Robert Bateman Improv Team - Septemer 20th, 2010

Hello Bateman improvisers

This is the improg. I started it in 2008 when I was coaching the McMaster Improv Team (MIT). I used it to post reflections on the improv work we did.

So, here we are, now, in 2010, and the improg has sat unused for more than a year. That will change, though. Lo, the improg will henceforth be used again!

Remember the end of the Robert Bateman Improv Team (RBIT) meeting on Monday? I said that learning without reflection is essentially meaningless. I sincerely believe in the power of reflection, and so I, too, will be reflecting on the work we do in the Bateman Improv Team.

Without further ado, here we go.

"I don't have to like you, but I have to work with you, and I have to show you respect."

As I said at the beginning of the meeting, I will, in no way, associate myself with an Improv team that is neither supportive or respectful. As such, everything we will do will boast undertones (perhaps that's an oxymoron) of respect and support. Rest assured, if we work in a respectful, supportive environment, you will all become amazing improvisers. The best improvisers are not the people who always have the best jokes, or the loudest voice. The best improvisers are the ones who will bend over backwards to make their teammates look good. That is the kind of team we will be creating. That will be the Robert Bateman Improv Team.

Mname Mnemonics

Apparently, people remember lists better when there are associated actions. Saying names alongside simple actions helps everyone to remember names. And remembering names is dang important. Dale Carnegie, in How to Win Friends and Influence People, writes that, to any one person, their name is the most beautiful and sweetest sounding word. Think about the emotions that are conjured up when someone says your name. I believe there's no better way to build community than by learning names and using names. S'why I'm having every improviser greet every other improviser with their name and action.

Plus, it's fun to do Brandon-like kicks and punches, or Sahaj-like stripping, in front of people who have no idea what's happening. Comedy!

Zip Zap Zop

If you're concerned about this game, that's reasonable. Believe me when I say that you'll all get better. I was glad to see that no one was laughing or excluding people when errors were made. If you've never played a game before, why shouldn't you make errors? If you've played the game a bunch of times, errors will still happen, and that is perfectly fine! There are no such things as mistakes in Improv!

Allow me to provide an example. I was listening to a podcast released by Kevin Patrick Robbins (KPR) of the Impatient Theatre Co. KPR was talking to a fellow by the name of Dave (his last name eludes me), who referenced a scene he had been in recently. Dave said that one of the actors, instead of saying "Welcome to Athlete's World", said "Welcome to Athlete's Foot". That's HILARIOUS. And it brings a whole new angle to the scene. Dang, I mean, that was a complete error, but it is brilliant at the same time. Damn.

I was playing a game called Where Have My Fingers Been (Don't worry, we're going to play it) with Moist Theatre (my improv troupe) the other day. It came time for me to give Carson a location to do a scene in, and instead of saying 'In a Jet Plane', I said 'In a Jet Pilot'. I tried to correct myself, but Colin yelled "NO! It's Jet PILOT now!" So, rather than being a perfectly normal scene about a plane, Carson did a scene about multiple personalities arguing within a jet pilot. And it was really funny (albeit strange).

Admittedly, when people screw up in Zip Zap Zop, it tends to be the funniest part of the game. Why laugh at somebody (rather than with) for screwing up, in an environment where screw-ups are celebrated? Why, I ask you? Why!!

Daggers

This game works on a lot of different concepts, including Acceptance and Object Permanence. Essentially, it reinforces the ideas of working with offers provided by other improvisers. Somebody throws a dagger at you, and if you catch it or get stabbed, then you've accepted the offer. Boom. Plus, it's fun as heck to throw daggers around.

I will learn to love to lose

When every member of a team seeks out personal glory, then nobody on the team will win. This concept comes back to the idea of support. You can't support your team when you're hogging the spotlight. (Hell, I'd commend the people supporting the person in the spotlight before I would ever commend the person, that selfish jerk.) Think of it this way. If you've played any sort of sporting event, you know that there's often one person who tries to get all the points without any assistance. Not only is this strategy completely ineffective, but it makes the other team members hate the person. Worse yet, it could make the audience hate the person, or worse yet the team. Could you imagine if an entire audience started to hate a team as a result of the selfish actions of one member?

In Hockey, I'd hazard an assumption that assists are often just as important as goals. Every now and then, someone will get a breakaway, and it'll be fantastic. But it's not going to be the same person all the time. If it were one person getting breakaways all the time, then that'd be boring as hell after a while.

So, you dang-well better learn to love to lose. Because you will lose. And it will be brilliant.

Slow-Mo Samurai

I love this game. If you're going to get stabbed or hit, then let it happen! Let another member have their glory! In this game, it's plainly obvious who is playing for the team and who is being selfish, as the selfish people clearly speed up. Don't do that. Gosh, that's, like, so, whatever.

Fun Fact: While we were playing, a man and a young girl (maybe around 4 or 5 years old) walked by. The man didn't seem to notice, but the girl walked by with wide eyes and a huge smile. And that's pretty dang cool.

~

So, gang, as a summary, that was a fantastic meeting. I had a blast, and I really enjoyed meeting everybody! I'm looking forward to what we're going to be able to do.

Remember, your assignment for this week is:
1) Reflection - Write up a summary of what we did and how you felt about it.
2) Watch Improv - Find Improv videos online and watch 'em. Pick out thinks you like and things you don't like.
3) If you see another improviser, greet them and do their action.

Great stuff gang.

Cheers,

Cliff