Comments on: Applying Improv to Everyday Life http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/ Musings on well-rounded living... Mon, 02 Apr 2012 00:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: 43/465 – Respect for Improv http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-5388 43/465 – Respect for Improv Mon, 14 Nov 2011 17:35:37 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-5388 [...] amount of respect you must have for the art and the rules behind it – oh yes, there are rules. How not to do [...] [...] amount of respect you must have for the art and the rules behind it – oh yes, there are rules. How not to do [...]

]]> By: Rejection never gets you anywhere in improv or life « The DeVine Improvisation http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-5142 Rejection never gets you anywhere in improv or life « The DeVine Improvisation Thu, 03 Nov 2011 20:40:41 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-5142 [...] Improv knows that rejections, while they may be funny sometimes, are bad moves and stop scene momentum in a heartbeat.  That is why the ‘Yes and’ rule was invented, which states that an improviser should take the suggestion of their team member and say yes, but not only say yes but instead also add something to the conversation to give it direction and momentum. Sure there are the improv acting aspects of the rule, but one thing i want to impart on you my readers is that it definitely has real life applications. [...] [...] Improv knows that rejections, while they may be funny sometimes, are bad moves and stop scene momentum in a heartbeat.  That is why the ‘Yes and’ rule was invented, which states that an improviser should take the suggestion of their team member and say yes, but not only say yes but instead also add something to the conversation to give it direction and momentum. Sure there are the improv acting aspects of the rule, but one thing i want to impart on you my readers is that it definitely has real life applications. [...]

]]> By: Improv as a Marketable Skill http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1636 Improv as a Marketable Skill Thu, 27 May 2010 21:39:35 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1636 [...] you may have read here last month, you know that improvisation is more than just an entertaining type of comedy routine.  [...] [...] you may have read here last month, you know that improvisation is more than just an entertaining type of comedy routine.  [...]

]]> By: Tim http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1140 Tim Wed, 14 Apr 2010 22:33:44 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1140 Hi Ryhen: Great explanation of being in the present moment! I agree with you about the realization that, for many of us, our ideas of reality are aspects of the mind. I'm sure you'd agree, but I think meditation is a great tool to observe the mind and experience the present moment. I like your expression of "getting caught in the commentary" of life, which is something worth avoiding (unless it's all positive all the time :) In any case thanks for sharing your thoughts here. Hi Ryhen: Great explanation of being in the present moment! I agree with you about the realization that, for many of us, our ideas of reality are aspects of the mind. I’m sure you’d agree, but I think meditation is a great tool to observe the mind and experience the present moment. I like your expression of “getting caught in the commentary” of life, which is something worth avoiding (unless it’s all positive all the time :) In any case thanks for sharing your thoughts here.

]]> By: Ryhen Satch http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1135 Ryhen Satch Wed, 14 Apr 2010 03:06:14 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1135 How are you doing, Tim? Quite a discussion you have here. I'm not sure if I have said "yes" to anything serious recently, but I do like what you said in principle #2 - be in the present moment. Hence, I'd like to share what I learned about it. You see, if we pay close attention to our present experience, we begin to see both the inner and outer aspects of reality as aspects of the mind. Internally, we also see that the mind is continually full of chattering with commentary or judgement. By noticing that our mind is continually making commentary, we have the ability to carefully observe those thoughts, seeing them for what they are without judgment. Those who apply this principle will realize that "thoughts are just thoughts." If we are free of these thoughts, then we also become free to observe life without getting caught in the commentary, and it makes it easier to be in the present moment. (just my 2 cents) Great post, btw! Ryhen .-= Ryhen Satch´s last post...<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/VirtualSynapses/~3/JYrNC3on0NI/clairaudience-develop-ability-of.html" rel="nofollow">Clairaudience: Develop The Ability Of Psychic Hearing</a> =-. How are you doing, Tim? Quite a discussion you have here. I’m not sure if I have said “yes” to anything serious recently, but I do like what you said in principle #2 – be in the present moment. Hence, I’d like to share what I learned about it. You see, if we pay close attention to our present experience, we begin to see both the inner and outer aspects of reality as aspects of the mind. Internally, we also see that the mind is continually full of chattering with commentary or judgement. By noticing that our mind is continually making commentary, we have the ability to carefully observe those thoughts, seeing them for what they are without judgment. Those who apply this principle will realize that “thoughts are just thoughts.” If we are free of these thoughts, then we also become free to observe life without getting caught in the commentary, and it makes it easier to be in the present moment. (just my 2 cents)

Great post, btw!

Ryhen
.-= Ryhen Satch´s last post…Clairaudience: Develop The Ability Of Psychic Hearing =-.

]]> By: Tim http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1133 Tim Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:13:38 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1133 Hi Walter: I know what you mean....I can be a pretty intense person in terms of trying to get things done and accomplished and sometimes forget the fun factor. So, while I did write this, I need to keep reminding myself of these principles, too. Thank you for stopping by and contributing and have a great week! Hi Lori: Yeah, extemporaneous speaking is basically improv and is very challenging and dreaded by almost everyone. I would say if you liked to give an extemporaneous speech you'd probably like improv...but I will also say if you don't like extemporaneous speaking that does not mean you won't like improv. What's great about improv is that you usually have some people up on the stage with you to support you (and hopefully look good). In an ideal situation, even if you say something weird up on stage, your team members will say yes and play along. In other words, I think extemporaneous speaking is tougher than doing improv. Another thing I really enjoyed about improv were all the warm-up exercises which were great to get your brain working and firing at all cylinders. In essence, these exercises were designed to get you out of your head. And I would agree with you about David's quote...it's very profound and I like how it can be applied to so many different situations. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts! Hi Walter: I know what you mean….I can be a pretty intense person in terms of trying to get things done and accomplished and sometimes forget the fun factor. So, while I did write this, I need to keep reminding myself of these principles, too. Thank you for stopping by and contributing and have a great week!

Hi Lori: Yeah, extemporaneous speaking is basically improv and is very challenging and dreaded by almost everyone. I would say if you liked to give an extemporaneous speech you’d probably like improv…but I will also say if you don’t like extemporaneous speaking that does not mean you won’t like improv. What’s great about improv is that you usually have some people up on the stage with you to support you (and hopefully look good). In an ideal situation, even if you say something weird up on stage, your team members will say yes and play along. In other words, I think extemporaneous speaking is tougher than doing improv.

Another thing I really enjoyed about improv were all the warm-up exercises which were great to get your brain working and firing at all cylinders. In essence, these exercises were designed to get you out of your head. And I would agree with you about David’s quote…it’s very profound and I like how it can be applied to so many different situations. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts!

]]> By: Lori http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1130 Lori Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:19:38 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1130 Hi Tim, The closest experience to improv I can point to is doing "extemporaneous speaking" when I was in school. In speech team, it's a type of speech that one only has about 10 minutes to prepare for -- the topic being drawn randomly from a hat. I supposed that, if I loved this type of speech, I'd probably really enjoy improv. Would you agree with that assumption, Tim? I can relate to this quote, too, “when you are focused on the other person, you take the attention off yourself and begin to relax and get comfortable.” I seem to always feel best when I'm helping someone else or focusing my energy toward someone else. Thanks for including this quote. Thank you, Tim, for sharing your wisdom with us and for another awesome post. :) .-= Lori´s last post...<a href="http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JaneBeNimble/~3/oxY2KasYf3Q/" rel="nofollow">Front Porch: Bhangra, a Dingo, and a Beach – with John Anyasor</a> =-. Hi Tim,

The closest experience to improv I can point to is doing “extemporaneous speaking” when I was in school. In speech team, it’s a type of speech that one only has about 10 minutes to prepare for — the topic being drawn randomly from a hat. I supposed that, if I loved this type of speech, I’d probably really enjoy improv. Would you agree with that assumption, Tim?

I can relate to this quote, too, “when you are focused on the other person, you take the attention off yourself and begin to relax and get comfortable.” I seem to always feel best when I’m helping someone else or focusing my energy toward someone else. Thanks for including this quote.

Thank you, Tim, for sharing your wisdom with us and for another awesome post.
:)
.-= Lori´s last post…Front Porch: Bhangra, a Dingo, and a Beach – with John Anyasor =-.

]]> By: Walter http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1128 Walter Tue, 13 Apr 2010 06:02:00 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1128 Having fun: this is the thing that I have been missing most of the time. I the past weeks I have been very serious about every activities that I do and I felt suffocated, perhaps I need to loosen up enjoy what I'm doing. Thank you Tim for this reminder. :-) Having fun: this is the thing that I have been missing most of the time. I the past weeks I have been very serious about every activities that I do and I felt suffocated, perhaps I need to loosen up enjoy what I’m doing. Thank you Tim for this reminder. :-)

]]> By: Tim http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1125 Tim Tue, 13 Apr 2010 00:53:27 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1125 Hi Megan: Thank you for your kind words about the post. Sounds like you're really living most of these principles already, which is great. I have not seen "Yes Man" yet, but I can imagine it takes the whole "yes, and..." idea to a hilarious extreme. You are right about opening ourselves up to the great things out there...I know I need to be reminded of this from time to time. In any case, thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a playful week! Hi Jay: You are right with your assumption...I would agree with you completely that improv is about being able to handle anything that gets thrown your way. When I took classes, there were a few people genuinely interested in becoming an actor. But most of us had corporate backgrounds and I think we just wanted to have some fun and in the back of our minds we thought it could help us at work. It ended up helping me in more ways than I expected. Thanks for stopping by and I hope all is well with you. Hi Megan: Thank you for your kind words about the post. Sounds like you’re really living most of these principles already, which is great. I have not seen “Yes Man” yet, but I can imagine it takes the whole “yes, and…” idea to a hilarious extreme. You are right about opening ourselves up to the great things out there…I know I need to be reminded of this from time to time. In any case, thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a playful week!

Hi Jay: You are right with your assumption…I would agree with you completely that improv is about being able to handle anything that gets thrown your way. When I took classes, there were a few people genuinely interested in becoming an actor. But most of us had corporate backgrounds and I think we just wanted to have some fun and in the back of our minds we thought it could help us at work. It ended up helping me in more ways than I expected. Thanks for stopping by and I hope all is well with you.

]]> By: Jay Schryer http://360degreeself.com/2010/04/12/applying-improv-to-everyday-life/comment-page-1/#comment-1121 Jay Schryer Mon, 12 Apr 2010 14:12:04 +0000 http://360degreeself.com/?p=1035#comment-1121 Hi Tim! I've never done improv, so I might be wrong with this observation, but it seems to me that one of the most valuable skills to be gained from it is the ability to think quickly and react competently to an ever-changing and unpredictable set of circumstances. It seems that quick thinking and staying calm under pressure would be skills easily learned by doing improv. Would you agree, or am I way off base with that assumption? .-= Jay Schryer´s last post...<a href="http://porsidan.com/a-pirate-looks-at-40/" rel="nofollow">A Pirate Looks at 40</a> =-. Hi Tim!

I’ve never done improv, so I might be wrong with this observation, but it seems to me that one of the most valuable skills to be gained from it is the ability to think quickly and react competently to an ever-changing and unpredictable set of circumstances. It seems that quick thinking and staying calm under pressure would be skills easily learned by doing improv. Would you agree, or am I way off base with that assumption?
.-= Jay Schryer´s last post…A Pirate Looks at 40 =-.

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