Tag Archives: improv

Graduation Show (or Completing Improv 101)

This past Sunday was the graduation show for my improv class. The way that UCB runs their classes is that the class has 8 classes that are 3 hours each (typically 1 class a week unless it’s the intensive class which means 4 times a week for 2 weeks) and at the end you have a graduation show.

I had been a bit nervous about the graduation show because it felt like we hadn’t been told too much about how it would work. But I’m used to short-form improv where it is game based and not scene based. So the nerves were unnecessary because we pretty much did the same thing that we had been doing in the past few classes.

Our class was split into 2 groups (there were 12 of us doing the graduation show) and each group thought of a team name. My group was going second so we sat in the audience for the first half and got to watch our classmates perform. The audience was made up of us from the other group and friends and family that we invited to the show (I didn’t have any friends or family in the audience, but I only told people about it a few days in advance). Before I knew it, it was our turn to go backstage and get ready.

When my group started, we got a suggestion of one word to start things off. Then one person said a personal monologue and we created 3 scenes from that monologue. After the 3 scenes were done, another monologue was done followed by 3 scenes. In total, my group had 3 monologues and 8 or 9 scenes. And I initiated a few, joined in on a few, and did walk ons in a few. We had about 25 minutes on stage, and it rushed by so fast. And since the lights on the stage were so bright, I never felt like I was performing for an audience. I felt like we were performing to our classmates the way we did in the classroom.

Overall, I feel pretty good about how I did and how the entire class did as a whole. And I think that we were all pretty excited about completing the graduation show.

UCB 101

The only thing that I was a bit sad about was that we didn’t really seem to bond as a group until the last week or so. There was the awkwardness at the beginning and then just feeling the personalities of the group out. And we really felt like a team at our last class and then again in the show. I’m not sure if making the class longer than 8 weeks would have helped, but it was a bit sad to say goodbye to everyone when I felt like I was just getting to know them.

UCB Graduation

We don’t find out if we failed the first level of improv until we register for the next class (if we failed, they will let us know that there was a problem). I’m still thinking that I’d like to go on to the next level and possibly do all 4 levels eventually. I’ve got a year to sign up for level 201 before I have to repeat 101 and I have a feeling that I’ll be signing up sooner than next fall. I just need to get the money together for it (I might have extra money left over after I pay my 2015 taxes) and figure out a time that works with my schedule.

I’m so glad that I finally jumped in and took another improv class. While I still miss Kip all the time and wished I had heard his laugh in the audience (he had the best and most distinctive laugh), I think he would have been happy that I moved on and continued my education. I don’t know if I want to join a troupe after I complete all the levels (if I do that), but I’m taking things one step at a time and just focusing on taking level 201 now.

Making Strides In Class (or Relaxing And Having Fun)

My improv class this week went really well. In fact, I think this might have been the best class I’ve had so far. I’m still on the fence about moving on to the next level of improv, but like I said before I’m focusing on how much I can get out of the class I’m in.

I had a few moments in class where I either didn’t hear things correctly or said something off that threw the scene or game that we were doing, but none of those moments were big screw-ups like I’ve had before. It’s not that I wasn’t listening before, but my focus in the past was to unlearn “bad” habits from my other improv training. And when I’ve been doing that it’s hard to focus on the game at hand. So I stopped trying to ignore and unlearn what I’ve learned in the past and I used it in class.

And that actually paid off! I’m not sure why I was so scared of doing that before. I know that I didn’t want to feel like a show-off or do something so weird that the teacher wondered why I did it. But that fear had really set me back and I think prevented me from performing to the best of my ability in the previous weeks. This past week, I had some really great scenes and I felt like I got more positive notes from the teacher than critiques.

I do feel a bit like a show-off at times or that I’m commanding the scene and I’m really working on that. I’m trying not to overshadow my fellow actors if it feels like the scene is going that way. It can be tough because sometimes I can feel that the other person might be struggling and I just want to help them. But helping them can also prevent them from having their fair time. And when only a few people out of the group get to do something special (we used a few personal monologues this past week to help inspire scenes), I’m not always trying to take a turn.

It’s a fine balance I’m trying to find between performing to the best of my abilities and hogging a scene. I know I’m not the best person in class, but I also know that I’m a bit of an aggressive performer. I’ve had to learn in the past to be fearless and to just go with it. But sometimes that can seem like I’m trying to show-off or steal the spotlight from someone else.

I think it was easier for me in the past because with the first improv troupe I performed with, we all kind of came into the class at the same level. We had dabbed in improv, but none of us have really taken a class. In my class now, there are some people who have never taken a class before and there are people who have done years of improv training (I’m kind of in the middle). It also might have been easier in the past because I was either working with a group doing short form improv (which are the quick fun game) or working alone doing an improv interview when I was in Kip’s class.

Now, we are doing longer scenes and there isn’t a gimmick to the game. It’s just trying to be as truthful to the scene as possible. I think that this is better for my acting career than learning the games that I’ve done before, but it’s not easy. It’s hard to stay based in reality when you have no idea what is coming up next (or if you get a super weird suggestion). But I’m really enjoying the challenge and I think having fun in the class is the most important thing.

Halfway Through Class (or Not Thinking About The Next Step)

I’m halfway through my UCB class. In about 4 weeks I’ll be doing my 101 graduation show. That show still terrifies me a bit because I feel like we (or at least I) won’t be ready in time, but I’m trying to put that fear in the back of my head and focus on what we are doing now in class.

Each week in class, we do focus on a particular aspect of improv. This past week was all about characters. While I’ve done character work before, I really enjoyed this class because new ideas on character types were mentioned that I’ve never used before. I’m surprised that I never thought of some of these types (like being high class vs. low class) never came up in my past studies. But I’m glad I know them now for the future.

I did have a bit of difficulty in class with some of the character work. There was one mimic game that we played and I went first. I was a bit unclear on the instructions (if I was supposed to mimic an accent or just the general attitude of the other person) so I had to start over several times. I also hate having to do accents because they are extremely tough for me to do. I’m partially tone deaf (it’s why I’m not a music person) so accents sound funny to me. I can hear someone and thing that I’m mimicking it perfectly but in reality I’m not doing any accent.

After starting over several times, I decided to just focus on the attitude of the other person and made it through the game. But that set back really was tough on me. I don’t think I’m the best actor or best improviser out there, but since I was so confused I wish that I had more instructions or that I asked more questions so I knew what was expected. All the other students seemed to mimic the attitude and not the accent so I guess I made the right choice.

This week I also went to another improv show. This one was a show that was performed by teachers from UCB (my teacher wasn’t in it). It was a really great show and even though I’ve fulfilled my 2 show viewing requirement I’m thinking of going to that show again next week (it’s a rotating cast).

Some of my fellow students are already starting to think about taking improv 201 as soon as we are done. I’m still torn on if I’m going to continue or not. I’d like to complete all 4 levels just to say that I’ve done it. The cost is a bit of a set back. I think I have a year from the time I graduate improv 101 to decide if I’m going to take 201, so I’m going to allow myself some time to think about it all. I like not having to commit to the next level right away and I want to make sure that I’m making the best choice financially as well as for my acting career.

For now, I’m just going to focus on enjoying the last few weeks of my class, having a great graduation show, and doing the most growth I can in the class.

More Comfortable In Improv Class (or Making Friends With My Classmates)

I’ve gone through 3 weeks of my improv class so far. So I’m almost halfway done with this first level! I still miss Kip quite a bit in class, especially when the things we do are very similar to what I did in his class. But I’m also feeling much better about moving on.

I’m getting comfortable in the class too. It’s always awkward at first when you are thrown into a class with 15 strangers. And we’ve had a couple of people who either haven’t been able to make it to another class after the first one or who have dropped out. But the 14 of us still in the class have started to bond a bit.

When I went to the improv show after my first week of class, I went by myself because I didn’t have anyone to go with. I had a good time there, but I wished that there was someone there to laugh with and chat about the show afterward. But I’m starting to friend my classmates on Facebook so we can try to meet up for a show in the future (I’m still required to see 1 more show, but I’m hoping to go to more than that).

I went out to lunch after class this week with one of my classmates and really got to know her better. She and I are some of the older people in class (many of them seem to be in their early twenties) so it was nice to get to chat about more grown up things. And it turns out that she had a very similar hip surgery to what I had!

Getting to know my classmates has made my performances in class better. I’m not trying to look good or impress anyone. Even though I’ve had several years of improv training (and doing shows), things at UCB are different and I’m working on breaking old habits as well as rebuilding new ones. But the freedom that I’m starting to feel is really great.

Just this past week, we had a game where we had to sing different songs. That was going to be an issue for me for a couple of reasons. First, I can’t sing and I’m pretty much tone-deaf. And second, I don’t know many songs. Fortunately, I do know show tunes and was able to use them for the game (I actually think every song I sang was a show tune). Nobody made fun of me for my horrible singing. And when I didn’t know more than one line of the song, they sang with me so I could try to remember.

All of these things are making me feel better about having our class performance in a little over a month. It’s coming up so quickly and hopefully we will be pretty bonded as a group and will be able to do a fun show. I’m thinking about going to another level 1 graduation show to see how it works. That might make me feel a bit better about what I am expected to do. Right now, I have it in my head that it will be like a full-out show. I don’t think that will be the case, but unless I see it for myself I will have that same idea.

I know I’ve said this before, but I’m so glad that I was able to get the money together to do this first level of classes at UCB. I’m still debating about doing the next level, but I don’t have to decide that anytime soon (nor do I have the money to do that anytime soon). But the feeling that I’ve gotten from being in this class now has made me so happy and my only regret is that I wasn’t able to do it sooner.

How Is This Year Almost Over? (or Doing A Check In On My Goals)

I was on the phone with a friend the other day and it came up that this year is over in 2 months. I know I say this every year but it’s crazy how fast the year is going by! It feels like my birthday was just a few weeks ago!

I’m not the type of person to do quarterly check ins with my goals (so many friends are trying to get me to do this and I’m thinking about maybe doing it next year), but with 2 months left I did want to see how I’m doing with what I set as goals for this year.

My first goal was to do 175 workouts at Orangetheory this year. Not counting the workout I’ll be doing today, I’m at 142 workouts. I’m very much on track to hit my goal, but I need to get back to 4 workouts a week soon so I make sure that I get there. But it’s very possible and I’m really happy with myself that I’ve gotten this close so far.

My next goal was having at least 4 home cooked dinners a week. This one I’m not doing so great with. If you could microwaved dinners as home cooked (I don’t), then I’m doing amazing. But I’ve really gotten out of my cooking trend that I was in for so long and I’m struggling to get back in to. A lot of that has to do with working one of my jobs on the weekends when I used to do meal prepping or knowing that I won’t be at home many nights a week. This is a scheduling issue that I’m always working on and I know that I need to make it a better priority in life.

Next on my list was getting down to 2 main day jobs. This one I actually did! I now have my box office from home job (which I’ve been at for over a year) as one of those main jobs and my data entry job with my old boss as my other main day job. I also have my sporadic jobs (babysitting, the film festival, my weekend box office job with an old boss), but I’m definitely down to 2 main day jobs. I have to admit that I’m shocked that I accomplished this one since it was the hardest one in my mind. I’m now looking at some other day jobs with more flexibility (my main box office job isn’t as flexible as I’d like it to be), but I’m very happy for now with the 2 main jobs I have and I’m super grateful to have them both.

Getting into an improv class was checked off the list last week when I started at UCB and I’ll be doing those classes for 6 more weeks. Again, I’m super shocked that I got this done because I’ve been wanting to do it for a while and haven’t had the chance or money to do so.

I haven’t been able to travel a lot this year. I’ve gone to San Diego a bunch and I went to Napa earlier in the year, but I was really hoping to do another New York trip this fall. There were schedule and financial issues with doing that trip, but it’s looking like it might be in the works for 2016.

And my final goal (as it always has been) was to keep blogging. I’ve had people ask me how long I can keep up blogging 5 days a week every week and I’m happy that I haven’t quit doing that yet. There may come a day in the future that I miss a day or that I decide to go down in the number of posts a week. But I’m still happy with my schedule as it is and it seems that you all like reading my posts too.

So that’s my almost the end of the year check in with my 2015 goals. They aren’t all done yet, but I’m making huge steps and progress so far and I feel like on December 31st I will be looking back and realizing that I got most or all of my goals accomplished for the year.

Homework and Other Work (or Taking My Class Seriously)

I’ve now completed two weeks of my 8 week UCB Improv 101 class. The class is going well so far. It’s still a lot of review of basics for me, but that’s never a bad thing. And some of the basics at UCB are different from the basics in other improv classes I’ve been in since this is long form improv and not short form improv (short form is about games like on “Whose Line Is It Anyway?”). It’s a little crazy to think that we are a quarter of the way through the class and at the end we are doing a show, but I’m sure things will be moving faster the closer we get to our show and it won’t seem as odd that we are performing in front of guests.

I’m debating if I will be doing Improv 201. I have a feeling I will be doing it because that’s more of the scene work and less of the basics, and that’s what I want to do. I’m not sure how soon I’ll have the $400 for class ready, but I’m hoping it won’t be too long (I think there are also some work-study opportunities at UCB to help bring down the price of class).

Even though my 101 class is the basics, I’m taking things seriously. I do take notes during class and I’m listening to all the critiques that the teacher gives me and the other students. There is a book that all students are required to read and I’m working on it.

UCB Book

I’ve actually had the book for a while because I knew it was a requirement for the class and I was hoping to do the class earlier in the year. So I got it on Amazon a while ago and have had it in my room waiting for when I got into the class (I’m not sure why I didn’t start reading it sooner, but what matters is that I’m reading it now).

The other thing that all students (or at least students in Improv 101) have to do is to see 2 shows during the 8 week class. We really don’t have to see the 2 shows until the end of the class, but it’s recommend that we see them as soon as possible because it will help us in class.

So I took that advice seriously and went to a show last Thursday. It was a musical improv show (not something that I’d do myself, but I was happy to see it) and it was so awesome! The performers were super talented and it’s so impressive that they can sing a song that is being made up on the spot together and they really tend to be singing the same thing (I don’t get how they do that?!?).

I’m not sure if I’ll be able to see a show every week, but I’m really going to try to. It might be tough with some of my schedules for the next few weeks, but maybe there are a few weeks that I can see more than one show. Just because we only have to see 2 shows doesn’t mean I’m only going to see 2 shows.

I’m starting to make friends in my class, so that will help make my scenes better in class (not as awkward) and we are trying to go see shows together as a group since when I went alone it was a little lonely and not as fun as it could be.

Just because the class is all about the basics doesn’t mean that I’m not trying to get the most out of it that I can and hopefully doing that will help me make the decision if I want to keep doing more levels. I’m really enjoying being back in class and I didn’t realize how much I missed it until I started at UCB. I’m glad to have this back in my life and I know that it’s only doing positive things for me.

I’m seriously so glad that I finally got the money together and over my fear of going back into improv class.

Back To School (or Another Round Of Improv)

I’ve been saying that this would be a goal of mine for a while, but yesterday I officially started improv classes at UCB! I was able to save up the money for the class in August, but I had to wait until there was a class time that worked with my schedule (I wasn’t going to quit my job to attend a class that lasts 8 weeks).

Finally, there was a Monday mid-day class on the registration list and I paid right away to guarantee my spot. I signed up a little while ago, so I’ve had a lot of time to think about going back into an improv class.

This is my first improv class since my beloved acting coach, Kip, passed away 5 years ago. Maybe if money and the schedule wasn’t an issue that I would have taken a class earlier this year. But before this year, I wasn’t ready to do an improv class. Kip was very influential in my life and I was scared that doing improv was going to make me sad.

Fortunately, the class didn’t do that to me yesterday. There were times that made me think of him because the lessons we were doing were identical to things I used to do in Kip’s class (which I found ironic because Kip was a founding member of a different improv company), but I think that overall the class was great and I’m looking forward to the next 7 weeks.

Besides my classes with Kip, I’ve done a couple of years of improv training with a different troupe. But because it wasn’t very well-known (even though it’s based in LA), many casting directors are asking for actors to study improv with one of the big schools. So taking this class at UCB is helping me accomplish that.

In the first class, it was a lot of introduction to improv. There are some people in the class who have never taken improv, and I needed to learn the style and rules of the improv games that UCB does. And it was a good refresher course for me to make sure that I’m the most supportive team member that I can be.

I have to say, I was very impressed with the UCB setup. I’m used to taking improv classes in a casting room (after hours) or at the theater where the shows would take place. But at UCB, they have a big building with dozens of classrooms, a theater, and a cafe. It was more like a school than a theater, and I really liked that.

UCB Classroom

I have a bit of homework to do before my next class on Monday next week, and I’m really going to try my best to get it all done plus do a little extra. Just because this is an introduction to improv class doesn’t mean I’m going to slack off. I’m taking this seriously and maybe after completing this class I will feel at home here and will continue to take the next set of classes.

I’m glad that I was able to get together the funds and a class worked out with my schedule. After taking my first class, I don’t feel the same pull holding me back from taking classes that might “replace” Kip. I’m aware that that was a weird issue to have, but because Kip was such a huge part of my life, I had trouble moving on. But I feel like I’m finally at that point and I’m excited to see how I can use what he taught me over the years in a new space with new people.

Back To Basics (or How A Win At My Day Job Can Help My Acting Career)

Yesterday at my day job, we had a little awards ceremony. I think calling it an awards ceremony was a bit of a stretch, but my boss decorated our break room and brought in Chinese food for us for lunch. And, as any awards ceremony would have, there were prizes.

From the time we came back to work in April until the end of the fiscal year in the beginning of July, there were a couple of contests going on. They were most number of memberships, most amount raised by memberships, most number of tickets sold, and most amount raised in ticket sales. We had similar contests last year, but I didn’t win any of them.

This year, the winners would get a Visa gift card and free tickets for shows coming up in our season. I wanted the free tickets because my dad is going to come back for another show this year and I wanted to treat him. And Visa gift cards are always nice for anything (like my Disneyland pass).

After the lunch portion, my boss first gave iTunes gift cards for those who didn’t win (at least everyone got something). Then, he awarded the person who got second place in memberships a gift card and 4 pairs of tickets to shows of their choice.

Then he announced that I actually won all four contests. I honestly wasn’t expecting that at all! I knew I had a chance at one, but who knew I’d get all four! So I got a very nice gift card and 8 pairs of tickets to shows in our upcoming season!

There’s a lot that I could use that gift card for. I wish I could use it to put toward my credit card, but you can’t do that (I checked). So what I’ve decided to do is to use it for some improv classes.

I’ve talked about how getting back into acting classes was one of my goals for this year. I need to get some more prestigious classes on my acting resume. Casting directors don’t really care unless you have improv training from one of the big schools. So I’ve decided that I want to go to UCB.

The gift card I got will pay for over half of my tuition for level 1. And it’s looking like I might be unemployed again in the fall, so I could take their intensive class and get the first level done in 2 weeks instead of 8. Then I could decide if I want to move on and then take those classes on the regular once a week schedule when I’m back at work.

I’m starting to get excited about this. The classes for the fall aren’t online yet, so I’ll keep checking until it is. But I think that I really am making the right move right now. While I’d love to use this gift card for next year’s Disneyland pass, maybe by taking this new improv class I can book an acting job that will pay for one.

I love when things fall into place for me like this!

My 2013 Goals (or I’m Not Calling Them Resolutions This Time)

Welcome 2013!

I’m excited to see what I can get done this year! In the past, I’ve always made resolutions, but for this year, I’ve decided to call them goals. Somehow they don’t seem as scary that way.

Here are my goals for 2013:

Continue on my weight loss journey. I didn’t lose as much in 2012 as I would have liked, but I did lose. And I’ve got my brother’s wedding in September and you know that those pictures are going to be around forever. I want to look back and not be embarrassed.

Continue paying down my credit card debt. Again, I didn’t do as much as I would have liked in 2012, but I’m working on it. I may not reach my goal of being debt free by my 30th birthday, but that’s ok.

Do at least 5 5Ks. I do enjoy walking various 5K events. In 2012, I did 3. This year, I’d like to see if I can do 5. I have my first one planned for February (unless I decide to do another one sooner).

Do my first 10K. There’s going to be one at Disneyland 6 days before I leave for my brother’s wedding. Unfortunately, due to that timing, my parents won’t be able to come and see me do that, so I’m looking at maybe finding one another time so they can come see me accomplish this.

Find alternative income. I love my day job, and I don’t plan on leaving it anytime soon. But I also need to find a way to make more money to help me work on my debt. And if I can find a way to support myself without having to go to a job 6 days a week, that would be great for my future.

Take an improv class that counts. I’ve taken improv classes in the past. I did a few years at LA Connection Comedy and also studied weekly with Kip King for almost 8 years. But in the commercial world, they want you to have classes from one of the main schools. So I’m looking at maybe taking classes at UCB this year so I’ll have that competitive edge on my acting resume.

Keep blogging. I think this one is pretty self-explanatory.

Any of you have some goals for this year that you are really excited about?

Finding Soul Mates (or Why I’m Having A Tough Time Finding An Improv Class)

I know that some people don’t believe in soul mates. I do. But I don’t believe that you just have one soulmate that you are supposed to marry and live happily ever after with. I feel like you have soul mate for all different parts of your life.

I know that I have friend soul mates. I have a friend that I’ve known for 20 years. She and I have stuck it out throughout the years, and I know that she will always be there for me. I have another friend soul mate who I think of as my nerdy friend soul mate. They just get all the weird stuff about me.

I have soul mates in acting too. I truly believe that the agents that I am with now are my agent soul mates. They get me, care about me, and work so hard to get me amazing auditions.

There is one acting related soul mate who has passed away and I’m still not totally over it. My acting coach soul mate, Kip King. I studied with Kip for about 8 years until he passed away in 2010. He was such an amazing teacher. I felt like all of my performances got so much better under his guidance.

Kip was a founding member of The Groundlings so his classes were very improv based. And since he passed away, I really couldn’t see myself going to another improv class.

Why am I thinking about this now? Last night, I went to a show at The Groundlings. Kip’s funeral was held there (the day of his funeral happened to be my birthday). This was only the second time I’ve gone back to the theater since the funeral, and I can’t sit where I sat then. It’s too hard. But the show was absolutely amazing (thanks Amir for the tickets). And it made me miss improv so much.

I don’t know if I could take classes at The Groundlings. At Kip’s funeral, they dedicated a classroom there to him. I think taking classes in the Kip King Classroom would be far too difficult for me. But I am finally starting to think more seriously about going back to improv. I know that Kip would want me to. Right now with my day job schedule, it’s a bit tough to add in another class, so I’m looking at taking some classes when the season ends for work. Hopefully then I’ll have made a decision on where to go.

And just because, here’s one of my favorite pictures with Kip. This photo was taken at Kip’s birthday in class.