Why You're Really Asking Questions in an Improv Scene
Recently, I had a student in one of my improv classes who was asking a lot of questions in their scene. They were rapid-firing questions as if they were interviewing the person rather than improvising with them.
After the scene was over, we talked about all the questions.
By the way, I don't believe in "you can't ask questions in improv." I think that so-called “rule” and others like it handcuff improvisers. The so-called rules in improv are better served if they are called guidelines, and they need to be flexible.
That being said, asking too many questions in a scene was becoming a problem for this improviser.
Instead of relying on asking questions in a scene, I explained that the better thing to do is to declare something. For example, instead of asking your scene partner, "Why are you sad?," you might say something like, "I'm sorry you failed the test." Most of the time, your scene partner will appreciate you giving a specific rather than asking them a question.
But if you are an improviser who is prone to asking a lot of questions in scenes, ask yourself, "Why am I doing that?"
During the discussion in class, the improviser realized they were asking questions as a way of hiding. It was a defense, protecting them from being wrong, making a mistake, or worse, exposing themselves.
When the student said this, I could very much relate to this both in my improv and in my life.
My entire life I have always asked people a lot of questions in conversations as a way to hide so I don't have to reveal something about myself, because if I do, I fear I will be judged. It’s my way of fitting in and being liked, which barely works in my life and definitely does not work in comedy.
Often when a student can identify that he or she is doing something out of fear, their improv improves. If they don't judge what they are doing as good or bad and instead are just aware of it, they can often do things differently. Awareness is the first step towards change, especially when you’re in a group of people, like a class, where you have some accountability.
Habits this big do not go over away in one class, because usually, these types of character traits are not only something you have been doing in improv but, like me, your whole life. A habit takes time to break, so you have to have patience and know that your awareness of the fear behind your actions will help you let it go, and in the process, you’ll become a stronger improviser.
Now, if you can apply this to your life, let me know, because I could use your help.