There are few things more taboo than going negative on an improv stage. But does negativity at the start of a scene preempt the possibility of a playable dynamic? What does it mean to go negative onstage and why do some improvisers love doing it?

No training. No teaching experience. A classroom full of students. What could possibly go wrong? This week Rob and Adam discuss the challenges of teaching improv, their pet peeves in a classroom, and mistakes they've made along the way.

Sometimes you step onstage with someone and it just feels right. Other times … it’s confusing, turbulent, and awkward.  What makes for good chemistry onstage? What can you do if you’re struggling to connect with your Harold team?

What do you do when your parnter is COOKING, and you are clearly not?  In this episode, Adam and Rob discuss how deal with a partner who seems to be dominating a scene and you feel stuck.

In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss DEAFO - a new system for creating more dynamic, intersting stage pictures.  Also on this episode, heightening through proximity, intentionally throwing your scene off-kilter, and Adam's pathological obsession with the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Amongst the many terms improvisers have invented to describe a bad scene, "Crazytown" might be the most evocative.  This week Rob and Adam discuss scenes that try to do too much, too soon - and how to prevent your scenes from going off the rails.

Rob and Adam discuss what to do when a scene fails, how to fail gracefully, and how to get a struggling scene back on track. Also on the episode: recent travels across the US, Rob's artistic residency in Sweden, the best pizza and an adult love of trains.

In this epsiode, Rob and Adam discuss what to do if you are obligated to create the who, what, where in the first 30 seconds of your scene. How much information should you add? How much room should you leave for you partner to contribute? PLUS - an update from the Backline's recent experience with The Heat.

This week Rob and Adam chat about improv festivals: how to run it, how to market it, and the small perks that make it all worthwhile. If you're in Vancouver for the week of January 24th - 27th, join both Rob and Adam for THE HEAT, and The Backline Improv Intensive (details found @thebacklinepodcast on Instagram).