Too Many Rules Ruins Improv

Saw this video in which funk bass guitar legend Bootsy Collins breaks down what he describes as the “basic funk formula.”

He basically says “make sure you play bass on the first beat of the measure and other than that do funky stuff in between - do whatever you want.”

First, I laughed at how zero calorie this advice was. “Do whatever you want?” What if you totally suck? What if you have no taste? What if you have never heard funk music? He doesn’t mention key, rhythm or melody. He says the work “breakdown” and does not say what he means by that.

Is this really advice?

But then I thought about how much mediocre improv I see done by people trying hard to “do it right.”

There are lot of improv groups in Los Angeles that could be vastly improved if they “did whatever they want” — as long as they did the improv equivalent of “hitting the one.”

“Hitting the one” in improv comedy is saying yes to what you’re given. Not literally saying yes and having all characters get along, but doing an “improv yes” where you use what you are given every line.

If you’re doing that — and by the way, that is no small task — but if you are indeed using what you’re given — every line, every move — then you kinda can do whatever you want.

You can add info, sure. You can justify. You can explain. You can restate, adding in logic. You can add backstory to make something make sense. You can break the rules of physics to accomodate what you’re given. You can be talking animals and household objects. You can possess magic. You can simple nod your head and repeat.

But you MUST SAY YES.

I’m a hypocrite because as a coach/teacher I could never keep it as simple as telling a group “just say yes.” I’d want to bend open the “just say yes” rule to include many other guidelines.

The simplest I could keep my teaching — maybe — is to say this: “say yes deeply and ground it.”

I was at the Vermont Comedy Club this week. They do mostly stand up but also have a small passionate improv scene. I went with my brother Brian to see a house team he coaches.

It was a really fun, joyful night, largely because the teams were really disciplined in saying yes to each other. Improvisers in Burlington have less experience than Los Angeles improvisers. But they are way more disciplined at just saying yes to each other.

The main difference between the newest groups in Burlington and the most advanced teams I see in Los Angeles is not a million improv rules. It’s just the the good LA teams say yes MORE DEEPLY than a beginner team.

I wonder if as a coach and a teacher if I reward people for the simple agreement MORE it would embolden them LATER to get funky. If they can FEEL when they’ve hit the one — they feel validated for that — that they would feel more secure to make interesting moves.

Let’s look at a situation where you are offered something a little confusing, where there is no clear response. Meaning: an offer that leaves you wide open. How many ways can you answer and still “hit the one.”

Let’s say the suggestion is “shoes.” You scene partner looks forward and says “Wow, there’s so many shoes here.”

You simply restate the info and add nothing.

You go “I know! There’s like.. (your brain scrambles and can’t think of much) so many!” and that’s it. You two go back and forth for a few time without adding any information as to what’s happening.

“Hit The One” diagnosis: The scene has stalled. But there is really good agreement. You’re listening and repeating. In terms of Bootsy’s bass playing you are ONLY hitting the one. But that’s a good start, honestly.

You give part of a simple who what where.

You say “So many shoes! Your mom really loves her shoes.”

“Hit The One” diagnosis: Now you’re yessing and anding. You’re adding a nice simple scenario we can build off of. You are trusting your teammate to hear you —- a deceptively vulnerable act — but this is already an interesting scene, to me. There’s no absurdist spin, there’s no “game” - but we have agreement. We are moving forward. This is good!

You give a POINTED who what where — something with some direction and flavor.

You say “Wow, your stepmom has way more shoes than your old mom.”

“Hit The One” diagnosis: Now we’re really into something. We are in the middle of a situation with status and history. There’s ways to be affected. The decision to create this scenario feels personal in an interesting way. It’s relatable. BUT THE MAIN ROOT OF WHAT IS GOOD HERE IS YOU SAID YES.

Let’s go back down and say you do something that’s considered a “bad” improv move — yet you still technically agree.

Let’s say you say something that implies the world is not real. But not in a good way. In a way that reveals you are trying too hard to be silly and weird.

Let’s say you go “Oh good! With this many shoes we’ll never get sick again!”

“Hit The One” diagnosis: Okay, now I admit — conventionally speaking this is a bad move. You’re ignoring the boundaries of reality. You’re being too crazy and vague.

But you are saying yes.

All that’s missing is someone has to ground this. It could be you or the other person.

Someone has to say something like this:

• “Yes! Lots of shoes because we’re wealthy! And our money will protect us!”

• “Yes! These are magic shoes!”

• “Yes! We keep getting athlete’s foot and these shoes will protect us!”

• Or even something like “Shoes make me feel safe!”

My argument, if I’m making one at all, is that as coaches and teachers we could do a better job of instilling confidence by making sure they see where they are saying yes and how good that is. Rather than simply focus on everything they’re not doing. Make them feel free.

Tell me what I’m missing, folks!

• The World’s Greatest Improv School: The improv school I run with Jim Woods and Sarah Claspell. We’ve got classes online, in LA and even a few in NYC! You can join our mailing list if you want our weekly announcement of shows.

• World’s Greatest Improv (YouTube channel): My improv theater is beginning to stream shows. Subscribe to watch! It’s all free!

• How to Be The Greatest Improviser On Earth - My improv book, available at Amazon. Kindle or print (also on my web site for more if you don’t want to buy from Amazon). It’s a hodge-podge of advice I wrote in 2016 about doing improv. If you’re short of funds and want a free PDF version just email me and I’ll send it over.