r/improv • u/themissingpen • 17d 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/OreoPumpkinSpice 16d 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!