Improv in the 'Real World'
It goes without saying that being involved in Improv teaches you the skills necessary to craft entertainment using only your quick wits and the support of your fellow performers. However, those same skills are often equally as helpful in our personal and professional lives as they are on a stage or in a theatre. We asked some members of Sandbox, Improv Queensland’s experimental and collaborative arm, how Improv has helped them when they’re just being their regular selves.
Improv helped to challenge my perfectionism: Being a perfectionist might sound like a humble brag, if you've never experienced it. But, actually, it makes you miserable. I avoided pursuing things I would enjoy, because I didn't think I would be good enough (or at least gave up easily if I failed on the first attempt). The stress involved in doing anything challenging is so intense, which makes a lot of things unenjoyable - even low stakes hobbies. The motivations were all very extrinsic and left me feeling empty. Even when I did succeed I couldn't enjoy it, because I was always moving the goal posts upwards to increasingly unrealistic expectations. Improv has helped me to enjoy the process and have a gentler grip on the outcome. I'm a lot more forgiving of myself. I often experience a total abandonment of expectations while improvising and can just authentically 'be'. It's one of the few places I regularly experience that phenomenon and it feels very healthy.
Improv has taught me to better navigate conflict at work. As a technical project manager I come into contact with every variety of personality and passion on a daily basis. Having to work through challenging conversations or context switching from project to project, Improv has prepared me to be better able to shift gears and communications style to suit.
Improv has definitely helped me to be more comfortable in expressing myself. Not only in a big broad “Hey! Look at me!” kind of way, but it has also just made me more comfortable simply communicating my thoughts and opinions. I’ve never been a big sharer or talker (I mostly prefer to listen) and as a result I realise it can be difficult to have a conversation with me. But once you’ve been up on stage improving in front of an audience, sharing your opinions on current events or even asking how someone’s day has been is a lot less scary!
Improv has made me more accepting and less fearful of failure. And if I do make a mistake, I’m able to “roll with the punches” better and use my Improv quick thinking skills to find solutions. Because of this, I’ve found that I’m “backing myself” more and also spending less time dwelling on the past.
Improv has given me sooo much. In particular, I’ve learned the joy of playing as an adult, which is something that we lose so quickly in the modern world. Improv has also given me an understanding of what a truly supportive environment looks like, which allows me to use those skills to support my colleagues and family members. Through Improv, I’ve learned to face my fears and gained friends.
I’m studying drama and acting and Improv helps with my connection with other performers on stage, which is great for script based acting. I recently directed a short film and took my actors through Improv warm up exercises. This broke down the walls between the actors and fostered a sense of play and togetherness between them, which made the filming experience more enjoyable and enriched the final product.
Clearly being involved in Improv has granted our performers access to a range of superior life hacks. If you’d like to reap the rewards of adding Improv to your life, we invite you to sign up for one of our workshops, details of which can be found here.