How Difficult is it to Learn Improv?

Are you interested in learning improv but worried that it might be too hard? The level of difficulty that you face when learning improv will depend on a variety of factors, like your prior acting experience and the amount of time you can dedicate to learning. Some actors will find familiarity in improv while others might find the spontaneity of the craft completely new.

No matter your current schedule or comfort level with improv, there are plenty of tools available to help make learning easier than you might think.

What is Improv?

Improv, short for improvisational theater, is spontaneous ensemble theater. Actors, also known in this case as players, will perform a scene spontaneously. There will be no script or pre-planned aspects of the scene. They’ll work off each other to create a setting, characters, and a conflict that will drive the plot of the scene.

The first documented case of an improvisational scene took place in the Atellan Farce of 391 BC in ancient Rome. The craft developed over time and by a variety of cultures and societies. Notably, Italian comedic theater utilized improvisation between the 16th and 18th centuries. Street performers were also known to improv scenes to make money.

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Improv became more formalized in the mid-20th century. Rules and procedures became established and improv theaters emerged. Around this time, improvisational television shows began to air, and comedy clubs became popular places for improv comedians to make a name for themselves.

Improv is also an important component of drama training. Improv can help actors through auditions and develop richer characters through their acting choices.

Benefits of Learning Improv?

Learning improv can help you improve your problem-solving and decision-making skills. Improv requires you to make choices that will keep a scene entertaining and align with the established setting and plot that you and your scene partners have created. The more frequently you engage in improv, the more comfortable you’ll be making quick decisions and coming up with solutions to challenges. These skills can help both your personal and professional life.

Learning improv will allow you to work on your communication skills. With improv, you’ll need to communicate with your scene partners verbally and nonverbally. You’ll also gain experience actively listening to others. Because there’s no script, you’ll have to pay close attention to what your partners are saying and evaluate the information quickly.

What Are the Hardest Parts of Learning Improv?

You’ll likely face some challenges when learning improv. Some beginner-level improv learners struggle to listen to their scene partners, make confident choices, and perform in front of an audience. Overcoming these challenges is an important part of learning improv.

Listening to Your Scene Partners

It’s important that you’re listening to your scene partners when performing. You don’t have a script or pre-planned information to rely on during a scene. This means you and your scene partners must listen to each other to ensure you know how a scene is evolving. If you miss even the shortest of lines from a partner, you can drastically alter a scene based on how you respond.

Actively listen to your scene partners when performing. You may feel distracted by nerves, but it’s essential that you focus on the choices they make during a scene so that you know how to respond. If you struggle with active listening, there are beginner-level improv courses that focus on the importance of listening and responding to your scene partners

Making Confident Choices

You need to be confident in making your choices during a scene. The choices you make help establish the direction of the plot, the intent of the characters, and the stability of the setting. If you make a choice that negates a previous one, you can confuse yourself, your partners, and the audience. It’s important that you understand how your choices will affect the scene.

Improv classes emphasize making bold and confident choices. If this is an area you have trouble with, it’s recommended that you take a class and gain more experience improvising. The more you practice and perform, the more confident you’ll become in your choices.

Performing in Front of an Audience

Performing in front of an audience is sometimes the most difficult part of improv. Even established actors become nervous in front of an audience. Adding in the spontaneity of improv can make anyone fear getting onstage. If you’re nervous to perform, however, it can affect the quality of the scene. Focusing on potential failures or experiencing anxiety over performing can lead to mistakes and lackluster performance.

There are several ways to become comfortable performing in front of an audience.

Practice. The more practice you have with improv, the more comfortable you’ll become improvising in front of others. It’s important that you don’t practice by yourself but with an instructor and/or peers. They can provide you with feedback and give you experience performing in front of others.
Learn from your failures. Failing is inevitable in improv. It’s likely that at some point you won’t know how to continue a scene. In these instances, it’s important to stay calm and rely on your scene partners when needed. You should then evaluate why you failed and how you can prevent it from happening again.
Perform in front of friends and family first. Performing in front of people you know and are comfortable with can help you become more comfortable performing in front of people. Although your performance in front of an unfamiliar audience will be improvised, practicing different scenes in front of your family and friends will provide you with the experience necessary to become a confident and skilled performer.

Key Takeaways

You’ll likely face several challenges when learning improv.
It’s common to have difficulty listening to your scene partners, making confident choices, and performing in front of an audience.
With dedicated practice and the right tools, you can overcome these challenges.
Taking an in-person or online improv class can provide you with the tools necessary to confidently learn improv.
Contact CourseHorse to find out about online and in-person improv training available to you, including private group sessions.