This is about long-form improv, the practice of making up funny scenes as you go, on a stage. My name is Will Hines, an improviser at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre who ran classes in NYC from 2009-2013. Now I teach and perform in Los Angeles. This blog contains memories, thoughts, opinions about long-form improv. It will be unapologetically insidery, shamelessly indulgent and often completely wrong.

Best Of How Can I Get Out Of My Head?What Do We Do About "That Guy"How Can I Get Better At Game?Yeah, But Really, How Can I Get Better At Game?How Do You Make A Living? Archive Ask a question.

Improv Nonsense: The Book

I wrote a book, called How to be The Greatest Improviser on Earth. It's largely based on this blog. Go read about it and possibly buy it at: http://www.improvnonsense.com

224 pages, 15 bucks, published 2016.

January 28th, 2012 at 10:35PM

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: agreement (yes anding, accepting responsibility for accusations, making/accepting offers)

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!