Showing Tag: "st." (Show all posts)

Baseball and Improv: How to Make it Intense

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Saturday, October 22, 2011, In : Performance tips 
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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Getting Ready for a New Season

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Friday, July 15, 2011, In : Performance tips 
August is approaching and with it, new improvisors. Would you please comment here with some advice for the beginning improvisor?

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Defeating The Yap Monster

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Friday, November 26, 2010, In : Performance tips 
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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Gorking Out Vs. Stage Presence

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Friday, November 19, 2010, In : Performance tips 
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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For Hosts, Emcees, Lights, and Sound: Dry Run the Intro

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Friday, November 12, 2010, In : Host 
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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Basics for Starting an Improv Team

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Friday, November 12, 2010, In : Ensemble 
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...

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For Hosts, Emcees, Lights, and Sound: Memorization

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Tuesday, November 9, 2010, In : Host 
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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For Hosts, Emcees, Lights, and Sound: Repetition is Key

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Monday, November 8, 2010, In : Host 
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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For Hosts, Emcees, Lights, and Sound: Get Nominated For Your Role

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Saturday, November 6, 2010, In : Host 
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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Tip 2 For Captains of Improv Teams: All in the Timing

Posted by Ben Swoboda on Friday, October 22, 2010, In : Notes 
"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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