5 Things I Love About Improv Comedy

Someone recently asked me why I like improv. I rattled off my standard answer of “it’s so much fun!” But afterward, I started giving the question more thought. Here then, are 5 things I came up with that I love about improv. There are more, but this is a start (maybe there will be a “5 more things I love about improv” in the future)

1) It’s Collaborative
An improv comedy show involves a group of people who work together to create comedy on the spot. It’s a very, very cool feeling to get “in synch” with other people on stage in a way where you are making them better, and they are making you better.

2) The Connection With the Audience
By it’s very nature, improv involves the audience. Improvisation is the only art form I can think of where the audience is part of the creation of the product. In many improv forms (including the one I do) the audience provides suggestions. More importantly, the audience’s response (or lack thereof) is something the performers can react to and adjust for. Not pander, just react and adjust.

3) It’s Only You – Part 1
Even though you are performing with a group of people, you are 100% responsible for what you say and how you say it. There’s no writer, no director, no editor. It’s just you. So when the audience laughs or applauds, it’s all for you (there’s that ego coming out…:-) )

4) It’s Only You – Part 2
On the flip side, since you are 100% responsible, if you say something that bombs (or worse, is offensive), you can’t blame anyone else. You can try, but you’ll be wrong. This creates a sense of risk which I like. To many people, this is what terrifies them about improvising. For me, it translates into pre-show “nervous energy.” I love it!

5) I Am Good At It
Let’s be honest: It’s fun to do stuff you are good at! (There’s that ego again) Do I like improv because I am good at it, or am I good at it because I like it? I don’t know, and I don’t care. But I do think that we all should be doing things we excel at far more often. Have you ever been at some kind of a gathering where someone busts out on an instrument and blows everyone away with how good they are? Then you ask them how often they play, and they say, “oh, its been years, I just don’t get around to it.” That is sad. We should all find moments to shine, feed our ego, and do things we are great at. If you have not in a while, make a commitment to go out and “let yourself shine” in the next week!

Those are my reasons – you should come up with your own! And if you’ve never done improv comedy, consider this the perfect time to start!