Workshop Day 6

I went to bed early last night and messed up setting my alarm. I knew it would come back to bite me (not changing my watch to local time, that is.) I'm not so good with math. I slept for 11 1/2 hours! My god that jet lag is a bitch. I missed breakfast and was an hour late for class. Oh, shit. I threw on some clothes and ran. I didn't want to miss any of Keith and knowing this was a smaller class today I cursed myself all the way there (there goes that trying to be right thing again.) Rushed through the door only to find that Keith had taken the morning off as well and class was being led by my classmates. I have to say that I wasn't too psyched about that. It felt kind of like watching someone performing a by pass after reading a pamphlet about asthma. But, the only way to see if you're understanding his teaching is to try them on for size. There are a lot of teachers in the bunch and this class was a good opportunity to see if you could play the role of "director/guide/leader."

It would have been interesting to have Keith there to see how he would have coached us. He's always coaching us from the sidelines giving us suggestions that will guide our imaginations to stay within the circle of probability. Creating a situation in which the audience would be interested in seeing you get out of is the key. Not offering outrageous suggestions that may get you a little laugh.

Keith's told us before that colleagues get upset and say "everybody always listens to Keith" (which is true) but he counters that his suggestions are always thrown away (and that is true too.) He makes countless suggestions but doesn't believe anyone should take them unless they are excited by them. So he keeps making suggestions until one sticks. While others are off thinking about the most outlandish situations (you're lost in the forest and you see a sign that says follow me and there's a string attached to a martian and you follow the string to a hole in the ground,) Keith suggests the simplest and most obvious scenarios (you're lost in the forest and you come upon a path.) When you understand the circle of probability you remove the fear of having to have the right answer and you become a better improviser.

After lunch we resumed class with Keith and all was well again. Heeeeeeeeere's Keith:

Laughter should not be the measure of all things. Think, did I relate to someone? Did I make a connection? Did I listen?

Don’t be violent with each other on stage.

When you’re trying to do your best you use too much effort.

Don’t fight insane people. Their unconscious mind is working too well.

Separate creativity from criticism

Brainstorming should be only suggestions. No criticism or discussion.

Either you do it or you criticize it. You can’t do both at the same time.

The voice controls the audience.

I had never heard of Viola Spolin when I began creating improv.

Too much knowledge can kill you.

You can’t help yourself thinking ideas. Let the ideas float through. If it has to be a good idea, you’re sunk.

If you’re busy thinking, you won’t look so magical to the audience.

The physical action releases the idea.

Prepare to be stupid and prepare to fail happily.

If I know it will work I’m not as thrilled to come to the theatre.

You can’t be on the stage just talking. You have to move forward.

Advice is offensive to American improvisers.

You have to have contempt for ideas. Don’t hold on to them.

Ideas aren’t the jewel in the desert. Ideas are the sand.

Contempt for ideas keeps you flexible.

Stress comes when you want your mind to teach you something special.

There are no good ideas. There are ideas you take forward and ideas you don’t.

If you are interested in something we are more likely to stay in our seats.

Be interesting. That is the problem actors have to solve.

This session really brought me back to the idea of meditating. I've always had trouble meditating. My mind is so full of thoughts running at full speed, crashing into each other in my head. The idea of sitting and quieting my mind is appealing, but elusive. I've tried different methods and haven't found a groove. I believe in the power of this practice for myself. The few times I have been successful I've felt a real sense of groundedness and presence. It's in the continued practice that you reap the real benefits.

Keith is not a preacher of meditation. He never really mentioned it other than to say the Monks that he taught were super good at the Hat Game (something I struggled with during this workshop) and it's because they have quiet minds and are not thinking all the time. I, unfortunately, am thinking all the time. You may think I'm paying attention, but I'm thinking. You may think I'm on the same page, but I'm skipping ahead. You may think I'm sleeping, but I'm organizing my sock drawer.

The idea that I have the power to quiet my mind and I'm not taking action is an idea I no longer want to spend time with. The idea that I move from a grounded source, full of breath and spontaneity is the idea I want to move forward with.