Improv Nonsense

Here’s things that I bet upper level improv teachers/coaches would be uncomfortable to say:

• “Being funny is good in improv!”
• “Characters should feel comfortable saying no!”
• “You should know a lot of things if you want to be a good improviser!”

But all of these things are true.

(NOT for beginning improvisers. These sentences would be destructive in a level one improv class). 

I believe that people will read that list and interpret them like this:

• “Make jokes that are off topic and that decrease your emotional commitment!”
• “Stop forward action and reject your partner’s offers in order to be funny!”
• “Make references for their own sake!”

That is not what I was saying.

Go ahead, define “funny” “smart” and “no” in a context that paints them as dangerous improv advice — it’s easy to do. 

OR: realize that we get scared of those words and that it limits our improv. Yet those words are an essential part of compelling comedy and theater.

I’m interested in a discussion on this, although I don’t need you to tell me how people can use the words “funny” “smart” and “no” dangerously.

I need ways to use those terms well. At the advanced level, it is often what is missing.

This is one in a series of me trying to figure out the proper way to teach “no.”