ARROWS & SHOTGUNS approaches to creating workshops What makes a great workshop? How do improvisers create memorable, inspired classes which leave long lasting impacts on students? Here are some tips and a couple of case studies that might give some answers. Special thanks to long time teacher, performer and friend Read more
CAN I GIVE YOU SOME FEEDBACK? FEEDBACK After shows and classes, some people want honest and direct feedback. Some people want the “COMPLIMENT SANDWICH” to soften the truth with two fluffy white slices of praise, and the meat of the matter in the middle. “THAT WAS FUN, not vulnerable but, Read more
Facebook-f Globe-americas Envelope That’s a WRAP! 1st Impro School In the spirit of Risk, Play, and Growth, Improvisation is not a destination. Improvisation is the process that continues as a lesson, action and curious exploration for a lifetime. Here are some of the lessons I observed as I taught this Read more
MAFIOSO * SPLAT * BANG *GUNSLINGER* It’s HIGH NOON and you stand challenged by some dangerous varmints. Who’s with you and who’s against ya? With barely any warning, weapons are drawn! Do you shoot or hide? REACT!!! or it’s game over pardner! This is a long article with a lot Read more
WHISPERING ANGELS & DEMONS INTRO: Whispering Angels and Demons Years ago at the great Wuerzburg Improvisation festival in Germany, I was asked to do a warmup exercise for about 200 improvisers. Warm up exercises should serve a purpose. Since most people had never met before, an exercise to help people Read more
TEACH LIKE… A RIVER Rivers adapt to their environment. They look consistent from one angle but they can’t be pinned down to a single picture if you look closely. Improvisation teachers and their lessons appear to be one thing – a human teaching a topic to a class. But every Read more
HATS OFF TO YOU! The Hat game played for spontaneity I was on the evil Facebook a couple of weeks ago and read a comment about The”Hat Game” from Avish Parashar. He was asking about The Hat Game: “(the one where you try to grab a hat off your scene Read more
NOTHING TO LOSE REHEARSING MORE EFFECTIVELY – AND JOYFULY You sit on the edge. You look down. What do you do? Your real-world brain screams, “STEP BACK!!!”. The Improviser brain pushes you headfirst into the abyss. On the way down you question what to do. You hear the audience scream. Read more
TREAT THEM LIKE PUPPETS You would have to be from another planet not to recognize the direct comparison between teachers, and puppeteers who pull the strings to manipulate their puppets. Sure, the metaphor only goes so far. The human student hopefully brings more independence than the puppet but there are Read more
TREAT THEM LIKE CATS THE UNTEACHABLE STUDENTAs a teacher, I’ve always been interested in the “UNTEACHABLE” student. In schools where the staff say a child is impossible, or a boss in a corporate workshop says the employee is difficult, I want to meet those students. Cats are considered by many Read more