Since 2014 is drawing to a close, I thought it would be the perfect time to reflect back on the year that was. And when it comes to comedy, there were lots of changes on the landscape, both nationally and within our own little improv universe. When you look back at all of the massive […]
It doesn’t matter if you are an improv newbie or a seasoned veteran, when it comes to long form, the same rule applies – You have to have good scene work before using a fancy form. I have said it before and I will say it again, good scene work trumps form every time. People […]
Thanksgiving is a hard holiday. You can feel like this whole gratitude thing is being shoved down your throat. And what if you have nothing to be grateful for? Maybe you aren't as far as you would like to be in your career or you think people you started out with are passing you by. […]
In the world of improv, we all, including myself, struggle with showing up on time. Improvisers are not known for their punctuality or their professionalism. I can’t tell you how many times students have run into class late, or how many times I’ve barely made it to a theater before I was supposed to go […]
Does this sound familiar? You have just finished a class or an improv show, and before you can even enjoy what you've done, a panicked thought sets in: “What I am going to next?” I see this a lot, especially with students who finish taking my Advanced Art of Slow Comedy improv class. After studying with me for three […]
If you’re an improviser, you have probably thought about quitting hundreds of times. And that questioning probably won't stop any time soon. As fun as improv is, it can be pretty shitty at times. You are dealing with egos, jealousy and lots of disappointment. You are reliving high school. And some of us would rather […]
Last week I went to Worcester, Mass., to teach improv at Claremont Academy, a high school made up of a diverse population of teenage kids. Not only are you dealing with different races and cultures, you are also dealing with adolescents. For an improviser, this was not a glamorous gig. It was not writing for […]
What we do is pretty amazing. We get up in front of people and make shit up. And regardless if we suck or not that night, we are brave for just getting up there. And we need to give ourselves credit for that fact alone. I know a lot of you are refusing to give […]
This September, Improv Nerd turned three years old. At this point, we have recorded 106 episodes. Over the past three years, I have gotten to improvise with and interview some of the greatest comedy minds out there today. And lately, I’ve been traveling across the country, bringing the show to different theaters and improv festivals. […]
I am a comedy snob. And worse, for years I thought that was an asset. God help me! I have always been a comedy snob since I was a third grader at Joseph Sears School. I couldn't understand why my friends would watch Three’s Company over comedies like M.A.S.H. or Bob Newhart. I secretly thought […]