The SoCap Improv Comedy Podcast

Don't show the audience what your character is

Understand how they see the world

Play their genuine efforts and motivations at the height of your intelligence

Truthful striving is more engaging than obvious indication or caricature. Don’t fear being ‘dramatic’. Those are often the richest and FUNNIEST scenes.

Whether in acting or improv, focus on inhabiting the character rather than displaying them to the audience.

One of the pitfalls improvisers make repeatedly is trying to make the environment around them be interesting in some way. A doctor operating with a chainsaw, a cop who tastes crime scene blood, a fisherperson catching a magical amulet...

These things can work but require more work than many of us are willing to put forth.

Final Takeaway

• To play villains or creeps:

• Play them as heroes of their own story.
• Justify everything.
• Find joy in the character.
• Ensure audience and partners feel safe.

Self consciousness means being in your head, ruled by fear. Playfulness means being in the moment and ruled by curiosity and fun.

What's the difference between the two and why does it matter?

We're told not to address the elephant in the room but I say 'nay'!

Why Vulnerability Works

• Saying “yes” to uncomfortable or self‑deprecating offers is playful.
• It shows others that they can let their guard down
• Audiences love vulnerability — low status is non‑threatening and endearing
• It opens the door to bigger comedic payoffs. If that’s true, what else is true
• Not everyone is comfortable with this level of exposure, and that’s okay

Being Specific in your offers, leads to three main benefits...

1 - audiences find it relatable

2 - roots you in the present moment

and

3 - suggests character

The Power of the Smile

• A smile transforms villainy into comedy
• “I cheated, and I can’t wait to do it again.”
• “I stole your car and wrecked it — wow, that was a nice ride.”
• Smiling signals: we’re playing, not hurting
• Audiences love watching someone enjoy being bad

Flexibility, the ability to pivot, is a terrific skill to have on stage and off. Today, we look at reframing as a way to that.

If your audience - be that your scene partner(s), the people watching, or the chap at the dinner partner - is in doubt as to your intentions, the way forward will often be more difficult for you.

Status is great in comedy and in real life. You likely use it all the time and don't even know it.

It's one of those things that once you see, you see everywhere. Once you understand it, it'll make your life much better.

Remaining open to 'who' your character is, what they stand for, what they love, what they hate, and more, keeps you open and alive to your audience (on stage and in the real world). You can be flexible, surprise yourself, and learn about points of view different from your own.

Listening as a gateway to presence and reduced self-consciousness.

Mistakes scare the crap out of us, but they're usually only as bad as you think they are! They have wonderful upsides.

Starting a scene is one of, if not the most, difficult and critical things in improv. I discuss two of the ways to begin scenes and reveal my favourite!

Falling in love. Hanging with good friends. Being in a moment. These are all times when we tend to lose ourselves, get over our self-consciousness, and forget about our selfish needs and serve an experience.

Whether on stage or in life real, try not to gaslights others. In improv, it often leads into the argument trap. In life, it escalates tension, shows others you're not listening, and more. Instead, treat the opinions of others as legitimately theirs and deal with it except in one situation.

Scenes in which the characters are strangers to each other come with an extra added level of difficulty. For that reason, I encourage improvisers to stay away from them. But, when they do happen to try and figure out what's at stake.

Having a process in a scene will help in a multitude of ways, however, there are also a couple major pitfalls with which to be aware.