ghigi
- Thread starter DoubleR
- Start date
Do these kinds of posts work for anybody? I'm not saying you shouldn't try, but I wouldn't invite someone to join a group unless we had met before or I'd seen him perform at least at a jam like Improdome or the Magnet Mixer.
I might even know you, RR, but I don't recognize that name, and this is your first post ever on the IRC, so... yeah, if you're going to put yourself out there, at least make yourself easier to recognize.
One thing I would encourage, which I know is easier said than done, is to organize a group yourself, and feel free to invite people who you want to perform with but perhaps don't know very well.
I might even know you, RR, but I don't recognize that name, and this is your first post ever on the IRC, so... yeah, if you're going to put yourself out there, at least make yourself easier to recognize.
One thing I would encourage, which I know is easier said than done, is to organize a group yourself, and feel free to invite people who you want to perform with but perhaps don't know very well.
sorry DoubleR -- i don't have a practice group you can join.
Wouldn't it be helpful though if there was a sub-forum of people looking for a practice group -- because I do think it comes up a lot in these forums and if someone needed additional people for their session they could just ask someone. Also, if you've been out of the class circuit for a while-- I would think its harder to get back into it.
Is Jammin' with Ralph ever coming back?
I'm full of questions.
Wouldn't it be helpful though if there was a sub-forum of people looking for a practice group -- because I do think it comes up a lot in these forums and if someone needed additional people for their session they could just ask someone. Also, if you've been out of the class circuit for a while-- I would think its harder to get back into it.
Is Jammin' with Ralph ever coming back?
I'm full of questions.
I have a Saturday afternoon practice session which I'll be running out of the house all in a frenzy to get to shortly; and we've added three people (at various times in the past for various lengths of time) I met through the IRC here.
In each case it worked out great. I highly recommend randomly meeting with other ... umm improvisers for the sole purpose of ... umm improvising.
Hey Double R, if Saturday Afternoons look good to you, shoot me a PM here.
peace
out
you very prudish improvisers.
In each case it worked out great. I highly recommend randomly meeting with other ... umm improvisers for the sole purpose of ... umm improvising.
Hey Double R, if Saturday Afternoons look good to you, shoot me a PM here.
peace
out
you very prudish improvisers.
I actually made a template for a friend on how to set up practices. This is the email I'd send out to a bunch of improv people I knew. This might be helpful:
I usualy send the first email out at least a week before the practice.
First I send this message (obviously read through and make changes to fit yourself):
Hey Y'all,
Please respond only if you will DEFINATELY BE ATTENDING practice next (insert date and time here). The practice will be 2 hours long and cost 15 dollars. The practice will be held in downtown Manhattan. We'll have a coach and we'll be doing scene work and anything else you guys would like to do. Anyways, I'll send a follow-up email once I get enough responses. Please feel free to invite anyone else that you think might benefit from this practice. Please respond as soon as possible as I need enough time to setup a coach and book a place to practice.
Hope to hear from y'all and hope you're doing allright,
(your name here)
Then if I get 4 responses (5 including me) I call these places to see if I can get a room (they are listed from best to worst):
Atlantic Theater
453 W. 16th St. (9th/10th)
(212) 691-5919 ask for a 20 dollar an hour room
http://atlantictheater.com/2006/space_rentals.html
Pearl studios
500 8th ave btwn 35th and 36th
212-904-1850
www.pearlstudiosnyc.com
champions
257 w. 39th st.
212-307-7707
about $12/13 an hour cheap, but smells
http://www.championsstudios.moonfruit.com/
Shetler Studios
212-246-6655 ask for penthouse 4 and check the price because it changes
244 West 54th street
between Broadway & 8th Avenue
12th FLOOR
http://shetlerstudios.com/penthouse.html
Once I've booked a studio, I start sending out emails to coaches. I usually give them about 12 hours to contact me before I send out another email. If you get 2 possitive responses you can always tell one that someone else responded before them. They're usually cool, but as soon as you get a response from one coach be sure to let the ones that you sent emails to know that you got somebody else.
Here's a list of coaches I've used. You can look all these people up here if it helps to remind you - http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/performers/
clemsean (at) gmail (dot) com - Sean Clements
gavinspeiller (at) yahoo (dot) com - Gavin Speiller
dominicdierkes (at) gmail (dot) com - Dominic Dierkes
gilozeri (at) gmail (dot) com - Gil Ozeri
jsantangeli (at) yahoo (dot) com - Jim Santangeli
jeffreymarxthespot (at) gmail (dot) com - Jeffery Marx
suegalloway (at) gmail (dot) com - Sue Galloway
( You can find all the other listings for Coach contacts here: http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=18253&highlight=coach )
Ok, now that you've got a coach and a studio. I usually send out an email that looks like this (obviously read through and make changes to fit yourself):
(THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE)
Hey Guys,
OK, here are the details. They have changed a little from last time so MAKE SURE TO READ THEM CAREFULLY:
PRACTICE (add day and date)
TIME: 8:00pm to 10:00pm
PLACE: Shetler Studios
244 West 54th St.
Btwn. Broadway and 8th ave.
take elevator to 12th floor
Penthouse 4
Bring: 15 dollars and your ID (in case you have to check in at the Lobby)
OUR COACH:
Sean Clements is a member of Tantrum
Hope This Helps.
I usualy send the first email out at least a week before the practice.
First I send this message (obviously read through and make changes to fit yourself):
Hey Y'all,
Please respond only if you will DEFINATELY BE ATTENDING practice next (insert date and time here). The practice will be 2 hours long and cost 15 dollars. The practice will be held in downtown Manhattan. We'll have a coach and we'll be doing scene work and anything else you guys would like to do. Anyways, I'll send a follow-up email once I get enough responses. Please feel free to invite anyone else that you think might benefit from this practice. Please respond as soon as possible as I need enough time to setup a coach and book a place to practice.
Hope to hear from y'all and hope you're doing allright,
(your name here)
Then if I get 4 responses (5 including me) I call these places to see if I can get a room (they are listed from best to worst):
Atlantic Theater
453 W. 16th St. (9th/10th)
(212) 691-5919 ask for a 20 dollar an hour room
http://atlantictheater.com/2006/space_rentals.html
Pearl studios
500 8th ave btwn 35th and 36th
212-904-1850
www.pearlstudiosnyc.com
champions
257 w. 39th st.
212-307-7707
about $12/13 an hour cheap, but smells
http://www.championsstudios.moonfruit.com/
Shetler Studios
212-246-6655 ask for penthouse 4 and check the price because it changes
244 West 54th street
between Broadway & 8th Avenue
12th FLOOR
http://shetlerstudios.com/penthouse.html
Once I've booked a studio, I start sending out emails to coaches. I usually give them about 12 hours to contact me before I send out another email. If you get 2 possitive responses you can always tell one that someone else responded before them. They're usually cool, but as soon as you get a response from one coach be sure to let the ones that you sent emails to know that you got somebody else.
Here's a list of coaches I've used. You can look all these people up here if it helps to remind you - http://newyork.ucbtheatre.com/performers/
clemsean (at) gmail (dot) com - Sean Clements
gavinspeiller (at) yahoo (dot) com - Gavin Speiller
dominicdierkes (at) gmail (dot) com - Dominic Dierkes
gilozeri (at) gmail (dot) com - Gil Ozeri
jsantangeli (at) yahoo (dot) com - Jim Santangeli
jeffreymarxthespot (at) gmail (dot) com - Jeffery Marx
suegalloway (at) gmail (dot) com - Sue Galloway
( You can find all the other listings for Coach contacts here: http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=18253&highlight=coach )
Ok, now that you've got a coach and a studio. I usually send out an email that looks like this (obviously read through and make changes to fit yourself):
(THIS IS JUST AN EXAMPLE)
Hey Guys,
OK, here are the details. They have changed a little from last time so MAKE SURE TO READ THEM CAREFULLY:
PRACTICE (add day and date)
TIME: 8:00pm to 10:00pm
PLACE: Shetler Studios
244 West 54th St.
Btwn. Broadway and 8th ave.
take elevator to 12th floor
Penthouse 4
Bring: 15 dollars and your ID (in case you have to check in at the Lobby)
OUR COACH:
Sean Clements is a member of Tantrum
Hope This Helps.
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I feel that you shouldn't just join any ol' practice group. From my experience, Practice Groups that are just created from random people tend to fall flat or break up in a very short amount of time.
I would take some time and evaulate the people you have played with in the past and find people who really seem dedicated to the study of improv and aren't doing it just because it is fun. Take people you know you will enjoy doing scenes with or else you won't look forward to practice each week.
Practice for the sake of practice is a great idea, but I think for your enjoyment you should invest some time into starting quality group of people in which to do it with.
I would take some time and evaulate the people you have played with in the past and find people who really seem dedicated to the study of improv and aren't doing it just because it is fun. Take people you know you will enjoy doing scenes with or else you won't look forward to practice each week.
Practice for the sake of practice is a great idea, but I think for your enjoyment you should invest some time into starting quality group of people in which to do it with.
Yeah, what corey said.
I know from experience it's difficult to get on the practice/performance group bandwagon when you're not in one... kind of like relationships in that respect. My advice is the next time you're in a class get friendly with the people in the class and have drinks afterward. In other words, get stuck in the community.
People are far more likely to contemplate joining or inviting you to join a group when they like you as a person. No matter how talented you are, it's still about who you know.
And as much as I respect the practice group idea, performance is worth 10 practices. You learn a hell of a lot faster when there are people watching you.
Best of luck DoubleR
I know from experience it's difficult to get on the practice/performance group bandwagon when you're not in one... kind of like relationships in that respect. My advice is the next time you're in a class get friendly with the people in the class and have drinks afterward. In other words, get stuck in the community.
People are far more likely to contemplate joining or inviting you to join a group when they like you as a person. No matter how talented you are, it's still about who you know.
And as much as I respect the practice group idea, performance is worth 10 practices. You learn a hell of a lot faster when there are people watching you.
Best of luck DoubleR
I agree with the guys above, yet I am still willing to join a group if you and others are willing to join.
I've done two level 601s and a bunch of levels 501s. I had done a ton more back five years ago, but jumping back into improv at that level everyone already has their indie/pratrice groups so I have never been a part of one in my last year of improv.
So I am willing to join you, even though I don't know you, and if it breaks up in three weeks, oh well...
I've done two level 601s and a bunch of levels 501s. I had done a ton more back five years ago, but jumping back into improv at that level everyone already has their indie/pratrice groups so I have never been a part of one in my last year of improv.
So I am willing to join you, even though I don't know you, and if it breaks up in three weeks, oh well...
Alright kids, are we down? I'm ready to try this thing out. Email me at queenoftheworld8182@yahoo.com. I swear, I'm cool. Not crazy whatsoever. Just crazy about improv.