Get out of your comfort zone much?

[jonzr]

I generally don't.  But you know, life is short.  I'm considering enrolling in an improvisational comedy class at a small comedy club downtown.  The thought is sort of terrifying but I really want to do it.  It's 3 hrs on a Sat afternoon for 7 weeks.  Then there's a group performance for friends and family.  You can take more courses, there's a comedy writing course, lots of stuff.  But you know, even typing this is helping to visualize at least filling out the registration form.  Beyond that, I can't even conceive collaborating with a group of people and performing improvisational anything.

So, why not?  Will keep you informed.

[pensodyssey]

This board has been improvised collaborational comedy gold for 10 years or so.

[Finnegans Wake]

Go for it, bonzr.  Maybe someday you can open up for the Manchurian Wizards of Whateverthefuck or whoever it is you blabber about.

This board has been improvised collaborational comedy gold for 10 years or so.

Seriously, if we could get some of the folks from this board to do improv sketches...  FFS, it'd have to be better than the lameastic shit SNL's been 'gurging since Reagan was prez.

But no cuss words.

[jonzr]

Thanks guys, I'm gonna do it.  Mrs. Jonzr thinks it's a good idea too - gets me out of her hair on a Sat afternoon.  We're going to the club tonight to check it out, they do a group improv set at 9:00 and another at 10:45.  Being old we'll hit the early one.  It's a hole-in-the-wall down in Deep Ellum so it has potential imo, not a national chain like the Improv.

[Finnegans Wake]

You're not old until I tell you you're old, you fucking cunt.  Get out there and eat fire.  You've been putting odiots in their place now for a decade, on ESPN and MGS boards, you can flamethrow any random assery.  Just pretend they're the slightly drunk Y2J and you want to keep Y2J happy-ish.  Flame nicely.  Rest in your zone of wisdom.  Be the head on the pillow.  Be left nut fast.

[jonzr]

Man, that club was tiny, about 60 people packed it; fun though and truly improvisational.  We watched two troupes, the second was much more polished and funnier, but the first one got plenty of laughs, too.  It's a different thing to be an audience member for improvisation vs straight stand up. You're practically rooting for them to do well, it's a different dynamic.

[Big Virgil]

More power to you.  No way in hell I would/could do that.

[whitmer_87]

I generally don't.  But you know, life is short.  I'm considering enrolling in an improvisational comedy class at a small comedy club downtown.

Do it! It's called living, not existing. So get outta that comfort zone.

I started doing stand up a year and a half ago, and I fucking love it. I did some sketch writing courses, but never did improv. A lot of comics I know have went that route though, and they have nothing but good things to say. You'll have a lot of fun with it.

[jonzr]

I generally don't.  But you know, life is short.  I'm considering enrolling in an improvisational comedy class at a small comedy club downtown.

Do it! It's called living, not existing. So get outta that comfort zone.

I started doing stand up a year and a half ago, and I fucking love it. I did some sketch writing courses, but never did improv. A lot of comics I know have went that route though, and they have nothing but good things to say. You'll have a lot of fun with it.

Oh, I had no idea.  Stand up eh? Are you talking, quit the straight job and started touring the country doing stand up or you talking open mike night?  Thanks for the words of encouragement.  I did sign up, the class starts on 9/1.

[otismalibu]

I started doing stand up a year and a half ago, and I fucking love it.

Anyone else care for it?

[whitmer_87]

Oh, I had no idea.  Stand up eh? Are you talking, quit the straight job and started touring the country doing stand up or you talking open mike night?  Thanks for the words of encouragement.  I did sign up, the class starts on 9/1.

No worries! I'm sure you'll really enjoy improv. I started doing stand up in New York with open mics, and have since moved to bar shows. Still in New York, trying to pass at clubs. It usually takes a comic about 5-10 years to get good enough to play all over the country(Or to even start getting paid).

Improv is a different animal obviously. They always tell you to never try to tell jokes. Which goes against all the survival instincts I've developed doing stand up... Which is probably why I should take an improv class. haha Anyway, good luck and let me know how it goes.

[jonzr]

First class was a blast!  Small though, only 5 students so we got more reps of the games and skits.  I need work though, sometimes my mind would simply freeze on the stage.  Yes, stage, students are tossed into the fire.  First there were games, everyone in a circle, a word or phrase is said and you have to build on it and play off the person before you.  The two-person scenes are tough though.  Still need to loosen up the brain and let it flow, I suppose it's a matter of repetition. One game I enjoyed, "The Expert," required one person to stand in the center of the circle and playing it straight, tell why they were the leading expert on X and then field questions from the other students.  That was pretty easy, even if my heart was hitting 120 bpm.

But man, when we all stood to the side of the stage then took the center, two at a time to do the scenes, performing only for the instructor, my mind slowed down.  She'd say a word and we took it from there.  It's not easy, but it's doable.  Just a matter of learning and letting the mind relax, remember the rules - don't ask questions, work on the relationship between the characters, move the scene forward, give your partner something to work with, build on what they say, etc - and let it flow.  I was having flow problems.

But it was fun.  Plus, students get free access to shows.  I'm going to see my instructor perform tonight.

[pensodyssey]

So you're saying the class is a real 'keeper' then?

[jonzr]

Tis a keeper, indeed.  Heading out shortly to see the pros. One of the guys was younger, hell, let's face it, all the other students were younger, but one guy didn't know who Cher was and had never heard of Green Acres.  Serially.

[aj_law]

I was having flow problems.

Luckily, there's a pill for everything these days.

[kluisi61]

So you're saying the class is a real 'keeper' then?

Hopefully the instructor remembers to assign them before the next class.

[otismalibu]

Jonzr,
You're almost going to have to get back on the sauce to realize your true potential for this class.
Just to take the edge off. Somewhere between sober and stadium death fall.

[jonzr]

Three classes in and I'm still loving it.  Can't say I'm great at it, but I'm doing it.  And I have a new appreciation for the people who do it well.  There's an Improv Jam on Wednesdays (think open mic for improv) where anyone who wants can jump on stage with the seasoned performers.  I may go observe tonight, some of my classmates are supposed to go.

[jonzr]

Good read, btw.  A bit of the history of improv and some of the gooey stuff that goes into it.

[jonzr]

Got on stage last night.  It was a fright.  But I'm alright. Seriously though, I got into a few scenes and managed to squeeze out some lines.  When we went back up later I had nothing and stuck to the side.  But it was a blast.  I will do that again and again until the words finally begin to flow.  I truly believe it's a matter of practice and the willingness to fail and not be overly self conscious of it.  That's my primary barrier and it's slowly coming down.  Matter of time.

[Finnegans Wake]

Well, like, tell us what you did. 

[jonzr]

The first scene I was in there were 8 of us on stage, I believe two of the performers were experienced.  They started talking, indicating we were in a board room and were in a brain storming session.  But, only those two were storming.  So one of the guys says, "Well let's see what Paul thinks, I'll bet he has an idea."  And the other guy says, "Paul always has something."  And they're looking in my general direction.  Then the first guy looked right at me and said, "Yeah, YOU'RE Paul."  

So I start babbling about a some stupid shit about a sitcom where the people are trying to learn improv (DOH!) and then somebody else chimes in with monkeys in space.  And I say, yeah, but can the monkeys learn to do improv?  

It wasn't funny unless you were laughing AT us.  

That was the extent of my speaking.  In class we do two-person scenes, there are 7 of us plus the instructor and her assistant.  There were about 40-50 people in the room last night, many of them performers I've paid to see before.  But man, it was a blast.  

The next round I was in a different group and could think of nothing to say or do, so I just stayed off to the side.  

That's what the troupe does, half the people on each side of the stage, two chairs in the center.  Some people walk out and start a scene.  Others walk in as they feel the urge to contribute.

I'll be going back for the jams though.  It has to get easier.  (repeating to self)

[aj_law]

Sounds better and probably got a bigger rise out of the crowd than Swans Screwing in a Bush.

As long as you're enjoying it, keep it up, man.  Takes balls.

[jonzr]

Another Jam under the belt.  It's getting to be more comfortable.  Not as many people there last night, I guess folks stayed home for the debate?  Really?  Got into a couple of scenes, said a few lines, nothing particularly memorable.  Saw some pretty funny stuff though.  It's a good perspective to be on the stage with the experienced performers. 

So, getting more comfortable.  Still working on that whole thinking part.  Gotta stop doing it and simply react.  I still believe it will come with reps.

[aj_law]

So, getting more comfortable.  Still working on that whole thinking part.  Gotta stop doing it and simply react.  I still believe it will come with reps.

Hey, getting into the best shape of your career doesn't happen overnight.

[jonzr]

Another jam last night.  I can say this, it no longer bothers me to stand on the stage and struggle for something to say.  Or it bothers me way less.  Got in a few lines before getting tapped out by one of the house players.  Still learning.  Our public "showcase" for completion of Level 1 is this Sunday, I'll let y'all know how that goes.  Two of our seven can't make it, more for the rest!

[jonzr]

This was after our set yesterday, we did about 25 minutes and it was a blast.  All but one of us made it, the person who missed got free tickets to Austin City Limits and couldn't turn it down.  We did a bunch of two-person scenes b/c that's what you do in level 1.  Some psycho in the audience yelled the word "rampart" for our word.  Really!?  Rampart!

I'm the guy in the blue shirt.  

Details

[jonzr]

Yup, I'm still taking the classes and it's still a blast.  We had our L3 showcase this past Sunday.  I'm still learning and managed to make a few contributions.

I'm the guy kneeling next to the redhead, covering my junk for some reason.  We have a good group with some consistently funny people.  I'm still not one of them, but there are moments!

Details

[jonzr]

Off to do my first real show.  And by that I mean, not a student end-of-class showcase where your friends and family are obligated to laugh and clap.  This is a troupe made up of a student from each level and a couple of instructors.  I feel strangely calm.  Rather, strangely, I feel calm. Saturday nights, early show for the month of March.  Wheeeeeeeeee!

[Pain]

Have fun! Break a leg! Knock em dead!

[pensodyssey]

How'd it go, bonzr?  Did you tell them the one about the time finny quit smoking and shat out a midget's arm?

[jonzr]

It went great! It was a blast, it is my new favorite hobby.  I hope to join a troupe some day and get to perform on a regular basis, I now feel that's an achievable goal.

And in other jonzr's-midlife-crisis news:  https://plus.google.com/u/0/101041200366851149734/posts/fRq6fVBufnM

[jonzr]

Have fun! Break a leg! Knock em dead!

Thx man.  I found out afterwards that the club was packed, which is unusual for 7:30 pm on a Saturday night!  You can't tell from the stage b/c of the lights, and frankly, I'm glad I didn't know.  The jitters and self-doubt are diminishing the more I get up there.

(disclosure:  packed = 75)

[Finnegans Wake]

How about some video?  Come on, man!

[jonzr]

Ain't no video!

[aj_law]

How about some video?  Come on, man!

All of J's video equipment is affixed and hard wired in their master suite.

[Finnegans Wake]

How about some video?  Come on, man!

All of J's video equipment is affixed and hard wired in their master suite.

Otis gave him a great price on it, including a Betamax recorder and a few movies thrown in to sweeten the pot!

[jonzr]

Oh, so that's why Otis wanted to "check the attic!"  Should have known better.

[otismalibu]

I call bullshit on Jonzr. He supplies us with countless Zapruder/NYPD Blue clips from his concert outings, but suddenly has no way to record?

[Finnegans Wake]

I call bullshit on Jonzr. He supplies us with countless Zapruder/NYPD Blue clips from his concert outings, but suddenly has no way to record?

Seriously.  He's got real-time footage of cardinals ordering pizzas and playing Twister at the conclave, but suddenly he's without footage from improv?  Probably cite some lame legal bullshit to cover his ass. 

[jonzr]

Right now, all you guys know is what I tell you.  And I like it that way 

[jonzr]

Ladies and gentlemen, this coming Saturday (6/22) is my final class at the Dallas Comedy House, our group graduates the program the following day.  It has been a blast, one of the most positive, life-changing things I've done in recent years.

There are six of us who have found a coach and will be continuing the journey, attempting to become a troupe and earn some legit stage time, I'll let you know how that goes.  Three of our guys have already auditioned for and made the newest house troupe and are on the regular schedule.  I saw their first show and they're fucking great.

So, get out there people and do stuff.  You won't regret it.

[Finnegans Wake]

Good stuff, jonzr.

Maybe you can open some gigs for Shecky Greene!