Austin Improv

improvstitute wrote:

Brian Boyko wrote:The problem with it is that you need at least a passing familiarity with something in order to make fun of it. This is why I don't tell jokes about growing up black in the ghetto.

However, I do tell jokes about how it wasn't easy for me to grow up blind and black in the ghetto.

Bad example.

Truth is that after you make the obvious jokes about sacks and tight ends, it's very hard to make jokes about football unless you know some of the particulars.

actually, no. The improv has nothing to do with knowing football. It is about recognizing themes. Just like watching scenes and looking for themes to develop. It isn't about making fun of football. I think sitting around and commenting on/joking about what everyone just saw would make for a really uninteresting improv show. That certainly isn't what happened in the 2 shows we did. The shows that we did used themes from the game (like a qb obviously overlooking a receiver for an entire half) and used them as metaphors for life (like never being asked to dance at high school parties). However, we didn't talk about football...it was just inspiration, like audience suggestions.

But I can't even pick out when the quarterback is overlooking a reciever for an entire 2nd half. That's Football Knowledge I don't have.

Brian Boyko wrote:

improvstitute wrote:

Brian Boyko wrote:The problem with it is that you need at least a passing familiarity with something in order to make fun of it.

actually, no. The improv has nothing to do with knowing football. It is about recognizing themes.

But I can't even pick out when the quarterback is overlooking a reciever for an entire 2nd half. That's Football Knowledge I don't have.

Brian, as someone who has performed in GSOT and has only vague passing knowledge of the game, that's all the knowledge i needed (if even that much). Just as Ted says, it's about recognizing themes and also about the people involved and their points of view. In the same vein, I've seen shows about two fighter pilots where the improvisors are definitely not fighter pilots. The show worked because it had nothing to do with planes or knowledge of piloting them. It had to do with the themes that arose and the relationship between the characters and their points of view.

Also, Ted I'm sorry to hear you're having a tough time getting performers/tech for the show. I can only agree with Sara and others that Sundays are often "family time" that (for me) is usually reserved for non-improv stuff. Also, as Chris said, it's difficult right now to get people to perform in (let alone watch) shows because of the ratio of performers to shows/slots currently. This will definitely change as more and more people get involved (through classes, and people moving here, and whatnot), but this moment -- especially with Coldtowne Theater opening and filling more slots throughout a performing week -- improvisors are stretched thin.

That said, I really hope you continue the show, even if it's not on a weekly basis. I had a great time performing in it and, even better, it seemed like the audience was having a great time.

I will do tech for the show this Sunday, if you want to give it a go.

Every post in this thread is wrong, except for mine.

thanks Andy, but I feel like this week is a wash at this point. However, I do want some people to commit to the Dec 3rd and 10th shows. If you or anyone else can/will do this then GSOT will be back on it's feet.

Also...I understand everyone being spread too thin and needing family time. I live in that world all of the time having a wife and a 2 year old. I would do this on Monday nights, but that game is on ESPN and I cannot get that with without cable or a dish. There is a Sunday night game, but those often involve teams that nobody around here cares about. I am having to play the odds there.

And I know the problem wasn't the attendance, but rather the particpants...

BUT, If you take this project on again next fall with a more committed schedule (i.e. all televised Dallas Games, regardless of time slot) the sheer fact that this has happened in the past (and I contend this is the case for any show that does a second run) would make people remember that this show had happened in the past and therefore must be successful "and the thing to do" since it is happening again. People recognize the name "Greatest Show on Turf", regardless of whether they ever saw it or not, and think "Well, at least I know that's always there...and it must be good to have been brought back." Patience is the key for building support and audience, if you believe in your vision.

Some aggressive marketing specific towards Dallas fans would help too.

Also, as far as participants, I would suggest a regular cast that wants to do that run, rather than trying to mix things up each week with different troupes. (the one thing I would have tried differently about the Lyrix run)

Marketing/flyers that doesn't include phrasing that alludes to the laziness and unreliability of improv troupes would be good, too.

Dave wrote:And I know the problem wasn't the attendance, but rather the particpants...

BUT, If you take this project on again next fall with a more committed schedule (i.e. all televised Dallas Games, regardless of time slot) the sheer fact that this has happened in the past (and I contend this is the case for any show that does a second run) would make people remember that this show had happened in the past and therefore must be successful "and the thing to do" since it is happening again. People recognize the name "Greatest Show on Turf", regardless of whether they ever saw it or not, and think "Well, at least I know that's always there...and it must be good to have been brought back." Patience is the key for building support and audience, if you believe in your vision.

Some aggressive marketing specific towards Dallas fans would help too.
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Also, as far as participants, I would suggest a regular cast that wants to do that run, rather than trying to mix things up each week with different troupes. (the one thing I would have tried differently about the Lyrix run)

all good points...thx dave!

Marketing/flyers that doesn't include phrasing that alludes to the laziness and unreliability of improv troupes would be good, too.

note taken. apologies if it was offensive. it was not intended that way. for the record, laziness was not implied, just unreliability.[/quote]

i don't mean to be an ass, but i would kind of like to lay claim to any UT bowl game commentary show that might be happening. i understand your show doesn't have commentary, but i'll probably want to do a thing similar to what i did last year and i don't want to feel like i'm stepping on any toes.

don't mean to be an ass, but i would kind of like to lay claim to any UT bowl game commentary show that might be happening. i understand your show doesn't have commentary, but i'll probably want to do a thing similar to what i did last year and i don't want to feel like i'm stepping on any toes.

not a problem. you get dibs no question. i was curious if you were going to do that show again. how about you take the ncaa games and I take the pro games?

also...lets play tennis this sunday. bill is in and i think i can be in...just have to check with the wifey.

improvstitute wrote:

also...lets play tennis this sunday. bill is in and i think i can be in...just have to check with the wifey.

fuck YES!
i'll be in the AIC meeting from 1 to maybe 3 at the latest. let's do it aftra that.

sag would be great,
b

ps - do we have a fourth?

beardedlamb wrote:

improvstitute wrote:

also...lets play tennis this sunday. bill is in and i think i can be in...just have to check with the wifey.

fuck YES!
i'll be in the AIC meeting from 1 to maybe 3 at the latest. let's do it aftra that.

sag would be great,
b

ps - do we have a fourth?

SWEET...I am in for sure. what is SAG? we do not have a 4th yet...perhaps Andy P or Andy C would be down. Fellas? If not, we can just hit.

Bill mention playing at/near his place.

I would like to go outside and play the tennis this Sunday.

aftra was atypo and is an actor's union. sag is the continuation of that typo in the form of another actor's union. screen actor's guild.
tennis.

where play?