DAMN people! Why are ya so difficult to track down?

For all of you wondering why I cant provide guests more frequently...lemme explain. For every guest that I get to sit down for an interview, I have exchanged about forty emails back and forth trying to arrange a time and place....I have probably gone through at least three cancellations and rescheduling...not to mention an occasional mood swing or change of heart.
Its tough.
But hey, I pledge to hang in there and keep hammering away for you lovers of improv.
Happy Nuevo Ano
2010

Better Living Through Improv

On my website....(not this blogsite) www.theimprovfrog.com I have written "Better living through improv." What that means to me is that I do improv, and encourage others to do improv to improv their lives and improv the peoples lives around them. It is not a path I travel for fame or noteriety. I do improv and teach improv for the joy it brings me and others. If other people dont understand it, or judge me for it, so be it. They can waste their lives chasing a monetary goal or an illusionary status, and leave this world unhappy. I dont think anything is wrong with success, money or fame in themselves...but as a byproduct, not as a main goal. I want to be happy, I want the people in my life to be happy.
People may never understand your reasons for doing things altruisticly...but thats okay. keep doing what you know is right.
Without mentioning the particulars, im engaged in something right now that I know is right, and it makes me happy, and it makes other people happy. Some people in my life dont understand why I am doing it. Thats okay. Maybe thats what makes me different, and I shouldnt fault them for not seeing the world as I see it. It takes all of us in life to enrich eachother and give contrast to eachother.
If you are doing something altruisticly out of the goodness of your heart, and some people take atvantage of your kindness...thats on them. it doesnt change the good intentions that you had-or the good karma you are generating :)
I know-this blog entry is a little bit coded and random. I hope it reaches someone who needs to hear the message, however rambling and vague it may seem.
Happy Holidays

thin the herd please!!!!

I wonder what the need is to have as large of a troupe as possible on stage? The only thing I can think of, is people dont want to be the "bad guy" by telling people that the cast is full, or not looking for extra performers. Please....SOMEONE, be the bad guy! I would rather watch a novice improvisor go onstage with their own troupe of novice improvisors, than watching an awesome group with one novice sticking out like a sore thumb, and holding the group back. That is one reason why I love having workshops and places where improvisors of ALL levels can play together and be supportive of each other....and then when it comes time to do a show, only the top level improvisors can play. Do I sound like an ass? Fine. I wish more people would be asses then downgrading the whole show experience. I beleive in giving learning performers all different kinds of opportunities, including their own "Showcase" venues...but really...take it from me...the one guy/gal that you are letting tag along during your performances, is really distracting to the audience when you have billed your show to be "the BEST improvisors" or "Improv Allstars" etc.

new Podcast avail!!!!

The new podcast features my recommendations of improv books.

It was a noisy day in the studio, with the heater launching on several times, and my sweety chihuahua barking at something...but all in all, i think the sound quality is improved in this episode. I hope you like it.

bear with me folks...or FROG with me.

be patient please...while i experiment with different microphones, and equiptment to find what works best. I know my sound sucks right now...but Im working on it. Unfortunately, I got no one to show me nuthin-I'm strickly going by trial and error.
I have two mics so far, buying a third this month. Also trying several different recording modes.
EVENTIALLY......I will chance upon the right equiptment that suits my purpose. After all, even a blind chicken eventually pecks at a kernal of corn!!!!

Also, there will be some more interesting shows down the tube. Im kinda holding back on those shows til I work out the technical aspects first.

Thanks for stickin around.
the IMPROV FROG

thanks buddy

I wanna thank my roomate and little buddy Cruzito for nursing me back to health when I was sick with the flu.

Sidelined!!!!!

Yuck. I was side-lined by the flu. It wasnt the H1N1, but damn...it mustve been only a few bacteria short of it. Luckily, I had a warm place to sleep, with an attentive chihuahua who nursed me back to health, and I am finally back. So-you will be hearing a new podcast soon :)

Happy Thanksgiving

Im so thankful for all the laughs I've enjoyed watching my favorite improv groups perform. It really has lifted my spirits. I have met some pretty awesome and inspirational people this year.
I cant move very much right now due to the amount of food I have ingested, but I can still manage a simple blog entry to say thanks. You all have made my year "good-fun".

Where's my Comedy Partner?

People ask me all the time. "When are you gonna form an improv group?" At the risk of sounding elitist...I dont form a group, because I have high standards, and I'm waiting to find the person or people who meet those standards. Now, before anyone calls me an egotistical snob.... I am NOT talking about talent. Yes, I do expect a moderate level of talent from my performance partners, but beleive me-that bar is pretty low.
Rather, what I am talking about is my expectations for peoples behavior OUTSIDE of performing.
Heavy drug users and alcoholics need not apply firstly. But what i find most common in potential performance partners is their disregaurd of common courtesy in replying to calls and emails or text messages. If it takes me sending eleven emails to you in order to get ONE response...how do I think you will be when it comes time to communicate details about shows, rehearsals etc?
Obviously, I have respect and admiration for your talent-or I wouldnt be interested in moving forward in any artistic venture with you. But if getting a hold of you, and scheduling meetings, and bending over backwards to accomodate your availability, proves to be too much a chore...its a sign to me that I probably would be better off with someone who is easier to communicate with. Isnt it strange with so many more avenues for communication (emails, text, cell phones etc.) that some people still take weeks to respond? That kind of casualness in responding is not what i am looking for in a serious artistic partner.
So-until I find those people...I will wait patiently. No rush, no hurry. Dont jump into the sack with the first gal or guy that comes along...because when Mr. or Mrs. Right comes along-you want to be available. Peace Love.

New Podcast guest preparation begins

No, I'm not naming names...yet. But the initial contact has been made, and shortly we will be able to officially anounce who the next guest on the Improv Frog Podcast will be.
Hopefully you folks will enjoy the guest(s) that I have chosen.
Until I can officially announce....STAY TUNED.

the Apple Sisters perform in Las Vegas 27 NOV.

The Apple Sisters. (A.K.A. Kimmy Gatewood, Rebekka Johnson and Sarah Lowe.) Perform at the Stage Door Theater at Town Square-6587 S. Las Vegas Blvd. Las Vegas 89118, on November 27th at 10 pm.
These gals are amazing performers, and the show "Thanks for the Stuffing." is critically aclaimed, and award winning.
The show is ONE NIGHT ONLY.

To check out the gals, go to www.theapplesisters.com

The Last Men on Earth Podcast has been published.

The sound quality is low on the actual interview part, so bump up the volume to suit your comfort level.
Use the links at the bottom of the page to access the podcast.

Mike and Anthony pictures are also available at my webpage
www.theimprovfrog.com

enjoy the podcast.

Last Men on Earth will Debut

Ok, I finally got Anthony and Mike from The Last Men on Earth to sit down and re-podcast, months after I messed up the origial podcast in the editing bay.
Mike and Anthony was fun and insightful, and true to their healthy lifestyle, refused to eat the cupcakes that I put out for them to eat. They did walk off with the bottled water I provided each of them.
I got the podcast. In the next few days I will edit and publish.
Thanks thanks thank thanks thanks for hanging in while I was in a holding pattern. I really wanted Anthony and Mike to be my first improv group interview, so I was was holding off on anyothers until I got them in the can.
Hope everyone had a nice Holloween and now we can move forward to the REAL holiday...Thanksgiving!
My Aunt is the best cook in Las Vegas, dont be a hater!

Things to Consider when choosing an Improv Class

There is a new podcast featuring some things you should consider when choosing an improv class that is right for you. Check it out.

http://www.theimprovfrog.libsyn.com/

Are ya still having fun?

Hey, remember how much fun you had in that very first improv class that you ever took? Now, its years later and you're onstage and your face is all screwed and twisted, brow furrowed, and your whole body shows the strain going on inside your brain. What happened?
Stop being so serious! dont put all that pressure on yourself to be funny clever and witty.

Just be present, and enjoy yourself. Have fun, dont judge the audience, dont judge your fellow players, and dont judge yourself.

Where did my audience go?????

You started out attracting a good size, and enthusiastic audience, but now your house is more than half empty. What went wrong?
Who knows...but there is a good chance that something needs to be changed.
The most likely culprit in these economic times are your ticket prices. Perhaps you need to outright drop your prices, or at least offer "specials" and discounts on occasion. My personal rule of thumb for improv shows is ten dollars and under. If the price is ten dollars, I will probably see one or two shows a month. If its five dollars, I will see four shows a month.

If you already have low prices, and have lost your audience-it has to be something else.
Perhaps the quality of your shows have slipped. We all want to get stage time, but not everyone is really ready to be on stage. I think having novice performers on stage can drive away audiences. Perhaps have one show a month featuring the up and coming performers, and keep the rest of the shows strictly to the best and seasoned performers.

And finally, look at the format. Beleive it or not, audiences get bored with the same format.
If all you are doing is some type of long form, where you do scene one, two, three....and then heighten one, two, three over and over until the end. well then, that format gets played out.
I'm a big fan of troupes who have thier own format which is different from what everyone else is doing. And even then, after awhile...they will change their own format.


On a side note...I love improv audiences (for the most part). I am always constantly meeting the friendliest people in the audience, and the most easily approachable people. I think its because people come to see a show in a good mood. they are ready to have a good time, and they want to have a good time. so give thanks to your supportive audience members individually when you can.

What do I do BEFORE a show?

Number one thing? Sleep. I have to catch a nap before a show. This serves three functions. it gets me rest, stops me from pacing back and forth and disturbing my downstairs neighbors, and stops me from eating. Eating before a show makes me feel sluggish. After the show I eat my way all the way home, and then eat when i get home.

I spend a little personal grooming time in the mirror. Thing is, when not performing I never do ANY personal grooming. I just dont care. But on a show night I will take care of those things that I neglect in every day. this includes nostril hair trimming, and eyebrow trimming. Now, I am not a fan of guys who shape their eyebrows like a womans. I hate that. But I do take care of the stray hairs, so they are not all Andy Rooney.
A good close shave. Some gel on the hair. and a nice ironed shirt with a tie.
Plenty of underarm spray.

I must say...I was the sharp looking one out of our troupe.

What do I do after a show???

Had a moderately succesful show tonight. No major flaws by myself or team members...so? This is Las Vegas a 24 hour hotspot, I know you are all wondering what I do after the show with all my pumped up energy?
Straight home. Downloaded a song that had been banging around in my head all day ("Stay" by Shakespears Sister.) straight to the refridgerater....began cooking a late dinner, since I starve myself on show nights. I am making a southwest style chicken breast. And turn the tv to Nancy Grace, pour a tall glass of chocolate milk...and thats it.
I know I have an exciting life.

Demetri Martin

Comedian, actor, correspondent from the "Daly Show" Demitri Martin is hilarious. Agreed? Check him out in Comedy Central's "Important Things with Demitri Martin." available on DVD.
Of coarse by now most people know he dropped out of law school with just ONE year to finish, so he could pursue his comedy career.
A distinctive comedic voice, he should be on your list to check out, and follow his career. He has a long time ahead of him, and undoubtedly will change the comedy landscape for years to come and inspire the next generation of comedians.
Inspired in part by the dry humor of Steven Wright...but with a voice of today's young generation.
he is sweet, confident, and comfortable with himself. And most importantly funny.

6 Questions with the Last Men on Earth

Here is a link to six questions I asked Anthony and Mike from the Last Men on Earth.

I had asked them these questions in anticipation of the podcast session which would come later. And since I blew the podcast with some technical malfunctions....all I have to salvage is this written interview. Mike and Anthony are both charming and polite. And I am scary. Like in the perverted way. So...it may be awhile before they sit down for a re-do of the podcast. My fingers are crossed. In the meanwhile...enjoy reading their responses to these six questions.

http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0Aeq29Yv8QhvAZGR6bnFyNDdfM2ZtcDZ0Y2hn&hl=en