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Wednesday, August 31, 2011

What I Ate On My Summer Vacation

My idea of vacation = food. I don't know what it is about being on vacation, but whenever I'm on vacation I eat like a friggin' horse. A friggin' horse with a sweet tooth. And who may be a wino.

Yesterday we did some wine tasting. Then I ate a side of beef slathered in mushrooms. Oh, wait, that was all after the homemade English toffee and before the bread pudding.

I think it's because vacation, like improv, is all about being in the moment. I'm not worried about what's going to happen tomorrow, or even an hour from now. Right now, I'm in front of a shop (or, where I'm staying now, a "shoppe") that sells pastries, and I like pastries. So I eat a pastry. Ten feet from now, I may be in front of a shoppe that sells tacos. I also like tacos. And there seems to be a municipal ordinance here that requires every second business to be a wine tasting room.

We all know how I feel about wine.

Tomorrow I'll be back to the real world and, thankfully, real improv, so I don't have to practice improv by yes, and-ing my sister-in-law whenever she suggests a snack.

Sis-in-law: Want some tea?
Sonnjea: Yes, and three scones as well.

Sis-in-law: Wanna go wine tasting?
Sonnjea: Yes, and let's have some cheese with the wine.

Sis-in-law: Wanna go to the candy shoppe?
Sonnjea: Make itte a statement.
Sis-in-law: You look as if you'd like to go to the candy shoppe.
Sonnjea: Yes, and I'm going to need larger intestines to digest all this food.

If you want to learn to be in the moment without resorting to zero-impulse-control activities like eating your body weight in pastry, try a Held2gether improv class. All the fun of vacation; none of the calories. Yay.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Monday, August 29, 2011

Improv, Fire Drills & Sex. Oh My.

I finished Bossypants and I'm now convinced that Tina Fey and I are the same person. Only, you know, with a disproportionate distribution of talent (she has it).

When she was explaining about the whole Sarah Palin thing on SNL, she talked about a really funny bit Seth Myers wrote for her - only it was just for her. Tina had him re-write it to include Amy Poehler because, being an improv person, Tina didn't feel comfortable doing the bit alone. She prefers the "buddy system" approach of improv.

This is exactly how I feel every time someone writes a sketch where I'm supposed to imitate an idiotic governor doing bizarre things in public. I can't tell you how many times I've had to just say, "Look, I know I'm a dead ringer for Arnold, but I'm an improv girl - can you please write it to include Andy, Co-Dependent as Maria? That'd be better for me. Thanks."

And then I wake up.

But really, that IS what I love about improv. The buddy system. And it's so strange because growing up I used to hate any kind of group assignments in school or anything in which two or more people had to complete a task together. Like a fire drill. Or sex.

Just seeing if you're awake.

Anyway, improv changed all that. Not only do I see the value of working with others, I actually prefer it. Two heads really are better than one. I no longer think I'm the only one who can solve a problem or come up with a good idea because I've seen literally thousands of examples where the addition of someone else's idea has been what makes something work. It's not all them, and it's not all me. It's us.

We have intro to improv classes all the time where we teach you to play well with others. When you learn to play well with others, you realize that it's not so different from working well with others.

You're on your own with the fire drills and the sex. I can't do everything for you, peeps.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Friday, August 26, 2011

Weekend Cultural Events: Watch Some Free Improv/Read a Cheap Book

It's the weekend. That can only mean one thing: Shameless plugs! Yay!

First of all, there's an AWESOME Held2gether improv comedy show in Long Beach tomorrow night at Hot Java. We've got new stuff and not one, but TWO special guests! And did I mention it's FREE? Well, it is. Free-o-rooni, people. It's gonna be a hot one in the LBC, so come and enjoy the a/c, an iced latte, a scone and a bunch of grown-ups being silly.

Second, H2G is offering a very rare Wednesday night Intro to Improv Comedy class. Class starts September 7th (7 - 9 p.m. at EXPO Arts Center in Bixby Knolls), so register now before it fills up.

And finally, I wrote a book. No, really. Check it out at SonnjeaBlackwell.com! It's called Killer Fate, it's only $2.99, and it's a fun, fast read for the weekend. There's no improv, but there is a fair amount of swearing. You're welcome.

Have a great weekend!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Thursday, August 25, 2011

Improv: More Useful Than Diagramming Sentences

I honestly believe that improv is something that can benefit every man, woman and child on the planet and that, in a perfect world, they would teach improv in schools instead of, say, diagramming sentences. I'm going to go out on a limb and suggest that diagramming sentences is not a skill anyone needs. I would wager a large sum of money that not one of your friends, coworkers or romantic partners can diagram a sentence, and they are all functional members of society.

So why should they teach improv in schools? Because improv is all about playing well with others. Sure, you already get along okay with people or you wouldn't have all those friends, coworkers and romantic partners who are unable to diagram a sentence. But could you improve your interpersonal interactions? Um, yes.

I know that's presumptuous of me. I don't even know you (except Lorna and Lisa and Andy, Co-Dependent), so how do I know in what areas you can improve? Well, I'll tell you. Because everyone, no matter who they are or what they do, could listen better. Agree quicker. Contribute more. Commit more fully.

And I know a lot of people want to do all of those things. But it's hard to improve at something simply because you've decided to improve. I can decide to be better at hitting a softball, but that's not what's gonna make me a home-run hitter. I need someone to show me the proper stance, and how to hold the bat and when to swing and all that - and then I need to practice a lot.

Turns out, H2G classes can teach you how to listen, agree, contribute and commit - and in such a way that you think you're just hanging out with some of the nicest, funnest (diagram that) people and playing some hilarious games. It relieves stress, gets you out of your head, and reminds you that all that silly stuff you did as a kid was actually a lot healthier than all the uptight stuff you have to do as a grown-up.

Come out and have some fun with us. Classes start all the time!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Tina Fey and I Agree: Improv Is Cool

Please stop yelling at me. Sometimes I have to work, you know. Sheesh. It's not like people pay me millions of dollars for these brilliant nuggets of improv wisdom I dispense.

Speaking of brilliant nuggets of improv wisdom, I'm reading Bossypants by Tina Fey at the moment. Yes, finally. Gosh, you're critical this morning. Anyway, I love love love this book but it's frustrating me, and I'm going to tell you why. Because that's just how I roll, people.

First of all, the brilliant improv-y nuggets that Tina shares are identical to the ones I've been sharing with you, about how learning to listen and agree and all that stuff will help you in real life. I understand why people don't listen to me - I'm not rich or famous or friends with Alec Baldwin. But still. I do know some stuff about improv and I'm happy to pass it along, even without a big ol' royalty check. So I guess that part isn't really frustrating. It's actually more gratifying that Tina Fey agrees with me.

(Excuse me, I just have to wonder aloud here why there's a weird guy in the parking lot behind my house howling. Like a wolf. At 9 a.m. Seriously, try some other animals. I'm so bored with the wolf.)

Um, okay. Evidently I have a lot of issues with frustration this morning. So the thing that frustrates me from reading Tina's brilliant book is that she talks about her time at The Second City, where they were doing improv FIVE NIGHTS A WEEK. I would LOVE to do improv five nights a week. I honestly think I'll never get decent unless/until I am doing improv five nights a week. And the reason this frustrates me is that it's virtually impossible for grown-ups to do improv five nights a week because unlike twenty-something actors, we have responsibilities. So even if I could somehow make that happen, there's little chance any of my troupemates or classmates could also make it happen. And, by its very nature, improv is impossible to do alone.

Well, that's really all I've got today. So to summarize: Sometimes I have to work, occasionally I read books, Tina Fey and I agree on 100% of things, howling like a wolf is irritating, and I am now determined to somehow do improv five times a week. Doesn't have to be nights. I'm flexible that way.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Friday, August 19, 2011

Gayer, Asianier, Manlier, Sluttier: Something for Everyone!

Happy Friday, peeps! It's a busy week ahead for H2G: Brand-new Intro to Improv classes starting tomorrow morning and Tuesday night; Snow Globes & Shotgun Weddings on Sunday night; FULL Improv Comedy Level 2 class on Thursday night; and our signature show, Last Laugh Saturday next Saturday night.

I'm all aflutter just thinking about all that improv-y fun.

Here are some previews of what you can probably expect at Snow Globes:
  • Viet will play some type of "licensed therapist." He may or may not be Asian.
  • Paul will play characters who are both gayer and Asianier than Viet.
  • Lisa and I will be sisters.
  • Barbi's voice will be deeper and manlier than any of the guys' voices.
  • Andy will give someone - male or female - a name that is so outlandish we won't be able to keep from laughing.
  • Pete will call someone - male or female - Cassandra.
  • Brenda will lead a group therapy session. Or twenty.
  • Jo will teach someone how to be slutty.
  • Darren will take at least one suggestion that makes all the performers go huh?
If that's not enough enticement to get you to order your tickets RIGHT THIS MINUTE, I don't know what is.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Improv and Alzheimer's

Improv is awesome. I'm just sayin'. I know I may have alluded to that fact once or four hundred times already, but it bears repeating.

Sure, it's fun. It can help you with communication skills, working together as part of a team, learning to be in the moment, taking risks and all those other things I've mentioned in my oh-so-subtle way.

And, it turns it, it can help people with Alzheimer's. This NPR article explains that, although improv probably will not stop or slow the progression of dementia, it may offer patients a sense of accomplishment. And, since the focus of improv is all about being in the moment, it may alleviate the anxiety Alzheimer's patients feel when they try to remember the past or look to the future. For them, the present is a safe place to be, and improv provides that.

Many other studies have shown that keeping the mind active can help keep you more alert and more youthful, whatever your age. What better way to keep your brain active than by creating on-the-spot scenarios based on random suggestions?

We've got a bunch of H2G improv classes starting next week. Check out the website for more details, then sign up for a class and get those synapses firing!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

An Improv Record!

I'm sorry for the lapse - I have so much work to do at the moment and as it turns out, I'm not that focused sometimes. Sorry. You shoulda known me before improv... can you say scattered? But improv has helped the focus issues, as well as the shy issues, and the control-freak issues and the over-talking issues, and, well, you get the idea. I have a few issues.

Sunday was a record, even for me - 7 hours of improv in one day. If everyday could contain 7 hours of improv, I'd be a happy girl. Someday, maybe. For now, I get to look forward to Snow Globes & Shotgun Weddings, our long-form improv show coming up this Sunday night at the Sky Room Wedding Chapel in the LBC. There are still tickets available, but you should hurry!



By Sonnjea Blackwell


Thursday, August 11, 2011

I'm Planning to Give Up Planning

Turns out, the people at Krav Maga classes don't look like Raider fans after all. Just normal people with no knives or chains or biceps the size of my waist. So I lived. My apologies to those of you who were planning your spacework for my funeral. See what happens when you pre-plan?

Which brings me to my topic of the day: pre-planning. Do you love my segues? I like to say segue. It looks like it should be see'goo, not seg'way. Weird.

Right. Pre-planning. You would think having a little plan of your own would help out in improv scenes. I mean, it seems like that would help you avoid being caught with nothing to do or say in a scene.

But much like segue isn't pronounced how it looks (ha! to everyone who just thought I was drunk when I brought up the segue thing), pre-planning doesn't work the way you imagine. Having even the smallest idea, plan or agenda is the surest way to eff up a scene. For one thing, once you have that little idea, it's hard to let go of it, so you feel compelled to work it into the scene whether it really fits or not. B) Having your own agenda makes it difficult or impossible to truly listen to the other person, because you are busy trying to steer the scene towards your planned outcome. And VI: When you have an idea in your head, you've closed off the circuits to the free flow of ideas and information that should come in an improv scene. Like, if I'm already thinking about unicorns, I will tend to think of more things related to unicorns like sparkles or rainbows or pretty ribbons for decorating horns. Ideas about tacos or the stock market probably won't float into my brain, because they don't relate to what's already happening in there.

In improv, it's better to be blank. Then you don't steer the scene - or your own thoughts - in any particular direction. You can listen well, respond appropriately, and be open to all of those little details that pop into your head when you aren't trying to direct it.

Anybody want to try to guess this next see'goo? Yep. Real life. Don't pre-plan so much, peeps! It stifles all that amazing creativity and spontaneity that your brain would love to do if you weren't busy forcing it to plan, well, everything.

Take a chance! Come to a Held2gether 1/2-day Intro to Improv Workshop. If it makes you feel better, you can plan what you're going to wear to it. I'll be the one dressed like a Raider fan.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Who Will Give My Improv Eulogy?

Several people in the Held2gether Long Form Improv Class had weird things happen or come up unexpectedly, so Darren moved tonight's class to Sunday night instead.

Lisa seized upon this opportunity to attempt to kill me.

I don't know why. Perhaps it's because I told people Anya wasn't real. Or because I sometimes write heady posts. Or because I've been known to be "Miss Negativity Pants" on occasion. Or because I believe unicorns (which are real, btw) are my friends.

In any event, I clearly did something to offend her terribly because she is making me go to her Krav Maga class tonight. I'm just telling you all this so you'll know why there are no more posts after tonight... it's hard to write blogs when you're, you know, dead.

Anyway, please take a Held2gether improv class in my honor and have a nice life. I'll miss you. :(

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Shy? Try Improv. Afraid of Bunnies? You're On Your Own.

I was talking with a friend yesterday, who said something about me being fearless because I do improv. That was funny to me, because I started doing improv because I was fearful, not fearless.

I mean, I wasn't afraid of stuff, per se. I was just shy and uncomfortable with people, and that's a kind of fear - just not as obvious a fear as being afraid of bunnies, for example. Now I'm not so shy and I'm only uncomfortable around people who are creepy. And that's not so much about fear as it is about having good judgment. Duh.

See, in Held2gether improv classes you learn to deal, period. You go up on stage and have no idea what's going to happen. You don't know what the other person is going to say, or what kind of labels they'll be giving themselves (or you). And you learn that the best thing to do is listen, and then respond to the last thing the person said.

Turns out, that's pretty much what you need to do when you meet someone for the first time, too. It doesn't mean you don't get a little nervous in those situations - you might, you might not. But you have tools at your disposal to make those conversations less awkward and more easygoing for you and the other person, without relying on, "Wow, some weather we've been having, eh?" or "Gee, have your teeth always been that color?"

If you want to be less shy, less fearful, more outgoing, a better conversationalist or just want to do improv cuz you saw Whose Line and thought it looked like fun, sign up for a H2G Intro to Improv class. I promise, there are no bunnies.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Monday, August 8, 2011

Long Beach Improv Workshop vs. Pulling Weeds

I have to say, I'm super excited about the Held2gether Intro to Improv Comedy 1/2-day Workshop coming up this Sunday! And it's not just because the alternative is pulling weeds in my yard.

There are a couple reasons, actually. One is because I can never get enough of improv. Doing improv games and exercises, whether they're geared to brand-new-beginners or advanced players, always gives me a new perspective and helps me learn. Sure, I could probably skate through a "yes, and" exercise without much effort. But I could also challenge myself to do it with big emotion and in a way that helps a brand-new person understand it quicker. And on the other hand, sometimes the way beginners approach things is so simple and uncluttered, I wonder why I never thought of it. But you kind of need the beginner's frame of mind to see things simply sometimes. If you ever think you can't learn something from a beginning class, you're, um, just plain wrong.

Sorry, sometimes I'm a little blunt on Mondays.

The second reason I love this workshop is because a four-hour class is long enough for beginners to grasp the magic of improv, and I love to see people get that for the first time. You see the trepidation morph into a bit of frustration as they struggle with the basic concepts, and then right after that comes the lightbulb moment when they realize, "Hey! I can do improv."

Hey! You can do improv, too! There are a few spaces left in this Sunday's workshop - register at the H2G website or call the boss with any questions.

And if you don't want to take the workshop, could you please stop by my place and pull some weeds? That'd be awesome. Thanks.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Who Needs a Right Fielder, Anyway?

Improv is a team sport. Last night, the H2G Long Form class was way low on peeps because a bunch of players were out with various ailments. But we have a show coming up, so the 6 of us who were there pulled together and gave it our all.

And here's what we learned about doing a long form show with a really small group:
  • you have to put your neck on the line even more because there's not a crowd for you to get lost in
  • you have to listen extremely well and be ready to jump on everything that happens, because there's not the luxury of leaving it for someone else - because there is no one else
  • there is no room for prima donnas looking for individual glory - the show will only work if everyone is working together for the good of the team
  • well-differentiated characters are critical because with only a few people, it would be very easy for the audience to get confused about who's who
The all-for-one-and-one-for-all aspect of improv is even more pronounced in long form, so it's a little disconcerting to be missing 1/3 of the team! Try playing a baseball game with no third baseman, no catcher and no right fielder. Um, awkward.

Luckily, it's still a couple weeks until Snow Globes & Shotgun Weddings, and by then everyone should be all better. So go ahead and get your tickets now - they are going fast and when they're gone, they're gone.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Improv In August

OMG, peeps! There is SO MUCH happening in August. I don't want your heads to explode or anything, but I have a lot to tell you.

First, this Friday is the first Friday in August, which means it's August First Fridays in the LBC. Of course, Held2gether will be at Elise's Tea Room, doing our improv-y thing. This month we're calling it Beach Blanket Bixby!


The show is free, as always. Come at 6:30 to chow down on delish scones, finger sandwiches and, in honor of beachy picnics, pigs-in-a-blanket! The show starts at 7:30.

Then, on Sunday, August 14th, we're doing the 1/2-day Intro to Improv Workshop at the EXPO Art Center. This workshop is great for newbies, people who are currently taking the Level 1 or Level 2 classes who want extra practice, or old pros who know you can never get enough improv!


The following Sunday, August 21st, it's our big long form show, Held2gether presents Snow Globes & Shotgun Weddings at the Sky Room Wedding Chapel in Long Beach.


Ten bucks for all the long form-y hilarity you can stand. Get your tickets in advance at the website, and you'll get a ticket for a free drink as well. The show starts at 6:00, so no complaints about it being a school night!

We'd LOVE to see you at all of these things! Check the Held2gether website for more deets on everything, or call the boss with questions.

(Lisa thinks I'm not very subtle, but I didn't even mention my birthday. Which is in August. Sometime.)

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Tuesday, August 2, 2011

Seriously, It's NOT About You

The motto of improv could be: Don't ever think this journey is about you. It's about everyone around you.

Okay, technically that IS a motto of improv. I stole it from a guy named Del Close who was one of the major influences on improv comedy, working with 2nd City, Improv Olympic and Upright Citizens Brigade over the years.

According to me (technically not a major influence on improv) improv is about these people, in this order:
  1. The audience. The audience gives the improvisors the suggestion, from which everything should flow. The audience has to feel like that scene could not have happened without their suggestion.
  2. The director. Sure, it's all made up on-the-spot, so you might think a director is superfluous. But getting the audience involved and keeping the energy up is a real skill. A great director can turn a terrible audience into a, well, so-so audience. But a lousy director can kill the best of crowds.
  3. Your scene partner(s). The best way to make a scene work is to forget about yourself, your ego and your agenda and focus on your scene partner. Label them, give them gifts of great information and a lively character and just let the hilarity happen. They'll be doing the same for you, after all.
  4. Everyone else in the universe.
  5. You. In improv, as in life, whether you succeed or not largely depends on how much you give to others.

We want to help you be successful. Take a Held2gether improv class in Long Beach and find out how fun it is to help someone else be funny.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Monday, August 1, 2011

Don't Beat Your Head Against the Wall

You can't make people be nice.

Turns out, even I don't have that kind of power. No matter how much you want to like someone or give them the benefit of the doubt or be nice to them, you simply cannot force them to be nice.

So you might as well stop beating your head against the wall. Metaphorically speaking, of course. If you happen to beat your head against the wall because it's some Krav Maga exercise you subject yourself to, then by all means, continue.

In the meantime, I'm going to talk about improv. Cuz that's how I roll, people.

First of all, improv people are nice. But in the same way you can't make people in real life be nice, you can't make your scene partner be what you want them to be. Improv is all about letting go of your own agenda and working together to create something funny. You might go into a scene thinking, "Oh! I know! I'm going to label him as a wimpy door-mat guy whose lunch I steal from the office fridge every day." But your scene partner may have the first line and say in a snooty, hoity-toity voice, "You know, Evelyn, I've about had it with your incessant stuttering. I want a divorce."

At first it's disconcerting to give up your ideas. I mean, I don't know about you, but I am generally really fond of my ideas. They're mostly pretty fabulous. But when you learn not to force your agenda, you are able to be in the moment and appreciate the natural evolution of the scene. And it's true what they say: two heads ARE better than one. What you and your scene partner come up with together is usually a lot better than what either one of you would've thought up on your own.

At Held2gether improv classes, we learn how much less stressful it is not to force people to be what we want them to be. Sure, in real life, you might still have to deal with those not-nice people and for that, we're sorry. But you'll also learn how to use those people to create hilarious characters to use in scenes... it's cheaper than therapy and way more fun!

Register for the H2G 1/2-day Intro to Improv Workshop coming up on August 14th, and save your head.

By Sonnjea Blackwell