Preparation Poll

[benorbeen]

To function as improviser, how do you approach the performance?

On the walk to the space, do you try to germinate seeds of ideas to further flesh out in performance?

Do you think of something just before the curtain?

Do you rely on an opening or other thing inside the performance itself?

Do you plant foot in scene and let the ideas come?

Try to fit your vote into one of the options in the poll, understanding that it represents a good bulk of the time, not all the time.

 

[funnyerik9]

The most I ever "pre-plan" is to have a first line of dialogue ready when I get out there, but I usually come up with that right before the initiation. Most of my ideas come as supporting other people. We did this scene yesterday at Second City LA where two girls were praying in a church and one steals a candle. THe other chastises her, but the girl who took the candle says, hey, they're cheaper than at the store. Then I came out and grabbed about 5 and said "Sorry to bother you. I'm having a party" and walked off the stage. After that, the scene was set. There's no way you can plan something like that before the moment. It's all about training your brain.

-Erik:up:

 

[Joey Michaels]

I preplan everything, usually right down to the dialogue and blocking. My company then learns the dialogue and blocking that I've invented.

Sometimes, I will hand out to the audience little cards telling them what suggestions to yell and when. They sure like yelling in unison.

I find that this scripting and rehearsal results in more cohesive improvisation.

JM
SCR

 

[goldfish boy]

benorbeen, meet Joey Michaels. Joey Michaels, benorbeen. I think you're made for each other.