DB

There are many styles of improv, and different philosophies that come with that. In these varying philosophies and values, there are different sentiments on how to approach the audience. In many cases, when you are improvising, you are improvising…you are playing on a stage with your team. You may be with just a single scene partner, or it might be a huge group scene…who knows? But, the audience is watching, and they want to be entertained.

What do you give them?

Nothing, Fuck Them

In one philosophy of improv, “fuck the audience”. It doesn’t matter what they think, what they want out of a scene, or what they think is funny. What is most important is your scene partner. Support them, discover something together, and build on it. If the audience likes it, great. And if not, who cares? What matters is that your scene partner feels safe, and that in that safety you will create funny, dramatic, or compelling scenes from them. What is moving to an audience is something that you are invested in, or something that your partner is invested in. If it doesn’t come from a place from vulnerability, which you can’t do if you don’t feel safe, it can’t be good. You won’t put enough of yourself out there, and if you don’t put any nibbles or pieces of reality on stage, your audience can’t connect with anything.

So, by “fucking the audience”, or disregarding their opinion, you are doing a better service to both your team and your audience. They’re more likely to enjoy the show as a result of you and your team having fun.

Listen and Collaborate

In another philosophy of improv, you build on what your scene partner has said, but you are listening for laughs. You are playing the “game”, and finding the funny. The laughs will come from your scene partner, the back line, or from the audience. What did you just do that made the audience laugh? Do it again, or build on that idea. Whatever the audience finds funny, build up to a similar moment and hit down the pins again. By organically finding funny parts of a scene, or by carrying out a determined scene and actively listening for laughter, you can react and pivot the scene in a way for the funny to shine.

Who Are Your Players?

Both philosophies are fine, as both philosophies come from improv instructors of mine who were classically trained in the great improv city of Chicago. They were trained in reputable theatres: Second City and the Upright Citizen’s Brigade. For their respective styles, they work. Can they work together? I think they can, and perhaps my own improvising is somewhere in the middle there.

In terms of applying this to your table for your games, I am not sure who your players are. Sometimes, they are audience members. Sometimes, they are active participants. I think that when you get a feel for the types of players and people at the table, you can adjust accordingly to what you should leverage more. Do people enjoy cracking jokes and making funny asides? Maybe you can find the “game” in some scenes if you haven’t had a funny in a while. The real world isn’t always serious. People joke all the time to get through rough times–that’s a human reaction. So, when a joke comes from your players, or that emerges from a scene…have fun with it! Crack a joke, build it up, have a laugh. It’s good fun, and it serves as a way of keeping your table light.

At the same time, fuck the audience and pay attention to your immediate scene partners if you’re building up a scene that explores each others’ characters. If you’re working through some character drama, seeing someone’s face stuffed with snacks might be distracting. Don’t get distracted, and be as available as possible to your scene partner. Listen to what they’re saying, what you’re saying, and build up on what’s been established. You can have some real satisfying narrative this way.

Both ways are good. I use both at my table.

So…I guess in terms of “fucking” the audience? My players?

I both fuck together with them, and I occasionally let them fuck off.

And altogether, we’re just a group of fuckers who love our fucking game.

Fuck yeah.