Making ourselves look good

[TeresaYork]

Do you think you have to take yourself first in improv before you can take care of others?

Or do I need to forget myself and by focusing solely on the other person, all will fall into place?

How do I let someone know they are taking too good of care of themselves?

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

i think just like in life, you have to take care of yourself before you can be of any use to others. but it's all about balance, and you can do both at the same time. i think if the other person is ONLY taking care of themselves, then it might be time for a confab. but don't come at them with accusations. frame it in terms of what YOU need. "Hey, I feel like I could use some more support in my scenes. Can you help me out?" "I'm having trouble getting things established at the beginning of a scene. You want to work with me on that when we're onstage together?" then they don't feel like a dick, they feel like a hero coming to the rescue.

[ClintHarris]

Matthew 7:5

I'm pretty sure Jesus was talking about improv.

[Rev. Jordan T. Maxwell]

i hear his set in Bethany killed...

...wait, no, i meant the other thing.

[ratliff]

How do I let someone know they are taking too good of care of themselves? :)

You don't. That's what a coach is for.

[KathyRose]

What say, you just play whoever your character is and let whatever happens, happen.

[jillybee72]

Taking care of yourself is the best way to take care of others. No one likes going out into a scene and turning to look at their scene partner who's standing there blankly like they have nothing. Give yourself something.

Sounds like someone you know is maybe is misinterpreting the advice "take care of yourself" to mean "make yourself the star." That is not the case at all. It just means give yourself something to go in with so you can make powerful moves that will make it fun for your partner and for you.

[jillybee72]

In a little side note, I find it really helpful to not judge my scene partners. I just to play with everyone as if they are the best possible person I could be on stage with in this moment and as if their choices are golden.

[TeresaYork]

Thanks Jill.

I always say, "let's just have fun," but sometimes feel betrayed if I feel like my scene partner doesn't have that same agenda. I need to get over that!

[Brad Hawkins]

In a little side note, I find it really helpful to not judge my scene partners. I just to play with everyone as if they are the best possible person I could be on stage with in this moment and as if their choices are golden.

That sounds great, but how do you do that? Any tricks?

[Asaf]

I'm very much of the Annoyance mind on this that the best gift you can give your scene partner is a strong sense of self.

We use the diagram from those airline safety brochures as an example. You know, the picture where the adult is putting on their oxygen mask before helping their child with theirs.

You're of no help to them if you haven't checked in with yourself.

[ratliff]

Teresa, that's one of my biggest problems. To me a huge part of it is trusting the other person's motivations. If you know that they're trying to play the best scene possible -- as opposed to celebrating themselves -- it's easier to embrace what they're doing fully, as Asaf suggests. That's why playing with a group for a long time is more fulfilling to me than just jumping onstage with whoever, because in the latter case, even though I need to accept what they're bringing, I may not know them well enough to fully trust them. Seeing people play in a way that seems selfish to me inevitably brings out my most selfish instincts, but I'm working toward being the kind of improviser I want to be all the time, regardless of who I'm playing with. To me what marks truly great improvisers is their ability to make their partners look brilliant by committing completely to whatever gets thrown at them. The two examples who come immediately to mind are TJ Jagodowski and Jill Bernard.

"The only mistake you can make in improv is casting."
-- Dave Razowsky

[TeresaYork]

Thanks Ratliff! I want to be a better imp, but more than that, a better person. As cliche as I think of it, all you need is love.

[ratliff]

Thanks Ratliff! I want to be a better imp, but more than that, a better person. As cliche as I think of it, all you need is love. :)

WHY ARE YOU LEAVING US?

Sorry, I told myself I wasn't going to do that.

[Brad Hawkins]

Teresa, that's one of my biggest problems. To me a huge part of it is trusting the other person's motivations. If you know that they're trying to play the best scene possible -- as opposed to celebrating themselves -- it's easier to embrace what they're doing fully, as Asaf suggests.

Very well put, and puts a lot into perspective. Perhaps being trustworthy (in the sense of which you speak) should be my goal now.