Improv Obsession - Conversations About Improvising Better

We’re back! 2017! Will this be the only podcast I record all year? Who knows! Today on the show, it’s Dave Theune. Los Angeles improvisers may know Dave from the legendary Bangarang, or Sassy Bluff, or Midbest, or his run with Bonafide on Maude Night. And, all the TV watchers may have seen dave on Brooklyn 99, Jimmy Kimmel Live, Michael Bolton’s Big Sexy Valentine’s Day Special, or in 1000 commercials. Dave flips the script on me today, and starts asking me questions. And in turn, I divulge too much information about my life and this podcast. But, not before taking a second to have Dave talk to me about straight manning, and doing comedy on your own terms. Plus, we talk a bit about Dave’s personal journey in improv, and the merits of short form improv, which Dave wants you to know, he loves.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mike McLendon is on the show! You may know Mike from his incredible teams, Outside Dog, Orpheus Roy, Tatertown, Second City, Mission Improvable, and more! Mike talked to me in this one about how he found his way in improv, and maybe some of the trials and tribulations that go along with it. And, as always, we talk about HOW to do good improv. Is it easy? You bet it is. HA. This is another in the series of, whoops why didn’t I release this. So, if you have the chance, reach out to Mike, and tell him how much you liked this one, I’m sure he’d appreciate it.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Bachman is on the show today to talk about the indie improv scene, and how it’s completely broken, and needs to be destroyed and rebuilt from scratch. LA improvisers may know James from his Mess Hall Team Green Light Go, or if you’re a fan of comedy, you might know him from The IT Crowd, The Mighty Boosh, Saxondale, and more! James and I have a lively debate on the state of indie improv, with which, the real goal is to make the whole improv community better. Did we achieve it? Who knows?! Let us know what you think. For further show notes and past episodes, go http://boardwalkaudio.com/improvobsession/  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Carl Tart is on the show! You may know Carl from UCB Harold Teams Queen George & Six Killer, as well as his Maude Team, The Bus, OR maybe his improv and sketch group White Women. Carl’s also an alumni of Second City and Boom Chicago, so yeah, Carl’s got quite the performance history. I pick Carl’s brain for as long as I possibly can to learn how he performs. And I figured it all out, so if you wanna be good listen to this.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jake Jabbour (Shapeshift, We're Gross with Gilli Nissim) is on the show! Improv fans will know Jake from hosting 4,3,2,1 and Shapeshift. Podcast fans will know his podcast, The MEAT Improv with Josh Simpson and Jake Jabbour, in my opinion the best improv podcast ever. He’s also on the teams Puddy, Church, and Squeeze, who are all funny and incredible. In this episode Jake and I talk about how to coach teams, how to improv, and some of our favorite things to see in improv. Also, Listen! Rate! Review! Share! Enjoy!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Becky Drysdale is on the show! Improv fans will know Becky from the Hebecky Drysbell, Elephants Gerald, Baby Wants Candy, and Brand New Ball. You may also know Becky as the benevolent landlord of The Clubhouse. Plus, she’s written for Baskets, and Key And Peele. Becky talks about finding her place in improv, writing and keeping her career growing, her goals and wants for The Clubhouse, and even a good bit on how to actually DO improv. Guys, this was a great episode, if you liked this episode, tell a friend about it! Listen! Rate! Review! Share! Enjoy!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kyle Parulski is on the show! Improv fans will know Kyle from the Delta Flow, Argo Navis, and plenty of other lovely indie improv teams. Kyle is one of the hosts of Happy Hour every Tuesday in the UCB Sunset Inner Sanctum. Kyle and I have a great talk about improv today, where we focus on the value of strong emotional reactions, keeping scenes simple, and working on our deficits while still playing to our strengths. We also talk a bit about Kyle’s unique approach to improv, and he shares some practical tips on how to make your script much easier to say yes to for readers. As always, if you like the show, please subscribe, give it a nice review on iTunes, tell a friend about it, all that good stuff. Subscribe to the Podcast Improv Obsession on iTunes or Listen Online at BoardwalkAudio.com Follow Me On Twitter @Perlstein Reach Out To Me For Improv Coaching  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Farley Elliott (Scandal! Squeeze, Comrades, Los Angeles Street Food, Eater LA) is on the show talking about improv in a continuing conversation I’m having about my tense relationship with improv. Farley is a super interesting multi-talented man. Boldy, Farley came to the conclusion that he wanted to stop doing comedy and he could have the things improv provided for him without doing improv. We also talk a good bit about Farley’s approach to improv, how he coached, and since he’s a food writer, he indulges me in some food conversation. Subscribe to the Podcast Improv Obsession on iTunes or Listen Online Follow Me On Twitter Reach Out To Me For Improv Coaching  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billy Merritt comes on the show to talk about the the darker side of improv. Jealousy. Loneliness. Failure. Fading passion. Billy helps me with the existential question of, should I just quit improv. We talk about the struggles being part of the community, and facing one’s changing place in that community.Plus, we talk about coaching best practices, Billy gives a perl of wisdom, and he notes that my head is now the right size. All of that and more. Subscribe to the Podcast Improv Obsession on iTunes or Listen Online Follow Me On Twitter Reach Out To Me For Improv Coaching  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ronnie Adrian is on the show! Improv fans will know Ronnie from the UCBLA Harold Team The Dragons. You may also know Ronnie from hosting Tuesday Night Thunder or hosting the Cagematch, or even his sketch and improv team White Women. Ronnie talks about his approach to getting on Harold Night. Spoiler alert, it worked. Also, we talk about coaching, the stresses of Harold Night, how he scouted talent for the team White Women. Plus, we compliment a bunch of great improvisers. Listen! Rate! Review! Share! Enjoy! Subscribe to the Podcast Improv Obsession on iTunes or Listen Online Follow Me On Twitter Reach Out To Me For Improv Coaching  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

James Mastraieni comes on the show to talk about improv! You may know James from UCB house team Outside Dog, or his former harold team The Ruckus. He’s also on the iO West House Team, Orpheus Roy. James talks about his specific approach to improv including how he likes to start scenes, his great “Fancy Dinner” analogy for harolds, and we wrap it up by talking a bit about coaching.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Hines is on the show today to talk about this new book, How To Be The Greatest Improviser on Earth. You know Will from UCBLA Team The Smokes, Fuckable, and many more improv and comedy and sketch credits. In this episode, we spend the majority of it talking about his new book on improv, How To Be The Greatest Improviser on Earth, including what his process was like writing, who the book is for, and what some of the things mean in it. It’s a great book on improv, that I recommend you go pick up, which you can do by going to ImprovNonsense.com.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today on the show, Jen Krueger is on to talk about the LAIIF Improv Talks! Saturday, October 18th 3-6 PM at the Downtown Independent improv talks (like TED Talks, but with improv) from great improv minds like Nick Armstrong, Heather Anne Campbell, Dominic Dierkes, Neil Flynn, Will Hines, Lucas Neff, Ian Roberts, Rich Talarico, Phil Jackson, and one more!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chris Kula is on the show! You know him from The Smokes and Police Chief Rumble. Also he's been a writer on Onion News Network, MadTV, and @Midnight. Chris and I talk a lot about sketch, improv, and everything in-between. Check it out and enjoy!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Charlie Sanders opens the very first Sketch Obsession edition of improv obsession podcast! I recored this forever ago, thought I was gonna do more, and wanted to release them as a series, but didn't. Ok, moving on. You know Charlie from Shitty Jobs, Police Chief Rumble, Reuben Starship/ Williams, and as a writer for Key and Peele. Charlie talks about how to make great sketch, and it totally works! Subscribe, Rate, Comment, Enjoy!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob Reed is on! You know Jacob from improv powerhouse Bangarang, sketch duo Tremendosaur, movie teams Rought Cut and Whilem. You COULD say Jacob Reed is a UCB Based Triple Threat. Wink Samanth Pitchel. Jacob and I talk about parameters for success in a harold, being noticed in improv shows, finding your voice, and of course, pornography he was in. That's a little hyperbolic but that's what moves improv podcasts, baby! Golden age of improv, be excellent to each other, and most of all, happy improvising.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chad Damiani is on the show! You know him front he wonderful show he runs, Catbath, his crazy improv team, Jetzo, and he's an accomplished screenwriter. Chad and I talk about everything from the challenges of running an indie show, to getting more physical in your improv, to being a classic heel in wrestling. You gotta listen. Golden age of improv, be excellent to each other, happy improvising.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drew DiFonzo Marks in on the show, but call him DDFM he likes it! You know Drew as that Last Day go School Harold-ing, Boom Chicago Alum-ing, Bonafide sketching act-ing, former UCBTLA artistic direct-ing, all around awesome person-ing person. Drew and I talk about A LOT in this episode so I dare not sum it up, let’s just say it’s a good one.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Hines is on the show! You know him from The Smokes, Your F’ed up Family, The Stepfathers, Play by Play, and the bitter rival podcast to my own, Long Form Conversations. Today will and I talk about… a lot. I was having trouble focusing on one thing. Will is a wealth of information, and I know we didn’t even come close to covering all of his wisdom. But, maybe I’ll convince him to come back in a year, and we’ll do better the second time. Rate. Subscribe. Comment. Share. Enjoy. Oh! I didn’t record an outro. Well, Happy Improvising, Be excellent to each other, Golden Age of Improv.  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jacob Womack is on the show! He’s the long time host of the soon to be finished Crashbar Improv! He’s also on the wonderful Harold team John Velvet. Jacob and I talk about the one thing I always talk about, BICYCLING. We also talk about improv, where we’re at in the whole process, how to make more out of it. It’s all pretty great. Also, sorry about the hiatus guys. I got laid off of my job and my schedule’s been bananas as a result. I’m gonna try and lock back in and get more done. Happy improvising!  See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices