Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation
- Member Blog Posts (5)
- Discussions (3)
- Upcoming Events (2)
- Groups (4)
- Photos (17)
- Photo Albums
- Member Videos (3)
Music
Gary Schwartz's Groups
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AIN 2009 Portland, OR
95 members
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Asia Conference in March…
54 members
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Trondheim June 5-8, 2008…
24 members
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AIN Pacific Northwest
33 members
Gary Schwartz's Discussions
Live from Trondheim - Open Space
Replied Jun. 7, 2008
Gary Schwartz's Page
Latest Activity
I'm always happy to come to an AIN conference. Much fun, learning and freindship.
Gary Schwartz is improvmaven on Twitter.
Thanks Terry,
As a student of both Richmond's and Viola Spolin, I had the unique experience of learning the difference between spacework and mime. Viola asserted that mime was choreographical and space was a direct experience with the invisible mate…
Hi Gary, I liked your ideas about Folow the Follower and as a former student of Richmond Shepard (1975-1977) and a teacher of improv in recent years, I find that opening scenes with advanced players and letting them see out how they plug into each o…
The Official 2009 AIN Information and Discussion Group
Profile Information
- Where do you live and work? (City)
- North Bend, WA USA
- Professional Skills
- Improvisation coach, keynote speaker, workshop leader
- What is your main interest in this network?
- Education, Networking, Finding Partnerships
- What kind of person are you?
- Day
- What kinds of improv-related services are you involved in?
- Teambuilding, Creativity, Problem Solving, Communcation, Stress, Life Skills, Change Management, Presentation Skills
- Share a favorite 'improv epiphany'
- Creativity is NOT the clever rearranging of the known.
- More about you: (Short Bio or any other details you'd like people to know)
- I am Executive Director and Founder of INTUITIVE LEARNING SYSTEMS, offering Spolin Games workshops for professionals in all fields as well as conducting special workshops for business, to enhance communication and creativity in the workplace.
I am a former student and associate of Viola Spolin – known as the Mother of the Improvisational movement. I began my apprenticeship to Ms. Spolin in 1977 and have conducted many lecture demonstrations of Spolin Games techniques to various groups and companies across the U.S. and Canada.
- I need help with...
- Marketing and finding complimentary partners
- Work Website
- http://www.gary-schwartz.com
- Blog or other personal website
- http://www.gary-schwartz.com
- Skype Name (Skype.com is the most popular free internet audio/text chat and more)
- garyschwartz52
Gary Schwartz's Photos
Gary Schwartz's Videos
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Gary Schwartz interview
Added by Gary Schwartz
Gary Schwartz's Blog
The Trouble with Yes, and...
During my stay in Norway, I was finally able to articulate my thoughts on the difficulty I have with Yes and...
What I am about to discuss, comes not from any condescension or blind loyalty to Spolin’s work, but a considered opinion based on all my experiences in the world of Improvisation as teacher and student.
I welcome opinions and comments as I am thinking of publishing this as an article.
The trouble with Yes, and…
“Information is a very weak form of communication” - Spolin… Continue
What I am about to discuss, comes not from any condescension or blind loyalty to Spolin’s work, but a considered opinion based on all my experiences in the world of Improvisation as teacher and student.
I welcome opinions and comments as I am thinking of publishing this as an article.
The trouble with Yes, and…
“Information is a very weak form of communication” - Spolin… Continue
Posted on June 16, 2008 at 9:30am — 14 Comments
Paul Sills's passing
The mother of Improv's son, Paul Sills, who did much to make improv a force in the theater as its own artform, died June 1st. He was 80.
I'm here in Norway at a confence that would not even be possible were it not for this man. He shaped the first group of professional improvisers and the careers of many important figures in modern entertainment. Mike Nichols, Alan Arkin, Elaine May, Richard Libertini, Melinda Dillon, and Second City in general.
I knew Paul to be like his mother in one importa… Continue
I'm here in Norway at a confence that would not even be possible were it not for this man. He shaped the first group of professional improvisers and the careers of many important figures in modern entertainment. Mike Nichols, Alan Arkin, Elaine May, Richard Libertini, Melinda Dillon, and Second City in general.
I knew Paul to be like his mother in one importa… Continue
Posted on June 2, 2008 at 11:43pm — 2 Comments
Impro Oslo weekend workshop
I just spent a wonderful weekend with four improvisers from Oslo. It was my great pleasure to lead two full day workshops with them. Two men and two women, Karre,Gunnar, Annethe and Ingunn.
They are professional actors, working in Oslo and comprise 3/4 of an imrprov troupe that perform reglularly. Although they knew the book 'Improvisation for the Theater' by Viola Spolin, they had not played many of the games.
Because there were only four, I was able to introduce them to over 28 games, many th… Continue
They are professional actors, working in Oslo and comprise 3/4 of an imrprov troupe that perform reglularly. Although they knew the book 'Improvisation for the Theater' by Viola Spolin, they had not played many of the games.
Because there were only four, I was able to introduce them to over 28 games, many th… Continue
Posted on June 1, 2008 at 8:39pm — 2 Comments
In Trondheim with Sven - a great discussion
I have arrived in Trondheim to conduct several workshops with Sven Veine with Impro Oslo and others.
the converstation in the first hours are stimulating. Talking about many teachers and their styles. Keith Johnstone, Michael Gellman, and of course, Paul Sills and Viola Spolin.
I will endeavor to enter any new thoughts as they come up in conversation.
Sven is a passionate student of all forms of improv. Bravo to him.
Gary
Norway may 30
the converstation in the first hours are stimulating. Talking about many teachers and their styles. Keith Johnstone, Michael Gellman, and of course, Paul Sills and Viola Spolin.
I will endeavor to enter any new thoughts as they come up in conversation.
Sven is a passionate student of all forms of improv. Bravo to him.
Gary
Norway may 30
Posted on May 30, 2008 at 8:00am — 2 Comments
The Peak Experience is an apt title.
I just came across an Abraham Maslow page. I found this:
Peak experiences
"Feelings of limitless horizons opening up to the vision, the feeling of being simultaneously more powerful and also more helpless than one ever was before, the feeling of ecstacy and wonder and awe, the loss… Continue
of placement in time and space with, finally, the conviction that something
extremely important and valuable had happened, so that the subject was
to some extent transformed and strengthened
Posted on November 19, 2007 at 6:54am —
Comment Wall (33 comments)
- At 12:58pm on August 30, 2009,
Belina Raffy said…
- Hi Gary, I heard from the lovely Pertti that you are coming over to Europe...any plans to be in the UK?
Best wishes,
Belina
- At 8:19am on February 10, 2009,
Raffi Feghali said… - Hello Gary,
I am in the process of starting an improv-based training corporation in Lebanon. It will be the first in Lebanon and the whole Arab World (Middle East even, if we exclude Israel, probably). If you are interested in a partnership with this corporation, please message me so that we can discuss the possibilities.
Best,
Raffi
- At 10:01pm on November 8, 2008,
Dan Weiss said… - Hi, Gary:
Thanks for the advice!
My first meetup for AISV went well - 5 players showed from 9 RSVPs, and we went through several familiarity exercises, got some idea of what everyone wanted from the experience (spontaneity, creativity, problem solving, improv experience, etc), then I used some accelerated learning techniques to set the context for making mistakes (celebrate all mistakes) and making any incremental wins, no matter how the participant felt (celebrate those as well!!)
i brought in many games from ain, and other sources as well.
As you suggested, I debriefed each game to get the learning, and there was a fair amount of participation in this.
Before I knew it, the evening was over and we closed the class with a circle of thanks.
I am looking forward to the next meeting, and plan to promote the meetup to more groups.
Best,
Dan
- At 1:40pm on October 28, 2008,
Dan Weiss said…
- Gary: I am indeed getting a lot of games from AIN, as well as William Hall's book.
Also, made up some, and pulled some from other areas.
I will be debriefing each game with an eye to applied use, and will let you know what happens
Best,
Dan
- At 8:56am on October 28, 2008,
Dan Weiss said…
- Gary
I am opening Applied Improv Silicon Valley on the 5th, and intend to get some coaching and structure experience - then see if we can get some time to plan the next steps.
I just finished a weekend of business games, some of which will feed the improv class as well.
I am not forming a troupe as much as an open class with standalone games that attendees can take out in the world and expand their being.
Comments and suggestions welcome!
Talk to you soon.
- At 8:36pm on October 16, 2008,
Dan Weiss said…
- Gary - I am in the process of starting Applied Improv Silicon valley and would like to have your thoughts and comments on how I can begin the process of coaching...maybe we can chat again. When is a good time for you?
- At 8:05am on October 5, 2008,
Leif Hansen said… - Okay Gary, I've 'banned' the other Gary Schwartz (silly word, only choice they offer for deleting). Thankfully, it looked like his network was small (2-3 people, I should have wrote down names) and activity small as well -only a few things. Somehow you added this second one with a different email address on June 14th. We'll miss you in Chicaga. Still hoping to spend more time with you in the NW somehow though...
- At 9:18am on July 4, 2008,
Hikaru ”LOU” Hie said… - Hi Gary!!!
I still owe you a Japanese hand-writing of you name!!!
I am planning to attend Chicago Conference... are you gonna be there?
or Tokyo?! ;-)
ciao ciao!! arigato!!
Lou
- At 12:12pm on June 12, 2008,
Pertti Lehtonen said… - Gary, I had so much fun talking to you and taking your wonderful workshops ! A lot of nice memories are floating in my mind. Hope to see you soon again ! Take care. Pertti
- At 11:41am on June 11, 2008,
Al Razavi said… - Dear Gary, Thank you for the Emil and kind words. I enjoyed your presentation a lot. Yes, I agree we can do great things together. I am in France with my daughter and will return to California next month. I will call you after my return. Take good care of yourself.
All the best,
Al
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