Having done a lot of narrative (most of it bad), I can confirm that plot is irrelevant, and mostly a distraction! What is important is Story: what the set is about (ie. the protagonist’s “I want... “ statement). Plot is just what happens, and in my opinion literally anything can and should happen. But the story should stay focused. This is something Mark David Christensen clarified for me, and it’s changed how I do narrative.
It was tough to choose! But the ones about reality, UCB and what you're working on sound awesome, and I'll obviously be a sucker for the one about the Harold
I can't STAND the wave off move myself. I would love to have a blog post I can point to to justify all of my feelings haha. Also very excited for the District Improv Festival this weekend!
I know it's not on this list, but I'd love it if you would write about the transition from improv to stand up. I just did stand up for the first time, and while it went well, I'm grappling with the idea of doing the same jokes over and over again (especially if there are people in the audience who have seen them already). my improv side bristles at the thought of repeating anything. is it something you just have to get over?
also, any insight into your approach to stand up would be appreciated, especially your joke writing method/technique.
I'm keen for Improv cheat codes: editing edition. Plenty of players have difficulty making clear edits and a decent amount have trouble realising they've been edited and acting accordingly.
I like the wave off more than doing a "tap on shoulder" tag -- the tap, to me, generates more confusion. ("Do they want just me to leave? Or just me to stay?") With the wave off, you get to be a parking attendant, "You guys leave! You stay! You on the back line, get in here!" But also I probably am drawn to it because it is one of the only times in improv you have directorial control over your teammates... Hmm, something to ponder...
Having done a lot of narrative (most of it bad), I can confirm that plot is irrelevant, and mostly a distraction! What is important is Story: what the set is about (ie. the protagonist’s “I want... “ statement). Plot is just what happens, and in my opinion literally anything can and should happen. But the story should stay focused. This is something Mark David Christensen clarified for me, and it’s changed how I do narrative.
It was tough to choose! But the ones about reality, UCB and what you're working on sound awesome, and I'll obviously be a sucker for the one about the Harold
I can't STAND the wave off move myself. I would love to have a blog post I can point to to justify all of my feelings haha. Also very excited for the District Improv Festival this weekend!
I know it's not on this list, but I'd love it if you would write about the transition from improv to stand up. I just did stand up for the first time, and while it went well, I'm grappling with the idea of doing the same jokes over and over again (especially if there are people in the audience who have seen them already). my improv side bristles at the thought of repeating anything. is it something you just have to get over?
also, any insight into your approach to stand up would be appreciated, especially your joke writing method/technique.
thanking you.
I would love to read every single one of these subjects, but I’ll reduce it to the top three:
1. Harold Discourse (always)
2. Editing Cheat Codes
3. Renting Spaces
I'm keen for Improv cheat codes: editing edition. Plenty of players have difficulty making clear edits and a decent amount have trouble realising they've been edited and acting accordingly.
I like the wave off more than doing a "tap on shoulder" tag -- the tap, to me, generates more confusion. ("Do they want just me to leave? Or just me to stay?") With the wave off, you get to be a parking attendant, "You guys leave! You stay! You on the back line, get in here!" But also I probably am drawn to it because it is one of the only times in improv you have directorial control over your teammates... Hmm, something to ponder...