Improvising is a rare skill that deserves more appreciation that it gets !!!
Who else thinks the art of improvisation is overlooked and underrated? Why is it?
If you're a fan on improvising, you will love the improv comedy UK hip hop show ACT ON WORDS. Everything is 100% made up on the spot https://www.youtube.com/actonwords
Interesting channel. It is underrated and very hard to do. I've never been any good at it and much prefer direction and a script than making it up.
I still have nightmares about an audition where I had prepared a speech and halfway through it the auditioner stopped me and asked me to continue doing it in the style of a stand up comedien. In front of all the other auditionees. I was utter shit and didn't get a call back. It's probably like getting good at anything and just takes a lot of practice.
When improv is done well by talented people - it can be brilliant
When it's done badly - it is utterly utterly awful
That's why the first couple of series of Whose Line is it Anyway where bloody awful
You can improve improv immeasurably by giving them scripts and rehearsals.
Quote: lofthouse @ 28th April 2016, 9:51 PM BSTWhen improv is done well by talented people - it can be brilliant
When it's done badly - it is utterly utterly awful
That's why the first couple of series of Whose Line is it Anyway where bloody awful
You're right, that's true, it was like being in a school classroom watching a bunch of cringy mature drama students. But I suppose then...there wasn't much to compare, more sort of instinct. All things have the chance to adapt and evolve based on inspiration and social expectations. Then think when Ryan and Collin entered, they really switched it up completely...it became more of a "show". They really were improv at it's finest !
[quote name="Definitely Tarby" post="1155305" date="28th April 2016, 9:43 PM BST"]Interesting channel. It is underrated and very hard to do.
Cheers nice one, we have started performing with our improv live band now.
Improv is challenging but so enjoyable...to do and watch (when done right !)
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 29th April 2016, 8:57 AM BSTYou can improve improv immeasurably by giving them scripts and rehearsals.
Well it wouldn't be improvised then. I know what you mean though, something like Curb Your Enthusiasm where the actors are given a rough layout of the scene but they are still improvising their lines and actions.
With our improv show, we don't rehearse but more practise different improv and freestyle rhyming based on the different games/rounds for the show.
On show nights, we create on the spot musical rap scene based on the audiences suggestions, for example For or Against battle - one is for and one is against a topic made up by the audience and they go back to back arguing their point.
Difference with what we do is we are all professional rappers and previous winners of various impromptu freestyle competitions. But over the years we have evolved with techniques and versitility.
Possibly one of the main reasons behind improv being so underrated is because not many people have seen it done well and so to some extent..do not realise it even exsists.
All this stuff about lines...
It isn't.
Interesting thread and an interesting take on improv. I would say improve is a great platform for picking out talent. When the Comedy store Players in London were doing this I saw a young Paul Merton and Josie Lawrence. You could see Paul was a natural comic with a quick humour but he couldn't act. Josie was the inverse of Paul. Currently panel shows are the popular format for the naturally quick witted.
I was also part of a review group that used a lot of improv, but we never promoted on that, we just guaranteed each show would have something new, something for the local crowd. We found those that booked wanted some guaranteed laughs and until you get known you need a familiar format. Which bring us back to why panal shows are popular and improv doesn't pay.
I was wondering why you presented your YouTube to us as improv, rather than freestyle rapping which I would imagine was a more familiar description. Improv to me = who's line is it anyway. Rap improv = freestyle.
I had noticed improv had become quiet popular in my area of late and joined in a few of the sessions locally, but they were full of drama students, very few laughs, some good acting. I'd prefer Paul Merton with bad acting, his talent is less common.
Quote: Nick Nockerty @ 29th April 2016, 2:03 PM BSTI was wondering why you presented your YouTube to us as improv, rather than freestyle rapping which I would imagine was a more familiar description. Improv to me = who's line is it anyway. Rap improv = freestyle.
Well that's the thing...We are freestyle rappers but what we do can be classed as improv comedy. Similar to Whoses line, the audience give us random suggestions of words, topics AND characters. For example, we have a game called NEWSROUND which involves becoming news presenters, journalists and witnesses with different accents. Of course the audience choose the news headline.
So there's a comical improv act as well as the freestyled words ( hence..ACT ON WORDS)
Quote: ActOnWords @ 29th April 2016, 9:58 AM BSTWell it wouldn't be improvised then.
Yes, I was being naughty. I like scripted comedy me, good luck with your stuff tho.
Having had time to see a few more of your videos, enjoyed them, Tenchoo is very slick. Best of luck.
Quote: Alfred J Kipper @ 30th April 2016, 7:37 AM BSTYes, I was being naughty. I like scripted comedy me, good luck with your stuff tho.
Haha fair enough ! Nice one !
Quote: Nick Nockerty @ 30th April 2016, 10:02 AM BSTHaving had time to see a few more of your videos, enjoyed them, Tenchoo is very slick. Best of luck.
Nice one, glad you enjoyed watching. Look out for the new vids with the live band coming out soon...
The art of improv is on a rise !!!
Now this is REAL improvising ! https://youtu.be/xgPUFmmpZJs