Hello Reader, Recently I taught an improv workshop at the local repertory theatre. We played many fun games, rapid games which sharpened our wits and made us laugh. What made this workshop work so well was the bell.Whenever the bell sounded, two things happened:
This gave a positive, uplifting, and successful finish to each game. Every skit was an intellectually and emotionally demanding experience. The frequent applause gave the actors the confidence to try again, and again, next time. Improv games are really short. Sometimes you can do two or three in a minute. They do get longer, but I was working with dozens of teenage actors who hadn’t all met before. Short games let everyone have many turns, and try and try and try again. This was my first time teaching anything theatrical in a decade, so it deserved some reflection. I recalled these life lessons, learned in my own youth through the theatre: Agreement gets you farther than conflict.
Fail fast and move on.
Encouragement makes the community stronger.
Your passions are the most potent.
Creativity is practiced.
Fun makes fast friends.
Why Am I Teaching Improv?All of the greatest role models of my life have been directors and actors who taught me theatrical arts. Returning to this craft, even briefly, reminds me what I truly love about it. Getting in the spotlight and showing off is fun, sure. But what I really love about the theatre is how it helps you to understand some of the biggest lessons of life, and ultimately, stagecraft makes you into a better person. At least, that’s what it did for me. Maybe I’ll pass some of that on to the next generation of actors. Make a good production, with dazzling spectacle? Yeah, sure. Make the world a better place, because there’s better people in it? Even better. 😃 |
For experts and entrepreneurs who want smart marketing systems that increase their influence, income, and impact. Written by an 🇺🇸 American digital nomad living in 🇳🇿 New Zealand, Caelan started his career as an acrobat in the circus. 🎪 He wrote the book on Marketing Yourself 📙 and is on a mission to help one million people develop a playful attitude about life. ✨
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