by Andy Sloey:
So you want to start your very own improv team - the first
question is usually "Who's gonna be on it?" The answer is deceptively
simple - the best people to have on your team are those who you find
interesting. People who make you laugh. People who you genuinely enjoy
being around. Your friends!
Improv is built on play, and just like in
childhood, we're best suited playing with our friends. Don't have any
friends in your local improv community? Make some! Take a class, go to
shows, seek people out. Take note of those who light the fire of
creativity in you and mark them as future teammates. Once you've
assembled your group, things tend to get a little trickier. You'll need
to schedule regular practices and this can prove to be daunting
considering your busy high school, college, or work schedules. You may
lose people to scheduling issues, and should be prepared to potentially
go through several
iterations before you find a lasting formula. Don't get
discouraged! Finding the formula is a valuable process during which
you'll learn a lot about yourself, your play style, and what qualities
you value in other improvisers.
Once you've got your perfect team, its now on to building that
ensemble! Make practice a priority, get a regular coach to give you an
outside perspective and get up on stage. Also, and just as important as
practice, is hanging out! Go to the park, dinner, have a party,
whatever. Supporting one another on stage takes a lot of trust and
group mind, which is formed organically over time.
