Low-Status Improv Characters for Dummies

Recently an improviser contacted me and said he was struggling with playing low-status characters in his improv shows and he wanted some advice on how to do it. I have always loved playing low-status characters, maybe too much. In fact, I think that’s all I played the first ten years of my improvising. This got me thinking that I have never written a blog on the subject, so here it goes.

Here are my three best tips for plays low-status characters in improv:

1. Start with something physical
   If you struggle with playing low-status characters, you are going to want to trick your brain into doing it, and there’s nothing better than starting with physicality to help you do that. It can be as easy as starting the scene looking at the floor and not making eye contact with your partner, or hunching your shoulders down and having bad posture, or slouching while you’re sitting in a chair. My experience is that using these kinds of movements will lead you to create a character who has a low-status point of view. A strong low-status physical choice can give you a low-status character before you even open your mouth.
2. Start with low status emotion
   Again, just like starting with something physical, starting with a low status emotion or state of being can trick your brain into playing a low-status character. You can try an emotion such as feeling nervousness, scared, sad, self-pitying, low self-esteem or confused. These kinds of emotions and states of being will automatically going right into low-status.I just did a Jimmy and Johnnie show where I played a nervous guy who was running around the stage. A general rule of thumb is that a low-status characters move around more on the stage than high-status characters. This makes them seem more nervous and less sure of themselves than high-status characters, who remain more planted in one spot, and communicate more of a sense of confidence. I have found when you pick a strong emotion, this happens organically.
3. Look for the low-status roles
   This is probably the most obvious and the easiest to play. Instead of going on stage and acting like a movie star, choose to play someone who is the personal assistant to the star, the servant to the queen, the hotel clerk serving the business person who is checking in — anyone who is naturally subservient. Yes, you can flip and play the personal assistant or servant as high status, but if you are struggling to play low-status characters, this is great practice.This also brings up a point that a lot of improvisers suggested on the Improv Nerd Facebook page. Sometimes it’s fun to play high-status characters as low-status: the president who is unsure of himself, the dentist who is nervous about taking out your tooth. This may be bit advanced if you are newer to improv, but it’s something to shoot for, and I have really enjoyed playing these kind of characters over the years.

Want to learn more from Jimmy? Sign up now for one of his Level 1 improv classes, either in-person or online, starting the week of Sept. 12. Sign up by Aug. 29 to save!