Improv Tips #121 – Assumptions (2019)

Improv Tips #121 - Assumptions (2019)

Improv, Improv Comedy, Improvisation – whatever you call it, here at Improv Tips want to help. In this week’s improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt talks about a simple but powerful idea, ASSUMPTIONS and how we can you them to supercharge our improv scenes. Whether you’re doing improv comedy, playing improv games, using…

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Additional Thoughts on Decision-Making

making a decision

[ad_1] Earlier this month, I wrote about the challenges inherent in making a big decision. When you’re not sure which path to take, the impulse is to get more data. Ask for more advice. Expand your pro/con list. While you may feel like you’re making progress with these tactics, they’ll likely leave you just as…

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Everybody Wants To Leave Early

Everybody Wants To Leave Early

[ad_1] One of my least favorite things to sit through (and one of my favorite thing to rail against) is the encore. The first problem is that the encore is supposed to be a surprise bonus—the fans demanding more; the artists giving just a little extra. Now, though, the encore is baked in. Regardless of…

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Improv Tips #110 – Make It Personal (2019)

Improv Tips #110 - Make It Personal (2019)

Improv, Improv Comedy, Improvisation – whatever you call it, here at Improv Tips want to help. In this week’s improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt talks about a simple but powerful technique of MAKING IT PERSONAL in a scene to add depth and meaning to what you’re doing. Whether you’re doing improv comedy,…

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Improv Tips #109 – Scenic Inertia (2019)

Improv Tips #109 - Scenic Inertia (2019)

Improv, Improv Comedy, Improvisation – whatever you call it, here at Improv Tips want to help. In this week’s improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt talks about a simple but powerful idea, SCENIC INERTIA and how it can help you get your scene off to a good stat and keep it rolling in…

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Under Construction

Under Construction

[ad_1] When I was in grade school, my parents gave me a Gameboy Color for my birthday. It was summer, so I had all the time in the world to play Pokemon. I’d sit around the house, staring at the screen. And when that got old, I’d go to my friend’s house and play it…

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Teen Improv Fight Club by Michael Golding

Teen Improv Fight Club by Michael Golding

[ad_1] It is not unusual for the at-risk teens I work with in workshops to be reluctant to embrace the unknown and allow an improvised scene to flow organically within the structure of a game. They require advance information with dialogue and action before participating, so they don’t appear foolish. Directing focus on the rules…

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Improv Tips #108 – Character Refrain (2019)

Improv Tips #108 - Character Refrain (2019)

Improv, Improv Comedy, Improvisation – whatever you call it, here at Improv Tips want to help. In this week’s improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt talks about a technique that he uses all the time in his work to his characters a consistent and catchy point of view. Whether you’re doing improv comedy,…

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When Have You “Read” A Book?

Improv ABC

[ad_1] I once heard that Seth Godin reads 1000 books a year. How is that possible? Apparently, because he only reads the introductions. I don’t actually know if this fact is true. I tried to verify it, but I couldn’t. Then, I came across this post where he actually recommends the opposite. So, who could…

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