Moving to NY with no clue... need advice

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BarakHardley

New Member
#1
#1
Hey... I've been doing improv now for 10 years, touring full time 5 years, and now I want to move from Northern CA to NYC in 9 months and blindly join UCB.

I am feeling a bit niave. I don't even know how to spell niave.

I heard this topic about auditions and such has been talked about alot here, but I can't find where. So, my question is, do you have any advice on how UCB works, and how I might get my foot in the door?

Cheers
 
S

shockwave

1 -> stink, 2 -> pink
#2
#2
take classes with teachers off recommendation, attend harold night religiously and drink beer, study the harold, know the decision makers but be friendly to everyone, know where mcmanus is and how to roll a joint.
take classes at least one other theater, see other shows everywhere - good for networking- royal wood, variety underground, "the project" @ juvie hall... you might get stage time faster at the PIT. be friendly, honest to everyone, check in with the irc but don't rely on it, give your all during classes and work on side projects.
 
R

R and R

determined
#3
#3
What Chris said.
UCB only holds auditions once or twice a year. The best way to get to know UCB is to take classes and maybe intern there. There are more and more independent groups forming these days, so UCB is far from the only place you can do improv. Also, UCB has a variety show called School Night where you can book a short improv set, and a show called Liquid Courage where you can workshop sketches (if that's your thing)--both excellent ways to get UCB stage time and have people there see your work.
 
EpicZero

EpicZero

Unregistered User
#9
#9
You are going to have to pay your dues again unless you came from another longform theater similar to UCB. And even that would most likely only get you past the first few levels. Also there are a lot of people at UCB. A LOT. And they all wanna be on a team. None of them have jobs and nobody gets paid. Interns get classes at a discount and there is a long line. And also there is a pointless hierchy that is shoved down your throat. But if you can handle all that shit, you should be fine.
 
S

shockwave

1 -> stink, 2 -> pink
#12
#12
this isn't ucb bashing or whatever (i can predict this thread getting sidetracked) but DON'T move to nyc FOR the UCB... move here for the improv, the pretty girls, the expensive drinks, the shoeless subway beggers, the struggle, the beautiful beautiful struggle... but don't do it for a complicated social network that you'll hurt your head on when you dive in. The UCB is the biggest campus for improv here, not neccesarily the best for your beginning style. best for harold training but other theaters/schools/venues are much better for other things.

and i reiterate the side project thing, bring your own shit, find a niche.
 
MattCoats

MattCoats

Ivory Poacher
#13
#13
donweasel said:
excuse me, but it's a diaeresis... not an umlaut.

fuckers.
Click to expand...
Correct, The umlauts are ä, ö, and ü. If naïve had Welsh origins then the dot's would be umlauts, as they are used to signify double vowels in that language.

Crazy talk indeed about avoiding the ucb, but do take classes with Armando.
 
edna

edna

footloose and fancy free
#15
#15
You now have had your first taste of what the improv community is like in New York. Everyone has there own opinion about what is best, and who is better.
Go see the shows all over, you will see a lot of the same players...the ones that end up standing out to you, ask them for their advice.
That's all I have to say about it.

Good luck duder...people are friendlier than they seem at first, dive in and introduce yourself.
 
B

BarakHardley

New Member
#16
#16
I've been going through little cycles since deciding to move out in a while. Nervous then psyched then back again. Anyways, you guys have been really kind to answer as thoroughly as you have. It's really appreciated.

Except the dot-conversation. Way awkward. Really. Well meant, but I'm all freaked out now. From now on I'll just say "innocent" and avoid the little dots.

Unless I want to talk about popular cymbal brands or Ikea furniture.

I'm still all ears about what I need to know when moving out. I'd hate to go in blind and "innocent".
 
Z-Tab

Z-Tab

Grampa Spoonbread
#17
#17
Try to get into the Del Close Marathon (all long-form improv) when registration starts, that way, you'll get to experience a little taste of the UCB and you'll have an excuse to fly out here for a crash course in NYC.
 
donweasel

donweasel

Hello, Laser?
#18
#18
BarakHardley said:
Except the dot-conversation. Way awkward. Really. Well meant, but I'm all freaked out now. From now on I'll just say "innocent" and avoid the little dots.

Unless I want to talk about popular cymbal brands or Ikea furniture.
Click to expand...
Those will almost always be umlauts. but you should also familiarize yourself with the scandinavian ø.

back on topic though. Armando Diaz.
 
edna

edna

footloose and fancy free
#19
#19
What do you mean when you say "need to know when moving out"..what kind of things would you like for us to elaborate on? Like New York things? Neighborhoods, what to bring...things like that?
 
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