Avoid Mundane Arguments
fight right, fight weird
The safest advice for newer improvisers is “don’t fight.” But at some point you have to learn how to do it. So here’s some advice on having an entertaining fight.
Say yes to all the accusations — i.e. everything said is true.
Avoid mundane accusations
Own your flaws with joy
Let’s take this move —- which I’ve seen many times! Someone starts a scene as a couple eating (with object work,) and then says pretty soon into the scene says:
“Why did you order roast beef for me? You know I’m a vegan!”
The reason I would call this as mundane is that you’re implying that the other person does not agree with veganism. This is not an exotic view. There are people out there who don’t agree with being vegan. If you hear this, you are being labelled as being what I think of as a garden-variety asshole. A mundane jerk.
It’s hard to make being a garden-variety asshole fun. It’s possible. You could say yes to this accusation with joy, like a sort of unrepentant insensitive boor. Like I could imagine in response to the above line, someone kinda shrugging their shoulders and saying —- picture this being said while someone is chewing:
“Babe, just do it. Just eat meat. Come on.”
Might work. But it’s tough.
Another response to “why did you order a vegan roast beef” could be a nuanced explanation of why you thought this was a good time for your vegan partner to try meat.
“Look, I know you don’t eat meat. This was a risk. I thought maybe it was worth testing if you don’t like it — just to make sure you don’t like meat.”
That’s less difficult. But it’s not… funny. It’s… mundane.
It’s not fun.
The trouble here is you’re combining TWO tough things at once: an argument and a mundane topic.
It’s extremely possible to get a good scene out of it, but it’s tough.
Better —- shift the argument to something unexpected. Something unusual. Go away from common wisdom into something a little fun.
Here’s an example saying yes to the accusation with slightly unusual focus.
“I did order you roast beef. I was watching a hot dog eating contest and I was thinking — those guys are onto something.”
There’s something fun there.
Even better would be if the initial accusation was more fun. I saw this one this week in class. Someone accused their scene partner of being obsessed with trying to look Dutch. At some point this was said “Being Dutch will not fix the void inside of you!” and the person responded with a yell “Being Dutch will fix EVERYTHING!”
I say.. that’s a good scene. It’s an argument, but it’s fun.
People love to start scenes with conflict. Beginners shouldn’t even try. But if you MUST, make it an argument about something fun.
Another type of argument that tends to be fun is treating a LOW STAKES thing like something IMPORTANT.
Maybe two friends are playing cards. One says
“Did you hear? The local grocery store is no longer selling sandwiches.”
In response, the other person puts down their cards “What’s happening to this SICK WORLD?”
Also, what do you when you’re the voice of reason in a scene where you’re being mistreated by a garden-variety asshole? I think this is the perfect response:
“I’m addicted to you.”’
So here is the above initiation with a non-mundane response and then the addicted line.
“Why did you order roast beef for me? You know I’m a vegan!”
(while chewing) “Babe, just eat it. Don’t be a jerk.”
“I’m addicted to you.”
Plugs
The World’s Greatest Improv School: The improv school I run with Jim Woods and Sarah Claspell. We’ve got classes online, in LA and even a few in NYC!
How to Be The Greatest Improviser On Earth - My improv book, available at Amazon. Kindle or print (also on my web site for more if you don’t want to buy from Amazon). It’s a hodge-podge of advice I wrote in 2016 about doing improv. If you’re broke and want a free PDF version just email me and I’ll send it over.
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Hey, I can't stop thinking about this idea since you posted it. I've initiated a lot of mundane scenes and they fall flat because the game isn't incongruous or specific enough. I've also witnessed a lot of fine scenes fall flat because, maybe the world is funny but the game isn't unusual enough for the world. Any exercises or things I could practice to get me leaping higher or stretching further? Thanks.
I really enjoyed this piece. Your tips are excellent. Although, I'm not sure I'd agree that ordering a vegan meat is a mundane scenario. A lot of people who don't agree with veganism would not order a vegan meat. To me, it's a highly distressing scenario with enough tension. 😊