understanding comedy
So You Finished Your First Improv Class…
Congratulations! You’ve finished your first level of improv classes. You have 8 weeks of training under your belt, a new group of improv companions, and a rocking show that you did for friends, family, and strangers. So, now what? Here are 5 things you can do after you’ve finished your first improv class: 1. Take […]
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10 Tips for Surviving Your First Improv Class
So you finally decided to sign up for your first improv class? That’s awesome, congratulations. Over the years I’ve taken a number of classes; some of have been incredible, others not so much. Here are a 10 tips I’ve learned on how to make the most out of your maiden voyage into classes on improvisation. […]
Read MoreMagnet Improv Level 6 Class Notes
Instructor: Armando DiazDate Taken: July 2011 The final class of the Magnet Improv Conservatory is a Team Performance Workshop. You get 6-weeks of classes and then 8-weeks of shows with the same team. The team-specific nature of the class didn’t lend itself to taking too many general improv notes, but there were a few gems […]
Read MoreMagnet Improv Level 5 Class Notes
Instructor: Armando DiazDate Taken: October 2010 Level 5 at the Magnet focuses on creating an improv revue—four shows that your team does together. I went back to my normal heavy note-taking ways for this class, but can you blame me? It was Armando Diaz teaching! To learn more about the Magnet training program, go here. Class […]
Read MoreBlaine Swen Workshop Notes
Instructor: Blaine SwenDate Taken: August 2010 For DCM 2010, Blaine Swen (founder / performer of Improv Shakespeare and 1-man musical improv show Bash!) offered a 3-hour workshop that focused on 1-person musical improv scenes. Here are the notes from the workshop. Class Notes 3 important points of improv: pov, dialog and emotional dialog come out […]
Read MoreAdvanced Spacework Workshop Notes
Instructor: Dave Jadico (CSz Philadelphia)Date Taken: July 2010 Every year, ComedySportz has a tournament where all of the city teams get together to play, take workshops and hang out. This workshop was part of ComedySportz Tournament 2010 and covers spacework, for both shortform and longform improv. Workshop Notes Every time you touch an object, the audience has a […]
Read MoreMagnet Improv Level 4 Class Notes
Instructor: Alex MarinoDate Taken: May 2010 With Level 4, I continued my focus on experiential learning and just trying to incorporate what I heard as opposed to logically thinking about. Â Our particular class was about the Evente, which lends itself to creating better improvisers for any form. I also learned more from the 4 performances […]
Read MoreMagnet Improv Level 3 Class Notes
Instructor: Peter McNierneyDate Taken: March 2010 As I continued further into the Magnet program, I decided to try to learn more experientially (rather than logically), so I took fewer notes and focused on how I was feeling in scenes—what worked / what didn’t.  Still there were some notes that were too good to not write […]
Read MoreBilly Merritt Workshop Notes
Instructor: Billy MerrittDate Taken: January 2010 I took a 3-hour workshop with Billy Merritt and definitely enjoyed it, especially the Ninja, Robot, Pirate metaphor and exercises. Here are the notes from his workshop. Workshop Notes Improv is 2 things: pattern and rhythm. Mirroring also means stage picture. Turn improv technique into story. If you’re tentative […]
Read MoreMagnet Improv Level 2 Class Notes
Instructor: Louis Kornfeld Date Taken: November 2009 After going through the curriculum at UCB, my biggest weakness as an improviser was reacting emotionally.  After great experiences with Shoot from the Hip (full of Magnet people) and the Dynamic Duos class, I decided to go through the Magnet program with an emphasis on improving as an emotional player. I was […]
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