Why Is Improv So Scary?

You’re in a room full of strangers. It’s so silent you can hear the air conditioning coming through the vent above your head. You and some guy whose name you can’t remember stand up and walk to the front of the room. Your task is to be funny while everyone watches.

You can’t stop to think or ask questions. Everyone stares, waiting, expecting wit and hilarity. Their eyes start to spin like kaleidoscopes as the floor opens up and you fall into a dark pit. As your eyes adjust, you see your stepfather, reclining in an overstuffed chair. His voice echoes into eternity, “You’re not funny.”

Okay, now try this one:

You’re in a room full of people who want to be friends with you. It’s completely silent because everyone is listening to what you have to offer. You and that guy who asked about your favorite movies walk to the front of the room. Your task is to play pretend.

There’s no need to stop or ask questions. You know that everything you say is the right thing, and you agree with everything your partner says. You use your imagination without feeling silly or embarrassed, and for a couple of hours, you turn off that voice in your head that tells you you’re not good enough.

In improv, as in life, perspective is everything. As people who perform, teach and love improv, we view improv as something that brings us joy, friendships and clarity. But we talk to a lot of people who don’t share our perspective. Not only that, we remember how scared we were when we tried improv for the first time.

That brings us to the questions we’ll attempt to tackle in this blog series: Why the hell is improv so scary? What keeps us stuck in that first scenario when we’d rather be in the second one? What happens to us during puberty that makes it so hard to play pretend? (On second thought, you should probably just Google that one.) 

In this six-part series, we’ll examine six common anxieties surrounding improv:

·      “I’m not funny”

·      “I can’t think fast enough”

·      “I’ll look ridiculous”

·      “I’m not outgoing”

·      “I don’t trust my fellow improvisers”

·      “I don’t really understand what improv is”

We chose these anxieties based on responses from real people. Our goal is to drag these thoughts out of scary-subconscious-land and into the light so that we can understand them better. While we won’t be able to get banish hesitancy and fear from our brains, we’ll at least be able to look it in the eye and give it the middle finger.

As improv-lovers, we’ve seen how the skills we gain in improv help us combat unhealthy fear in our everyday lives. In an improv classroom, we play characters who are honest, we turn off our internal editors and we relinquish the need to feel cool. Nothing scary about becoming more honest and vulnerable, right? (WRONG.) It only makes sense that our brains dig in their heels when we think about improv. However, we really, really, 100 percent believe that the benefits of improv are worth that initial leap of faith.

Whether you’re a veteran improviser or you’re considering sticking your toe in the water, we hope this series helps you recognize your anxieties, understand them and do some improv anyway. We’d love to hear your feedback and thoughts as we address these six statements together.

Cheers to the power and creativity within all of us,

Improv Cincinnati

Click here to read Part One - "I'm Not Funny"

Improv Masters Jacob Compton and Paul Barker Visit Cincinnati

Jon and I toured the east coast this past winter, where we performed with acquaintances in Baltimore and DC. On a whim, we planned a jaunt up to Pennsylvania's capitol city to visit Harrisburg Improv Theatre. HIT started as a question mark in our minds and ended as an exclamation in our hearts. Jacob Compton and Paul Barker have proven that a thriving improv community and theatre can be sustained in a small city.  

Compton and Barker are now taking a tour of their own. They'll perform with Love Square at Clifton Performance Theatre on Saturday May 20th. The next morning, they'll teach a workshop on using Point of View to launch yourself into scenes with strong characters. Both improvisers are well known at home for their show "Missed Connections", an improvised performance inspired by Craigslist personals.

Paul Barker is a graduate of the three big improv theatres in New York: UCB, Magnet, and PIT. He now performs in the Friday night show at Magnet. Jacob Compton studied at UCB and Magnet, and now teaches and produces at Harrisburg Improv Theatre.  

Point-of-View Workshop
Sunday 5/21 , 3-5pm @ Dramakinetics
$20
Learn more here or sign up below to register: 

New Classes, Roger Schuster Scholarship, and offering your expertise...

Classes are Live

We are pleased to share the next round of Level 1 classes are now LIVE and will kick off in late May. Learn more about them here.

Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship

For those not in a financial position to afford classes, consider applying for the Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship.

Roger was our former student and the very definition of kindness, gentleness, and passion. His passing was a major blow to the Cincinnati improv community. To honor him and to continue his legacy, Coincidence Improv and OTRimprov have co-created the Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship. The scholarship is designed to help provide access to classes for improv enthusiasts who may be financially prevented from taking classes otherwise. The scholarship will be provided to one student per round of classes for each organization.

To apply for this scholarship, answer the following questions (100 words max per each):

1. What is your experience with improv? Why do you want to take classes?
2. What makes you a good member to have as part of an improv group? 
3. How do you embody Roger’s traits of kindness, enthusiasm, and compassion?

Email your responses to rogerschusterimprovscholarship@gmail.com by May 23 to be considered for the upcoming Level 1 classes. You can also email any questions you may have to that address. 

Roger was such a wonderful person, and it's truly a privilege to honor his legacy. Thanks to Kelly M. for leading this process as well as to the wonderful folks at OTRimprov. 

You can read more about the first award winner here: http://www.coincidenceimprov.com/blog/2017/2/1/roger-schusters-legacy

We Want You! 

As a small but growing program, we are seeking expertise, time, and help. If you are in a position to contribute in return for free classes, please reach out. We'd love to have the discussion. 

Coincidence Improv visits WKRC's Good Morning Cincinnati...

Jon and Colin stopped by the WKRC's Good Morning Cincinnati to talk about Coincidence. Watch the interview here:

Apply for Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship

Roger shown center.

Roger Schuster was an example of kindness, gentleness, and passion for all of us. To honor him and continue his legacy, Coincidence Improv and OTRimprov are working together to create the Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship, which is designed to help provide access to classes for improv enthusiasts who may be financially prevented from taking classes otherwise. The scholarship will be provided to one student per round of classes for each organization.

To apply for this scholarship, answer the following questions (100 words max per each):

1. What is your experience with improv? Why do you want to take classes?
2. What makes you a good member to have as part of an improv group? 
3. How do you embody Roger’s traits of kindness, enthusiasm, and compassion?

Email your responses to rogerschusterimprovscholarship@gmail.com by March 14 to be considered for the upcoming Level 1 classes. You can also email any questions you may have to that address. 

Roger was such a wonderful person, and it's truly a privilege to honor his legacy. Thanks to Kelly M. for leading this process as well as to the wonderful folks at OTRimprov. Roger would really have gotten a kick out of this :)

You can read more about the first award winner here: http://www.coincidenceimprov.com/blog/2017/2/1/roger-schusters-legacy

Please feel free to share this with any friends/family who may be interested

Springfield Township - Improv Workshop

Residents of Sprinfield Township -- a fun-filled improv workshop is coming to you on Wednesday, March 1st!

Why try improv in the first place? 

• It's ridiculously fun
• Try something new and different
• Stretch your comfort zone
• Make new friends with similar interests
• Build confidence
• Learn to feel more comfortable in front of a crowd
• Cultivate your creative side
• Give yourself a burst of positivity
• Exercise your brain

Roger Schuster's Legacy

When Roger Schuster first discovered he had cancer, OTRimprov rallied behind him with an extraordinary fundraiser. It was inspiring to see that someone who loved improv had so many improvisers who loved him back. I never forgot the kindness and empathy OTRimprov showed him during a time when he and his family needed all the support they could get.

I knew Roger best when he became a student at Coincidence Improv Academy. Roger took as many classes as he could manage, and I would give him rides to and from class. Despite his deteriorating condition, Roger had unwavering enthusiasm for improv. He came to every class showcase, even when he wasn't feeling well enough to perform with his fellow students. His love for class reaffirmed my belief that the art of long form improv has a lasting and transformational impact on those who study it.  The Cincinnati improv community lost a dear friend when Roger passed away in late December 2016. 

Roger's legacy will be remembered in the form of a scholarship shared by Coincidence and OTRimprov. The Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship will cover the registration fee for one student each round of classes. Winners are selected based on an application process. The first scholarship recipient for Coincidence is Amanda Monyhan, who is currently taking Improv Fundamentals. She has generously shared reflections on what it's meant to her:

I feel super blessed to receive the Roger Schuster scholarship. It has allowed me to play, express and expand my imagination once a week with an entire class of hilarious and supportive new friends. It has not only expanded my understanding of improv but has connected me to a feeling of happiness and confidence in my daily life that I was not quite expecting. Simply amazing. I am excited for future learning and growing as an improv actor and it's role in my life as a mixed media performer and artist.  

 

If you would like to donate to the Roger Schuster Scholarship, consider attending the "F*CK Cancer Show" this Friday night at the KNOW Theatre at 10:45 pm. Proceeds from the show will go to the Jimmy V Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding scientific research toward a cure for cancer.

We miss you, buddy.

- Colin Thornton

SkillSets: Mindfulness - January 27th

Friday January 27th from 7pm - 9pm $20
"Staying in the Moment": Melissa Fenton

In this class, Melissa will walk you through techniques to become more aware of the details of each moment, opening your mind and body to be more responsive in both life and the context of improv.  Minute by minute, day by day, we have the opportunity to notice, accept, and embrace what's happening before our very eyes and within.  As we practice, we become more skilled at not only identifying reality, but engaging with it in a more vibrant, dynamic, and effortless way.

Melissa is an LA-based meditation teacher with roots in Cincinnati.  She was introduced to meditation five years ago under the tutelage of teacher Jessica Graham of the Eastside Mindfulness Collective, and was inspired over the years to teach this invaluable practice to others.  Her passion for young people led her to train with The Mindful Schools, and she is currently in the process of achieving a certificate in Mindful Educator Essentials so that she can pursue opportunities to teach mindfulness to youth.  In her adult classes, she focuses on techniques that are "restorative" in tone, honing in on practices that encourage relaxation, calming of the nervous system, and self-love.  You can find her Facebook Live class, "Nurture", coming soon on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m.Pacific Standard time (or for East Coasters, just scroll through her feed.).

Register for the SkillSets Workshop below...

Apply for Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship

Roger shown center

As shared on the Cincinnati Improviser's Guild:

"The Cincy improv community recently lost someone dear. Roger Schuster was an example of kindness, gentleness, and passion for all of us. To honor him and continue his legacy, Coincidence Improv and OTRimprov are working together to create the Roger Schuster Improv Scholarship, which is designed to help provide access to classes for improv enthusiasts who may be financially prevented from taking classes otherwise. The scholarship will be provided to one student per round of classes for each organization.

To apply for this scholarship, answer the following questions (100 words max per each):

1. What is your experience with improv? Why do you want to take classes?
2. What makes you a good member to have as part of an improv group? 
3. How do you embody Roger’s traits of kindness, enthusiasm, and compassion?

Email your responses to rogerschusterimprovscholarship@gmail.com by March 14 to be considered for the upcoming Level 1 classes. You can also email any questions you may have to that address. 

Please feel free to share this with any friends/family who may be interested!"

Roger was such a wonderful person, and it's truly a privilege to honor his legacy. Thanks to Kelly M. for leading this process as well as to the wonderful folks at OTRimprov. Roger would really have gotten a kick out of this :)

Update: You can read more about the first award winner here: http://www.coincidenceimprov.com/blog/2017/2/1/roger-schusters-legacy

Upcoming SkillSets Workshops: Chicago Style Improv

Second City's touring company is in town doing a seasonal revue at Playhouse in the Park. If you haven't seen "Holidazed and Confused", you should check it out. If you're too poor, it's Second City's tradition to offer a free third set after their mostly written show. The free set is entirely improvised and is bursting with joyful energy.

Second City is known for being smartly satirical, and for casting some of the most talented comedic actors in the entertainment industry: Tina Fey, Keegan Michael Key, Steve Carrell, etc. They have three main stage companies, three touring companies, multiple cruise ship companies, and a vast network of training centers. Every Second City show also features a brilliant musical accompanist.

If you're interested in this style of improv, you will want to attend the next workshops on Saturday December 17th. These are special workshops being offered by members of the touring company cast (not officially by Second City).

Amy Thompson and Tyler Davis will teach "Improvisational Scene Writing" based on the Second City style of creating written scenes based on improvisations. This way of generating material has been the method used by Second City for over 50 years. This workshop starts at 10 am and only costs $20.

Brian Heveron-Smith will teach "Musical Improv", a class on how to create scenes that incorporate songs with an accompanist. "Emphasis will be placed on performers finding and maintaining strong character objectives as they use music to heighten the emotional stakes of the scene. Improvisers of all levels are welcome, and no previous musical ability or training is necessary!" This workshop starts at 1pm and is also only $20.

You can take both workshops for $35. Register below...

CIA Booster Classes On 11/30 and 12/15

Itching for more improv classes during the break between sessions? CIA will happily scratch that itch because we are offering Drop-In Booster Classes on Wednesday November 30th and Thursday December 15th. 

The Boosters are pay-what-you-can per session. Instructors will lead you through some grounded scene work in the montage format, and will give personalized feedback and coaching. Don't worry... fun and games will also be on the menu... including some new games that you haven't previously encountered in class. 

Want to sign up? Go to our Classes page and scroll to the bottom. Hope to see you soon!

Upcoming SkillSets Workshop

Coincidence Improv is thrilled to welcome Chandler Stevens as the guest instructor for the next SkillSets Workshop on Posture and Persona on October 22nd. Chandler is an expert in natural movement and somatic education. He has a demonstrated sense of physical intelligence and a keen awareness of body mechanics and movement. He is the type of fitness trainer who can analyze the way you move, identify mobility and flexibility problems,and set you on a path to awareness of your natural body movement.

But what does this have to do with improv?

A good improviser is a curious improviser. Curiosity is the fuel for character inspiration. A curious improviser will be much more successful at observing and mimicking how people move, how people behave, how people talk, etc.

In the body language book "What Every Body is Saying", the author tells the story of Desmond Morris, a man who categorized the movements and behaviors of people and cultures. Of note, he categorized 40 (forty!) different styles of walking. Do you know the 40 styles of walking? Would that be helpful in generating characters? You bet it would.

Check out what Desmond Morris has to say about movement and behavior that he has observed around the world...

Before you can start putting on the "costume" of other characters, adapting the movements that you observe in humans, you must first understand your own limitations. What is your base line? What are your bad habits for body mechanics? These are the questions that Chandler Stevens will help you identify and fix.

After Chandler's instruction, we will rehearse long form improv with the goal of concentrating on body and posture. Deliberate practice makes perfect!

Learn more and register here!

Coincidence Improv Offers New Teen Improv Class

Registration is now open for Coincidence Improv's first class for teen students. This seven week class will meet Sundays from 3:30pm to 5:30pm and begins September 25th.  Junior high and high school students will learn the fundamentals of unscripted theatre in a fun and safe environment, and the final session will be a showcase for friends and family. . 

Instructor Colin Thornton has taught young actors for the past six years at Children's Theatre of Mason, as well as for the past two years at Dramakinetics. He has written and directed dozens of plays for children, most recently "Junie B. in Jingle Bells Batman Smells" at Center Stage Players. 

This is a perfect class for young actors who are funny, quirky, playful, and creative -- and for teens who aspire to strengthen those qualities in themselves. Sign up now!

Better Brain - Better Improv

When I improvise, I like to be as alert and focused as possible. I know that my job on stage is to react to my scene partner with mindful awareness.. Anxiety, stress, fear, and daydreaming can all create major interference with living moment to moment. A performance can quickly be derailed by brain fog caused by anything from lack of sleep to stress from work. 

I'm sure there are many ways to give your brain a temporary tune-up, but here are the tools that have been helping me think clearly. Maybe one of these ideas could work for you...

1. Calm App - I'm a big believer in mindfulness, mostly because I'm a big believer in science. Among it's many benefits, Mindfulness Meditation has been proven to: reduce depression, increase focus, reduces stress, and enhance relationships. I prefer guided meditation, the best of which is Calm, an app that has all the free content a person could need for meditating.

2. Carlson's Fish Oil - This one might be a placebo because the science is mixed on the benefits of fish oil. All I can tell you is that I feel like a spoonful of Carlson's lemon-flavored fish oil makes my brain feel instantly lubricated. I love that Carlson's Fish Oil has been tested and found to be very low in mercury, which you can't say for the cheap capsules made in China. The taste is surprisingly delicious and fresh. If you decide that fish oil is right for you, consider the benefits of paying a bit more for a higher quality product.

3. Cardiovascular Exercise - No kidding. The evidence that exercise can reduce brain fog and increase cognitive ability is massive.  As a science advocate, I often have the benefit of meeting scientists who dedicate their lives to researching and understanding a given topic. Jamie Hale is one of those who knows exercise science backward and forward, which is why I hired him as my personal trainer. Check out Jamie's article on how exercise not only strengthens your body but also your mind.

What are you waiting for? Hop on that treadmill and exercise that brain!

So, that's what works for me. What do you do to keep your brain in peak performance for a show? 

Hassan Recommends Coincidence Improv Academy

Thank you to Hassan Qureshi for the kind words. Hassan is an impressive visual artist and a marketing project manager. He noticed our announcement about Fundamentals of Improv class on the Cincinnati Young Professionals facebook page. Over the seven weeks of class, Hassan really impressed us with how he grew as a performer and improviser.

AJ Recommends Coincidence Improv Academy

Thank you to Abdallah Jasim (AJ) for the kind words about Coincidence Improv. AJ is a stand-up comic who has earned himself quite a following on Instagram with videos that are filled with hilarious characters and insightful satire. He walked into our Fundamentals of Improv class and asked if he could test it out. By the end of that class, he was hooked!

Coincidence Improv Academy: Register Now for Fall Session!

Good news! Registration is now open for fall improv classes:

• Level 1: Improv Fundamentals
• Level 2A: Characters and Relationships 
• Level 2B: Game of the Scene
• Improv Fundamentals for Teens

Never taken an improv class? That's OK! Dip your toe in the water with Improv Fundamentals and learn how to improvise in a fun and safe environment. Students say this class is the "highlight" of their week. Add some joy to your week and register now!

Already have improv experience? Great! There are two excellent classes to help develop the foundation for scene work and to delve deeper into long form improv! Level 2A: Characters and Relationships is Coincidence's bread and butter. You'll complete this class knowing how to quickly establish a strong character and how to create dynamic, meaningful relationships. 

Some improv scenes are so good that they seem pre-scripted. This is often through the use of scene "game". Level 2B: Game of the Scene cultivates an improviser's awareness of these scene games and the ability to explore and heighten them. This class will not only help you improvise better, it will help your writing and comedy skills too. 

Parents will be happy to know Coincidence now offers a class just for teens. The class will develop the talent of young actors and improvisers, and enable them to learn and perform improv in a safe, fun environment. The teen class will utilize many of the same games and exercises as the adult class, and each session will have two teachers for extra support and guidance. 

Each of these classes will be held at the Dramakinetics classroom in Northside. Any questions? Contact coincidenceimprov@gmail.com. See you soon!

Don't Miss IF Cincy!

Our friends at OTRimprov are once again producing an amazing improv festival featuring acts from all over the country: September 7th - 10th. We love the IF Cincy festival and showed our support by being a sponsor.  IF Cincy has been so popular in years past that every show has sold out. So, buy your tickets as soon as they become available. 

Wednesday September 7th features two teams that were incubated at Coincidence shows: What it Ain't and Killer B's. What it Ain't is the duo of Dylan Shelton and Erin Ward. They are playful, they are honest, and they have great chemistry. I worked with Dylan and Erin at Madcap Puppets one winter at the Cincinnati Zoo's Festival of Lights. It was apparent that they were both quick witted, genuine people. So happy to see them continue to play together.

Jon and I will perform on Thursday, September 8th at 7:30 as the Coincidence Improv house team! We will be doing the roadtrip form that had it's debut at Urban Artifact. Unfortunately, we will be missing Tatum who has an internship with Playhouse in the Park that takes priority. We're also excited to see our friend Chris Smyth perform with The Middle Child.

Friday September 9th is filled with headliners. Jon will be back on stage performing with all our friends in OTRimprov. You can expect OTRi to make joyful, high energy choices and to make the evening feel like a party. Friday will also be an evening of long-form improv. Several groups are visiting from Colin's alma mater iO in Chicago.

Saturday September 10th is going to be huge with workshops all day and performances at night. Brilliant improvisers Craig and Carla Cackowski will be performing as the duo Orange Tuxedo. You will want to see them. Also, I'm excited to see Stefan Gearhart, a friend from my college improv team (HappyGAS) who is performing with his Louisville team Damaged Goods. All you need to know about them is that you will be laughing during their show and smiling afterward. They are truly entertaining!

Coincidence Improv Jam at Esquire Theatre's "Don't Think Twice" Premiere

Anyone who loves independent movies and/or improv comedy will want to see the new movie by comedian Mike Birbiglia (writer/director "Sleepwalk With Me"), which premieres locally at Esquire Theatre on Friday, August 19th.  Birbiglia's movie is all about the interpersonal dynamics of a fictional improv team. The movie stars (my buddy) Keegan Michael Key and features excellent improvisers like Second City veteran and Girls writer/producer Tami Sagher.

Coincidence Improv is excited to be hosting two improv jams at Esquire's showing of "Don't Think Twice" on Friday, August 19th at 7:30pm and 9:40pm. Improv jams are a great place to try improv in front of a kind and supportive audience. Anyone who arrives 30 minutes before either screening can sign up for a limited number of slots to play one of our fun improv games -- no experience necessary. Of course, participation is optional. You're always welcome to simply enjoy the fun as an audience member.

Mike Birbiglia's inspiration for creating "Don't Think Twice" was the idea that the art of improv is a great equalizer. You don't have to be on SNL to successfully play an improv game; you just need to have the spirit of a child. Hope to see you at the jam! 

New Company Member: Tatum Hunter

We are happy to announce that Tatum Hunter is the newest company member of Coincidence Improv.  Tatum is a dedicated and talented actor who joined CI several months ago. She brings a sense of joy, passion, and an impressive acting background. Welcome, Tatum, we're thrilled you're a part of the team!