Improv-Abilities rehearsals are so much fun. I start craving rehearsal Sunday nights, that's how fun they are. If I miss a show or a rehearsal, I feel like I am missing out on something very important. (Maybe that is just sad) We have another show at Famous Johnny's tomorrow night before we take a one week break. If the crowd is anything over 25 people again, it will be a success. I wasn't at the show on Saturday, but was told there were 30 people there. Being that we have at least one show a week now, and we are averaging 30 people to each show, (and they are different people each time) I would say that the IA fan base is slowly growing. Sure, we still have friends and family come out, but ever since these Famous Johnny's gigs, we are starting to open up improv to the Johnson Countians. Keep your fingers crossed that the audiences continue to grow, not only with IA, but across the improv community.
The latest Ruby Streak Podcast (Musical Director of Second City) has Adam Mckay making a wonderful appearance. Click HERE to check it out. One of my favorite moments is when Adam Mckay talks about the most important things he learned from Del Close. "Push yourself to your third thought, treat everyone like their geniuses, never talk down to your audience, collaborate, collaborate, yes and!" That is how he says he has handled the responsibilities of writing and directing.
Why did I bring that up?, Improv Thunderdome has found some serious success over the past 3 months. The third show is sold-out, just like the first two. The championship round will definitely be sold out, and I am sure the next season will continue the success. Sure it is new, and it is exciting, but this is how improv will be successful in Kansas City.
Let's not take anything away from Jared and Ed, who took a chance on this, and worked their butts off to make it work. But Adam Mckay has it exactly right. Collaborate, yes and. Those are important in improv and on the outside looking in. The business side must be a collaboration as well. Why does Improv Olympic have 3 teams playing on the same night? So that, there is greater chance for more audience to show up.
I hope we see these changes in the future. More groups playing with more groups. But, none of this, we have the 7 slot and you have the 9. Nobody will come to both, that is a long time for someone to sit and watch improv. It should be 3 teams, performing 30 minute slots, or two teams, performing hour slots. (and let me say it would be great to see them all play some form where they all play together at the end.)
Oh wait, we are starting to see examples of that now, later this spring The Trip Fives are doing a show with Babelfish, you've never heard of them...well you better go to city3.org, or search for the team names on myspace and facebook to find out.
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