Tips From Rogue Instructors
"Far too often as improvisers, we get caught up in our own heads on the next witty thing to say.. When we should really be remembering that comedy comes from a truthful and grounded place. Lines and actions from players should be justified in a way, that allows for scenes to be grounded and played almost indefinitely. So when a scene partner is behaving unusually, it is beneficial to ask why that person is acting that way? It forces a justification and a point of view, that you, the scene partner can play off of and heighten from. Conversely, if you are initiating with an unusual premise, be prepared to justify why 'you have to have your pet goldfish on your person at all times.' A word on justifying actions...'Simplicity is the key to brilliance.'" - Erich Tamola
"Yes AND! Don't just agree with your partner. Agree AND heighten! Always agree with whatever your partner says and add something new to the scene." - Elizabeth Manders Thompson
"Find your improv swagger. Does this mean you bulldoze every scene with your "genius" ideas? No! It means you are confident enough that you don't have to talk all the time. You don't have to have your way. You don't wait on the side to improvise with the two funniest people in class, so YOU look good. You can improvise with anyone and make THEM look good. Why? Because no matter what happens... you've got this! That's real swagger. That's what I call improv swagger." - Nathan Davis
"This is more of a how-to-use-improv-in-life-tip… Life doesn't always go as planned. But, if we can remember to use "YES, AND…" * when days, weeks, or years are tough, our mindset will change and those rough times will seem a little more enjoyable. *accept what is happening, and find a way to enhance that experience. You can also look at this phrase as a way of truly being in the moment." - Marc Chester
"Always take a moment at the top of the scene. A real moment, like a good 5-10 second moment. Connect with your partner, pick something up and interact with it, settle a bit and start to sense the mood/relationship/location. Very very very rarely will you set yourself up for success in a scene by immediately saying something. Always take a moment." - Lynn Downey Braswell
"I have to credit my Second City teacher, Kevin McGeehan with this. He says 'The best improvisor is the selfless improvisor' which I think is some awesome truth! How do you be a selfless improvisor? SUPPORT(!!) your scene partner by building off the last thing they just said. Yay!! It can be that simple :)" - Morgan Owens
"Yes AND! Don't just agree with your partner. Agree AND heighten! Always agree with whatever your partner says and add something new to the scene." - Elizabeth Manders Thompson
"Find your improv swagger. Does this mean you bulldoze every scene with your "genius" ideas? No! It means you are confident enough that you don't have to talk all the time. You don't have to have your way. You don't wait on the side to improvise with the two funniest people in class, so YOU look good. You can improvise with anyone and make THEM look good. Why? Because no matter what happens... you've got this! That's real swagger. That's what I call improv swagger." - Nathan Davis
"This is more of a how-to-use-improv-in-life-tip… Life doesn't always go as planned. But, if we can remember to use "YES, AND…" * when days, weeks, or years are tough, our mindset will change and those rough times will seem a little more enjoyable. *accept what is happening, and find a way to enhance that experience. You can also look at this phrase as a way of truly being in the moment." - Marc Chester
"Always take a moment at the top of the scene. A real moment, like a good 5-10 second moment. Connect with your partner, pick something up and interact with it, settle a bit and start to sense the mood/relationship/location. Very very very rarely will you set yourself up for success in a scene by immediately saying something. Always take a moment." - Lynn Downey Braswell
"I have to credit my Second City teacher, Kevin McGeehan with this. He says 'The best improvisor is the selfless improvisor' which I think is some awesome truth! How do you be a selfless improvisor? SUPPORT(!!) your scene partner by building off the last thing they just said. Yay!! It can be that simple :)" - Morgan Owens