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.

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

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?

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

Years ago, if you grew up in an “improv town” you would train at a local improv school and and learn from local instructors. Unless you moved cities or frequented comedy festivals, you didn’t have a chance to learn a different style or technique.  Now more than ever it is possible to train with teachers from across the world. But what do you when you’re playing with somoene who has radically different training than you?

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

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. Fear, jealousy, resentment – this episode has it all.

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In this episode, Rob and Adam discuss DEAFO – a new system for creating more dynamic, interesting 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.

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

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.

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

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.

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

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.

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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).

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network

We all know the Harold, and The Montage – but what’s in the in-between? Are there some formats better for new players than others? This week, Rob and Adam discuss longform structures, the origin of The Maker, their own struggles with formats and make recommendations for new players.

Brought to you By: The Sonar Network