Letting Go of the Laugh

Students often want to know when they will know they are getting good at improv. The simple answer might be, “When you are getting more laughs,” but I actually think it's the opposite.

When people are starting out in improv, the way they usually measure their success is by how many laughs they get in each show. But getting laughs is not necessarily the mark of a great improviser. I think the real answer is when you feel the least self-conscious and the most free on stage, no matter how many laughs you are getting.

Still, I think it's important that every improviser go through the first phase so they can get to the next level. And you cannot get to that level without feeling more confident in getting laughs from your scene work.

Once you have that confidence, you’ll be able to trust yourself, your skills and your fellow players. And then one day, you’ll realize that you are more concerned with the scene and the show than in personally getting the laughs.

For me, this is the master level of improv, and though I am far from perfect, the longer I improvise, the more consistently I’m able to do this.

Getting to the point where you truly don’t care about how many laughs you’re getting takes time — for me, I am not exaggerating, it took at least 25 years. I have seen people do it much more quickly, but I am more resistant than most people.

Being more concerned with the scene or the show than the laugh is as selfless way to play, and usually when I am in that space, I lose my inhibitions and make fresh, new choices. I have found that when I am able to let go of the need to get a laugh, that I am playing versus performing, and I end up being more vulnerable and authentic.

I have done shows where I have done the majority of the editing and have gotten few laughs and felt wonderful about the show. I have done scenes with players who have created the most hilarious characters and just sat back and set them up. This takes confidence, and confidence takes experience, and it takes time. Let’s hope you can get it faster than I did.