Alexis Pereira, Male

Don’t pretend. 

This feels weird to say as an improviser, but I try to never ever pretend.

Pretending everything is great is how you lose your point of view and your unique perspective. Also, I personally don’t want people lying to me, nor do I like watching people bullshit each other.

However…

Don’t be a dick.

Openly disliking certain moves and points of view is how you scare people off and promote fearful improv. People on stage (or in practice or at Applebee’s) who disdain moves only do themselves a disservice because it leads to more and more judgement, and less and less growth.

So what I try to do is what I see amazing improvisers do effortlessly:

Find the value.

Great improvisers are not pretenders nor are they dicks - they are really good at finding the value in everything. And yes, sometimes, you’re going to have to work a little bit harder. But people who can effortlessly take Gilligan’s weird stick and make it a part of the boat are pretty damn useful.

So, don’t be a hippie and don’t be a dick. And don’t act like a hero either. The most interesting people aren’t full of facts or funny, they aren’t scary nor do they love everything - they are just ready and willing.

Be ready and willing.