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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Trixie!!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Have you met Trixie? She'll be here for one night only and you wouldn't want to miss her!

Sunday, April 17th, 7 p.m. ~ EXPO Theatre, 4321 Atlantic Ave., Long Beach.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Soccer Moms vs. Pole Dancers

By Sonnjea Blackwell

We don't want to give you the impression that Held2gether improv performers are insane, but I'm still stuck on the soccer mom thing (we even named an upcoming show Confessions of a Soccer Mom), especially as it relates to swearing and, um, prostitution.

I blame Lisa, who said our show at Hot Java on Saturday was fantastic but could've used some more swearing. And that there's something inherently funny in seeing one of my calm, sedate characters throwing out a "well-placed f-bomb."

Anyway. For those of you who haven't seen me, I'm the blonde girl in our NoH8 photo. Just for reference. Also, I have no children and am not a fan of soccer. However, there is evidently something about the way I look that makes people giggle when I say bad words. At Groundlings, I started out working on a "nice" character since my go-to character is rather bitchy. Clearly it worked, because after a few weeks when I finally reverted to my usual bitch character, everyone was totally shocked that I even knew the f-word and they all fell about the place laughing so hard.

And in Held2gether Level 2 class last week, we did this labeling exercise where one person gives the other all these character traits. Naturally, Barney described me as a hooker. In the past, I've also been labeled a pole dancer. Just the labels crack everyone else up, because they seem so against-type. "Ooooh, I know! Let's have the soccer-mom-looking-woman play a hooker! Hahahahaha!" Once someone asked me if I could "stand like you're stupid." Really? Do less intelligent people stand differently than smart people? And, um, what makes you think I fall into the smart category any more than I fall into the soccer mom category?

I think what I'm getting at here is that, however you see yourself, there's a good chance others see you differently. And if you can play with both of those images and have fun with the stereotypes, you can start to see yourself in a new light and push out of some of those boxes that we all put ourselves in. And there's no better way to push yourself (safely and gently, of course) out of your comfort zone than by taking an improv class right here in Long Beach! (No, I'm not suggesting you actually become a hooker. Sheesh. Try pole dancing first and see how you like it, then think about expanding your horizons. There's no need to rush.)

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Opposite of Funny

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Today is one of those really annoying days that makes me want to swear inappropriately (seriously, I know I look like a soccer mom, but in my normal life I swear like a friggin' sailor. I actually tone it down for you guys. A lot). Anyway, whatever the opposite of creative is, that's what I am today. No problem, except that I get paid for being creative, not for being the opposite of creative.

Why is this our problem, you ask, and when is this post going to get funny? Excellent questions. When you learn the answers, can you let me know?

Okay, okay. See, sometimes you just don't feel funny. Maybe you're tired. Maybe you're hungover, or sick, or maybe Mercury is friggin' retrograde again. Who knows. It's just that some days you really don't feel "on." Sucks if you're a writer or a graphic designer (sorry, it's all about me today). But luckily, if you're an improv-er, you're not all alone. Maybe you don't feel funny - but there's a good chance the whole class doesn't feel the same way at the same time. So you just remember the rules, agree with whatever your funny partner has to say and try to add information. That's the beauty of improv - it's a team sport, and your partners are more than happy to help you out on days when you are the opposite of funny.

The other thing about improv is, you learn that everything can change in a moment. You might be the opposite of funny for half a scene, and then something clicks and you're on again. It's like that in life too. Just deciding you're going to do the best you can with what you have at any moment can give you the impetus to keep going until you find your mojo again. So try a Held2gether improv class - we'll help you get through the days when you are the opposite of whatever you're supposed to be, and we really don't care how much you swear.

Monday, March 28, 2011

The Family That Sh*ts Together, Sticks Together

By Someone Else

There’s an old Vietnamese saying that a family who sh*ts together, sticks together. Yes, it’s true. We have a Vietnamese troupe member who SWEARS on its cultural authenticity. He told us so in between slurping down a bowl of Pho and wolfing down a spring roll.

Okay, maybe his recollection of the adage is a little off. After all, he’s only kinda Vietnamese. He’s also part Nebraskan, too, which caused him some serious identity issues during his formative years.

But he was definitely on to something. And like good improv classmates, we’re gonna “yes, and” his seeming-lunacy. For the sake of not making our reading audience ill, we’ll move away from the literalness of his sentiment and just focus on the metaphor. What he probably meant is that double-blind studies consistently demonstrate a near-perfect correlation between familial structures that regularly employ positive group dynamics and their high degree of cohesiveness relative to the general populous. Um, what? More simply put, learn to encourage each other during the rough patches and you’ll have a team that will enjoy success together over the long haul.

It’s really pretty basic – just watch a kids’ soccer game and you’ll know what we’re talking about. See the team where the players are encouraging the goalie, even though he just let yet another one sail past him? Sure, everyone, especially the goalie, is disappointed. And the coach certainly will have some feedback for him. But they’re still encouraging him – giving him high fives. Mark our words – that’s a team that’s going to make it to the finals. Maybe not this season, maybe not the next. But they will make it. And it’s because they’re familiar with the time-honored Vietnamese proverb.

At Held2gether classes, we’re just like the little soccer team that could. We love our stellar moments – when everyone has an award-winning class. But when you hit a rough patch, we’ll always be there to support and encourage you. Yes, you read that correctly. Even if your scene totally sucked, we’ll clap for you. Why? Because we want you to live a delusional life – it’s a much happier place than reality.

Okay, not really. While we wish that everything could always go well, you will undoubtedly have scenes that totally flop. Trust me, I have scenes that totally flop on a regular basis. The scenes will be void of any humor and will have violated every rule of improv. In other circles, you’d be castigated for your insolence. But at Held2gether, we’ll still clap. Sure, you’ll get feedback that may be a little difficult to digest. You’ll get pointers on how to get it right in the future. Even though you know the feedback is given with lots of love, it’s a bit hard for you to hear. And as you prepare to sulk back to your seat, you’ll hear applause.

That’s us, and we’re clapping for you. Some of us are clapping because, like a cymbal playing monkey, it is an automatic reflex. Most of us, though, are clapping because we are proud that you had the courage to risk getting up on that stage. We’re clapping because we’re happy you’ve learned something and will improve from the feedback. Most of all, we’re clapping because we care about you and want to encourage you to get back on your horse. Yeah you!

And that’s why the Held2gether family sticks together – because we’ve learned to authentically encourage one another during the rough patches. So join the Held2gether family for a workshop or class and feel the love and encouragement.

Now, if you see a little Asian guy at Pho 97, Pho 98 or Pho 99, will you please tell him he’s late for rehearsal?

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Little Booze, a Little Cash

A few people (you know who you are) wanted easy access to this video. You know I'm nothing if not easy, so here you go. The video quality is poor because it's shot in the dark in a giant warehouse space, and the camera died 1/2 way through the show. That might've been a good thing, I'm not sure...

I'm hoping to upload Over Easy Like Sunday Morning here tomorrow, too.

Jim Beam and A Hundred Dollars


Woo Hoo! I'm a Schlub!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Our usual Long Beach venue for Held2gether's long form improv class was out of order last night. Something scary having to do with electricity that left us with visions of smoldering electrical outlets and random fires breaking out in every direction. Hopefully that was just our overactive imaginations.

In any event, we moved class to my place since it's close by and my living room can be improv-ready in a matter of seconds. Seriously, that can't surprise you at this point. It was a weird day for everyone, and class got a late start because 1/2 the class was waylaid by unpublicized bus re-routing, another student was stuck in a rain-induced traffic jam in the O.C. and yet another had to walk because his parked car got totaled by a drunk driver earlier in the week.

So I was a little worried it would be a low-energy, cranky sort of class. But no. Even though we did difficult exercises and tried out bazillions of new characters (some of which worked and some, well, not so much), class was fantastic. People were energetic and enthusiastic and bold, and that's all you can ask for in an improv class.

I guess I don't have a point. C'mon, that can't surprise you now, either. I think I'm just sayin' that even in the midst of a difficult week for everyone improv class is just what the doctor ordered to lift our moods and give us something to laugh about while we pretend to be professors and schlubs and cocktail waitresses and people obsessed with their cars. If you want to pretend, sign up for the next round of Held2gether Intro to Improv classes! If you already happen to be a professor, a schlub, a cocktail waitress or a person obsessed with their car, don't worry. You can pretend to be something else. We're easy that way.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Improv Troupe Secrets

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Wow, this Saturday is Held2gether presents: Last Laugh Saturday again! You know Last Laugh Saturday, right? It's our monthly Long Beach improv comedy show at Hot Java where you give us suggestions for scenes and games, and somehow we turn them all into something to do with lemons, sex or relationships gone awry. So, you know, pretty much real life then.

Some of our loyal fans have been asking me questions like, "Does Andy really carry around his dead wife's ashes?" "Who is this Jo-Jo person that Barbi is so taken with?" "Why is Jayme always down on the floor? It seems unsanitary." and "Is Viet really from Nebraska? He looks Asian to me."

See, the problem is, I'm not at liberty to discuss my troupe-mates' personal lives. But I do have special powers since I'm in charge of this blog and the website - so I can point you in the right direction if you want to learn more about the players before Saturday's show. Just go to the Held2gether troupe page on our website and click on your favorite performer's face for all the information you could possibly need to blackmail them.

And in answer to the above questions, I can honestly say, "Not on Tuesdays," "Her super-hero alter-ego," "She's so tall, she likes to take a break from gravity sometimes," and "Yes, he's full-blooded Nebraskan. He just plays a convincing Asian character occasionally."

I hope that was helpful.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

There's No "I" in Improv. Oh. Wait.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

I did a terrible scene in improv class last week (sorry again for that, Lisa) that meandered all over the place and had no point, no relationship and, um, did I mention it had no point? Not only did I not pick up on information Lisa threw out, I even somehow managed to deny my own information.

Don't worry, I'm not going to go into detail. Trust me, it's not something I want to rehash in public. But the one bit of information that my lame-o character had that was funny was that she kept saying "there's no 'I' in teamwork" as she typed a report without using any Is.

Look, I already warned you it sucked. Don't be mean.

Unlike in class, right now I actually have a point. Which is, improv, while technically spelled with an I, is all about teamwork. You have to trust your partner, and you have to be trustworthy yourself - if the scene is tanking, you are going to sink or swim together. So you can't bail. And trusting your partner doesn't mean you expect them to be perfect. You simply trust them to stay in the scene with you and not throw you under the bus in a desperate attempt to save themselves.

You're probably sick of me comparing improv to life, but it's the same, I swear. If you can learn to give others the benefit of the doubt, and try your best to give 100% in whatever "scene" you have with them - work, family, bowling league - you're going to get a lot more out of it. Even when the scene doesn't go the way you'd both hoped, you'll be happy in the knowledge that you both gave it your all and did what you could to support one another. And then you can have a beer together. There's no "I" in beer, you know.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Gotta Love Trixie

Cranky-Ass Day

By Sonnjea Blackwell

I don't know where you live, but in the LBC it's cold, rainy and windy and doesn't bear any resemblance to spring whatsoever. Which further dampens my already foul mood.

Yes, even Buddhists who spend most of their waking hours doing improv comedy get cranky sometimes. I know, weird, right? So I'm just going to plod through my work, checking things off my never-ending to-do list as I go, and not think about things that make me cranky and instead think of a short scene I did in class last week where my "sister" Lorna and I were so sweet we made everyone else gag. Or another scene that I did with Viet and Paul at Last Laugh Saturday that involved a nasty hotel at the Jersey Shore. Or any number of scenes that I've witnessed over the past not-quite-2-years that have left me with a pain in my side from laughing.

Because nothing gets you through a cold, rainy, windy, cranky-ass day like laughing. That's the power of improv. And I promise to be funny tomorrow. Cuz, you know, that's just how I roll.

Friday, March 18, 2011

So Much Fun, So Little Time!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Wow, sometimes we get overwhelmed with all the great stuff happening in our world and we just have to share it or we'll explode. Exploding is messy and not productive, so we strive to avoid it whenever possible.

So I guess we better share... First off, tonight at Old World Huntington Beach, our good friends The Corporate Recess Players are doing their monthly-ish improv show, featuring none other than our own fearless leader, Darren Held. This is a great opportunity for all you Held2gether students to see your teacher in action and count the number of times he asks questions! $15 a person, 8 p.m., Old World.

Then on Sunday, we have the 1/2-day Intro to Improv Workshop in my 'hood, Bixby Knolls. There are a couple spaces left, so hurry up and register at the website if you've been on the fence. $40 a person, noon - 4 p.m., EXPO Theatre.

And it's already that time of the month again (no, not that time of the month; I don't share everything) - it's time for Held2gether's signature show, Last Laugh Saturday next Saturday night at Hot Java! As Delilah says, get a sitter and fill your flask cuz this one's always a doozy! FREE, 8 p.m. March 26, Hot Java.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

What I Learned at My Voice Lesson Today

By Sonnjea Blackwell

I learned that if I don't think and just open my mouth and let it all go, I'm loud enough and I hit the right notes and it sounds great and it doesn't feel like work.

The problem is, I learned this last week at my voice lesson as well, and the week before, and the week before, ad nauseam. I learn it, and it's like a big ol' friggin' lightbulb. Woo hoo! And then I forget. It's like that movie Memento with the no-short-term-memory guy.

And the problem is, it's the same with improv: If I don't think and just open my mouth and let it all go, the information is great and the characters are strong and it's funny and it doesn't feel like work. I know this. To trot out another movie analogy, I'm like Natalie Portman in Black Swan, except not as crazy and not as pretty and not as lesbian. But I UNDERSTAND improv very well. I can analyze it with the best of them. I see quite easily what works and what doesn't work in a scene, and why.

I'm the white swan - all technicality, no passion. But the thing with the number of improv classes and rehearsals and shows I do, is there's always another chance to finally nail it. One of these days... Only you know what? I'm tired of waiting for one of these days. Tonight, at Held2gether's Level 2 class, watch out. I'm done being Natalie Portman. Tonight, I'm Mila Kunis. (Yes, I know. I'm not as pretty. It's an analogy, people. Sheesh.)

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Intermediate Improv Class vs. St. Patrick's Day!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

There are still one or two spots available in the Held2gether intermediate improv class that starts tomorrow night in Long Beach. And yes, we know it's St. Patrick's Day, but:
  1. lots of you need NO excuse to drink beer, green or otherwise, so we could really just call tomorrow, um, "Thursday" and the result wouldn't be any different
  2. last year the boss and I had green sangria with our St. Paddy's Day lunch, and it was a huge disappointment, so I'm kinda boycotting the holiday anyway
  3. and seriously, most of you aren't even Irish
If you've taken an H2G Intro class a couple of times and you're ready for the next level of challenges, or if you're an old pro at improv and are dying to get back into it, the Level 2 class is probably for you. Sign up at the website or, if you have any doubt about which class would be best for your skill level, email Darren Held.

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Orange County Deserves Improv, Too!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Not every day is a Long Beach improv day, you know. For example, today's an O.C. day. Kinda like yesterday was Pi Day, only this one doesn't come with heartfelt well-wishes from geeky engineer and math types. Anyway, every so often, I make the trek to Orange County to experience traffic, visit friends and see how rich people live. Cuz that's just how I roll.

The truth is, H2G isn't ALL about Long Beach, much as I like to claim it is. Three members of the troupe actually live in Orange County, and a lot of our students come from Orange County every week to get their 2-hour fix of improv and silliness. So we just wanted to make sure those of you living south of Seal Beach know that Held2gether doesn't judge you for that.

Actually, the whole point of improv is not to judge anybody or anything, ever. Someone (including you) could say something in a scene that seems wrong or stupid or nonsensical on the surface, but it's up to the rest of the players to make sure it makes sense. And the truth is, it's the "mistakes" that lead to the most hilarity. So you learn to accept people and situations just the way they are. And that makes life much easier to deal with, in my oh-so-humble opinion.

Want to learn to accept others and yourself for who they are, even if they come from a whole different county? Come to our 1/2-day improv workshop this Sunday (pre-registration at the website is required).

Monday, March 14, 2011

Soccer Moms Are Cool. Seriously.

We got a fantastic compliment after our last Hot Java show... A woman came up to Darren and said it was so cool that the Held2gether improv troupe looks like a bunch of soccer moms.

Yippee friggin' skippee, right?

Once I got over my initial despair at being called a soccer mom (look, I know I'm not cool and hip, but I like to think I at least look cool and hip), I was delighted. Our whole goal at Held2gether is to convince people that improv is for everyone, soccer moms included. Sure, improv will help actors, and that's what it's all about at places like Groundlings and UCB and 2nd City. But at Held2gether, we're passionate about sharing the skills, fun and confidence improv provides with absolutely everyone. That's why we call ourselves Held2gether: improv for life.

So now I'm embracing my inner soccer mom (though I won't be buying a mini-van; there are limits, people) and doing my best to show people that someone like me, who hadn't been on a stage since the 5th grade play about the Revolutionary War, in which I demonstrated my amazing range by playing both a coat rack and a rock, can do improv. We want people to feel empowered and energized by doing something that sorta scares them and realizing that they can overcome that fear, have a fantastic time doing it, and make great new friends at the same time. Seriously, improv does all that without alcohol, drugs or the need to jump out of an airplane.

And to the guy who told me Saturday night that I look like Hayley Mills - um, isn't she, like, 80? Thanks. No, really, thank you. Soccer grandmas are totally cool and hip.

Friday, March 11, 2011

Improv Rants

How do you feel about those people who cruise along, taking up the whole darn sidewalk and refusing to make way for you, forcing you to walk in the grass and get your new Skechers wet and muddy? Or the folks who block the entire grocery store aisle, aimlessly staring at boxes of cereal while yammering away on their cell phones? Do you think Twilight is the literary equivalent of, say, Gallo wine from a box?

Whatever your pet peeve, and we're sure you have one because even calm, mild mannered people like those of us at H2G occasionally get slightly irked by things, you can likely go off on quite a colorful, animated rant about it given the right opportunity and sufficient alcohol, are we right?

Okay, calm down, I have a point. We did a fun exercise in the all-level drop-in class last night where you get to totally go off on whatever your pet peeve is. The more energy and drama, the better. So it's like therapy.

Only then, you switch pet peeves with someone else and now you have to argue IN FAVOR of their pet peeve. Suddenly, there's nothing you love more than traipsing through the mud, or spending extra hours at the grocery store or the idea of a tortured, angst-ridden story that romanticizes high school, of all the ridiculous things to romanticize. And you can't be sarcastic. You have to take on the point of view of a person who genuinely enjoys getting out of the way for other people, feeling the wet grass on your toes, etc. You simply love getting to know people vicariously through examining the contents of their shopping carts while you wait for them to mosey on to the next aisle. You are absolutely sure that Twilight is a story for the ages, with undying (literally) love that knows no bounds.

In improv terms, it's an exercise that forces you to take on a whole new point of view that you would probably never have thought of, and it helps you come up with kooky characters. In life, it helps you look at petty annoyances in a different light and hopefully not let them get to you quite so much. Which is a good thing, and we at H2G are happy to help.

Although seriously, people, do you really have to call your spouse/roommate/significant other for input on what kind of chips to purchase? Hang up the phone, reach out and grab a friggin' bag. It's chips. What's the worst that could happen? It's not like they'll make you fall in love with a 200 year old vampire or anything.

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Intro to Improv Workshop

Does "intensive" sound too intense? How 'bout "boot camp" - too regimented? Well then, you're in luck because we have a very un-regimented, totally un-intense Intro to Improv Workshop coming up in Long Beach in a little over a week.

"Workshop" is cool, right? It implies a little work, sure, but in an informal, safe and definitely not intense way. Which is what happens at our Intro Workshops, so it's convenient that we named them that way!

These workshops are designed for very specific people, namely:
  1. People who don't have time to commit to a 6-week class
  2. People who aren't sure improv is for them
  3. People who like to dip their toe in the water before jumping all the way in and getting their hair wet
  4. People who live in the 'hood and want to keep up on what's happening at EXPO
  5. People who have nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon
  6. Or, um, you

This is a great opportunity to try out some improv exercises and games without the pressure of committing to a full-length class. It really is designed for everybody - some of the people who have taken the workshop have been graduating college students honing their communication skills for job interviews, moms who feel like they've totally forgotten how to have a conversation with grown-ups and folks who have seen H2G perform and thought, "Well, hell, I can do that." You know what? They're right! Everyone can do improv.

Of course, not everyone gets to kiss Delilah. C'mon, people, I have to draw the line somewhere. Register at Held2gether.com.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Oscar Wilde Woulda Loved Improv

Wow, what a crazy few days! We apologize for our absence, we've had a lot on our plate - long form class, rehearsal for First Fridays, performance at First Fridays, watching our friend Paul Knox perform in Ethan Coen's Almost an Evening, and the Head Honcho's birthday blowout.

But that doesn't mean we haven't been thinking about you, our loyal reader(s). And we wanted to share some very important thoughts with you. Of course, we don't have any ourselves, so we borrowed these:
All you need is ignorance and confidence and the success is sure. ~ Mark Twain
If you haven't got anything nice to say about anybody, come sit next to me. ~ Alice Roosevelt Longworth
And our personal fave:
Work is the curse of the drinking classes. ~ Oscar Wilde
Now that we've stimulated your mind(s), we want to remind you that the next batch of Held2gether improv classes starts this week: Intro classes on Saturdays beginning the 12th and on Tuesdays beginning the 15th and Level 2 classes beginning on Thursday the 17th. Yes, it's St. Patrick's day, but there's plenty of time to drink your green beer after class. Or while you're at work. That's what we do, and Oscar Wilde would approve.

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Toastmasters and Improv

I went to a Toastmasters meeting yesterday. I guess that's not overly exciting, or the logical topic for a humorous blog, but it does relate to improv so I'm gonna go with it.

Toastmasters, for those of you laboring under the misguided notion that it has something to do with preparing gourmet toast, is an organization that teaches public speaking and leadership skills to ordinary people. If you happen to be extraordinary, they'll teach you as well. Lots of Toastmasters have taken our improv classes to help with extemporaneous speaking and just getting more comfortable with different folks. If you're a Toastmaster and would like to get looser and think more quickly, Held2gether improv classes can help. Darren also does presentations at Toastmasters meetings around Long Beach and the O.C.

I'm actually not nervous speaking (or doing improv) in front of groups of people, but I am shy and prone to tongue-tiedness in one-on-one situations. So I figured I'd give Toastmasters a try. Among other functionaries at the meeting, there was a nice man who kept track of the number of times speakers said "uh" or "um" as well as their grammatical errors. The group was very pleasant and didn't make fun of the fact that I said "um" twice and repeated the word "and" once. I, um, think I'll go back next week and... and give it, um, another try. It, uh, couldn't hurt, right? Right?

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Improv: The Cure for Perfectionism

Are you the type who always gets it right the first time? In school, do the papers and projects you submit consistently come back from the teacher with a gold star? In the office, do your coworkers come to you to double check their reports for accuracy? In your circle of friends, are you the one who has the Friday night plans detailed down to the very minute?

If so, we know your type, and we have a love/hate relationship with your personality.

We love you because you are exact. You’ve analyzed the possibilities and have come up with the most cost effective, time efficient solution. Your work product is flawless. In short, you’re perfect.

On the flipside, we hate you -- well, “hate” is a bit of a strong word -- we struggle with you, because you can come across rigid. No deviation is allowed. It’s your way or the highway. And quite frankly, sometimes in dealing with you, we feel like taking the highway.

It’s nothing personal. And we really do see the value you bring to relationships. But we can see an unintended consequence of your perfectionism -- your fear of taking risk. Paralysis by over-analysis. Not wanting to take action until you know the outcome will be flawless. And when things don’t go perfectly, you’re lining up heads for the guillotine. Does this sound familiar?

Held2gether’s non-licensed, non-certified, non-credentialed, but highly intuitive therapists have a perfect cure for you - a slice of humble pie. Not a big, honking, calorie-rich slice that could negatively impact your perfect figure, but a thin slice that will stimulate your tastebuds and help you appreciate the flavor of imperfection. It’s an acquired taste and we’re here to help.

Improv cannot be planned, and as such, you learn to embrace mistakes. You may be in a scene where everything seems to be going right - you and your scene partner are “yes, anding” each other, heightening the situation to the point of side-splitting hilarity. The next scene, you do all the same things, but you can hear a cricket chirp in the audience.

That’s the nature of improv -- nothing is scripted, nothing can be planned, nothing is perfect (including the audience). So you learn to deal. You dust yourself off and in the next scene, you try something new and you take a risk. Suddenly, the audience is laughing again. You got your mojo back. And it didn’t happen because you’re perfect. It happened because you chose to embrace your imperfections and go with ‘em. Ah, what a refreshing feeling!

There’s a time and place for your perfectionism - while performing a root canal is a prime example. But there is also something to be said for learning to roll with the punches.

Come take a class with Held2gether and you’ll see how imperfection is just as wonderful as perfection.