Improv Taught Me the Secrets of the Universe
As a student of improv, with my guru Daryl Olsen, I’ve been through an interesting personal journey. In class one – I was wrought with anxiety, trying to keep up. In class two, I kept trying to be funny – and learned that would never work. Finally, in class three – I learned to let go of the illusion of control.
One rainy Wednesday evening, as I watched my classmates perform, it finally hit me. Improv isn’t about acting at all. It’s a reflection of how life works.
Here are the three choices improvisers often make – and what I learned from watching the play unfold.
Image credit: http://breweryarts.org/event/improv-11/
Choice 1: Blocking
Player 1: May I buy some flowers
Player 2: Flowers? What?! This is a hardware store!
When I receive an offer, how am I responding? When something new and unexpected comes my way – something that didn’t fit into my “plan” – how do I show up? Do I have the courage to trust myself, my fellow players, and the offer — or am I too scared to plunge into the unknown? Am I blocking offers?
Choice 2: Acquiescing
Player 1: May I buy some flowers?
Player 2: I guess.
Player 1: What do you think I should get? Hydrangeas or lilies?
Player 2: Whatever you want. Both are okay.
I’m not blocking the offer. But I’m not accepting it either. I look away and hope the scene will go on, despite me.
Choice 3: Saying Yes, and
Player 1: May I buy some flowers?
Player 2: Yes! And —is there a special occasion you’re celebrating?
Player 1: It’s my grandma’s 80th birthday, so I want the flowers to be special. She has such a great life…
I embrace the offer — then add to it – and the scene begins to build. The story gets juicy. The audience leans in.
When I step up and say yes, I don’t know how the story will evolve. I can’t see beyond my next step. All I know is, when I accept the offer, the right answer will show up. Whatever I wholeheartedly commit to, is the right choice.
And when I meet other improvisers who also embrace the Yes, And — the whole experience transforms. I forget that I’m performing an improv show. I forget the audience. I forget the stage. I’m playing just for the sheer joy of it. I’m in flow.
And finally – the show ends.
When time runs out, the show wraps, and everybody goes home, some improvisers embraced the “Yes, And” and had a great time. Others insisted on trying to control the script, and their lines fell flat. The audience laughed. At times, they groaned. But in the end, it was just a temporary show on a beautiful stage.
Did the show really matter? Not really. But while you’re on the stage – you may as well choose to make it a brilliant story. A story of fluency. A story that enthralls the audience. A story that brings you joy.
So, when the universe send you an offer* — how will you choose to respond?
* And here’s the secret – everything is an offer.
Much gratitude to my wonderful friends at On Your Feet and Brainwaves – Daryl, Gary, Shelly, Brad, and Beau.