A simple blog

TEDx

As most of you probably know by now, I gave a TEDx Talk a couple of months ago and the video is now available to watch on YouTube. The talk is called The Way of Improvisation. It’s about using the skills found in improvisation in your everyday life. I’m proud of this talk, and if you haven’t seen it, you should watch it, and if you have watched it, please share it with your friends.

In response to the unusually high amount of feedback I’ve been getting about my talk, all I really have to say is thank you all very much. I appreciate every comment, “like”, and share you’ve given me on the interwebs. My talk was aimed at reaching, and teaching, non-improvisers about how useful the skills of improvisation can be, and I feel I’ve done that thanks to you and your support.

Keep sharing the good word of improvisation.

Thank you.

§290 · January 10, 2012 · Announcement, Improv · 1 comment · Tags: , , ,

I’m a guest…

I wrote a guest piece about diversification for the Montreal Improv Blog. You should check it out, but here’s a nice little excerpt to wet your tongue:

Being a career improviser, means being more than just an improviser. The moment I decided to improvise for a living, i became a business. Which means I have to do all of the things a business does.

Head on over and give it a read.

§269 · October 26, 2011 · Announcement, Improv · (No comments) · Tags: , ,

Leaving for Seattle

I am leaving (literally at the terminal) for the Seattle improv festival. Colour me pink… and by pink I mean excited. Because of all the festivals I’ve been to in the past, including Berlin, Seattle’s stands out.

In the past, it’s always had a perfect balance between learning, performing, and relaxing. The guest instructors have been well informed in their field, and working with Randy Dixon (Unexpected Productions Artistic Director) is always a pleasure. The festival isn’t just a week of improvisation, it’s a week ripe with innovation and experimentation. Lately I’ve been in need of a little of all of that.

I probably won’t be posting for a few days, but I’ll let you know how it goes.

§143 · June 12, 2011 · Announcement, Improv · (No comments) · Tags: ,

The Paper Street Theatre co.

It’s official, I have a new improv company: the Paper Street Theatre co. We have a website and our first show, An Improvised Tennessee Williams, is booked for June 29th and 30th.

I am very excited. Let me tell you why.

Firstly, it’s nice to have a company with a theme and mandate again. It’s been a long time. Lately all I’ve been producing is Theatresports (or TheatresHorts as we call it), who’s mandate is to be inclusive to all improvisers, and help individuals performers grow. Which is great, but in the artistic vision department, it’s kind of blind. With Paper Street, it’s quite the opposite. My vision is there right from the start: To create improvisation that feels like theatre. I’m not going to debate whether it is better or worse then the having-fun-showing-the-seems improv, it’s just the goal of this company, so that everyone knows what we’re aiming for right from the get go.

Secondly, we’ve booked a show, and it’s a two night run. Which I think is an important part of the concept. Performing a run of a show adds an element of theatre. As oppose to a one off performance, which is more improv-like. A run give you the opportunity to give notes after the performance, and then put them to use the next night instead of just forgetting them because you’re never going to revisit that show again. I hope in the future to book a full season of shows at the beginning of the year.

Thirdly, and most importantly of all, it’s nice to be challenging myself again. Sometimes I get complacent, I start doing what I’m good at, and sticking with the same styles and games. Tennessee Williams is a little safe I guess (as I worked on it in Berlin with Randy Dixon), but it’s still one step up from what I’m used to, and it’s something I’ve never had to teach before. The next show we’ll be starting from scratch. Which means having to research the style (or author) of choice and find the elements on our own. Challenging and educational. A perfect mix. I’m not sure what styles next for Paper Street, but it will be something awesome. If you have any ideas, I’d love to hear them.

For now, take a look at the site, I’d love to hear your feedback on that too.

 

§50 · May 22, 2011 · Announcement, Improv · 1 comment · Tags: , ,

This is just the beginning

This is my simple beginning. A post about posts.

It won’t always be this way of course, my hope is that this blog will grow into something a little more substantial then a meta-blog, perhaps something with more of a purpose. Something that you’ll want to come back to, or subscribe to, because it makes you think or question certain ideas. Something that makes you look a little deeper into the ideas you take for granted.

What kinds of ideas? Good question.

Well, I plan to write about what I know. Not only write about, but also give my opinion on the things that I know. I’m normally not a very critical person, and I don’t like taking sides on issues, but from what I’ve observed, critical/opinionated blogs are much more entertaining and fun to read. So I’m going to break my habit of being too nice and not taking stances with this blog and write what I truly believe about “stuff.”

You can expect to read posts about improv, of course, and poetry. Maybe a little about music or stories, maybe even touch on movies and books or maybe even just life. I don’t exactly know…yet. But I do hope to see this blog evolve, and I hope you’ll come with me on the ride.

After all, this is just the beginning.

§18 · April 19, 2011 · Announcement · (No comments) ·