Moving to NY with no clue... need advice
- Thread starter BarakHardley
- Start date
My two cents
Here's what I'd say to do. Some of it is repeating earlier advice in the thread, but that's ok.
First of all, I can't overstate how important interning at UCB is in terms of getting to know and become part of the community. In addition to making your classes much more affordable, it's the time when you get to know everybody and start to carve out your niche. See if you can get an intern position on Harold night (Tuesday), and if you can't get Harold night, try to get Thursday. There's usually a long waiting list for intern positions, so try to line it up now so it'll be ready for you when you get here. Call the theatre and they'll tell you who to contact about this.
Get right into classes at UCB, take all the levels. When you get to level 500 classes, don't feel weird about taking many many classes at this level - try to study with every teacher. When this level was called 3b, I took 4 or 5 of them, and look at me now, giving advice on a message board. Don't feel like you need to rush into form classes in order to feel like a success - they'll always be there.
Along with interning, the other most important advice you'll receive is to take classes with Armando Diaz. Take every class Armando offers. He's the best. He taught many of your other teachers. He has a form named after him. His class "Instant Brilliance" is the best improv class you'll take, and many people take it repeatedly as well. Start with Armando's classes as you begin at UCB, or at very least get into Instant Brilliance around the time you're taking your third or fourth UCB class.
She doesn't teach classes super regularly, but Christina Gausas is an absolutely brilliant teacher. If you ever have the chance to study with her, make sure you don't miss it.
Take classes at the P.I.T. too. I haven't studied with all of their teachers, but they're all well regarded. I can, however, personally recommend any class taught by Ali Farahnakkian or Ed Herbstram.
From the time you begin level one at UCB, strive to always be in a practice group of some sort. The time you spend in practice outside of your classes can be invaluable, and you'll most likely have as many breakthroughs in these practices as in classes. Ask around for coach recommendations. After you've been at it for a while, and you're practicing with people regularly, try to put a group together and start doing shows. Variety Underground, School Night, and Ash Wednesday are good places to put up a group in a supportive, fun atmosphere.
While you're doing all of this, watch shows like it's going out of style. Harold Night and the Project, the Swarm, Assscat, Mother, Respecto, Instant Cinema, etc. Check out Dorff and Gausas when they play. I'm partial to The Mosaic as well. But mainly just see tons and tons of shows. There's never an improv show that you can't learn from, no matter what level you are, and no matter what level the perfomers are.
If it sounds like I'm telling you to do a lot, I am. But it's important. How hard you work is the only thing that will always be in your control. Work, work, work - that's my advice. Just going to one class a week and a show or two is like going jogging a couple times a week. It'll get you in ok shape, but you'll never dunk a basketball. And that's what you want to do, dunk a basketball. This is not a metaphor. Yes it is.
Have fun!!!
Here's what I'd say to do. Some of it is repeating earlier advice in the thread, but that's ok.
First of all, I can't overstate how important interning at UCB is in terms of getting to know and become part of the community. In addition to making your classes much more affordable, it's the time when you get to know everybody and start to carve out your niche. See if you can get an intern position on Harold night (Tuesday), and if you can't get Harold night, try to get Thursday. There's usually a long waiting list for intern positions, so try to line it up now so it'll be ready for you when you get here. Call the theatre and they'll tell you who to contact about this.
Get right into classes at UCB, take all the levels. When you get to level 500 classes, don't feel weird about taking many many classes at this level - try to study with every teacher. When this level was called 3b, I took 4 or 5 of them, and look at me now, giving advice on a message board. Don't feel like you need to rush into form classes in order to feel like a success - they'll always be there.
Along with interning, the other most important advice you'll receive is to take classes with Armando Diaz. Take every class Armando offers. He's the best. He taught many of your other teachers. He has a form named after him. His class "Instant Brilliance" is the best improv class you'll take, and many people take it repeatedly as well. Start with Armando's classes as you begin at UCB, or at very least get into Instant Brilliance around the time you're taking your third or fourth UCB class.
She doesn't teach classes super regularly, but Christina Gausas is an absolutely brilliant teacher. If you ever have the chance to study with her, make sure you don't miss it.
Take classes at the P.I.T. too. I haven't studied with all of their teachers, but they're all well regarded. I can, however, personally recommend any class taught by Ali Farahnakkian or Ed Herbstram.
From the time you begin level one at UCB, strive to always be in a practice group of some sort. The time you spend in practice outside of your classes can be invaluable, and you'll most likely have as many breakthroughs in these practices as in classes. Ask around for coach recommendations. After you've been at it for a while, and you're practicing with people regularly, try to put a group together and start doing shows. Variety Underground, School Night, and Ash Wednesday are good places to put up a group in a supportive, fun atmosphere.
While you're doing all of this, watch shows like it's going out of style. Harold Night and the Project, the Swarm, Assscat, Mother, Respecto, Instant Cinema, etc. Check out Dorff and Gausas when they play. I'm partial to The Mosaic as well. But mainly just see tons and tons of shows. There's never an improv show that you can't learn from, no matter what level you are, and no matter what level the perfomers are.
If it sounds like I'm telling you to do a lot, I am. But it's important. How hard you work is the only thing that will always be in your control. Work, work, work - that's my advice. Just going to one class a week and a show or two is like going jogging a couple times a week. It'll get you in ok shape, but you'll never dunk a basketball. And that's what you want to do, dunk a basketball. This is not a metaphor. Yes it is.
Have fun!!!