In improv comedy, then general rule is to be flexible and let the improvisation take you wherever it will. To put it another way, in improv you have a “flexible goal,” and a “flexible path.” (I am working on a whole matrix thing about fixed/flexible and goals/paths…) Off-stage that approach can be nice, but you often

Fixed Goal, Flexible Path (Using the Improv Game “Pardon”)

A simple difference between great improvisers and good, mediocre, or bad improvisers is how they respond to “Happy Accidents.” Here is a short video where I talk more about that (there’s a transcription of the video below): This is very true for improv comedy performance, but it also applies off-stage, when mistakes happen and things

Take Advantage of “Happy Accidents”

One of my favorite improv games is a rather obscure one called “Scenes Without the Letter___.” You can see an example I did for TikTok here (and if you are on TikTok be sure to click here to see my videos and follow me there!): When done right, this game is fun, funny, high-energy, and

Use Change as an Opportunity For Innovation

Here is a quick solo “Ding” I did for TikTok:  What’s interesting is that this recording was my third attempt. I got the idea to do a “Daily Improv” for TikTok while in the shower (don’t visualize…) and I started a quick Ding in my head. Once I was dressed and ready I set up

To Innovate, Change Your Starting Point

“How can I do that?” One thing I have found to be true over almost 30 years of doing improv comedy is that audiences will frequently throw out suggestions that are…challenging. Challenging because:They may be inappropriate (like when someone yelled out “strip clubbing” when I asked for a “hobby” at a company event).They may be

How Can I Do That?

Flakes. Corn flakes, but still…flakes. Are you a flake? Sometimes I feel like I am, and I think, in the right way, that can be a very useful and powerful thing.I recently posted about my new “Show Your Work” strategy (If you missed it, you can read the post by clicking here).I almost didn’t write

In Defense of Proper Flakery