JH

10 lessons from Improv theatre that you NEED to know about!

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by

peter2
in , ,
One of the main reasons I decided to start this blog is to share with you everything I was learning in Improv because it SO translated directly to my real life. The lessons I was learning were not only relevant in make believe Improv land … but in the real world too. If it was helping me live a better life … I knew it could help YOU too!
 
Studying Improv at Second City has always been a dream of mine. Not necessarily the “I wanna be on SNL” kind of dream (I mean if Lorne Michael’s asked I’d surely go running) but just a general dream to be on stage, to make people laugh, to meet people, to have FUN!
 

So when I moved here in 2009 I started the Improv program at Second City. I was 32. I was so nervous. First of all, I felt so old … I was so scared that I’d walk in and everyone would immediately start staring at me and laughing at how old I was because they were all 22 or something. (Which when your 32, the age 22 seems sooo young, right?!).  But I was pleasantly surprised … most of the time at Second City my ensembles were a perfect blend of college age to mid-50’s. It was just perfect!

Secondly, I was also scared I wouldn’t be “good” or “funny” (note – this was before I knew Improv had NOTHING to do with being funny). So many nights before that very first class I would go into a tunnel of self doubt thinking … OMG … what have I done … maybe I won’t show up … I can’t do this … no way. But guess what … I did it. And I continue to do it. It’s changed my life in so many ways. And now, I want to take what I know and help you do the same.

So here … let me share with you the golden nugget … the bones … the meat of what we do in improv … ready?

Here are the top 10 Improv “rules” that you can apply to your everyday life:
1. Be Present
2. Support others
3. Yes … And
4. Take Risks
5. Play
6. Listen
7. Get out of your Head
8. Commitment
9. Energy
10. Fail … a lot

 

These are my favorite … my personal Top Ten.  However, there are more … These are just the 10 that resonate the most with me.  I try to pick one a day to focus on.  Lately it’s been the “be present” one because I’m reading a great book called “Chasing Daylight” by Eugene O’Kelly.  It’s all about staying present, and it took him being given 4 months to live to realize how important (and hard) it is!  That book and my thoughts around it are a whole other blog post … Coming soon!

Back to the “Improv Rules” … In my upcoming blog posts … I’ll dig deeper into each one of the 10 and help you understand more about why they are such relevant and important life lessons.

If you follow these 10 “rules” you’ll be on your way to living a more present, full and happy life!

Tell me … what Improv rule above stands out the most to you and why?

Be well. Stay Inspired!
Judi

Comments

9 responses to “10 lessons from Improv theatre that you NEED to know about!”

  1. Anna Avatar
    Anna

    Support Others! I think I was probably guilty of being “too cool” at some point too, but it is so disheartening sometimes to watch my 8th grade students roll their eyes when another student puts themselves out there. I had a student today share her writing and she read it with such inflection and tonality that you didn’t even have to try to listen to take it in. My kids were all doing the old “glance around the room and pass looks of judgement”. The great thing was, she could have cared less. She knew her writing was amazing and that she totally rocked it! I told the class how awesome her reading voice was and much I wish I had been able to let go and do that at her age. Wish there was a way to snap kids out of that “too cool for it all” stage. Seems like it takes years for some, and then as we all know, there are still adults who are just “too cool for it all”. Supporting others is huge! I can only magine how awesome my class would be if all my students embraced this rule.

    Reply
    1. Judi Avatar
      Judi

      Hi Anna! Thank so much for leaving this comment. I totally hear you … and can understand how big of a challange that must be. I absolutely remember how tough grade school was … I feel like that is really where I learned how to deal with the tough stuff and has shaped me so much as an adult, learning how to get “thick skin”. Kids can be so mean. I think it’s great that your student rocked it and that you gave her praise. The other kids are most likely coming from a place of insecurity, jealousy and just being an adolescent. Which is hard enough already. This age group is one I’d love to work with b/c I think the rules of Improv can teach them valuable lessons. You are a great teacher, keep on bringing your positive message to the classroom … and when I post on Support Others maybe you can use it?! (I’ll write with your scenario in mind.)

      Reply
  2. JC Avatar
    JC

    Yes…and 🙂 that made me kinda laugh because in my line of work (costuming for theatre) I tend to answer most requests with “yes…and”.

    Reply
    1. Judi Avatar
      Judi

      Love it JC! “Yes and” is one of my favorites! I can’t wait to write about it … I find that most of the time wheter I’m out with friends and we are telling stories … we constantly find ourselves (most of the time, without even knowing it) “yes … and’ing” until the story ends up somewhere so much more fun and in a place we could not have imagined when we started. It reminds me that a) people improvise every day and don’t even know it and b) I’ve got some great friends!!

      Reply
  3. 7 ways to be present in life ang become more focused!www.judiholler.com

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