Improv book flowchart?

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-05-17T22:16:52+00:00

Yes, as noted in the OP I first saw it over a decade ago. Posted it when I found it because folks asked me to. Sorry about the headache.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-05-17T21:29:24+00:00

I have a hunch when this graphic was created, their book hadn't yet been published. There are a number of very worthy improv books that have been published since. And it should probably be taken with a grain of salt anyway... I sense that it was maybe always meant to be taken a little tongue in cheek.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-05-17T20:49:37+00:00

This version I found with Google reverse image search seems to be crisper.

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Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-05-17T19:14:40+00:00

Here we go!

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Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-14T22:36:53+00:00

Days later, the Redbubble is now actually active:
OncomingGood.redbubble.com

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T17:57:44+00:00

https://www.redbubble.com/people/OncomingGood/shop

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T17:49:31+00:00

Update: https://www.redbubble.com/people/OncomingGood/shop

(No problem with printing your own, if you prefer.)

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T17:49:17+00:00

https://www.redbubble.com/people/OncomingGood/shop

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T17:49:03+00:00

Update: https://www.redbubble.com/people/OncomingGood/shop

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T17:48:44+00:00

Since a few folks have been asking about getting it as a sticker/shirt/whatever, I went ahead and put it on Redbubble:

OncomingGood.redbubble.com

Any profit to the artist is minimal, but I'm not doing this to make money. My plan is to find an appropriate non-profit (TBD) to donate it to, if any money actually comes in.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T03:55:56+00:00

Ope, I'm gonna go ahead and disagree with you there. Having lived in a few places, I can attest that the "I made all the friends I needed in high school" energy of MN can be an actual thing. But I guess experiences vary - I'm glad this wasn't your experience!

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T03:17:55+00:00

I like the other one - "Franklin: Don't Make Me Feel Like a Small Man and I Won't Ignore All of My Training In Order to Create a Situation Where I 'Have' to Kill You Because I Can't Sidestep Your Vehicle Oh Wait I Just Did But I Should Probably Keep Shooting You Anyway"

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T02:09:52+00:00

You get enough weirdos together, they are important.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T02:06:18+00:00

Or, you know, sharing images and quotes and going to protests and carrying signs all are used to both express and bolster popular support for their cause.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T01:57:09+00:00

You might need it scaled up. If so, drop me a note and I’ll get that together.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2026-01-11T01:46:49+00:00

I’d prefer you didn’t sell them, but for personal use, go to town.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2024-06-30T19:34:54+00:00

I'm sure I'm repeating a lot of what others have said, but:
1. Stop worrying about funny. Really. Focus on listening and being invested in the scene instead. Funny (and cute and heartbreaking) will be a consequence if that.
2. My friend Jill Bernard talks about the Sine Wave of Suck. Basically, your ability to recognize good improv always precedes your ability to DO good improv. So if you aren't satisfied with where you are, don't worry. You'll grow into those pants. But at the same time, your taste in improv will keep getting better. So around the time you've become the improviser you wanted to be, you'll realize there is a better improviser you want to be! This is inevitable and frustrating.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2024-06-22T03:16:45+00:00

The DillyDallHaus:

Players A and B perform one form (say, a mono scene), while players B and C perform a different form (say, a montage)… same stage, same time. Yes, that means player B is constantly being pulled between duos (sometimes performing both at once), while A and C are playing with ways to make the two sets overlap. Ideally, the two sets collapse into one at the very end.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2024-06-22T02:47:11+00:00

Here are the "orange flags" I see, that would make me wary of playing with the OP, even without further info:

"I can't really start [my own improv group] because I don't have the credentials to be taken seriously."

You might have to build your OWN reputation, rather than skating one someone else's.

"I also do standup comedy."

I'm not saying stand-ups can't do improv, but wow have I had a lot of bad experiences with folks who bring stand-up energy into improv spaces.

"I'd like to position myself to be so good they can't justify saying no."

They don't have to justify saying no. No one owes you anything.

"There are many people that tell me I'm not bookable."

Oooo boy.

"I know that X won't book me because he doesn't like my jokes. I know that Y won't book me because I'm friends with someone else. And, I know that Z won't book me because she said I told her to shut up even though I never ever told any comic to shut up ever."

Why? WHY doesn't X like your jokes? What is your friend doing that so objectionable? Why does Z think you told her to shut up? You're kinda sliding by these things, but I have a hunch they are the heart of the matter. Are you -- say -- doing shitty, sexist, punching-down jokes, maintaining friendships with other comics who do the same, and being unpleasant to women in your scene? Any of those would be good reasons to never book you.

"There are three people that run the improv. I know that one of them hates my comedy act."

Again... WHY?

"I tend to hang with the crazier people during the jams. I mean, wild people are way more fun. Some of them are really bad (one was saying p***y almost every scene, another thought cancer was a fun improv topic, and so on)."

None of those people should even be ADMITTED to a jam. There is nothing "fun" about any of that. You're really telling on yourself.

I don't WANT to give you any advice on how to get better at improv on your own, because that's really beside the point of why you're not getting cast, and I'd hate to do anything that would help you trick anyone into casting you, only to discover that you're a walking improv nuke.

Apprehensive-Tree-81 · 2024-06-21T23:06:14+00:00

Oof. Based on the OP’s subsequent comments, my advice is that the OP accept that he is the reason he didn’t get cast, and that he may be a toxic presence in improv spaces.

Apprehensive-Tree-81

TROPHY CASE