I haven’t updated my blog since starting my current job. Writing is my passion, but I’m not working on another book though I joke to my networking group that my follow up memoir is tentatively titled “What Happens Next”.

            Something totally unrelated to writing prompted me to blog again. My brother told me he was taking improv classes at “The Magnet Theatre” in NYC. He said the classes were super fun, and gave him an opportunity to perform onstage. Improv is acting without a script; a clearer description is: improv is “Whose Line is it Anyways” a TV show hosted by Drew Carey. A brief digression…

            For much of my life I wanted to fit into a cookie cutter, to blend with the crowd, and when I found out it was “cool” to be “weird in a socially conventional way”, I tried to impersonate my “I Could Care Less” peers. As a teen I was under the impression that I lacked a sense of humor... 

            Fast forward to present(ish) day to my first Improv class at The Magnet Theatre. Having no acting experience whatsoever, I decided to approach “Improv Level 1” with an open heart. There are 8 classes followed by a class show for each Improv class. One of the first things I learned (besides always “Yes, and” your scene partner) is to not start the scene with a joke or “try” to be funny; the humor will come with the specifics of the scenario. That put me at ease because I don’t see myself as a stand up comedian. Usually half of the class is up; the other half is sitting. Either the instructor or the audience will call out a suggestion (cayenne pepper, doppelganger, space, pirates) a relationship (priest/parishioner, parent/child, couple), a location (Grand Central Terminal, Kansas, Egypt) and 2 or 3 people will create a scene based off the word. When the humor reaches a peak point, the scene ends (each scene is usually a few minutes long.)

We’re taught to “yes and” your scene partner which means each scene partner shouldn’t negate what their scene partner says. Recently I was trying to sell lemonade to my scene partner, but he pulled a “gun” on me and demanded all my money, so I dropped to my knees and begged for my life. If I said, “that’s not even a real gun. And why is a 5 year old trying to rob me?” then I would be violating “yes and”. My scene partner was threatening my life and I was begging for mine, so we didn’t say anything funny, but the audience was laughing at the unexpected twist and absurdly distressing scenario. As my former instructor pointed out, “the humor comes with the specifics of the scenario.” My scene partner mercifully spared my life toward the end of the scene, even though I only had 1 quarter to bargain with.  

            I have been taking Improv classes for almost 5 months now; last week my “Improv Level 2” Class wrapped up with a show. In Improv I have been a 7 year old girl lost at a gym, a teen sneaking home at 3 in the morning, an undercover cop, a teen stuck in detention, a confused astronaut, a death row inmate, a reclining sofa, a car salesman trying to sell an orange BMW, an unfortunate soul who owes 1 million in back taxes, a contestant on a finger snapping contest, one half of a couple who live in a glass house, a kid asking for directions to Hogwarts, a statue in Central Park, and the list goes on…

            In Improv, “embracing your weirdness” is applauded, and being less conventional gets more laughter. Some of my Improv classmates are laugh out loud hilarious, and a good deal have acting experience. Though it’s categorized as “Improv Class”, the structure is very informal. We’re all here to improve our improvisational skills, and to have fun in the process. One of my former classmates concluded “improv is play for adults.”

            No one needs acting experience to take improv. And the teachers help us so that we’re ready for the class show after 8 weeks. For our first show, the audience laughed nonstop at our sketch, which made us feel pretty good since we were amateurs performing in a free class show. My brother sat in the first row during our second performance, and I loved seeing him laugh up close. The best part was taking a bow with my classmates at the very end. I don’t have any desire to become an actress; improv is something I do for fun. I’m grateful to my brother for introducing me to improv.         

            There are other benefits to improv. One evening after class, as I was walking to Grand Central with my fellow improv-er, he shared that improv helped him get over his fear of public speaking. Not only that, but improv can also help people “think on their feet,” a skill that is universally useful, whether you’re in a job interview trying to think of an answer to an unexpected question (if the CEO quit tomorrow and asked you to take her place, how would you grow the company?) or persuading your friend to spend 12 hours in Times Square with you in 10 degree weather (and no bathrooms) to watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop, or trying to get a 4 year old to eat spinach (still hard for me to persuade my adult self to eat spinach). And yes, the more practice you get, the easier it is to think of something to say during a scene.  Improv has also popped up during my weekday routine. A few months ago I attended a free “Improv Your Business” networking event hosted by the delightful Margaret (Maggie) Carey, who belongs to the same business networking group as myself, and is the Editor of an awesome online newspaper: HamletHub. It was refreshing to see my fellow suits in a whole new light; watching people in work gear perform Improv is priceless.

            Having a hobby is important. In college I knew I liked writing, but everything I wrote was tied to a grade, so I never scribbled for fun. As a kid, I thought I liked origami. After learning how to make a boat, I grew bored. As a youth I hated ballet, didn’t enjoy cooking, knitted a total of 2 lines, and quit drawing lessons after 1 lesson. I still will not sing in public (though I will occasionally rap during karaoke), run a marathon, or complete Sudoku puzzles in my free time. I’m tempted to Google “is being random considered a hobby”, but I’ll resist. Improv helps me unleash my randomness. 

It seems like everyone has something they really enjoy doing and/or are super talented at. I see pictures and hear stories of people who finished a “Tough Mudder” or surpassed a “Spartan”, cooked a colorful 3 course meal, painted murals that belong in a gallery, condensed “Romeo and Juliet” into rap notes, lose themselves in guitar rifts, capture forever moments through camera lens, and interview guests on their own TV show. Whatever your passion is, follow it! If it’s your 9 to 5, then more power to you!

If you have the slightest interest in Improv, and can commute to NYC once a week, check out The Magnet Theatre; they offer 1 free class per person. Students range from ages 16 to 70+. One of the perks of enrolling in a class is that you get to see free Magnet Theatre shows for the duration of your class. There’s no homework, and your misbehavior in scenes will be rewarded.