What to Expect at a Drop-In Improv Class
In order to give you a bite-sized sampling of improv, many theaters (including The Bit) offer drop-in improv classes. Your first drop-in improv class might have you wondering what to expect. If you're the type of person who prefers preparation, these brief tips should help you with what to expect from most drop-in improv classes.
What is a drop-in improv class?
A drop-in class or workshop is an opportunity to get some stage time, practice, and repetitions. For our drop-ins, no improv experience is necessary, meaning the drop-in workshops don’t build off knowledge from previous workshops. The idea is that anyone can drop in any week and get a taste of what improv is like. It’s a great opportunity to see the culture and dynamic of the theater. Plus, you get to meet some members of the theater’s community in a low-pressure environment.
How does it differ from your regular classes?
Our Basic Improv Skills classes are designed to help you take your first baby steps as an improviser by introducing you to the skills you’ll need to be a successful improviser no matter what path you choose to take. We want your improv journey to be uniquely yours, so the classes can be taken in either order. Our drop-ins are newbie-friendly. But they are not structured toward a specific curriculum. Rather, they are designed to get you onstage doing scenes in a supportive environment. Our coaches generally work on a specific skill each night and craft the workshop toward honing that skill.
What should I wear?
Wear comfortable, stage-appropriate clothes. Meaning something that you would feel comfortable wearing if you had to sit in a chair on an elevated stage, roll on the ground, jump in the air, or crawl like a snake.
What should I say?
You’re going to want to find the meanest-looking, biggest improviser there, and punch them in the nose. No, don’t do that, but also don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation with the other folks there. It’s okay to be the new person, and the other folks at the drop-in will likely be thrilled that you’re joining them. There’s nothing wrong with telling someone it’s your first time at the drop-in and asking them questions about the format. If the person you approach happens to be the meanest-looking, biggest improviser there, so be it.
What will be expected of me?
Nothing will probably be expected of you. You’re not going to be forced into doing anything you don’t want to do. You will, however, be encouraged to participate. What that participation entails depends largely on the structure of the drop-in. At ours, we work mostly on two-person scenes. You might want to watch a couple of reps from some of the veterans of the drop-in first before going onstage.
Should I just show up?
YUP. And try to show up on time in case there is any instruction prior to the workshop starting. Improvisers are welcoming creatures, and whoever is running the drop-in should facilitate an awesome environment for getting your feet wet in improv. For a lot of drop-ins (including ours), you’re more than welcome to “audit” a workshop to get the lay of the land before jumping into the deep end.
Give it a shot. The beauty of a drop-in is that—even if it’s not your scene—you can just choose to not do it again. There’s little to no commitment. You have nothing to lose.
