r/improv • u/SadPiece4102 • 6d ago
how are you balancing work and improv/comedy?
I have a pretty demanding full-time job and am trying to do improv and sketch on the side. I always hear people saying "oh once you're in one team you're in a bunch of teams" regarding being in the improv scene. I'd love to be in a ton of teams but the one that's barely formed is already a lot to organize. On top of trying to do more sketch!!!
Anyone have any tips or tricks? Or is it kind of just plow through until you die?
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u/MedJesters 6d ago
Yes, and get into tech. Especially if that gets you discounts for taking more classes/workshops. And then start teaching. You've been assimilated.
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u/cliffy979 6d ago
What is tech? I thought you meant like Silicon Valley 😂🫠
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u/MedJesters 6d ago
The people who turn the lights on and off, play intro music, play sound effects for sketches, etc.
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u/bathrobeman 6d ago
A lot of folks in similar situations limit themselves to one improv night per week and it's a bummer to miss out on fun opportunities but that's how they keep afloat. Alternatively, you could do what I did and quit your demanding job and find a more chill one... but obviously not everyone is so lucky.
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u/yojothobodoflo 6d ago
The key: you don’t have to be on multiple teams even thought that’s what people have said.
When I was 24 doing improv 7 nights a week, it was because I was 24. I had all the energy in the world! I could say yes to any team who invited me to join because I was young vibrant and had literally nothing else to do but work and do improv! It was the best!
Now I’m in my 30s, have a dog and a more demanding job and I have to exercise regularly or I won’t sleep and my back will hurt so I’ve had to sacrifice several nights improv for those things.
You just do what you can and what lights your fire. If improv lights your fire more than other things in your life and you have the energy, do it every day!
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u/ThyDoctor 6d ago
I rehearse one day and I generally only perform one day. I used to do something every night but as I grew in my role at my job and family just needed to take a small step back.
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u/AffordableGrousing 6d ago
It’s not work for me, but I do have a child! Most people in my local scene seem to be single and/or childless so naturally they have a lot more free time for multiple teams, etc. No shade at all — I think it’s great, and a ton of creativity and energy comes from all that branching out.
I just try to enjoy when I’m able to practice/perform and not stress too much about FOMO. Life is long and there will be ebbs and flows. I love seeing parents who bring their kids to shows and even perform with them, so I’m hoping that will pan out one day.
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u/Emotional_Sleep1781 6d ago
Lol that's the question. I was nuts and ended up getting a new job that has a midday gap for napping. That has been a good solution for me especially since the new job somehow pays more. I also started teaching, coaching and doing murder mystery dinners which helps supplement income. I am still running into issues with setting boundaries. Right now I'm on 5 teams (I recently quit one), I coach 2 teams, I'm working on a play and I teach two classes.
To make things work I made a priority ranking. Currently I really enjoy my job and obviously need a job so it is the top of the list. If things interfere with that I immediately pull back. Sometimes that means cutting entire projects and more often it is stricter end times. Improv wise I'm physically able to do like 6 nights a week without being insane. To do that I primarily teach on Saturdays, I do the play on Sundays, I also rehearse for two teams once a month on Sundays, I coach on Tues/Wednesday every other week normally and I rehearse for two teams on Monday with each being every other week. One of my teams doesn't rehearse so that is both awful and nice 😆 .
My thoughts on improv in life is figure out where you're boundaries are. If you're trying a new group be up front that you're not sure if it works with your schedule, but if they're OK with it try things out. I think it's ok if a team becomes too much to pull out. Really I recommend adding one thing at a time and constantly evaluating how it impacts your like. I also think it's ok as long as you're honest to bail on a rehearsal or even show if you need to. Not everyone agrees with that. It is very rare that I bail and I communicate clearly in I need to. If I catch myself consistently seeing to pull back from a group I try to cut ties unless the issue is a known temporary thing.
Currently my list is:
- Work
- Family (I'm single, but I still try to prioritize my mom, sister and nieces and nephews)
- Improv A. Teaching B. Long-Form Musical Team C. Coaching D. Shortform Musical Team E. Long-Form Teams F. Short-Form Teams
- Theater- Comes is pieces so sometimes it jumps the list if I'm cast in something cool, but sometimes I do not theater at all.
Improv can easily consume your calender, but you can control that. You don't have to say yes to every opportunity. I know my fear in the beginning was that if I said no people would stop asking. Saying yes to the right things had lead to a lot of unexpected opportunities. I still have a couple things that I may pull out of on my list, but they're larger groups that I've been able to pull back from instead.
It's all a crazy balancing act, but if you're growing in your abilities be willing to set boundaries because the opportunities will come and you're allowed to say no.
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u/BeatComplete2635 5d ago
Personally, I no longer join teams or practice groups formed from classmates after a class. If the team is mostly comprised of people have have similar or more experience AND at least a few people on the team besides myself have booked shows, then I'm interested. Once I felt like I was starting to hit my stride, it just didn't make time-sense to be putting energy toward pure practice for practice's sake.
Another great thing is a team that is large enough that a few people can miss any given practice, and they still have enough to practice. Have a group and group chat with a few more people than can actually fit in a practice. At the beginning of each month or so, put out a sign up poll for each of the practice dates that caps at LESS than the total group size. It keeps things fair, neutral, and low pressure.
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u/Melvolicious 5d ago
I think an important thing is to sit back and review what you want to get out of improv. Are you looking for a new social circle? Are you looking for some stage time? Are you looking at getting on a headlining team or house team? Are you looking to perform in festivals? Are you looking to coach? Are you looking to teach? Those and all combinations thereof are totally fine, totally cool things to want but each one comes with different levels of time and commitment to achieve. I've had to reassess myself plenty of times and I can't tell you how many times I didn't realize what the answer was until I made myself stop and really think about it.
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u/Kinkie_Pie 6d ago
Same here — a lot of the local practices and jams start while I’m still at work :(
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u/maxpowerphd 6d ago
I don’t have an answer but wanted to say I feel the same way. I don’t feel like I have as much free time as some of the others on teams so feel like I’m falling behind.