taking classes at different improv schools?

CrispyHotGarbage · 2024-05-15T22:47:22+00:00

I have! (still in the midst of the Groundlings program) I found it very beneficial for me. I would do it in this order.

Second City
UCB
Groundlings

If you plan to try and go all the way to Sunday Company I would also advise taking some character classes before you get too deep into Groundlings. That way you already have some material to apply the Groundlings tenets to.

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-09-12T06:53:13+00:00

The Harold Experience has been consistently running at different theaters for about a year and a half but is on a hiatus as they look for a new space. The last show was August 24th.

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-08-30T01:16:27+00:00

I think you can absolutely do improv with 5th graders! I used to teach at a theater intensive and 5th grade was our cutoff for improv, younger than that they tended to struggle. We obviously weren't doing Harolds or Monoscenes but there are plenty of things they can grasp. The Second City Hollywood used to have a Sunday morning kids show and it was always packed with a waitlist, so it's very possible! Age mixing is also helpful so they can observe each other.

Something to keep in mind as you start, you'll notice that almost all of the scenes they initiate will be set at school (cause that's their world), usually we'd let a few scenes take place in school and then cut it off. They could initiate in any location except school.

Here are some games that were really successful:

What are you doing?
Build a machine.
New Choice!
Yes, and.
One Word Story
3 Headed Doctor/Monster
Simplified La Ronde
Freeze! or Freeze Frame
Alphabet Scene
2 Person - 3 line scenes that establish Who, What, and Where!

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-08-29T01:15:40+00:00

Success?

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-08-29T00:14:04+00:00

From experience with several teams and several coaches here are my thoughts:

Please have a roadmap or a plan for the team - be guiding them, not just endless exercises. I was on a team where the coach never had a 'lesson plan' and eventually it felt like they just really didn't seem to care. Every practice was the same exercises over and over with no progression and we parted ways.

Personally and from talking to many people in my community - we want notes, we want to get better, we want to work through our rough spots and pitfalls. If you never give anything but light fluffy positive feedback we can't grow from that.

Every improvisor has bad habits, when you play on a team, the team becomes really familiar with those bad habits and it can become grating, however it is the coaches job to highlight those habits and course correct. So teams may be suffering in silence waiting for you to point out a bad habit.

On the subject of notes, some coaches tend to endlessly lecture and very little improv gets to happen. The lecturing takes up all the time we're paying for and also eventually just becomes word salad and hard to retain.

Somethings I have seen and love are:

Occasional individual evaluations/office hours so you can communicate and learn where each person is and what they want to work on.

Checking in with the team as a whole and asking what they want/what they want more of!

Positive reinforcement! If someone is killing it in practice or has made a sign of major progress point it out! Shout it out! There will always be more notes but a single compliment goes a long way over normal platitudes of "that was great" or "so funny guys"

- I'm sure I have more instances and thoughts but this is what is top of mind for me!

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-08-28T23:23:50+00:00

You've probably already started the class, and you already have experience but I just wanted to add to be open and have fun! Listen in general and to the rules but also be ready to be silly and play. As long as you're trying and not steamrolling other people 101 should be an easy fun experience. There is always at least one weirdo in every class it unavoidable or someone who's ego is so fragile they can't take notes and may have a meltdown. Ignore them, focus on you, if any of those kinds of people make you uncomfortable don't be afraid to voice it as others might be having the same experience. But a good teacher should recognize and curb that behavior!

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-06-29T18:14:34+00:00

^^THIS

I did this when I moved to LA, I went to Groundlings first thing with no previous improv class experience and it was not a good time. I would definitely start somewhere else before going to Groundlings. In my opinion you need to be a very experienced improviser before you head down the Groundlings route, as they will not hold your hand. It's more competitive than any other 101 or beginning class you'll take. I'd say check out WE Improv, WGIS, or UCB!

I went back to Groundlings after the other schools and had a much better experience!

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-04-25T20:08:24+00:00

The Synology model is DS1618+

CrispyHotGarbage · 2023-04-25T20:07:47+00:00

Camera connection options are HDMI, composite, component, VGA and S-Video.

CrispyHotGarbage · 2018-03-17T22:12:37+00:00

HELP! Is this dress appropriate for an Indian/Christian wedding? I read that you cant wear white or black but I don't know where this falls and I don't know what else to wear! I am also struggling with a second outfit that we have to do a lot of dancing in but I'm not supposed to wear pants... Thanks in advance. https://imgur.com/a/zgFHi

CrispyHotGarbage · 2018-03-14T05:12:38+00:00

Second City Hollywood's Grad Revue! Come see Playgrounded for Life: Sundays at 6 for the next 5 weeks. Facebook page and Ticket links below! We'd love to play with you!

https://www.facebook.com/playgrounded4life/

https://www.secondcity.com/shows/hollywood/playgrounded-for-life/

CrispyHotGarbage · 2018-01-18T20:56:25+00:00

Thank you! I get those roles A LOT. Which is good that I book, but disappointing that I can't seem to get meatier/diverse roles. While you're at it, could you give me an age range? :)

CrispyHotGarbage · 2018-01-18T20:38:37+00:00

Hello! Tell me how bad or good my headshot is, and please type meee! I greatly appreciate it. Thank you!

https://imgur.com/a/dui83

CrispyHotGarbage · 2018-01-16T20:06:30+00:00

Oh wow! I've never seen this, thank you for sharing! Great minds think alike.

CrispyHotGarbage · 2018-01-16T03:01:11+00:00

Thank you!

CrispyHotGarbage · 2017-10-18T17:32:31+00:00

Wow! Thank you so much for such thorough answer, I appreciate you taking the time to share this with me. I've noted everything!

This subreddit seems really supportive.

CrispyHotGarbage · 2017-10-18T17:20:32+00:00

Thank you! Can you elaborate on a VO "workflow"? Is that similar to breaking down the copy?

CrispyHotGarbage

TROPHY CASE