Improvising Paranoid? Great! Improv Tip #1 (2015)

In this very first improv tip, veteran teacher and improviser Paul Vaillancourt shares a powerful improv technique called "Playing Paranoid" AKA "Assume Everything is a Game Move". When you employ this simple idea you can start making the absolute most out of every moment of an improv scene and everything your partner says or does and THAT always makes for better, more energized scenes.
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[@ivanagreene8193]

I've been doing improv for a couple years and no one has ever explained anything like that before. Really just blew my mind and is making me think of improv in terms of strategy instead of "leaving things to fate." Thanks for the tip! Hoping to take your class for the Baltimore Improv Festival!

[@PVImprov]

I'm glad you enjoyed the tip and hope you feel that it improves your work. I'd love to see you in Baltimore! That would be so great! Thanks for watching.

[@lindseystoddart177]

I love this strategy because it gives a gift to yourself and to your partner simultaneously. PV is awesome!

[@PVImprov]

Aw...thanks Val.

[@SuperAwesomeReasons]

I think the "What does this mean? What does this mean?" element described is very applicable. I like to improvise in my roleplaying TTRPGs. I noticed earlier today that our initial roleplaying sort of stumbled and was stilted. and I've been following unrelated advice about trying to have specific goals for more things in life, and the roleplaying really came to life once I started talking more about my goals of a roleplayed line before I began doing so. None of us are trained improvisers, but I think explaining beforehand in this manner served as the sort of petri dish by which specific relevant improvisational subtext could grow in the minds of the party.

[@PVImprov]

Huzzah! So great to hear that this tip was useful to you. As a long time D & D player and DM it warms my heart to hear that some fellow RPG players are getting value from the tips! Thanks for this comment - I'll treasure it like a dragon treasures its hoard (too much? I got caught up in the moment!)

[@Mylittletales]

I can't wait to try this in my class tomorrow! I will be watching this series one by one. I'm training with Eric Honeycutt and my husband trained with you!

[@PVImprov]

I know it's been a while. How did it work?

[@shane6750]

You are the absolute best Paul. This is a fantastic idea.

[@PVImprov]

Thanks Shane - not the best at replying quickly but near the top at getting around to it eventually.

[@CarmenScottShow]

This is an awesome tip. Thanks Paul!!!

[@PVImprov]

you got it carmen - thanks for watching!

[@yalcabesmusic]

Great tip!

[@PVImprov]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for watching - there’s a bunch more waiting for you!

[@notlukebenson]

Subscribed after watching this Paul! Such a simple, fun way to add something to your scene! Looking forward to your next vid!

[@PVImprov]

Thanks for getting in early Luke.

[@foust70]

Great thoughts.

[@PVImprov]

Yep, turns old Miles has a lot of them.

[@jifford8516]

subscribed! now I'm gonna embrace my paranoia

[@PVImprov]

As timely now as when I posted it.

[@cesarprieto5395]

Is this playing paranoid an strategy, an exercise or a pillar of improv?

[@PVImprov]

+Cesar Prieto I think a pillar is something like "Yes and..." and an exercise would be something like "touch to talk" so I guess I would say that "Playing Paranoid" is a strategy...but a strategy that you can/should use all the time. Does that answer your question? Thanks for watching and keep hitting me up with questions. I love it!

[@cesarprieto5395]

Yes, it does. I'll keep with the questions! :D Thanks a lot for sharing and for responding!!

[@PVImprov]

+Cesar Prieto my pleasure...