Anyone here taken UCB/Second City classes?

[MAACP]

Hey, AST, I need your help!

I'm planning on taking improv/sketch writing classes next year, and I'm trying to decide where I should go. I currently live in Chicago, but have found an opportunity to live pretty cheap near LA, and the prospect of not living at home makes moving even more inviting. So I'm trying to decide between two great places: UCB and Second City.

Anyone here have any input on the two? They obviously both have great reputations and I'm sure neither would be a bad place to go, but since i'm lucky enough to be able to choose, I want to make the right choice.

I'm 25, and have no previous writing or acting experience. I also wanted to start doing some open mics, but i figure if either location provides decent stage opportunities.

[Hated Milk Machine]

Not to be a dick, but if you live in Chicago, why aren't you already doing those things? I don't see how moving to LA is suddenly going to motivate you (especially since LA is more competitive).

[MAACP]

Not to be a dick, but if you live in Chicago, why aren't you already doing those things? I don't see how moving to LA is suddenly going to motivate you (especially since LA is more competitive).

.


It's not about going to LA because I think that's where I have to go to be successful, it's about picking between UCB and second city. I've always wanted to take classes at UCB, and I've been wanting to go back to CA since I left after graduating. Plus, getting out of my parent's house is a big incentive.


This isn't a Chicago vs. LA argument. Just wanting opinion of people who have taken UCB or Second City classes.

But I get your point about LA being more competitive.

[Hated Milk Machine]

Oh, okay. I misunderstood.

I am taking classes at Second City. I enjoy it, but it can feel pretty "beginnery." Which is fine, when you are beginning, but it seems like they take a long time to teach very simple concepts when you just wish you could move on. I just started at the Annoyance and so far like it more, but I might have felt in over my head had I not had a year of Second City under my belt.

Don't rule out the smaller training centers. Chicago has iO, Annoyance and Second City, and LA has UCB, iO, Groundlings (but the improv scene as a whole is much smaller). Just start taking classes and making friends, the rest will follow.

[sharilyn]

I have limited experience with both, but in other markets. Took 2 levels of improv at UCB in NYC, and am currently in level 2 of the writing program at Second City in Toronto.

I love UCB a lot. The teachers are top-notch (one of my 101 teachers was just hired onto the cast of SNL), and the atmosphere at the theater is incredible. I don't know how different the sense of community is at the LA location, but I imagine it would be equally cool.

Second City I find is really geared towards aspiring actors, which is fine if that's what you are. But I'm not. I don't feel like I have any sort of relationship with SC in Toronto, and there's a vague sales-pitchy vibe to the place. That said, it IS Second City. And that name has value.


If it's improv you're after, you're basically looking at longform (UCB) vs. shortform (SC). Which one you end up preferring is a very personal choice, I think. I'm equally trained in both (though still very much a beginner), and I find longform to be much more interesting/satisfying. But it's also more difficult. I think it's important to sample both, before you decide with path to go down. Either one has potential to change the way you define improv.

You don't say when you're planning on leaving exactly, but you should seriously consider taking some classes right now. Not taking improv training while living in Chicago would be a tragic waste. It's improv's holy land.

Second City has a weekend workshop in Chicago, which will give you a taste. Also check out iO before you leave Chicago, which has a location (and a new front door?!) in Los Angeles.

If I were you, I would try both (and more) and stick with the one that feels more comfortable to you.

[MikeMic]

I like how improv and tai chi both have longform and shortform.

[Kurt]

I took Sketch 101 at UCB and enjoyed it; I met some really talented people there.

I'm currently in Improv 101 at UCB as well with Joel Spence and it's great. A friend of mine is taking it with me and he has taken a few Groundlings classes and Acme as well out here and he seems to enjoy this the most. At least with Joel, he never makes you feel like a beginner. I find myself waiting the whole week just for class to come around again because it's a lot of fun.

[mcpiranhas]

I took two classes so far at the LA UCB and it's the greatest thing I've ever done, seriously.

I asked this in another thread and nobody answered so I'm going to bring it up again... has anyone ever taken the "intensive" classes, where you pile up the classes several days in a row as opposed to once a week over a couple months? I'd love to hear opinions about it...

[sharilyn]

I asked this in another thread and nobody answered so I'm going to bring it up again... has anyone ever taken the "intensive" classes, where you pile up the classes several days in a row as opposed to once a week over a couple months? I'd love to hear opinions about it...

My 101 at UCB in NY was an intensive. It may be because it was everyone's first time doing improv, but we really bonded as a group. Slightly disconcerting at first having 2 teachers, but we got used to it pretty fast. A year later, most of us still keep in touch. My 201 was a semi-intensive... 8 classes over 4 weeks. There wasn't quite the same bonding, but I thought it was just as good an experience as any of my weekly classes I've taken elsewhere.

[Babs]

Come to los angeles. Get out of your parents house. Take classes at UCB, Second City, and IO West. You will learn different things that are useful in each place.



But I say if you're going to be in Chicago for a while more, start taking classes there whether you are coming out to LA or not.

[mezmorized]

I'm going to start taking Improv 101 at UCB NYC next month so I can fill you in on how it goes.

[CJ Toledano]

I moved here to Chicago almost exactly a year ago and I've been very satisfied with the comedy education I've been receiving. I went through a semester long comedy studies program at Second City, currently in Level 3 Conservatory there and Level 4 at iO. There were some rough patches here and there, I'm sure there'll be more but ultimately I think it depends on who your teachers are and what you put into it. Going to improv shows as much as possible also I think helps you become a better peformer and are just plain out fun to go to. I'm in such awe watching some people at iO and Second City. Knowing that they stayed here and really studied and worked hard to become who they are is another reason why I'm attracted to this city so much. People like Pat O'Brien, TJ Jagadowski, Dave Pasquesi, Tim Baltz, Jet Eveleth, just to name a few. You take classes at these training centers and you learn something that you see those guys do on stage time after time and it justifies you investing your time and money studying there. If you want to check out some great improv shows here are some I would recommend:
Mondays @ 8:30 - Armando Diaz Experience
Tuesdays @ 10:30 - The Reckoning (They experiment with different forms this night)
Wednesday @ 10:30 - TJ & Dave (they're on hiatus though, I think they're coming back in Sept.)
Thursday @ 8 - The Reckoning (They do the Harold)
Friday @ 10:30 - Bullet Lounge
Saturday @ 10:30 - Bullet Lounge
Sunday @ 10:30 - Middle Age Comeback & 3033
If you go to any of these shows and you like it, I recommend taking iO over Second City if you have to choose.

I've also been doing stand-up since I've moved here and the scene here is so supportive and there's shows that you can do every night so you really can work on the craft. I just heard from someone that Chicago open mics have their advantage over NYC because we're still able to attract random people. Although, I'm not sure how heavily he was involved in open mics in NYC so I don't want to assume he's 100% right. I definitely think Chicago is a great place to grow though. If you want to a list of comedy open mics to go to, check out the "Chicago open mics" thread in the Chicago forum.

If you have other reasons to move out to CA in addition to comedy, I'd say go for it. If you're ultimate career goal is comedy and you already live here, I would say explore what's around you already and take advantage of it. While you know there's great stuff out there, it's also cool to see the great stuff that isn't really talked about yet but you know will in the future. I mean Chicago is the home of long-form improv and comedy legends like Farley, Odenkirk, Mckay, Smigel...the list goes on. A lot of the people who you like now came from here. Even in stand-up, Chicago comics are being talked about a whole lot nowadays out in LA and NYC. Right when I got here a whole bunch moved and rightfully so because they put in the time here and they are ready to be seen all because they worked hard and took advantage of this city.

Anyways, those are my feelings.

[KevinLee]

I love UCB a lot. The teachers are top-notch (one of my 101 teachers was just hired onto the cast of SNL), and the atmosphere at the theater is incredible. I don't know how different the sense of community is at the LA location, but I imagine it would be equally cool.

Sharilyn,what's your teachers name, if you dont mind?

[sharilyn]

Sharilyn,what's your teachers name, if you dont mind?

The new SNL castmember in question was Bobby Moynihan. My other 101 teacher was Lennon Parham, and my 201 was Porter Mason.

[MAACP]

Thanks everyone for the great info and helpful advice.

I've been working in the business world for the past couple years, but I'm starting to realize its not something I want to do long-term, and I want to give comedy a try while I'm still young enough that I can put a serious amount of time in, fail and be alright. As far as my comedy aspirations go, I've always wanted to do stand up. But I have no idea how to write, and in the mean time, I figure sketch writing and improv classes can help. Plus, you never know what really works best for you until you try it.

The desire to move to California is definitely inspired by things outside comedy, like wanting to live on my own and weather. But I also thought that maybe UCB would fit my sense of humor, although I really have nothing to base that on, and it probably doesn't make a difference at my beginner level.

Even if I do move, it would not necessarily be permanent, but I thought that the best way to go is pick one institution and see the program through as far as I can. After reading some of your posts, I guess I should try a couple different places. And I'm sure leaving Chicago to do improv would be a crime.

I've heard great things about the Chicago stand up scene, and will try and get out to the city more and check things out and hopefully get involved.

[Mutant Despot]

UCB.

[Joe McAdam]

I'm not really involved with the improv scene here in Chicago, but it has some of the most talented people you will ever see.

I'm currently taking SC writing classes and they have been very helpful. I don't know if it's possible, but skip the Intro to Creative Writing class if you can. All the other classes I've had there have been very helpful though. It really gets me in the habit of writing something everyday. You have to have a new 5 page script every week, which is really helpful for a lazy guy like me.

Also the writing classes really help me with stand up (brainstorming ideas and such), and I'll back up CJ and say this is an extremely supportive scene and there are tons of places to go for open mics nearly every night. It doesn't take long to start really honing your material when you can hit the stage 3 or 4 times a week.

If you are going to stick around in Chicago, get involved as soon as possible, it's going to suck to leave the house in a few months.

[KevinLee]

I think I'm gonna take that SC writing class because I wanna write sketch, but I also wanted to dip my toe in the improv pool. I was wondering about good Lvl. 1 instructors.

[percykittens]

The thing about SC is they don't let you know who the teachers are before you sign up for class. That being said, all of my teachers there have been great.

[KevinLee]

ouch