Hoopla produce lots of different shows at The Miller and also work closely with other groups to help grow the audience for improv and support the flourishing impro community. Some Hoopla shows are heavily produced and rehearsed within a tight team, while others are more open to guest performers without rehearsals.  

HOOPLA’S IMPROV COURSES

We regularly teach an 8 week Performance Improv Course, to train improvisers to performance standard in improvised games and scenes, with a showcase performance at the end, and ongoing support and performance mentoring after the course.

We also regularly teach an advanced 8 week Narrative Long Form Improv Course, for improvisers to learn how to improvise multiple scenes, that link together using long-form techniques, to tell captivating & exciting stories. This also has a showcase performance at the end, and ongoing support and performance mentoring after the course.

EXISTING SHOWS WITH PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

Impro Jam

Open to everyone, the improv equivalent of an open mic night. Performers sign up in advance and are then picked at random on the night to improvise various games and scenes. Anyone can participate. It’ unpaid as its free to the audience. For details and to sign up go to Impro Jam.

Crash Pad

A night for new improvisers, new shows and new formats with each group getting a mini 15 minute slot. For details go to Crash Pad or contact us if you have a group that would like to take part.

RH & Friends

The RH Experience run additional shows with guest improvisers. For details go to The RH Experience.

HOOPLA CASTING FOR GROUPS

Hoopla are not currently casting for any ongoing shows, although when they are the details will appear on this page and also on our facebook and twitter accounts.

FORMING YOUR OWN GROUP AND FINDING GROUPS

Improv Networking Events

A good place to meet other improvisers and groups, and maybe form future performing teams. These are held every quarter at The Miller. Free, no need to book in advance.

For details go to Improv Networking.

Hoopla helping you to form your own group

Forming your own group with like minded people is the best way to get some performance experience. Steve from Hoopla is happy to help connect people together and form groups, and occasionally directs new groups early on to get them started.  Steve is also available to hire for running group workshops or directing some rehearsal sessions away from public workshops. Hoopla can also advise on performing spaces and rehearsal spaces, as we have good connections to both The Miller and The Horse, which are popular with groups.

New shows

If you are a performer and have an idea for a new impro show or a new impro group then please get in touch. Even if we don’t have space for your new show or group at The Miller we can hook you up with other decent venues and help spread the word. We book The Miller at least three months is advance.

OTHER THINGS WE’RE LOOKING TO BOOK AT THE MILLER

Established Impro Shows and Groups

If you are an established impro group then please contact us if you are interested in appearing at The Miller.

Cabaret Acts, Musical Comedy, Musicians

We’re occasionally host cabaret nights so please get in touch if you have an act.

PERFORMING AT OUR IMPROV COMEDY CLUB

Hoopla’s work at The Miller

The main aim of our work at The Miller is to enable the cross-marketing of improv groups in order to grow the overall audience for improvised comedy in London and make improv a mainstream genre. Work includes:

Coordinated press listings for all shows performing on Tuesday.

Additional online listings of all shows using sites like Remote Goat etc.

Coordinated marketing using Hoopla mailing list.

Coordinated marketing using Hoopla facebook pages and groups.

Coordinated marketing of The Miller shows at Hoopla events and workshops.

Management of show listings on Hoopla website.

Management of show listings on The Miller website.

Management of show listings on the London Improv website.

Management of posters and listings boards at The Miller.

Promotion of your show at other nights at The Miller.

Design, print and distribution of flyers promoting The Miller.

Front of House.

Tech support where required.

Hosting if required.

Contact with actors and musicians if required.

Ongoing management with The Miller.

Planning and booking of shows to achieve a combination of high audience numbers and fun shows.

Management of online ticket sales.

Financial details for performing groups

Hoopla are operating on a maximum 33% (to Hoopla) box office split.

Remaining profits are split equally among the groups performing. It is up to the director/leader/coordinator of each group whether this is then split further between each actor or used for a central group fund.

Occasionally higher profile acts are booked on a guaranteed rate.

The Miller is a very flexible venue so an audience as small as 15 can still feel quite large, while it can also go up to 100.

Hoopla put some people on a free guest list, or use various pricing offers each week in order to keep audience numbers up and raise the long term profile of the venue.

Marketing details for performing groups

Hoopla’s aim is for impro groups and The Miller to build up a shared audience of impro fans, rather than competing against each other.

Hoopla and The Miller’s coordinated efforts do help bring in an audience, but we still do rely on the groups bringing in some of their own audience, which combined together makes for some amazing evenings.

So please can each group take responsibility for the following and also pass on to your own actors:

Facebook events and updates.

Twitter messages building up to the show.

Any email list messages you can provide.

Please keep your audience aware of the show in the build up, we find that messages at 4 weeks, 2 weeks, 1 week, 3 days and 1 day before in various forms is best.

Any additional press you can get.

Performers putting show details on facebook profiles.

Inviting people along.

Spreading the word.

When we all do that together great shows happen.