1. The 10 Commandments of Improv
Rules of Improvising
The 10 Commandments of
Improv

2. #1 DON’T DENY
Denial is disputing something that has already been established
Once something has been established you CAN’T change it unless the change becomes a way of furthering the plot
This is usually a result of either not listening or preconceiving
Denial IS NOT CONFLICT
Remember: denial will momentarily stop the action

3. #2 Avoid Asking Questions
This is a form of ‘blocking’ or ‘denial
Questions force our partners to fill in the information and do all the work
It is a way to avoid committing to a choice
It can make scene partners look stupid
If you HAVE to ask a question avoid asking open ended questions

4. #3 Don’t TRY to be Funny
The most hidden rule of improv is that the harder you try to be funny the less funny your scene will be -- and vice versa
The best kind of scene you can do is an “interesting” scene, not necessarily a “funny” one
Let the funny come out all by itself
The best frame of mind is to stick to the character, stick to the story that is being told, and stay within the reality of the scene you are playing

5. #4 Avoid Explanations Sooner is better than later --- do it now
When an opportunity for an action comes up --- do it! Don’t speak about it, don’t lead up to it, don’t put it off
Don’t limit yourself to words or assume all responses require words. Good improv is about what is being done, what you are trying to accomplish in the scene and how you can help your scene partners out
Scenes that are just about talking are BORING

6. #5 ALL suggestions have the potential to be great
NEVER blame a scene’s failure on the host/ask-for/suggestion
If a scene fails it will almost always be because of mistakes the scene performers made (denial, not listening and responding to partners, preconceiving, “trying to be funny”, questions, etc)
If a scene succeeds it is because the scene partners are working together
It’s more impressive to your audience to see a great scene with a suggestion that they might feel is “weak” than to see a good scene with a suggestion they feel is “great”.

7. #6 Focus on the Here and Now
Similar to avoiding explanations
All scenes should be about the people in the scene and how they are struggling to win or how they ‘lose’ on stage
If characters are just TALKING about what is happening the audience gets bored

8. #7 Be Specific Details are the lifeblood of moving a scene forward
Each detail provides clues to what is important
Details help provide CORE

9. #8 Change is good in life and in Improv
Improv is about character change
The characters in the scene must experience some type of change for the scene to be interesting
Characters need to go on journeys, be altered by revelations, experience the ramifications of their choices and be moved by emotiona moments

10. #9 Give Gifts to your partners
All too often people in an improv scene will start speaking about their favorite topic ---- themselves and their character
Strong scenes are built on team work
If you are listening and responding to your partners ‘gifts’ will come easier
After you have given information to another performer give your partner a chance to respond to what you said or did. We expect responses and reactions in real life. We should do the same in improv

11. #10 Have Fun and Relax Improv SHOULD be fun
An audience loves to watch someone having fun
By letting go of fear of failure we commit more, focus more, and become our character more fully. That’s why we practice