Austin Improv

I think that we also forget that those who rise in the UCB universe and get into TourCo have put up with a lot more unpleasant shit than reading that a few improvisers from Austin didn't love their show. Do you really think they value our opinions that much? They're competing with each other for TV gigs and studying under and in the shadow of big-name people. They could eat us for lunch as far as backbone is concerned.

kaci_beeler wrote:

York99 wrote:

ratliff wrote: Assuming that the party guests are everyone in the world who's online.

exactly. because that's the way it works.

I think that's silly.

My point is that if you don't want someone to read something you've read, then this is not a good place to write it. It's open to the world. If you don't care, then have at it.

But do remember that here and often elsewhere, you represent Austin improv and Austin improvisers... like it or not. How you choose to act based on that knowledge is your own call.

[deleted]

shando wrote:or when Justin states flatly that he thinks 3 For All does crappy stories.

Not that I don't appreciate being called out -- I appreciate it and it's a real classy move -- but where did I say that and in what context? I'll bet you that it wasn't nearly as bad as you make it sound taking it out of context.

I just re-read all of the posts in this thread that gave opinions of the show. There weren't really that many negative things said and everything seemed pretty balanced. How did this all happen?

Oh, the humanity!

ratliff wrote:I don't ever want to judge any community anywhere by the posts on its online forums. Online improv discussions are no more representative of actual improv communities than online personal ads are representative of actual dating prospects.

We should put that as an bolded, red disclaimer on the bottom of each forum page.

Uh oh! I think Justin's going to have something to say about that, Roy!

Roy Janik wrote:

ratliff wrote:I don't ever want to judge any community anywhere by the posts on its online forums. Online improv discussions are no more representative of actual improv communities than online personal ads are representative of actual dating prospects.

We should put that as an bolded, red disclaimer on the bottom of each forum page.

The fact, however, is that people DO judge communities by online forums, justified or not. I would say that it probably is justified, somewhat, in many cases. Image and perception count for a whole hell of a lot, like it or not.

mcnichol wrote:I think some of you guys have a chip on yr shoulders about "big city improv" or whatever you seem to perceive nyc/ucb to be, or at least it seriously reads that way on this thread. Stick it to the man, y'all. Here's to southern hospitality!

It was a show. We paid 15 bucks to go see it. The reviews don't seem that harsh to me.

I think in my warped perception the improv community seems a lot larger world-wide than it is, and so I'd lump touring improv groups in with touring bands and consider it fair game. But I'm willing to concede that maybe that's not the case.

But specifically, I think reviewing a UCB show is extra fair game... because UCB doesn't just represent a particularly popular group/ecosystem/whatever, it represents a particular style of improv that's quickly becoming a force in improv nationally... specifically Chicago style improvisation with an emphasis on being super-quick and hyper-focused on finding the game of the scene and heightening the crap out of it...

Living in Austin as we do, we don't get to see UCB style improv that often, so I think the natural inclination is to want to pick apart the show and discuss what we thought worked and didn't. Looking back, quite a few people said they liked the shows, and most of those who were critical still had some good things to say.

Perhaps it's unfair to hold up a touring company as ambassadors of a particular style, but their promotional material says as much.

Regarding troupes from Houston, Omaha, Dallas etc... they're almost always invited here at the behest of the AIC, or people in the scene. It'd be extra rude to invite them here and then be critical.

On a very far side note. Before the show one of the guys from the Alamo (the guy who did the Buffy sing-alongs) said they wanted to do more Improv stuff at the Alamo, any truth to that? Or was he just blowing smoke up everyones ass?

Here:

York99 wrote:Look at 3 For All / Double Feature from last year's OoB. They did improv that had no comedic "aim" (at least for the DF show on Monday). Sure there were funny parts, but that's almost inevitable with improv.

As an improviser, I was riveted. As an audience member, I was bored at a story I really didn't care about. They are such tremendous improvisers that it looked almost scripted like a play performed by top-notch thespians. The problem is that it was a play I didn't care for.

There was also some comment that I can't find about them being "boring as church." You have every right to that opinion. All I'm saying is that what's the difference between that kind of post and anything that was said on the UCB thread? I really can't tell the difference.

shando wrote:Here:

York99 wrote:Look at 3 For All / Double Feature from last year's OoB. They did improv that had no comedic "aim" (at least for the DF show on Monday). Sure there were funny parts, but that's almost inevitable with improv.

As an improviser, I was riveted. As an audience member, I was bored at a story I really didn't care about. They are such tremendous improvisers that it looked almost scripted like a play performed by top-notch thespians. The problem is that it was a play I didn't care for.

There was also some comment that I can't find about them being "boring as church." You have every right to that opinion. All I'm saying is that what's the difference between that kind of post and anything that was said on the UCB thread? I really can't tell the difference.

And notice that I said "I was bored" and "that I didn't care about" and "a play I didn't care for." I was owning those statements and not saying empirically that they were boring. I know how much people on these boards DO like those guys, so I remember being extra careful not to say anything offensive or dismissive or anything that looked like note-giving. Rather, I only offered my personal opinions that had extra qualifiers.

The difference there is that I was discussing it in terms of improv philosophy (probably in that part of the forum) and not as a critique of 3 For All's performance (of whom I was very generous in my praise) in the events section.

"Boring as church"? I find church highly entertaining, so that would be a compliment... IF I was even the one making that statement.

Which is pretty much what people on this thread were doing with regards to UCB. Look at how many of those supposedly nasty posts say "I didn't like it, but that's maybe my taste," or "That part was mediocre, but I really enjoyed this part," tempered by comments from almost as many people saying they liked the show wholeheartedly with nothing negative to say. All I'm talking about is the difference in reactions.

shando wrote:Which is pretty much what people on this thread were doing with regards to UCB. Look at how many of those supposedly nasty posts say "I didn't like it, but that's maybe my taste," or "That part was mediocre, but I really enjoyed this part," tempered by comments from almost as many people saying they liked the show wholeheartedly with nothing negative to say. All I'm talking about is the difference in reactions.

One difference is that someone from that community who is also a part of this community, Jill, read it and thought it came across as dickish. I'm not looking to be a dick or to alienate Austin improv, so I personally agree that taking this instance as a reminder that these boards are not private is a good thing. This is the first time we were called out on it and it's a good time to just remember to keep things in perspective.

May I assume an apology for libeling me by taking my posts out of context? Great! All is forgiven!

Mommy, Dadddy, don't fight!

*runs crying to his room*