Drop The Gimmick: Get To The Improv
improv works
Jim Woods and I did a set in the District Improv Festival this past September. We had to title our show, and I called it “Improv Works.” My idea is that we would demonstrate that long-form improv can be fun on its own WITHOUT a “framing gimmick.”
The title was… dumb, and no one understood what I meant.
But my point was good!
When I say “framing gimmicks” I mean the many improv shows that frame their improv with some kind of hook. You interview people about their day, or ask for a volunteer to let the players search their wallet, or use the police reports from the local newspaper.
Even bigger tactics: doing a show in the style of a famous movie or TV show, or a genre of literature, etc.
Hey, I get it: these can make for very funny and high quality shows. I’ve done these shows and will continue to do them.
But they do something else: they apologize for the improv. They are telling the audience “We know you don’t have any faith in us to do good scenes, so we offer a short spectacle at the top where we are guaranteed to get good idea, so you don’t HAVE to trust us.”
You can do that. OR you can just have people who are interesting and good on stage, making up good scenes.
If the improv is good enough, word will spread: this is a good show.
Take a cue from stand-up shows. When a local stand-up show starts to get a good rep in town, it’s not because they make all the stand-ups do material about the headlines from that day’s paper. It’s because the person booking the show can get good people to do the show.
Improv has a credibility problem. And you’re not helping if you make a show that hides the improv behind a gimmick!
I know I’m being too harsh. I myself have started and will continue to be in shows where there is a fun hook. I’m in The Sober Show — sober improvisers doing scenes inspired by audience stories of drunkness. It’s a good show!
There are many terrific Harry Potter inspired shows that leave audiences happy and satisfied!
Hooks are good for getting new people to come see improv.
But there’s too many. Where are the shows in which the main attraction, as advertised, is: good improv?
My ideal show: a crew of really good people come out on stage, get a suggestion, and are doing scenes within the first 60 seconds of the show starting.
The Big Team at UCB does this —- they get a suggestion and go. And they crush every time! How about Convoy, who get a suggestion and immediately begin a scene? They each play to sold out shows, happy audiences. Dare I say that my team The Smokes also does this?
Improv: Just get to it. If the improvisers are good, it will be funny right away.
Improv works!
Plugs, Ongoing
Screw It, We’re Just Gonna Talk About Comics - Comic book podcast, hosted by my brother Kevin and I. We are getting ready to examine the Bendis/Bagley run of Ultimate Spider-Man.
Clubhouse Fridays - WGIS’ weekly improv show. Fridays 7pm at The Clubhouse. Free!
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. 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.
Great topic. I'd be curious to know how The Big Team, Convoy, and The Smokes were formed and how they worked their way up to the spots they have. I think your point is generally a good one but can have different context for indie teams, especially in places like Chicago/NYC/LA. Good improv is enough if you were put together by one of the main hubs and/or earned a primetime weekend slot. But for an indie team trying to build an audience on a Wednesday at a lesser known venue, it's much more challenging to advertise 'good improv' and have that be enough.
I would love to do this, but sadly here in Australia and on the Fringe festival circuit it’s the hook that sells not the improv. Hopefully we’ll grow beyond this one day.