Practice!

We do best what we do most.

Practice. It's the best way (maybe the only way) to get better.

-- doug smith

Scene Prompt: If Perfection Was Easy

Opening Options: 

Introduce the prompt by announcing it (with one person or several in unison), OR by walking across the space carrying a sign that says "If perfection was easy..." OR by writing it on a white board or chalk board.

Build the scene based on the concept: 

If perfection was easy we'd be bored out of our minds.

Develop the scene by preventing boredom by making sure that nothing any of the characters do is easy.

-- doug smith

 

Improv Exercise: Smile Line

What to do:

Form two evenly distributed lines of people facing each other. In silence, practice smiling.

Small smiles, big smiles, devious smiles, friendly smiles...say nothing, simply smile.

Enhancements:

If you have a musician, encourage them to improvise quiet music as you all smile.

Variation:

Practice with hand-mirrors. Hold the mirrors up to your line partner to show them their smile.

End scene when:

If laughter ensues, let it trickle until everyone is laughing. If laughter does not ensue, someone must initiate it until it does spread. Allow everyone to savor the laughter until it slowly (or suddenly) trickles out.

-- doug smith

Some thoughts on smiles:

The best use of a mirror is to practice your smile.

A smile can help your attitude get over itself.

Practicing your smile is not only good for you, it's good for everyone around you, too.

It's harder to be mad at someone who likes you enough to smile for you.

Even a curious smile is better than no smile at all.

It's easier to face the future if you embrace the present with a smile.

-- doug smith

Scene Prompt: Ego

Here is a prompt for a silent improv sketch:

The ego is lonely until it discovers others.

Go.

 -- doug smith

Scene Prompt: Lessons Later...

Premise: 

Sometimes we learn a lesson too late to help us while we're learning it...we have to use it later.

Scene:

Improvise a scene where that premise becomes clear. Characters should struggle with at least three obstacles and vanquish none of them, yet bring the scene to a close with their realizations.

Suggested Obstacles (but you can decide):

Your point of view could be wrong.

You may have created an enemy who will harm you.

Throwing money at a problem may not solve it.

Everything We Do

When we learn to improvise we dramatically increase and improve our possibilities -- not just in improv, but also in everything we do.

-- doug smith

 

What will you do?

The more random things become the more likely that an order will emerge. From the broadest possible view everything is organized.

What can you do with that?

-- doug smith