It’s spring. A time of birth and renewal. And Easter. For many, a time of re-birth.
Improvising is Creating
I’m fascinated by the idea that every time we improvise as actors, we are creating. Not just creating a little moment or a little scene, but we are tapping into our incredible creative powers.
Every scene you do, you are using your gift of creativity to create. Every time you do an improv exercise, improvise a monologue by yourself, every time you play an improv game in a class, every time you make up a story by yourself or with friends, you are creating.
If you improvise a scene or a story or a monologue and it doesn’t go well or feel right, guess what? You can do another one and clear your creative palette!
Feel Free to Mess Up! You can Make More!
In “Impro for Storytellers” Kieth Johnstone says that Improv (specifically naming Theatresportz in his quote) “…is disposable theatre. What does it matter if you damage a few scenes?”
[Improv] is disposable theatre. What does it matter if you damage a few scenes? -Kieth Johnstone
At Improv Wizards, we love how this phrase takes the pressure off of the result! It reminds us that creativity is a creative process. And to be bold, we must dive in sometimes with reckless abandon. And when it’s done, no matter how we think it went, we can try again. And give birth to a new moment, or scene, or story.
In our Online Improv Course Become an Improv Wizard, we have a little cheer we do to remind us that Mistakes are fun! And part of the process! When a ‘mistake’ is made, we say “one for the wizard!” which always results in laughter and enjoying the celebration of the moment. Mistakes are essential to learning! Embrace them!
Whether you’ve made a mistake or a creative triumph, it’s time to improvise and create again. Every Improv you do is a creative rebirth. It’s a clean slate each time.
Share Your Gift
When you improvise you’re playing with thoughts and emotions and memories; and you’re creating new patterns, and impressions, and connections. Our brains are incredible and crave doing this!
Julia Cameron said “Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God.”
Creativity is God’s gift to us. Using our creativity is our gift back to God. -Julia Cameron
I love that. We pay it forward by simply using our gift of creativity. We can literally make other people’s lives better by sharing our creativity with them.
Humans are creative people. And if you’re an actor, dancer, writer, artist or musician, even more so.
Creativity & Improv Improve Mental Health
I believe that creativity is vital for good mental and emotional health. And every time we share a moment of creation with others, we are sharing some of the finest things we have to offer.
Read this from Barbara Field’s article “How Creativity Positively Impacts Your Health”
“Expressing yourself through artistic and creative activities is like a prescription for your mental health. Turning to creativity has been proven in extensive research to relieve both stress and anxiety. Creativity also helps lessen the shame, anger, and depression felt by those who have experienced trauma.” (Read the article here, based on some findings from The Cleveland Clinic)
Turning to creativity has been proven in extensive research to relieve both stress and anxiety. Creativity also helps lessen the shame, anger, and depression felt by those who have experienced trauma.
Improvise and Create!
So get out there and create! Improvise! Be reckless with your creative choices!
Give birth to some new thoughts and connections!!
Every little bit of improv you do makes your brain stronger. So do it!
Let us help you practice or get started with improv!
Join Our #ImprovWeekly Challenges!
- Follow @improvWizards on Tiktok and Instagram
- Find the #ImprovWeekly Challenge of your choice
- Do the challenge (either for yourself, or record it)
- Post the challenge if you choose
- Use #ImprovWeekly and Tag @ImprovWizards
Want MORE Practice?!
Of course you do!
Here’s a short Fan the Flames Play-Along video clip from our online improv course “Become an Improv Wizard”.
We cover this concept and many, many more along with several Play-Along videos to practice with.
In this video sample, we’ll give you a short prompt, and you play along like your our scene partner, and FAN THOSE FLAMES! Make things worse!
Take Our Online Improv Course at home!
Learn, practice, and Play-Along with our revolutionary new Online Improv Training Course!
"Become an Improv Wizard" is a PROVEN STEP-BY-STEP ONLINE IMPROV COURSE to Build CONFIDENCE, UNLEASH CREATIVITY, and BECOME FEARLESS through Improvisation
Lincoln Hoppe is an actor, writer, director, and father of 5. He is the the Co-Founder of Improv Wizards training school and Online Courses and Co-Director of the Society Comedy Troupe.