Improv Resource Center - Forums
Rookie Card is fast approaching it's one year anniversary and to commemorate it I'm going to write an essay on how to start an Improv group from scratch (with very little experience). I may or may not use this in a big project I have planned but it'll be a fun exercise in any case. Maybe it'll even inspire someone to start a new group someday.
While I'm going to draw most of the material from my own experience with the Card, additional input from people who have gone through the same thing can only help. Specific topics I plan to cover are below. If you have opinions about these or stories about going through them I welcome your input. Really anything you have to say about your first group would be helpful.
*Finding Members (How/Where to Recruit, Friends vs. Strangers, Devotion vs. Funniness, How selective to be)
*Leadership (Democracy vs. Single Leader, Coaches and Directors)
*Practice (Frequency? What to do)
*Group Dynamics (Hanging Out Outside of Practice, Inter-group Drama, Asking someone to leave, when someone wants to leave)
*Picking a Name (When? How?)
*Performing (When to start, Finding a venue, Advertising)
It doesn't seem long ago I came the these boards for the first time asking for advice about the group that would become Rookie Card. I still may not be able to find my ass on stage with two hands and an improvised map but one of the biggest joys of 2009 for me has been performing with and participating in the evolution of Rookie Card. I hope this essay might encourage others to experience the same thing.
Thank you in advance for your help.
While I'm going to draw most of the material from my own experience with the Card, additional input from people who have gone through the same thing can only help. Specific topics I plan to cover are below. If you have opinions about these or stories about going through them I welcome your input. Really anything you have to say about your first group would be helpful.
*Finding Members (How/Where to Recruit, Friends vs. Strangers, Devotion vs. Funniness, How selective to be)
*Leadership (Democracy vs. Single Leader, Coaches and Directors)
*Practice (Frequency? What to do)
*Group Dynamics (Hanging Out Outside of Practice, Inter-group Drama, Asking someone to leave, when someone wants to leave)
*Picking a Name (When? How?)
*Performing (When to start, Finding a venue, Advertising)
It doesn't seem long ago I came the these boards for the first time asking for advice about the group that would become Rookie Card. I still may not be able to find my ass on stage with two hands and an improvised map but one of the biggest joys of 2009 for me has been performing with and participating in the evolution of Rookie Card. I hope this essay might encourage others to experience the same thing.
Thank you in advance for your help.