There you are on stage, and your mind blanked. There is nothing you can think of to say or do that feels natural to that scene. Well, tell everyone to chill, read these 5 strategies, and then finish that scene to everyone’s awe.
Identify the Conflict
Determine what your character wants and what’s preventing them from getting it. Conflict drives the scene forward.
Ask yourself in the moment “What does my character want right now?” Who or what is actively stopping them?
Embrace the Absurd
Welcome outlandish ideas. There are no wrong answers in improv, only opportunities for creativity.
When your partner declares you’re both sentient potatoes planning a moon heist? Well yes, go for it. How does a potato feel like? What does a nervous potato sound like? How does a spud plan a heist?
Focus on the Relationship
Explore the dynamics between characters. Relationships can provide rich material to draw from.
Are the characters long-lost siblings meeting at a funeral? Rival baristas on competition day? Ex-lovers trapped in an elevator? How do they feel about each other? Resentful? Protective? Awestruck?
Use Physicality
Let your body express emotions and intentions. Physical actions can spark new ideas and propel the scene forward.
Don’t just say you’re nervous. Show it, chew your lip, shrink into your shoulders. Don’t tell us it’s windy, shield your eyes, struggle with your coat. Discover the environment physically by miming opening a window, tripping on an unseen rug, or recoiling from a blast of heat. Physical choices cause emotional responses and give your partner concrete things to react to.
Ask Questions (consider over-gifting)
Engage your scene partner with questions. It keeps the dialogue flowing and invites new elements into the scene.
Ask specific, grounded questions based on what’s already there. “Is that the same knife you used on Mom?”, “You packed the chicken?”. This way you show that you’re noticing what’s already in the scene, instead of yanking out a different plot suddenly.
Leave a Reply