March 2010 Challenge: Advice

Reblogging myself because everyone’s looking for advice.

This was part of my March 2010 Challenge, where I wrote a new post everyday about taking improv classes, getting on teams, and becoming a part of the UCB community.

iamachilles:

In May 2006, I had no confidence in my improv.  After taking classes for a year-and-a-half, I felt like I was only getting worse at performing.  I sent the following e-mail to some of the teachers and coaches I’d worked closely with at the time to seek their advice.

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April 2010 Challenge

More writing for the next challenge!

In April, I will write one sketch everyday, just like National Sketch Writing Month.  I don’t want to wait until September, though, so I’m doing it now!

I’m giving myself a couple of rules for this challenge:

  • I must write a brand new sketch everyday.  So, no rewrites of sketches I’ve written in the past.
  • I can, however, use any idea I want.  So if I had an idea for a sketch back in February, I can write that anytime.
  • Each sketch must be complete.  They can be first drafts, but they need to be written from beginning to blackout.
  • I reserve the right for the sketches to be absolutely stupid.

Get ready for a whole lot of bear-related sketches.

March 2010 Challenge: One Last Post

Okay, I have one more post left for this challenge, which I should have finished two days ago.  So, for my last post, I thought I’d talk about one of the coolest moments I’ve had during my time in the community.

This was sometime in 2007.  I had just gotten on a Harold team.  I was putting away my stuff in one of the Greenroom dressing rooms before Harold Night.  During this time, It still felt weird to me to be in the Greenroom before (or during) a Harold Night.  I’d been taking classes for 2+ years and had been an intern for a while and, by then, was actually ON a team.  But I felt like only Harold performers should be in there during that time and I didn’t quite feel like a Harold Night performer yet.

Anyway, I was putting away my stuff in the dressing room.  Then, Birch, who was still on Creep at the time, walked in to put away his stuff.  And then the cool thing happened: Birch actually talked to me.

“Hey Achilles,” he said.  “Having fun?”

It was a small, awesome moment.  I couldn’t believe he knew my name!  This was someone I had watched for years on Harold Night.  But, I’d never spoken to Birch and we had only seen each other “around.”  We’d never had a conversation.  I feel weird about approaching people I don’t really know, so I certainly wasn’t going to say Hi, lest I make it weird for him.  For Birch to know who I was was a pleasant surprise.  Besides that, he asked if I was “Having fun!”  What a cool question to ask someone!

Anyway, Birch probably doesn’t remember it, but I do and I thought it was really cool.

***

This is part of my March 2010 Challenge.  More information here.

March 2010 Challenge: Coach

I am woefully behind in my March challenge.  I mean, it’s APRIL and I have THREE entries left.

I’ve been lucky enough to have been able to coach some really great improv groups.  I hope they’ve learned as much from me as much as I’ve learned from them.  And I hope they keep hiring me because meth don’t pay fo’ isself.

Since this is the last day I’m doing this challenge, why not thank all the groups that I’ve worked with regularly in the past?

So here’s to Maybe Sherman, Karate Parade, Roid Rage, The Wells Group, Lemonade, Aww Shucks, We Can’t Live In A Cave, FUTURO, The New Deal, Couchworthy, Boys Club For Men, Casino, that group that met at Sirius Satellite Radio, Truthtime, The Thunderbird, Nap Time Inc., Scootch…. 

And to everyone I didn’t list here or forgot about or only worked with once: you guys are awesome too!

***

This is part of my March 2010 Challenge.  More information here.

March 2010 Challenge: Standing In Line

A while ago, Gethard wrote this in my Improv Wiki entry:

For roughly three years, he was the first person in line every single week at both Harold Night and Asssscat. He was known to sprint to his favorite front row seat before New Team Harold each week, where he would stay until the final Harold was done. This dedication impressed everyone who came to know the legend of Achilles, although it is fair to say that there was also early concern over whether or not he was insane.

Most of it that is true.  (My rebuttal to that entry can be found here.)  But what, you ask, drove me to stand in line for hours?  Was it the love of improv?  Maybe.  Actually, no, probably not. 

I just wanted a good seat.

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March 2010 Challenge: Notes

For my first year or so of taking classes, I took notes in my classes.  A lot of what I jotted down were literally the “rules” of improv that many of us know — “Don’t be coy,” “Explore your environment,” “Justify unusual behavior,” etc. 

Other notes, however, were phrased in such a manner that they illuminated specific concepts in cool ways.  Here are some of those early demystifying notes.

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March 2010 Challenge: Teams - Part 3

NOTE: I’ll post 3 entries today because I haven’t post one in a couple of days.

Part of the fun of Harold Night is seeing a group of eight people who, for the most part, don’t have much in common aside from their love of improv, create something together on stage.  Sometimes, you’ll get just the right combination of eight people and the team will be magical and unique every time you see them.  Other times, it just won’t work.

Here are some good memories of the Harold teams I’ve been on.  Third: Penthouse Riot.

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March 2010 Challenge: Teams - Part 2

NOTE: I’ll post 3 entries today because I haven’t post one in a couple of days.

Part of the fun of Harold Night is seeing a group of eight people who, for the most part, don’t have much in common aside from their love of improv, create something together on stage.  Sometimes, you’ll get just the right combination of eight people and the team will be magical and unique every time you see them.  Other times, it just won’t work.

Here are some good memories of the Harold teams I’ve been on.  Second: Whorenado.

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March 2010 Challenge: Teams - Part 1

NOTE: I’ll post 3 entries today because I haven’t post one in a couple of days.

Part of the fun of Harold Night is seeing a group of eight people who, for the most part, don’t have much in common aside from their love of improv, create something together on stage.  Sometimes, you’ll get just the right combination of eight people and the team will be magical and unique every time you see them.  Other times, it just won’t work.

Here are some good memories of the Harold teams I’ve been on.  First: T.R.U.C.K.S.

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