Volunteers Needed for the Moontower Comedy Festival!

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

to me, improv is about truth and connection, so i'd much rather see honest negativity be expressed and hopefully resolved than let it seethe under the surface. but we have to be not only honest with one another in that regard, but empathetic and give one another the benefit of the doubt here and there. language is a poor means of communication, internet language even moreso. we read slights and agendas where none are meant. so patience and understanding are more required than never expressing a negative opinion, i think.

but yeah...let's not visit the sins of the father upon the heads of the children, eh? we've all got follies aplenty marked in our own dossiers.

[SarahMarie]

AWESOME TROUPE NAME: Folly Dossier

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

AWESOME TROUPE NAME: Folly Dossier

call me.

[happywaffle]

AWESOME TROUPE NAME: Folly Dossier

call me.

I'm in.

[David Lampe]

AWESOME TROUPE NAME: Folly Dossier

call me.

I'm in.

No Kevin Miller. Not including you will be a big part OF the Folly.

[Spots]

I would love to hear from Chris or Tami on this issue, or on any of the issues regarding the decisions they have made that have caused people in the community to feel alienated.

the absence of their responses on issues that they could easily lay speculation to rest on as them hiding from the truth.

I believe their success comes from focusing on their own thing and moving forward every day. They avoid looking side to side or checking in with other businesses. They don't waste energy moving laterally. They focus on forward momentum. That's exactly how they see it.

Compared to waiting on this forum and expecting opportunities to fall in their lap. That's static, stagnant -- no actual progress.

It's not that any one person would hold them back. It's not that the AIC would hold them back. They are just busy and focused on the next big thing. They stopped worrying about anyone's approval and that has been such a fantastic thing for their students. They are completely loyal to their students. Are we going to vilify them for that?

(For instance they are simultaneously prepping Moontower AND booking 3 tour vans of students for this June.)

Besides, the last time Chris Trew posted on this forum his thread was deleted outright. His voice was muted. I'll let [moderator] confirm that for me. I'm sure lots of people know because word got back to me. What I got out of that experience is that Chris Trew's voice is not respected as an equal in this community.

So what are we all surprised about here exactly?

The dude is busting his ass making things happen in 4 different cities. He's not plotting. He doesn't plot or talk shit to me. Sometimes I ask questions. He reasonably answers questions I have about the past. Otherwise he's hustling. He's working. I come to the forums and that's where the drama is. Or on people's facebook walls. As Heiberg labeled it -- internet opinions.

What we need to do collectively as a community is to stop calling each other out publicly. That's just not honorable and it creates new compounded issues. If you have a problem with someone -- go directly to that person and iron things out. Don't bring it before the council.

I already went directly to one person & told them I had a problem with them. The problem I had with them is that they made their personal issues public. They had broadcasted (via facebook) a personal confrontation they had with another person. And we seemed to come to an agreement that I now respect.

[jillybee72]

As Susan Messing would say, "Fuck'em if they can't take a joke." In this particular case that advice applies to all sides.

[Jon Bolden]

I come to the forums and that's where the drama is. Or on people's facebook walls.

I feel like this needs to be said.

The drama is pretty minimal, in my opinion. The amazing experiences and improv that this entire city does far surpass the few moments of drama. Let's just focus on that.

Now...everyone go do whatever you want

[David Lampe]

Okay, as a pacifist and follower of the Dudist Religion I don't like to involve myself in thse things; however a few of years ago I did get one inquiry on fb from an L.A. friend who is now a successful script writer, but who was originally from Austin and a member of Monks' Night Out with me in the early, early days and who experienced the creation of Sean Hill's concept of the Hideout etc. On a whim he had attended a workshop/seminar/whatever... that he saw that Chris Trew was conducting in L.A. I have absolutely no idea what Chris said or even what the thing was; however, my buddy immediately sent me a message which I quote directly, "Hey Lampe, who is this Chris Trew guy who evidently invented improv in Austin?"

I was NOT at this seminar or whatever it was, I've SEEN fantastic performers come out of TNM, I've seen both Chris and Tammy perform and they are great!... but when I got this message from my friend whose opinion and judgement I know and respect, it made me feel like shit. Maybe he misinterpreted, perhaps Chris was overstating a tad to advance his school and creation, I have no idea and I hadn't even planned on adding to this thread; but when i read that it fell totally in line with the impression I'd always recieved from TNM in spite of my attempts to be open and accepting.

I like and respect everyone in this community including Chris, but the impression that I and apparently many others have is that the feeling is NOT mutual and any discussion of the reasons for this misconception need to be addressed by Chris and not Jesse or any other members of the New Movement Community as ALL the confusion and screwed up feelings seem to emanate from there.

That said I hope the MoonTower is a HUGE success and I urge any and all performers in the Austin Improv community to support it in any way they can as it can only help our overall mission.

[jillybee72]

What is it about egotism that draws egotism out of most everyone who encounters it? It's seductive.

[happywaffle]

Compared to waiting on this forum and expecting opportunities to fall in their lap. That's static, stagnant -- no actual progress.

Not that Chris isn't a hard worker, but, you think people who use the forums are just waiting for opportunities? You think AIC forum users aren't out there creating their own projects on a daily basis? You think the rest of the AIC is static and stagnant?

(I don't think you DO think that, but that's certainly what that sentence implies and you might want to rephrase.)

Besides, the last time Chris Trew posted on this forum his thread was deleted outright. His voice was muted. I'll let [moderator] confirm that for me. I'm sure lots of people know because word got back to me. What I got out of that experience is that Chris Trew's voice is not respected as an equal in this community.

I saw this when it happened—I read the original post, then when I looked again, it was gone. I wasn't happy about that, because it was nice to see something from the "other side" without needing to rely on second-hand gossip. It was a long post and Chris had obviously put some effort into writing it, and if I recall correctly, he posted it with the intention of answering questions in response.

Thinking as a moderator, it's easy to see how that would have sparked a thermonuclear war of words, since he was directly addressing the personal drama that caused the "split." So I understand the thought behind pulling it. To be fair, Jesse, they might have just as quickly pulled a thread from a Coldtowne person that recapped the drama and asked for question.

But who knows? Maybe they should have left the thread up anyway, and acted like hockey refs circling a fight.

Last thing, I don't think "I'm working too hard!" is a valid excuse for failing to respond to some serious allegations about behavior that's hurt the community.

[ratliff]

Last thing, I don't think "I'm working too hard!" is a valid excuse for failing to respond to some serious allegations about behavior that's hurt the community.

I would respectfully suggest focusing on personal experience and not abstractions like "the community." The diversity that makes Austin improv so unique, wonderful, and frustrating pretty much ensures that nobody's qualified to speak on behalf of the community.

Kevin, I feel certain you weren't trying to do that. But I know (from personal experience) that when tempers are high, semantics matter.

(Of course, being a copy editor, I always think semantics matter, so maybe I'm just trying to make my skill set relevant to this discussion. Please disregard as necessary.)

[happywaffle]

Last thing, I don't think "I'm working too hard!" is a valid excuse for failing to respond to some serious allegations about behavior that's hurt the community.

I would respectfully suggest focusing on personal experience and not abstractions like "the community." The diversity that makes Austin improv so unique, wonderful, and frustrating pretty much ensures that nobody's qualified to speak on behalf of the community.

Kevin, I feel certain you weren't trying to do that. But I know (from personal experience) that when tempers are high, semantics matter.

(Of course, being a copy editor, I always think semantics matter, so maybe I'm just trying to make my skill set relevant to this discussion. Please disregard as necessary.)

Fair enough, thanks for the feedback, and yes indeed I didn't mean it that way. "Others within the community," mayhaps?

EDIT: Actually, screw it, I take it all back. I'm not the one offended by Chris (except in a general sense) so I shouldn't be annoyed if he doesn't respond.

[shando]

(Of course, being a copy editor, I always think semantics matter, so maybe I'm just trying to make my skill set relevant to this discussion. Please disregard as necessary.)

If we could only get paid for this.....

[Jastroch]

In the interest of full disclosure:

I personally asked Brad to examine Chris's post and to use his best judgement as to whether he wanted to keep it up there. I stand by that decision and anyone who wants to have a frank discussion about it is welcome to approach me in person or via email.