Will an improv class make you a better stand-up?

Eventually, perhaps

I read a great article by improv legend

Will Hines

about the differences between stand-up and improv. And it gave me the idea for this article.

Stand-up v. Improv

He makes some really good points about how stand-up and improv are more different than you think.

Stand-up is like “Here’s what I’d like to talk about” and improv is “here’s my reaction to what’s happening to me.” - Will Hines

As someone who teaches both, I find that lots of stand-ups go to improv classes thinking it’ll make them better at crowdwork, looser on stage, and be able to write in the moment. I’m not saying it won’t help you with these things, but improv is this whole other skill that you need to dedicate yourself to - it’s not a performance enhancing drug.

Focus!!

If you are taking an improv class purely to help you be a better stand-up, I wouldn’t bother. You’ll be learning far more that won’t help you than will, and you’d be better off dedicating that time to stand-up. You certainly won’t get anything from an improv class if you’re half-assing it. If you’re studying improv it’s extremely beneficial to go to jams, and form a practice group. Can you handle it?

Generally doing a thing is the only way to make you better at that thing. You could probably use re-framing what you think of as progress and not comparing yourself to other people. Of course all of that is impossible, so just keep going!

Ignoring the internal editor

Take an improv class if you want to learn improv

You should take an improv class if you’re really interested in learning how to improvise. Most of the funniest shows I have seen in my life that have stuck with me forever have been improv shows. But learn it because you love it, like any art-form it takes dedication, time and focus.

Stand-up comes from writing. Improv comes from acting. Stand-up is done in clubs, with bars and dinner guests. Improv comes from theaters, where there are plays and velvet seats. Stand-ups were the kids in the back of the class making comments under their breath. Improvisers were the theater nerds in the drama club. - Will Hines

Most artists have anxiety that they’re not getting good quickly enough, and doing an improv/clown/acting/hot yoga class might be some magic pill that will elevate you above the rest in record time. Just like how Sacha Baron Cohen and Eric Andre etc. made clowning popular because people thought that’s how you become as funny as them. I’ve done a couple of clowning classes and they were a fucking nightmare. If I wanted to get verbally abused by a man with a drum, I’d heckle a drum circle.

Booo! You SUCK!

I was in a band in the early 00s called Deletia and we found out The Strokes recorded an EP in a studio in London. So of course I sent them a demo of my shitty band and asked them if we could record there, because I thought it would make us just like The Strokes. A few days later I got a weary reply of “You know this won’t make you as good as The Strokes”. Needless to say we didn’t record there, I don’t need those kind of hard truths in my life.

Here’s a great

Matt Ruby

article listing some principals of clowning.

Clowning around 🤡

I occasionally run a show called Standup Vs. Improv at Comedy Cafe Berlin. It’s based on the show Setlist. The difference with my show is that we Book an equal amount of stand-ups and improvisers and pretend its a competition (it isn’t). The performers get 5 random topics and have to improvise stand-up from them. In general, improvisers fare better than the stand-ups because they know to riff from a place of emotional truth, and they’re not bothered with the outcome. The stand-ups get bogged down structuring jokes and trying to be clever. When the crowd aren’t responding well they’ll usually melt down and start doing awkward crowd-work or forbidden pre-written jokes. Improvised stand-up isn’t a real thing that exists outside of these gimmicky shows, but there’s always things to be learnt.

Here are some things an improv class might make you better at, or you might learn just as much from my articles 😇

1. Failing funny. Failing can be excellent if you embrace it, it could be the start of something much better than your joke.
   

   Turn hack jokes into great jokes

2. Using real emotions. Truthful emotions always work better in improv, and that’s also true in stand-up but lots of noobs don’t realise this. An improv class can really drive this home where the only thing you have to steer your scenes is laughter.
   

   Using attitude to give your comedy life

3. Focus on one funny thing at a time aka Game. In improv we teach people to focus, explore the idea fully until it can’t be heightened any more, and then move on to the next thing. And then later maybe bring the other funny thing back - sound familiar?
   

   Lessons stand-ups can learn from improvisers #1: Game

   Using "Game of the Scene" in standup

4. Edgy humour is a crap shoot. In an improv setting edgy humour almost never lands because of the collaboration aspect. You’re potentially stepping over peoples boundaries when you don’t know them. This is true for stand up audiences. I’m not saying don’t cross the line, but be aware of the line and talk about the line. Don’t just schlep people over it and then berate them for having feelings.
   

   If you're offending your audience, write better jokes

5. If this is true, what else is true? Because improvisers have to work very quickly in the moment, they have to use creative visualisation and real emotions in order to heighten or tag a funny idea. They’re great at finding the balance between absurd and grounded and this is a great skill for a stand-up.
   

   Lessons stand-ups can learn from improvisers #2: If this is true what else is true?

related:

Should you take a stand-up class?

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Are you a stand-up that’s tried improv or vice-versa I’d love to hear your comments on if you think these forms compliment each other.