Don’t Do Your Best | Keith Johnstone | TEDxYYC

[@Peacefrogg]

My grandfather always said: if you want to find something, the best strategy is to stop looking for it. This is how i found my keys, my wallet, but mostly my creativity, my inner child and my patience.

[@greenlitlleman]

Lol, I waited for the "and my wife" part.

[@Peacefrogg]

@@greenlitlleman it’s really hard to lose my husband. I let him off the leash once, didn’t help. And i won’t tie him to a tree, that’s just cruel…and yes, about 30 yrs ago, just when i decided i didn’t need a partner…

[@Ishin_Renan]

That's why we must pay attention to our elders

[@lifeisagame2023]

R.i.p without Keith I may never have experienced improv. Thanks Keith

[@secondcousincurly]

First and foremost, safe travels in your next adventure, Keith Johnstone (1933-2023). Second, all Ted Talks should have a guy with a horn and a bell. Third, thank you TedX for recording and sharing this talk. I got to attend a workshop with Johnstone at least twenty years ago, and things he said that day have stayed with me ever since. A true original!

[@Silent_Keith]

I could listen to Keith talk for hours and not get tired of listening to him.

[@GuilainMusic]

first day workshop with him gave me ten pages where every single sentence he said became an unlightened quote...

[@nairocamilo]

@@GuilainMusic Highlighted?

[@genesisochoastudent7638]

"be average, because then there is no stress" is a statement that stuck with me. It goes hand in hand with the idea that we strive to be original. As Keith said we like to think outside the box when we are put on the spot. Maybe that is why it is so hard for some people to do improvisation because they are thinking about it too much and not going with the flow. This supports Keith's idea that "the audience connects, but the improvisers disconnect".

[@nancylowery3573]

missed hearing this at TEDxYYC and loved this statement "I decided just before my ninth birthday not to believe anything the grown ups said. And the next day I decided to always see if the opposite could be true. I think it changed my life I’ve been doing it ever since. And it taught me to be looking for the obvious not the clever. The obvious is really your true self, the clever is the imitation of someone else."

[@hayatiozkul3197]

Nancy Lowery kimi

[@jadeeye5630]

thats such a nice quote indeed

[@AlexanderTechniqueMadeEasy]

If only we’d all been told this before. Such a nugget.

[@AlexanderTechniqueMadeEasy]

If only we’d all been told this before. Such a nugget.

[@hawkins8703]

Hey how's it goin' Nancy?

[@christinaburavtsovastudent3699]

I thought it was really interesting how he said to "look for the obvious and not clever". I love how he said "the obvious is really your true self," while "the clever is an imitation of someone else". Too often we are caught overthinking the way we act or present ourselves to the outside world. We try to put on a facade to fit a certain mold. Being authentic and staying true to who you are is important. I feel that when people do improvisation, they can often find themselves thinking to har about how to play a certain character. But, rather they should just look to be obvious and overcomplicate the act.

[@harichandana.chetty817]

I wish this was at least a 1/2 hour long

[@jazzyginger123]

I wish he did not interrupt you, sir. Go on and on...We want to hear you...

[@traeashlie-garen3562]

My God... It's been 30 years since I took a class from this man at University of Calgary. What a blessing to see the wisdom of this man recorded forever, so much to learn and live from. With Gratitude, Thank-you!!!

[@NKillmore]

Did you give up?

[@traeashlie-garen3562]

@@NKillmore Give up? You mean Improv? Probably the best way to phrase this, is that I have always had it inform my work and my life, even if not formally "onstage". I sincerely believe more people need to at least experience the exercises to learn more how to be in uncertainty with more ease.... Much Gratitude for the question!

[@patrickmonaghan7322]

I just wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude for all that you have done for the world of improvisation and for me personally. As a fan of your work, I have been inspired by your groundbreaking techniques and teachings, and they will stay with me forever. Your passion for creativity and your belief in the power of improvisation have truly transformed the way I approach performance and life in general. Your legacy will continue to inspire countless performers, educators, and enthusiasts for years to come. Thank you for all that you have done and for being such an incredible inspiration to so many. You will be deeply missed, but your teachings and spirit will live on forever.

[@Kemsleydd]

A charming and brilliant man; and Keith and Dennis are very funny together! Could've listened to way more

[@Ralfbongartz]

So einfach zu hören, so schwer umzusetzen. Mein lieber alter Lehrer. Gut, dich wieder zu hören. Man kommt doch wieder in die alten Fahrwasser gut und originell sein zu wollen. Verflucht starke Muster. Du warst und bist der inspirierendste Lehrer, den ich je hatte.

[@peytonwalker9418]

The statement look for the obvious not the clever really stuck out to me. It’s so simple, yet powerful!

[@stevecarter8810]

This is career changing advice for me

[@sean_hill]

Always a joy to see Keith and Dennis. Thanks for all you’ve taught me over the years. The amount of joy in my life is exponentially higher because of you.

[@SachinSharma-fy2lm]

Much like the video, he was not done yet....Rest In Peace sir!

[@mickyalberta3484]

A marvelous man. We used to go to his workshops way back in the day at the Uni. He created something unique and wonderful. Improvisation is magic.

[@cmoran9103]

Shame that this talk was treated in this way - why not give him more time, and have it more as a interview with Dennis asking leading questions? I mean, it's against the gimmicky structure of a TED talk, but surely more valuable to hear Johnstone talk than to preserve the structure!

[@nairocamilo]

It plays down exactly the example quote he brought up "Yes is rewarded with opportunity, No is rewarded with safety."

[@quantummath]

For Keith's method of improvising, I don't think he needs much of a long term memory. All he needs is the last sentence and he's good to go. A Machine Learning algorithm of mostly exploring and little exploiting if you will. Just loved watching a few of his interviews and reading through his book "Impro". The man has a point.

[@michaelgraflmusic]

I've start started reading the book, and already it's one of the most profound things I've ever read. Nothing new for me so far really, but I great compendium of important thoughts and insights about human behavior.

[@IgorIgorIgor]

Nice raising of your status! (and now I'm raising mine, whoops)

[@darkosrebotnik7118]

Who are the authors? I can't find it at all. Thanks.

[@simbaprecie]

Who is the author of the book?

[@TobyChampion]

@@simbaprecie The speaker wrote a book called "Impro".

[@iEMMANU3L]

Love this guy.

[@jazzyginger123]

Still, my heart...You have finally fallen deeply and honestly.Thank you, handsome, intelligent man. I wish that I knew you before today.Kathleen Mary Wood Dean

[@sigbausage3116]

Kathleen Dean What...? You're speaking like he's dead

[@ilvhera420]

AJJAJAJAJJAJJAJJA ajjjajajjajajjajajja

[@BRENDANGOSS1974]

How is he still alive? He has to be over 100 by now!? Fair play to him!

[@skjortan]

Best Ted talk

[@ladybug5335]

This where I'm getting Ideas for my essay

[@tonysignup8648]

Supercool!! I loved it!

[@ahnsookkim2506]

Why it finishes so fast. . . we could listen to him hours. . . yes. so fun

[@moon5darkness]

Come on we need more

[@thefeelcompany]

…can someone upload the entire talk?!

[@escenaimpro]

Esta conferencia de Keith es muy buena. Que lindo sería poder entrevistarlo para mi canal. ❤

[@tylerbarker8877]

Great video!!

[@NickArcade]

RIP.

[@adrianmonk4440]

IF you are in the Olympics competing as a High Jumper YOU EXPECT THEM to raise the bar. IF in Corporate America they do this day in day out, & year in year out, YOU FINALLY REALIZE THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF THE ENVIRONMENT.

[@evanstof3534]

9:21 Is she actually sleeping?? Nice talk btw!!

[@WootMapler]

That last point.. the actor wants to be unaltered like the pedestrian outside the bar, but it’s harder because the actor’s audience has paid money - the defence systems come in. So what *was* his point here?

[@lisawang9456]

allow yourself to be changed, to be altered and have a reaction.

[@impstudentteatern6706]

That it is scary to be on a stage and stared on by the audience, and because, if we are improvisers on stage, we don't want to be changed because that feels very vulnerable. At the same time, we do want to entertain the audience, which brings tension and expectations of being original (because we think that's entertaining). So we say "No" to things much more easily than "Yes" - unless we practice and practice to just allow ourselves to be altered by what happens. And the simplest way to say "Yes" (even though it may feel difficult and/or boring), is to do the next obvious thing. To be "average".

[@pronspronson9669]

Wish they had given him more time

[@NinaAxelle]

Way too short !!

[@EscuelaImproBarcelona]

very cool

[@sallybowles2781]

so I am pretty bad at most things,I m on the good track now?

[@quantummath]

Kieth seems to have formed a coherent picture of what he means by improvisation. Those who annoyingly laugh at his every sentence, to me seem like 'cult followers'; I wonder if Kieth himself has done anything to take the role of a cult leader.

[@mnplusk4084]

WHERE CAN WE GET THE SLIDES???????? I NEED THE SLIDES!!!! AAAHHHH

[@cmoran9103]

Read his book 'Impro' - all the good stuff's in there!

[@kimhrholm]

Just improvise your own ;)

[@subhankarmohanta7546]

Why wasn't he given some more time? This doesn't make any sense!

[@adrianmonk4440]

IF you are in the Olympics competing as a High Jumper YOU EXPECT THEM to raise the bar. IF in Corporate America they do this day in day out & year in year out, YOU FINALLY REALIZE THE E

[@LeoTM]

Sausage Mrs. Thatcher

[@товарищдодопривет]

благодарю вас give a hug to the old fascist ! never fly luftwaffe !!!

[@ste7en777]

never heard of em

[@irenedumateachesart]

too short.

[@davedidal7353]

might be his job, but dennis's interruptions were very annoying

[@ste7en777]

i mean SANTA

[@ste7en777]

triangle

[@ste7en777]

i probably wouldn't understand

[@ste7en777]

or have you become predictable to yourself?

[@ste7en777]

i was talking to SATAN

[@lilacbuni]

he reminds me of me and I'm only 17

[@jobumaria1778]

Que mamera q lo tuvieran q estar interrumpiendo unu

[@ste7en777]

NOTHING BUT CASH

[@hayatiozkul3197]

İkinci kez daha uzun 7 Birliği pıt para ile ilgili oğ@kşğ1lş@kppppkıkuo bu oı÷opel olarak ğ÷ğğğğ8ğğpppoo@bu ne biçim hayat bu pğiooo÷oii1iq÷lk polip para

[@midoriidrisable]

Yup,dont do your best because kazumism till judgement day.

[@hayatiozkul3197]

İkinci kez daha uzun 7 Birliği pıt para ile ilgili oğ@kşğ1lş@kppppkıkuo bu oı÷opel olarak ğ÷ğğğğ8ğğpppoo@bu ne biçim hayat bu pğiooo÷oii1iq÷lk polip para