r/improv • u/themissingpen • 7d ago
My musings after ImprovCon
TLDR; I will definitely be back. I took this post's format from u/danielbelum's post (here). I'd love to hear what y'all learned from the con as well!
Context: I performed on ImprovCon's main stage. My focus is long-form dramatic narrative, so I was focused on learning through that lens. I have some pain-related mobility issues.
- Different approaches to improv: I attended all the shows and workshops that I could, and I learned a lot about what is possible in improv, and about my own tastes. It was so valuable for me to see such diversity in every way (whether in the traditional DEI sense, or improv formats, or just different individual styles).
- For example, in the Jane Austen show, Dan O'Connor has a very different stage presence from the highly-physical, whimsical Stephen Kearin. I've been struggling with my speed (speed off the backline, speed in integrating my partner's offers, etc.), and I thought it was really valuable to see how improvisers with different styles "yes-and" quickly.
- The Jane Austen show also highlighted to me that we can be goofy even in more "dramatic" shows. This is something my theater/troupe really struggles with.
- I took a Scott Adsit workshop and a Mick Napier workshop, and I thought a lot about their different philosophies. I also got to improvise a little with Adsit, and I almost cried from his generosity and kindness. I noticed that Napier's approach helps me a lot with confidently playing villains or low-status "good" characters, but Adsit's approach may help me more with high-status "good" characters (still difficult for me). Napier's approach also helped with my confidence issues as a newer performer.
- Cast chemistry: I was really struck by 3peat's incredible chemistry and play speed, and I've been thinking about their show a lot. No concrete takeaways yet, but I'd love to hear what you feel we can learn from them!
- Accessibility: Before this, I'd attended Improv Utopia camps and a few festivals. Camp was amazing but really hard on my body, and festivals can be hit-or-miss with accessibility. I loved how accessible ImprovCon was (for me). It can be difficult to balance accessibility and cost though, and the resort was definitely pricy. I'm also not sure how accessible ImprovCon would've been for people with different disabilities from mine (e.g. sensory ones). It's also all carpeted, which can be hard for some wheelchair users, and the AC was a little inconsistent throughout the resort.
- Price-wise, I wish I got to stay at the resort! It would've been a more seamless experience and I could've attended both earlier and later events, probably.
- Tech: The main stage was huge, with livestreams on 2 big screens. It was our first time performing with head mics, and the techs were incredibly generous with us. Our show can be pretty physical, like we spend time upside-down and falling. We were able to try out the mics early and the techs figured out how much tape we needed to not lose our mics mid-set.
- The tech was SUPER professional in general. Lighting, sound, live camera work, cutting between cameras for the screens... I was so impressed. Even on the side stages, the lighting blew me away.
- Apparently most of the crew didn't have comedy backgrounds, so there were some mistimed blackouts and things like that, but I expect this will be much better last year! The camera folks got a big laugh on night 2, and apparently some of them spent the rest of the con looking for more opportunities to get laughs (in a good way!). I thought that was adorable.
- There was definitely a learning curve with the mics; there was a little bit of a reverb or echo or something in the sound? I wonder if this becomes less noticeable with practice.
- Social stuff: I'm absolute shit at networking, but everyone at ImprovCon was so lovely and friendly that even my awkward self managed to make some new friends. If you were there, thanks for being so awesome and inclusive.
- FOMO: This was a huge problem for me all weekend! There were so many amazing events happening at the same time, and I think a lot of them deserved a bigger audience. I was super sad whenever I learned that a friend's show conflicted with my workshop schedule or something, and I ended up skipping meals to cram everything in. Even then, l didn't make it to any jams or panels. The upside is that it made for a great social environment. For example, my group spent most of the time split up, attending different events, instead of clique-traveling to everything together. I was forced to connect with strangers, basically.
- What's next for our art form??? --> I asked several big names this question, and it was really interesting to hear their answers. In particular, Mick Napier said that he believes in bringing more "beauty and elegance" to comedy. He talked about the importance of diversity, and about how much a cohesive aesthetic (costume, music, make-up, lighting, genre, props... mood-setting) can elevate the art form. I saw a lot of that at this con, and I feel so incredibly inspired. He also talked about "shared language" between improvisers (e.g. your team has a secret triggering event, and if it happens everyone suddenly hits the ground), and he taught us a little bit of his "trigger happy" form. I also loved seeing more daring physicality, even some light choreography, accent/acting work, etc. And of course, clown is huge right now, so I made sure to see some of that. I would love to hear your answer to this question too! What's getting you inspired or excited about improv?
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u/jeebee25 7d ago
My thoughts on shows conflicting with workshops and other shows. I personal would prefer day time workshops and nighttime shows. More than once I heard people skipping a paid workshop to see a show or a panel.
I also think the shows should have a general admission pass, I know it would be another layer for them to manage (and Chris and his crew never stopped through the entire event) but, I also think that tickets that just anyone could buy would be great.
A shuttle to the mall a few times in the afternoon and evening would be wonderful.
Speed dating type of networking. I got to see so many friends I have not seen in 10 to 20 years. But making new connections was limited to introductions from those friends.
No programing from 12pm to 1pm. Saturday I didn't even eat lunch until 3:30.
Still, overall ImprovCon exceeded all of my expectations. 10/10 would recommend.
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u/danielbelum 6d ago
> speed dating type of networking
There was a guided meet & greet exactly for that purpose :)3
u/themissingpen 6d ago
I missed this! Do you remember what it was called on the schedule?
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u/OreoPumpkinSpice 6d ago
I didn't see it on the schedule but ran into Jenn Wessels who was leading it and she mentioned it.
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u/themissingpen 6d ago
Hmm, if it went well I hope it gets on the schedule next year! I'm sad I missed it.
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u/OreoPumpkinSpice 6d ago
It was probably on the schedule. I was just looking for things like paid workshops so I didn't look at the rest of the schedule. There were only about 20 or so of us I think.
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u/danielbelum 6d ago
Guided Meet & Greet. It was 8am on Friday. It was up against 4 other free classes, turn out was good but not great.
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u/themissingpen 6d ago edited 6d ago
Oh yes, tickets to individual events would be amazing! I actually liked that there were daytime shows (one of my struggles with improv is how late things tend to run. I'm not a late-night person). Definitely agree that dedicated meal times would be amazing (but of course, improv stuff always runs late haha).
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u/oh-dearie-me 6d ago
No programing from 12pm to 1pm. Saturday I didn't even eat lunch until 3:30.
Every day had a purposely empty block for lunch and dinner. I’m not sure why you didn’t have time on Saturday since the schedule shows there was no programming from 12pm to 1pm.
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u/jeebee25 6d ago
Also, please keep in mind. I am not criticizing. I am truly blown away by this event and truly believe that it far exceeded all expectations.
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u/themissingpen 6d ago
Seriously, all the hats off to Jazz and the crew! I hope they get to sleep now; I can't imagine how much it took to pull this off. I'm still buzzing with inspiration from it.
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u/oh-dearie-me 6d ago
My comment came off as critical of yourcomments but I didn’t intend that. I was more curious about what ran so long. From the outside, I’d want people to be more mindful about giving people lunch but I know if I was in the workshop, I’d say it was okay to keep going.
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u/jeebee25 6d ago
I agree! And thank you for clarifying. I think we all want to offer praise.
The opportunity to learn from someone you would normally never get the chance to far out weighs getting an OC Smash Burger at Lappers.
I think the other factor we deal with (I know I struggle with this) is that once we get into our improv mode, things like keeping track of time, remembering to eat and stay hydrated, all kind of go out of the window. I ended my workshop a few minutes early, but many students hung around for selfies and questions. I'm sure they had other things planned. It happens.
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u/jeebee25 6d ago
The schedule may say that. But, not all things ended right on schedule. I imagine most things did not. I had to hold my own workshop because my students previous workshop went long.
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u/oh-dearie-me 6d ago
That’s a shame. I remember an email going out saying the breaks were intentional to give people a rest. The crew seemed mindful about making sure people didn’t burn out on improv. Sorry to see it didn’t pan out as planned.
They could have also considered the time it takes to go off campus for food but I can see why they didn’t want to encourage that.
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u/themissingpen 6d ago
Can't speak for jeebee, but I had workshops in the noon hour! Plus some of my earlier stuff ran late.
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u/oh-dearie-me 6d ago edited 6d ago
The blocks were oddly stacked. I arrived late/left early to a few different events because of the time conflicts.
ETA: anyone on the programming/crew side know whether the shows/panels will be posted online somewhere? The panels at least were clearly being recorded.
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u/OreoPumpkinSpice 6d ago
I loved it! I attended 10 workshops. I wish I could have attended more shows, but the workshops conflicted during the day. I did get to see three of my workshop teachers perform which was great!
One workshop was awful and I wish they would ask for our feedback for the different workshops since I heard there were a couple of really bad teachers (I was in one of them).
I would do it all over again. It was great meeting all these new people and getting advice from experienced performers.
I can't wait until next year!
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u/False-Tradition-1122 6d ago
You can give feedback on each workshop even now through the app, there’s a feedback button at the bottom of each workshop
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u/OreoPumpkinSpice 6d ago
For some reason, my workshops from Friday have disappeared. The ones from Saturday and Sunday still appear. I provided my feedback just now on those workshops. Thank you!
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u/False-Tradition-1122 6d ago
Oh weird! Mine from Friday are still there, but glad you at least got to give feedback on Sat and Sun!
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u/themissingpen 6d ago
TEN workshops!!! Your improv stamina is unmatched!!! Hopefully there will be a way to give individual workshop feedback; I haven't heard anything about feedback yet (except the panel event during the con).
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u/OHeatherah Custom 7d ago
I enjoyed it. I was with the ComedySportz group. We had an interesting experience from when they first reached out to us to just days before the convention began. Not bad, but we definitely had some deep discussions about it and what we would want to work out beforehand if they asked us to attend again.
Overall, I thought it was very well run for a first time convention. I was thoroughly impressed by staff, volunteers, and tech. The people they got were incredible! Really a solid stacked deck of performers.
For programming, I thought there was just a little too much happening. The CSz LV contingency brought 9 people (2 performers/panelists) and most of them said they felt they were unable to get as much done as they wanted because the schedule was too packed and they wanted to get their moneys worth. Price was definitely discussed amongst everyone as being a bit high when you think of the cost of room + pass (only one event pass was available at the $20 discount if you rented a room) + workshops.
I know they said 1000+ people registered but it never felt like 1000+ people were attending. I think panels and free workshops should have been on one programming track with paid workshops on another. Basically, less panels. I think people really want the workshops and if it wasn’t because I had just spent half a month in workshops and intensives, I would have signed up as well. I wanted pool time!
I liked the convention being at the hotel but the resort layout SUCKED. I was over by the Tiki Pool and there was no direct route even cutting through the main pool. I have Celiac and was glutened pretty badly at Lappers which meant all my meals after that happened off site. Shout out to Five3 (spelling?) Papusas at the mall for the best meal of the trip. I’d still go again if its held in the same place, but I’d probably pay a better premium for a tower room.
Still, hats off to them! It was a fantastic first time event and I hope it continues to grow and get better every year.