Improv Nonsense

My name is Will Hines, an improviser at UCBT-NY. This blog contains memories, thoughts, opinions about long form improv. It will be unapologetically insidery, shamelessly indulgent and on many occasions completely wrong.

Archive Sometimes it's okay to ask questions.

January 29th, 2012 at 1:35AM

natedern asked: Have you ever heard anyone discuss an "improv order of operations"? In high school math we have the acronym PEMDAS to help us remember that the rules must be followed in a certain order. I think it might be useful if we came up with one for improv students. I've found that when I'm teaching or coaching and I note someone on disagreement, they'll say, "Well, I was playing top of my intelligence." I think agreement should be first. I'm not sure what the rest would be or what order. Thoughts?

I love stuff like this! It’s also kinda like Asimov’s Laws of Robotics, in which each rule is only followed if you don’t break the previous one. Ok, here’s my pitch:

(presented like I’m describing a pyramid)

BOTTOM LEVEL: giving and accepting gifts (yes anding, accepting responsibility for accusations, agreement)

NEXT: truthfulness (top of your intelligence, reality, what would one really say)

NEXT: active choices (making this about the people in the scene, deciding you are invested, making things matter)

NEXT: justifying (philosophy, POV)

TOP: game (irony, juxtaposition)

I think seasoned improvisers do four out of those five every time they make a move.

Hello Nate Dern!