Beautiful beautiful song.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Hey Improvisers, It's Okay to Care.
7 dudes get out of their seats in the audience - and walk directly onto the stage with their hands in their pockets. Let's be honest - they're all wearing plaid shirts and jeans. A few of them are wearing hoodies. Once on stage, they chat to each other jokingly while one of the dudes gets the suggestion from the audience. "Hey could we just get like any word? Thanks."
Dear Improvisers,
I want to let you know... it's okay to "care" on stage. In fact, if you are performing improv because you love it and want to do it professionally - then you should care on stage. If you have a paying audience, then you especially should care - they deserve it.
A very visible, noticeable difference between improv in New York, (where I am now) and improv in Boston (where I performed for 9 years), is the lack of stage presence. Not only do improvisers get on stage in hoodies with their hands shoved deep in their pockets leaning against the back wall - but they even SPEAK to the audience like they don't give a shit. (IMHO) Improvisers instead tend to seem like they are performing for themselves. I've even seen (well known, reputable) groups speak to the audience as if they are doing them a favor - they don't really care if the audience is there or not. "Just give us one word and then don't shout out anything else. We'll make the funny. Thanks."
The truth of the matter is that although we may not be doing a scripted, highly directed or choreographed play - let's not sell ourselves short before we even utter a sentence. We are still a visible performance art form - and our goal is to provide a show so tight, that our audience comes up to us afterwards to ask the ol' "Was that scripted?" question.
In presenting ourselves as if we don't give a shit, we are short selling improv as an art - and short selling our audiences as well. Lastly, we get on the stage and provide this kind of show... but then we get pissed off when "civilians" (non-improvisers) shit on improv.
No need for jazz hands or matching bowties. But, lets start caring a little more on stage. Put some pants on. Give your audience a little attention and be grateful for their being there. Let's respect this art form that we love so much - and show people why it's worth their time and money.
Please note - all of the above is just the opinion of one person - me. No personal offense to be given out or taken. Thankyouokaybye.
Dear Improvisers,
I want to let you know... it's okay to "care" on stage. In fact, if you are performing improv because you love it and want to do it professionally - then you should care on stage. If you have a paying audience, then you especially should care - they deserve it.
A very visible, noticeable difference between improv in New York, (where I am now) and improv in Boston (where I performed for 9 years), is the lack of stage presence. Not only do improvisers get on stage in hoodies with their hands shoved deep in their pockets leaning against the back wall - but they even SPEAK to the audience like they don't give a shit. (IMHO) Improvisers instead tend to seem like they are performing for themselves. I've even seen (well known, reputable) groups speak to the audience as if they are doing them a favor - they don't really care if the audience is there or not. "Just give us one word and then don't shout out anything else. We'll make the funny. Thanks."
The truth of the matter is that although we may not be doing a scripted, highly directed or choreographed play - let's not sell ourselves short before we even utter a sentence. We are still a visible performance art form - and our goal is to provide a show so tight, that our audience comes up to us afterwards to ask the ol' "Was that scripted?" question.
In presenting ourselves as if we don't give a shit, we are short selling improv as an art - and short selling our audiences as well. Lastly, we get on the stage and provide this kind of show... but then we get pissed off when "civilians" (non-improvisers) shit on improv.
"The only people that are a worse hang than spoken-word poets are improv actors. All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women around them are merely an audience for their shitty plays." - Jacoby
No need for jazz hands or matching bowties. But, lets start caring a little more on stage. Put some pants on. Give your audience a little attention and be grateful for their being there. Let's respect this art form that we love so much - and show people why it's worth their time and money.
Please note - all of the above is just the opinion of one person - me. No personal offense to be given out or taken. Thankyouokaybye.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
What I'm Listening today: Wye Oak
This is what I'm listening to...
"Civilian" by Wye Oak
So great, right?
"Civilian" by Wye Oak
So great, right?
Friday, June 10, 2011
This is how long I've been doing improv...
When I think about it... it's really unbelievable that I've been doing improv for 20 years. YES. 20. I never say that outloud, because then people think I'm like 50... but the truth is, I started doing improv and sketch at age 11 or 12. The Half Pint Players performed and wrote improv and sketch all over Connecticut and a bit in NYC - and most of the cast was under the age of 15.
BUT what is MORE amazing than that - is the number of us that are still in the performance/comedy business!
Clearly, I'm still rocking around the improv scene.
Chris Anderson is still performing and RAPPING in NYC. Hell yea.
Dan Levy is a writer/comedian/producer.
Danielle Kaplowitz is an actress in LA - who just recently was on 5 episodes of Community.
AJ Tesler started the ITV Fest and is now producing/acting/writing in LA.
Our cast photo circa 1993?
I was inspired to write this after the Stamford Advocate published (yet another!) article about Dan and how awesome his career is doing! DUH. He is hi-larious. Read article here.
Good job, Curtain Call on creating the Half Pint Players... performers for a lifetime!
BUT what is MORE amazing than that - is the number of us that are still in the performance/comedy business!
Clearly, I'm still rocking around the improv scene.
Chris Anderson is still performing and RAPPING in NYC. Hell yea.
Dan Levy is a writer/comedian/producer.
Danielle Kaplowitz is an actress in LA - who just recently was on 5 episodes of Community.
AJ Tesler started the ITV Fest and is now producing/acting/writing in LA.
Our cast photo circa 1993?
I was inspired to write this after the Stamford Advocate published (yet another!) article about Dan and how awesome his career is doing! DUH. He is hi-larious. Read article here.
Good job, Curtain Call on creating the Half Pint Players... performers for a lifetime!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Improv Blogs that you should read: The House That Del Built
Rachel Klein is a friend of mine. Rachel Klein likes improv. A lot. Rachel Klein is also great at improv - both performing and teaching.
Now, she is sharing her improv thoughts with the world in - what I find to be - the best improv blog out there.
She makes sense. She breaks down improv ideas in a way that is helpful as a performer and interesting to learn about as a reader.
Check it out. Let me know if you find any good tidbits in there.
Her Blog is called The House that Del Built: http://thehousethatdelbuilt.tumblr.com/
Now, she is sharing her improv thoughts with the world in - what I find to be - the best improv blog out there.
She makes sense. She breaks down improv ideas in a way that is helpful as a performer and interesting to learn about as a reader.
Check it out. Let me know if you find any good tidbits in there.
Her Blog is called The House that Del Built: http://thehousethatdelbuilt.tumblr.com/
Sunday, April 17, 2011
North Coast Rapping at ImprovBoston
My free-styling improv group, North Coast, was invited to perform at my old stomping grounds (ImprovBoston) to do a set at their awesome Harold Night Show!
Here is footage of our opening. The rap and location was based on an input from the audience:
Starring Rachel Rosenthal, Boris Khaykin, James Robilotta, & Shaun Fisher on the mic!
Thanks again to Boston for having us and to Harold Night for the video footage!
More Info:
haroldnight.com
ImprovBoston.com
North Coast Improv
Here is footage of our opening. The rap and location was based on an input from the audience:
Starring Rachel Rosenthal, Boris Khaykin, James Robilotta, & Shaun Fisher on the mic!
Thanks again to Boston for having us and to Harold Night for the video footage!
More Info:
haroldnight.com
ImprovBoston.com
North Coast Improv
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