Before I walk on stage, I...

[TexasImprovMassacre]

Right before a show starts, I am usually trying to keep from throwing up. My stomach gets in knots, and I stare at myself in the mirror and try to breathe slowly.

me too...usually right about the time the troupe is ready to do the super bonding hands in the middle cheer on 3, i'm being the most nervous dude somewhere trying not to throw up. Sometimes, it doesn't work.

[mpbrockman]

OK- I joked about this before. But seriously, I want to think about anything except what I'm about to do. Since I do musical improv I do not want to hear any music. It will get stuck in my head and inhibit my ability to hear something that lends itself to the moment.

I also don't like to think about what we focused on in rehearsal or even any goals for the show. Musical training and years of work have led me to believe that the best way to play anything that isn't a rote playback job is to clear everything out and let instinct and muscle memory take over. In practice it never quite works that way, but I keep trying.

So before a show I'd rather joke around, talk about something in the news, read a book, have a smoke outside and try to pick out familiar constellations, watch the ladies do their hair with something that looks like one of hell's kitchen implements or anything that's not music or improv related.

And no, I don't get nervous before shows. I'm usually pretty relaxed. I do often suffer from post-show anxiety, though, because I tend to focus on the 20 things I could've done better rather than what I did right. My capacity for post-event over-analysis and self-flagellation ranks up there with Letterman's (did I just use too many hyphens?).

See what I mean?

[Spaztique]

... think of all the different character pieces I can put together to form a character for the upcoming scene.

... think of easy-to-use opening responses.

... determine whether I play the straight man or the jokester for the upcoming scene.

... think of all the different ways I can try to keep myself from messing up.

... hope the show goes well/is going well.

... look for as many edit points as possible.

... try to remember the theme from the initial suggestion or look for a new one being put into place by the other performers.

... come up with a list of character names and relationships/dynamics.

It all sounds so easy in theory.

[kaci_beeler]

... think of all the different character pieces I can put together to form a character for the upcoming scene.

... think of easy-to-use opening responses.

... determine whether I play the straight man or the jokester for the upcoming scene.

... think of all the different ways I can try to keep myself from messing up.

... hope the show goes well/is going well.

... look for as many edit points as possible.

... try to remember the theme from the initial suggestion or look for a new one being put into place by the other performers.

... come up with a list of character names and relationships/dynamics.

It all sounds so easy in theory.

You sir, are thinking too much.

[Justin D.]

... think of all the different character pieces I can put together to form a character for the upcoming scene.

... think of easy-to-use opening responses.

... determine whether I play the straight man or the jokester for the upcoming scene.

... think of all the different ways I can try to keep myself from messing up.

... hope the show goes well/is going well.

... look for as many edit points as possible.

... try to remember the theme from the initial suggestion or look for a new one being put into place by the other performers.

... come up with a list of character names and relationships/dynamics.

It all sounds so easy in theory.

You sir, are thinking too much.

I concur.

Before a show, I . . .

try not to do anything. I admit to maybe coming up with a character before a show, but besides that, I can sort of blank out, thinking about no one thing in particular. Often, this leads to something else I've done before shows.

I get into some rapid-fire riff session with someone around me right before I go on stage. It's usually a quick, play-on-words game and is almost always created on-the-spot. I figure if the other performers around me are laughing and smiling, it's going to be a good, fun show.

When I'm off-stage during a show, I . . .

watch what's happening on stage and the audience's reactions to gauge how or if I should respond on stage. That's about it. Often, I can be seen laughing off to the side.

[Jules]

I like to stretch and get really quiet. Maybe listen to something inspiring musically. If I'm back stage I like to sit in the dark and just breathe a little.