Improv Tips

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Remember when you’re playing a character that even though you’re showing only a moment of that character’s life, they existed prior to your scene, and they’ll exist after your scene. This means that they had a backstory before the scene started, and the actions they take in the scene will have consequences for them, even if we don’t see those consequences. If you keep in mind that the characters you create exist, you’ll have a much easier time remembering to give them a backstory and to make them believable, since their life has consequences. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. There's one in every class. The person who finds their way to improv because they've always been told that they're so funny. And that’s great, and they should be giving improv a shot. But they approach improv by trying to be the funniest person in the room filled with funny people. And often they try to be very jokey. But improv is not jokey, and everyone else is funny, too, so it can be exhausting when someone is trying to prove how funny they are all the time. So don't be that person in the group. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. One of the most precious commodities your audience gives you is their trust that you’re making everything up. I feel like I shouldn’t have to say this, but don't destroy that trust by planting suggestions in the audience. It can be tempting, because that certainly puts your set on easy mode, but it's not worth the loss of credibility you’ll suffer for taking the improvisation out of improv. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Five seconds of silence onstage can feel like a lifetime. But a mistake that is easy to make is to feel obligated to immediately respond to a scene partner’s offer with whatever comes to mind. It's better to take a second to think about your response than it is to blurt out anything just to fill space. If you find yourself doing the latter too often, try discarding the first line you think of and say the second line instead. Not only will it slow you down, but you'll be surprised how often your second line is better than your first. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. One of the things I love most about improv is how collaborative an art form it is. It’s worth remembering that when you’re talking about your sets and shows. If I’m an improviser who is constantly referring to “my” show that “I’m” in instead of “our” show that “we’re” in, I might be rubbing my teammates the wrong way. It might seem like in inconsequential nitpick, but it’s something that people notice, and it’s never a good look to appear selfish. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Once you get comfortable identifying as an improviser, it can be tempting to be “on” one hundred percent of the time, both onstage and offstage. You don’t need to always be on. Some of the most exhausting parties I’ve ever attended were filled with improvisers doing bits. As much fun as bits can be, it’s okay to have fun without doing bits and constantly being on. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. It's always a good idea to watch other people improvising. It's a great way to learn new techniques, forms, and skills. But don't allow yourself to sit and critique, nitpick, or second guess every decision that's made onstage. Not only will you not fully enjoy the show yourself, but you'll be completely insufferable to be around. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Don’t feel obligated to pay off an audience’s suggestion within the first thirty seconds of your set. There are few things more satisfying than spending twenty minutes improvising your set only to call back the suggestion as your blackout line of the set. You have time. Don’t rush to the immediate gratification. The delayed payoff is almost always worth the time invested. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Stop wasting time agonizing over your improv team’s name. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Just as it's important to know your weaknesses as an improviser, it’s equally important to know your strengths. Know what you’re great at. That way, if you ever find yourself in a bit of a slump, you can fall back on your strengths to improvise your way out of it. Falling back on your strengths is like eating your favorite comfort food after a breakup or going to your safe space in times of turmoil. Whether it be playing a silly character, breaking into a song, or getting lost in a big physical activity, find your safe space where you’re confident that everything you’re doing is brilliant. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.