What inspires you that may "left field" your peers

[Spots]

Within the groups you work closely now (troupe, class, jam band) where do find yourself working from that differs slightly from your peers? ie: "I find myself caught up in the phonetic sounds of words," might be an example of yours. Would your troupe mates interpret *it* the same way? "Oh I thought you were just being witty."

Myself, if I'm not emotionally affected by a choice I tend to use something tactile to connect to. A face, a movement, or my body posture... I'll try to tune into something kinetic and the best way I can describe it is this: years of making faces in front of the mirror as a child seems to do the rest. I find a voice, a motivation from that. Then the obvious happens. This lone creature looks around and says "oh shit, I have to pretend like I fit in with others. Or not..."*

In much the same way it's like sitting down to write a screenplay and focusing solely on the locations, the costumes, and the aerial photography. Without relationships, what the hell is it?

Still it's the strongest inspiration. It's where I know to come from. It gives me a weakness to focus on & to build upon.

So what would you say inspires your inner monster that might surprise others?

-----------------------------------
*Hence some of my favorite exercises are Pass Phrase and Fucked Up Companions. The tactile, almost asymmetrical nature of these games draw me in like a moth to a flame.

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

i find myself oddly inspired by those moments onstage when another performer says something odd or random (or in an odd or random way), because their mouths are moving faster than their brains...which is beautiful and unfathomable to me. removed from all sense, the weird word combinations and strange pronunciations take on a musical quality i've always admired, but have never achieved (because it's not something you can force). whereas before i would just passively admire it, not wanting to call it out, i've begun taking delight in incorporating the weirdness as an organic part of the world. if it's a strange sounding word, coming up with a definition. sometimes justifying two words that have no business being next to each other, sometimes having a small digression on what was just said, playing with the words themselves until they spin us out in a new direction. my desire is to take part in that moment since i can't create them myself...my hope is that it helps the other player(s) feel supported to continue making such "mistakes" for the moments and opportunities that can be forged out of them. because it's something unique to improv, to incorporate what would in another medium be ignored, glossed over or thrown into a blooper reel.

[Spots]

Haha, yeah there was a great one by Smashley tonight during Maestro. She was a male rockstar giving a monologue. I believe the jist was "People ask me 'why are you wearing a skirt during a rock show?' and I tell them 'just you wait' and then later I'll pull it up and every time there will be.. some kind of experience."

You could see her immediate surprise which added to the hilarity. Think we all agreed it was the best line of the night.