r/improv

Apologies if this is a silly question. I am interested in joining an improv group but I worry about hindering other members' performance. I am quick with my words and good at riffing off of people, but unfortunately as an autistic person I cannot display much emotion in my facial expressions and tone of voice. People in my life tend to find my deadpan style of humor quite entertaining, but I do not know if this would function well in an improv setting. Should I bother joining at all?

Hi. I’m a part of Blackpool Improv Group, which has 5 players. We intend to perform at venues that will need voice amplification.

Ideally we’d have a wireless headset/lavalier mic for each of us, but that is prohibitively expensive and ensures that every cough is amplified and sent to the audience. We could perform with handheld wired mics, but then we’ll have cables to step over and occupies one of your hands.

What have people here found works for them?

I have this class called life skills and the whole purpose is to refine or learn a new skill every week l chosen comedy because l want to become a comedian but l can't really get started with writing jokes all l got is some random punch lines like people dieding from autism and the only for jokes l got is "l love my family they're unique, when l said unique l meant weird. " that's weak so can l have some advice on what things do you guys usually think of, to start writing jokes ( is it slow usually to come up with making jokes please tell me so l can have closer) 🤠

Former improv tech here but I've been out of the tech game since the pandemic, now just a producer putting up a show in a fairly tech-lite theater. The short version of my question is: I have a bunch of sound effects & music stings I'd love to be able to interject during our show as I or whoever else is teching sees fit. How would you set this up for yourself and/or how would you set this up for someone else to run? I won't be at all shows so I'd like something easy to hand off ideally.

(I have a few thoughts which I'll share as a comment, but don't want to bias anyone or preclude other ideas)

Anyone know if there are any currently valid UCB NY promo codes (for shows, not classes)?

I used to be able to get a big discount with a code I saw on a LinkNYC kiosk but it doesn't work anymore.

I've been trying to record more of my improv sets with a cell phone/tripod setup. The video is fine, though sound is always an issue. I'm curious if anyone has any tips, tricks, or recommendations for how to record a set, particularly the audio. Thanks in advance!

I came back into doing improv a year ago. I was excited and started doing shows. But the same old shit started up at the theater. Teacher dating a student he is actively teaching. And this ain’t the first. I’ve learned about 3. No one says anything. And he’s knows I know and that I don’t like it. So he has tried to get me out for speaking up. They want me out. But I won’t let them. I don’t know what do. I feel trapped by this information and my love for community. I think if you count one to do it it’s a problem and posses a risk to the community. But I looked at as the threat for bringing up the problem. I’m sad and scared . Also I’m so sick of this bullshit and I’m willing to stand up to it. But it will mean I loose everything. Please someone talk to me that can relate.

The prompt is about the p*rnstars improvising, so he could be purposefully screwing up the number one rule of improv because he's playing a "bad improviser". But even for an audience that doesn't know the rules of improv, I feel like this scene still works.

At a show ( not at groundlings) that did characters and the host introduced someone one like” there’s an over 50year old pyramid scheme down on melrose that we both fell for and met and here she is the incredible ——“ and I’ll never be the same

I’ve been reading Mick Napier’s book and he frequently mentions taking acting classes as a way to get better at improv.

I never did theatre in school/don’t have an acting background. I’ve been doing improv exclusively for a few years and would like to grow my skills.

Would you recommend taking acting classes to get better at improv (and if so, what type of classes?)

Thank you :)

sometimes you come up with a fun and interesting initiation. do you ever go back to that initiation or do you find something new for every show?

Hi everyone,

I grew up with a developmental speech disorder and still struggle a lot with confidence. I don’t want to get into acting/comedy, is taking an introductory improv class still a good idea for me?

I’m new here I’m sure this question has been asked here earlier. Located in NY considering UCB.

Thanks!

I love a duo. A trio is also very fun and ideal for me. I’ve played in shows with casts that had 8 people and that feels like a lot to me, especially for a 30-minute slot. Was invited to play in a show last night and we had 12 people on stage. I had a lot of fun, but it felt very crowded and a few people were only in one scene, so it felt weird trying to be hyper aware of giving everyone else space the entire time, especially when there was dead space a few times.

What about you? What’s too many in your opinion? What’s the ideal number?

Hi all,

I'm trying to become an actor, and I know one thing I need to get better at is improv. I tried out for the improv team in high school and didn't get in (29 now), and over the past year I've been getting back into acting. I took a 10-week theatre acting class last year that focused a lot on improv, and I felt like I wasn't very good at it. I find in my everyday life I can make people laugh with one liners and puns, but when it comes to actual acting, I can never think of something funny to say. If anyone has any tips or advice, please let me know.

I love collecting characters from real life and doing them on stage. Does anyone else collect characters? I went to a hairdresser, and she would repeat everything you say:

How was your weekend?

I went fishing...

You went fishing!

And I caught a fish...

You caught a fish!

She was both the most attentive and most annoying listener. Great character. Maybe could be a therapist in a therapy scene.

Frankly, if I meet you and we talk, I may add you to my repertoire. Joe Bill used to do a character exercise for his classes at The Annoyance. On the last class, he'd buy a beer for the student who could do the best impression of another student in the class. Smart and fun way to start developing characters, be observant, and bust balls!