The Backline

What happens after you get a laugh? Do you keep talking? Do you wait? Do you acknowledge it? And how do you know when it's time to move on? Rob and Adam talk about the moment after the laugh: how audiences respond, how long a laugh actually lasts, and what performers can do to keep from stepping on their own comedy. When should you hold the moment, and when does waiting become awkward? Is there a...

Improv is all about free expression. What do you do when an improv partner crosses a line onstage? Or accidentally says the wrong thing? Rob and Adam talk boundaries, difficult conversations, and how to address bad behaviour without blowing up the group. Because sometimes the hardest part of improv happens afterwards in the green room. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.c...

This week, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag to discuss an anonymous question on the podcast. What should you do if you aren't having fun on a team? What if you don't respect your coach? What if the notes you're receiving aren't making a better improviser? We'll discuss conflict resolution, changing your mindset, and reinforcing your goals. Also, the soft launch of Improv Modules. Brought...

Every scene, you step onstage and pray for a easy, fun, and straight-forward scene to improvise. But sometimes, you accidentally stumble into a scenario that feels impossible to win. This week, Second City alumni Adam Cawley attempts to manoeuvre out of three very difficult scenic positions. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Adam confesses to Rob about a regret he has from their last show. An option was seen onstage, but not acted upon. We all know what the textbook says you should do onstage, but what do you do, when your gut tells you something different? How do you know what's the right choice and what might be harmful to the set? What's based on instinct and what choices are entirely ego-driven? All thi...

This week, Rob and Adam explore the prolific, abundant, and (surprisingly) impolite vocabulary of Canadian improv. Whether you started with Keith Johnstone or David Shepherd and the Canadian Improv Games, you'll find something that sounds like home. Finish that dart, leave your winter boots at the door, and let's chat improv. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

How do you prepare for a show without over-preparing? Rob and Adam talk about Game Plans, what’s worth thinking about before you hit the stage, and how to streamline your approach so you can spend less time worrying about the show and more time actually doing it. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week on The Backline, Rob and Adam talk Meat and Potatoes. Who gets the focus? Who has the power? And if you realize halfway through a scene that your choice isn't serving the show, are you allowed to change it? They get into strong choices, generosity, focus, and the tricky business of knowing when to stick to your guns—and when to get out of your own way. Brought to you By: The Sonar Networ...

This week on The Backline, Adam and Rob answer listener questions. First up: how do you better portray emotions onstage? What does it actually mean to play an emotion, and how can improvisers make those feelings read to an audience? Then they offer some tips and tricks if your troupe is using D&D as a sub-genre of improv. And finally: Johnny No-Bones. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://t...

This week on The Backline, Rob and Adam talk about what it’s like to leave the comedy scene you know and start over somewhere new. How do you find your people? How do you get involved in a new improv community? How do you balance making connections with actually doing the work? Also, tips how to make networking feel less painful. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week on The Backline, Rob and Adam talk about stage fright, nerves, anxiety, and all the things that can make stepping onstage feel terrifying. Is stage fright just a silly emotional response, or is there something more serious going on? Why do some performers get nervous before every show while others seem completely unfazed? And if you’re experiencing stage fright now, does it ever go away—...

This week on The Backline, Rob and Adam talk about one of the trickiest parts of being on an improv team: giving and receiving notes. How do you give someone useful feedback without turning the notes into a list of things they did wrong? How do you take notes, learn from a bad show, and then walk onto the stage next time without bringing the last show with you? Brought to you By: The Sonar Network...

This week, Rob and Adam tackle one of the most dreaded words in improv: jokes. What actually makes something a joke? Are jokes bad for improv? And if we’re not trying to make jokes, how are we supposed to get laughs? Rob and Adam dig into the difference between earning laughs and trying to be funny—and what improvisers can focus on instead. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetw...

This week, Adam and Rob revisit a recent monoscene in which the context wasn't revealed until surprisingly late. They discuss the value of playing the dynamic from the top, waiting for the right moment to define the scene, and why the who, what, and where remain essential in every scene we play. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week on The Backline, Rob and Adam discuss: danger. Most training teaches us how to avoid confusion, conflict, and uncertainty onstage—but what if those uncomfortable moments are exactly where the best scenes come from? If you've ever wondered why some scenes feel thrilling while others feel perfectly competent (bad), then this episode is for you. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://...

This week, Rob and Adam discuss "energy". What is energy onstage? What should you do if your show is low energy and is that always a problem? Whether you're trying to slow a scene down without losing momentum or wondering how to make silence, restraint, and authenticity exciting to watch, this episode offers practical advice for finding the right kind of energy—not just more of it. Brought to you...

What makes improv in Toronto feel different from Chicago? Why does Los Angeles produce a different kind of performer than New York? And where do cities like Vancouver, Montreal, and Mexico City fit into the larger improv landscape? In this episode, Rob and Adam answer a listener's question about the distinct styles of North America's major improv hubs. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://...

This week Adam and Rob discuss competition, egalitarianism, and how the politics of the classroom affect improv teams, shows, and theatres. Should improv delineate between amateur and professional? What's the best way to transition students into shows with experienced vets? Also, Backrooms is like Obsession but for babies. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week on Backline, Rob and Adam break down their favourite longform openers and put them to the test, ranking different approaches based on flexibility, inspiration, ease of execution, and how well they serve the show that follows. From monologues to monologs to organic openings, they discuss the strengths and pitfalls of each approach and why certain openers work better for certain ensembles...

This week on Backline, Rob and Adam explore how improvisers can create characters with greater depth, vulnerability, and gravitas. Beyond funny voices and quirks, what makes a character feel like a real person? The hosts discuss techniques for building emotional weight, making meaningful choices, and finding humanity in even the most heightened scenes. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://...

This week on Backline, Rob and Adam tackle one of the most fundamental skills in longform improv: pulling premises from a monologue and turning them into strong scene initiations. What information should you actually be listening for? Which details are useful, and which are likely to send you down a dead end? Rob and Adam break down the difference between jokes and playable premises, discuss commo...

This week on Backline, Rob and Adam dig into the competitive spark inside improv — when it helps, when it hurts, and how great scene partners turn rivalry into fuel instead of friction. They talk about using your partner’s moves to elevate your own game, navigating ambition in ensemble work, and why the best improvisers push each other without trying to “win” the scene. Brought to you By: The Sona...

What's better? Harold or Armando? Spokane or Close Quarters? This week, Rob and Adam help a new team choose their signature longform format through a grueling bracket of 18 possible formats. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week Rob and Adam, discuss the painful but necessary process of “Paying the Tax” , while trying to stay present, apply class lessons, and putting in the reps. Despite all of that, the laughs still aren’t coming. If you’ve ever felt stuck between learning and getting laughs, this episode is for you. Brought to you By: The Sonar Network https://thesonarnetwork.com/

This week, Rob and Adam open up the Backline Mailbag and find, wouldn’t you know it, two questions about rehearsal. In this episode they discuss the strange shift that happens when rehearsal turns into performance — why things that feel easy in practice suddenly feel impossible on stage. They talk about whether it’s okay to revisit ideas that worked before, and why a team that looks great in rehea...