IA Update

It has been a frustrating year being a member of IA. Just a couple of years ago we were in the Chicago Improv Festival, we had great members, and we thought that we were really growing into one of the top groups here in KC. Ever since Chicago, things have been up and down...but mostly down.

It is easy to say that it's because most of the members have left, or are involved in many other improv related things outside of the group, but that's not it. There were frustrations and no communication, and the group was slowly becoming a very negative thing for me personally.

So...we had a meeting on Friday and we got some things out that were bugging us. Most importantly, everyone shared their frustrations and talked about what they would like to see from the group in the next year or so...and everyone listened...it didn't hurt that we had beer and food too.

It was tough, but it was necessary. We learned a very simple fact. If you are frustrated with something, you have to talk about it with the directors and/or the group. Otherwise, you may find yourself showing up to rehearsal, with nothing being resolved, finding yourself more frustrated. I for one was doing this, complaining about things to my wife, but never to the people who needed to hear it most. So, in a way, I was part of the problem.

Hopefully the meeting helped. Only time will tell. In fact, in a month we will begin to see whether things are better or worse when we play at the Impfest.