r/improv • 1w ago u/Kamen_High_Schooler Tips for beginners I just signed up for improv classes. Possibly through impulse but I’ve always wanted to try it. What tips would you give someone who has zero experience with improv or any kind of performing whatsoever? Thanks. ⇧24 u/ComedyKingpin • 5d ago Improv is a lot like playing make-believe games as a kid. You and the people you're playing with are all immersed in the reality of the fake world you're in, and you're working together to build that world and the actions happening within it in a way that makes sense. The best rules of thumb are buy into the reality of the scene. Act like you and your scene partner are really these characters in this world, and behave accordingly. The less you hesitate and the more you lean into the reality of the scene, the better your scenes will be. Listen to your scene partners because you're building the scene together, and the more you listen, the more sense the things you add to the scene will make. Improv players like to give each other "gifts", which are details about the reality you're in that can help guide the scene, so listen for these details so you can build on them. Don't be afraid to add details to the scene. A lot of beginners hesitate to add to the scene because they're afraid of ruining what their scene partners had in mind. In improv, everything is right, and added details are gifts to your scene partner, so trust yourself and contribute new information to the scene. Don't rely totally on your scene partner. Try not to ask questions in a scene. Sometimes you'll be overwhelmed, and your instinct will be to ask your scene partner questions because they seem to know more about the reality of the scene than you do. But in doing so, you're making your scene partner do all the creative work in the scene. Act like you know everything because in improv, almost anything you add to a scene will be right by definition. For example, if it's established that you're reading a comic book, don't ask your scene partner “what happened in this chapter?”. Say “I thought it was really funny when the gorilla showed up. It makes me so happy I get to read comics like this with you, Dad”. The first one makes your scene partner decide what you're doing. The second one gives your scene partner some good, new information to build on. "Yes and..." Don't ever deny the reality of the scene. If someone says “The people in the comic were trying to act out a comedy bit but they needed another member!”, don't say "It sounds like you didn’t even read the fucking manga because that’s literally what we’re doing right now, disphit!“, because that denies the reality your partner established. Instead, say “Yes, and then they eventually find a third member… and it’s a gorilla!" Don't worry about messing up. One of the best things about improv is that it's so forgiving, and if your scene goes south, it's no big deal because you'll get many more chances. ⇧19 u/The_MoHawk_Wizard • 1w ago Wow, what a coincidence, I just joined a class too! Maybe I don’t have much advice because I’m new at it too, but I just wanted to say, remember to breathe!! ⇧2 u/foxmomnia • 2d ago Don’t do improv in Chicago. A ton of douchebag trash in that town. Source: am douchebag trash\ ⇧1 Support the network at exportaud.io! Our schedule: exportaud.io/pootanschedule Pondering Pootan RSS: exportaud.io/pootan Ghost Divers RSS: exportaud.io/ghostdivers The Show: @pootan.exportaud.io Niamh: @foxmomnia.exportaud.io Connor: @rabbleais.exportaud.io OP: “Ningen nante” by Yoshida Takuro ED: “Don't let me down” by the Beatles
