Yes, And Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

I hope your Christmas has been lovely, and feels perfect.
Oh, yours isn't going perfect? Mine either. I'm sick! I wasn't expecting to be sick. I don't think anyone jumps out of bed and expects to be sick (maybe hypochondriacs).

But, here you are, and here I am, realizing this day is not going as we hoped.
Oh, well, maybe next year.

OR!
WAIT FOR IT.....

....We look at this as the most perfect opportunity if not the most perfect day. Here is a chance to put all our improv training to work. We've taken the improv classes, learned what makes a good scene, and stepped onstage a few dozen (or hundred dozen times) ready to yes, and and discover with our scene partner.

Well, you're looking at the biggest scene partner ever right now: Christmas Day. You're surrounded by offers, positivity, and opportunity. Will you yes, and the day, or curl up and let out the biggest, "no-thank-you, i'm not going to participate in your improv scene": bah humbug.

Have you ever looked out "that" window in your house? The window is there to be looked through.
Have you ever walked down, "that" street? The street is there just for you to walk!
Have you ever read chapter 7 in "that" book without reading 1-6? Chapter seven is just waiting for you.
How about writing an email to someone you haven't spoken with in years? Gmail is just waiting to mail your letter!

Yeah! OK. Sure. How adorable Paul. All these, 'coulds', but what's the point? What would it do?

Well, it would help you see everything as an opportunity to engage, and realize it's sitting there for you, if you take the time. Just take the time to do something you haven't done:

"Yes, I will take a walk down this new street and I will see sign for 'Free Guitar Lessons.'
Yes, I have always wanted to learn guitar, and call the number...
Yes, I love my first lesson and commit to weekly of classes....
Yes, with my new skills and confidence I audition for a band, and good news! I have my first show next October.

It's like a giant snowball of wonderful that grows. You can push that snowball down the hill in any direction, anytime you want.

It's that simple....and that hard. It's always hard to try something new.

And, yes, we're practicing what we preach. We can't go see the family today, because we're sick, and we don't want to infect them with all of this. We're going to grab some gift cards, wrap them up, and give them to people working at McDonalds. I think most of those locations are 24-hours...and working on Christmas sucks. And, even if it doesn't suck, and they love working on Christmas, who hates a gift? Zero people. I tallied all the voters and zero people hate surprise gifts.

(I know. I know. We're sick....won't our germs be on those gifts? No! At least, we're wiping down our hands and the gift with Lysol wipes to kill all the germs. I got my germaphobe brain figuring out all the angles. We want to pass on happiness, and gift cards....and not sickness.)

After that! We'll hit the road. We're going for a drive and we don't know where. We're just going to get on the road, and go. Maybe we'll drive down that road we've seen hundreds of times, but have never been sure what's down there. I have a hunch we'll end up in Sierras somewhere, but I don't know. Our goal is to see new things....and we'll yes, and the next adventure.

I hope you can yes, and today, and have an adventure of newness! If the day hasn't been perfect so far, I can at least control the upcoming moment.....coming up.......right......now.

Improv Advice: Improv Teams

If you’re looking for a quick tip, a tidbit of knowledge, a morsel of smarts we’ve got the show for you! Improv Wisdom! A deep dive into the depths of improv. Let us be your guide as we take an insightful look into what makes a good improviser. In Rocklin? In Sacramento? No! The world! We’ve teach you how to be best improv comedian around. It’s a micro class, for your busy day!

And, if you’re at work, and cant watch we’ve included the transcript below

IMPROV WISDOM TRANSCRIPT

Hi, welcome to Paul talks about Improv. I'm going to talk about Improv and you're going to listen or watch another video, but you're already five seconds into this one, so commit. Let's go all the way. Shall we?

Nick writes, “Paul and thinking about joining an Improv team. The question is, do I join one or nine? There's lots of people who are interested in me.”

Nick, thanks for the humble brag. You're a great improviser and you should also join as many teams as possible. Believe me, not all teams will be successful, but you know what? All teams do. Take a picture. You'll take a picture together and that picture will last forever. So even if your team is unsuccessful, you'll have a record of being with other people on stage. Those people might become famous. Eventually you might become a teacher, and as a teacher you can always cite. Having worked with a famous improviser, students will think, wow, you've worked with a famous person. You must be a good teacher.

So, I always recommend beyond as many teams as possible because you never know who might make it and who might not.

Camp Fire Relief Fundraiser

Every day at Blacktop, we host classes, or shows, or rehearsals, we do something that relies on working together.  Most of what we do is comprised of improvisational comedy, which is unscripted theater made up on the spot.  The tenets of improv involve support and agreement, with your scene partner or team.   And as a team, class, or our overall community, we practice this emotional, mental, playful support constantly.  Whether it’s a warm-up, an exercise, or a game the key is I’ve got your back and you’ve got mine.   It’s all about teamwork.   Without a partner or a team in improv, the show means nothing, there is no one key player or character in an improv show.   It can’t work unless everyone is on board.

I’ve seen games or shows work out even if everyone wasn’t on the teamwork page, but it took longer than necessary. And good improv (you’ll know it when you see it), happens more often when the players agree (even if it appears their characters are disagreeing).

I’ve been fortunate enough to get in a little teaching, take some amazing workshops, and see some incredible shows.  I still get stage fright. Like, hardcore stage fright.  I still worry if I will be able to contribute and make the right move at the right time.  Sometimes I need to remind myself still, that it isn’t about me, it’s about what we are going to do on stage together.

Lesson Learned Part One: It isn’t about me.

Each year Blacktop Comedy does a fall fundraiser, raising material goods and monetary donations to a local charity.   This year as we were planning, the Camp Fire broke out. It’s a staggering tragedy that effects countless lives. It’s a disaster. Every time you turn on the news, or read an article you’re struck by the mounting losses. I’m also struck by the sense of community, and peoples willingness to come together, and help one another.

Leason Learned Part Two: It’s about us.

We want to help. And, what we do is make people laugh. We’re taking that skill, and turning it into a fundraiser for the Camp Fire relief efforts.

We at Blacktop will be hosting a fundraiser comedy show on Friday, November 30th at 8pm.  It will be a variety show of stand-up, sketch, and improv comedy.  We’ll have stand-up comedy by Kelley Nicole, Cristian Amaral, and Syndey Roll.  The sketch writing and talents of Jay Miller and Kevin Scott Brown. Featuring performances by Jordan Mata and Austin Jansma.  Improv performances by Blacktop’s incredible house team of Paul Burke, improv veterans Dustin Seidler and Troy Wallis, as well as Shoana Hunt and myself (Ciara Cumiskey).  I am immensely thankful to all the comics, volunteers, and Blacktop Comedy donating their time and efforts.

Proceeds from the show will benefit the North Valley Community Foundation Camp Fire Relief Fund.  The NVCF is based in Chico and distributes grants to multiple causes affected by the fire ranging from churches, to veterans, to animals, and shelters in the area.

We are not collecting material donations at this event, as most organizations are requesting monetary donations first.  If you would like to donate directly to the NVCF for a tax-deductible donation you can donate here:   www.nvcf.org

If you’re interested in volunteering you can work with Caring Choices: www.caring-choices.org/

They will be needing volunteers in the coming weeks and months to facilitate recovery.

We thank you in advance for support of your and our community.  We look forward to seeing you at the show, around town, and just living life.  

Thank you for being part of community and helping out those in need! We all have the opportunity to help.