Improv Classes in NYC

Even the most natural comedians will admit that taking a few improv comedy classes can go a long way toward mastering improv techniques. In New Yorkers, comedians are a dime a dozen, so it's in any aspiring comedian's best interests to set himself or herself apart from the pack by taking a comedy class. Here a few reasons why taking an improv class will help you shine:

1. HONE YOUR CRAFT
Taking improv classes is almost guaranteed to help you improve your comedic skills. Comedy is all about timing, and in improv, you've got to be thinking quickly to make sure you'll be ready for any situation. The mind is a muscle, so with enough practice, you'll be able to respond wittily to anything the world of improv might throw at you. Whether you're asked to pretend to be giving birth in an airplane bathroom or to act out a zombie version of Cinderella, the skills you learn in improv classes will help you to find a quick, funny way to respond to the situation.

2. LEARN THE INDUSTRY
In New York City, the improv comedy scene is huge! Improv comedy is definitely a business, and it pays to understand it. Taking an improv class can teach you what it takes to make it in the industry. In addition to improv skills, you'll learn how to get an agent, how to book gigs, and how to market yourself in the competitive NYC improv scene.

3. MEET OTHER COMEDIANS
One of the best parts of taking an improv class is that it helps you meet lots of other people who are as interested in improv as you are! Making friends in the improv world can really great. Not only do you meet a bunch of really funny people, but you also create a great network of contacts in the industry. In any performing arts scene, it helps to know people in the business who can help you make connections and land improv gigs.

Improv comedy, by nature, encompasses a wide variety of themes and subjects. Because everything is improvised, improv routines can go any number of directions. All the same, any improv routine needs some sort of overarching structure to keep it from running out of control. In improv classes, you'll most likely learn these two main types:

1. SHORT FORM (GAMES) IMPROV CLASSES
Short form improv, as you might guess, often occurs in games. Popularized in shows like "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" and "Wild 'N Out," short form improv games establish rules for a short scene. Any jokes made by the participating improv comedians must follow the rules set down by the audience or moderator. For example, a rule might dictate that the comedians in the game cannot use any word that has a "P" in it. Hilarity often ensues as comedians struggle to meet the demands of the game. Short form improv classes teach aspiring improv comedians how to respond to these constraints and still crack great jokes.

2. LONG FORM IMPROV CLASSES
Long form improv is different from short form improv in that its comedic content is based on a story. Once assigned a scenario, improv comedians are responsible for developing the story line. Rather than relying on the quick punch lines used in short form improv, long form improv is more sustained, allowing comedic tension to build before finally causing to audience to burst into laughter. Long form improv classes teach students how to best create this kind of tension, how to build a comedic story line without letting it run out of control.

While you'll definitely learn lots of great tips and tricks at whatever improv class you end up choosing, here are a few of ours. We hope they help!

1. ALWAYS SAY YES
One of the golden rules of comedy is to always say yes. Improv comedy involves a group, and if you don't go along with whatever one of your improv partners suggests. If your partner decides that he wants to be a pregnant woman trying to join the military, then don't fight it! If you don't go along with it, you'll both be stuck, with few options to extend whatever story line you're trying to build.

2. ADD HISTORY
The one of the easiest ways to add content to your improv routine is to add history. If you're stumped for content, create a backstory for your character! History adds great depth to your story with minimal effort on your part. If your present story line isn't panning out the way you want it to, reverting to something that "happened" in the past is a great way to flesh out your scene without having to adhere as strictly to the original story line.

3. BE SPECIFIC
Being specific is a lot like adding history-it's a great way to add content that your fellow improvisers can build off of. Instead of saying "Check out that car!," try "Holy moly, look at that 1967 Ford Thunderbird!" It offers up the possibility for lots of jokes-funny things that may or may not have happened in 1967, jokes about Ford, jokes about Thunderbirds, the list goes on...

4. DON'T DENY
Similar to always saying yes, following the rule of never denying is a great way to be a team player in an improv group. No matter what one of your fellow improvisers sets up, go along with it. If someone has taken the time to set up a joke, you've got to play along, even if you don't think it's funny. Your job is to do your best to make it funny!

5. USE YOUR AUDIENCE
When you and your improv group just aren't bouncing off each other the way you should, try your audience! Some of the funniest jokes result when you pick out an audience member to poke fun at. Chances are that the audience member will be so excited that you picked him/her that he won't even mind that you're making fun of him! Plus, poking fun at an audience member often generates the most laughs, so if you're in need of a quick joke, breaking down the proverbial "fourth wall" and reaching out to the audience is a great technique.

As mentioned above, there's a site called CourseHorse that offers the best way to find cooking classes in NYC!

Finding any class in New York City can be tough, improv or otherwise. While there are definitely plenty of improv classes out there, picking one can be pretty tough. With so many classes to choose from, it's hard to narrow down your options to fit your criteria. Here are a few ways to help you streamline your search!

1. FIND NYC IMPROV CLASSES ON COURSEHORSE.COM
When it comes to finding classes in New York City, CourseHorse is probably your best search option. It's basically a catalog of NYC classes, so you can search through and filter the results by price, schedule, and neighborhood so that you can find exactly the class you want. Once you've selected a class, you can enroll in it directly through CourseHorse, which is really great, since a lot of comedy schools either don't have websites or don't sell their classes online.

2. INQUIRE AT COMEDY CLUBS
If you're interested in improv comedy, chances are that you've been to a comedy club. If you're looking to take an improv class, you might want to try your luck at a comedy club, as local comedy classes and schools often post ads for their classes on comedy club posting boards. While we can't guarantee that you'll always find what you're looking for, since not all comedy clubs post ads for other schools, it's definitely worth a shot!

3. CHECK CRAIGSLIST
Though most people in NYC check CraigsList for apartment listings, it's also a great site to use if you're looking to take classes. Many comedy schools post their listings in the "Classes" section on CraigsList. The tough part is finding one that you want. SInce CraigsList's sorting filters are pretty limited, you'll have to sift through the results manually. In our experience, we've found a lot of great improv classes, but it definitely took a lot of searching. One thing to watch out for is possible CraigsList spammers. CraigsList isn't exactly known for quality control when it comes to managing its postings, so examine all postings with a healthy dose of caution. You don't want to be another victim of a CraigsList scam!

4. GOOGLE IT
Yes, we know it's obvious, but you'd be surprised how many people forget about this simple tool! Searching for improv classes on Google is sure to generate thousands of hits-the tough part is sorting through them, which can be really intimidating. Looking through all the results can take hours, especially if you've got specific criteria to fill when picking a class. All the same, if you're looking for a lot of choices for improv classes, Google's the way to go.