Spreading the Transforming Power of Improvisation

All Blog Posts Tagged 'improv' (13)

It Started with Camp Magic....

Leif Hansen is Chief Engagement Officer for Spark Interaction . For over two decades he has been combining collaboration with creativity to inspire, engage and connect individuals and groups. Helping people discover a deeper level of trust, support, purpose, fun and creativity in their personal lives and workplaces is what keeps Leif happy.

Interview with Leif Hansen

TGL: So, how did you get into the world of

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Added by Leif Hansen on November 5, 2009 at 5:47pm — No Comments

Spit-Baller For Hire, $99/hr

Need someone to bounce ideas off of? The art of spit-balling can often be the first step of the creative process, especially in Comedy. Friends or siblings are not always the answer. If you need an outside perspective on your short film, sketch, music video, feature film, etc., or if you just have a vague idea of something you want to create, I am ready to help you develop your ideas in a safe, shame-free and supportive environment. No forced advice here, just an honest reaction, a creative syne… Continue

Added by Tom DiMenna on September 29, 2009 at 3:44pm — No Comments

What's our part in developing the field of Applied Improvisation?

Hello from the president. I notice that more than a thousand of us have signed up to be part of the AIN. I’m guessing that means we all have an interest in developing the field of applied improvisation – perhaps to generate more work for ourselves, or to learn more about how improvisation can impact the world of organisations and communities. The most immediate way we can do this is by strengthening our network: asking and answering questions, sharing our tips and experiences, connecting to fin… Continue

Added by Paul Z Jackson on September 21, 2009 at 8:41am — 1 Comment

A new Book from On Your Feet

Hey AINers We have just given birth to a new book and I thought it would be relevant since many of you present, facilitate and lead meetings It's called: The Deeper, Funner Facilitation Cookbook… Continue

Added by gary hirsch on July 7, 2009 at 5:30pm — No Comments

FRIENDLY FIRE at The Clerkenwell Theatre, London

FRIENDLY FIRE at The Clerkenwell Theatre On from 02 Jul 2009 till 04 Jul 2009 All Around Town by Friendly Fire Genre(s): Stand Up, New Writing, Musical, Drama, Comedy Book via: http://www.imprology.com/friendly About FRIENDLY FIRE at The Clerkenwell Theatre It’s improvisation, Jim, but not as we know it.... Is it a big fat singing experimental fire bird? Is it a slick speedy environmentally friendly plane?? Urgh no its Friendly Fire, Silly Billy’s! And they’re playing at the Clerkenwell Theatre… Continue

Added by Nathan Keates on June 21, 2009 at 9:42am — No Comments

Intensive Improv Weekend Workshop

Intensive weekend workshop is Saturday 13th June 09 to 14th June, starting at 10 AM till 4PM @ The Annexe, Ebenezer Chapel, Charles Street, Cardiff CF10 2GA. This workshop is suitable for beginners to improvisation and performance. The journey to the unknown starts off the discovery and exploration of improvisation with Ludus Ludius' focus of play and playfulness. Throughout the weekend we get to know the players and discover the unknown together and exploring what improv is a and playing with… Continue

Added by Nathan Keates on April 22, 2009 at 3:31am — No Comments

Thinking about Social Media - Matt 2.0?

I am currently up late thinking about how to enter the world of social media. Besides an anemic myspace page, and a bio on my theaters site, I am off the grid. Not wanting to be left behind, I am pondering facebook, linkedin, twitter, etc.etc. (Curses to Leif Hansen for ever opening my eyes to the wretched stuff!) My interest in taking this step is to market myself as a workplace learning professional with a specialty of applied improvisation. However, these sites don't seem to differentiate be… Continue

Added by Matt Elwell on March 12, 2009 at 9:51pm — 5 Comments

Helpful research article from SciAm

February, 2009 in Mind & Brain Rapid Thinking Makes People Happy Accelerated thoughts may trigger the brain's novelty-loving reward system By Siri Carpenter Lousy day? Don’t try to think happy thoughts—just think fast. A new study shows that accelerated thinking can improve your mood. In six experiments, researchers at Princeton and Harvard universities made research participants think quickly by having them generate as many problem-solving ideas (even bad ones) as possible in 10 mi… Continue

Added by Talia Shafir on February 6, 2009 at 10:35pm — No Comments

Effortless, weightless Weights

I saw and reviewed a play at the Edinburgh Fringe 2008 called Weights. We also gave it an award. You can read the review here. Weights is a scripted, performed one man show written and performed by Lynn Manning, telling the story of his blindness and his arrival in the theatre world as a writer and actor. It's uplifting and real. What's of interest is that Lynn, in my view, improvises an already told story, an already existin… Continue

Added by Paul Levy on August 29, 2008 at 12:57pm — 2 Comments

Improv in Real Simple magazine

The August 2008 issue of Real Simple magazine has an article by life coach Gail Blanke titled "How to think on your feet" (pp. 143-149). Her three lessons learned from an improv class with the Upright Citizens Brigade are: 1. The "yes...and" technique 2. Go with your gut 3. Make everyone else in your group look good. Continue

Added by Katherine Lawrence on July 24, 2008 at 12:39pm — No Comments

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

Added by Gary Schwartz on June 16, 2008 at 9:30am — 14 Comments

Pyjama peace on 20th of january 2009

A bit of an improveverywhere gimmick me and a friend of mine initiated. When you're inspired by it, please join and spread the word! We'd love to have at least a million participants worldwide. What it is: On the 20th of January 2009 America and the world will change. So why don’t you? Change.... into your pyjamas!

Are you Pro-Peac… Continue

Added by Erik van der Liet on June 9, 2008 at 3:00pm — 2 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

Added by Gary Schwartz on June 2, 2008 at 11:43pm — 2 Comments