Robert Bateman Improv Team - Notes and Thoughts

Hey gang

I figured it would be beneficial to post the notes I made from your teaser at Alexander's. So, here's what I thought of.

 - Keep the energy up in Sweep. Remember your active stances. Seriously, go into it like you're getting off the bench at a basketball game.
 - Don't worry about establishing your connection to the theme right away. Take some time to establish your Deal, you object/emotion/visceral. Once your scene partner and everybody else knows your deal (for example, you're the guy that's going to saw in response to everything, or you're the girl who is going to become happier in response to everything), then we can see them in different situations (which again relate to the theme). We can see happy girl in a whole bunch of different scenes. It'll be easy for everyone playing, as they'll know that no matter what happens, happy girl will only become happier. When the game has played itself out (i.e. you've died, are in jail or have gone to the moon), sweep.
 - Just ask for a colour next time. The concept of 'theme' seemed to elude everybody.
 - Pick people to participate before explaining the game. Just walk out to someone and ask 'Could you help me out on stage for this next game?' Then explain everything. People will be less likely to turn you down, and you'll have more interesting/genuine performances on stage.
 - Play games with audience involvement first. Get them up and engaged. Perhaps keep Sweep for the end, if at all. You'll forge a better connection with everyone. I'm reminded of the ol' improv adage, "show, don't tell". So, show them!
 - Get closer to the audience. If you're uncertain of yourself, you'll naturally retreat upstage. Don't do that. Keep the power.
 - To reiterate, don't worry about making the connection right away in Sweep. Get your Deals established, and then make the connection. Everyone will think you're brilliant. AND YOU WILL BE BRILLIANT.
 - Don't ask everyone if they want an example. Always give them an example. Just jump right into it.
 - For Bus Stop, make sure that you have Bateman people interspersed between other people. It will get the students out of their heads, since they know they'll be on stage with someone experienced.
 - For Bus Stop, watch yourselves in scenes to ensure that you're not dragging things out. If the energy starts to wane, edit yourselves. Get out of the scene and let someone else try. More than likely the energy died because you didn't establish your deal well enough, or play it hard enough.
 - Allow your scene partners to play their deal. Don't drop yours to focus on theirs, but don't force your own ideas regardless of theirs. Marry your contributions and you'll find yourself in a completely new (and much more interesting) scene. Did that make sense? How couldn't it have, I explained it so clearly.
 - Instead of saying "We need 6 people", just go get 6 people. There's 6 of you on stage anyway. Easy enough.
 - Play with your scene partners. Mess them up playfully! Show the audience that you're familiar with your material and each other. If your scene partner is making fun of your (playfully), then let them. Roll with the punches. This moment is a great opportunity to show the audience how charming you are.
 - Physical disincentives for repeating prop scenes? I'm not so certain I like that. Try implementing referees who will keep an eye out for repeats. Don't punish people, just call them on their error and move on. If you're doling out a physical punishment for certain actions, you'll just get everyone in their head trying to avoid those actions.
 - Have the students get into the game of props earlier on. I really liked when you swapped yourselves out for other students. Eventually, you'll have a stage filled with students who are all playing and enjoying the game together. You can side-coach, but the focus should be on the students.
 - If you find a game in a scene, or a joke that you'd like to keep playing, play it! The audience will revel in delight upon hearing a joke brought up again. If you're the person who always adds the definite article in front of nouns (e.g. 'The Walmart' or 'The Muffin'), then do that a few more times. You can't play a game like this indefinitely. Try bringing it up no more than three times.
 - Campfires will likely only be funny to Bateman people. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do it, just recognize that we'll be laughing at it, while no one else will have any idea why. Same for sawing wood in a scene while saying "Just sawing some wood."
 - Keep an eye on the time for props. Perhaps a maximum of 7 minutes? Play more rounds with different people, rather than one long round with the same people.

Really, really good teaser, gang. You set 'em up on Monday and knocked 'em down on Wednesday. I have no doubt that you'll do it again on Friday with Orchard Park.

Also, on Friday, I would like to have you try playing Sweep in front of the rest of the Bateman team. I'll set it up like C.I.G would, and you can try it once or twice. It'll be good practice and good exposure.

Great stuff, gang!

Cheers,

Cliff