The other day I came across this quote about improv by Martin De Maat and I think it is a fantastic thing to say about improv. Before we go any further, let’s take a look at the quote:
I think this is a really important quote and if someone said this to me early in my training, I think the whole idea of not blocking would of become so easy to understand. This quote makes it easier to understand why that is so important to make an improv scene to flow.
When you first start performing or rehearsing improv, it can be incredibly easy to fall into the habit of blocking in a scene. What I mean by this is that when someone sets out the scene or makes a statement the other player blocks it and disagrees. This causes inevitably conflict to end up occurring in the same scene.
However, if you think of this quote it can be kind to something more positive. If you believe that every-time you say yes to something in a scene it will automatically lead to something positive. It will help you to stop blocking and enjoy what happens. It will feel unusual at first to say yes but you will get used to it.
Fun always comes along with a yes and it leads to some really fun scenes as well and makes the audience have a great time.
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