I just want to say that Susan Messing and Mark Sutton put on one of the best improv shows I have seen in years, if not my entire life. You can tell that they have each been doing this for years and that they each have a wonderful sense of play. That being said, great festival, great crowds, great after parties...just great.
IA kicked off Saturday night and I felt really happy with the way the show turned out. We all were very calm before the show and I think that everyone came out ready to have fun, I know I did. Even better was the fact that we were then able to sit down and watch the next 3 groups go on. After the curtain call we went to tower tavern, drank, and reflected on a job well done by everyone involved. I think everyone was very pleased with how the festival was run.
It will be very interesting to see what happens next year.
9/14/2009
8/31/2009
So much improv so little time
Friday was a fun IA show. We have some nice energy heading into the Festival next week, which should be a ridiculous show. Did I mention that we are playing on the headlining night...so we are going to be playing to a huge crowd. Not only that, but we kick off the whole show...getting excited just typing that.
There was also a poop ton of improv related shows and parties this weekend which made it impossible to attend everything, but my heart was with all of the shows that I missed. I heard that every show had some great attendance, and that always makes me happy. As long as we are putting on good shows for good crowds, then improv is succeeding in my book.
There was also a poop ton of improv related shows and parties this weekend which made it impossible to attend everything, but my heart was with all of the shows that I missed. I heard that every show had some great attendance, and that always makes me happy. As long as we are putting on good shows for good crowds, then improv is succeeding in my book.
8/26/2009
8/24/2009
Roving Imp
Saturday I took advantage of my wife being out of town. I went down to the Roving Imp theater and watched 2 improv shows. Now, I haven't sat down and watched an improv show as a spectator in a while. Sure, I have watched other groups perform, and Thunderdome, but most of the time I am watching those shows like an improviser. Critiquing choices, critiquing format, etc...
But Saturday, I watched like I was in high school again. I got jealous of the laughter the people onstage were getting and I wanted to be that person on stage. I got jealous of the format that Omega Directive did in both halves, because I wanted to be up there performing in what looked like a ton of fun. But most importantly, I was an audience member who enjoyed my experience at the Roving Imp, because it was comfortable and entertaining.
I could have stayed at home and had a fire on a gorgeous night, I could have gotten some things done around the house, but I needed to go see a show and remind myself why we even do this. It is way to much fun, and it is especially more fun when you surround yourself with people who enjoy it as much as you.
I think we should all take advantage of the good shows that are being put on today. We didn't have the choices or the level of shows 10 years ago that we have today. Why not take some time to go see some improv instead of just performing. I think watching shows goes a long way in developing yourself as an improviser, just as much as rehearsal and performing does.
But Saturday, I watched like I was in high school again. I got jealous of the laughter the people onstage were getting and I wanted to be that person on stage. I got jealous of the format that Omega Directive did in both halves, because I wanted to be up there performing in what looked like a ton of fun. But most importantly, I was an audience member who enjoyed my experience at the Roving Imp, because it was comfortable and entertaining.
I could have stayed at home and had a fire on a gorgeous night, I could have gotten some things done around the house, but I needed to go see a show and remind myself why we even do this. It is way to much fun, and it is especially more fun when you surround yourself with people who enjoy it as much as you.
I think we should all take advantage of the good shows that are being put on today. We didn't have the choices or the level of shows 10 years ago that we have today. Why not take some time to go see some improv instead of just performing. I think watching shows goes a long way in developing yourself as an improviser, just as much as rehearsal and performing does.
8/20/2009
8/19/2009
Record Bar Show
Had a great show last night with IA and the T5's at the Record Bar. Another good turnout and we both put on solid shows. I have to say, what impressed me the most was the support from other improvisers. Practically the whole Roving Imp clan made it out, and most of the Anomaly Orange people were there as well.
Playing in a bar is always an interesting venture, but Jared and Ed set it up so that we are there on a Tuesday night at 7 before anyone coming to see a concert shows up. So we don't have anyone there that just wants to talk and drink, most everyone came for the show.
They have had 2 total shows there now and both have been well attended. Hopefully there are more in the future.
I think I have talked about this before but I will again anyway. I really think a huge key to well attended shows is a joint effort from 2-3 groups. I personally think that a group who performs once a month for a year would have a better turnout if they shared that bill with a different group every month. The audience would see something different every time, and each group would play to a bigger crowd.
Playing in a bar is always an interesting venture, but Jared and Ed set it up so that we are there on a Tuesday night at 7 before anyone coming to see a concert shows up. So we don't have anyone there that just wants to talk and drink, most everyone came for the show.
They have had 2 total shows there now and both have been well attended. Hopefully there are more in the future.
I think I have talked about this before but I will again anyway. I really think a huge key to well attended shows is a joint effort from 2-3 groups. I personally think that a group who performs once a month for a year would have a better turnout if they shared that bill with a different group every month. The audience would see something different every time, and each group would play to a bigger crowd.
8/17/2009
Roving Imp
Dictionary Soup show Friday night...always a blast. I even got to play in a short form show before DS and that was equally fun. It was a random show, where we spun a wheel and whatever number it landed on...that was the short form game we played. We ended up playing some that I have never done, or haven't played in a very long time, and it made me realize how much fun short form is, and how much I miss it sometimes.
As for the DS show, John and I keep getting better suited to each other's style. We even had a conversation about how 2 person improv really depends on the two people on stage. Some people might not blend well, and some do. John and I really do. It's impossible to explain, because each show really is different. There are not any set rules to our show, you just have to trust me and come and see one for yourself.
We have been practicing this for 2 years, and performing it for a little over a year. Consistently, since January, we have done this show every month and I can really tell how consistency helps a show get better over time. The show has gone through some ups and downs, and we have really learned from it. It's nice to have a space where we can put on our show to learn what makes it the best show possible.
As for the DS show, John and I keep getting better suited to each other's style. We even had a conversation about how 2 person improv really depends on the two people on stage. Some people might not blend well, and some do. John and I really do. It's impossible to explain, because each show really is different. There are not any set rules to our show, you just have to trust me and come and see one for yourself.
We have been practicing this for 2 years, and performing it for a little over a year. Consistently, since January, we have done this show every month and I can really tell how consistency helps a show get better over time. The show has gone through some ups and downs, and we have really learned from it. It's nice to have a space where we can put on our show to learn what makes it the best show possible.
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