For the next few days I will stream (on Facebook) mini coaching sessions with (aspiring) improv teachers. They will come into my Zoom room & we will talk about 1 topic they are struggling with.
You can tune in & learn.
Not just that...
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Basically I have been having this back-and-forth with my students in the teachers course.
Them: “I want to learn how to side coach.”
Me: “I don’t want you to focus on that”
Them: “But I need to learn it”
Me: “You do not”
Them: “But…”
Me: “No”
Them: “Please?”
Me: “Grmbl…”
But then, after a few days of grumbling and growling I realized why I felt like that. And answered anyway.
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Getting into your head: it is one of the most common challenges in improv. (And for some of us: in life.)
That is why I am always looking for new ways to incorporate more physicality in my improv classes. It makes players worry less, it makes the class less talky and -lordy- it makes all scenes better.
When we are teaching either online or offline with distance, having students use their body is not that obvious. But for this month’s tip I would like to remind you that using our body is not just flapping one’s arms or crawling over a stage.
The point is…
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That is how I this week I followed my own advice of how to stay happy and sane. I executed the 5 simple exercises from the In The Meantime Guide.
Where did I get that guide? Here: www.lauradoorneweerd.com/free-guide. For free!
I made it for myself and shared it with others, who also needed an fun and simple way to work on their craft.
Last week I went on live video every day. To talk about the 10 minute exercise and actually do it myself. Here is what I got out of it:
1. Feel the feels
After free writing on 'Why I love improv' I followed the brainstorm exercise…
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It might feel like the worst possible time to start teaching improv (more). Sure you like the idea of spending more time on the thing that you love, but not now. Right?
But give me 10 minutes of your time. And let me share with you why actually… This is the perfect time.
For your own sake. But also for that of the world.
Click on the video.
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Any of the changes you are facing under Corona requires a deeper level of ‘yes and’. Students may look at you for answers how to do improv classes now. Answers you may not have. What really helped me is to realise: I don’t have to know it all.
For that reason I tell my students that we are in this together. That together we figure out how to do this safely while having the most fun possible.
Here is an exercise you can use to do exactly that.
Exercise: Yes, let’s (adapt)
Funny improv is amazing. A student that wants to be funny all the time, that can be challenging.
Funny is not the only flavour in our metaphorical spice cabinet. In improvised theatre we also try different flavours. Some pepper, some basil, some chilli. Some beautiful, some enraging, some memorable.
But how do you teach that to your students?
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It costed a thousand euros. So much money. Especially then in 2008. But I did.
When I started organising my own courses I spent € 1000 on billboards all over town. The response was overwhelming: people loved seeing them.
But signing up? No. Zero signups resulted from this capital investment. It took many more posters, flyers, newspaper articles and a LOT of word-of-mouth to fill up my classes.
You may think: what a waste of money. But here is where it gets interesting…