New to Improv?

The first question you need to ask yourself is what would you like to get out of doing improv? At first glance this will seem like a strait forward question but it can set the roadmap for years to come based off of how you want to get involved. With the technology of today there are many avenues to go down that did not exist when I first started, and they are all compelling to check out. (yes I have done all of them)

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Here are some ideas to bat around in your head,

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1.  Lessons?  Look to community centers, theatre companies, online courses and content. This alone could keep you busy for weeks. Not getting anywhere with that, then reach out to me through the contact page on this site (at the bottom of this page) and we can discuss options on how to get you going on your improv journey. 

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2. Podcasting: For some they love doing interviews or showing videos on how to play improv games or do exercises / long form etc in improv. Once you learn a few games / long forms and exercises this is an easy and fun way to contribute to your improv success!

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​3. Join an existing improv troupe or create one yourself. Now hold on a minute I am new and you want me to start my own improv group? Say Whaaaattttt? How does that work?  (more on this below) 

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4. Find someone already involved and figure out what they did: and use that experience to kick start your journey. I knew a guy that was actively doing classes with an improv troupe called "Impromaniacs" I asked, "how do I get involved?" He said, "come with me to practice sessions "SO I DID" = Full heart of joy!!! Never looked back!

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Educate yourself on the craft you are going to be exploring and creating within!

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I can not emphasize enough the amount of knowledge you will benefit from doing the education part. That said there are three components to be successful in your improv journey. What are they you ask?

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1. Learn

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2. Do 

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3. Have fun doing whatever you are learning!

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On top of the above goals there are other things you should be aware of. Create a workable timeline like setting a goal within a year or six months or what ever you want to create as a sense of urgency in working towards something. This will help you keep focused and on track as there are many many improv rabbit holes you can go down so easily. These rabbit holes may inadvertently get you derailed from your main goals. If for example you would like to know 10 games, 3 exercises, and be in a troupe. Then ask yourself what do I need to do to make that happen? Then break down each requirement of your goal into a more specific what I call improvtackable box. Then tackle each one individually. This is where we now create,

 

YOUR IMPROV ROADMAP

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Your improv roadmap is a working document of what you want to accomplish in what ever time you set to the goal. It is a strategic worksheet from which you will set a goal, add a timeline to that goal, collect the knowledge and resources that will educate you on ideas of how to get to reaching those goals! Doing things to bring those goals to reality, and finally documenting your journey! This framework of the roadmap will drive you to push yourself to continue to work on your goals which within the time you set for yourself will push you to complete them.

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What's on YOUR improv Journey Roadmap?​

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1. Creating a Goal(s): (for demonstrating I will use learning an improv game as a template to help guide you through this idealogy. )

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Our Goal: learn a new improv game!

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2. Place a Time Requirement on Your Goal: that is realistic and achievable.

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For Example: Our Goal: I would like to learn one new improv game within 1 weeks time. 

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3. List Resources: List what you can access toward learning more about completing your goal.

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For example: You found on this very website content that teaches improv games. You also found Youtube improv game references and a multitude of other online videos, podcasts, etc. List all your options/resources on a sheet of paper, this sheet is part of your roadmap.  

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3. Determine Where to Start: by knowing how to utilize (pick the best possible option) out of those resources you wrote down. In my case sometimes you can have so many resources at your disposal, that in itself, that can be daunting. Pick things that resonate with you! Like maybe taking a class for example, or watching a video, or both! Take the top three best ideas (or however many you are comfortable with) out of all the options you have. I usually just did them all! In this stage time is more of a goal and although it's really a predominant factor, you can set that time to what ever you want it to be making it way less stressful! Use that to your advantage! 

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For Example: the 8th pick on the exercises/games/ list on this website is a game called Ping Pong. Here is it's definition. 

Ping Pong: Two players create a story one word at a time back and forth until the story is complete. 

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4. Do the Thing: In order to get measurable results and to reach your goal(s) you need to engage in the activity! (pick from your resource list) and learn from it. That might be watching a video, physically performing in an improv class, doing an interview with a veteran, and so on!​

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For Example: Our Goal: I played Ping Pong with a friend today and we both had fun. We played it multiple times and I think I would like to play with others to see how the tempo with them works? Note new goal. Play Ping Pong with someone else other than Larry in one weeks time! In the case of a new goal just repeat the roadmap process for maximum value! 

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5. Document your Journey: literally, I did not do this in my earlier days and it sucked later on in life! So don't suck, and just do it. Keep a journal, diary, whatever works for you on your improv journey so you can go back and see your development and progress. Let's call that your legacy so it will sound important (it is) and remind you to keep it at the front of everything you do!

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For Example: Our Goal: (actually write in your journal), "I played Ping Pong with my friend Larry today. I learned that trying to get a tempo going in creating a one word story one person at a time, is both challenging and fun! I like it and will look at creating new goals of learning other games or exercises similar to this one." Add additional notes if they are important or share a perspective you may appreciate at a later date!  "Larry always talked about cars so I want to also try and play with someone else to see what we can create together. We played "Ping Pong" multiple times and I think playing with others would also be a great challenge." Note new goal. Play Ping Pong with someone else other than Larry in one weeks time!

 

Documenting your journey also helps potentially recognize pitfalls, things that don't work for you, Or things you don't fully understand and want more clarification on! Also include things like areas of improvement you want to explore, contact people or organizations you meet. Online links, webpages, etc! Also note what you do like and detail what did work for you! It can be as detailed as you want or have just enough information to keep you focused on your overall goal. Don't think of this as a chore as much as a personal development tool. Also do NOT downgrade it's importance.

 

Side Story: As a hobby I was a heavy fighter for a group that did medieval re-enactment events and the like. In my fighting career I did well but was never really awesome. Then one day I saw a established veteran fighter writing stuff down in his journal and I asked, "hey what are you doing?" Him telling me of his journaling was pivotable in creating my roadmap ideology because once I started journaling my progress, I simple became better at it! I became much more focused, learned faster and completed my goals more routinely and with much better efficiency then using my old system of " I'm going wing it." To be honest that old system was sometimes a lot of fun but usually just ended up with me being more confused and feeling behind then anything else. After hearing how much it had benefitted him as a fighter I was stoked to have in essence a work aid that would help guide me on my fighting journey. He went on to be one of the best fighters in the organization and still is for literally over 20 years now. I went on to be a better fighter and then eventually went on to merchant. Selling stuff to fighters and the general attendees. Hey I realized after years I was better at merchanting then fighting although I enjoyed both immensely! I was astounded by this and realized overall just how powerful having a record of your improv / what ever you are doing in life journey was. Also for you history buffs out there, having a collection of all the stuff you learned simply from a historical entry perspective of your journey is a pretty incredible thing to reflect on. What will your legacy be? What were you involved in that made a difference? who helped you along the way?  The memories alone have kept me smiling for years! 

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it really is that simple, and funny enough you learn as you are doing,! This is a symbiotic relationship that will last a lifetime. I am still learning and it's fair to say I have already learned so much. That said, there is always more. 

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So In Review

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1. Create A Roadmap goal(s) for yourself! Clearly define what you want that goal or goals to be. 

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2. Write down the established timeline of when you would like to attain each and every goal you have written down. Remember to keep the timeline realistic and achievable!

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3. List all the resources that will enable you to reach your goal!

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4. Select the best resources to follow up on to make the goal become a reality! Do this by connecting with a theme or idea that resonates with you!

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5. Engage in actually doing what is required to follow up on number 4. Actually watch the video or physically do the class. Participate, engage, learn the thing you are doing!

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6. Journal entry what you did so you can see your progress and build towards whatever legacy you will create. Furthering your understanding of your journey and enriching your experience!

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In the above example of learning a game I not so sneakily went through the steps of your roadmap to teach you one game. You learned one game called "Ping Pong" in the time it required to read what was on this site. IT DIDN'T even take ONE WEEK which was our original goal! So see how well it works already, lol! So there you have it. Go and explore the world of improv and feel confident in knowing that you have a system (roadmap) that will help you along every step of the way! 

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Also remember not to be too hard on yourself. Personal reflection is also a great tool to gauge where you are at. I had a million goals in my earlier days, did I meet them all, heck no. I was developing my road map as I went, putting stuff to the side as more interesting things became available. I learned over time sometimes painfully (not writing things down like contact names, book titles, performance locations, etc) that I needed a better method of doing all of it and so the roadmap idea was born. With my abundance of energy, focusing my thoughts and ideas into a road map really helped in my overall goals becoming reality.  It saved a lot of time and redo's and was ultimately fun, easy to do and efficient! I hope it work as well for you as it has for me! 

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 Should you have any follow up questions, ideas, or thoughts and would like to reach out I have a contact form directly below this and I would be more than happy to discuss with you any and all things relative to your improv journey! Cheers and have a great day! 

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P.S. Starting your own improv troupe. Interested in knowing how to do this? Reach out via the form below and I will contact you with information that will be helpful in your journey to do that!