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Jeff Werner

I'm a designer in Vancouver, Canada. I work at the Beaty Biodiversity Museum, am a director of the 221A Artist Run Centre, and a member of Fieldwork design collective. I'm an Emily Carr and University of Victoria graduate and have worked in the Philippines, Indonesia and the Netherlands. I'm a cycling advocate and race on the Garneau Evolution team.

School Work, August 25, 2007 7:26 AM 6 comments

Some Rules of Improv

Don't refuse an offer
Also known as: Yes, and...; Don't Block; Don't Deny. Accept and build on what others suggest during a scene.

Support others
Trust others in the scene and help them look good and you'll look good. Save your fellow actor first. Enter a scene when and where you're needed.

Don't try to be funny
Make the scene interesting and the humour will come naturally.


Definition of 'improvise' (Wiktionary)
To make something up or invent it as one goes; to proceed by guess rather than by a careful plan. To invent or create something quickly or without a plan; to wing it.

6 comments on Some Rules of Improv

1. Hamza | August 25, 2007 7:38 PM

I agree.

However do these rules apply to a particular situation, or are you just implying generally.

2. Jeff Werner | August 26, 2007 1:52 AM

Hamza: both. They are good guidelines for all sorts of things, me figures. Worked well for me so far, anyways.

3. Andreas | August 27, 2007 12:06 PM

I recognize these principles from our introductory class called 'Calibrating the Instrument' (the instrument meaning yourself), which involved a lot of improv exercises.

I find "Dare to be dull" to be a better principle than "Don't try to be funny", but it might just be personal preference.

People in the design loft have been making fun at the first rule for almost a year now. No matter how outrageous an idea is, it is always seems to be answered with a sarcastic "Yes, AND..."

4. Josh | September 4, 2007 9:43 PM

Aaaannnd... awkward silence is good if it goes on long enough...

5. Todd | November 8, 2007 8:37 AM

I think people get too caught up in the yes and.... People need to realize they don't have to say those exact words to accept an offer. There are more clever, and quite frankly..less annoying ways of accepting and buliding on a scene without using "yes and".

6. Jeff Werner | November 8, 2007 4:12 PM

Todd: any suggestions on what these alternatives might be?

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