Welcome to Improv Wizards!
We are here to teach you to become Improv Wizards!
Have you ever wanted to do Improvisation Comedy, like you see on Whose Line is it Anyway?! Well you can!
Eric Artell
Eric feels like he’s been doing improv since he was in the womb, but he’s since realized that it was likely too difficult to do space work at that time…In reality, he’s been learning and performing improv since before the turn of the century (training at The Groundlings in Los Angeles and performing with his bff Lincoln), and he’s been teaching improv for nearly 17 years. You may have seen his face in one of the dozens of national commercials over the years (Mazda, AT&T, PizzaHut, etc), on a TV show, or in a film, or you may have heard his voice on the radio or in some video games. (If you really want to see a full list, browse on over to his imdb page) He loves acting, spending time with his family, and eating great food, but more than anything else, Eric loves helping people learn how to do improv comedy and become an improv wizard. (okay, maybe not more than all the other things, but he really loves to teach it!)
Lincoln Hoppe
I’m an actor and filmmaker by trade. Trained at various acting schools, including Playhouse West in Los Angeles, CA, I’ve played in more than 70 films and TV Shows.
As a Voice Actor, I’ve narrated over 100 books, winning many awards, and telling many great (and some less great) stories in the process. I’ve also voiced characters in commercials, videos games, and animated films.
Improvisation is one of my loves. I love to do it and teach it. I hope to hep you experience the joy of improvisation!
Find out more about Lincoln and follow his Socials at LincolnHoppe.com
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Monday, Wednesday, Friday -> 10am Pacific time
Tuesday, Thursday ->6pm Pacfic time
Learn Improv Basics!
Yes. We ARE making it up as we go! A good improv scene can leave the audience in disbelief – in disbelief that it was really made up on the spot.
The trick is, that just like any other craft or skill, there are fundamental principles that govern a good improv scene or good improv work by any player. These skills can be learned and practiced, just like practicing kicking a soccer ball or swinging a baseball bat. Remember to keep your eye on the ball!
Basic Scene Improv Guidlines
1) Make an Offer
Here is where every scene starts: with an Offer. An offer is anything that adds any kind of information to a scene. It can be the simple, or complex.
A Simple Offer:
“Good morning, Jake.”
This quick offer adds 2 simple bits of information. It establishes the fact that it is morning, and that the other character’s name is Jake.
A More Complex Offer:
“Doctor Lazarus, thank goodness you’ve scrubbed in. The patient is open on the table and his new liver has just arrived.”
It may not be brilliant, but it’s specific. The information paints an instant picture of a hospital O.R. with smocks and scrubs, it implies a relationship between the speaker and the newly labeled doctor, and adds some drama to the scene. It also gives the scene a place to go, although the options are still endless.
Scenes progress as we Add Information. The quality and specificity of the information can determine the richness of the scene.
But how does a player deal with information that is offered by another player? This leads us to…
2) Accept the Offer/Acceptance/Agreement
Comedy Improv is a collaborative art; “acceptance” is the priceless priciple that allows scenes to flow. The concept is very simple: when an Offer is made, the other players must accept the offer that has been given.
Yes, and…
Essential, an improv scene is made up of playing the game ‘yes and.’ This simply means that whatever offer is made to you, it is your responsability to accept that offer (yes), and then add a new piece of specific information (and).
That’s it! Accept each offer, and add specific information.
3) Listen
Listen! Listen! Listen!
It sounds so simple, but when people get nervous, they don’t listen. They plan their own agenda and force it on the other player.
Relax! Take a breath! Listen to the offers from the other player!
If you don’t listen to the offer, there is no way you can accept it. If you’re not listening, you may as well be doing improv by yourself.
If you listen, then accept, and make your reaction based upon the offer just given, your scene will flow and people will enjoy doing improvisation with you.
4) Avoid Questions
Questions are to be avoided because they don’t add information to a scene. They shift responsibility for adding the information to the other players. Of course some questions are ok, but in general they are to be avoided.
PLAYER 1: “What’s that over there?”
This question forces the other player to answer, and essentially controls their choices for the next move in the scene.
Here is the same offer, but rephrased as a statement that adds information:
PLAYER1: “Look at that over there! I haven’t seen a time machine since 205 A.D.”
If you find yourself asking questions, just begin rephrasing it as a statement.
“He who asks questions is a theif.”
5) Play
Have fun! Don’t over-analyze everything. Say the first the first thing that comes into your head. It can be easier than you think.
We improvise every day in every conversation we ever have. The only difference is that in an improv scene, you’re playing a game and people may be watching you to be entertained.
Improv Games
Instructions for some of our favorite games.
Party Games/Exercises
Freeze Tag
This game can go on for hours. Two players begin a scene. Try to get out the ‘who, what, and where’ right off the bat. At any point during the scene, another player can yell “FREEZE.” The players will then freeze their body position. The new player will replace and assume the position of either one of the frozen improvisers from the scene. Then a new scene begins based on the new physical positions from the freeze.
Dont’ let individual scenes go on too long.
Cocktail Party
Everyone creates a character for this exercise. Everyone in the group simply moves about talking to each other, as if they were at a party, in their character. As each player talks to other players, they will discover things about their character. This is a game in which questions are encouraged.
Musical Jam
Everyone stands in a circle. One at a time, the players will introduce a vocal musical element, layering so that they all fit together. The first few can be rhythm and bass line, and melodies and back-up harmonies come later. This is very free form. Each player should listen and try to make their part fit with the others. If you want, you can take turns singing solos and verses.
Machine
Players create a machine using their bodies in repetitive movements and sounds. Start with one player and add one player at a time. This is a great warm-up and warm-down game.
Performance Games
Replay Scene
Two-three actors perform a short neutral scene. Then they ‘replay’ the scene imposing different genre on the scene like horror, or science fiction. Emotions and musical styles are also fun to play with here. Repeat the scene with 3 different genres, emotions, or styles.
Returns
One player attempts to return an item to the store with no knowledge of what the item actually is. The shop keeper give hints and leads the guesser eventually and hopefully to making the correct guess. Avoid making guess after guess. Try to figure out before making blatant guesses.
Half-Life
The players do a scene in one minute. Then they must repeat the same scene in 30 seconds. Then they do the same scene in 15 seconds. Then 7 seconds. Then 3 seconds.
New Choice
The actors do a scene. When the faciliator hears something they’d like to change they say ‘new choice.’ Then the player who just spoke must make a new choice.
Three-Headed Expert
Three players answer questions from the audience, but they can only answer one word at a time. Start with the same person each time, it makes it a lot easier.
Forward/Reverse
Three players do a scene while a facilitator ‘remote controls’ the scene. When he says “reverse,” the players then do the scene in reverse from that point. When he says “forward” again, they go back to forward motion of the scene. All dialogue and actions should be done in reverse. The sentence structure of each sentence stays normal, but the order of the sentences is in reverse.
Expert Interview
One actor interviews another about something they know nothing about. The actor being interviewed must play an expert on the subject and make up details to questions from the interviewer. This is a good game to practice confidence.
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