May 2013
18 posts
The Broken Record: Cultivating Confidence in... →
nicclee:
I’ve been thinking a lot about confidence in improv, especially since I started coaching. I think cultivating confidence in nascent improvisers is important.
I sometimes struggle with my confidence as an improviser. I never really know how I’m doing because comedy is so subjective. What’s funny…
Confidence is important.
- vinny
The House That Del Built: As Long As You Listen to... →
thehousethatdelbuilt:
Every couple of years I get really into spinning. Not the DJ kind, but the “riding a stationary bike in a room with forty other people while a trainer at the front of the room barks orders at you” kind. I like spinning because I’m not very good at self-guided exercise, and I’ve found that it’s…
More coaching advice to digest.
- vinny
Hyperbole Is My Middle Name!: Improv Coaching... →
khealywu:
I’ve been thinking about making one of these for awhile. This first section is how I think indie teams and practice groups should interact with their coach.
24 hour notice for making any changes / cancellations. If you’re cancelling day of, you and your team owe your coach their standard fee.
2…
Carol Burnett wins Mark Twain humour prize →
Comedy doyenne and TV sketch queen Carol Burnett is set to receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Well this just made my day.
- vinny
Discussing a Bit with Matt Holmes – The Secret to... →
I like this approach to improv.
- vinny
4 tags
The Index (vol. 0)
After taking a look at our recent guest series, I just realized that our original guest series from the old Without Annette blog is not really findable through this blog. So without any further ado, check out our original guest series with some pretty awesome guests:
Kirsten Rasmussen (Edmonton)
In love with improv
Immanuela Lawrence (Calgary)
Directing & Side-coaching
Anders Yates...
THE CHARLEBOIS POST - CANADA: The Question, May... →
Ahead of this Friday’s show of Veni Vidi Vinny, I’ve got a piece in The Charlebois Post about improv and the theatre.
It’s really short if you’re pressed for time, give it a read!
- vinny
Anthony Bourdain: FOODFUCKED IN QUEBEC →
anthonybourdain:
Foodfucked: to be fed more food of a ridiculously high quality and deliciousness than deemed judicious by any reputable health authority whilst in no position to refuse
Chefs Martin Picard, David McMillan and Frederic Morin are masters of foodfuckery. They are loved, respected and feared by…
You gotta hand it to him, the guy can write.
Also, I love food.
- vinny
Austin, TX troupe Pgraph visited Montreal →
Here’s their blog post about it. If you’re an improviser and thinking of swinging through town, let us know! We love to play host.
- vinny
“It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man...”
– Teddy Roosevelt, “Citizenship in a Republic.” (via williebhines)
UCB Workplace: Don't Fear Mistakes; Just Adjust →
ucbworkplace:
By Will Hines
Success doesn’t mean making fewer mistakes. It just means recovering more quickly. The term I like to use is “agility.” Improv teaches you that mistakes are nothing to fear as long as you have the agility to adjust yourself quickly. Agile brands and professionals understand and…
Yup yup.
- vinny
April 2013
21 posts
#WHENINAUSTINIMPROV →
Life in the AIC, inspired by wheninatx.tumblr.com. A Miller-Schak production.
I have to say, I really like this blog.
- vinny
Trance Mask Workshop
Come and play: a rare opportunity to try out trance mask work in the tradition of Keith Johnstone, right here in Montreal. Expect to play, improvise, experiment with the physicality of full mask work and dive into the strange and wonderful world of trance masks. Suitable for actors, software programmers, clowns and accountants – anyone willing to experiment with a new way of playing. Trance mask...
3 tags
Diaries of a Wannabe Improviser: A Note to Self
Hey, I know you. You’re the student who doesn’t recognize that the feedback given to you by a wise and experienced teacher is a precious gift. You say things like “yeah, but-” and “I was trying to…” instead of LISTENING to the feedback and using it to grow.
Listen, I get it, Tasha. Notes suck. They’re an inconvenient reminder that no, you are not perfect. Your mama lied. You can deny this fact...
The Way of Improvisation →
The Way of Improvisation is a resource for the thoughtful improviser.
Dave Morris (Victoria, BC) asked me for a contribution to his brand new (and beautiful) improv website/magazine. It was a pleasure and honour to be asked.
- vinny
Etiquette for starting an improv scene →
nicclee:
Perhaps you’ve been a part of something like this. It’s time to edit a scene on stage. One player starts to make a sweep edit, and everyone else hesitates before joining them. Finally someone joins…
I don’t think enough teachers/coachers talk about improv etiquette.
Great advice on starting a scene.
- vinny
Best Comedy Club in Montreal? →
We would LOVE to be the best. That’s what we aim for!
If you could take a few moments to fill out the Best of Montreal survey and nominate Montreal Improv as the Best Comedy Club, we’d be thrilled!
Golly, that would be swell.
- vinny
Montreal Improv Blog Guest Writers →
It’s been just over a year since our guest writer series concluded. I’m linking back to it here since we’ve gained a bunch of new readers who might have missed some amazing pieces written by improvisers from around the world.
The Helsinki Bus Route Theory of Creativity and... →
Oh man, I love this.
- vinny
4 tags
Diaries of a Wannabe Improviser: Let's Play God
Let’s create a world.
The sky is grey and overcast with threatening clouds. An airplane flies overhead, creating a low rumble in the town below. Five black birds are perched on a telephone line, silently observing as the day unfolds. There is an old, cracked sidewalk outside of Johnny’s Deli, where passersby always trip on the same spot. Johnny’s worn-out sign hasn’t changed in the past 20...
The Dana Carvey Show is on Crackle. →
patbaer:
laughterkey:
No subscription required, 100% free.
required.
Mandatory.
- vinny
3 tags
Diaries of a Wannabe Improviser: You're Not as...
It’s not about you. It’s never about you.
And it’s not about me, either. Sadly enough. All this time I’ve been going on stage thinking that I had to come up with something, that you needed to help me, and that if I wanted to improve I’d have to keep working on myself. Turns out, this is only partly true. As far as improv goes, it’s one of those things where “the whole is greater than the sum of...
March 2013
19 posts
Five
I was thinking about discovery and games this morning after listening to this video on luck in game design yesterday. The video mentions a simple, hypothetical game to illustrate a point and it inspired me to modify the rules to make it a playable version. So here it is:
Five is played by two people with no equipment other than a hand with five fingers. It’s really a glorified version of...
Facebook Album of trip to Sugar Shack! →
As part of our 2013 goals, we’ve planned a few social events for the improv community. Thankfully, this trip to maple syrup land went off without a hitch. Check out the pics on FB and thanks to everyone who made it so awesome!
Watchamyohconnor:
Jimmy Fallon and Justin Timberlake present the fourth edition of History of Rap. Song list below:
Sugarhill Gang – Apache (Jump On It) - 1981
Grandmaster Melle Mel - White Lines (Don’t Do It) – 1983
Kurtis Blow – Basketball – 1984
Fat Boys – The Fat Boys – 1984
Run DMC – Its Tricky - 1987
Beastie Boys - No Sleep Till Brooklyn - 1987
LL Cool J – Going Back to Cali - 1988
...
