And be quick – super duper early bird is available only until the end of January.
It’s probably apt that my new set of applied improv cards arrived today. I think this one is suitable for a registration announcement.
Excited. Much.
What’s at the heart of applied improv?
This morning I tweeted an article that was shared on Facebook (no, this isn’t a post about social media). This one: Improvisation May Be the Key to Successfully Managing Change, says MIT It seemed to generate a lot of interest.
Applied improv gets me excited like nothing else. I think it’s important to take notice of such feelings and see where it leads. In this case, it’s led to me trying to work out why applied improv has this effect.
My work as a facilitator with groups falls into three broad categories:
- planning, designing, clarifying what we do, and how we do it; what helps, and what hinders
- something’s wrong and we’re not sure what – this often turns up as a request for team building
- capacity building: we need to be better at creativity, innovation, responding, change, presentations,customer service etc
I’ll use a range of processes and tools, and they’ll differ in every workshops. I have a ‘kit bag’ full of activities, questions, processes, games, ideas etc, yet none of them are worth anything much without empathy for the people I’m working with. And while every workshop is different, what’s consistent is that the people in every workshop are living, breathing humans. Their circumstances may vary, their backgrounds, their languages and their culture. They still live and breathe and love, hurt and cry, the same as you and me.
Improvisation and spontaneity touch us all - we are improvisational by nature, tapping into our emotions and feelings, our experiences, our stories, our relationships with ourselves and others, they way we behave. This is what I think is fundamentally at the heart of working with groups.
Yet we often block that part of ourselves, talking ourselves into being rational, focused, planned and in control. I’d love that as much as the next person. Trouble is, it’s a fantasy. Something always comes up. And we keep on going, we do what has to be done in whatever circumstances we find ourselves and with whatever resources we have. We improvise.
Rediscovering this natural approach to how we are is at the heart of why I’m excited about applied improv. Bringing improv back to schools and education, in government and policy making, in businesses that are thriving and those who are struggling, in the health sector, in humanitarian aid and on-line – in any industry or situation, we can do in life what improvisors do on the stage.
And what better stage is there than life?
(Re-posted from Beyond the Edge)
More minds = opening up
We sat around a table at Hub Melbourne this morning to talk about an Applied Improv Conference for Melbourne next year. Thanks to Ian David from Melbourne Playback Theatre Company, Andrew Rixon from Babelfish Group and Sascha Rixon from Melbourne Uni for showing up – and also to all of you who couldn’t be there in person and sent good vibes anyway.
We talked about how an applied improv conference might differ from an improv conference – relevant because the week before this event, improvisors and performers from across Australia and the world will gather in chilly, warm-hearted Canberra for Improvention – a festival of improv workshops, performances and much more, for improvisors, by improvisors.
We also talked about how this Regional AIN (Applied Improvisation Network) Conference might differ from those hosted in Europe and North America (next year’s world AIN Conference will be in San Francisco 20 – 23 September). After all, we’re about building on offers, moving the action forward and making our partners look good!
I’ve said elsewhere on this site that applied improv is about taking improv out of the theatre and into the world. We reinforced, and built, on that idea by exploring that an improv conference is not targeted at improvisors/performers per se – the target audience are those people who could benefit from improvisation principles and application in their work: accountants, lawyers, social entrepreneurs, those working in health and education, businesses.
Applied improv is about filling the creativity gap, learning how to develop relationships with clients and co-workers (especially in industries that are very procedures focused), confidence and skills in being in front of an audience, enhancing communication and building agility to respond in the face of uncertainty. And creating a thirst for more – to learn more about improvisation, and all its applications.
What do you think?
I’ll be contacting some people who could be draw cards to such audiences. I’ll be putting together a business case to try and attract a partnering organisation. And I’ll be taking a big breath, before showing up, letting go and and jumping in.
If you have any suggestions or comments please email me viv at mcwaters dot com dot au or leave a comment below.
Proposed dates: Thursday 12th and Friday 13th July 2012
Oh, and we also threw about ideas for a name:
- Improv Transfer
- Spontaneous and Able
- Notice. Create. Commit.
Taking shape
A venue – that’s been the sticking point. Where’s a good place for a bunch of improvisors to gather?
The venue can’t be too precious about noise or us moving around lots – and we need spaces in which to lounge, to get into those fantastic conversations that we all love so much. Access to the outdoors would be nice, and rooms filled with natural light. A large space for us all to gather and break out spaces for workshops. Oh, and a bar. And decent catering on-site or nearby. And near transport. Easy access and all that. Parking for those who want to drive, public transport for others. Bicycle friendly. Access to great coffee. Either in the city or city fringe. Not too corporate, and not too expensive!
Well, folks – I think I’ve found just the place that surprisingly meets all those criteria. Woot! Just waiting for confirmation and all will be revealed. Stay tuned!
Saying Yes
Just lately I’ve been invited to collaborate on a few projects. In each case I’ve had my reservations, but I’ve managed to pull myself back from the ‘edge of saying No!’.
As it turns out, none of the projects I was invited into have happened … but, the conversations that emerged from initially saying ‘Yes’ have opened up exciting possibilities and new relationships with people I didn’t know.
Saying YES leads to adventure, new relationships and possibilities! So, when I ask you ‘Are you coming to AIN Downunder 2012?‘ … what’s your response?
Geoff Brown
Why Melbourne in 2012?
It’s been 5 years since Viv McWaters and I ran a conference … and that was called The Naked Facilitator! Next year feels like it’s time for another.
For those who have worked with me, you know how much I talk about and apply Improvisational Theatre to my work and life. It’s principles I have on my wall and when I get stuck … they provide me with the impetus to act and move toward solutions.
I feel like my application of Improv to life and work has only just begun. Improv feels to me like an itch that needs to be scratched and I am still of the surface of something smoldering beneath. Applying improv is serious, yet it’s playful. It might sound easy, but it also can challenge like nothing else.
I’m excited to hosting this event with Viv and I’m excited about the people I have connected with along this journey so far.
Geoff
Applying improv
We’re passionate about improvisation, improv, impro – no matter what you call it, we believe the world could be a better place if we applied the principles of improv to – well, anything really.
Since 2002 there’s been an annual conference in North America or Europe that brings together people like us who want to use improv in our work and apply what we know about improv to the world at large, particularly in businesses, organisations, schools and communities.
We know that there’s many people like us in Australia and New Zealand who want to share our experiences and knowledge, play together, challenge and learn from each other. And who knows, we might even attract some folk from elsewhere too!
Interested? Have questions? Want to attend? Want to perform? Just want to stay in touch?
