Just some questions about the popcorn at a movie theater.
Feed Me!
Andy Cobb is a few tables away from me at a cafe. I’m restraining my inner Second City fangirl squeals. He’s a smart dude. Check out his stuff:
Emo Philips. Classic stuff and nice dude.
Behind the scenes of Young Frankenstein (1974).
Gene’s a dreamboat.
YES.
Getting my Stefon fix. Here’s a hulu playlist.
This is a version of a character reel I submitted for tv show. Enjoy.
Q:Hello, how are you? I noticed that you have performed with Second City and I'm sure you have had other comedic adventures. As for myself, I have been a part of ComedyCity, an improv troupe based in DePere, WI. This May, after my finals are over, I hope to kick start my comedy ventures after a few months of hiatus. Do you have any advice about how to successfully get back into the game? Specifically improv and stand-up. Thanks!
That’s great! And do I ever.
1. Surround yourself with good, real, honest and ambitious people. If you can’t find them, eventually, you will so being lonely is OK. If someone doesn’t make you feel good about yourself, move on.
2. When nobody is giving you work, create it for yourself. Write, learn something new, see shows, stay positive and inspired. If you are lucky enough to find a writing partner/group, good.
3. Most importantly, work on being the best version of yourself as possible. Be honest within yourself and on stage.
4. Take classes. UCB, SC, Groundlings, the PIT, Magnet. If you don’t plan on moving to a bigger city, find improv classes in your area or create your own group and learn together. When I lived in Michigan, I commuted to Chicago on the weekends for classes until moving there.
5. Look for any opportunity to perform, whether it’s online or at an open mic, any experience is good. It’s okay to bomb sometimes. It can depend on the audience but it’s better to have a solid reaction than a fake one. Tepid laughter is bad. Quiet can be okay. Read faces. Sometimes, people are quiet because they’re really into what you’re doing and they don’t want to miss what you have to say.
6. Educate yourself. The best improv team I ever saw was The Stepfathers. They played at the top of their intelligence and pulled out so many musical and historical references, it was mind-blowing.
7. Don’t get stuck doing “bringer” shows where someone tells you to bring x amount of people in order for you to perform.
8. Go to a show you like on a regular basis and get to know who’s working it. You could end up filling in for someone.
9. I can’t really say all or any of these things will ensure success. It depends on what success means to you. For me, success means at least getting paid to do what I enjoy but that also entails the learning process and the business of it.
(my earlier response was hastily written in a cab)
