I'm really interested in getting into improv, but as much as I'd love to do it, I just can't afford a $350 UCB class right now. Anyone have any more affordable recommendations for improv? I don't want to go somewhere terrible just because it's cheap.
the 3 big theaters (ucb, the magnet, and the pit) all charge roughly the same for classes. there are probably cheaper if you absolutely have to do that, but keep in mind that it's going to be a million times harder for you to get on teams and get involved in the scene if you go that route. if you're serious about improv, i'd bite the bullet and pay the money. worth it in the long run.
if you thought that sports joke was hilarious, check out the sports jokes at http://ghostwrittenbywilbon.tumblr.com and http://www.twitter.com/ghostbon!
This.Originally Posted by disl
The PIT's intro level is only 4 weeks / $150, so that might not be a bad place to start if you're cash strapped.
If you want to pick a theatre to stick with, or get an idea of which teachers might suit you best, you can poke around for past conversations here: <a href="http://improvresourcecenter.com/mb/forumdisplay.php?f=30 ">http://improvresourcecenter.com/mb/forumdisplay.php?f=30</a> (Just be aware that everyone in the scene, teachers included, are on that forum, so don't ask the group about specific teachers! Though I've heard nice things about Betsy and Ari at the 101 level at UCB.)
I think there's a long wait list, and I'm not sure if you have to take a class to be eligible, but.... people are able to take ucb classes free in exchange for interning at the theatre. It might be worth calling the theatre and looking into it.
you have to take at least 2 levels of classes at the ucb to qualify to become an intern and then you need your last instructor's recommendation to get onto the waiting list to become an intern, which i believe is a few months long. i'm on the list right now. my last teacher told me i might not hear back until march, but that i will hear back at some point. so keep all of that in mind.
if you thought that sports joke was hilarious, check out the sports jokes at http://ghostwrittenbywilbon.tumblr.com and http://www.twitter.com/ghostbon!
Have you read any books? For some reason Improv is the one form of comedy that has a lot of really good "theory" books. Be warned though, these books are pretty wank-y.
Truth in Comedy is a little old, but this is the best place to start if you're going to do the Harold.
Mick Napier's has some interesting stuff to say. He's directed some of the best Second City shows (the one in he did for Toronto SC is by far my favorite show I've seen there).
I don't hear Keith mentioned much outside of Canada (and Europe, apparently) but his Two Books I found to be the most interesting and useful. I am highly biased, though, because I trained at his theatre.
I remember the UCB having free shows like once a week or once a month where anyone from the audience could get on stage . It was always a total cluster fuck.
Ahha, now that is an idea. Get your own group going possibly. There are groups out there who get together and rehearse on their own. Keep a look out in Backstage.com and Craigslist. I signed up for a ucb class awhile back and ended up getting cast in a paid improv troupe the same hour of the class so I got my moeny back and ended up getting paid to improvWhich was kind of nice.
I also suggest going to see as many free shows as possible. It is so rewarding and I SWEAR comedy rubs off on you. There is nothing like getting up yourself and learning the rules, BUT absorbing good comedy improv is so damn rewarding.
Instead of paying for classes, try watching free shows, at all the venues, a few nights a week for a month. By the end of the month, you will have money saved and you'll know exactly where you will want to train
A few recommendations, all worth checking out:
- People's Improv Theater
- Gotham City Improv
- PIT
- Magnet
- QuickThinking Improv
Also check out CourseHorse.com - it's like a class catalog for classes in NYC
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