How to Improvise

The following rules are after you and a partner on stage have started a scene. Following these basic improv guidelines below will help become a successful improviser:

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• 2 or more people

1. 1-Yes and.
   One of the most important rules of improvising is accepting what has been said/what is going on and adding new information. A scene’s success or failure is dependent on whether the improvisers will accept what is going on in a scene. And funny is usually on the other side ‘yes’.

2. 2-Listen.
   The life blood of a scene. If you are listening in a scene, that will usually determine if you are 'in the moment' which is the essence of improvisation. If you are not listening, that usually indicates if you are in your head, somewhere else or trying to push your own agenda, rather than giving over to the scene and letting scenes truly be improvised.

3. 3-Commit.
   Those who are focused in on the scene and their partner(s) and willing to be part of the action are going to be the ones who are most successful. Those who are not committed are not staying within the scene and which usually spells doom.

4. 4-Who? What? Where?
   These are three items to establish the foundations of scenes. What helps a scene is establishing 'who you are', 'what you are doing', and 'where you are' will give life to the scene and will help you and your scene partner thrive within the world you create.

5. 5-Establish A Relationship.
   Who are you to your scene partner? Are you father/son, co-workers, doctor/nurse? Whatever relationship you have with your scene partner will give the dynamics that will help you get thru your scene with a partner.

6. 6-Give Gifts.
   What makes a good improviser is making the other person look good. A gift is something that will help your scene partner. This could be a name, a location, an object, etc. Giving gifts is like karma, when you give one, you are usually going to get one back.