definition of improv

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » January 16th, 2006, 12:18 pm

I want to start working on my generic improv education campaign.

The main gist is plastering the definition of improv all over town to the point of oversaturation.

So... what's a good definition of improv for the general public, and which specifically meshes well with what we're about?

valetoile · Post by **valetoile** » January 16th, 2006, 1:07 pm

How about an "improv is:" campaign, with lots of different definitions plastered everywhere?

Improv is:
Storytelling
Hvaing conversations
Overcoming your fears
Fun
A powerful art form
More than comedy
Growing
Self-expression
An experiement in how to live life
Everywhere
etc....

phlounderphil · Post by **phlounderphil** » January 16th, 2006, 9:59 pm

You gotta be careful here, because the more musically inclined people in the world tend to immediately associate the word improv with Jazz clubs or Jam bands. So perhaps the fliers should have either 1) A specific definition of the improv we all do OR 2) the words "Improvised Theatre" or "Improvised Comedy" although I prefer the word theatre over comedy, makes us sound so much more important.

As for my strict definition(s).

Improv n.
a brief event or interaction fabricated entirely from within the confines of one's mind without the unnecessary guidance of a script

Improv n.
the interpretation of life through scenes and stories that are composed on-the-spot and from no script or premise

Improv n.
Instantaneous stories and characters spewed directly from the subconscious mind and onto the stage free of the restrictions of a script and direction

Improv n.
the newest and most intriguing artform

Roy Janik · Post by **Roy Janik** » January 18th, 2006, 5:48 pm

Here are a few ideas I was toying around with.

The first would be just different small definitions cut out into small different pieces of paper:

http://www.pgraph.com/austinimprov/aust ... tions1.gif

The 2nd would be quarter sheets with 1 big definition, a bunch of 1 line explanations, and a place for passerbies to write in their own definition (more than likely foul).

http://www.pgraph.com/austinimprov/aust ... tions2.gif

I'm still not happy with these, those. All I really want is something small that when read will enable the average person to know 1) what improv is, and 2) that improv is not standup, sketch, or limited to what they've seen on who's line is it anyway?

I can't figure out how to convey (2) without being negative.

kaci_beeler · Post by **kaci_beeler** » January 18th, 2006, 6:13 pm

In conveying (2) without being negative...you could say something like;
"Improv isn't what you might think it is, it isn't sketch comedy, and it's much more than what you might have seen on Who's Line is it Anyway.
Improv is..."
So you would convey (2) by saying it's much more than, instead of it's not at all like, so people who may know and enjoy those two other forms would be curious as to what else "improv" has to offer them, rather than how it's different than what they already know/possibly like.
Can you not be blunt in much of this...or part of it?

kbadr · Post by **kbadr** » January 18th, 2006, 6:21 pm

I would much rather have all of them say "improv is...", rather than "improv isn't..."

kaci_beeler · Post by **kaci_beeler** » January 18th, 2006, 6:25 pm

"improv is not..."

I'm just trying to think of ways to familiarize with the general public so they have some sort of starting point of comprehension.