How to Relax Onstage

Yesterday i was working with the teen improv class. One of our best students, asked me, what do you do to relax onstage. He's been nervous during the teen improv performances recently, and he hasn't been able to settle into the scene. you can see the doubt in his eyes onstage. "This isn't going well!" "What do i say to make this scene better?" "I'm failing!"

As a coach it's always hard watching a student crash onstage. you want to help, but theres nothing you can do from the audience.

"So," he asked, "how do i calm down onstage?" He looked at me like i had all the answers. Here's what happened in my brain:

1st second: Give him the advice, "it gets better," "try and forget about the audience," "you can't fail"
2nd second: That's not actionable advice! That's bumper sticker mumbo jumbo. It's a nice idea, 'we can't fail,' but it's not always the most helpful and implementable.
3rd second: Be honest with him
4th second: Even though the solution sounds silly?
5th second:Yes!
6th second: I agree!
7th second: Who are you?
8th second: Your unconscious
9th second: Get out of here! I was talking with myself
10th second: Fine. I'll leave. (but i won't really leave. I'll just hide in the shadows)
11th second: I heard you.
12th second: Damn!

So, I opened up, and shared. I just smile. When i am onstage, no matter if it's Rocklin, Sacramento or San Francisco, when I'm onstage, I always look at my scene partner and smile. That's how i check in with my scene partner before the lights go up and we're live. That's it. It helps me relax, and check in, and remind my partner that no matter where we are, no matter who is in the audience, we're here for each other. If we help each other, the show will succeed.

And, you know what? I had a terrible show Saturday night. I didn't play well, and that really depressed me. I thought back on the show, the scene starts, the characters, heightening, everything. The one consistent? I can' remember checking in with my scene partner in the dark. We just launched into the scene, before we connected. Improv is all about connection. Eyes, Smiles. Words. We gotta connect. I didn't, and i have a strong suspicion that's one of the reasons i didn't do well.

Science! Psychological tricks! When you smile, or act happy, your brain starts to feel happy. A little fake it till you make it never hurt anyone. It only helps before a show.

Essentially, a smile says, 'we can't fail,' and it's something we can do every time before the curtains goes up.

If you have a hard time smiling, here's some self-help. Maybe you don't know what a smile feels like. Well, i'm here to help! I'm going to show you a picture you can't help but smile at. When you see it, pay attention to how your face feels...that's a smile! Use them often!

Did it work? did you smile? Do you know now what it feels like to smile?

No?! My god. this is serious. We'll have to try something even more smile inducing. I didn't want it to come to this, but, i have no choice. desperate time call for desperate measures:

Improv Shakespeare Workshop Saturday

If you're thinking about taking the Improvised Shakespeare workshop: do it!

If you're still thinking about it, say hellow to Michael Lewis. He'll be teaching the class this Saturday at Blacktop Comedy Theater in Rocklin. I had a chance to ask him some questions.

What are some of your favorite improv teams?

Some of my favorite "dead" improv teams: Bitter Noah, Alexis Stiencamp, and Pete and Paul Explain it all. These were all teams from iO West in the early 2000's. Some of my favorite "living" improv teams: Beer, Shark, Mice, Improvised Shakespeare, and Hello Laser.

You're a great improviser. Was there a moment you realized, you wanted to be involved in comedy? What was that moment?
I don't remember the first moment but I feel in love with improv from about the first time I started improvising at 17 in Bakersfield. I continue to fall in love with improv the more I learn about what is possible as an improvisor, teacher, and artist. My god I'm a sappy romantic for improv. 

When and where did you begin improvising?
I started improvising in hight school with ComedySportz Bakersfield in 1995. 

Where have you studied?
I was introduced to improvisation through ComedySportz where I performed for about 7 years. I was introduced to long form and got what my serious improv training at iO West. I also take the opportunity to study at improv festivals, and at improv theaters whenever I get the chance to.

What do you love most about improv?
Improv is pure process, our work is never done. You get to hold on to nothing. Your best work and your worst work is completely ephemeral you have to step onto stage and begin anew every time.

Is there a favorite character you've created?

I don't think so but my favorite character fictional or actual person is Timothy "Speed" Leveitch. He is a real person who is endlessly fascinating, go watch The Cruise.

What do you hope students learn in your class?

I hope that all of my students will learn to get out of their own way and let their subconscious lead them. Don't trust your thinky brain it will almost always lead you astray. Be present and trust that how you feel is how you should be feeling.

What's the most valuable piece of advice you received from a teacher?

Trust how you feel and follow that.  Your feelings are never wrong. I can't quote anything accurately but that is what I took from Dave Razowsky.

Sound Effects for Improv Shows

When you're running an improv theater, you have a lot to think about. Marketing, community outreach, and coaching are just a few things you have on your plate. Have you thought about sound effects?

When you're performing, you're building a world for the audience. The stage performers are important, they're space object-ing and heightening the scene, and listening to offers....but so is the sound person who is in the tech booth. Well...could be. They have so much power to build a world, and help improvisers...but how often are we taking advantage of sound?

Here are five valuable sounds you should give to your sound tech. It can radically change and help a show. It can infuse scenes with energy and excitement. And, it reminds the stage performers, "the sound tech has our back!"

Please download the sounds, and let me know if they've been helpful for your productions. Also, these sounds are creative commons zero (cc0), so enjoy them for any production. Have fun!

(if you like these sounds, and would like more I am happy to make this a regular feature.. Just leave a comment and let me know.)

1. Door knock / Door open 

This is how the list begins! With a cheat. I'm lumping two sounds into number one. When there's a knock at the door or a door opens the world can change dramatically. If the scene isn't clicking, if some energy needs to be pumped into the scene, reach for a door knock, or crack open a door. It can be such a gift when someone enters the scene.

2. Gun shot

Need something to cap that scene? Want to inject some adrenaline in the show? Try a gun shot sound effect. (also very fun to play during a blackout."Who got shot!" "What happened?" The audience will be on the edge of their seat as the next scene begins. Just, make sure those players don't ignore the gunfire, or the audience will feel cheated).

3. Atmospheres [restaurant, forest, subway]

I'm cheating again. I'm lumping three sounds under atmosphere. Space work goes so far. Sometimes an audience likes to hear some noise at that coffee shop, car ride, and forest. Soundscapes can really help heighten tension too. Ironically, when people aren't talking, but the soundscape can be heard, tension, I've found, increases in an audience.

4. Phone

Much like a doorbell, a phone means something is about to enter the scene. Let's hope the players treat the call as something very important, a things-will-never-be-the-same-moment.

5. Bell

This is more a technical choice, then scenic. If your company plays improv games, and you relay on a physical bell, I strongly suggest getting a bell sound effect too. I can't count the number of times this sound effect has saved our ass when we've misplaced the physical bell.

We hope these sounds make your improv productions even better! If you would like to receive more sounds, just leave a comment and let me know or email me at paul@blacktopcomedy.com