The Backline

The Sonar Network

5.0 (1)
EDUCATION
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Canadian Comedy Award winners Rob Norman and Adam Cawley discuss weekly improv-based topics based on a theme.

2024-12-24

Three Ghosts of Improv

It's the season finale of The Backline. This episode Adam and Rob reflect, vivisect, and/or project the past, present, and future of improv. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

34 min
2024-12-09

Too Many Teachers

It seems like there's a billion improv teachers each with their own philosophy, terms and way of improvising. But what do you do when those ideas contradict each other? Who do you listen to? How do you choose what you to practice onstage? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

42 min
2024-11-29

Defensive

To perform comedy, you have to be vulnerable - but its incredible difficult to do so when surrounded by people who make fun of things for a living. In this episode Rob and Adam discuss vulnerability, courage, likability, and uncynical play. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

53 min
2024-11-22

Playing the Verb

In this episode, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag to answer listener questions about Rob's book Improvising Now: A Practical Guide to Modern Improv and the new concept of "The Act of ..." Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

38 min
2024-11-11

A Comprehensive Guide to All Shortform Games – Part Two

This week Adam and Rob, use extensive metrics and data (definitely not just their opinion) to determine an ongoing ranking system for all shortform games. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

1h 11m
2024-11-04

Auditions and Disappointment

After a big audition, it's not uncommon to be disappointed with the results. This week Adam and Rob discuss their own feelings about rejection, disappointment, and feeling lost. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

52 min
2024-10-09

Control

Built into the fabric of improv is going with the flow, not thinking ahead, and letting go of control. But being completely "out of control" isn't a good thing either? This week, Rob and Adam discuss the need to control what happens next. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

53 min
2024-10-01

Teaching Your First Workshop

Eventually, every improv professional needs to teach their first class. But what about? How do you pick a topic? How do you make that workshop successful? Is there any pitfalss to avoid? In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss teaching your first workshop. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

48 min

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