Improv Tip #9 - A Bigger Yes And... (2015)

In this week's improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt shares a philosophy that will take your understanding to a much deeper level. Whether you're doing improv comedy, playing improv games, using improv in your acting classes or expressing yourself with some other kind of improvisation, you are going to love this improv technique.
Paul Vaillancourt is the author of "The Triangle of the Scene".
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[@ollieanntan4478]

Short, sweet and to the point. Great video!

[@PVImprov]

Thanks so much. We aim to please.

[@alexanderwolf4263]

The actors are playing together to make it happen. Thats really good said.

[@PVImprov]

Aw shucks! Thanks Alexander and thanks for watching.

[@user-cz9dh4yy3g]

it's an absolute pain playing with someone who rejects every single proposal...literally painful

[@PVImprov]

It certainly can be and when you can master some simple technique for dealing with those outliers you can turn pain into joy and laughter. Best of luck! Thanks for watching.

[@user-cz9dh4yy3g]

wow! thank you so much for the reply!@@PVImprov last Friday I went to an improv jam the person I played with rejected every single proposal and I got progressively more tense and spiraled down into frustration...of course everybody saw that it's the only improv in English in the country where I'm at unfortunately, it's an Eastern European country so the culture in general is pretty much depressive and negative contrary to the Western anglo mindset. Anyway, thanks so much for your improv tips, they are fantastic!

[@PVImprov]

@@user-cz9dh4yy3g i feel you. that can be super frustrating for sure. I'll offer this as a possible technique for these kinds of situations. If they reject YOUR offer, then accept THEIR offer. (A super basic example but I think it illustrates the point) You: Man, what a beautiful day! Them: No, it's so gloomy and rainy. You: I know. You're right. I'm just trying to be positive. Them: You're the most negative person I know. You: Right again. I'm just TRYING to change. Them: That's never going to work. You: I know, okay. But a guy can try. Them: You can TRY but you're gonna stay depressed. You: *Sigh* I guess you're right. Now you're on the same page. And now you can start to influence the scene from the "inside". Rather than being on the "outside" trying to get them to agree with you. Is this the best/easiest/most fun way to do a scene? No, but at least you two are working together now and it has a chance at "success" I find this works even if the other person is almost actively trying to derail the scene. What do you think? Give it a whirl and see if it works for you.

[@user-cz9dh4yy3g]

thank you so much! This def helps, will def try it in the next jam