From Nervous Novice to Growing Improv Comedian: Four Life-Changing Lessons Learned Through Improv Comedy
Join me in exploring a beginner’s journey in improv comedy: overcoming challenges, gaining confidence, and acquiring valuable life skills. Discover the transformative power of improv through my eyes!
Have you ever thought about the benefits of doing improv comedy?
While audiences enjoy the humour, the performers, or improvisers, gain unique skills.
Studies have shown that doing improv can improve problem-solving abilities, enhance communication skills, boost confidence, encourage healthy risk-taking, and foster a sense of belonging, among other benefits.
As a beginner improviser who started in an improv class a few months ago with a mix of curiosity and nervousness, I’ve experienced the power of this art form firsthand. From feeling super intimidated to ecstatic about it, my journey of doing improv comedy has been fun, enlightening, and transformative.
In this article, I share four surprising ways improv comedy can enhance your life, specifically focusing on the benefits for the improviser. I start with my experience with Improv as a total beginner to provide context and insight into understanding these benefits. I encourage you to read the entire piece to put things into context.
However, if you have limited time, feel free to jump to the section that lists the main benefits for those actively engaging in improv.
Whether you immerse yourself in the full story or concentrate on the highlighted benefits, you’ll learn how being an improviser in improv comedy can have a surprisingly positive impact on your life.
What is Improv Comedy?
We all have a general understanding of what Improv comedy is, but let’s ensure that we are all on the same page before diving deeper into the heart of the story.
Since there is no script, neither the audience nor the improvisers know how the scene will evolve and end. In fact, it is often the audience who determines the scene’s context by giving the improvisers their clue. They might say:
“You are on the moon and trying to find your lost spaceship before your oxygen runs out.”
The improv performers then create and perform a scene based on the clue(s) they have received from the live audience.
The improvisers and the audience discover the further details of the scene together as the improvisers enhance the story (or clue) given by the audience further on the spot!
My Journey in Improv Comedy: From Intimidation to Joy
Until recently, I didn’t know much about Improv Comedy. I had only seen a few clips on TV during my teenage years.
I used to believe Improv Comedy classes were only for acting students or professional actors (and I have no acting background at all unless you count my primary school performances!) Also, I thought it was solely about laughter and fun — I didn’t realize it could provide other benefits that could enhance my life in various ways. I believe many others also hold these misconceptions.
I don’t recall exactly how I discovered the availability of beginner-friendly Improv Comedy classes, but once I did, it certainly sounded fun and intriguing. This led me to enroll in an Improv class about four months ago.
It has been a fascinating journey. I started feeling intimidated while improvising, but gradually became comfortable in my own skin. And now, I truly enjoy it.
The first few classes were quite intimidating. I haven’t felt this intimidated in a long time.
Why?
Well, where do I even start?
Understanding the rules: Since I had no prior experience performing or watching improv comedy, I had no idea how it worked. As it turns out, there are numerous exercises specifically designed for students in improv classes. The teacher would explain the rules for each exercise, and we would subsequently follow them and improvise accordingly. Each class lasted about two hours, and one night could consist of several (ranging from 5 to 7) distinct exercises or practices. The mere thought of comprehending all the rules was causing me anxiety.
The dreaded silence: Especially during the early weeks, there were times when we would start an exercise or scene, but I couldn’t say anything. I would struggle to come up with a line, but I would freeze and ruin the game. This happened so frequently in my first class that the teacher even joked about kicking me out of class (!)
Language barriers: I was doing Improv in English, my second language. Sometimes, I found myself struggling to recall specific words. This can happen to anyone, even in our native language. Usually, it is not a big problem as you can take a moment to explain or find the word you’re trying to remember. However, in the fast-paced scene of Improv, this left me feeling stuck — Though I later learned that it’s perfectly fine to make up words if needed in Improv, which opens up opportunities for even more creative and humorous improvisation. This idea was quite different for my analytical brain, which always desires to get things right all the time.
Cultural challenges: Besides everything else, doing Improv in Canada, a country different from my homeland, presented its own challenges. Despite having lived there for over ten years, there were times when my cultural knowledge fell short, especially in certain improv games. For instance, in one scene, I was required to pretend to be watching a lacrosse game with a group of people. The challenge? I had never actually seen a lacrosse game — a sport very popular in North America — leaving me unsure about how to portray the scene convincingly.
Because of all these reasons, the first few classes felt deeply challenging and intimidating overall.
As the weeks progressed, I developed some resistance to attending the improv classes. This was a new experience for me, as I typically enjoy participating in classes I choose and remain committed to them. In fact, I would feel disappointed if I had to miss out on other classes due to illness, but with improv, it turned into a different story. Unlike my usual enthusiasm, in this case, I didn’t feel concerned about missing a class. One week, I was sick and didn’t go to class, and I was relieved to have an excuse to skip the class that day, just like a school kid who was happy to skip school because they were sick. Then, I skipped another class simply because I didn’t feel like going — If you only knew me, you would understand how out of character this was for me.
Because let me tell you again, it felt so intimidating!
As the 7th class approached, right before the final class of the session I was enrolled, I found myself dreading it again. I kept questioning my decision to participate. ‘Why am I torturing myself with this?’ “This was supposed to be fun!”
To my surprise, this class marked a significant turning point for me. Unexpectedly, it was the best improv class I had experienced thus far.
Was I perfect? No, but that’s not the point. Was I improvising? Yes.
The exercises felt more natural, laughter came easier, and for the first time, I found myself genuinely enjoying it without worrying about what I said and how I appeared in front of my classmates.
As I thought I wasn’t getting anywhere in the first few weeks of the classes, I must have picked up some good improvisation skills here and there!
Then, we had our showcase on the last day of this session.
I felt anxious as we had an audience, but I pushed through and performed improv in front of strangers.
I “survived” the showcase and even had fun.
After the showcase, I realized I was just starting to get comfortable doing Improv Comedy. I wanted to determine if I truly enjoyed it, so I tried it further and signed up for the next session.
Last week, we had our showcase for the second session I attended, with an audience present.
During this time, I experienced a mix of anxiety and excitement, but this time, the excitement outweighed the anxiety. I outdid myself and received a lot of laughter from the audience during a particular scene I led.
It was a gratifying experience, and I felt ecstatic after the show. I couldn’t believe my transformation from feeling deeply intimidated to experiencing so much joy while doing Improv Comedy.
I still have a lot to learn about improv performing, but it is safe to say I’ve grown enough over the four months to enjoy the process.
And, in the meantime, I wanted to share four surprising — and scientifically proven — ways I found out Improv Comedy practice can help you enhance your life.
1. Improv comedy classes will help you perform better under pressure.
Improvisation, by nature, requires you to make things up as you go along. In improv, everything unfolds rapidly, leaving little time to think over your lines and actions. The key is to act, not overthink.
Our teacher indeed emphasized that deliberate ‘thinking’ is counter-productive in Improv. Dwelling on your next line or action slows down the game and disrupts its rhythm. However, it’s important to note that there are exceptions. Sometimes, your deliberate thinking and slow response can amuse the audience as they see you grappling with the challenge.
Yet, if this stretched overthinking becomes the core of the entire show, it can lead to disengagement and potentially lose the audience’s interest.
This aspect of improv is instrumental in developing the ability to act instinctively. Through repeated practice and successful outcomes, you train your brain to respond spontaneously. This ability is incredibly useful, especially in high-pressure situations. It empowers you to perform efficiently in critical meetings with clients, bosses, or family discussions, and even in job interviews where quick and confident responses are key. The skills honed in improv can enhance your capability to handle situations that demand quick, thoughtful action without the luxury of extensive deliberation.
2. Improv classes will help you improve your collaboration skills.
Improv is not solely about spontaneous acting. A key element, often overlooked, is the requirement for collaboration skills. It requires collaboration skills. Yes, you read it right: collaboration skills.
One fundamental aspect of this is the practice of saying ‘Yes’ to your scene partner’s suggestions. For example, if your partner states, ‘Well, you’ve always wanted to be an astronaut,’ it works better to agree and build upon this idea (‘Yes, and I’ve been training for years!’), rather than negating it (‘No, I never wanted that’).
While saying ‘no’ to your scene partners might occasionally create interesting conflict, improv often thrives on agreement and expansion. It’s in these moments of affirmation the magic of storytelling unfolds.
Our improv teacher encapsulated this beautifully: “Good improv is when you forget about yourself and focus on making your scene partner look great,” which can best achieved by embracing and adding to their ideas.
Embodying this principle of collaboration trains you not only in the art of improv but also in essential life and work skills. Repeatedly saying ‘yes’ and contributing constructively to scenes hones your ability to collaborate effectively. This skill is invaluable, as it fosters teamwork and humility in professional environments and can reduce friction in personal relationships.
Mastering collaborative skills can set you apart in your career and personal life.
3. Improv classes will help you improve your active listening skills.
If there is one skill that is not indispensable under any circumstances in improv, it is “active listening.”
Yes, deliberate thinking kills improv, but it can occasionally make things fun.
Yes, saying “no” to your scene partner, in other words, not collaborating with them, might make things awkward, but it might occasionally capture the audience’s attention depending on how the story unfolds.
But you can’t build the story without active listening.
This is true even when you might not agree (‘Yes’) with your scene partners. It is because whatever you are saying, your response should still be relevant and contribute to the evolving narrative.
The practice of improv is a powerful tool for recognizing and improving your active listening skills. It offers a mirror to reflect on how well you truly listen and provides a safe space to grow in this area.
This skill is critical yet often overlooked in everyday communication. Excelling in expressing your ideas is valuable, but without the ability to actively listen, true interpersonal connection can be hindered, both in professional settings and personal interactions.
Improv helps you gain awareness and improve your active listening skills!
4. Improv comedy classes will boost your self-confidence.
Participating in improv comedy works wonders for self-confidence, and I’ve observed this happening on two distinct levels.
Firstly, my experiences in class have led to a revelation: perfect improv isn’t necessarily the most entertaining. Audiences often find greater joy in the unexpected twists, like when an improviser forgets a word and come up with a new word on the spot. This realization helps you embrace and even celebrate the moments of imperfection. This was particularly liberating for me, as someone with an analytical mind constantly aiming for correctness, all the time. It made me develop a sense of comfort with the inherently unpredictable nature of improv.
Secondly, the experience of performing in front of an audience beyond just your classmates is a significant confidence booster. I felt a strong sense of accomplishment when I stepped onto the stage for my first showcase. This sense was magnified in my second showcase by the end of the second session I was enrolled, where making the audience laugh brought an even greater thrill.
Such experiences reinforce a powerful sense of self-assurance and comfort in one’s own skin.
Improv Comedy Classes are for Everyone
Through my experience with Improv Comedy, I have learned that it can greatly improve life skills. It helps you think quickly, encourages teamwork, improves listening skills, and greatly increases self-confidence in a fun and supportive environment surrounded.
Improv has been proven to help improve many skills for improvisers. I have focused on these four skills because they resonate most with me. If you want to enhance any of these skills or more in a fun and supportive environment, try improv.
Improv classes are suitable for everyone regardless of age, background, and profession. My group had a diverse mix of ages and backgrounds, including students, professionals, retirees, and more.
Whether you’re a professional looking to sharpen your soft skills, someone on a personal growth journey, a creative person seeking new hobbies, an analytical thinker ready for a challenge, or simply someone who loves new experiences and fun, you can try it, enjoy it, and become proficient at improvising (even if it might take some practice and getting used to it!)
And who knows? Perhaps, unlike my experience, you may find joy in improvisation right from the start. However, even if you initially feel intimidated like I did, with patience, I can assure you that you will eventually begin to enjoy it. As you embrace and enjoy it, you’ll develop amazing skills to enhance your professional and personal life. What could be better than that?
Just make sure you commit to completing at least the first session to give it a real try before deciding whether it is right for you and observe any benefits.
So, why not start now? Look for beginner improv classes in your area, set the right expectations, and give it a fair chance.
Who knows? You might just find a new source of joy and growth.
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