FIRST as a fan and an audience member. And when I'm watching a show, I laugh at what I think is funny. And I don't laugh at stuff I don't think is funny or don't understand. I'm sure there are some insider improv things I laugh at, too, now, but most often that stuff doesn't make me respond with the kind of genuine laughter and applause that good improv does. And I know there are things that tickel me - a perfomers physical body language, facial expression, obscure art reference, etc. -- that no one else thinks is funny or laughs at.
I've been to a LOT of improv shows in the past year and I know that genuine laughter and applause are contagious, AND their presense or absence can make or break the energy of the show.
So, though I've started to curb my need to shout out suggestions during the opening of the show, I not going to deny the improvisers my laughter during it.
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- Evilpandabear Offline
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if an improviser pays for a show, then they should feel able to do whatever they want. if an improviser pays for a show that is. otherwise i agree with what was said earlier by boyko and cj. as for my laughing, i have decided to be less generous with my laughter and never laugh again unless it's really really really funny. i have caved to all the shit i've gotten for it, so be chummy and bask in your victory. =p
and me yelling suggestions while drinking at the polite society's last show was that it WAS there last show, building up audience participation and playfulness, it's a moral imperative to playfully fuck with your roommate, and besides, they were all roy's ideas.
and me yelling suggestions while drinking at the polite society's last show was that it WAS there last show, building up audience participation and playfulness, it's a moral imperative to playfully fuck with your roommate, and besides, they were all roy's ideas.
"Anyone can teach improv. It's bullshit." -Andy Crouch on June 4th 11:33pm CST
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- kbadr Offline
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Jay, laugh at whatever you want, however you want.
I agree about giving suggestions, but I think that if you're in the audience of a show, you should just act natually and laugh at whatever earns your laughter.
If you're in the booth, or working for the show in some other capacity, you should try hard not to make a lot of noise, and that includes laughing. Though I know it's hard sometimes to stifle laughter, when I'm in the booth, I try not to make a noise.
I agree about giving suggestions, but I think that if you're in the audience of a show, you should just act natually and laugh at whatever earns your laughter.
If you're in the booth, or working for the show in some other capacity, you should try hard not to make a lot of noise, and that includes laughing. Though I know it's hard sometimes to stifle laughter, when I'm in the booth, I try not to make a noise.
You work your life away and what do they give?
You're only killing yourself to live
I have mixed feelings on this. I agree that improvisers should, as a rule, not give suggestions, no matter how much fun they are having.
For one thing, you can look like a plant, especially if you were just in a show (or that show in the case of Maestro) and the audience has seen you as an improviser. There are few things weirder for me in Maestro than to take a suggestion from an eliminated Maestro player.
Second, you get to do this all the time. The audience doesn't. If you want to yell suggestions, come to the Tuesday Jam or hold a rehearsal. Let the people who don't get to do this several times a week yell suggestions.
Third, improvisers tend to get carried away. We are all friendly and so we sometimes screw with the directors or players on stage more than we should.
Finally, I agree that improviser suggestions often hurt more than they help. A lot of times, we tend to give each other inside joke suggestions or go too meta or something. We are looking so much for the funny that we forget to give honest suggestions. I hear improvisers more than anyone else jump the gun on a suggestion just to get something they think will be funny used ("What is a place where..." "PARIS!" "Ummmm...OK, I guess people might buy a Beanie Baby in Paris...as that is what I was going to ask.") I've also been in the green room warming up and said something that then came back as a suggestion in the show from an improviser who happened to be hanging out in the green room earlier. It was more weird than helpful, because I'd just done that thing.
But, on the other hand, if there is a solid 3 or 4 count before offering up a suggestion, you've given the audience time to respond without allowing a prolonged silence by them to kill the energy. But still, I think that only improvisers in the audience who have not played in that time slot should say anything and they should listen to the request and fulfill it with something honest and to the height of their intelligence.
I do have one exception, though. I think in Category Die, especially where we have 13 players and will need about 10 categories, an imrpoviser can yell out a suggestion, especially if it raises the game a little. If the audience is just yelling out mundane categories like "cars" or "trees" then an improviser yelling "vice presidents" or "amendments to the Constitution" or "Batman villians" can influence a higher level of category to the audience.
As for laughing, it can be awkward, to be honest. And some people in our community have distinct laughs, to be sure. But, if you are having a truly, honestly good time, I don't have a problem with it. But laughing in an attempt to "help" the show can be painful.
My personal pet peeve is when the lighting and sound improvisers are too loud in any way, laughing and discussing what they'd have done in a volume that can be heard by the back row included. And I've actually heard suggestions yelled out from in the light booth on several occasions. That is a weird vibe for the audience and me as a player. Lighting and sound are part of the show and shouldn't be any louder than a player in the wings. In fact, they should be paying more attention because the director may try to call the lights during a big laugh and they need to be paying attention to that.
For one thing, you can look like a plant, especially if you were just in a show (or that show in the case of Maestro) and the audience has seen you as an improviser. There are few things weirder for me in Maestro than to take a suggestion from an eliminated Maestro player.
Second, you get to do this all the time. The audience doesn't. If you want to yell suggestions, come to the Tuesday Jam or hold a rehearsal. Let the people who don't get to do this several times a week yell suggestions.
Third, improvisers tend to get carried away. We are all friendly and so we sometimes screw with the directors or players on stage more than we should.
Finally, I agree that improviser suggestions often hurt more than they help. A lot of times, we tend to give each other inside joke suggestions or go too meta or something. We are looking so much for the funny that we forget to give honest suggestions. I hear improvisers more than anyone else jump the gun on a suggestion just to get something they think will be funny used ("What is a place where..." "PARIS!" "Ummmm...OK, I guess people might buy a Beanie Baby in Paris...as that is what I was going to ask.") I've also been in the green room warming up and said something that then came back as a suggestion in the show from an improviser who happened to be hanging out in the green room earlier. It was more weird than helpful, because I'd just done that thing.
But, on the other hand, if there is a solid 3 or 4 count before offering up a suggestion, you've given the audience time to respond without allowing a prolonged silence by them to kill the energy. But still, I think that only improvisers in the audience who have not played in that time slot should say anything and they should listen to the request and fulfill it with something honest and to the height of their intelligence.
I do have one exception, though. I think in Category Die, especially where we have 13 players and will need about 10 categories, an imrpoviser can yell out a suggestion, especially if it raises the game a little. If the audience is just yelling out mundane categories like "cars" or "trees" then an improviser yelling "vice presidents" or "amendments to the Constitution" or "Batman villians" can influence a higher level of category to the audience.
As for laughing, it can be awkward, to be honest. And some people in our community have distinct laughs, to be sure. But, if you are having a truly, honestly good time, I don't have a problem with it. But laughing in an attempt to "help" the show can be painful.
My personal pet peeve is when the lighting and sound improvisers are too loud in any way, laughing and discussing what they'd have done in a volume that can be heard by the back row included. And I've actually heard suggestions yelled out from in the light booth on several occasions. That is a weird vibe for the audience and me as a player. Lighting and sound are part of the show and shouldn't be any louder than a player in the wings. In fact, they should be paying more attention because the director may try to call the lights during a big laugh and they need to be paying attention to that.
My policy:
Improvisers never give suggestions at a show.
Improvisers in the audience get to enjoy the show and laugh in whatever way is natural for them.
Shows are opportunities for the performers to learn. They get to learn how to handle an audience, how to connect with the audience, what the audience responds to and what they don't. When improviser audience members are too dominant, a lot of this learning is lost.
Improvisers never give suggestions at a show.
Improvisers in the audience get to enjoy the show and laugh in whatever way is natural for them.
Shows are opportunities for the performers to learn. They get to learn how to handle an audience, how to connect with the audience, what the audience responds to and what they don't. When improviser audience members are too dominant, a lot of this learning is lost.
Part of the fun for an audience member in seeing an improvised show is giving the suggestion.. it's like when someone goes to see a magic show.. part of the fun is getting chosen to be part of the show.
Letting only the audience give suggestions is letting them be part of the magic of improv. Someone who only goes out once a week and has their suggestion used in a show will be sure to include their participation in the retelling of their weekend. Don't rob them of their fun.
Laugh if it is deserved. You're not a planted audience member.
Also, if certain awful suggestions keep popping up use them as part of the "get." Like, "Can we have a suggestion for an occupation; like proctologist or spermbank manager?" or use some forced perspective... like "Can we have the suggstion of someone's job? Like what do you do for a living, sir?"
Letting only the audience give suggestions is letting them be part of the magic of improv. Someone who only goes out once a week and has their suggestion used in a show will be sure to include their participation in the retelling of their weekend. Don't rob them of their fun.
Laugh if it is deserved. You're not a planted audience member.
Also, if certain awful suggestions keep popping up use them as part of the "get." Like, "Can we have a suggestion for an occupation; like proctologist or spermbank manager?" or use some forced perspective... like "Can we have the suggstion of someone's job? Like what do you do for a living, sir?"
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- chicocarlucci Offline
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Re: Improvisers don't give suggestions...
Fine, fine! I get it already, I'll stop. Gawwd!acrouch wrote:I was always taught that improvisers don't give suggestions when they're in the audience at an improv show.
But I must remind you of three important things to keep in mind:
1)_ I'm a shitty shitty shitty improviser, so I really don't think I should count. I've been doing this for a year now and I've retained absolutely nothing. It's true , ask anyone who's ever taught me. Christ, I'm not even a good audience member.
2)_ The next time you want someone to yell out "Dildo!" or "Child molester!" or "Animal porn!" and no one does, you'll think of me and wish -- WISH that I was giving out suggestions. Oh yes you will..
3)_ Up yours, Crouch!
-eric
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