1) I'm writing these essays with the intention of giving you some easy tips; relatively simple things you can do to make your scenes better. Theses tips, however, should not to be confused with actual improv knowledge. If you are really interested in becoming a better improver, you should defiantly take an improv workshop or and acting class.
2) I am expressing my opinions only here, not facts. None of these things are rules - and they cannot be applied to all situations on stage. Like any tool, you have to pick the right one for the right job.
3) One of the few truths about improv is that it's all about "styles". In my improv experience, I have found that these tips work for me… but they may not work for you. If you're reading these tips and think to yourself "this is a bunch of crap" well, you may just be right. Find a style of performing that works for you, and you'll be fine.
4) I'm writing most of these tips in the context of performing at Friday Nite Improvs; and while some of them can be applied to improv in general, most of them relate to the show.
5) If you disagree with any thing I've written - that's fine. Feel free to email me your comments, or post them on the Hot-Rim. I'm always ready to debate the finer points of improv. And that's a sad, sad, commentary on my life.
Remember: There
are only two kinds of choices you can ever make on stage: Good
choices and Better choices. The key to good performance is to
try and make the better choice.