Safety: What’s the big deal?
Note: This is a reprint of a previous Improv Illusionist newsletter. If you’re not receiving my email newsletter, you can subscribe here and get my “Learning the Improv Illusion” series as a bonus.
Welcome to another issue of the Improv Illusionist Newsletter, a monthly update from me, David Raitt, with a focus on the improv skills of environment, object work, and physicality in character and performance. I’m honoured by your interest.
Hey there, illusionists!
A couple of weeks ago, my friends at the Oakville Improv Theatre Company kindly threw me a book launch party for The Improv Illusionist. It was a lovely afternoon with some pretty special people.
It’s exciting to finally be able to talk to people about what’s in my book. A nice result from the book launch was the number of people who were interested in the material on safety in improv. I don’t think this topic is discussed or taught enough, especially for beginning players.
Yet, I’m sure there are still a number of people who wonder why improv safety is an issue. For many, improv is a hobby, not a profession. Could it really be that dangerous?
Obviously, we don’t want people injured or traumatized by their experiences. But let’s talk about some other less obvious reasons to keep safety in mind…
Safety – What’s the big deal?
Just so we’re clear, I’ve written this before:
ALL performance is dangerous, and unrehearsed, spontaneous acting is even more so. With improv, you have no pre-set blocking or choreography to rely on. You’re negotiating entrances, exits, and stairs in low (or no) light. Tripping over chairs, curtains, and other players is a constant threat. Committing to more physicality makes it especially important to be aware of these hazards.
Add in the anxiety and adrenaline of working in front of an audience. Then add in the pressures (internal and external) to make exciting things happen for that audience. All this makes safety an important factor.
The spontaneous nature of improv also allows for uncaring, reckless, or outright predatory people to excuse or disguise their behaviour. When everyone else commits to safe practices, it’s much easier to spot these people and address the problem.
An unsafe experience (physical or emotional) can happen to anyone, at any level of experience. And it can have consequences, from the benign to the extremely serious…
- Kills the scene. Even if it can continue after an injury or uncomfortable moment, no one will be able to focus on it.
- Undermines your improv. If you’re not working in a controlled, safe manner, you’re probably not listening to your partners either.
- Danger to others. You may be willing to risk your own safety, but what if your action injures other players? Or someone in the audience?
- Expensive. Depending on where you live, you may have to pay health care costs to treat or rehabilitate an injury. Serious injuries may require time off work (especially a problem for starving artists).
- Enduring trauma. Emotional stress can have long-lasting effects that also affect your life outside the theatre.
- Limits your prospects. If you gain a reputation as an unsafe improviser, others may not want to play with you or cast you in their shows.
- No fun! Not being able to play, or playing while feeling unsafe, takes the joy out of performing.
Committing to safe play does NOT take the fun out of improv. Creativity flourishes under constraints. (After all, that’s how improv games work.) We can still take risks, and we can still create exciting experiences for audiences and ourselves. If we’re doing it safely, these will be even more enjoyable for everyone.
Promoting safety is a big part of my Improv Illusionist mission. The new book has full chapters on Physical and Emotional Safety. But I don’t want the cost of buying it to be a barrier to people using this information.
So, I’ve decided to add all the safety materials from the book to the website so they can be found and shared. Over the next few months, these will appear in the Safety category of the Articles section. (You’ll find an article on avoiding muscle strains there right now.)
Please join me in helping spread the word. Forward this newsletter. Share the article posts. And most importantly, play safe!
Things to Try
Ideas for exercises or scenes to work out your physical improv skills.
This month, some things to try offstage to help promote safety in your company…
- Rehearse physicality with your team. Especially if your show has any favourite set pieces or activities you like to do. This type of preparation is NOT cheating your improv!
- Ask your theatre company about their policies and codes of conduct. And actually take the time to read them.
- Practice confirming consent and boundary conversation exercises. (You’ll find links on my Emotional Safety Resources page) This is important work to create safer spaces. It won’t progress unless we all make the effort to normalize these practices.
More for the Improv Illusionist
Improv Exercises for Physical Skills
Improv Books — Reviews & Recommendations
Improv Podcasts — Reviews & Recommendations
The Improv Illusionist book is NOW AVAILABLE!
Look inside and get order info here.
News & Links
Continuing this month’s theme of safety, here are two excellent articles from Stephen Davidson (@impromiscuous).
How to spot someone problematic
Identifying unsafe players is tricky. When should we be asking ourselves hard questions?
What to do when people mess up
When do we forgive and forget, and when do we sever ties?
Question(s) of the Month
What’s your biggest concern about safety in improv?
And if you don’t agree with me that it’s a big deal, why not?
(I’m open to friendly debate.)
Hit Reply and share. I love to chat with readers, and it gives me ideas for future content to help the whole community.
Do you have any feedback about Improv Illusionist? Send me a message or just reply to this email. Seriously, I read and respond to just about everything.
See you again on November 2nd!
Ex nihilo!
—Dave
