The Harold

[bradisntclever]

I love that chart, Asaf, who made it?

Dyna Moe, as evidenced by nobodyssweetheart.com. She apparently does some stuff with UCB, as you can see looking around her portfolio.

She also did a lot of neat Mad Men illustrations. AMC even hired her for a bit to do illustrations for caption contests on their blog.

[Sully]

I love that chart. I need to see a scene where the Easter Bunny is Trick or Treating at Jesus' crucifixion.

I love the run(3rd beats) at the end. Like letting the wheels come off. Its one of the funnest things I've ever done in improv.

I also am really interested in the 2nd game. When it doesn't feel forced its really really cool to watch.

EJBRAMMER, I throw my hands in the air, too, when someone says to embrace it wholly while letting it go.

The reason I asked initially is that I see and hear people referring to someone doing a harold when they did not do the structure as charted and I am still curious what makes it a harold if its not in that structure. I think the answer is something like support, organic gamey stuff and theme, but i don't know. I'm just a simple caveman lawyer.

For example, The Reckoning started off as a Harold Troupe. Do they do a harold, still?

High Fives around.

[Roy Janik]

The reason I asked initially is that I see and hear people referring to someone doing a harold when they did not do the structure as charted and I am still curious what makes it a harold if its not in that structure. I think the answer is something like support, organic gamey stuff and theme, but i don't know. I'm just a simple caveman lawyer.

Having never done a Harold, allow me to answer.

These days, there's the concept of the "training wheels Harold" and the "modern Harold." Some people use other terms ("old school" Tom would say). Whatever.

But the idea is that the rigid structure is there for those starting out, to get a feel for how the shape of show can flow and to internalize the basic beats. And for many, that's totally enough to satisfy them and they don't feel the need to move on.

But then, once it's comfortable and second nature and all that, you can let it go. And even more beautifully, you can make a show become whatever it wants to be... which means that if a show becomes a series of scenes with occasional breakouts to talk directly to God, then it can become that. Or if wants to be a mono-scene with very few pop-outs then it does become that. The show finds its own structure in the moment.

And then you always have the "old school"/"training wheels" Harold structure to fall back on, if need be.

So people still call The Reckoning a Harold team, even though what they're doing usually doesn't resemble the classic structure.

Does that sound about right?

[bradisntclever]

The Reckoning started off as a Harold Troupe. Do they do a harold, still?

Did you see their show at OOB on Saturday night? That one resembled a Harold. Monday - not so much. Both were highly entertaining.

[shando]

I love that chart, Asaf, who made it?

Monique's friend from NY Dyna Moe.

[acrouch]

The reason I asked initially is that I see and hear people referring to someone doing a harold when they did not do the structure as charted and I am still curious what makes it a harold if its not in that structure. I think the answer is something like support, organic gamey stuff and theme, but i don't know. I'm just a simple caveman lawyer.

Having never done a Harold, allow me to answer.

These days, there's the concept of the "training wheels Harold" and the "modern Harold." Some people use other terms ("old school" Tom would say). Whatever.

But the idea is that the rigid structure is there for those starting out, to get a feel for how the shape of show can flow and to internalize the basic beats. And for many, that's totally enough to satisfy them and they don't feel the need to move on.

But then, once it's comfortable and second nature and all that, you can let it go. And even more beautifully, you can make a show become whatever it wants to be... which means that if a show becomes a series of scenes with occasional breakouts to talk directly to God, then it can become that. Or if wants to be a mono-scene with very few pop-outs then it does become that. The show finds its own structure in the moment.

And then you always have the "old school"/"training wheels" Harold structure to fall back on, if need be.

So people still call The Reckoning a Harold team, even though what they're doing usually doesn't resemble the classic structure.

Does that sound about right?

Aren't you on vacation?

[Roy Janik]

Aren't you on vacation?

This is my idea of fun.

[Lants]

The Reckoning started off as a Harold Troupe. Do they do a harold, still?

Did you see their show at OOB on Saturday night? That one resembled a Harold. Monday - not so much. Both were highly entertaining.

I still feel like Monday had elements of a Harold. It probably comes from thinking like a Harold troupe, but you could probably call Monday's show a "loose Harold".

My favorite Harolds are ones where you don't necessarily know it's a Harold while you're watching it.

[bradisntclever]

The Reckoning started off as a Harold Troupe. Do they do a harold, still?

Did you see their show at OOB on Saturday night? That one resembled a Harold. Monday - not so much. Both were highly entertaining.

I still feel like Monday had elements of a Harold. It probably comes from thinking like a Harold troupe, but you could probably call Monday's show a "loose Harold".

My favorite Harolds are ones where you don't necessarily know it's a Harold while you're watching it.

I agree elements were there, but the show wasn't in such a rigid format as it felt on Saturday. You're right, "loose Harold" probably works best there.

[Sully]

The Reckoning started off as a Harold Troupe. Do they do a harold, still?

Did you see their show at OOB on Saturday night? That one resembled a Harold. Monday - not so much. Both were highly entertaining.

I still feel like Monday had elements of a Harold. It probably comes from thinking like a Harold troupe, but you could probably call Monday's show a "loose Harold".

My favorite Harolds are ones where you don't necessarily know it's a Harold while you're watching it.

This is all great. I really love this.
The Reckonings Monday show provides a specific example. I was at the Monday show. It seemed to me to be a montage with really playful organic games, serious investment and callbacks. What elements are you speaking of? I guess I have a hard time recognizing loose Harold. I had someone tell me I did Harold once and I had no idea. I had just finished studying it, so if its about style of play, i can understand that totally.

I should just enjoy myself and stop worrying about defining shit so much.

MY BRAIN WANTS TO UNDERSTAND!!!!

[Jastroch]

Does that sound about right?

Roy, I think you nailed it.

[Spots]

I'd love for some hardcore pro-Harold people to chime in. If they exist.

From what I can tell, people who insist on the Harold are the same folks in art school who say "You have to learn the rules before you can break them." But the Harold is just one of many ways to learn structure in improvisation. To learn callbacks in particular.

I haven't seen enough of it to judge. But it's fun to think it's sitting right there in my tool bag.

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

Aren't you on vacation?

This is my idea of fun.

LOL!

Roy mirrors my thinking on it as well. it's like learning forms in martial arts. you learn the moves, you drill your muscle memory to remember what a "punch" feels like...but eventually, you have to abandon form and respond in the moment. you'd get your ass kicked if you tried to do a kata in a fight.

[Jastroch]

I haven't seen enough of it to judge. But it's fun to think it's sitting right there in my tool bag.

There are enough of us on the boards. I just don't think anyone wants to bother, as in the past discussion of the merits of the Harold and it's underlying principles have ignited some serious flame wars.

[PyroDan]

I think Roy hit it wonderfully on the head, well done sir.

I totally enjoy the shit out of the Harold