Good books or sites on solo improv?

[Bjorn]

I'm an experienced improv player (mostly short form), and I know want to dive into solo improv. Are there any good books or sites that you can recommend to me?

I'm thinking about writing & playing a solo play, using improvisation to generate material and get a first global structure. I then want to create a solo play out of it. I'm not sure yet as to how much of the play will be improvised and how much will be scripted (in one way or the other).
I also specifically want to add (improvised) songs/musical parts to it as well. And use personal experiences that I have dealt with or am still dealing with, as the basis for the play.

I really appreciate any pointers you can give me. Solo improv is very new to me, but I'm very excited to dive into it. And to find out how solo improv can help me to realize my plan/dream.

 

[mike short]

I do a solo improv show called Legion. In general, I tell people to really figure out what they love about improv and performing. There you'll find the great seed of an idea. Like, certain structures may make sense logically, but they won't ring true to you while you're using them. Make sure you really love the idea you want to play with.

The major note for any solo performer to learn is this: Pay no attention to that nagging self-editor that is inside your brain. He's gonna shout at you and tell you to stop because what you're doing is stupid. He is wrong. Power through that and keep on improvising.

I once overheard someone say they didn't like solo improv because it felt to them like watching someone write a sketch show. And while I don't precisely agree, there is an element of truth to that in terms of what to avoid. You can't write the next couple of lines ahead as you're performing. You have to strive to keep every moment as fresh as possible. An audience can feel if you figured out the next 5 lines already and you're just speaking them by rote. Each line needs to be really improvised.

I'm a bit of a purist about improv; I've never used it to divine material for scripted work, so I imagine the approach is a little different.

For music, naturally either get an accompaniest or, if you want to be totally solo, you can take inspiration from Jill Bernard's Drum Machine. She has a drum machine set up that plays nearly constantly throughout the show. She weaves in and out of song along with the drum machine.

Feel free to PM me. I've been doing Legion for about two solid years now, I love talking shop about it.

 

[botto]

The IRC podcast with Kurt Braunholer has interesting insights on solo improv.

Also 'improvise' by mick napier has exercises you can do on your own.

 

[Mr. Stampede]

Bjorn -

The template you have sounds really good! What I always tell solo improv students is to try it out in some sort of test situation - an open mic, or a cabaret, or as part of a larger evening of improv. Once you try it out, the piece itself tells you what it wants to be, that's the only way you'll know what parts to expand and what parts to let go. You have to get up and do it.

I developed a solo improv show, "Drum Machine" and a scripted solo show, "Medea Medea" at the same time, using some of the same elements. So they might not turn out to be the same show!