Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation
- Toby Butterrfield
- Share
- Member Blog Posts
- Discussions (4)
- Upcoming Events
- Groups
- Photos
- Photo Albums
- Member Videos
Toby Butterrfield's Discussions
Anybody planning to take BATS summer intensive?
Replied Jul. 30, 2008
Are you a "facipulator"?
Replied Feb. 10, 2008
Public, Guerilla, "Improv Everywhere"
Replied Feb. 5, 2008
Toby Butterrfield's Page
Gifts Received
Toby Butterrfield has not received any gifts yet
Profile Information
- Where do you live and work? (City)
- Bermuda
- Professional Skills
- I'm an improv teacher who is just starting to take my skills beyond this arena. One thing is leading to another and I'm just being present with the story that is unfolding.
- What is your main interest in this network?
- Education, Social, Improv Resources
- What kind of person are you?
- Night
- What kinds of improv-related services are you involved in?
- Teambuilding, Creativity, Innovation, Problem Solving, Communcation, Stress, Life Skills
- Share a favorite 'improv epiphany'
- Try less.
- More about you: (Short Bio or any other details you'd like people to know)
- I teach improv in Bermuda.
As part of exploring my life and human potential I have an MA in counseling psychology.
I like otters.
I'm an anti-racism activist and used improv exercises during a national dialogue on race. Because of that people have approached me to do more of that type of thing with that group and others.
I like skipping stones and solving the world's problems in my head.
I trained at BATS improv and have the privilege of knowing William Hall.
So yes, I took improv from San Francisco (and the ether) back to my home of Bermuda.
- I need help with...
- lots of things but don't ask for it enough.
- Other contact info (Your choice for phone, email, facebook, myspace, etc.)
- also on improvtoby@yahoo.com
About
Upcoming Events
-
Jane Austen UnScripted!
December 11, 2009 at 7:30pm to December 20, 2009 at 7:30pm – The Broad Stage
-
Fishladder's 10th Anniversary Show
December 18, 2009 at 8pm to December 19, 2009 at 8pm – Dog Story Theater
Birthdays
Birthdays Today
© 2009 Created by Leif Hansen on Ning. Create a Ning Network!
Comment Wall (3 comments)
You need to be a member of The Applied Improvisation Network to add comments!
Join this Ning Network
In the end, play it for fun and make the discoveries as you go along. That's the best way. And bring the class into the experiment by asking them, "WHY do YOU think we make these mistakes?"
The best way I've learned is by not pretending to be the expert and becoming another student with the people I am supposedly teaching. They appreciate being involved in the discovery.
All the best,
Shawn
No problem. I will try to help where I can. I have a couple web sites and you aren't likely to find anything you need on either (shawnkinley.com and improworldtour.com - both in need of updates. The Loose Moose website has almost nothing usable at the moment... Doesn't make your search easy).
So... I think you might be talking about the UP/DOWN game I use in opening sessions with new groups. I use it to discover a little info about the learning styles and to introduce groups to a number of topics - Being Present and not thinking ahead, Visual versus Auditory skills, dealing with pressure in groups to name a few things.
Here's what I do.
Everyone stands in a circle. I have them all stand on their toes and then back on their heels a couple of times and then I introduce the game that goes with this. I explain that all they need to do is to go up when I say "UP" and down when I say "DOWN". Simple. I remind them that it is only when I say it. It's not about following when I do it. Then I tell them that if they make a mistake, they have to sit down. They are out of the game.
This is the first lesson. As soon as people here the "failure", 'win', lose' information then their bodies and minds change and they intensify the pressure on themselves.
So, we beging. I say up. They go up. "Down" and they go down. UP - up Down - down etc. Alfter a few seconds I move but I don't say anything.
It depends on many reasons why people move but the visual aspect of watching me makes a few go out. People always giggle and laugh at this point because they are drawn so fluidly into the "mistake"..We continue with the remainder of people and a few more might go out.
You have to play with speed, and movement. No tricks at first, just play this game. Then after a couple rounds I might start moving in the opposite direction of what I'm saying. Some visual learners go out during this variation.
Most people are adept at altering their behaviours to fix the problem. This is one of the aims of the game. Can they recognize that their "strength" is astuall a weakness in this situation?
Kids will do things like close their eyes and look away.
On following rounds you see that a lot of the people going out are people with control problems. They move because they are in the pattern and they "know " what comes next. They aren't playing the game. They are in their heads with the answer of how to play it correctly. Good skill for some improvisers to be aware of.
What else? Um... there are lots of discoveries and ways to play with the exercise... Oh, one thing I also explore with this, is the pressure factor.
Watch when one person goes out. Groups tend to make more mistakes where mistakes have already gone out. There is more chance that people near those who are out will make the next mistakes. (Have them sit on the ground in the circle - it's added pressure to those still standing). You can also try turning your head to one side of the circle and you might discover that the subtle increase of pressure of you focussing on them and the decrease of pressure on the others will make more people go out on the side you are looking. Another good lesson that shows the subtle pressure we aren't aware of causes pressure which increases our chance to make mistakes.
OK.. hope that helps. It's a simple game that I've been developing over the years and it becomes more interesting if you bring everyone into the observations of what's actually going on. It's also a game that alters its purpose as you play it. When people adapt, they can often overide the visual/auditory bias and then it becomes something else. And finally, people who constantly "WIN" should be encouraged to make it more difficult for themselves. With improvisers, it's not about finding safe ways to play games. It's about finding your 'edges' and limitations and stepping as near as you can to the edge. That's the point we learn and grow and the audience sees something special. For example, ask those who know they are visual learners and have solved the visual problem by shutting their eyes to open them and even to stare at you. Encourage them to play with their abilities. They should fail 20% of the time to really feel like they are pushing themselves. If they are failing 80% of the time encourage them to move the other direction and create safety....
OK... I hope that works for you.
All the best.
Shawn