Improv Tips

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. It’s really hard to hear improvisers when they don’t project their voices, because most stages you’ll perform on don’t have microphones. You need to project your voice. It may be a boring skill to practice, but it’s  one that is essential to your improvisation. You may never be known as the improviser with the great voice projection, but you might become known as the improviser who no one can hear. If no one can hear you, you’re not going to last as an improviser. So, scope out any venue where you’re going to perform, find the most-distant seat in the house, and improvise like you’re talking to the person in that seat. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. You don’t need to have all of the answers in improv. You’ll face far too many situations to expect yourself to be prepared to respond to all of them. Not just challenges with the art of improv, but things like figuring out how to promote a show or knowing how and when to talk to your teammates about inter-team issues. So don’t worry about knowing everything. There are improv veterans out there who have knowledge and experience and are willing to help you. If you can’t find someone, don’t hesitate to ask me if you have questions. However you seek it, don’t be afraid to ask for help. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. One of the wonderful things about improv is that you never know when a scene is going to end. But what that means is that you can’t improvise toward an ending. The scene you’re in is going to last as long as it lasts. The problem with improvising to an ending is that if you reach the ending during the scene, where do you go from there? Improvise as though the scene you’re in will never end. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. There is, indeed, truth in comedy and comedy in truth. But there is also plenty of comedy to be plumbed in crazy. Audiences laugh at the relatable instances of comedic truth. But don’t forget that crazy can also be very funny. Put your judgments away, and don’t be afraid to take your scenes to new, strange, crazy, unexplored places. And don’t apologize for doing so. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Someday, you’ll find yourself in a scene in which you don’t know a pop culture reference. Don’t panic. Remember that the improv world you’re living in doesn’t actually exist, even if that world seems a lot like our world. That means that the pop culture reference that everyone knows in this world means whatever you decide it means in your improv world. So, go ahead and decide what that pop culture reference is, and make it your own. You’ll probably find your way to a much more interesting scene than you would have if you’d played into the pop culture references that the audience is expecting. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. It never hurts your improv to be up on your pop culture references. When Hamilton was first ascending to the wild popularity that it’s reached but before I’d ever even heard of it, I was lost in an improv scene that was absolutely filthy with Hamilton references. I have also been in Pokemon scenes and Last Airbender scenes. At least I think that’s what they were, because I had absolutely no clue what references were swirling around my head. It is helpful to your improv to have at least a passing knowledge of the pop culture, memes, and news of the day. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Don’t stop for coffee after you just found out your house is on fire. If someone pulls a gun in a scene or slaps someone or gets elected governor, that’s not the best time to address the fact that they forgot to take out the garbage last night. Make sure you focus on the most important thing that’s happening in a scene, and don’t waste time on the side stories until you address that important thing. If the thing eventually leads you back to those side stories, all the better. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Make sure that you improvise to the suggestion, not to the ask-for. Let me explain. If you ask the audience for the topic of their most-recent nightmare, and your first scene is about a nightmare, guess what? You’re cheating. The audience didn’t suggest a nightmare, you created that suggestion for yourself in your ask-for. As best as you can, eject the ask-for from your mind right after it’s said, and only improvise to the suggestion. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. It’s up to you and only you to improvise your way out of bad situations. If you find yourself in an uncomfortable scene with a scene partner with whom you don’t have chemistry, you must not bail on that scene. You cannot rely on anyone else to save you from your situation. Go back to the basics. Focus on what’s happening in the scene, the relationship you have with the other characters in the scene, and where the scene is taking place. Grab onto something that you can play with from those fundamentals, and strap yourself into the scene for a wild ride. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater. Improvising is acting. If you get a chance to take acting classes, you absolutely should. The art of improvisation evolved from actors trying to improve their abilities on stage in all sorts of scenarios. If you have a chance to take traditional acting classes outside of your improv classes, do it. Improvisers are actors, and any additional acting know-how will help your improv skills. That’s your improv tip for the day. Stay safe and stay healthy, and I will see you next time.