Barefoot Priestess of Improv

So I took an improv class.

I have been dying to find a creative outlet and I found The Tokyo Comedy Store. They hold weekly pay-to-play improv jams in the city. Last week I attended and I had an amazing time.

There's something about the Improv Community that speaks to me. The type of people it draws, the community it fosters, the laughter it generates - everything about it makes me feel at home. This is even true on the other side of the world.

I have to admit that I was scared. I didn't know a thing about TCS before going. I didn't know if I would show up and find that I had paid $20 bucks to play Arms Through Expert and be told that I had to be funny. Luckily that wasn't the case.

There were maybe 13 shoeless expats from all over the globe (Wales, England, Saudi Arabia and the US), packed in a small room standing in a circle at the top of class. This two hour weekly workshop started like most improv workshops I'd led: name games, icebreakers and warm-up exercises. It was really humbling for me to go from someone who had been used to leading such play-to-play workshops, to paying to being in one. But to be honest it felt really good. I haven't been a student in quite sometime, so I enjoyed turning off the part of my brain that assesses the work of others. It was nice to focus on myself and to be reminded of the tried and true basics of improv.

After the niceties, there were longer scenes (3 minutes long with 4-6 people) side coached by the teacher. This was a bit hard to do... and watch. Both for the sheer number of people on stage and for the varying levels of ability in the class. Clearly there were a few who knew what they were doing, a few who didn't, a few who didn't and thought they did. Going up in my group in front of the class was awesome. I thought at first I would hold back and not "show off," but it's hard for me to be on stage and not do what I know how to do. So I did what I do.

At the risk of sounding arrogant, the class seemed to dig what I brought and that felt good. I feel really blessed that there is something in this world that I do well and that I like to do, and that there are venues where I can do it.

There was a funny moment (not the ha ha kind) during class involving me and another student. A guy joined the class late (after the introductions, but during the warm-up exercise part of the class). He joined my group. It didn't take long for me to figure out who this guy was. He was THAT guy from improv class. The guy who thinks he knows everything, but don't know all that much. The guy who thinks being louder means you're right. The guy who finds it hard to acknowledge a improviser, who happens to be a chick, might just know what she's doing.

So, the group starting doing Line-at-a-Time Story, and he was sitting next to me.

Spanish Girl - Once upon a time, there was a little girl who dreamed of going to India.

Natasha - When was old enough, she bought a one way ticket to Bollywood.

Late Guy - Um....let's go back to when she was 13. When she was 13 she....

Late guy then proceeded to instruct the group that denying is bad and you should really try to stick with the story. His way of telling me that I messed up, and how to not do it in the future. At first I was pretty angry. Not at him, but not feeling supported. I hadn't felt that in years, and even in the simple Line-at-a-Time exercise it was amazing how hurt I could feel from not having my contribution count.

The story continued, and so did the subsequent exercises, with out my saying anything about it to him. I figure I just let my work speak for itself. By the time I took the stage for my group scenes, I think it started to dawn on Late Guy that he had sized me up all wrong. Following class I was approached by several classmates who commented on my performance, and who wanted to know my improv background. Late Guy hung back. Possibly embarrassed that he'd got it wrong with me? I don't know.

I'd be a liar if I said that I wouldn't take satisfaction in that. (I'm evil)

This week should be fun. I hope this group can help me find a place in the company where I can play in a more challenging environment. I'll keep you posted.