Letter from Chicago improv board

[CoreyBrown]

Charna wrote this to the IO folks and I think it is a good read and way of looking at things.

TO TEAMS AND COACHES

I have mentioned numerous times to coaches and teams that some house teams will soon be retiring and I need my teams that have been on the schedule to rise to the occasion and take their places. I have spoken personally to teams to tell them they have potential, but still need some work to get to where they need to be.

People must understand the process here. After finishing level 5B, there is still much to learn. Noah recommends people who are ready to start getting their feet wet on teams-but by no means is anyone ready for house teams. Or ready to stop learning. Stage time is a big part of the learning process, but there is still work to be done. The coaches are NOT teachers. They are not a substitute for classes. Many of the coaches, unfortunately, never even had the chance to work with Del. They can't get the Harold work that Peter Gwinn can get happening for a team like he did with PEOPLE OF EARTH. The coaches are there to help organize and get rehearsals going without peers picking on each other. They can help steer the team in the right direction, but I urge you students-do not confuse coaching with taking an elective from a teacher. I have asked teachers to do special electives for these teams to help to them improve - along with the experience they are getting with their stage time.

When Del was alive, people stayed with him for a number of sessions until Del said, "I can no longer teach you anything. Go and start teaching
yourselves." When I studied with Paul Sills, after a number of sessions, he would decide which pupils would be cut from his classes and which would continue. We were worried that we might not have the opportunity to go on and learn more. We prayed to have the opportunity to continue. Nowadays, the attitude is, I finished level 5 and I'm on a team-I know it all. This has never been correct. It is simply a misguided belief that has grown these past few years.

Recently I told the coaches to tell the teams that I have electives to help tthem get to where they need to be in order to replace house teams in the near future. No one has signed up for these classes. That's fine. I assume that means they believe they are where they need to be and what we see is what we get. I will be looking at the teams this month, and if they are not house team material, this will be their last schedule.

Noah recommends approximately 40 people every 8 weeks and if people aren't going to take advantage of the program along with their stage time, they should be ready to move on so others who want to be great can take their place.

People may feel this is black mail to force them to take classes. If people doubt my sincerity in needing good shows - if people really believe I'm doing this just to force them to pay for classes - then I encourage them to leave IO. I would not want to stay at a place where I'm being forced to take a class just for the sake of making money. But if they believe I am encouraging people to get better - to be the next TJ, Noah, Peter, etc - then I hope they stay on and help me to achieve my goal.

Thank you.
Charna

I am just posting this just because I agree with her alot, and I feel more in the future and some what in the present this holds true. We as performers should never feel that we are at the end of learning. From doing improv for 6 years now, I know that I have traveled so far and have a ton more to travel to get to where I want to get with improv. I still take classes and workshops every opportunity I can. I have a coach who helps me become better at a personal level as well as my groups level.

Don't ever stop wanting to learn. If you have a passion for Improv let it move you to learn more, faster, harder, better. I think everyone involved with DSI is doing wonderful and I want that to continue.

Also coming to watch shows is a valuable learning tool.

[EthanK]

My goal is to take all the classes and then start over again, just to keep playing and getting better. I can spare the $75 every six weeks. Until I can't, you're going to be stuck with me. I ain't movin'.

[Lisa P]

My goal is to take all the classes and then start over again, just to keep playing and getting better. I can spare the $75 every six weeks. Until I can't, you're going to be stuck with me. I ain't movin'.I second that. I've already taken the 303S twice, and I plan to hit up the 202 and the 303L again. I want to keep taking these classes with different teachers - one teacher can't possibly teach you everything. If you want to get better, you need to learn from as many people as you can.

[jesstah]

I will never stop trying to learn...

But that sure does sound like blackmail. Doesn't leave a good taste in my mouth. Maybe she needs a handler.

-Jesster

[Ross White]

I don't think it does, Jesse. We may just be reading things differently, but I'm in agreement with her-- a coach is there to help you develop for one specific purpose: show-readiness, and the ability to be the best at what you are doing. Classes are there to broaden our horizons, give us new tools, teach us new forms, all of which we can then integrate into the work that we're doing with a team and being coached on.

I'm currently in two groups being coached by the same person. One group is performing, one is not. I can tell you that the techniques used in each rehearsal are very different, but neither would substitute fully for a class. (One of these groups spawned out of a class, and if our coach taught the class again, I would not be surprised if more than half of us re-enrolled.)

My attitude is this: When I coach you, I am being paid by you, and I will focus on what you want to focus on. When I am your teacher, I am being paid to address the DSI curriculum for that level or elective, and that's what I plan to do. That affects my instruction, and neither is the complete picture. But I've always been a strong believer that you need to be seeing shows, taking classes and rehearsing to get where you want to be.

Charna's complaints that people get through level 5 in Chicago and expect to be on a team are somewhat echoed in New York, where UCB students who are finishing level 4 are complaining that they should be on Harold teans but aren't. The people getting cast are the ones who are seeing shows, taking two or three classes at a time, and working with a practice group or sticking together as a team after a performance-level class. It's not blackmail, it's casting the best talent from the available pool.

When you run a professional theater, like IO, UCB, and DSI, I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the best from your performers-- the audience certainly does. And I know you'll agree with me, Jesse, about the fact that one sure way to expand your toolkit and do your best work is to keep taking classes... because I've seen you practice that philosophy.

[PT]

Here here, I don't want to ever stop experiencing and learning new things for Improv. After I've completed all the Necc classes, Chicago is where Im going! IO sounds like a fantastic oppurtunity. But don't worry, DSI will always be my home.

[jesstah]

I very much agree with her views on coaching and teaching. I just think she comes off as heavy handed.

But she owns an internationally famous teacher and I live in an area where carrots and Jell-O are two great tastes that taste great together.

Directors and teachers guide you their vision.
Coaches help you achieve your vision.

And as for students *expecting* to get on stage because they are taking classes, that happens everywhere. We have folks out here taking classes who need more work before getting on stage but believe that because they have put in time they should go up on stage. Time is always a consideration, but you have to respect the theatre owner or troupe director or whatever to know when they think you are ready.

If not, that's whay there are OTHER troupes and theatres.

-Jesster