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Archive for May, 2009

Improving your way through life’s events

Friday, May 22nd, 2009

In my “day life” I run a non-profit dedicated to humanely controlling the cat population via spay/neuter services.  Earlier in the month, I produced the annual fundraiser which had me wearing many different hats as I tried to juggle event production with my role as hostess.  What does this have to do with improv?  Actually, quite a bit.

I remember feeling awkward and stiff last year and wondered how I could be more natural and comfortable.  I had an “Aha!” moment when I made the decision to treat the event as I would an improv exercise.  I created a character and based my words and movements around how I envisioned that character to be.  The character came from my dress.  As I slipped on the black cocktail dress, I imagined how that character would engage people, how that character would walk, how that character would make her remarks.  This exercise is an old favorite in basic improv classes that teach students different methods of creating characters.  Here, I was applying it to my own life!

As I embraced the concept of the event as an improv performance, I began to loosen up and worry less.  Because I was more relaxed, I was able to schmooze donors with ease, address the group of 200 with fun and friendly words and actions, and, I was able to let go and allow the event to unfold rather than trying to orchestrate every move before it happened.

These experiences are all key components of improv:

1. Create a character from an item.
2. Stay loose and flexible.
3. Let things happen naturally.

And how wonderful was it to know that my years of improv training were helping me with my career?  This is the best kept secret. Improv training isn’t just for the purpose of being an actor or performing on stage.  It helps people work better, interact better and relate better.  All of us can benefit from this training even if we never step foot on stage!

The next time someone tells me they could “never do that” when I tell them I do improv, I’m going to ask them if they work, if they converse, if they interact with people.  If the answer is “yes,” then there’s no excuse not to take an improv class or workshop. The more relaxed we are relating to others, the better our relationships can be.  And with better relationships, aren’t we more successful personally and professionally?  My character says, “Absolutely!”- Amy Angelilli

Bovine Metropolis Theater - 1527 Champa Street, Denver, CO 80202 - 303-758-4722  To find out about our corporate training workshop, go to www.bovinemetropolis.com

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A new perspective…

Tuesday, May 19th, 2009

Last year Jake Sharon and I decided to co-coach one of the Battle Royale house teams. We held auditions, selected our cast (not an easy task), scheduled rehearsal dates, worked to get group unity, and finally hit the stage. What a trip it’s been.

 The mechanics of running a group of 7 people with lives outside improv is tough but I’ve found  an even greater challenge. When we rehearse I now must assess what is happening on stage from a new viewpoint. It is a balance 0f discerning , discarding, or altering what the group is doing.

The role of director has rewarded and humbled me. The concentration factor is immense. I must stay totally locked into the action onstage while weighing what is working, who is shining, could this be better, or should I kill this scene or let it continue hoping that it revives? (That last option is tough - I’ve seen some brilliant stuff emerge from the ashes of a dead scene. Have also witnessed the putrefication of stage work while hoping for improvement.)  Suddenly I found myself being the one who says thumbs up or down to almost any aspect of play. And believe me, it is a leap of skills to have the temerity to say, in not so many words, what I say goes. I defer to the group’s collective consciouness all the time to assure that my observations are in line with what they feel is really  happening. Exponential communication!

The players in the Fillers have been stellar; they came in second at the Battle Royale’s March Madness competition. They give consistently entertaining sets and have become a group that listens, respects, and has fun.

What has surprised me is that I have learned so much to help my own play. In seeing what works, what doesn’t and, most importantly, why, I’ve taken those observations to my own stage work. Our brain is good enough that it can take learning from one arena and apply to all the other things we do.

The ride has been fun and I’ve received so much more than I’ve given. A whole new view of what I love.

Posted in Keith Rains | 1 Comment »