Class after Second City

[nhoj]

Hi all.

I'll be finishing the Beginning Program at Second City this year, and there is a core group of six people in my class who want to continue to take class together. Ideally, we'd all like to remain in the same class, developing something as a group. We've discussed doing a class together either in SC Conservatory, iO or Annoyance. The big factors are first: how much we're going to learn that SC Beginning Improv didn't teach us, and second: developing at the same time as individuals and a group.

I'm wondering what others' experiences are, and what feedback you have or any recommendations. If you were in our shoes, would you do Conservatory, iO, Annoyance, other?

Thanks in advance for the feedback.

John

[JRC]

I reccommend taking classes at the same time, but not necessarily the same exact class. Learn from other people, meet cool strangers, and be open to them.

[nhoj]

Everyone in the group has something that disallows us from doing two classes at once--I have work commitments, another takes writing class at SC, another studies standup, another can't swing the $$$, etc. So as a group we are going to take one class together after SCBI.

[Biddle]

If I were you, I'd try, as a group to go through Conservatory together. I'd even discuss it with the director of the training center and see if that can't be accounted for, when you all have your Conservatory audition. (That way, if someone tanks it, and their teacher will vouch for them, they still have a good shot of getting in.)

If I were you, I would finish Second City, then do IO, then do Annoyance. With workshops scattered throughout with teachers and topics that interest you.

After that, find a coach, put together a form and get guest slots at The Playground and anywhere else that will take you (CIC has a nice showcase running right now). And then I'd play with those guys as much and as often, as I possiby could.

That's what I would do. For what it's worth...

Cheers,
COB

PS. Come up to the booth at OC and we'll chat a little further about it. If you want...

[pbsebastian]

I think its pretty cool that you all want to stick together and keep alive what you have built up as a group. If you want to continue performing together there is no reason that you have to do it at a training center. Create a showcase or a form, get a coach and a regular rehearsal time, and start applying to the Playground, CIC and various bar-prov venues around the city. Improv Festivals would also provide you with good experience.

If you all went through another training program together you will probably remain a pretty tight unit. However, I'm not certain that this would serve you all individually. On this I would agree with JRC. As a performer I think it is good to find ways to challenge your comfort zone. Break expectation and routine and be challenged by strangers who improvise differently then the six people in your group.

Whatever you do definitely sick together.

[rdolan]

Annoyance.

[max]

Some of the people in my all-time favorite improv group went through the SC Conservatory at the same time and tried to stay together. They were split up and several of them told me it was bad at the time but great afterwards. They learned a lot from playing with other people and taking different instructors. There are so many places to play now in town that you don't have to wait to make a team at iO, SC or PG - get a couple of levels under your collective belts, get a coach, and start playing together.

[chitiger]

I'm actually in the same boat as you. I'm in Level E at Second City and am part of a really tight-knit group of improvisers. We've also begun discussing the next step post-SC.

For us, I don't think it's too important to stick together through classes. We can get stage time regardless. Besides, I feel it's good to get kicked out of your comfort zone and learn from different instructors and different improvisers.

So this means our ensemble (and yours too) will have to keep eyes and ears open for chances to get stage time. We are just finishing a show up at Donny's Skybox, which is one option for you. We also just landed a guest spot at The Playground, another great option. You can also participate in Open Court (which is a whole lot of fun), go to IO's and SC's improv jams, or try the barprov scene.

The only thing that stumps me is finding a coach/director. We lucked out with this, as our Level C instructor took us under her wing. She's leaving town soon, which is the saddest thing ever. So if anyone on this board wants to coach or direct a group of awesome, eager improvisers, PM me.

[LaniandEmi]

I took classes with the same people the whole way through.

It ruined my life.

Ever heard of WarHammer? Of course you haven't. Get me?


But really, skip S.C. unless you are in it for the t-shirt.
Don't go to i.o. if you just want to get on a team because that really does not matter. Go for the teachers. Some of the best and some of the okay teach there. PM me if you want a list of the ones you must take.
Go to the Annoyance if you are secure in your work and want to have the most fun you ever will in a class.

That's what I think.

[rdolan]

You'll receive good instruction at any of the three places.

What do you want for your group? If you want to just improvise better as a group, go to Annoyance. It fosters a sense of play and confidence. You'll get stronger as performers and comfortable supporting anything your partners throw out there. In classes, don't be cliquish however. That would be the worst thing you could do. Play and have fun with everyone in your class. Maybe you'll find you enjoy playing with new people in your class and include them in your performances as well.

[Mr. Keith]

I second all those who say "take other classes at the same time and meet new people". In my personal experiance, everyone's full of enthusiasm about starting a group during class, then falls by the wayside afterwards as life gets in the way (be it work, marriage, money, pregnancy, etc.). While those are completely understandable (we all have lives), the big trick is the follow-through. Perhaps set up a time, one day a week, to get together and practice at someone's house (what's this "perhaps" stuff? you should do it).

Also, a big thing to remember is that with the Beginning Improv you have a mix of people who do it because they have to do it, and those who just do it as a break from work. The latter does it because it's fun, which it is. The prior are the ones who'll stick with it even when they want to yell at everyone. And sometimes, even the person doesn't know which one they are.

But I might just be cynical from previous experiance. I'm sure your people are a great group of dedicated folks. Good luck getting on stage.

Yeah. I'll say good luck, Macbeth.

[jorin]

Honestly, I loved taking classes at iO.

One of the primary philosophical tenets there, as I understand it, is cooperation, that whole art by committee thing. So if you're looking to improve group work, it might be a good fit for you. One of the goals of the program being to teach you how to operate as a unit where each individual member is doing what they can to make everybody else look good.

So that jives a lot with my personal philosophies, but if you're already geared toward working with others, and have your ears open, I think there's a lot of exciting and inspiring stuff to hear there.

You could check out the student shows too -- just to see what it looks like after you get through a training program. And to see what looks more like something with which you'd want to be involved. The iO student shows are $5 on Sunday nights, and I think the Annoyance student shows are $2, or were last time I saw one (three or four months ago).

[Eric Pedersen!]

I think most people that have done it (and i'm only finishing level one soon) that annoyance is totally awesome. However pretty much everyone needs to try and get taught by joe bill which as far as i know that is only available at IO right now. The other instructors there are very good too. Chin, Grondy, Mason, Arnett are all tons of fun, and pretty damn good. Arnett is just a little too nice sometimes. But Annoyance brings their own brand of shit that is awesome and the two teachers I've had are very cool.

I don't think you should worry about staying in the same classes as these people, not that they aren't great i'm sure they are, but the first day of class when you haven't played with a single person is always a new thrill, and I think it's a great skill to be able to jump into a scene with a stranger with full confidence. If you really want to play together just go to open court every week!

[BlackDog]

There is something to be said for completing the SC Conservatory together. Ive some close friends in The Rooftop Players that have gone on afterwards and put up a few wonderful shows and made a little cabbage in the process.

Outside of that, continue with classes at various theaters (maybe io first then annoyance immediately after) but, as was pointed out by JRC, dont feel compelled to take these courses as an ensemble. There is value in bonding but everything pejorative about a clique is relevant here. You can grow more meeting more.

I would recommend you not simply throw yourself into the barprov scene. Long form improv requires growth and barprov can be a stagnant wading pool lacking any version of a barometer to help you monitor said growth. If you have a need to perform while you study, check out Open Court and maybe the various Jams but do so regularly so that you might develop in the process as opposed to the erratic money shot that is backroom bar improv.

Having bashed barprov sufficiently I will concede that if used as a venue/tool to develop a new show or form idea, it can have its value.

Good luck!

[davec]

As a group: take the conservatory together. You'll be involved in writing a show together and then can really decide how you feel about staying together as a group. As many people pointed out, a lot of groups that meet in intro classes don't stay together forever.

Your group should also apply to the PG as a guest team and get a few slots, or put a show together in the Skybox. You'll get a chance to play more, get a director, and really decide if you guys click both talent-wise and ambition-wise.

Individually, after the Conservatory, go take classes on your own and meet other people. If you audition and continue your career, you'll probably play with other people eventually. Take Annoyance before you take IO. The Annoyance takes your skills and teaches you how to discover your voice and be competent in any improv situation (long-form, short-form, no-form).

IO on the other hand, is a great training center, but if you don't get on a team after classes, you're missing out on 80% of the learning you'll get from IO. Make sure you're as good as possible before you take classes there. You'll get more out of the classes and you'll really improve your chances of getting on a team.

[richbaker]

Don't forget classes at ComedySportz.

Even if your interest is solely in long form improv, some of the skills ComedySportz teaches can really help in all aspects of an improviser's tool belt.

As far as iO is concerned, I'd reccomend, if you have the flexibility of time, trying to match up with teachers that most challenge you. Ask around about teachers before you pick a class.