Any Tips on Improv Comedy?

[lodirulz]

From Elementary School to High School, I've been involved in Drama for nearly 6 years now. I've had one line roles and I've had main parts, but one of the things I've yet to do is be part of the Improvisational Comedy Troupe. I wanted to try out for it my Freshmen year, but my mom said I wasn't quite ready yet. There is some truth to that, because when I tried playing some of the games with some of the members during a show rehearsal, I wasn't as funny as I thought I would be.

With a script and a couple of weeks, I'm wonderful. But I've yet to see if I can truly create laughter off of the very top of my head. But I want to see if I can do it.

I know there's some comedians around, but really, I was wondering if any of you had some tips for when auditions come up.

[Jazzman]

Dec 8, 2012 21:59:34 GMT -5 lodirulz said:

From Elementary School to High School, I've been involved in Drama for nearly 6 years now. I've had one line roles and I've had main parts, but one of the things I've yet to do is be part of the Improvisational Comedy Troupe. I wanted to try out for it my Freshmen year, but my mom said I wasn't quite ready yet. There is some truth to that, because when I tried playing some of the games with some of the members during a show rehearsal, I wasn't as funny as I thought I would be.

With a script and a couple of weeks, I'm wonderful. But I've yet to see if I can truly create laughter off of the very top of my head. But I want to see if I can do it.

I know there's some comedians around, but really, I was wondering if any of you had some tips for when auditions come up.

Create a few go to bits that get laughs to get you in the flow of things. From there you've just got to roll with it. I'll be honest, it isn't for everyone and that may be your deal but that would be my suggestion.

[Kash Flagg]

You gotta have damn good comic timing as well.

[Brood Lone Wolf Funker]

Don't go the Liam Neeson route, and focus on your timing

[Ash Kingston]

Be bald and Canadian.

[Jonathan Michaels]

Rule number one: Yes, and.....

If your scene partner says something, always agree with it, it helps the flow.

[Cela]

1. Always confirm and add to whatever they give you, this is called "Yes, And."

2. Never ask questions in a scene, it ruins the momentum, instead of asking, tell them what they are.

3. In the first two pieces of dialogue, establish your names, what you're doing, and where you are. Once that's figured out, you can do a lot more.

4. Don't think, just say the first thing that comes to mind. Some of the best comedy comes from the unintentional. Plus it look a lot more real if you haven't figured out what you're going to say in three sentences. Good fighters don't think and decide to throw a punch or dodge a punch, they instinctively do so. Be like them.

5. Practice a game with yourself, have someone write 20 subjects on a sheet of paper, pick one at random and immediately talk about it for a minute straight with no "ums, buts, errs, ...s, or anything similar to a stutter or a stammer." Facts are not important, commitment is.

6. Listen to your scene partner. If they make a mistake, like saying the London Underground is a political movement, get em, go with it. Mistakes create glory.

7. Give unto partner as you would have them give unto you.

8. Practice some characters, it's a lot easier to be be someone else when you're not you. Try to imitate a member of your family, and react to things as they would.

9. Have fun!

[Deleted]

Dec 8, 2012 23:52:32 GMT -5 Jonathan Michaels said:

Rule number one: Yes, and.....

If your scene partner says something, always agree with it, it helps the flow.

Came here to post that. Always say "yes" to keep things moving forward - "no" stops the scene dead.

On top of just saying "yes" you also have to, well feel it, for lack of a better word. By that I mean 100% go with whatever's going on. Your natural skills as a stage actor will help that out, but "yes" = trusting your scene partner(s) to take you on a good ride.

[lodirulz]

VICTORY!

I had my audition on Friday, and I did good on some games and I did bad on some games, so I didn't know how well exactly I did.

Well it must have been good enough because the casting list was posted earlier today, and I AM ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF IMPROVER'S ANONYMOUS!

[chazraps]

I'd like to echo the "Yes and..." rule.

The important thing with this too is, even if you yourself aren't creating all the laughs, "yes, and..."-ing allows everyone you're working with to bounce off you, generating laughs and making for a better overall show.

[Deleted]

Jan 14, 2013 17:36:49 GMT -5 lodirulz said:

VICTORY!

I had my audition on Friday, and I did good on some games and I did bad on some games, so I didn't know how well exactly I did.

Well it must have been good enough because the casting list was posted earlier today, and I AM ONE OF THE NEWEST MEMBERS OF IMPROVER'S ANONYMOUS!

If it's Anonymous how do you know that you're a member!?

[The OP]

Dec 9, 2012 0:37:38 GMT -5 @personman01 said:

Dec 8, 2012 23:52:32 GMT -5 Jonathan Michaels said:

Rule number one: Yes, and.....

If your scene partner says something, always agree with it, it helps the flow.

Came here to post that. Always say "yes" to keep things moving forward - "no" stops the scene dead.

On top of just saying "yes" you also have to, well feel it, for lack of a better word. By that I mean 100% go with whatever's going on. Your natural skills as a stage actor will help that out, but "yes" = trusting your scene partner(s) to take you on a good ride.

I would add to this that if you wanna see a great example of what NOT to do, I forget which one but there's an episode of the Office (U.S. Version) that shows Michael in improv class making all the wrong moves. If you haven't seen it, his favorite thing was to randomly pull a gun and yell stuff like "Freeze! FBI!" completely ignoring anything else anybody was trying to set up.

[Cranjis McBasketball]

Always fall back to your John Wayne at the first Thanksgiving, Pilgram bit. Always. Always.

[Blindkarevik]

Always start with your character having a gun. It's the most exciting thing that can happen, so anything else is just wasting time.

[chazraps]

Congrats homie!