What Is Improv? (Showbiz Term of the Day)

Improv, Image by Getty Images via @daylife

Today’s showbiz term of the day is “improv.” If you type the word “improv” into just about any editor where spelling is checked, the word will be flagged as being spelled incorrectly.

But in the world of acting, the word “improv” is a term that is used regularly. It  is one of many showbiz terms that you encounter as you venture into the show business industry that you are not likely to totally understand.

You may have heard the term “improv” if you ever watched the hilarious tv show “Whose Line is It Anyway?” with Drew Carey and Wayne Brady. My daughter and I first encountered the term when she joined “Giggle Gaggle,” a kids comedy and improv troupe with Joy Theatre in North Hollywood.

As an actor, you are quite likely to be asked to do improv in a comedy class or show. It is also sometimes done in regular acting classes, particularly good acting classes. You may even be asked to improv during an audition.  If you are trying to become an actor, you’d better know what improv is and be ready to do some whenever you are asked to do it.

So, “What is improv?”

The term “improv” is most commonly used for the word improvisation (noun), but it can also be used in place of the word improvise (verb).

Improv or improvisation is the act of improvising. Improvising is making something up on the spot or creating something without previous preparation.

Improv in acting is most commonly done in connection with comedy.  When presented with a situation or a word or an object on the spot, you must create a skit or do some actions or perhaps make up a poem or a song related to the word, object, or situation that will (hopefully) make people laugh. If they don’t laugh, you at least hope they will find what you did clever. It is hard enough to come up with something that is funny when you work at it, but to have to do it without having any time to prepare and while people are watching you is really difficult!

Often, during comedy and improv shows, the audience supplies words or phrases or ideas for which you are required to create a skit or perform actions. Those watching may be asked to write words or phrases down on pieces of paper that are then put into a hat or box. Those on stage will later draw some of those pieces of paper out of the hat or box and be required to act them out as the audience watches.

Improv may also be done in acting classes when doing scene study to help actors better understand and more naturally experience a scene. This is a useful tool for children who may just be reading the words of a scene without really understanding what is occurring in the scene. This helps the actors to be more “in the moment” and to create a more real experience for those watching.

Improv is a skill that can be learned and improved through practice.  While some people are naturally spontaneous and comfortable creating on the spur of the moment, most people are not.  But with practice, most people can become much better at it.

Taking a class that uses improv on a regular basis is certainly important in the process of becoming a good actor. If you are not good at doing improv and want to get better at it, practice is the best way to get better at it. The more you do it, the better you will become at it.

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To your spontaneity,

Debbie Sikkema