The UCB - IRC

[shockwave]

just making an observation and comment on this wonderful creation of an online community...

it appears that the words "Upright Citizens Brigade" are missing from the domain name, title and the immediate description of "The Improv Resource Center" and "Improv Message Boards"...

I don't intend for this post to create drama (or dare I say a "scene") but it seems to me that if the moderator of this community wanted to take the extra step in being a "Fair and Balanced" message board, there would be an acknowledgement of the affilliation with the UCB and UCB Theater. It should be plainly stated in both the title and the immediate decription.

In my opinion, it would not be just extra words added to the title and description, but it would clarify the source of moderation and the underlying community directly involved...
It also adjusts the truthfulness of what people are getting involved with and participating in (improvisors AND non-improvisors). It in fact is not THE improv resource center, but it is the improv resource center, as maintained by a major member of the UCB Theater.

and I think signing on to the UCB-IRC, would contribute to the pride of UCB students, provide more publicity for the UCB Theater and Classes, and draw in other improvisors and non-improvisors in a more truthful manner and allow them to open up more about where THEY are coming from.

but what do I know, I'm just a beatboxer...

 

[Bile Fairy]

Mullaney works for UCB, which I'm sure he loves.

Mullaney started this board because he wanted to make a personal contribution to the community.

To imply the two things are interchangable is not to "fess up" to the connection, it implies that Mullaney is not an individual who may not make seperate and personal contributions to the community without the stamp of his employer. While I think we can all see the benefits of such a collaboration, it would effectively take away the board's independance from a specific theater. What if in five years Mullaney got a job as a writer for a major TV show and had to quit the UCB, but he wanted to keep his website that he's worked on for years? Would he have to sell it to UCB? Forfeit it? There's legal shit to worry about, and seeing as how pretty much every owner of an improv website has an affiliation that they don't broadcast, I think this is par for the course.

I think it would make more sense to insert Mullaney's name as a caption to the title, and I don't think that's necessary either.

Just be happy that someone so renowned would do this all for freakin' recreation.

 

[mullaney]

Well, to answer that question... I started the IRC long before I worked for the UCB. I have always wanted this to be a place where people from across the country could converse about the long-form improvisation, not just people affiliated with the UCB.

I think it would be alienating to people who spend most of their time at other theatres for this to become officially a "UCB Board". I want it to be a resource to the whole community. I think you will find for instance that the majority of items on the calendar are for shows at other venues.

I have always had a personal bio on the site, it's not up to date, but you can clearly see that I have been working for the UCB for several years.

 

[jesster]

I am an improviser from Utah. I post more than daily. While I see a lot of folks on that are involved in the UCB Theatre, I see others from the PIT, Above Kleptomania, Improv Olympic, and so on. I think this board has New York leanings for sure, and I think UCB is well represented, but this board seems pretty open to me.

Although, I did once perform at the UCB during a marathon. I don't think that qualifies me to any affiliation, though... t-shirt or not.

-Jesster

 

[beyondthebreath]

Well, to answer that question... I started the IRC long before I worked for the UCB. I have always wanted this to be a place where people from across the country could converse about the long-form improvisation, not just people affiliated with the UCB.

i feel that overall, there is a base community of religious members to this message board. and that base is mainly composed of UCB affiliates.... I feel that a lot of everyday discussion is dominated by those affiliates. and that's not a bad thing... it just took me a while to figure that out as I would try to contribute to discussion and it was like everyone knew each other somehow... and I was left out.

and since then, I've seen a couple difficult things happen when "outsiders" that no one knows (like myself) get involved. I think that's what B.B. was freaking out about in http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=17110but
or the dicussion in this thread: http://www.improvresourcecenter.com/mb/showthread.php?t=17032&highlight=outsiders

Then again, this board is SO filled with wonderful exercises, new forms, open brainstorm sessions, get togethers, linking people together... it's a real resource center that has nothing to do with the UCB and just improv and funtimes for all..

I just wanted to offer suggestions to help prevent another big break out.... I love this board so much and there's only a few people here that I really know, and a whole bunch more that I wish I did....
Just sayin' that maybe SOME sort of acknowledgement or language concerning the/your relationship with the UCB on the main page would help....for instance, the yesand.com bbs acknowledges "YESand.com is a subsidiary of The Scene" at the top of the main page. no question, still welcome.
or maybe require new users to read the story of the IRC upon signing up? I don't know... again, ideas...

I think it would be alienating to people who spend most of their time at other theatres for this to become officially a "UCB Board". I want it to be a resource to the whole community. I think you will find for instance that the majority of items on the calendar are for shows at other venues.

I feel like the truth is that this is *unofficially* a "UCB Board". Going to the UCB Board wouldn't alienate me if I knew I was still welcome there... it's the weird little undertones I get from existing users that are well known that alienates me.

I have always had a personal bio on the site, it's not up to date, but you can clearly see that I have been working for the UCB for several years.

And you're awesome. Thank you for your dedication to this site. Without you, so many less things would happen.

...and fuck this whole idea then... i should save my big mouth for spitting beats.
-beyondthebreath
aka shockwave

 

[Ross White]

There is so much more here than just UCB. I think some of the threads you point out ignore that some "outsiders" have come in here, acted immaturely, and then loudly complained that they were being alienated by the improvisers. Not the UCB-ers. The improvisers.

When I started on the IRC, I was one of the outsiders that no one knew. I had one friend registered on the board at that time. And no one... I repeat, no one... has ever made me feel uncomfortable and alienated on this board. Not once.

So, to answer a small point from beyondthebreath's post, it's not whether or not you are a known quantity. It's whether or not you are willing to contribute to the improv community (not the UCB, IO, PIT, Playhouse, Annoyance, AK, Gotham, DSI, Hothouse SLC, KYSOff, Quick Wits, or Frank Gondorchin-loving community) in a positive and respectful way. If you can do that, you are accepted and treated with respect and positivity.



And if you don't like the Swarm, you're an asshole.

 

[Eric Appel]

Go to UCB and meet some people, dude.

 

[beyondthebreath]

word

 

[PatBaer]

The UCB has a message board of its own... but its mostly about weirdos who are obsessed with the tv show, not improv.

Besides, the UCB doesn't pay for this site, the theatre just happens to have a lot of people around. But the same can be said for the PIT.

 

[Louie4711]

... and a lot of other improv theaters around the city (Above Klepto, etc.). And people from other places other than NYC are posting more and more. The IRC is a thriving, growing entity.