RELATIONSHIP

A few TRUTH IN COMEDY quotes - “The truth is funny. Honest discovery, observation, and reaction is better than contrived invention.” and “When we’re relaxing, we don’t have to entertain each other with jokes. And when we’re simply being ourselves up to each other and being honest, we’re usually funniest.”

I'm finding that the relationships I have with my improv friends are some of the strongest I've ever had and I'm starting to realize it's because we've been trained to be honest. We've been told to have thin skin and react emotionally to each other, to make the other person the most important person in that moment and to really listen to what he or she is saying. I know all this stuff is for the stage and rehearsal, but now that I've been with my Harold team for almost two years now, sitting in rehearsal and performing and sharing truths about ourselves has made me feel very connected with my funny friends. I think this makes an improviser different from anyone else...or any comedy person. With our inner or outer circle of friends we sometimes feel the pressure to be funny. People sometimes view us as the "Life of the Party" or just want to ask questions that just skip the surface of who we really are like "Have you made and new commercials?" or "Do you know such and such? He's an actor friend of mine?" And since these friends aren't necessarily open the way your scene partner might me, we take the easy route to "YesAnd" them and we make jokes.

Here's another great quote from TRUTH IN COMEDY -  “A comedian who tells jokes is basically a salesman, trying to sell the audience a clever story or punch line, while hoping to be paid back in laughter.” As funny people we sometimes settle for laughter as payment from our friends instead of what we all really want. Relationship. I've fallen into this trap way too many times. Maybe I've underestimated my friends outside my improv world. Could it be that maybe they ask the things they think I want to talk about? Why am I being a lazy improviser? Instead of waiting for someone else to initiate the scene (conversation), how about I have a big agenda and start the scene (conversation)! Even thinking of doing this just seems like so much work! But didn't all those scenes we did going through classes at iO or wherever seem the same way too? You eventually form connections and share great scenes or even better, horrible ones that you can laugh at some other time..and that's no joke...that's the truth!

We all have friends outside our wonderful little community of Improv. There needs to be a healthy balance between them so that you can grow and mature in both. You're life experiences and relationships outside of the theater will give you fresh and real perspectives to share on stage and your ability to listen, be honest and true about who you are will build your relationships with those special people in your life you've decided to call your friends. TRUTH IN LIFE.