Improv Principles For Happy Holidays

With Thanksgiving behind us, we’re full swing into the holidays now. Racing through December and onto the New Year. Like most people, you’re probably busy racing around town, scouring the internet, party planning or packing for visiting family. It’s easy to get lost in the hustle. BE IN THE MOMENT Enjoy where you are now. We often remind students in workshops that when they’re “in the moment”, they will not worry (since that is about the future) and they will not judge themselves or others (since you can only judge based on the past). The Holidays is a wonderful time to practice being present in the now. There is so much in every moment that you miss if you don’t make time to notice it. The smells, lights and sounds this time of year are worth noticing.

IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU Onstage the goal is make your partner look good. You stop worrying about yourself. The interesting thing is that if they look good, you look good, the audience is amazed and everyone wins. Focusing on someone else is the fastest way to let go of yourself and fall into that “Holiday Spirit”.

THERE IS NO PLAN In life, like on the improv stage, there is no plan. Try as you might even the best laid plans can quickly go awry. Flights being delayed, unexpected weather, unexpected guests can happen to even the most thoughtful person. Knowing that you can’t control it all helps to relax and enjoy the ride regardless of the detours.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS! ---- Betsaida LeBron is the Theater Manager at Blacktop Comedy and a current member of the Long-Form Improv Show: True Story, where a weekly guest tells stories from their past as inspiration for improvised scenes. She also teaches the Intro to Improvisation workshops and loves the life-lessons that students get from “playing fun make-em-ups”.

Christmas Lights and Improv

A couple night ago I set out to find Christmas Lights. I was ready to search throughout Sacramento and Roseville. Am I kidding? No. Hunting for houses lit up with Christmas lights is, hands down, my favorite part of the holidays. I'll drive from Auburn to Davis. Getting dressed up in some warm, comfy clothes, grabbing a hot drink and seeing houses decked out in sparkly Christmas lights? What’s not to love?

We loaded into the car, and set off. We discovered... a lot of solo houses. Surrounded by dark homes these  'solos' exploded with color, LED lights blinking, Santa's laughing, and reindeer...um....reindeer-ing. These houses were standouts, because if it was the only one on the block. It was cool. But, when we went down a street where everyone in the neighborhood participated, where every family was involved… it was more than cool… it was amazing! It transformed the area into a whole magical world.

This got me thinking about improv and the power of agreement. If an improviser makes a strong choice on stage, it can be fun and entertaining. But when the other players agree and build on that choice it’s amazing. When everyone participates we have the power to transport the audience to a whole magical world.