A collection of original thoughts and reblogs on improv.

28

Nov. '11

Chris Reblogs: How Are You Supposed To Remember Stuff From the Opening? I Can Never Remember Stuff From The Opening! Do You Have Any...

curtisretherford:

improvnonsense:

Be smarter?

Remember everything?

Enjoy it so you remember it like you remember your favorite movie/tv show?

I don’t know. Just do it. Remember stuff or don’t do improv.

I love this. I think “Remember stuff or don’t do improv” is a better motto…

It’s not my place to tell this hypothetical person whether or not to do improv, especially based solely on their ability to do openings.

Look for the one thing that sparks your interest in the opening. There’s gonna be one thing that looks like fun to you. That’s really going to be all you need. 

If you step out into a scene that somebody else has started, don’t worry about trying to figure out what idea they’re using from the opening. That opening created an idea which is now its own jumping off point. The idea is going to take on a life of its own based on what you bring to the scene. We want that; we want to see big fun scenes spiral out of one small tiny idea.

And be present and be active in the opening. A lot of stuff is going to go in your brain that you won’t necessarily consciously recall. But it’ll be in there and you’ll recognize stuff as it happens.

And of course, seek the opening (or lack-of, as Chris suggests) that works for you and your group. Very physical players will do well with an Organic, very cerebral players do well with a Scene Painting. Each has its own strengths, and each lend themselves to scenes being started a certain way. 

But keep doing improv. Improv is supposed to be easy. Don’t stress out that you haven’t figured out how to recall stuff from the opening. Just keep working at it, and you’ll get it eventually.

  1. ryanxilliams reblogged this from britajames and added:
    What I realized about remembering in general, whether ideas from the opening, or even
  2. britajames reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    Truth. My not-so-secret-secret (aka what everyone does) is to initiate a scene based on a premise/something everyone...
  3. tbdcomedy reblogged this from improvobsession and added:
    The most important thing...remember is who you are, who
  4. improvobsession reblogged this from improv-is-easy and added:
    Here’s a nicer answer to the question. And a new improv blog. Oh joy!
  5. mopula reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    Drink Gingko Biloba tea and...smoke so much pot. And pay attention. It’s that simple.
  6. improvisorsimprovisor reblogged this from chrisreblogs and added:
    tell this hypothetical person whether or...to do improv, especially based solely on their...
  7. improv-is-easy reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    How to remember stuff… Repeat...to yourself, maybe? “She just said ‘Pineapple Man.’ I like...
  8. chrisreblogs reblogged this from curtisretherford and added:
    Yes. Or don’t do openings. Although if you aren’t able to listen and remember stuff from the opening, you might have...
  9. droptherootbeerandrun reblogged this from improvnonsense
  10. morganimprov reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    a glass of water, and adds: Be intrigued and delighted by the stuff generated in the opening. If
  11. curtisretherford reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    I love this. I think “Remember stuff or don’t do improv” is a better motto than “don’t think.” Improv is not easy. It’s...
  12. patbaer reblogged this from improvnonsense and added:
    Love Will Hines.
  13. improvnonsense posted this
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