Austin Improv

Improv students: I noticed there are a lot of workshops that are open to all levels of experience and some that are for advanced or intensives only.

I realize the term "intermediate" is open for interpretation and I've always loved Asaf's quote "After level one, you are in level two forever..." but I'm just opening this dialogue.

I would assume it course would require at least a few levels of courses at a known institution

Would it be of any interest to have, say an intermediate level workshop or multi-week class?

Oh YEAH.

This sounds like fun, JB. The more opportunities the better.


If I were to put my finger on the source of confusion I'd say there's a "lost in translation" element about different school's curriculums. If an improv school leads students through different components at each level, the student's journey could easily end up:


Level 1 at School A: Characters

Level 2 at School B: Characters

Level 3 at School C: Characters

Due to the component approach of the student, shuffling around loses them a comprehensive journey through the dynamics & relationship between each level in a particular curriculum. There's a comprehensive wholeness the student weasels out of at his/her own discretion.

Trusting the curriculum as a journey rather than as a menu benefits the student. Since the curriculum is a journey, there should be no shame being a graduate starting again at Level 1 or Level 2 at another school. Even with the addition of the term "intermediate" I feel we'll always be a little lost in translation for this reason.

I personally started over at Level 2 but wish I had restarted at Level One. I missed a very important part of my journey and wish my pride had allowed me to take my mentor's advice back in the day.

Each step of the approach was crucial to reach higher steps.

Whenever I think about organizing myself for teaching a class, I often reflect upon curriculum guidelines from when I taught HS. Then when I teach the class I generally throw most of that out the window to address the students needs, especially since there is no standardized testing, there is no need to be absolute in what is on the menu.

Now what I would appreciate as a student in a class now, would be almost boot camp style. Make me do things I hate to do, take away my strengths to destroy my weakness. Be completely honest. Tell me when something is shitty and don't overly praise something that is good.

It isn't for everyone, but if you know going in, things shouldn't be so personal.

This is definitely for seasoned performers and students that are past the stage fright point and are comfortable in front of an audience.

Also something of a class that was some how addressed the relationship between performer and audience. Kinda a psychology of performance. Reading and audience, connecting, surprising and winning them over.

I'm kind of with Dan. I want critical feedback more than anything at this point. It's all well and good to try new formats or exercises, but those don't always help me fix my mistakes. So, I'd love more classes/workshops that tell me honestly what I am failing at and then work on improving that.

Seconded & thirded.

zac wrote:I'm kind of with Dan. I want critical feedback more than anything at this point. It's all well and good to try new formats or exercises, but those don't always help me fix my mistakes. So, I'd love more classes/workshops that tell me honestly what I am failing at and then work on improving that.

Precisely why we retooled level 4 as a personal feedback class at The Hideout. I think we all crave that from time to time.