Agh my mind, my mind! Why is it replaying that cringy moment when I almost fell off the stage? Why is it remembering that stupid thing I said about wrists? Why is it ruminating on when I couldn’t think of the word weasel? Why is it torturing me? Several months ago, I was in aContinue reading “Perfectionism V.S. Perfectly Imperfect Improv”
Tag Archives: performance
Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Crown: Self-deprecation and Comedy
Last night I witnessed a performer utterly annihilate themselves on stage. They talked so much trash about their dear sweet self it was upsetting. It looked painful. And it was all in the name of comedy. I was relieved I was hiding at the back, low down on a sofa, staring at the back ofContinue reading “Don’t Let Anyone Steal Your Crown: Self-deprecation and Comedy”
How Improv Can Help the Very Helpful
Are you a clown, a caretaker or a ninja? This was the question posed. I pondered it as I put down the pumpkin cheesecake I’d baked for rehearsal in case anyone got hungry. If I could just have a sign… I already knew I wanted to be a ninja; it sounded the coolest. But theContinue reading “How Improv Can Help the Very Helpful”
Critics and How to Face Them: Part 2 – Outer
Have you ever let a critic stop you in your tracks? Have you held a criticism close to your heart? Have you soaked up that critique, ruminated, let it speak to you in ways you wish it hadn’t? Well, allow me to let you in on a secret… You are not alone. In Part OneContinue reading “Critics and How to Face Them: Part 2 – Outer”
Critics and How to Face Them: Part 1 – Inner
‘Tis the season for trying new things! But how often do we start something with the gusto of New Year energy, only to be swiftly met with a barrage of discouraging voices? The mere whiff of New Year enthusiasm brings my inner critics to the yard like it’s two-for-one on stop-me smoothies. “What’s going onContinue reading “Critics and How to Face Them: Part 1 – Inner”
The Attention Game
The art form of improvised performance can sometimes feel like walking a tightrope between seeing and being seen, hearing and being heard, getting attention and giving attention. When I get out of balance I start to wobble. I start to shake. Sometimes I fall. I get this wobble sometimes when I’ve done a well-received thing.Continue reading “The Attention Game”
Improv for Survival
After nearly two years, it felt amazing to put a show in front of a live real-life audience. We had completely lost touch with whether anything we were doing was funny. Had we got to the point where we just made each other laugh? Would it be like a pin drop as we muddled throughContinue reading “Improv for Survival”
Finding the Fun Improvising Online
The first time I did online improv I wanted to jab myself in the head with a fork. So I might feel something. Anything. Looking around at the other participants I suspected I was not alone. It was painfully slow, flat and boring. I could see myself smiling inanely but my eye kept being drawnContinue reading “Finding the Fun Improvising Online”
Spontaneous Tortoise 