Power of Improvisation: PART I

A few weeks ago, I shared a challenge to all of my actors from this past month's new improvisation training to share their thoughts, experiences and takeaways in a blog post that would be featured here.  Our work in class featured the UCB Theatre's new Improvisation Manual (CLICK HERE to order) and we all found it truly transformational and valuable.  For this week's post, I am proud to share the winner of my BHStudios student actor blog contest: Gavin Mayne.

Gavin is a senior in high school who has shown a deep love and interest in the entertainment field. As a talented dancer, Gavin has learned about the value and power of performing.  As a new student in my Intro to Acting class (Theatre Arts), Gavin has clearly been "bit with the acting bug."  I have been so pleased with his growth, interest and passion for all things acting.  Gavin's post on improvisation is well-thought out, interesting and it serves as a testament to the power of improvisational training.  We would love to hear about your experience with improvisation as well in the comments below.  Thanks for reading, Happy Holidays, and I hope you enjoy.

The Power of Improvisation 
by: Gavin Mayne 

In life, there are many assumptions and misconceptions. When it comes to acting, the assumptions and misconceptions are everywhere. People assume that it is easy…people assume that it has no “value” and is nothing but a “waste of time.” People tell me that there are “better things to do with your life” or “why don’t you get a real job?” Improvisation, like acting, is not without its own share of misconceptions. People often assume that all improvisation must be funny or that the process is just about doing whatever you want onstage. However, I've learned through my training with Hodge that this is not the case. If I am honest, I used to be one of these people. I used to think I had this acting and improvisation thing figured out. I dance. I spontaneously create things. I think of myself as a performer who has some skill. However, I have come to the conclusion that I was wrong in these assumptions. 

People generally think of improv as something you just randomly do, but that is not the whole story. It is much harder than that. There are rules to follow, guidelines to know, and fresh experiences to discover. It takes practice to get use to following the whole "base reality" and trusting the "Yes And" process.  Early on, I tried too hard to be funny with my improv when really, as a performer, I had to do the opposite. Improv can be easy, if you learn to follow the rules and guidelines. You must also develop a lot of patience... I never found something so hard, but yet so simple, in my entire life. Sure, I got better, learned the rules, the guidelines, and got my practice in, but there is much more to acting than that.

Because most people equate improvisation with comedy, most people do not tend to think there are serious concepts within it.  During my improvisation training with Hodge, I have learned that there are life lessons and specific insights about improvisation and acting that have changed my life. I want to share three of them:

1. THE POWER OF LISTENING

Remember when people have always told you to be quiet and listen? That is something that applies to not only improv but also life. If you do not listen in improv, you will not understand the base reality or anything else. The scene will fall apart if both people are not doing their jobs effectively. Improv is a teamwork thing. The actors feed off of each other for the scene. In acting and in life, listening opens the doors to many unexpected and exciting opportunities. In acting and life, not listening closes those same doors of exciting opportunities that could have been discovered. 

The takeaway here? Listening is one of the best things we can do as actors, improvisers and human beings. Listening leads to connection, companionship, wisdom and knowledge. I say that we all find ways to listen more. Starting NOW. 

2. DEVELOP AND CULTIVATE PATIENCE

Patience. Having to go up on stage over and over again with everyone looking at you can be very stressful. No matter how confident you are, in the end, you will still be baffled on how hard it truly was. Growing frustrated about it is more harmful than beneficial to your acting skills. I have learned that acting should be fun and freeing, not destructive and restrictive. 

Today, society has ignored this. People constantly find new ways to stop trying to learn to enjoy something. Instead, they judge it right away without giving it a single thought. People immediately hate on something because they have ignored how to enjoy anything.

The best way to get over this burden of frustration is to stay patient. Make sure that you realize that you will only grow stronger as an actor if you step back, relax and try to improve rather than staying stuck. Everything takes patience in life. For example: I was not able to dance when I emerged out of my mother's womb, instead I grew older, found a passion, and worked for it. I still struggle as a dancer, I came to points where I wanted to just give up on it; but I now recognize that I do my best when I stay patient and take my time to learn the material and apply it to the point that I can give my audience everything. The same is true with my acting and improvisation. It takes time to transform myself into the performer that I want to be.

3. WHEN IN DOUBT, HAVE FUN

What I find most often as I watch others perform is which is doing the most important thing: having fun. A lot of people feel too silly and do not want to express themselves. (WHAT ARE THEY AFRAID OF?) Improv is really all about that. If there was anything that was natural for me in my improv unit, it was having fun, expressing myself, and not worrying about if I look "cool" or not. It is not about being cool. Be passionate. Be dedicated. Be tenacious. Be uncompromising. Be pissed. Be expressive. BE YOU. If you "stay cool,” you are afraid to show the world what you are capable of. This whole mindset of being cool and how important your image is to you will only hold you back. In acting/improv, there are barriers that must constantly be broken in order to give a honest, effective and believable performance. As soon as you get up on that stage, that ridiculous mindset, that negative voice that tells you to give up and sit down has to be ignored.  

There is more to improvisation and acting than what is seen on stage. It is a way of self expression and maturing as a human being, even if you appear silly on stage. Improvisation, acting, and performing in general teaches listening, patience, and fun. You learn a lot from taking up these simple rules and applying it your life. Things become easier. They help you realize who you are and what you are capable. Improvisation is not an easy task, but neither is changing. In the end, it is worth it.