Austin Improv

_____.

[Discuss]

... listen.

... start talking.

... make eye contact with my troupe members in the other wings.

... check to see if my shoes are tied [but wait! I don't wear laces!]

... breathe!

...pat everyone in the cast on the back saying "I got your back"

...jump up in down in place

...praise Satan

blink.

Always do the 8...4...2...1 countdown, and make some sort of contact with each of my troupemates.

Do you mean before you get on stage to begin with to start a show or before you walk into a scene once the show has begun?

I was thinking before I walk out from the wings during a show, but I'd love to hear what you do at the top of the show.

Check myself for ticks.

Sorry...

sara_anm8r wrote:I was thinking before I walk out from the wings during a show, but I'd love to hear what you do at the top of the show.

I think the show starts the minute the lights dim, the music swells, and the host walks out from backstage and gets on that lit platform before the gaze of the audience.
So I was thinking of what I do right before this/during it (in my earlier comment).


I'm not sure what I do before I walk onstage from the wings, I'm usually listening intently, but when I feel that beat where I need to edit or I have something to add - I'm out there, doing it. I don't try to think too much about what I'm going to do. I trust my instincts and my fellow troupemates.
Sometimes I might whisper to a fellow troupemate for clarification about something. I know sometimes this is said to be a "no-no" because then you miss some stuff in the scene. But screw rules.

At the top of the show, I like to meditate and get in my head for about 5 minutes. I don't like doing anything right before I go on and am often in my head playing Beastie Rap or otherwise hyping myslef up internally.

Once the show begins, I'll edit on the best beat whether I have anything or not.
But if I am going to enter a scene in progress and add to it, you'll often see me crouch down and listen and watch the audience--trying to read what it is they're wanting to have happen at that moment.

Right before a show starts, I am usually trying to keep from throwing up. My stomach gets in knots, and I stare at myself in the mirror and try to breathe slowly.

Consequently, I also spend the time before the show fending off questions with "No, I feel fine."

It's cool, because I know once the show starts all that tension and sick feeling will go away.

As for right before I walk on in scenes? I have no idea. I just try and get into the groove of the show, and ride it. I guess if I have to break down my thoughts, it goes something like...

"OOh, maybe I should..."
"Should I do it now?"
"Here I go!"

But that's all in a super-split second, so I don't know how accurate that is.

I start repeating the numbers

4 8 15 16 23 42

...if things are going well, I am laughing

...if not, then I am looking for ways to help or edit

I find myself getting engrossed in scenes - sometimes to the point of forgetting who I am (character) and figuring out ways that things could start to connect. For me that is good and bad. I guess that means I am truly improvising in those moments where I realize that I need to edit and I have nothing to come out with. That is fun for me, but not always helpful to my scene partners. I am luck to have great scene partners that pick up my slack and re-insert me into the show as needed.

On the wings I am (ideally - when I'm not all in my head or whatever) enjoying my troupe mates being smart and funny. I'm an audience member.

Consequently, as an audience member watching them in shows like 1AM or Lovey and Lovey, etc. it's tough for me NOT to participate because I'm often in the same mind set as I am on the wings. [I actually fear that I will have a brain fart and join them.]

Make sure I've made eye contact with all of the other players.

Lower my expectations (which reduces stress)

Look at the ceiling and wonder why Jeremy didn't pant over the green spots above the pipes.