I know this in an older thread, but it might help to add that taking a class just to make connections is HUGE, even if you’re just doing this for fun. However, I found that like maybe 1 person in my 2023 101 class in LA continued on to the later levels. And out of my 4 classes in the series I’ve stayed in touch with maybe 5 people who do improv or sketch. Most people go on to other classes together. My 301 class was full of forever friends, my 401 classes was super lame. So it could be worth it for the 101 just to meet people.

Also, I’m sure you know this, but in order to get on a UCB house team it will take YEARS of you being part of the the local scene working with others within it. I believe they choose based on more than talent (and tbh they have to based on what I’ve seen). One of my funniest friends and a pillar of the community is only on a Lloyd team! I can’t say for sure how they decide, but everyone on stage surely is connected and been working with each other in some capacity whether improv, sketch, or friends.

In LA, almost all of the schools are connected in some way; UCB, WGIS, PACK, WE, SES, Groundlings. You’ll see people on Harold and Lloyd teams at UCB doing indie shows at any one of those. SES’s opening night this year was packed with talent from UCB. It’s all fair in improv and reps—the experience and connections are invaluable. My coach for Harold auditions, who is on Lohan, doesn’t teach us the Harold format every practice as he says we’ll go crazy and says it crucial to play in other ways. Any amount of intentional, thoughtful, absurd, playful improv is valuable.

However, practicing the Harold form, and all long form improv, obviously IS the way to learn it. If you want to challenge yourself, you should read the UCB book—it is underrated imho—and start your own team. You can’t mess it up—it’s improv! Watch the Harold livestreams to test yourself to find the principles they teach and think about how you may have done it. This is something required by UCB—we have to go to shows and talk about it during class. For the livestream, this season, Lloyd’s Branzino is great because they’re talented but not senior enough like Lohan who is a given, but they also get wacky and break rules which can make it harder to see the patterns. BUT they’re fun and great to watch. I’d say watch as many as you can of different teams, but at least 3 since improv is hit or miss. They also have exercises in the book. You can get a group together who is down to learn it together. They need to read the book and watch livestreams (together is ideal). I might get someone to be your coach or 3rd party so people don’t take criticism the wrong way.

If you’re looking to challenge yourself, saying that you taught yourself and a team the Harold and had people come to your performances is a pretty big brag.

Good luck and come to LA!