Matt and Steve are friends and improvisers. These are friendly chats they have about improv.
“I got in a bike accident right before rehearsal”
Steve: I don’t know if I was ever inundated with the term “leave it at the door” but I’ve definitely heard it a lot. Meaning, whatever mood you’re in before a show, shake it off and be a blank slate.
Matt: That was a big thing at CSz. It was driven home pretty hard as I was just getting acquainted with improv. It went hand-in-hand with “check your ego at the door,” “check your day at the door.”
Steve: It’s interesting to think of that as a short-form thing.
Matt: Why do you say that?
Steve: Short-form is a different muscle. I think for a long-form it almost behooves you to bring your day into the door as inspiration. I got in a bike accident right before a rehearsal Monday. There were a couple doctor scenes or initiations like “you don’t look so good,” which really informed our piece and made for some good scenes. I looked like I got hit by a car, it’s something we had to acknowledge.
Matt: Thinking in that vein, Aaron and Stacey just had a baby. What an amazing thing to bring into the show, your experiences parenting an infant. I can’t bring that to a show, it’s a shade you can’t manufacture.
Steve: Just that mindset, how does someone who’s not getting consistent sleep, raising a new creature, dealing with all that improvise. Let’s explore that in a show, let me be in a scene with that guy. DON’T check that at the door.
Matt: What about you, dear reader? Should you check your day at the door or use it to fuel your scenes?