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Life Lessons From Improv
February 2005
I’m newly participating in an improv acting class. I am always amazed at the lessons I learn about life during a creative activity. If you’ve ever watched improv (the most well-known show is probably Whose Line is it Anyway? with Drew Carey), you probably think there aren’t any rules. It all looks freeform. In my beginning class, I’m learning there are rules for improv and applied to life, they can be powerful rules for living. Here is a sampling of what I have learned from improv.
Rule #1 — Always move the scene in a positive direction. It’s easy to be negative, but when we choose to be positive we open up the space and our lives to possibility.
Rule #2 — Always accept an offer. In improv, an offer is a jumping off point for the next actor. If we accept the offers in life, the scene and our lives are energized and move ahead. If we reject offers, the action stops and we have to start over.
Rule #3 — Make your partners look good. Whatever your fellow actors throw out for you to work with, it’s your job to make the most of it and make them look good. If people throw you lemons, throw them back lemonade.
Rule #4 — You can’t force good ideas. The best improv actors take a moment, even just a split second, to let the idea come to them. They don’t force it. They let it come. Same in life.
Rule #5 — Don’t rush. While improv often moves along quickly, it’s not rushed. Good improv actors take moments to reflect on what they just heard and then act. Take time to reflect before rushing into action.
Rule #6 — Don’t plan too far ahead. You can’t plan ahead when all you can do is respond to the last act that was committed. In life, all planning and no action gets you nowhere. Spend less time planning and more time doing.
Rule #7 — Greet everything with “Yes!” It adds excitement and enthusiasm to our scenes and to our lives.
Rule #8 — Make statements instead of asking questions. Questions burden others. Statements lead to action.
Rule #9 — Stay in the present. In improv as in life, dwelling in the past or looking towards the future takes away the power and action. Be present right now and feel the power in the moment.
Rule #10 — Don’t talk about it, do it! Instead of saying, “Should we go dancing?”, just grab his hand and dance.
©2005 Michael Clark. All rights reserved.
