Sunday, June 9, 2013

What it means to be "self-taught"

I've been thinking a lot about my improv experience lately.  In a historical, critical way I mean.  I usually think about my own improv all the time.  (PS, the scene I played in last week's Ferris Wheel was the highlight of my recent improv career.  God, I loved the ugly cry).  I've been really focusing on improv lately, mostly thanks to my boring-as-hell data entry job which allows me to listen to improv podcasts for 8 hours straight.  And then 3 days in a row of improv class and play time every week.  And then eight-thousand workshops.  I have a hard time going home and focusing on anything other than my experience playing pretend with other adults.  I day dream about scenes.  I'm a 7-year-old trapped in a 24-year-old body.

But I digress.


Wednesday, June 5, 2013

The Weekend of Awesome


This past weekend was so freaking awesome.  I've made some new friends, I took two workshops with the indescribable Patti Stiles, and I was asked to join an improv team.



I took two workshops with the fabulous Patti Stiles.  The first, Creative Impulse, was incredibly fun.  We did exercises that got us out of our heads, put us in the moment and we had heaps of fun.  The most memorable excersize was "World's Worst Improviser".  I recommend everyone play it, and I will therefore describe it below.  It forces you to look to your partner constantly for offers and trains you to play with any and every kind of improviser by "giving your partner what they want".