Be FUNNY

So I played along in the midnight improv set at the Brave New Workshop last night and we opened with a Rant. (Basically, each performer does a short monologue and the other players tag in to cut the current bit.)

Now there are basically two styles of Rant. In one version, the performer takes on a distinct character and monologues as that character. It's sort of like a mini scene unto itself. In the other approach, the performer directly addresses the audience almost like they're doing a standup routine. They don't assume a character but relate a story or observation or make a glib comment.

I've done the former and it works for me, but the latter approach just destroys my confidence onstage.

Last night the Rant definitely had more of an observational bent to it and I could feel my creative juices boiling off into the cold vacuum of cerebral comedy hell. As I was standing there I was thinking "Hmm... what funny story do I have about malls? Ummm... what's a funny comment about pants... Hrmmm..."

And I slowly realized, I wasn't going to go out there 'cuz I had nothing.

Now, I don't know if this is an issue of practice, or fear, or if it's just something I'm inherently not good at and will never be any good at and should learn to accept.

But it was a disarming feeling.

The other thing I noticed is that I tend to justify my actions right away in a scene and THAT is definitely a problem that I need to address. I think that's at the root of a lot of my bad improv habits.

Of course, the root of every bad improv habit is, ultimately, fear. (Mick Napier said that, not me.)

If I'm going to keep doing improv when I get to LA (not that I see a reason to quit), I need to work on these things.

-Tom, who probably should have just titled this post "Note to Self".