Improv Tips

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. As someone who doesn’t dive into playing characters as well as many other improvisers do, I’ve learned a bit of a cheat. You don’t have to come out with a massive character decision like playing a mustache-twirling Southern gentleman or a cackling, evil witch (though, by all means, go for that). You can make a tiny change to yourself and be a new character. Change your face from your normal smile to a scowl. If you usually have a booming voice that comes from your diaphragm, come out speaking with your voice just behind your teeth. If you normally stand up very straight, come out hunched over. Trust me. Little changes like those will inform your character choices for the rest of the scene. 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. As an improviser, you are almost definitely going to have a larger public persona than most people do. Be aware that as part of that public persona comes a certain amount of public scrutiny. Now, I'm not suggesting to lecture people during your improv set, but as a public personality, there are opportunities to get involved with groups or causes, particularly if there are issues you strongly believe in. Groups serving the public interest need strong voices, and there are plenty of ways to bring your skill for entertaining to assist those groups, especially on a voluntary basis. Don't hesitate to get involved. 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 like great movies and television shows have great pacing, so do great improv sets. If your set has been filled with high-energy, frenetic fast scenes, it might be in your best interest to slow down for a scene or two to give the audience a chance to regroup. Similarly, if you're following a series of slow sets, it might be wise to play with a lot of fast energy. If you’re organizing your own improv or sketch show, it’s also worth considering the order of the teams or forms to pace your higher- and lower-energy moments evenly. 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. A common mistake that fresh improvisers make is going blue early and often. It's not a good idea, especially early in your career. It's easy to get laughs with blue humor, but they're cheap laughs, and blue humor can more often than not derail your scene. If you get accustomed to leaning on blue humor for laughs early in your career, you may not evolve and learn how to get the “earned” laughs. Plus, certain theater owners might forbid you from doing blue humor, and if you are used to relying on it, you might not be able to find success in those theaters, since your biggest tool will be taken away. Shy away from blue humor and get used to working harder for your laughs. 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. When I teach improv, I try to create improvisers who are perfect scene partners and teammates. My vision of the Ultimate ImproviserTM is one who can improvise with anyone, anywhere, regardless of their scene partner’s skill level, and regardless of the situation. That improviser cannot be shaken, cannot be discouraged, and can create gold in even the most difficult of situations. If for some misguided reason you ever want to impress me, be that improviser. Take on any challenge, say yes with enthusiasm, and snatch success from the jaws of any potential failure. 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. Musical improv is almost always a joy to watch and to perform. Consider adding song into your non-musical improv set, though, particularly if you have musical accompaniment. You get an extra layer of forgiveness from the audience when you’re singing, and they’re even more prone to laugh than they otherwise might have been. In addition, as we’ve learned from musicals, anything that’s sung onstage instantly seems much more important. Since improv is best when it examines the most important moments in people’s lives, the occasional song is an amazing way to punctuate it. 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. I recently watched a reality show called Last one Laughing in which a group of Australian comedians are locked in a room together for six hours, and the last one to break wins $100,000. It’s hosted by the always-delightful Rebel Wilson, and it’s worth watching. I was struck by the amazing variety of the comedians in the room. There were absurdists, deadpan comics, shouters, and even one improviser. Not only that, but I was delighted by the different tactics the comedians employed to break one another. It reminded me to always be exploring different ways to make folks laugh. 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 be embarrassed about promoting your shows and appearances. Some improvisers seem to think that self-promotion is tacky or braggadocious, but if you’ve created something that you’re proud of, you’re the best advocate for getting it noticed. It might surprise you how many people who you assume know about your hidden talent don’t actually know about it. So go tell them. 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 my favorite film series is Indiana Jones. In The Last Crusade, Indy has to take a leap of faith over a seemingly-bottomless chasm. Only after he succumbs to not knowing where he’ll land is he able to continue his adventure. Improvisers also need to take that leap of faith. Only by having the bravery to take that first step into the abyss will you know whether that support system will hold you up. So take the leap. 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. A running joke in the improv community is how many times we've all heard the following from our friends and family members: “Let me know when you have your comedy show! I'll come see it!” I'm sure most folks are well-intentioned, but they rarely show up. I've learned that a simpler way to handle this question is to set up a website to post all of your shows. Registering and hosting a domain isn’t terribly expensive, and it’s probably a good idea to claim your name on a website before someone else does, anyhow. If you don’t want to pay for your own page, a Facebook page, a Twitter feed, a mailing list, or some other free form of social media is a simple way to let people know about your shows. If people want to come see you, direct them to those places, and they can choose to come see you on their own time. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe, stay healthy, love each other, and I will see you next time.