... And Scene

I did it! I made it through my Improv class. And I didn’t just eke it out, I loved it! My experience with trying something new out of my comfort zone mirrored what I loved about each scene I got to do. You don’t really know what’s going to happen, but you step in and find a way to have some fun with it.

I thought it would be worthwhile to revisit my initial expectations and compare those to my actual experience to reflect on what I’ve learned.

Belonging

Expectation

I'll be out of my league.

I actually arrived to my class a week early because, even after 12 years of parenting, family calendars still confuse me. I was planning just to show up to my first class without a lot of preparation and jump into the deep end. But that extra first week gave me plenty of time to conjure and then subdue thoughts about how I’ll be in a class full of cutthroat local comic talent with ambitions of Netflix specials. The people in my head are always so extreme. And they don’t have patience for dabblers. Even if they did sign up for Beginner’s Improv.

Experience

I belonged because I wanted to be there.

Our first class was full of interesting people with so many different reasons for being there. And they all brought the same energy of wanting to learn and have fun. Our teacher did a great job of teeing us up with low pressure activities that got us out of our heads and getting to know each other.

Takeaway

When facing a new challenge, know that wanting to do it is reason enough to go for it. And if you do get anxious, create imaginary people who are more supportive.

Performing

Expectation

I'll get stuck in my head and freeze up.

As I’ve mentioned, performing is not something that I have sought out. Growing up, my last name was in the middle of the alphabet, so it was always a gamble if I would have to give my book report in front of the class on day one or day two of presentations. The arduous hope of willing the bell to ring before the teacher got to the O’s! If I didn’t have to go the first day, and then, maybe the teacher would be out the next, and then hopefully a tornado drill interrupts the following day… I’ve had more public speaking engagements since then, but the idea of others watching me looking like I don’t know what I’m doing still terrifies.

Experience

Sometimes I got stuck. Wasn’t so bad. And sometimes I brought some good ideas. And that felt so good.

The improv environment creates a lot of safety to try big and make mistakes. I’m actually proud of some of my flubs. Like when I was in a biker gang and brought wine. The whiff can just be part of the game.

Takeaway

Exposure therapy works on perfectionism. Best practiced when the consequences are just an act.

Talent

Expectation

A good improv player is naturally funny and has lots of comic material.

Trying to make people laugh seems like a lot of work. Not so much in day to day conversations with friends. But at home, tweens can be a tough audience, and there’s that microscopic target that elicits a genuine laugh surrounded by a vast expanse that induces cringe. OMG. (See? So cringe.) And now, I’m going to try to make strangers laugh? That’s for the sharpshooters.

Experience

The uncertainty of each scene is entertainment in itself. Just show up and put your best in.

What I realized I liked so much about doing improv scenes, is that they feel like a game. I love word games, especially word games that play on losing control. Mad libs is fun because the story twists and turns around wildly selected parts of speech. Our family likes to play a game where alternating members add scenes to a story, one turn bringing fortune to the main character, the next disaster. When an improv scene is a game, you don’t have to be funny, just a good sport.

Takeaway

Talent is always helpful, but the biggest factor for enjoying and getting good at something is just showing up.