Hello improvisers!

Another new episode this week, this one about how difficult it can be to learn improv as a new skill. Or heck, even one that you are layering on top of similar related skills. It's not easy for most of us!

Also, neurodivergent improvisers, I have a special note for us in this week's episode. So check it out!

Here's a summary of what to expect and where to find the episode.

The Pain of Learning Improv: What to Assess, How to Respond

Learning any new skill, especially a vulnerable and complex one like improv, can sometimes hurt. We’ve all felt that sting of frustration and the dread of hitting a plateau. Sometimes we even feel that demoralizing sense that we’re actually getting worse when we're trying to get good!

It's easy to interpret this pain as a sign of failure. But... what if it’s the opposite of that thing? What if that struggle is actually a signal that you’re doing something right, simply because it proves you care deeply about your craft? The real challenge isn’t avoiding pain, but learning to distinguish between the productive pain of growth and the unnecessary parts of your practice that might be holding you back.

In this week's episode, we explore a framework to assess where these pain points are coming from, and what you can do about them.

Note: I only discuss the learning process itself in this episode, not pain that comes from mistreatment or a toxic environment, which is a separate and serious issue.

Step One

When you’re facing the productive kind of struggle, the first step is to assess the pain itself. Ask yourself which parts are actually moving the needle. For example, frustration from trying to master one specific, difficult format might not be worth continuing, especially if you've already grasped the underlying skills. Perhaps it's time to give yourself permission to ignore a piece of feedback that's causing more rumination than growth, or to walk away from a team whose communication style simply doesn’t mesh with yours. Removing these unnecessary sources of pain can bring immense clarity... and perhaps even improved happiness to your practice.

Step Two

After you assess what to keep and what to discard, the next step is to connect with your "why." Your personal reasons for doing improv are your focus here. Ask yourself honestly: What do I want out of this? What are my creative goals? Am I having fun with these people? Is this specific style or theatre serving my goals? Knowing your why helps you decide if a particular struggle is worth enduring. If you know that a challenging coach or a difficult note is directly helping you progress toward a goal you truly care about, the temporary pain is instead a worthwhile investment. Or sticking with a communication difficulty might be worthwhile if the people around you make you happy, and that's your priority instead.

Choose what to walk towards

Even when you decide to walk away from something, the learning is never lost. The skills and muscle memory you developed are simply repurposed for the next chapter of your creative practice. The pain is often the learning itself, a signal of your growth.

In the end, how do you know if the struggle is worth it? Well... it’s worth it when you consciously decide it is. After you've cleared away the unproductive frustrations and connected the remaining struggle to your deep love for performance, you can reframe that pain. It becomes the necessary and acceptable price of getting better at something you love.

It becomes growth.

Watch on Video

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Listen to Podcast

​Episode 27 here​

Getting out of your head (and put more ideas in scenes)

In any system, technically, output is dependent on input. And this can be really easy to forget when you’re busy being creative. We might end up forcing it if this is true.

In improv, we often focus on the output in a scene, like forcing ourselves to try and think on our feet to get those really cool ideas out of our head in the middle of a scene. And that might end up seeming as forced as it… was.

To get better creative output while performing, we’ll consider that input while we live our everyday lives all week long.

Read the full episode summary on this page, or check out the full episode as a podcast or on YouTube:

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PS: There are normal goats and weird goats in this video.

Improv Community News

Brian James O'Connell, aka BOC, has a great opportunity to learn improv skills, speaking of which - and you can learn from him wherever you might be located since it's online. You can take one class or sign up for multiples and save money.

Class: Summer Online Drop-in Extravaganza

When (PST): July 28 7pm, July 29th 11am, July 30th 9am, July 31st 5pm, Aug 1st 2pm.

Length: 3 hours each

Cost: 1 class: $30, 2 classes: $40, 3 classes: $50, 4 classes: $60, 5 classes: $70.

I've taken BOC's classes online and they are amazing - he is a generous teacher and full of decades of knowledge to learn from. So check it out and get yourself signed up! Here's his email to learn more or get registered: bocworx@gmail.com

​Post on Instagram (bio here)

Thanks for reading!

Appreciate you loads. If you found anything useful here, please let your improv friends know about these resources!

Take care,

Jen

(and new puppy Latka, who helped with a few collar sounds in the background and typos here... probably. She's fun.)