Improv Tips

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Musical improv is almost always a joy to watch and to perform. Consider adding song into your non-musical improv set, though, particularly if you have musical accompaniment. You get an extra layer of forgiveness from the audience when you’re singing, and they’re even more prone to laugh than they otherwise might have been. In addition, as w...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . I recently watched a reality show called Last one Laughing in which a group of Australian comedians are locked in a room together for six hours, and the last one to break wins $100,000. It’s hosted by the always-delightful Rebel Wilson, and it’s worth watching. I was struck by the amazing variety of the comedians in the room. There were abs...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Don’t be embarrassed about promoting your shows and appearances. Some improvisers seem to think that self-promotion is tacky or braggadocious, but if you’ve created something that you’re proud of, you’re the best advocate for getting it noticed. It might surprise you how many people who you assume know about your hidden talent d...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . One of my favorite film series is Indiana Jones. In The Last Crusade , Indy has to take a leap of faith over a seemingly-bottomless chasm. Only after he succumbs to not knowing where he’ll land is he able to continue his adventure. Improvisers also need to take that leap of faith. Only by having the bravery to take that first step into the abyss...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . A running joke in the improv community is how many times we've all heard the following from our friends and family members: “Let me know when you have your comedy show! I'll come see it!” I'm sure most folks are well-intentioned, but they rarely show up. I've learned that a simpler way to handle this question is to set up a...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Most improvisers have performed after having a drink or two. I’ve done it. Almost every performer I know has done it. Some improvisers think they’re better performers onstage after having a few drinks. Almost one hundred percent of them are wrong and just don’t realize it, because they’re tipsy. Improv scenes move quickly and re...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . During this patriotic time of year in America, I’m thankful that I’m lucky to live in the birthplace of improv comedy and a massive hub for the craft. But you don’t need to be in Chicago, L.A., or New York to do improv. There seem to be more and more improv communities popping up all over the country. And if you’re in a place th...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . There’s an unfortunately vast imbalance in the number of white male improvisers versus all other represented groups. Whether you’re a part of that group or outside of it, it’s always a good idea to seek out and audition teammates who don’t look and act like you. Not only does diversity strengthen the improv community and craft a...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . If you’re having a difficult time investing in the emotion of a scene, pull from your own personal life. If your character is sad and you’re not into it, think about the times in your life you've been sad. If you can't get angry at your scene partner, get mad at an old enemy, and use that anger on the stage. It's certainly bette...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . In improv, the only props you have onstage are chairs. They're great for sitting on, but that's not all. They're car seats, couches, hospital beds, giant-creators, staircases, and whatever else the outer limits of your mind can make them into. Those chairs are your only props. Use the heck out of them. That’s your improv tip for the d...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Since improv requires some element of audience participation, you might find that the house occasionally has a hard time distinguishing when they should be talking and when they shouldn’t. There are plenty of great ways to deal with hecklers or disruptive audience members. My favorite, however, is to make them part of the show. With the permissio...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . It’s likely unavoidable that at some point you’re going to have to play in a scene about a sensitive subject or to play a character that you might find difficult to portray in a sensitive, respectful fashion due to your own limited experiences. Instead of advising you to avoid those situations entirely—which is a perfectly valid optio...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . You’re bound to get tongue-tied at some point during your improv career. If you do ever mispronounce a word or misspeak an entire sentence, instead of correcting it, consider using it. This entire world you’re creating onstage is invented, so why can’t the language be, as well? What may start as a simple verbal miscue could become a h...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . The improv equivalent of Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule is that it takes about 100 sets just to get competently bad at improv. Once you have 100 sets under your belt, you’ll likely either have figured out—or people will tell you—what you’re good at and what you’re bad at. Don’t get discouraged if you&rsquo...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . What sometimes gets lost in the woods for some improvisers—myself included—is that improv is supposed to be fun . I’d rather improvise poorly with my friends than create the perfect set with someone I don’t get along with. Don’t get so caught up in the grind and the stress of progressing and learning and judging and winnin...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . If you ever receive an actual gift onstage as a character, not a great offering as an actor, don’t open it. Come up with distractions, excuses, and stall tactics so that you never actually open the gift. You don’t need to. The gift to the scene is the gift, and it doesn’t really matter what’s inside it. The act of giving a gift...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . My father can and has told me the same stories over and over in my life. I’m interested in hearing them every time because he can flat-out tell a story. Remember that as an improviser you’re also a storyteller. The more enthusiasm and heart you pour into the story you’re telling onstage, the more engaging it will be, and the less like...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . A very long time ago, when I was in college, my improv and sketch comedy group operated under the assumption that louder equaled funnier. We were wrong. No matter how hilarious the things you’re saying on stage are, saying them louder doesn’t necessarily make them funnier. There’s no need to always be the screaming character in a scen...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . The more direct you are onstage, the easier you’re going to make your improv life. Dancing around an issue onstage both delays the inevitable and prevents you from progressing the scene. And watching people uncomfortably avoid a topic is for family gatherings, not improv scenes. Address the elephants in the room sooner rather than later so you ca...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Though it’s not a common occurrence, there’s a chance every time you start a scene that you might be all alone onstage for a while. Don’t look offstage for help. Rather, keep the idea you had in mind, and act as your character would in the context of that idea. Do object work, move around the space, hum, whistle, talk to yourself abou...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . I’ve stressed time and again that improv is not a competition, and it isn’t. But if you’re one of those people who can’t help but compete, I would challenge you to compete with yourself. Each day, try to be a better improviser than you were the day before. If you make a mistake today, focus on not repeating that mistake tomorrow...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . One of the big mistakes new improv students make is to always try to be funny and to say funny things. I get it. You’re trying to impress your teacher and your classmates by being the funniest person in the room. But don’t do that. At best, you’re not impressing anyone. At worst, you’re a distraction to the class. Focus on playi...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Ultimately, most of the decisions you’ll have to make onstage are binary. If someone accuses you of stealing their wallet, you did or you didn’t. If someone confesses their love for you, you’re either happy or unhappy about it. If you’re doing your job, you’re either good at it or bad at it. If you break down your scenes i...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . Of course the things that are said onstage are important to you as an improviser. You need to hear and be aware of all those things. In addition, if everything that happens in a scene is important to your character, that will invariably make for a more interesting scene. In and of itself, your character’s car breaking down could be interesting, b...

I’m Michael Bradt for The Bit Theater . One of my favorite improv teams I’ve played with is called Bad Improv Gun. It’s named after the way some rookie improvisers form a gun, by pointing their index finger in front of them and their thumb up in the air. Bad Improv Phone would be sticking your thumb in your ear and talking into your pinky finger. When you’re manipulating an...