Improv Scene Basics: Finding a Conflict

When it comes to improv, one of the most important things you need to establish in your scene is a conflict. (In real life, this is a little less desirable.) No conflict = nothing to do. Nothing to do = a boring scene for your audience. And we certainly can't have that!

In some games, it's much easier to figure out your conflict because it's given to you. For example, in Party Quirks, the conflict is the need to figure out who the guests are. But in a game like Genre Replay (aka Scene Three Ways), it's absolutely crucial to find your conflict. When you redo your scene, the audience will know what to look forward to and you will have something to work with.

So how do you go about finding your conflict? Well, sometimes it's given to you by the audience. Your emcee might ask specifically for a conflict ("There are no paper towels left in the house!"), or it might be obvious in your character or setting suggestion ("Teacher and disruptive student!" "In a volcano!"). But that doesn't happen too often, so it's best not to count on it.

Take your givens--whatever your suggestions are from the audience as well as the confines of the game. If it's Genre Replay, remember you'll be doing your scene again in a different style. If it's Freeze, remember you'll need to keep it short and include some wild poses and gestures for your fellow teammates. The rules of the game should help you rather than hinder you in terms of what you need to do and how to do it.

The next step is a logical one for any improviser: think, "How can I take what I know and cause some drama?" No matter how normal or wacky your givens may be, all you have to do is figure out what might throw things off.

Let's do an example. Say you're doing a basic open scene (no rules) and your suggestion is a relationship, so you and your scene partner are neighbors. What could be the problem?

-Each neighbor's lawn has grass of a different height
-A ball is in one neighbor's yard, but the other neighbor isn't allowed to retrieve it.
-The water isn't working, so neither can shower, water the lawn, or wash their hands.
-Whose flowers will win the garden show???
-A stray dog dug holes in everyone's yard--and uncovered some buried treasure

These are all simple ideas that can turn a basic scene into a grand adventure. You can even be inspired by your own life (the "no water" idea happened to my dad and his neighbors). Taking steps to resolve that conflict is your next step--but that's another blog post.

For anyone but the experts, we highly recommend keeping the conflict external (which means your conflict shouldn't be BETWEEN you and your fellow improvisers). If you and your partner aren't allowed to work together to find a solution, much of what improv builds upon is lost. The beauty of each scene is that you get through it with teamwork as well as building from everyone's imagination. It's hard for you, your partner, and the audience to get through a scene filled with animosity.

We would wish you luck in your scenes, but you won't need it. Finding the conflict is easier than you think. Just relax and play. You'll be surprised how conflicts can come naturally out of your givens.

Improv Scene Basics: Creating a Character

Creating a character is a ton of fun. You get to completely define who you're going to be and what you're capable of! You can give yourself superpowers, be a talking animal, or become the richest human being alive. Unless you're Superman, Flounder, or Bill Gates, your character probably isn't exactly the same as you. But it's very easy to fall into the trap of forgetting your character over the course of the scene (especially if it hasn't been assigned to you). By the end of the scene, it's YOU finding your way out of the forest, breaking out of jail, or taking a tour of the floor factory. While this can definitely work, it's not quite as fun or advanced. If you're comfortable taking your improv to the next level, here are some handy questions to keep in mind for creating your character.

-What's your character's name? What does that name say about you?

-Where is your character from? Another town? Another country? Another planet?

-How was your character raised? Were you teased? Are you insecure about anything?

-How does your character stand? Are their shoulders hunched? Do they stand tall and proud?

-What's your character's personality? Are you a know-it-all? Are you sneaky? Are you eager?

-What are your goals? If the world worked your way, what would it be like?

-How old are you? Did you see the fall of Rome? Are you in preschool?

-What are your hobbies? What do you like to do? Homework? Rock collecting? Archery?

-What clothes are you wearing? What do those clothes say about you? How do they feel?

-Is there a gesture or facial expression you're known for? Why do you make it?

-How does your character walk? What speed? Is there a limp?

These are just a few of the ways you can bring your character to life. Obviously, you don't always have time to think all of these through in the few seconds between the audience's suggestions and the beginning of your scene. But if you can define even a few of these, you've created something engrossing for the audience to enjoy. You'll also notice the scene become a lot easier. There are more places you can go as a character than just as yourself! You get new ideas and discover ways to solve the conflict--plus the audience will just eat it up.

In fact, Chris Farley, who was a very famous actor, got his start because of his renowned character improv. He joined Second City and rose quickly through the ranks until he was on the Mainstage--and it was because he could create those well-rounded characters. In fact, there was one improv scene he did as a waiter to a couple on a date when he first started on the Mainstage . The couple was fairly normal, but he was an incredibly depressed waiter. Everything he did was with an air of hopelessness and the audience couldn't get enough. They hadn't given him this quirk, he just came up with it on his own. Don't be afraid to go for it onstage like he did! (Fun fact: did you know Chris Farley's famous SNL sketch "Livin' in a VAN down by the RIVER" was born on the Second City stage?)

Best of luck shaping your characters! Perhaps your character can come with you to school or work tomorrow...

-Allie