CORE Improv is proud to announce another season. Already, auditions have occurred and the weather is changing. 

Things have changed over the years. With the opportunity to work with several schools over almost two decades, it's been interesting to see some commonalities between the students that would not have been imagined when we started CORE.

• More activities. More students have to join rehearsals late or leave early than ever before.
• More collaboration. To reach a decision, team captains are ...

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 If you are reading this, you are wondering whether a school/improv balance can be done. You might be asking whether one will interfere with the other. I'm sorry if you have every had to make the decision to weigh one versus the other. Some would argue that improv is the perfect remedy to the stress and structure of schoolwork. But that's not why you are reading this, is it? It's come down to time. You only have so much and you are trying to "do the right thing" and make a mature decision.

The...
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This is the last of the series created from a brief survey sent to experienced improvisers. The goal is to provide tips for newcomers to improv, so they can get different perspectives. Although there is a lot of info here, it's all valuable. My suggestion: just focus on something from the list that resonates with you. Otherwise, it can be overwhelming.

What advice do you want to share about getting comfortable and "up to speed" with performing?

Improv is like walking a tight rope with a net bel...

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The second and third sections resulting from the survey are entirely comprised of comments. No data here. Just delicious thoughts. Happy reading!

Question: What advice do you want to share about joining a new team?

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A lot of great information was provided by a lot of people. Enough info, in fact, that it will be broken up into three parts to make it digestible. I want to thank everyone who submitted, but since I have the opportunity, here are some folks who did not submit anonymously. Anonymous or not, all the comments were valuable.

-          Nate Smith

-          Katie

-          Zach Moore

-          Nick McEnery

-          Donny

-          John Langen

-          Dustin Reppell

-          Zach...

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I finally nailed it! 

So in the kitchen, I improvise, but I've always got one eye on history. When it's time for Daddy to make a meal, he has allrecipes.com on screen. But I will never, never, EVER follow the instructions. Not exactly. Just like with performance improv, I feel like I am always circling the perfect scene/chilli/burger/pork steak. Some of the trouble comes with memory - I forget what I did last time - which is where notes come into play. It's good to get notes and it's good to t...
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Improv is not just about a team. It's about these quivering globs of potential we call "people" which come together and react to each other. Over time, these globs learn more about each other and their reactions become potent. But what about the first time they come together? You know, when they cross the space between "individual glob" and "team of globs" for the first time and they have to (gulp) learn to interact with the other globs. You just want to nudge that little glob forward, don't ...
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This is a great article describing how businesses, military, and scientists are all starting to bail on PowerPoint-style presentations in favor of a more engaging, interactive, style. What is interesting is the value of improvisational skills required by the "new" approach.

My favorite excerpt:

• Andrew Askew, an assistant professor of physics at Florida State University... admits the presentations[without PowerPoint] are now considerably longer.... It's also been harder to find speakers, because...

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Let's get real. There are two reasons you don't care about the "Proactive Approach." 1) You're a human living in USA 2014 so you don't have time. 2) You're an improviser, so planning is for lames.

Okay, point taken. (Please don't get mad if I don't entirely agree with you, but what is important is that I have felt the way you do right now.) Regardless whether you do or don't take a proactive approach, the following might be useful to you.

Here are CORE's nuggets for getting rid of the creeping ...
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Do you trust yourself onstage yet?

I hope the answer is yes, but let's get real. It's not always going to be that way. Some days are better than others and there's no explanation for it. Self doubt comes like a thief in the night.

I was sitting in a meeting today, peering down at the agenda, and realized - gadzooks - I might be expected to present something here. My mind clouded and I started fumbling around on my laptop, rapidly gathering information I might need to sound like a coherent pers...
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A student once told me that the most valuable phrase they heard me tell them was "Trust Yourself." Don't get me wrong, I'm not bragging about inventing a"Just Do It" phrase. Trust Yourself isn't exactly bold new territory. In fact, I was a little fed up at the time because the performer - who is very talented - was worrying over the details of a new game he was learning. When he committed to trusting himself, he rocked the scene. It was a breakthrough for him. 

That "Trust youself" moment reso...
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I am very glad a few more members of the local STL improv community had the chance to be exposed to the phenomenon that is the Missouri Thespian Conference this year. If there is anywhere in the world where the interest level on the improvometer gets further into the red zone than at MST, I am not sure I want to go there. MST is about as much as I ever want to handle. Anything more would be riotous. 

The key is that high school students have this time set aside for them to delve into something...
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Great article, but again it takes a leap to get it back from musical improv to theatrical improv. One day, some grad student is going to call me and say, "We want to study the mind of an improvisor." That will be a great day,

http://seedmagazine.com/content/article/the_improvisational_brain/


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I found this fascinating, considering what we do. This neurologist studied the differences between of memorized rap and jazz versus improvised versions. The scientist admits that is all preliminary research, but watch it anyway and see if you think you can make some logical leaps to theatrical improv.

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162 games in the regular season. The game ends either after nine innings, or after a tie ends, whichever comes first. And what do the innings consist of? 90% of the game is an interaction between a batter, a pitcher, and a catcher that goes like this: Pitch. Catch.

Occasionally, there is a swing. Only about 1 out of 4 at bats result in a batter getting on base. According to the ERA or the average starting pitcher, each team will probably score 4 runs or fewer, per game.

People call this a bori...
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August is approaching and with it, new improvisors. Would you please comment here with some advice for the beginning improvisor?

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We're in the home stretch towards SLIC Fest...

As we been plugging away at SLIC Fest, we have been impressed by the people who have offered their unsolicited assistance. This is wonderful for these reasons:

A) One of the goals of SLIC Fest has been to contribute to and bolster the St. Louis improv community. So having people other than us so such interest was a big deal.

B) We learned a little more about what is going on around town.

C) It's always heartwarming to see people get excited about a ...
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So, you want to know what a Shortform Show will look like to the audience? Here are some basic components. The order and timing of these should be jotted down and walked out, from point to point, well before the first performance by all the performers. You cannot possibly assume every contingency just by using paper. You need to feel out the issues in real space.


Preshow
- Call Time?
- Warmups?
-Presets: What items need to be where? Pens? Paper? Whiteboards? Erasers?
- Preshow: What will the audie...
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So you want to put together a shortform show? Here's a list of questions that should help you get going.

Practical Issues:

• What is the budget?
• Is this a one-time event or are you hoping to turn this into a regular performance?
• Do you have a space and the agreements to support that?
  
• How many audience members can the space seat?
• Are you charging for tickets?
• Are you getting money for charity?
• Who will sponsors or patrons be writing checks to?
  
• How will you market and publicize?
  
• How many performers? 
• Uni...

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A friend of mine, Matt, is a fan of all things interesting. He brought this to my attention. It's a theory adopted by military fighter pilots.

OODA Loop

O = Observe
O = Orient
D = Decide
A = Act

The loop goes in that order, but always repeats for the person engaged in conflict. Here's the massive quote: "An entity (whether an individual or an organization) that can process this cycle quickly, observing and reacting to unfolding events more rapidly than an opponent, can thereby "get inside" the op...
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Missouri Thespian Conference was, as always, very rewarding. One of the perks of being an improv coach is getting to "Prov It Up" with hundreds of excited students. It's a privilege.

Steven Vance and I ran Improv Bootcamp, which uses pace as a tool for getting instincts and heart (or, as Steven likes to call it, Micro and Meta) to think in sync. So scenes were done a hyper-speed and in awkward, slow, pensive speed.

What did we learn?

1. Slow scenes are better when the relationships are about rel...
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Over time, the mind of an improviser goes through a change that  in many ways it mirrors the development of a child moving into adulthood. It also mirrors spiritual development so closely, improv studies could be a powerful tool for churches and youth groups.

It's probably a lot more complex than this, but growth as an improviser seems dependent on how one handles a conversation between three points: 1) the outside world 2) instincts, and 3) the heart. Take the word "heart" how you will, but ...
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"Imagine you are a child standing on a sidewalk, watching your parents in a parade. They are walking along, handing out treats. You are very excited to see your heroes come closer and your heart pounds as you anticipate the chance to nab one of the candies that comes from them. But withing a few feet, you are shocked to see they only give candy to specific people. In fact, they are ignore many of the parade watchers, and they only give candy to specific adults - people who trade knowing winks...
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Hello Doctor. I submit for you today Exhibit A, B and C.
 
Exhibit A
Most of us have had anxiety dreams. Ever had dream where you walk into class to take an exam and you realize you did not study? Or better yet, show up to perform the lead role in a play and realize you do not know your lines?

Exhibit B
If you improvise, you probably have had a conversation that goes something like this:

    OTHER PERSON: So where are you going?
    YOU: Improv rehearsal.
    OP: Improv rehearsal?
    Y: Yes
    OP: I...
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This past weekend was the Quad Show at Parkway North. All of the four schools came together and battled for the title of, well, winner. (There's not really an incentive for winning. It's more about making the audience happy.) One scene in particular stood out to me for reasons that wouldn't stand out to the audience.

Hunh? Let me lay it out for you.

Here's the scene: Shortform. Blind Line. Four students on stage at the same time. The plot is three children want to buy a nuclear submarine and a ...
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In general, you are confident. You always choose your words wisely and delivery them eloquently. When people describe you, they use words like classy, composed, and posed. When you walk into the room, other people smile your way because - gosh darn it - you make them feel better about themselves, just by proximity.

What is above describes no one I know.

I have known people who come close to this description in one way or another, but when you get down to it, we're all broken people. It's part ...
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I read this and found it interesting that the announcers for the matches are improv comedians.

Quidditch World Cup Flies Into NY

It makes you grateful that someone saw the value of having an improv comedian here.
Also, it makes you wonder about real-world (although, arguably "real-world" might be stretching it here) applications of improv outside of theatrical improv.

These performers are being asked to step into a situation where they have no script, no background, think on their feet and be fun...
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Dry-run a test-show in actual rehearsal for the rest of the players.

This would be the final step in what I consider to be a fully-prepared Ringleader. It seems like the most obvious one, right? It's also the most nerve-rattling. I mean, you're doing it for your peers. If you've managed to build up a good ensemble, then you care about what they think a lot more than you care about the audience anyway. And since the new Ringleader cares about them, it's likely their head is a-tumble with all th...
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Dry-run the introductions to a show about a few times to the satisfaction of the artistic director.

This is another step in preparing to be solid at one of the "Ringleader" positions.

The beginning - the period of time when the audience meets you, the performers, your format, and even improv - is going to set the tone for the whole evening. It's just like any interpersonal introduction: it has a tendency to steer how the rest of the relationship is going to go. The introductions of your shows ...
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Prove memorization of essential, scripted pieces

I have found it helpful, when building a solid program for the nominated Ringleaders to go through a kind of oral exam. They need to do the homework and they need to prove they can recite their scripted pieces to their team. Whether that means having the group gather around with flash cards for "Intro," "Chain Murder Mystery," etc. or having a tenured Host "haze" a newbie Host one-on-one by having them blitz through their lines, it doesn't matte...
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This is a continuation of the series on how a beginner can be a good "Ringleader" which I have defined as anyone who does Host, Emcee, Lights, or Sound roles.

"Go through a series of training rehearsals"

Two things to get out of this immediately: 1) Series 2) Training.

1.) Series of rehearsals - You cannot learn what you need to do overnight. You cannot learn it by watching. You cannot learn it by reading about it. You can only learn how to be a Ringleader by doing, and the safest way is with r...
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Not everyone has aptitude they think they are good at.

Let's look at American Idol as an example. Time after time, Simon and Co have to tell aspiring pop-stars that they are, actually, terrible singers. It's become a cliche scene in reality television for someone to rage at the judges, begging for another chance, fall out, break into tears, etc. It's because they have deluded themselves into thinking they have a talent they do not have.

So when school improv teams are getting started, beware ...
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I'm reaching out to Hosts and Emcees. Two slightly different terms for people with similar goals.

•  "Host" is usually a name that is bestowed on a member of a house group. The Host is usually a short-form device. All of their functions fall within a single show or scene - They introduce the game(s), often keep score, set time limits, solicit suggestions from the audience, etc.
• Emcee is someone who acts as the through-line for a series of sets. There might be several groups performing, but the em...

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First, the lecture part....

Respect for authority is not really the first virtue someone thinks of when they picture the stereotypical improviser. I had a boss who, knowing I coached improv, took me aside and told me a story. In hushed tones, she recounted a tale of some improv-pals her niece brought over for Thanksgiving. She described their behavior as nightmarish - not paying attention, rude, unfocused... you know the type. She was concerned for my well being, knowing you (the ubiquitous yo...
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"All in the Timing" is a great theme for captains to live by. There are several issues in regards to timing that a captain has to keep in mind for notes. I always liked leaders who were capable of delivering that golden nugget of information when it would be seen for what it is - a golden nugget. At high noon, it shines best. Delivered at night, the nugget is just another stone.

So here are some timing questions to consider. Hopefully, you can answer yes to all these questions before giving t...
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You always have to fear for captains of academic improv teams.

With little or no leadership experience, they have to learn how to guide a group of
A) peers
B) students
C) improvisers.

That kind of person 
A) does not automatically accept their leader
B) questions everything
C) intentionally accelerates their wits.

That personality profile would unnerve most seasoned leaders of 40+ years of age, but that's the job description for a relative rookie to handle. But hey, it's an awesome opportunit...
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