Improv: 10 years of being an "adult"

Idiot tries to sell me a service over email

justinkiernanbyrne — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 12:16:56 -0400

Dumb Guy: Justin, Bloggers and other social media influencers help you engage with your audience in a creative way, developing a positive perception of your brand. I'd like to discuss with you how [StupidCompany] can assist you with managing your influencer marketing process and tracking your results during a 5-10 minute call. The overall goal of the call would be to determine if there is a fit between your marketing strategies and [StupidCompany's] capabilities. Let me know a good date and time for us to connect. I look forward to hearing from you soon. Thank you and sincerely, [Dumb Guy]
Dumb Guy: Justin, I hope all is well. Last week I had sent you an email on connecting on a call to discuss your management of influencer outreach. I haven't heard from you yet, and want to make sure I don't drop the ball in reaching out. Let me know a good date and time in your calendar for us to connect on a quick call. The goal of the call would be to discover how your needs and [StupidCompany's] offerings make influencer marketing easier. Thank you, [Dumb Guy]
Me: What is it you think I do, [Dumb Guy]?

Rewrite Movie Night 6

justinkiernanbyrne — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 15:15:25 -0400

Rewrite Movie Night IV

justinkiernanbyrne — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 12:35:00 -0500

I’m super excited that this keeps happening. Please come to the Beast tonight at 8PM, if you’re not doing anything, and check out Rewrite Movie Night. We have a trio of incredible improvisors tonight: Brandon Scott Jones, D’Arcy Carden, and Leslie Meisel. It’s going to kick so much ass.

Plus, we’re paired with the awesome improvised documentary! TWO MOVIE SHOWS IN ONE AWESOME HOUR! WOOO!

Grab some rezzies, and enjoy the hell out of your night.

Rewrite Movie Night

justinkiernanbyrne — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 17:10:37 -0500

Really quickly, tonight is the first Rewrite Movie Night show at UCB East. I’m extremely excited and proud of the show, and our guest stars this month, oh my god. Andrew Law (Charlemagne, GoodGirl, Anthony Jeselnik) and Dan Klein (The Onion, Law Firm, Pangea 3000) are coming to improvise with us tonight. They’re two of my favorite performer / improvisor / writers ever, and it’s an honor that they aggreed to do the show. I would love it if you came to check it out, because it’s going to be ridiculous, and fun. Aaaand we’re paired with Elvis’ Rockin’ Nativity Scene, put together by Will Cleveland, and hosted by Eddie Dunn. It’ll be hilarious and great.

Grab some rezzies here, and make a night of it.

Guys, I’m always available for group photos. Unless...

justinkiernanbyrne — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 16:57:34 -0400

Guys, I’m always available for group photos. Unless you’re cool with using the weird Dr. Who interdimensional shit you’re using right now. I don’t do TARDIS photography.

salgentile:

allieko:

sarahjburton:

New Lloyd Team:

COOKERS CLONING (starter name)

Look we already took a group photo!

Claire Ayoub

Tricia Olds

Alex Teague

Allie Kokesh

TJ Del Reno

Eric Gersen

Sarah Burton

Sal Gentile

sarah is great with the internet.

truly frightening.

Somewhere along the way

justinkiernanbyrne — Wed, 19 Sep 2012 14:22:07 -0400

A very good friend of mine was talking about the artifice of the auditioning process yesterday, saying that a single audition wasn’t the best way to cast an improv team, and, acquiescing, I agreed, as I didn’t feel like I had the energy to argue the point just then. Yes, an audition puts an undue amount of pressure on the individuals involved, and there may, in fact, be a lot better ways to cast an improv show. The point that I would argue is that the UCB auditions are really so much more than just one audition. What the UCB auditions are is a reminder to your allies in the room, or an introduction to the AD, with the full backing and force of your notes, performances, and interactions with your professors, in and out of class.

Especially if you’ve been invited.

But even if you haven’t, they’ve got a file on you. That file says whether or not you love improv. It says whether or not you play game well. It says you’re a comfort to watch on stage, or an unmitigated shit storm. It says you’re really working hard, or you’re just phoning it in. The reality of these auditions is that they’re so very un-superficial and so very specific to who you are or who they know you to be that calling it just a single audition is perhaps the greatest mischaracterization of the process I’ve ever encountered. If you’ve been invited, you’ve already impressed the hell out of your teachers, or the panel from the last audition. If you’ve been invited, your job is to remind them why.

Somewhere along the way, we can really lose sight of the fact that UCB is much more than a theater and a school that share a lot of staff. We can lose sight of the reason why we’re here in the first place - that love and passion for comedy. For making ourselves and those around us laugh. We can get caught up in this pathway to success or recognition at the theater, and let ourselves get too focused on the minutia of successes and failures that accompany each session of class, or each triple crown show. Step back, take a breath, and remember why you’re here.

Have fun, and break some legs tonight auditioners ~ hope it kicks ass.

A Brilliant Piece of Will Hines' Latest Post

justinkiernanbyrne — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:55:04 -0400

The full post is here, but this passage stood out:

When he was 27 and he agreed to direct Stone Cold Fox (a house sketch team at UCBT) he wasn’t thinking “I bet a number of these people will work for SNL someday,” he was thinking “I love sketch, this seems fun, we’re going to make a fun show.” And then they were the fucking best team at the theatre.

If something is fun and enticing, you are victorious. You should keep doing that. If you’re a zombie and going through the motions it’s time to move on.

If he never got a job, and now I can speak from experience, then he’d only have a life spent being happy behind him.

Road to nowhere! Good heavens. I mean, ALL ROADS LEAD NOWHERE. Try not to think about that. Spend your days in love with what you’re doing as much as fucking possible and thank the stars for your chances to do that. Be nice and honest and brave and hopeful and then let it go. The improv stages of Chicago and now NYC and soon LA are filled with super talented people on roads to nowhere! I am one of those people! But I’m not in a cubicle giving my precious breath to a dumb company which I could give a shit about and so that’s what I’ve got.

Not to get all YOLO on everyone (because it’s the worst philosophy that our slowly decaying civilization has ever given rise to) but, hell, Will’s SO RIGHT. Right? I’ve spent the better part of the last two years figuring out why, despite being an eternal optimist, and someone who generally enjoys life, I’ve been so miserable the entire time, even when I’m ostensibly having FUN or doing things or with people that I LOVE.

While improv filled a HUGE gap in my life, the need for a performance outlet, and a community of like-minded people, there’s always another hole to fill (that sounds strangely sexual - it’s not). And there are a couple great life lessons here:

1. Live your life and enjoy the shit out of it. If your job isn’t something you love (or something beyond mindless and easy with lots of flexible time), then you’re either wasting or hating 8 hours of your day. And THAT is a huge waste of your life.

2. Humans are funny creatures. I love this Neil Casey quote (paraphrased):

Human nature is to do the exact opposite of what you tell them to do. People don’t want to see you trying to be funny, the second you do that you’re telling them to think you’re funny. Their first reaction is gonna be “No. I don’t want to.”

It’s really true though, if your end goal is making money from something, you’re probably trying too hard, and it probably shows. I say this as someone who would love a career in comedy, and who is TOTALLY burnt out right now from taking 2 to 3 classes at a time since January. Which has been, if anything, totally counterproductive. I do truly love comedy, and performing, but I’ve gotten to the point where I actually need to take a break because of how hard I’ve been going at it, and how seriously (TOO seriously) I’ve been taking it, which is something I didn’t want to do (I’ll still do shows and practice, just not taking another class after these until January or February). I’ve been too heavy handed (an accusation my art teacher used to levy at me in high school) with my execution lately - pressing too hard on the charcoal of comedy as it were - because you can’t convince anyone you’re funny. You just have to love it and let the funny come.

Thanks for another great post, Will!

Improv Is Easy!: A Can of Worms About Diversity

justinkiernanbyrne — Thu, 06 Sep 2012 10:22:19 -0400

Improv Is Easy!: A Can of Worms About Diversity:

Kirk is real smart. Listen to things he says.

improv-is-easy:

I’m writing this as a tangent to Will Hines’s improvnonsense post about diversity. His intentions are for the best, I know, but parts of it troubled me… and some people who wish to remain anonymous.

I almost didn’t say anything, but I saw Nichelle Nichols speak at DragonCon this weekend, and…

Hahaha. I was illustration 13. My family’s lucky number!...

justinkiernanbyrne — Mon, 06 Aug 2012 10:34:22 -0400

Hahaha. I was illustration 13. My family’s lucky number! Woo!

plaiddcm:

DCM14 illustration 13

Dark was the night, but I was able to spot plaid nonetheless.

#dcm14

I love this. toddbieber: Here is something I directed for...

justinkiernanbyrne — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 16:31:36 -0400

I love this.

toddbieber:

Here is something I directed for Broadway Video.

Starbucks, champions of humanity, volume 1

justinkiernanbyrne — Fri, 22 Jun 2012 10:51:41 -0400

Dear Starbucks,

Thanks for finally sending an email to the general populace with this important public service announcement. Humans have, throughout time, asked the question “what does summer taste like?” Now we all know. I know a big empty part in my soul (mostly my stomach) has been filled by this knowledge. I really appreciate it. Please keep up all the great work you do for humanity.

Thanks,

Sincerely,

Justin Kiernan Byrne

p.s. I really love the fact that you’ve finally started rolling out clover machines in Starbucks stores! WOW! What an improvement in taste! It makes your regular coffee taste like burnt horse diarrhea in comparison! So, thanks for THAT too!

p.p.s. Hey could you guys check your bathrooms more often? Thanks.

Finally! The Sex Panther video we all watched when we were kids...

justinkiernanbyrne — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 12:41:00 -0400

Finally! The Sex Panther video we all watched when we were kids (1996, baby!) is out on YouTube. Guys, pick up your Johnny Tables albums and Jam out!

Created / Performed by Phil Jackson

Shot / Edited by Justin Kiernan Byrne

I made this last night

justinkiernanbyrne — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 10:04:30 -0400

I like it. I was waiting for a video to upload (the upload failed) and my sheets to dry (I passed out on the floor), but now this cool (I don’t know, you tell me) graphic exists. Credit to whoever made the outline for the UCB LIVE logo (I had to trace it in illustrator, but it looks pretty good, I think).

Guys, I heard Dan Black’s book is now available on...

justinkiernanbyrne — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 15:35:26 -0400

Guys, I heard Dan Black’s book is now available on kindle.

connorratliff:

DCM is just around the corner, and you know what that means!

Time for everyone to get out their dog-eared copies of Dan Black’s groundbreaking improv book, Holdin’ Back On A Goofy Move.

Essential reading for any improviser!

Chris Gethard @ Improv Nonesense

justinkiernanbyrne — Wed, 23 May 2012 16:23:01 -0400

This is my favorite quote about improv that I’ve read today:

All of the rules and structures are actually guidelines. A structure is only there to help you. If you do a hilarious show where the Harold structure gets fucked up, no one will care. If you do a textbook Harold that isn’t interesting or funny, it is no accomplishment. All of the rules are like traffic lights - you probably should stop at a red light. But if you really want to, you can hit the gas and drive through it - you might crash and die. But you also might get away with breaking that particular law.

This comes from an awesome interview on Will Hines’ fantastic improv blog Improv Nonsense. It’s a good thing to remember - especially as I feel myself playing against a lifetime of notes a lot of the time (especially the past week) - Read Will’s blog if you haven’t. It’s full of pearls of improv wisdom.

Spiritualized - So Long You Pretty Thing

justinkiernanbyrne — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:30:41 -0400

The first verse of So Long You Pretty Thing is below

“If you feel lonely

and the world’s against you

take the long way home

past the scary jesus

and you’ll find my jewel

with your maybe diamonds

and you’ll feel lonely

no more”

It’s an awesome song, but the use of the phrase “scary jesus” instantly put a smile on my face. Happy wednesday amigos!

Maneater

justinkiernanbyrne — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:07:44 -0400

My friends Matt and Josh have an awesome spank TONIGHT at 6:30PM at UCB Chelsea. Please go see it. I’m a huge fan of this show. It’s incredibly fun and funny and great. I know you have a free half hour. Go see the show.

the Anthony King: Improv/Life Balance

justinkiernanbyrne — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:15:08 -0400

the Anthony King: Improv/Life Balance:

anthonyking:

After my Harold Audition post, I received this email—-

Hey Anthony,

I know you’re busy, so please get back to me whenever you get the chance. I’m an improviser who has been training at UCB for the past year. I just completed my first ASH with Delaney and I’m on an indie team that practices…

We get it, Dan. You like Improv.

The Anthony King: Harold Auditions

justinkiernanbyrne — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:09:37 -0500

The Anthony King: Harold Auditions:

This is fascinating, and so so valuable. Make sure you read the whole thing.

anthonyking:

There is a lot of talk on Tumblr in the last few days about Harold Auditions (I assume they’re happening in NY soon?). So as someone who watched literally thousands of people audition for UCBT NY Harold Teams over the last few years and as someone who can now speak frankly because I have nothing…

UCB Training Center Diversity Program: Harold Auditions: Interview with Nate Dern, Artistic Director of UCB Theatre NY

justinkiernanbyrne — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 12:06:15 -0500

UCB Training Center Diversity Program: Harold Auditions: Interview with Nate Dern, Artistic Director of UCB Theatre NY:

I’m posting this without commentary.

ucbdifference:

This is your first Harold Audition as the Artistic Director of UCB Theatre NY. Obviously, you’ve been on the other side of things. Tell us about your approach.

We did an invite audition in October, but you are correct that it is my first time running an open audition. And actually I…