Bitten by the New York comedy bug, but out West

August 10, 2009 6:14 PM

Bitten by the New York comedy bug, but I'm out West.

After hanging out with brilliant, neurotic comedians back East who wrote and put on their own local productions that were smart as hell, I was seized by the crazy urge to try to get involved in comedy, or comedy writing, back in my non-L.A. California metropolis.

So I signed up for a well-regarded improv class here. It was fun, and I have a lot of respect for the form, but I didn't feel at home the same way, or that it was the same genre or kind of folks. There were Silicon Valley executives who wanted to learn improv as a skill for team-building...and yes, the theater games were useful for loosing up...

But I'm more into National Lampoon than Whose Line Is It Anyway? I would love to write and maybe perform some pre-written, non-improv material and hang out with other writers. I wonder if there is another path. Not talking about breaking into TV here, just having as much fun as the people in Brooklyn seem to be when they get together for all these weird little shows exhibiting their humor writing. Totally envious.

How does someone dip casually into this stuff? Open mics? I've thought about overcoming my introverted inhibitions and trying a local stand-up class, but concerned (maybe without basis) that would put me in more of a Dane Cook type setting than I am comfortable with.

I'm basically really ignorant about this, even after reading prior Ask Metafilter threads...thanks for your patience.

posted by anonymous to media & arts (6 answers total)

What you're interested in is "sketch comedy". Go back to your local comedy club(s) - or where you took the improv classes - and look for the bulletin board. There is probably a bulletin board. Or ask someone on staff if they have a bulletin board. And see if anyone has a note up about:

• looking for people to write sketch comedy with;
or
• inviting people to a sketch comedy show.

If you find the former - get in touch with them! If the latter, go see it! If improv is thriving-ish, there's probably some kind of sketch ecosystem where you live. Become familiar with it, go to shows, talk to people - and if you like someone's stuff, ask if they might want to write stuff with you.

And then there's the other (obvious) instruction: post your own note on the bulletin board. (Or on Craigslist.) You are interested in writing and performing sketch comedy. Cite your influences and likes. Leave an email address. And then get together with those who reply - maybe for a coffee to start - and go from there.

One note: In the amateur scene, it will be very hard to find a forum to perform sketch without also helping to write it. Most are writers/performers, and there's rarely much room for strict actors. (Though if you're a woman, purely because troupes often lack women, you have a better shot.)

I suspect stand-up wouldn't be much helpful - the stand-up, improv and sketch worlds have overlap (the overlap is called "people who are funny"), but are generally separate. It might be a good place to meet people with sympathetic senses of humour, but the experience and scene is v v v different than the stuff of wry Brooklyn sketch-writers.
posted by Marquis at 6:26 PM on August 10, 2009 [1 favorite]

Improv can be performed for audiences, yes, but it's also used as a writing tool to produce sketch comedy performed from a script that was borne of improvisation. That's exactly how Second City in Chicago does it. And Tina Fey and Amy Poehler got started in improv (in long-form, not short-form, which is what Whose Line Is It Anyway is), and in fact Poehler partially owns Upright Citizens Brigade in New York.

My point is that they've used improv as a stepping stone to write their own work. Improvisational comedy can be used as a workshopping technique so you find out what's funny and what's not. Then, write down the funny stuff, and voila, you have a script. So don't automatically turn down the improv scene. Marquis is right--there's a lot of overlap.
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 7:04 PM on August 10, 2009

You might want to check out aspecialthing.com and maybe post on the forums there. Lots of comedians and comedy fans are there, and people are generally very helpful.
posted by The Deej at 7:09 PM on August 10, 2009

I've taken improv at Bay Area Theatre Sports (BATS) and ComedySportz San Jose. It turns out every school has its own flavor and I'd suggest you hunt around a bit more. Also, things get better as you work up the scale in any school. First tier classes were usually just keeping your energy up and saying "Yes!" Later classes get better and a good teacher will be happy to let you provide input on how you want to work.

You might be in SFBay so if you want my take on BATS vs. CSZ, drop me a memail. I like both schools and had a great time at each but they do have different takes on the art.
posted by chairface at 9:07 PM on August 10, 2009

One thing to consider is that there's a huge difference between longform and short form improv. If you're doing short form (aka theatresports, or more disparagingly "bar games") and it isn't hitting home, consider trying longform, as it's more focused on character and story, and less on one-liners and "Who's Line" type games. It sounds like the class you took was the sort of class designed for non-improvisers. This type of improv might leave you wanting if you are looking to build characters and situations that are more permanent and resonant.

Sketch comedy could also be what you're looking for. I agree with ImproviseOrDie that improv can really help you find scenes/stories and find a jumping off point for your sketch writing. It's how a lot of tv and film comedies are written, and how Second City Shows are built. Try writing a few Saturday Night Live type sketches (or, depending on your taste, maybe it will be more Monty Python, or The Kids in the Hall, or The State). See if that holds any interest to you. If it does you may find using improv games a valuable way to come up with new characters or conceits.

If you can't find something up your alley in your area, consider taking a weekend intensive at UCB Los Angeles, or wherever else you're interested in studying. Or find a place that has online sketch writing classes (right now the only place that comes to mind immediately is The Film Lab). Take the stand up class if that's what you want to try out and see how you like it. Start writing sketches or one-act plays or whatever else you might feel the urge to do and then find a venue and hold auditions and bring that thing to life. Try to remember that the simpler the project, the easier it will be to make it happen. If you want a 15-episode web series with ten characters and four different sets it will require a lot of funds and people. On the other hand, a one-act, one-man (woman?) show at a local theatre space might be a bit more realistic.

Post to Craigslist or Meetup.com and try to find other people that are into the type of comedy you want to do. I can't tell you how valuable it is to have other writers to bounce ideas off or at least to read/watch your work and give you notes. Meet people, make connections and try to find people to collaborate with. For any of these things you want to start learning and practicing as soon and as often as possible so you can get closer to the doing stage.
posted by SassHat at 9:49 PM on August 10, 2009

You might also look up prior participants in the San Francisco Sketchfest that are locals. A lot of out of town groups come in, but there may be some groups locally that teach or do shows that you can check out.
posted by moedym at 1:19 PM on August 11, 2009