Is "Improv" a profession (professional career)?

[starkserious]

I hate to say it but most improvisers I've met don't have a fucking clue as how to make money with it. I learned how to do it but I learned the hard way by trial and error. I also lost a lot of money in it too. There's things you have to understand about how to make money in business that will serve you if you want to turn professional.

[erikamay]

sure its a profession. however, the vast majority of people (inlcuding myself) who have made their livings as primarily an improviser for any period of time aren't solely doing improv.

they are doing scripted work + improv. more along the traditional acting route - industrials, remote/buy out gigs and promotions work.

i cant speak to the argument.

[starkserious]

I agree with Erika on what she said here...

however, the vast majority of people (inlcuding myself) who have made their livings as primarily an improviser for any period of time aren't solely doing improv.

Also talk with Comics who do Stand up comedy around the country. If you are going to make a living at this stuff you are going to have to Travel a lot! The money is on the road in different cities. If anyone wants to learn how to make money in this business give me call and I'll tell what I've learned and what you have to do. It's not a secret but it's hard work and if you are committed you can make it. How big? That's up for you and the market to decide.

[York99]

For a while I have been wanting to post on the YesAnd.com forum an open call for someone to write a book on the subject of making a living through improv. ColdTowne is doing its damndest to take one avenue, so maybe we're good for a chapter or two. I'd love to hear other people's ideas and experiences. Maybe it's time for us to write a book from the perspective of an interviewer AND a participant.

[ChrisTrew.Com]

For a while I have been wanting to post on the YesAnd.com forum an open call for someone to write a book on the subject of making a living through improv.

The next big thing, right there.
Someone get rich so they can write that mug.

[mcnichol]

In a pure sense, I believe "no."

Anyone who is an improvisor I've known makes little-to-no money from actually improvising. Any money (if it even sustains them) is made from teaching improv, coaching other improvisors, writing/performing/directing sketch shows, writing books about improv, running theaters, and then going on to write/perform for TV/movies... basically everything except actually improvising.

I actually like it this way. There's a tendency for artistic goals and artistic intergrity to get muddled when mixed with money. Take for example, the famous and now disappointing band you are thinking of right now...

[ratliff]

I actually like it this way. There's a tendency for artistic goals and artistic intergrity to get muddled when mixed with money. Take for example, the famous and now disappointing band you are thinking of right now...

Exactly. I don't love most modern American poetry, but I love even bad poets just because I know they can't possibly be in it for the money.

It's not that I think that there are pure artistic motives completely separate from greed and insecurity and loneliness and all the other engines that drive artists. But I do think that money fucks up art much more efficiently than those other factors, just because there are huge machines in place to help it do so. Making art to impress a particular girl isn't any nobler a motive than doing it to make money, but you're not surrounded by an entire culture dedicated to the proposition that getting that girl to like you is more important than making good art. Whereas I feel bombarded by messages that I can do whatever I like AS LONG AS I'M MAKING ENOUGH MONEY. I feel like I have to reprioritize this on a daily basis just to deprogram myself.

I personally suspect that if all supposedly ignoble motivations were expunged from art, we'd lose most of the best stuff (start with Shakespeare and Chuck Berry and work from there), but that's just a guess.