Ugh, Who Cares...?

Post By: Peter Kim

During a scene I was in, I once heard Neil Casey from Death By Roo Roo (UCBT NY) whisper under his breath, "ugh, who cares...?"

I was caught off guard. Besides the fact that one of my improv "heroes" didn't like my work, I was stunned by how honest his comment was, albeit made with covert intentions. He was honestly bored of my scene.

The scene did suck. I realized at that moement what was happening. We were being what he calls "annoying improv characters". An example one of these characters talking would be, "Thank you for inviting me over to play Xbox, Joey". No one has ever thanked a friend for inviting them over to play video games, but why do SO many scenes start that way?

Because we're constantly drilled to give information to our partners. To fill in your Who, What, Where. But these are training wheel guidelines for new improvisers to practice giving more information than not. The scene continued on to establish a base reality and find an unusual moment. But because the start was so awkward, we ended up playing caricatures of kids hanging out.
 
Neil's coaching seemed to always resonate from the audience's POV. What he said right after our scene really sticks with me till this day: "A scene, above all else, needs to be watchable". When performing long form improv, we are asking the audience to trust us and buy in to a world of characters we are creating. That initial buy-in or commitment from the audience is so crucial to what the rest of your show will be.

Unless the scene is about a character who always thanks people for trite gestures, that above-mentioned information is not needed. Instead, why not BE the kid who's come over to play some video games? A character that says "Oh man, you got the new Call Of Duty? Sweet.." conveys the same intention, but is much more natural and watchable.

The audience knows it's made up. Take them along for the journey.