How come no one in in LA really uses the IRC ?

N

Neil

New Member
#1
#1
hey...

just curious,
but when i was in NYC, the IRC was huge,
people used it all the time

for social stuff, getting the word out about shows, social networking
talking about the trivial and the earthshattering issues of the day
.......and improv, of course.

anyway, i havent really heard of anyone here in LA using it,
and was just wondering why,
and if there was anyway to change it?

i used to have IRC as a bookmark, and check it every day, to see what was going on, catch up
but here nothing really happens for weeks on end on the LA forum
so i'll check in with the general forums from time to time, to see whats going on back "home" in NYC, but thats about it.

it seems like half the improvisors i know from NYC have moved to LA these last few years,
so maybe the IRC is just lagging,
anyway... just wondering, hoping it would change,

there's a pretty awesome, but pretty disjointed improv community here in LA
with UCB and IO dominating, but some other small theaters that seem to be cool, and have something to offer, but other than some cross-traffic between UCB and IO, they all seem to operate pretty independently of each other, which is why i think something like the IRC catching on would be good.

i dont know if that'll happen, but it would be cool if it did.

anyway, just my .02
 
Pantyhose

Pantyhose

New Member
#2
#2
I completely agree. I moved back to LA from NY, so I'm in the same boat.

I have been trying to spread the word lately (like putting it up on my facebook status)

The community out here is huge, we should stop using facebook for plugging shit, and start using irc!!!!
 
Gwyn

Gwyn

Old School
#4
#4
I've been hoping that it would catch on since I moved out in '98. Dude, give it up.
There are a TON of us out here from Chicago and NY (IRC was big in Chicago before Mullaney moved to NY), and it's just exactly as soon as someone moves out, they stop going on the IRC.
I dunno if they're just too busy pursuing their careers...or what. I'm always on, because I've always had a desk job. I probably wouldn't be on as much if I didn't.

Also, I secretly think that people are afraid to say anything that might "hurt" them in some way. And maybe the IRC represents a place where you might offend someone, inadvertantly or not.
 
Gwyn

Gwyn

Old School
#6
#6
Exactly, but I don't think you ever will. As I say, I think people are concerned about offending the wrong person and "hurting" their careers out here.
 
spacemud

spacemud

Hello, my name is José.
#7
#7
I've kind of wondered that, too, in the past, but I think it's just a matter of circumstance.

When Mullaney started the IRC in Chicago, there were obviously a lot of Chicago folks on the board (some of whom still post here and there).

A large part of the IRC's existance came while Mullaney was in New York, which is why there's such a large base of NY folks.

I think it's just easier for people to jump in when someone who is active in their community hips them to it.

Also, I think it just depends what other message boards or communication resources are out there.

In Chicago, there's ChicagoImprov.org (plus one or two other boards, and a few that popped up and then went down - ImprovApiary, anyone?).

Since the UCB Green Room forums popped up, a lot of UCB-NY folks that used to post on the IRC in general seemed to taper off a bit.

L.A. had PlayImprov.com, but I don't know that they ever got the kind of momentum that's needed to keep things running. (It now redirects to the CIF webpage.)

Factor in MySpace and Facebook, and I'm sure that folks just don't have the time anyway.
 
Gwyn

Gwyn

Old School
#9
#9
It's not just NY.

I am one of the Chicago IRC people who still posts now that I'm in L.A. In fact IRC was my touchstone when I first moved.

Anyone remember when IO West tried to start forums? NO ONE would say anything real or honest there. It was pretty funny, actually. In fairness, I know that whenever anyone bitched about anything, they were called out on it in real life by...er...someone at the theatre. So...why would anyone?
So it lasted like 5 seconds.
 
Pantyhose

Pantyhose

New Member
#10
#10
I didn't read all the posts thoroughly so I don't know if anyone mentioned facebook, but that's where the LA promotion happens. I am going to IO tonight only because I heard about the show through an invite.

BLAME FACEBOOK!
 
Meljo

Meljo

loudmouth soup
#11
#11
Greetings! I'm moving to LA after the new year, and was hoping to rekindle my relationship with the IRC in an attempt to know what's going on in the community a little better... but after reading this thread, it seems like facebook might be the place to do that. Can anybody tell me where I might find y'all on facebook?

Yay!
Meljo
 
Hawkins

Hawkins

Rogue
#12
#12
Meljo said:
Greetings! I'm moving to LA after the new year, and was hoping to rekindle my relationship with the IRC in an attempt to know what's going on in the community a little better... but after reading this thread, it seems like facebook might be the place to do that. Can anybody tell me where I might find y'all on facebook?

Yay!
Meljo
Click to expand...
if you're at PHIF, talk to BOC (aka noahkey) or myself
 
A

Adali Stevenson

New Member
#16
#16
PlayImprov sadly took a dive when Alan Hawkins moved to Chicago. But it's good to know somebody read it.

There is, however, a community of people out here.

UCB has the most heat. IO has probably the strongest community. Second City is in a transitional period right now, as they've changed artistic directors and are transforming how their performance aspect works. Westside Eclectic has a fantastic community of people, including a wonderful contingent from Austin, who are putting up great stuff. FanaticSalon is the newest kid on the block, but Jane and Jeff have great people involved and, as the local improv theaters go, probably do more for their performance groups than any other theater. Bang, Hothouse and ACME are worth checking out, though I don't have a lot of personal experience with them. From people I know, LA Connection might not be what you're looking for, though it depends on you.

I wrote a piece on PlayImprov, and I still stand by it today, which said that the big difference between LA and Chicago is that LA is Chicago without infrastructure. There aren't structures waiting for you to join out here. On the other hand, you're free to build them yourself. It's much more self-directed, but, if you're willing to work, I think there's more opportunity out west.

That said, I loved the Austin scene, and I can't wait to get out to Chicago for Sketchfest.

If you're really interested in seeing good improv out here, and meeting people who are interested in fomenting community, see these groups: Billyhawk; Hello?; Shiner; Garguloconnel; Whatever variant of Quartet, Trio, or Dassariski is going at the moment; The 313; Lublin, Ross and Tubbs; and to toot my own horn, Nerdvana. If you're looking to perform, talk to Jeremy Lamb at Westside, Jeff Hawkins or Stephen James at the IO blackbox (Friday Night Frankenstein or The Social). and Puppetropolis at Fanatic.

If writing is your game, talk to Mike Hughes about PopCo., Big News, or Mainstage Sketch.

If you've got questions about individual theaters, Jeff or BOC can tell you about IO, I can tell you about Second City, Todd Stashwick knows everything there is to know about Hothouse, and there are, I believe, accounts on here owned by UCB an Westside Eclectic.

In terms of performance space:

Free -
Westside
Fanatic
IO West Blackbox (Social and Frankenstein in particular)

Free with a catch -

IO Mainstage (if they ask you)
Second City (Saturday nights, depending on the take of the Executive Director)

Pay to play:
Second City
IO West mainstage

As you can see, I don't know a lot about UCB. Hopefully someone else ca fill that in.

There's a lot here for you, but you've got to make the effort to find it.
 
Gwyn

Gwyn

Old School
#18
#18
To be fair, I don't think the original question had as much to do with where to go to DO improv, as why improvisors in L.A. don't convene here, on the IRC.
Even people who once did regularly post here, disappear into a black hole when they move to L.A.
 
Hawkins

Hawkins

Rogue
#19
#19
it's mostly NY centric, and it's much more "cool" to be up on "the biz" than what a bunch of improvisors are doing.

many aren't cubicle monkeys

there's nice weather and plenty of other things to do here

call it a guess
 
A

Adali Stevenson

New Member
#20
#20
Thanks, spacemud. Did Galapagos ever get added to the OOB videos page? I've been wanting to catch your show. Looks like Stephen and I will be going to Sketchfest in Chicago this year, which should be fun.

As to the original post, yeah, I agree with Hawkins that the NY Centric angle probably has a good bit to do with it. And, perhaps, just a general lack of use for message boards. But it's not an indication that nothing is going on. It seems like all the major theaters out here had at least one show at CIF (hail to the Stumps), and there are some killer LA groups at Sketchfest this year. Ten West has the honor of doing my favorite silent sketch of all time, Summer of Tears is still fresh off taking best sketch of the fest at Aspen, and Stephen/Scott are incredible.

But yes, the communication out here happens on the old information superhighway - at the bar.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top