Coach's Corner with Niigon presents:

Rules of Improv

September 2005

Hey all,

It's been a while since I posted a coach's corner… but here are some Improv rules and commandments I collected over the summer. Reading these and reviewing them is a great way to begin your Improv career, or are a great review for the experienced player.

As always, every rule is breakable in a scene, but if you follow these principles one can never go wrong!

Enjoy!

Niigon



THE IMPROV ENCYCLOPEDIA'S

RULES FOR IMPROV
http://improvencyclopedia.org/references/The_Rules.html

Trust your fellow players
Don't block, negate, or deny anything in a scene
Don't ask questions, or answer the ones you ask
Make actional choices, or choices which forward the action in a scene
Make assumptions about characters and endow, endow, endow, oh my!
Give and take
Listen, watch and concentrate
Work to the top of your intelligence



DEL CLOSE'S (FROM CHICAGO IMPROV OLYMPIC)

11 IMPROV COMMANDMENTS
http://improvencyclopedia.org/references/Eleven_Commandments.html

1. You are all supporting actors.
2. Always check your impulses.
3. Never enter a scene unless you are needed.
4. Save your fellow actor, don't worry about the piece.
5. Your prime responsibility is to support.
6. Work at the top of your brains at all times.
7. Never underestimate or condescend to your audience.
8. No jokes (unless it is tipped in front that it is a joke.)
9. Trust... trust your fellow actors to support you; trust them to come through if you lay something heavy on them; trust yourself.
10. Avoid judging what is going down except in terms of whether it needs help (either by entering or cutting), what can best follow, or how you can support it imaginatively if your support is called for.
11. Listen



THE IMPROV ENCYCLOPEDIA'S

10 IMPROV COMMANDMENTS
http://improvencyclopedia.org/references/Ten_Commandments.html

1. Thou shalt not block (see a definition of: blocking )
2. Thou shalt always retain focus in a scene
3. Thou shalt not shine above thy fellow players
4. To gag (joke) without purpose is to commit a sin that will be paid for (see a definition of: gagging )
5. Thou shalt always be changed by what is said to you (follow your impulse!)
6. Thou shalt not waffle ( see a definition of: waffling )
7. When in doubt, break the routine in a scene
8. To wimp is to show thy true self ( see a definition of: wimping )
9. (S)he what tries to be clever is not; while (s)he that is clever doesn't try
10. When thy faith is low, thy spirit weak, thy good fortune strained, and thy scene is going badly, be comforted and smile, because it just doesn't matter. there is always another scene, another chance to fix everything.