What Makes A 5-Tool Improviser?

November 18, 2020/0 Comments/in Blog /by Sam Bowers

In baseball, the most elite athletes are called “5 Tool Players.” These all-stars specialize in five different categories: hitting for average, hitting for power, running the bases, fielding, and throwing. Because improvisers and professional athletes are so often compared (due to our similar income levels), I thought it’d be interesting to see what traits would […]

My 9-Year Blog-Writing Anniversary

November 11, 2020/4 Comments/in Blog /by Jimmy Carrane

This month it’s been nine years since I started writing this blog. It was not my idea. It was Lauren’s. She thought it would help with marketing my improv classes and workshops. Like most of the good ideas I get from Lauren, or anyone else, my first reaction was to resist. So the first blog I […]

Experiencing Joy on Halloween

November 4, 2020/1 Comment/in Blog /by Jimmy Carrane

This year, my 4-year-old daughter, Betsy, was really into going trick or treating. She was out of her mind excited about it. Me, not so much. I was just the parent taking her. When she woke up on Halloween morning at 7:14 a.m. the first thing out of her mouth was “When is it going to […]

How to Make Your Story Funnier in 20 Minutes

October 29, 2020/2 Comments/in Blog /by Jimmy Carrane

When I tell a story on stage, I want to get laughs. I know not all storytellers work like this, but if you do and you are looking to punch up your story to squeeze in some more laughs, I have some quick tips that may help you make your story funnier. Storytelling is not […]

Just Good Enough

October 21, 2020/1 Comment/in Blog /by Jimmy Carrane

“Perfect is the enemy of good.” — Voltaire For most artists, creating is the fun part. The problem comes when they want to get their work out in the world. They have been bitching and moaning that they’re nobody recognize their art for years, but when they have the chance to put themselves out there, […]

Playing By the Rules

October 14, 2020/1 Comment/in Blog /by Jimmy Carrane

In our house we have a ritual. Almost every night after dinner, me, my wife, and my 4-year-old daughter, Betsy, all sit on the floor and play a board game. We play Candy Land, Hi-Ho! Cherry-O or other board games that are appropriate for a 4 year old. It usually starts off pretty good, and […]