By Phoebe Kozinets.
Hi again blogosphereeeee! Hope you queens are well. I’m listening to Olivia Rodrigo while I type this, specifically GUTS (spilled). I love the way hearing a song that you had on repeat during a specific time transports you to the EXACT sensation of that era. Whenever I hear a song off GUTS, I instantly feel like I am walking through Lincoln Park (Chicago, IL, America, United States Of) in the drizzle of a fresh snow, dripping sweat from a hot yoga sculpt class, Ballad of a Homeschooled Girl blasting in my AirPods. A lot has changed in my world since the og GUTS era, mainly that I use over-the-ear headphones now. And that I live in a whole ass other country. But obviously the important change is the headphones.
Speaking of new eras, we are gonna get down and dirty about being in your new improv team era! Forming a team can seem daunting, as not only are there lots of logistical things to work out, there is a large social/emotional element to it as well. Having open and honest conversations with your new teammates at the start is instrumental to creating a team that is exciting and sustainable. Here is a quick guide to some things you can begin to chat about when forming a team. Please do keep in mind that the answers to these questions can (and will!) change with time, but having honest chats at the start and check-ins about these things while working together will be a great way to ensure everyone feels as though they are a part of a team that is right for where they are at on their improv journey.
- What are our collective goals for this improv team?
Now this first one sounds obvious, but one of the ways I see teams struggle the most is when folks don’t have a sit down convo at the start to really get on the same page about the shared goal you have for your team as a unit. Rather than individual improv goals, by this I mean where exactly you would like the team to go. Is this a fun way to connect and destress, where you meet up and play together with no performance goals at all? Would you like to be consistently doing 10-20 minute sets around the city, and if so how many shows a month would feel fun for your team? Are you hoping to eventually develop a full length (50 min) show and format? Do you want to be renting a space and producing nights with other featured teams and acts? The answers to these questions and the ultimate trajectory you hope your team to go can help inform most every other question we will chat about here!
- What should the frequency of our rehearsals be?
By chatting about your collective goals, hopefully you now have an idea of how much time and commitment you are all expecting to put into the team! Having consistent rehearsals is important to progress, bond, and grow as a group. At the same time, you want to be sure the amount of rehearsals is sustainable for everyone involved. My personal opinion is that it is better to have less frequent rehearsals where you know almost everyone can attend (and with a solid coach and venue which we will talk about in a moment) than super frequent rehearsals where it’s just a smattering of different people at each one. The latter can lead to the folks going to more rehearsals feeling resentment, and the folks unable to commit as frequently feeling disconnected from the group and possibly guilty. Having an open and honest chat about the amount of rehearsals that feels exciting and doable for each person (and checking in about this as time passes) can ensure rehearsals are productive and fun for everyone.
- Where should we rehearse?
Rehearsal venues for teams can vary from formal rented spaces, to parks, to people’s homes. The venue you choose to rehearse can align with your team goals. If you are a casual team looking for some guided fun, a park or living room is a lowkey and free way to still do some great improv! Committing to split the cost of a rented rehearsal space can help make sure some of your rehearsals are in a room without distractions, and the more studio-like feeling can help to mentally be in the state of focus and performance.
- Should we have a coach and who should it be?
My answer for this is going to largely be- yes! Having a coach you trust, at any level, can help facilitate a productive and playful rehearsal without other social dynamics there to inhibit that. Without a coach, it can be difficult if one or a few people become de-facto leaders. It can lead to various resentments, as well as often getting stuck on certain folks timidly taking a hesitant lead, rather than having an agreed upon paid coach to confidently run sessions without the emotional enmeshment of being in the group. If paying a coach each time is inaccessible, I would suggest pre-assigning members of the team to lead and plan rehearsals, and making sure that this leadership role rotates. That way, when in the rehearsal room there is still a clear leader with a pre-written plan to follow, and everyone knows they will get their own turn to lead a rehearsal. And dear reader, when looking for coaches, you can never go wrong with a past improv teacher you know and trust!
- Are there any topics or physical boundaries to be aware of?
There are loads of ways to do physical and emotional boundary check ins that can vary from group to group, but just a quick check at the start of each rehearsal of any physical considerations or emotional topics that are feeling particularly sensitive can be helpful to make everyone safe and comfortable.
- Is our team a diverse representation of the world around us?
Making sure the people you are inviting to join your team don’t all look the exact same as you will make sure that your improv is as good as it can be because it will open up the perspectives, experiences, values, and world-views that are brought to the table!
- Who is doing the damn admin?
There is a surprising amount of admin that comes with having an improv team! Scheduling rehearsals, booking venues, booking coaches, making WhatsApp polls, running a silly little IG account, applying for shows/festivals; the admin of it all can feel overwhelming if not distributed in a way that feels good to everyone. There might be someone on your team who is thrilled to run the social media, but absolutely hates filling out show applications. Maybe someone has a pre-existing relationship with your coach and wants to take on paying and scheduling with them. The only right way to do this is the one that works for you, where everyone is truly transparent about how much of the admin they are able to take on! Being honest about your capacity and desire to help with this stuff is only going to make it easier on everyone down the line.
Many of our successful teams have a system of people taking turns with each admin role for each month or each season.
- ARE WE READY TO HAVE FUN?!
We are adults playing pretend in a room. So please, I beg you, think about if the team you are on is FUN for you and brings you fulfillment, connection, joy, and sets your cute lil heart on fire!!!! If the answer is yes, KEEP AT IT BUCKO! I encourage you all to keep checking in about if a team feels fun or like an obligation, and go hard on the ones that feel beautiful and don’t be afraid to walk away from teams that don’t feel as joyful. It’s no reflection on anyone else, only on your ability to listen to your heart and follow your journey. My mom always says- disappoint everyone else before you disappoint yourself. So please, sweet improviser, cultivate community and find spaces where your unique point of view and soul can SHINE! If you lead with curiosity, love, compassion, and playfulness, I am certain you will feel the good sustainable FUN.
Thanks folks for reading, and remember you are doing a great job and will make mistakes along the way and that’s okay too, improv is joyful mistakes! If anyone at any point in this process wants to have a chat, feel free to reach out to our team and we would love to answer questions or talk through any thoughts that are coming up. Go forth and find your people and your fun! And listen to some Olivia Rodrigo!