Austin Improv

perhaps I should clarify. by slips... I mean personal banter.

Can I just say that I'm proud of us all for this not degenerating into a food fight over who's style is the right one? We've grown up so much. Thank you.

arthursimone wrote: I see no such stylistic balance in top-notch improvised musicals or shakespeare. there! I said it! Where's the sloppy?

I think top notch improv of all kinds is usually missing something essential. They've gotten so good at what they do that it's no longer dangerous or risky. And for me it's less exciting and engaging as a result.

I'm still appreciative of (and maybe even seduced by) their virtuoso comedy/storytelling, but that's a poor substitute for the raw vulnerability or whatever that X factor is in inspiring improv.

I think. For me.

arthursimone wrote:There's got to be some self-indulgent sloppiness to sell it as improv.

I see no such stylistic balance in top-notch improvised musicals or shakespeare. there! I said it! Where's the sloppy?

There does not have to be sloppiness to sell it as improv. I think you believe that based on the current model of improv and how much our audience knows/needs to know. Or maybe you based it on your own personal opinion. I think natural "sloppiness" will happen if you're throwing yourself out there on the edge in your improv, careful improv isn't much fun, but it doesn't have to look sloppy either.

I personally don't care if the audience thinks it's scripted or improvised, as long as they enjoyed it, and especially if they're left wondering.

Jastroch Sux!

kaci_beeler wrote:Or maybe you based it on your own personal opinion.

Beeler, why on earth would I base my opinion on my own personal opinion??

arthursimone wrote:

kaci_beeler wrote:Or maybe you based it on your own personal opinion.

Beeler, why on earth would I base my opinion on my own personal opinion??

heh

Andy said...
Explore
- "You say something crazy [heighten] and then justify it [explore]."
- "Adding logic to your absurdity."
- You have to put the heightening in a logical context or it all goes to crazytown.
- "If the heightening stops getting laughs, you probably haven't done your justifying [exploring]."

Sara said...
I love this!!

Roy said...
my philosophy is that you CAN mix philosophies

Sara said...
Mine too!!

J Davis said...
Do characters, not just accents.

Sara said...
I know, I know... but I want an ACCENT WORKSHOP!! Someone give me an accent workshop!!! (or a good website, Asaf!)

J York said...
who, what, where, etc. out at the top of the scene. In other scenes you can take the Annoyance approach of "screw it;

Sara said...
Yes! makes for a great show - if the group can study and appreciate that these styles are 2 sides of the same coin. I'm trying to interchangably use both styles of playing... I feel like the best improv is about using both PLAYFUL and GROUNDED elements. Like the "Crazy (heighten) & Justify (explore)" philosophy, yet it extends beyond the scene and works for the entire show (Harold?? Narrative??). Shakespeare used it... even in his comedies he had comedic relief.

Eric Seufert said...
-in order to perform consistently good improv with a troupe, each member needs to be on the same page as far as what they want to achieve in an improv show, and, more importantly, HOW they want to go about achieving that.

Sara said...
YES! this has been the crux for me... I've studied a lot of improv from a lot of different people, but not with the same people. It's hard finding people who have the same perspective as me... still working on this.

Aden said...
I agree 100% that an improvised show should be so well done that it looks and feels scripted.

Arthur said...
balance out the polished feel of the scenework with either audience interaction/personal banter, or, in the case of their Harold teams, the group-mind opening and refresher games.

Beeler said...
There does not have to be sloppiness to sell it as improv.

Sara said...
Yes!! me too... I don't believe in slop for slops sake... Polish it!!! I would go so far as to say: try to really improvise (don't think, react)... and take classes, rehearse with a coach, dress up for shows, have a great lighting imp, have a great sound imp, use props OR be skilled at spacework.... AND keep it fresh. I am working on finding and playing the TRUTH in the audience suggestion. This keeps stuff fresh for me (but I've not been performing for 30 years... just a measley old 3 years).

sara_anm8r wrote:I know, I know... but I want an ACCENT WORKSHOP!! Someone give me an accent workshop!!! (or a good website, Asaf!)

I was going to set up a dialect and accent workshop with Kimmy Gatewood, but things were too crazy that week between her SXSW commitments and the classes already happening with the UCB. Hopefully, next time she visits I can set that up, if there are enough people interested.

austinflower wrote:

ESeufert wrote:If your destination is a well-constructed narrative, so be it; if your destination is a collection of tight, really funny scenes (as I'd guess that Besser's is), then don't deviate from the method that you've perfected in achieving that. But can you have really tight, funny scenes that put together a narrative and rely heavily on game? I don't think I've ever seen that.

I want to see that. Hell, I'd like to do that. Sounds challenging, rewarding and fun.

I think PGraph did this last night. Our show was definitely a narrative, but it had several games in it (both in-scene, and in show structure)

kbadr wrote:

austinflower wrote:

ESeufert wrote:If your destination is a well-constructed narrative, so be it; if your destination is a collection of tight, really funny scenes (as I'd guess that Besser's is), then don't deviate from the method that you've perfected in achieving that. But can you have really tight, funny scenes that put together a narrative and rely heavily on game? I don't think I've ever seen that.

I want to see that. Hell, I'd like to do that. Sounds challenging, rewarding and fun.

I think PGraph did this last night. Our show was definitely a narrative, but it had several games in it (both in-scene, and in show structure)

I'd have to agree. It was a good show too. After seeing it in action, I can say I've seen that description above happen a few times on stage. I think it does "happen" too, because it's almost too hard to plan it. Thus, improv!

kbadr wrote:

austinflower wrote:

ESeufert wrote:If your destination is a well-constructed narrative, so be it; if your destination is a collection of tight, really funny scenes (as I'd guess that Besser's is), then don't deviate from the method that you've perfected in achieving that. But can you have really tight, funny scenes that put together a narrative and rely heavily on game? I don't think I've ever seen that.

I want to see that. Hell, I'd like to do that. Sounds challenging, rewarding and fun.

I think PGraph did this last night. Our show was definitely a narrative, but it had several games in it (both in-scene, and in show structure)

Kareem beat me to the punch. I was going to say that PGraph does an excellent job of finding and playing games within scenes... scenes that make great narratives.

P-graphs show was outstanding last night. It was so good, why it was practically sketch. Had I not known it was improvised...

Aden wrote:P-graphs show was outstanding last night. It was so good, why it was practically sketch. Had I not known it was improvised...

Aden!!!! Pgraph does improvised theater!

P-graphs show was outstanding last night. It was so good, why it was practically theater. Had I not known it was improvised...