How to Improv?

Question:Is there any secret or way to get better a Improv. My goal is the Imrovathon. On problem, I am HORRIBLE at the Improv thing...I always have been. Help?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Is there any secret or way to get better a Improv. My goal is the Imrovathon. On problem, I am HORRIBLE at the Improv thing...I always have been. Help?

I agree with Beckett on this one.
There is a general rule of improv, which I call the "yes, and..." rule. If you have problems adapting to making positive choices, try getting a friend and working on "yes, and..." scenes. One person makes a statement. The other, agrees with the statement, and adds to it.
Example:
Person one: Pick up that dirty sock I dropped on the floor.
Person two: yes, I will, and since you took out the trash for me yesterday, I will wash this sock for you.
May not be funny now, but it is the foundation of a scene.
Also, another key to improv (lesser so in long-form) is to not ASK QUESTIONS in a scene. Since (with the "yes, and..." rule, the answer must always BE yes, there is little point in asking, so command them to do so...or better yet SHOW them. Mime is KEY in improv, and makes it real fun to watch as well!
Thirdly, don't try to be funny. The comedy comes out of the reality of the situation. Keep it real, the absurdity will come as the scene progresses--without you even trying.
Lastly, remember that there are others on stage with you. The best players are those who don't always take the joke, but set up others for jokes as well. If you set someone up, they will remember and do the same for you. It's really hard to make yourself look good, without the help of others.
Don't say you are horrible, just find your strengths and use those to help others, and they will help you with your weaknesses.

(love ur name, this is my fav. quote from Hairspray- "Corney, you have to vote for a person, not one of the Hemilayas"- Amber Van Tussle....lol)

soooooo anywayss- ur question.....

so improve, the secret to it is to just go with the flow, and acually flow- i know it's not that good of advice, but believe me i'm am one of the best improv actors around (i've won awards for that kind of stuff) and you can't teach someone improv you just have to practice, going off the script a little bit- it's tons of fun once you get the hang of it...

The secret is practice. Any time that you are expected to prepare a presentation of any kind, you should take that as an opportunity to force yourself to improv.

People seem surprised to hear that practice is vital for improv, but it absolutely is. And that generally requires a friend or group of friends equally committed to improving. Do you have such a group of friends?

Also, know that there are unwritten rules to improv. The most vital one is "Don't say no." Don't deny or reject any suggestion, anything a scene partner offers you. If someone starts a scene by bowing to you and saying, "Your majesty," you absolutely DO NOT reply by saying, "I'm not the queen, I'm a janitor!" or whatnot. You might think that's funny, but no one else will. Accept everything. The best improv performer is the one who plays well with others, not the one who tells the cleverest jokes.

Likewise, honor the space. If someone reaches into an imaginary oven to pull out a pie DO NOT walk through the space they established as the oven. Honor the work of your partner by accepting and maintaining it.

Yes, indeed you should practice. There are plenty of little games you can do to help improve. Have you ever seen Who's Line is it Anyway? It's a great show that's entirely improv. Maybe go to youtube.com and watch some of it. Try to play those games with a few friends. Or try to make up similar games to get you going.

One game I've played is to get a group of people to make a machine. It doesn't matter what the machine does- don't worry about that. One person starts out with the first part of the machine. They just have to do any action they think an imaginary machine should do and add a sound to it. The next person then adds on to the machine by doing their own action and sound. The key is to try and connect the parts to have them make sense (for example, if someone is moving their foot up and down, the other person could make their hand get knocked up and down by the foot, therefore making their left leg go in circles). Think about heights (are you going to sit down, stand, crouch, kneel, etc.) and all the wonderous things you can do with your body. Explore all options. Games like this can really help get your creative juices going. Good luck and have fun with it!

You've got to be quick witted. You can't edit what goes through your mind. Don't think twice.