So you think you can "improv team" - Part 1
- claudianovativoce
- 5 nov 2023
- Tempo di lettura: 5 min
... and you can. Get ready.
1) Get a team.
A team is a group of people. So, to have a team, you need people.
WHERE TO LOOK
Improvisers are easy to come by , if you know where to look. Like hippos to water, improvisers are drawn to improv classes and improv jams. Sometimes, you can also issue a "teaming call", also known as "organising an audition and posting about it on Social Media".
WHO TO GET
Skills are slow but relatively simple to get. What's complex is finding people you actually enjoy being on stage with, and you want THAT kind of person on the team with you.
Improv is about supporting and inspiring each other: make your job easier and find people you can do those things with as effortlessly as possible. As Clarke F puts it:
"Only work with people you like, so you are more willing to show up consistently and accommodate others if needed. Having a team of 4 people who all like eachother [...] has much more longevity than 10 people with in-fighting and no communication". Clarke F
HOW MANY?
It depends on the kind of show you will perform and on the level of committment people are able to give to the team.
GET A TEAM NAME
Team names are not that important. Unless you agree on something that means a lot to you all, or if you have a great marketing strategy (like when Marie De Waal and I when we decided on "A Nice Pair of Boobs"), then a team name is not very important. I am happy to be convinced of the contrary... but don't waste too much time and emotional envolvment in the name of the team.
However, as Nadine Bailey suggests:
"Set up some socials and a logo/ team photo - it'll make your group feel more 'real' and make it easier to commit". Nadine Bailey
2) Get the team rehearsing.
PATTI CHIARI, AMICIZIA LUNGA
In Italy we say: "clear agreements make longer friendships". Being in the same improv team doesn't mean you are best friends, but it's easier if you like each other and get along.
So, discuss and set expectations and objectives, making sure they are realistic. These can be re-considered at a later date, if need be. As Pandy Prudy puts it:
"Talk about the reasons of all participants for being part of the group and the time they are willing to dedicate on a weekly basis. Maybe it's to perform short-term, just to have fun with friends and socialise, or part of a long-term improv career. All reasons are valid as long as everyone is aware of the work, dedication and time each person is willing to offer to the group". Pandy Purdy
HAVE AN ADMIN ROTA
This one was suggested by many people, like Viki Jackson, Clarke F, Stephen Lee, : make sure that no one gets stuck with the task of doing the admin.
"Take turns in booking rehearsal dates and spaces. Some people will be more suited to it than others so work out what works best for your team - perhaps the people who aren't as keen on admin could help in a different way such as organizing what you do in rehearsals or designing show posters? Make sure you are splitting the work fairly." Viki Jackson
"Don't put every organizational responsibility on just one person. If they become busy/disinterested, your entire team's infrastructure could fall apart (and if they are doing everything, you will have far less of a say if you dont like how things are operating)" Clarke F
"I've been in many groups where one person decides to be the super-admin and do everything and it never works out long term. The super-admin can feel burn out and resentment and the rest of the group get used to not having any responsibilities." Stephen Lee
CHOOSE A CHANNEL OF COMMUNICATION THAT WORKS FOR EVERYONE
Some teams organise rehearsals and shows in person, before or after a rehearsal; some have a Whatsapp group chat only for admin, with the most important information tidily updated in the group description (also recommended by Nadine Bailey); some use the same platforms they already use for work, like Slack or Discord; some refer to one individual email with all the rehearsal dates agreed upon every 6 months. Every group finds the most effective way for themselves, part of your work will be finding your way. Make sure you are taking all access needs into consideration.
GET THOSE AVAILABILITIES
There are many ways to collect availabilities to rehears, like Doodle (also recommended by Nadine Bailey) .
However, usually these ad-hoc websites have a limit of dates you can set for people to choose from (Doodle's is 20, which is too few) in their free version. I like using a shared Google Sheets or Microsoft Excel file*.
These are not options accessible to everyone, so make sure you have a chat about this with everyone in the team.
*Here you can find an example of a rehearsal spreadsheet, already set to caculate attendances. Feel free to copy the format!
FREE UP YOUR LIVING ROOM, OR BOOK A ROOM
To rehearse an improv show, you just need a room. It can be your living room, if you are one of those lucky ones who have a living room in their life, or you can book a room somewhere else.
Back in Italy, churches usually offered the cheapest rehearsal rooms in town.
In other places, you have other options, like:
1) the place where you have had improv classes before probably rents spaces:
2) ask other improvisers! The community is your greatest resource.
3) dance and/or drama schools usually rent rooms.
4) some websites list rooms for rent, like Hire Space.
As Clake F suggests, if you opt for the "living room" option, make sure you are alternating space:
"That way the burden isn't always on one person [...] so if they are unavailable your whole team doesn't get off track". Clake F
PATTI CHIARI, AMICIZIA LUNGA, PART 2
In Italy we say: "clear agreements make longer friendships". But you already knew that.
In the UK, people say "too many cooks spoil the broth".
A friend of mine said: "It's annoying when a fellow actor gives you notes".
All this to say, directing a rehearsal and giving notes are things that usually need one person who knows how to do it. Also, a person who is aware of your team's artistic direction and how to better serve it. Also, it helps if it's not a person in the team. Especially if you are all new to this, it's usually best to hire a coach, aka an improv teacher to guide your team's rehearsals for a number of sessions.
(I don't mean to be cheeky, but I'd be happy to coach your team! ...ok, I will stop with the marketing).
