Thank you so much for this! I have given up on improvising (except teaching children/teens) because of what you describe in "Intentionality vs. Flow". And I understand why you don't know how "practical" this advice is, because it's about feel and organic discovery and how do you choose those things, and/or what exercises can you use in practice to get there? That's why I like working with kids, they just do it because they're used to delving into the world of make believe without giving it a second thought. Isn't that where improv came from in the first place?
Really enjoyed the nuance comparison of game play vs playing the relationship. It’s something I’ve been wondering about for awhile and you put it very simply. Very helpful!
I've been pushing "schmucking" in improv teaching for several years now, ever since I noticed that the majority of jokes on the improv podcasts I liked were all just some variation on playing the fool. It also allows me to get sidestep a lot of the more heady "find the game" stuff that throws a lot of people off and instead just work from more of an Annoyance style character-perspective - but with better consistency. It's ultimately the venn diagram (and connector) between funny scenes with all intentionality and funny scenes which are all flow
“There is a natural flow from the downside of one pole to the upside of the other. After moving into the upside of the opposite pole the system, over time, will reach its limits and move toward the downside of that pole. This creates natural pressure to self correct by moving to the upside of the original pole. This flow looks like an infinity loop which is a helpful symbol because polarities are ongoing. To ‘solve’ them is to learn how to manage them well over time.”
My favorite metaphor: “You do not solve the exhale/inhale polarity by choosing to either inhale or exhale. You manage it by getting the benefits of each while appreciating the limits of each. It is not a static situation. It is a process, an ongoing flow of shifting emphasis from one to the other and back again.”
I agree about the false choice of relationship v. game.
On our local Harold team we got a note from our coach to ask ourselves “what does my character want? Why?” and use that to rest our games. My answer to that question in rehearsal has been so strongly informed by the relationship myself and my scene partner build.
That rest has inspired game moves that are knocking it out of the park.
Been in Long form for a couple years and itching to trust more. Dropping fully into relationship and character makes funny things come naturally but sometimes the laughs can take a little longer to spring out when I'm half in head, half in body, worried that I'm not giving enough to my partner. Also classic 'I've got to be funny' kills everything instantly.
When going into total flow, it's a different feeling altogether. Seems to be a trust partner/trust self thing.
Looking forward to reading and learning more (and getting up and trying it too...)
Thank you so much for this! I have given up on improvising (except teaching children/teens) because of what you describe in "Intentionality vs. Flow". And I understand why you don't know how "practical" this advice is, because it's about feel and organic discovery and how do you choose those things, and/or what exercises can you use in practice to get there? That's why I like working with kids, they just do it because they're used to delving into the world of make believe without giving it a second thought. Isn't that where improv came from in the first place?
Really enjoyed the nuance comparison of game play vs playing the relationship. It’s something I’ve been wondering about for awhile and you put it very simply. Very helpful!
Loved this post and your earlier posts about game and relationship. Looking forward to seeing more of a deep dive / reframing of this classic debate.
I've been pushing "schmucking" in improv teaching for several years now, ever since I noticed that the majority of jokes on the improv podcasts I liked were all just some variation on playing the fool. It also allows me to get sidestep a lot of the more heady "find the game" stuff that throws a lot of people off and instead just work from more of an Annoyance style character-perspective - but with better consistency. It's ultimately the venn diagram (and connector) between funny scenes with all intentionality and funny scenes which are all flow
I think these may qualify as polarities, my all time favorite training: https://www.sloww.co/polarity-thinking-101/.
“There is a natural flow from the downside of one pole to the upside of the other. After moving into the upside of the opposite pole the system, over time, will reach its limits and move toward the downside of that pole. This creates natural pressure to self correct by moving to the upside of the original pole. This flow looks like an infinity loop which is a helpful symbol because polarities are ongoing. To ‘solve’ them is to learn how to manage them well over time.”
My favorite metaphor: “You do not solve the exhale/inhale polarity by choosing to either inhale or exhale. You manage it by getting the benefits of each while appreciating the limits of each. It is not a static situation. It is a process, an ongoing flow of shifting emphasis from one to the other and back again.”
I agree about the false choice of relationship v. game.
On our local Harold team we got a note from our coach to ask ourselves “what does my character want? Why?” and use that to rest our games. My answer to that question in rehearsal has been so strongly informed by the relationship myself and my scene partner build.
That rest has inspired game moves that are knocking it out of the park.
Thanks for giving me a space to reflect!
Just ordered your book.
Been in Long form for a couple years and itching to trust more. Dropping fully into relationship and character makes funny things come naturally but sometimes the laughs can take a little longer to spring out when I'm half in head, half in body, worried that I'm not giving enough to my partner. Also classic 'I've got to be funny' kills everything instantly.
When going into total flow, it's a different feeling altogether. Seems to be a trust partner/trust self thing.
Looking forward to reading and learning more (and getting up and trying it too...)