May 2013
1 post
6 tags
Improv Theater Auditions (more thoughts)
First off, a sincere congratulations to all of the people who made a harold/house/sketch team recently (as of May 2013). If you have not made a team, please feel free to look through my previous posts: Harold Auditions You did not get on a UCB Harold team Improv is a Sports-Rock album (a take on how I think the auditions should be run)
If you’ve made a team: - Don’t complain about...
April 2013
1 post
erika heidewald #1 #1!!: I Used to Have a Blog... →
Such an important topic. Yes this post made me tear up because the sheer honestly in Erika. She’s not a victim, she had a rocky past, she lived through it, and now she’s a happy/healthy human….and really effing funny.
erikaheidewald:
I used to have a “healthy lifestyle” blog at healthandhappinessinLA.blogspot.com that I started when I moved out to LA and wrote for two years...
March 2013
2 posts
4 tags
Untitled: A TOUGH LOVE GUIDE TO INDIE IMPROV →
catbathchad:
My name is Chad Damiani. I run the indie improv show Catsby on the first and third Sunday of every month.
My group CAT BATH! and I started promoting the show years ago – when getting booked on an indie night was a big deal for new groups. Since then, there’s been an explosion of indie shows…
AGREED!! Thank you Chad for this write up.
1 tag
Women
It’s women’s day. Sure. Ok. I’ve never heard of “Women’s Day” but apparently we have one. Maybe it’s because of FB now and all the posts that are going up, but I never noticed.
Do I sound irritated? I kind of am. I’m not sure if I’m going to be able to express this properly, but I will try my damndest.
Sexism still exists today. I am still...
February 2013
2 posts
the Anthony King: The UCB "Controversy" - NY Times... →
anthonyking:
I’ve already written about this “should UCBT pay its performers?” debate. I even “discussed” the issue with Jason Zinoman on Twitter before he wrote his NY Times article. And many other people have written wonderful defenses of the UCBT model.
Personally, I think comparing UCBT…
January 2013
3 posts
8 tags
I’m not funny. I am funny.
Comedy is subjective.
What I think is funny may not be funny to someone else. Who I think is funny may not be funny to someone else. Who I think is a great improv player may not be to someone else.
I make some people laugh. I make some people frustrated. I blow some people’s minds. I bore some people’s minds.
There have been a lot of auditions happening (and still happening) in the...
December 2012
20 posts
November 2012
7 posts
8 tags
Five Hundred UCB
Before I get into this write-up, please see my post after the 2012 UCB-NY auditions (no, I didn’t audition there too). You did not get on a UCB Harold team I did not get a callback. Out of 10, I would’ve scored my scenes as 7.75 and 7.25 This year, I believe I would’ve needed to score a 9 or 10 because… over 500 people auditioned for UCB-LA this year. FIVE HUNDRED!!!! I am...
Sussy-Time!: I SOLVED IMPROV COMEDY GUYZ →
sussybuckets:
I was coaching an improv group called Junk Rope the other day and we collectively came up with the following formula:
Smarts + Hearts + Farts = Great Improv
The “Smarts” is intelligence, obviously, but also realism and careful observation of your scene partner and your environment so that you…
the Anthony King: Harold Auditions →
Just a reminder…go read!!!
anthonyking:
There is a lot of talk on Tumblr in the last few days about Harold Auditions (I assume they’re happening in NY soon?). So as someone who watched literally thousands of people audition for UCBT NY Harold Teams over the last few years and as someone who can now speak frankly because I have nothing…
4 tags
I love improv
I loved improv when I first did it, but I didn’t even know that’s what I was doing. Improv. I just knew that it was fun and I made a lot of people laugh. When I started taking classes in improv, I got really into it. I’m not sure I loved it anymore as much as I really wanted to figure it out. I have a bit of a perfectionist thing and I wanted to get it “right” for a...
October 2012
2 posts
4 tags
Improv is a Sports-Rock album
First off, let me say THANK YOU UCB-LA for having us email in our Harold audition application!!!!! Holy cats. That’s way better than standing in line for 8 hours and maybe getting a slot.
See application here.
Yes, the UCB-LA Harold auditions are almost underway. The audition process, as I’ve experienced from the past, goes as such: - You enter the room with 7 other auditioners - The...
The worst thing you can be...
improvdanceparty:
The worst thing you can be, is in love with your own Improv.
September 2012
1 post
Is Improv Inherently Meta? / Commitment at all...
downrightupright:
I’ve been struggling with a concept in improv lately. Recently, it occurred to me that maybe improv is inherently meta. We begin each show by saying, essentially, “Hey we’re about to put on a show for you. But it won’t be written. It will be all made up on the spot. It will be hilarious not just for its content, but for the sheer audacity of making up an entire comedy act in...
August 2012
2 posts
5 tags
Not yet, but close
I like to keep these posts as one-off opinion catchers, but so much has happened lately that this entry will be more of a journal-blog.
Improv can be a rollercoaster, you have a great show, then a bad class, then a bad rehearsal, then an amazing class, then a bad show, then a great show… I believe that it’s all about timing. I’ve been having a string of great shows and classes lately....
6 tags
I Feel So Good Like
Please show your support!
go to YOUTUBE at this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2s3ijQOVMU
Watch the video
Click the “thumbs up” or LIKE button (if you like).
I wasn’t going to enter this contest. Then I was thinking about what made me happy. My first thought was my dog. I was going to do a whole dog video (which I still might do). I was thinking of walking her, having my friends play...
July 2012
1 post
Safety: A response to the Aurora, CO shooting
image “Family-hug” by Artifakts
———————————————————————-
You are not safe anywhere
You are safe everywhere, in your own head
Movies take you away to another time, place, beings
You cannot predict the action of strangers You can barely predict...
June 2012
2 posts
It's a Disaster
I sound like a spaz.
This movie is great.
Keep an eye out for it.
lobbypodcast:
CLICK TO LISTEN
Writer/Director: Todd Berger Starring: David Cross, America Ferrera, Rachel Boston, Julia Stiles, Kevin M. Brennan, Jeff Grace, Blaise Miller, Erinn Hayes
Grimace and Jodi take the train to LA Live to see Todd Berger and the Vacationeers’ latest outing - then have to make a mad dash through the...
Mullaney: Tips for success - From Mick Napier in... →
awesome
upstairsgallery:
Normally Mick Napier writes about whatever thing is on his mind in his missive to the annoyance community (past examples: toys, vulgar language, racism.) But this time he decided to drop some serious knowledge on folks:
In these newsletters, I rarely write about…
May 2012
3 posts
1 tag
Improv reminder
I’ve had a string of awesome teachers and coaches lately and I don’t remember who said this, but I think it’s important to keep in mind:
You Cannot Break Improv!
That is all.
Chapter 2. Improv and Advertising
I attended the Virginia Commonwealth University: Brandcenter for a Master’s degree in advertising. While I was there, I got an internship at DDB in Chicago. Six of us from class received internships in Chicago and all shared a house out there. One of our housemates was deep into comedy and took writing classes at Second City. Her teacher let a few of us audit the class and on the weekends, we saw...
Billy Merritt's Improv Dance Party Pt2: Coach-less... →
I totally agree
improvdanceparty:
Or as I like to call them.. Charades!
I have been told by a few of my students that they’ve been doing practice sessions without a coach. They say it’s hard to find a coach, get the coach they want, or can’t afford one.
All well and good, but don’t think for a minute that you are improving…
April 2012
4 posts
Erin Gibson: Pretty Funny (Minus the Funny) →
Thank you Erin for writing this article, but I still want to punch those other women in the throat. It surprises me (although, I guess it shouldn’t? ugh) that this still happens.
spolikeluzhate:
juliebrister:
gibblertron:
I don’t understand a lot of things. I don’t understand why my neighbor is pursuing a career as a 1990’s electronic music artist. I don’t understand why the ice...
Ashley Judd Slaps Media in the Face for... →
spolikeluzhate:
This is a very important read, and I am surprised I haven’t seen it re-blogged even more on my dashboard.
Reading this made me cry, and then cry in my husbands arms. It really opened up a flood gate of emotions. We are too hard on ourselves because we try to look good for others because the media fucking sucks a dick, and then that makes us all suck a dick.
I don’t wear make up...
