Improv and Riding a Bike

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

That's me breathing a huge sigh of relief. There's an improv class tomorrow night, and by my calculations, it's been 2.5 weeks since I last did improv.

Not that I'm counting.

That's not a long time by normal people standards, I realize. But given that there was a period of time over the summer during which I did 13 improv activities in 11 days, 2 1/2 weeks is a bit of a dry spell for me.

I'm curious to see if I still remember the rules, or if I fall into a black, bottomless pit of questions, denials and Crazyville information.

Oh, okay, that's not gonna happen. The thing about improv is, the skills you learn get so ingrained because you start to constantly use them in real life, that you're not gonna forget them in 2 1/2 weeks. Or 2 1/2 years. Like riding a bike, you know. Once you learn that skill, it's a skill you possess forever, unless you fall off the roof and hit your head or something. But that almost never happens.

So if you've taken a class, but it's been a while and you think you don't remember anything or that you don't "have it" anymore, that's just crazy talk. Sign up for a Held2gether improv class and see how much fun you have riding that bike again!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Want to Climb Up On Your Roof? Take Improv.

My roof is leaking, so I clambered up there to see if it was something I could fix. You know, in the rain. It's not so stupid - I have a higher-than-normal single story roof, but it's flat and therefore relatively safe. Once you climb up and over the parapet wall surrounding it, that is.

Oh, for the love of bunnies, why is she telling us this?? I know, I know. I can be a bit trying at times. Ask anyone in Held2gether. They've all had more than their fill of me by now.

I have a point, I promise. See, the thing is, I'm afraid of heights. And, as luck would have it, it was something I could not fix. So I climbed up there and - more traumatically - back down again for nothing. But for whatever reason, I felt I had to try and so I did.

I didn't want to. But I learned in improv classes how to face my fears. People take improv classes for an infinite number of reasons, from wanting to improve their acting to wanting to be less shy to wanting to get a better job. I was of the "less shy" variety, combined with a desire to push myself out of my comfort zone. I'm not plagued by a myriad of fears or anything, but I do have a few and I wanted to learn to not let them get in my way.

Improv taught me that. You can't plan in improv. You have no idea what's going to happen, and you have to keep your mind open to the limitless possibilities. That means you can't be thinking, "Crap! What if I do it wrong? What if nobody laughs? What if they laugh at the wrong things? What if they hate me? What if, what if, what if?"

You learn in improv that you can't control the what ifs in life. And that, by not focusing on those negative what ifs, you are free to listen, contribute, do more. I'm not going to say you'll never fail again once you've taken improv; real life includes failing, peeps. But in improv, you learn not to be afraid to fail. You learn to go big... and that sometimes that means you fail big. So what? You get up and you go big again!

Facing your fears and doing what scares you makes life a lot more interesting. If you'd like a more interesting life, take some Held2gether improv classes.

Just, you know, be careful on the roof. It's pretty high up there.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

I Can Make Your Bedrock

I'm sorry, I thought I would have a lot of extra time at the end of the year since we're done with classes and shows until the new year, but I'm swamped with work of both the Held2gether type and the non-Held2gether type, so blogging had to take a back seat all week.

But never fear! Just in time for your weekend shenanigans, I have a helpful post for you. At the drop-in class the other night, they did a game based on cheesy pickup lines. I wasn't there because I was evidently channeling a 95-year-old woman (or Viet) and was asleep before 7 p.m., but I've played it before. And I've heard cheesy pickup lines before.

Stop laughing. I meant I've heard people say them. You know, to other people. None of whom were me.

Anyway, my lameness aside, I am here to help. So just in time for the weekend, I'm going to list for you some of the awesome cheesy pickup lines people posted on the Held2gether Facebook page, which you should really "like," by the way. Hope this helps with your weekend mischief. You're welcome.

• Baby, I'm no Fred Flintstone, but I can make your Bedrock.
• My friend and I have a bet you won't take off your blouse in a public place.
• Come here pussycat. I have wet food in my pocket. [disclaimer: that was actually a suggestion from a cat]
• Your legs must be tired because you've been running through my mind.
• F@#* me if I'm wrong, but is your name Grizelda?
• Wanna f@#*?
• I think I've just died because I see an angel in front of me!
• I'm not ugly, you're just sober.

See, I've told you a million times that improv will literally help you in every area of your life. Even picking up dates in bars. If that's not improv for life, I dunno what is!

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Why 2011 Was the Best Year Ever

I was going to write a sappy post about the year winding down and all that Hallmark-y crap, but then I remembered this is supposed to be a funny blog. Sometimes I forget that there's a time and a place for everything. No, really. I am occasionally inappropriate.

Uh, so anyway, the year is winding down and all, but that's no reason to get all sentimental and weepy about resolutions you didn't keep and goals you didn't achieve. Why not focus on the positive? Here, I'll help! Cuz that's just how I roll, my friends.

1. You're reading this blog, correct? Awesome! That means you are both a) literate and b) not severely visually impaired. Yay you!
2. It also means you either own or have access to a computer or handheld digital device, which would imply you are not currently incarcerated or being held for ransom in a dank warehouse. Again, kudos!
3. It would also seem to indicate that you know about improv comedy, which demonstrates your superior intellect and excellent taste. Super! And finally,
   
4. Odds are you are neither married to nor in the process of divorcing a Kardashian. Nice!

Great job on making 2011 a huge success! If you want to make 2012 even better, take some Held2gether improv classes. Get out of your comfort zone, improve some skills, make new friends and have a ball. Who knows, maybe you'll even meet that special someone.

No, not a Kardashian.

By Sonnjea Blackwell

Commitment: The Key to Good Improv and Successful Arm Wrestling

Andy, Co-Dependent took offense yesterday when I proclaimed that only three people of my acquaintance could likely beat me in an arm wrestling contest, and he was not one of the three. Realistically, I'm sure he's right - I am, after all, a girl.

But the whole arm wrestling conversation triggered a long-forgotten memory that I will now share with you, as I am wont to do from time to time. At some point, I will try to draw a parallel between my memory and improv, as I am also wont to do.

My dad used to be quite a character: your typical beer-drinking-smack-talking-macho-redneck fireman. Once he was at a drinking establishment of ill repute when another patron got in his face about something. One thing led to another and, rather than resorting to fisticuffs, the two decided to settle their differences by arm wrestling.

My dad was 6 feet tall but lanky and wiry; the other dude was more muscular. Of course you see where this is going. Dad won. Then he won again. And again. The more the big dude lost, the madder he got until he foolishly bet my dad his motorcycle. My dad already had a motorcycle, but when he beat the guy for the final time, he took his bike anyway to "teach him a lesson." Oy.

The other guy seemed to have the size and the strength, and he definitely had the swagger. But my dad had the commitment. When he did a thing, whether it was arm wrestling drunks or putting out fires or building a house, he committed 100% to that thing until it was finished.

And now for the improv connection. (Fair warning, peeps: you don't wanna bet me your motorcycle that I will be unable to tie something - anything - to improv. You'll be cursing me all the way to the bus stop).

I've yammered on about the importance of commitment in improv, and I'm sure you realize by now that there is absolutely no successful improv without commitment. Stay in it, don't bail, don't judge yourself or your scene partners, don't laugh, don't do the wink-wink-nudge-nudge thing, don't leave the location. Fortunately, commitment isn't as hard to learn as you might imagine, and we teach people how to do it every day. We'd be delighted to teach you*, too, so register for a Held2gether Intro to Improv Comedy Class today... and don't procrastinate, because some of the January classes are already full-o-rooni, people!

*Disclaimer: Held2gether does not teach arm wrestling skills. We do not advocate arm wrestling with drunks in bars or elsewhere. Gambling is illegal. Motorcycles are dangerous. Always wear a helmet. Not all firemen are of the beer-drinking-smack-talking-macho-redneck variety, and we did not intend to imply otherwise. May not be combined with any other offers.


By Sonnjea Blackwell