"They are often quick-witted enough to justify why their characters do not have to change, but that’s besides the point. They won’t dance to the other person’s beat." Yes!! You've really nailed how stand-ups/funny buggers flop when they first try improv. Now let me try and funnel some more of your readers over to my stack... I wrote 2 articles titled "What stand-ups can learn from improvsers"
Great stuff as always! I’ve been thinking a lot about the crowdwork as a form of improv. Tiktok has created a dynamic where, at the present moment, the comics who are best at crowdwork (or best at marketing their crowdwork) are the ones whose careers are gaining traction at the fastest rate because of crowdwork clips. Generalizing, but crowdwork tiktok comics (I think!) are the ones most likely to shit on or be dismissive of improv. Is stand up becoming more improvy forever or is it just a blip?
Everyone always asks me the differences and I can never quite explain but this is perfect. I felt this hard lol. I feel the constant need to make my set more performative in the way I do improv. Sometimes when doing stand up I don’t feel like the best parts of my talents are being seen.
Love this piece, as with all your stuff. I have an AA characters too from my meetings, “Lifetime Movie” share and “Too Series Old Timer with 20+ years”…he bleeds into “Lifetime Movie” share quite often.
Damn, Will, this is a good one. And duly noted...as I'm about to try s/u myself. Not that I'm such great shakes as an improviser that my brain needs total rewiring, but the observation about reactive on the one hand, and proactive on the other is helpful and interesting. So thanks,
This was lovely and well thought out
"They are often quick-witted enough to justify why their characters do not have to change, but that’s besides the point. They won’t dance to the other person’s beat." Yes!! You've really nailed how stand-ups/funny buggers flop when they first try improv. Now let me try and funnel some more of your readers over to my stack... I wrote 2 articles titled "What stand-ups can learn from improvsers"
https://open.substack.com/pub/authenticcomedy/p/lessons-stand-ups-can-learn-from?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2iykmp
https://open.substack.com/pub/authenticcomedy/p/lessons-stand-ups-can-learn-from-ff6?utm_source
Great stuff as always! I’ve been thinking a lot about the crowdwork as a form of improv. Tiktok has created a dynamic where, at the present moment, the comics who are best at crowdwork (or best at marketing their crowdwork) are the ones whose careers are gaining traction at the fastest rate because of crowdwork clips. Generalizing, but crowdwork tiktok comics (I think!) are the ones most likely to shit on or be dismissive of improv. Is stand up becoming more improvy forever or is it just a blip?
I agree with all of this.
Why did the voice come on the PA?
I always feel a bit too writerly in my improv and a bit too actor-ly in my stand-up. Sketch feels just right.
Everyone always asks me the differences and I can never quite explain but this is perfect. I felt this hard lol. I feel the constant need to make my set more performative in the way I do improv. Sometimes when doing stand up I don’t feel like the best parts of my talents are being seen.
Love this piece, as with all your stuff. I have an AA characters too from my meetings, “Lifetime Movie” share and “Too Series Old Timer with 20+ years”…he bleeds into “Lifetime Movie” share quite often.
Damn, Will, this is a good one. And duly noted...as I'm about to try s/u myself. Not that I'm such great shakes as an improviser that my brain needs total rewiring, but the observation about reactive on the one hand, and proactive on the other is helpful and interesting. So thanks,