January 18, 2010
I used to think that managing was like Improv. After reading Henry Mintzberg’s new book “Managing” I’m convinced that managing is improv. The conventional wisdom about managing is that there is a strong component of planning, controlling and thinking. This has not been borne out by our experiences or the data. (It’s a useful myth to sell MBA seats though–yes, you do need all these fancy analytical tools to become a manager.)
However, as Mintzberg says, “study after study has shown that a, managers work at an unrelenting pace; b, their activities are typically characterized by brevity, variety, fragmentation and discontinuity; and c, they are strongly oriented to action.” This sounds like an improv show to me. Considering all the prep and training we do for shows it may turn out that improvisers are more planful and in control than the average manager
What are the most useful lessons for managers from improv then? Here’s my prescription for each of the three points above:
a. Unrelenting pace: Managers like improvisers actually thrive on this. Both groups avoid boring actvities. So don’t worry about the pace, enjoy it. While you are in it remember to paying attention and listening to your scene partner.
b. Brevity, variety, fragmentation and discontinuity: Improvisors are brilliant at switching scenes, characters and emotions. Like improvisors, a manager will play several different characters in a day; boss, coach, colleague, subordinate, vendor, client etc. Saying, “Yes, and…” to the scene changes of your day will reduce your stress and keep you moving.
c. Action orientation. We are always teaching improvisers to “make something happen in a scene”. There are great lessons about, “Yes, and…” heightening and an appreciation for mistakes. If you want to move fast you have to give up perfection.
Filed by jason at January 18th, 2010
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January 5, 2010
This is an improv blog, but this particular post isn’t about improv it’s about life, and life is used in improv so deal!
Okay, so today I unknowingly put on an invisibility cloak and walked around all see through-ee all day.
My boyfriends car was having tire issues and kept leaking air, but luckily those tire issues were covered under warranty at Costco. So we went on down to the Costco tire centre to have it looked at and fixed. We get there and there is one man ahead of us paying for his serviced tire and only one tire tech to be seen. So naturally we waited patiently as the dude finished up his bizznazz and the tire tech went into the “off limits” shop area to get the keys . As we were waiting, this other guy (whom I’ll name Richard as he CLEARLY looked like a DICK)and his little meek looking wife come up to the counter and looked around, stopping to make eye contact with both me and my boyfriend. We all just waited around with a common goal, and anticipated outcome. Or so we thought!
Richard started getting antsy as time passed, but he tried hard to look cool and calm in his relaxed fit eddie bauer jeans. His jaw started clenching, revealing those weird little muscle lines that are reserved for people who chew lots of gum and male soap stars. He paced back and forth in his brown rockport loafers. Karen(I’ve name his meek looking wife, Karen) couldn’t take it(“it” being her husbands intensity) and left into the main Costco area. So it was just me, my boyfriend Aaron, and Richard. Then a different tire tech came out to survey the waiting room, he had obviously just finished eating lunch as he still was kind of chewing. I’m going to go with left overs from the night before. Stir-fry maybe?
That’s when Richard did the unthinkable. The first thing you learn in school when waiting for a drink at the water fountain, or a stick in gym for floor hockey, or a cookie on cookie fridays. He budded in line. Richard was a “Budger”!! He just started firing questions to the tire tech, not even waiting for an answer, let alone giving Aaron or I the chance to say “Uh…Excuse me?!” He stood there saying things like “My 2008 Volvo this… My 2008 Volvo that…” and “How long? How much? Is it you or that guy(pointing through the tiny service window at another tech) who’s going to do it?”
Aaron and I looked at each other, both of us wanting to say something, but we just couldn’t. Richard stood up there talking for like 10 minutes straight. He’d ask the most ridiculous questions too.
Example: Richard : So you only carry Micheline?
Tire tech: Yes sir, that’s our sponsored store brand.
Richard: Hmmm…. Okay… That’s all you carry?
Tire Tech: Yes.
Richard: (Beat) So no Good Year?
Tire Tech: No.
Richard: Okay let’s go with the Micheline.
Way to be an active consumer, Richard!
Waste of time. I think Richard started to feel mine and Aaron’s eyes burning into the back of his head because he started scratching his neck and mime chewing gum. Karen came back with contact solution and a box of energy bars. “Thanks babe.” Richard said. Karen was not a babe.
I started to fantasize about getting back at Richard for budding. I knew he drove a 2008 Volvo? No, vandalism is too illegal for my tastes. Maybe I could spill something on his obviously new North Face puffy vest? No that’s a nice vest…I know! I could get up and stand beside him, REALLY close, like all up in his personal space and say nothing until he does and then say “OH! You CAN see me?! See I thought I was invisible, because you totally just BUDDED us!!…“ Yeah! That’ll teach him! I’ll sarcasm the SHIT outta Richard! Haha it’ll be so good!!!
Yeah no, I’m a nerd. I did nothing. I waited patiently and politely until he left, and then we went up to the counter and presented the symptoms of Aaron’s Ford Windstar’s right front tire, like nothing had happened. We both left talking about what a jerk Richard was, but we both knew that nothing could or would be done about it. Boo.
P.S – On a side note, we were there to pick up our van the same time Richard and Karen were there to get their 2008 Volvo. When it came time to pay, Richard did the old “Oh, jeez Hun, I think I forgot my wallet??” bit as he padded himself down on all his pockets. Karen paid. Richard is a Dick.
Filed by lauren at January 5th, 2010
Tags: budgers, costco chronicles, improv is life, stupid people
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December 19, 2009
Greetings Kinko Universe!
Long lost Kinkonaut Mandy here. First off, profuse apologies for not being more on the ball with blog posts. Every time I see that Owen or Jason or Lauren has posted some magical prose, I think to myself “Dang, Mandy,” (yes, I use the word “dang” because I don’t know if you know this, but I NEVER swear), “you really need to post some words of wisdom, some magical improv knowledge that you’ve gleaned from your travels around the globe (aka. North America).” And then I get busy and forget about it.
So, my gift to you as we approach the birth of Baby Jesus, is a long-winded blog post discussing my favourite things, improv-related or not, from this year that was 2009. We’ll see how far I get before I get tired.
1. GLEE.
This may top my list because I may HAPPEN to be listening to Glee: The Music Volume 2 album while I type this… OR it may top my list because as someone who dreams of someday performing in a Broadway musical, I’m not sure I’ve come across anything this fun in television in a LONG time (except for the shows I will make mention of later on). I honestly hit the treadmill sometimes and put the soundtrack on my iPod and I am seriously able to run faster and for a longer period of time! Not to mention get weird looks from the people in the gym as I lip sync goofily…
2. The freedom of flight. And passports.
I did a lot of travelling this year. Improv festivals in North Carolina, Chicago, New York and Vancouver. A week-long intensive in Chicago this summer. All taken advantage of thanks to the Wright Brothers and their invention of that airplane contraption… or whatever. I am also thankful for the rather safe passage us Canadians get from our neighbours to the south.
3. Second City.
I became a student of the Second City Conservatory this year, and recently hit the halfway mark with the debut of my class’ archive show, which was received with great acclaim this past weekend. Initially, I decided to do the Conservatory because I knew the experience with Second City would be beneficial to my resume, but I didn’t realize that it would have such an effect on me, and that the people in my class would become my close friends. In the first half of 2010 we’ll be working on writing our own original revue which we’ll perform on the Second City Mainstage, so if you’re not Toronto local I suggest you start looking into plane tickets! (That means YOU, Jason, Lauren and Owen)
4. TV Comedies – 30 Rock, Parks & Recreation, Modern Family.
30 Rock is a given, but a few notes on the others. Parks & Rec has become one of the funniest new shows after a slow start last spring, and I love how Amy Poehler’s character has become less “dumb” and more… let’s say “naive”. I even enjoy Aziz Ansari’s Tom character, which to me was the worst part of the show in the first season. And ABC’s Modern Family is a breath of fresh air in the “family sitcom” format – a breath of HILARIOUS air! (See how I did that?)
5. Improv
I thought I’d lump all of my improv thoughts into one section, as I made the decision at point 2 that I would make this a 5 point blog post… mostly so I can watch an episode of Dexter before I head to my friend’s play. 2009 was both one of the best and one of the hardest years I’ve ever had in my 27 years of existence, and I don’t think I would have gotten through it without improv and everything that comes with it. The artform itself. The wonderful sense of community both in Toronto and abroad (that includes you wonderful folks in Calgary… how I miss you so, and how happy I am that with Armadillo Armadillo you have started to create a real name for yourselves!). The ramming of my social calendar. Improv has also made me realize how I need to branch out into other types of performance in order to gain more experience. Doing scripted work with Second City reminded me how much I miss words on pages. Playing bit parts in video shorts helped me to discover a new outlet for old ideas. And WDWMKR (my current all-female troupe here in Toronto) has recently started to branch out into sketch using improv as a tool for writing. Exciting, oui?
2009 definitely had its share of ups and downs, but I stand here before you a better person for it. I wish you all a happy holiday, and I hope 2010 brings us all closer to realizing those pesky dreams of ours. Also keep an eye out for me in Cowtown sometime in 2010, as I hope to make another guest appearance at a show to be determined.
See ya when I see ya. PEACE.
Mandy
Filed by mandy at December 19th, 2009
Tags: favourites, mandy's reviews, year in review
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