IDA:
The rules: two contestants stand before a judge. Judge gives them a humorous prompt. One contestant immediately repeats it and they take off. After about 2 min, judge says stop and procedure is repeated with a serious, then a final humorous prompt.
We added IDA several years ago for several reasons.. Mainly because it’s such good training for actors. Been through many evolutions.. think we’ve got it right now..
LET THE I.D.A. Procedure be only one of many things you do.. perhaps among the last. Great warm up for other events. Don’t just Begin w/ the event.. work into it via Improv games. Demo a few..new One: endowments Gibberish duet (clap) Press Conference (Just invented the Ultimate Whatsit) That Darned Whistle
A few Improv rules: Agree, agree, agree.. The purpose of most Jr High conversations is to win and therefore end the conversation. It takes practice to “give” and accept what the other is saying. Short answers are death. Listen to your partner.. Lead, lead, lead… find a tangent if you’re dying. Words of death: “I don’t know.” Or “What?” THE SECOND LINE MUST DRIVE THE SCENE.. IT MUST TAKE OFF. If the opening line is a question, the next person to speak must answer it! See matchbook rules: Never deny Always further the storyline When in doubt, sing or seduce Don’t resist an impulse
The prompts: IN GENERAL, the humorous prompts tend to be specific, the serious prompts general… can’t guarantee it, though.
My theory of coaching speech.. teach kids as you’ve lead your life.. avoiding the things you don’t do well and capitalizing on your strengths. I avoid math. I avoid ballet. I avoid car repairs.. All of which I dislike and I’m no good at. Long ago, I discovered my strengths and began avoiding my weaknesses. And I’m better off for it today. Find your kids’ strengths and emphasize them.
DEMONSTRATE>>>>
A few exercises to build Improv Skills: The agreement game…(get another member from the audience)
WARMING UP: getting a shy student to participate. Zip Zap Zoom Concentr-8 Commercial Wars
LISTENING: Stereo Expert
Using tangents: Start them with a prompt. I stop them and take an idea they’ve mentioned and take it in a new direction.
Kids often think that the key to this event is coming up with the best ideas.. instead it’s dedication to character and committing to a specific emotion. SHOWING YOU DON’T NEED NEW IDEAS, JUST FRESH EMOTIONS: Emotion Tap.
GOOD WARM UP: Just give them an opening line and have them give a second line that will make the scene take off.
Or: Lightening Round..(several pairs)
Please practice with your IDA groups together.. at least as many as possible at one time. Learn so much from each other. No need to have their partner with them. If their partner is there, mix them up.. otherwise they’ll get into a dependence rut.
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