I too sometimes sit by myself and wonder why I can't create magic. I am much better at making magic out of other people's ideas. Is there a job for this skill? I should do that job.
It was really magnified for me when I sat down to make a solo show for the Auckland Improv Festival recently. I put a lot of thought into it, started rehearsing it with Lis and it probably would have been fine and as worthy as a lot of things I have done or seen in improv land, but I wasn't enjoying it, just didn't trust that half an hour of Me was worthy of people's time, and I lost the 'Why, ' which eventually lead me to pull out, something I hate to do.
People who have worked with me will tell you that if I am in a cast, or have an ensemble, or even just a partner for something dramatic then I can be super creative and sparked up at the drop of a hat. Maybe too many ideas.
It's interesting that you point out that improv training might have 'done this to you' and I think that may be true for me too. I have been questioning whether my decision to quit in this AIF instance, not finish scripts, not follow through on strong ideas for things etc, was down to my lack of self worth, but your observation here allows me to think that it's also my training, an ingrained propensity to look for that scene partner and not feel inspired if they're not there. So thanks for them good thoughts!
I have this same problem and is part of the reason I’m taking a break from improv to try and cultivate creativity in different ways (with extremely limited success so far hahaha). As for whether improv did this to us or we were drawn to improv because it allowed us to create, I don’t know! Maybe both?
I know I get bored of things very easily and quickly (and have some other thoughts about why that might be that I’d be happy to share more privately Dan and Jen) and am currently reading four different books and about 15 different articles which is good for stimulating my brain but not good for a sense of focus. Improv sometimes feels like the only thing that can focus me enough to create. I’m not sure if it’s the presence of an audience or what. More introspective vibes of “what’s wrong with me?!”
My other issue is I’m increasingly finding much improv unrewarding (your talk on mediocrity a couple of NZIFs back haunts me Dan) and I can’t unsee it.
Anyway! Often reading and thinking these things and happy to chat in person with you both should the opportunity (Dan in Wellington anytime soon) arise!
Haha, yes that job is EDITOR! This may explain why my brother Ben is an editor. I think that job is also teacher, and dramaturg, and director, and anything that involves cobbling and editing and shaping, and I think we are actually already doing these things, so we're good! But yes, thank you for reinforcing that solo shows are hard and weird to rehearse, because that was our experience too, and yes, I am enough, thank you Jen. I suspect my show would have been really good! Lol. There are at least three really good unfinished scripts in my Drive that I haven't finished because they are REALLY GOOD but also I HATE THEM! So, thanks for the offer, I might take you up one day.
Just realised this is my first post since the NZIF 2023 dates were announced, and I didn't include them in the round-up! I will do so NEXT TIME.
I made a sub-stack account!
I too sometimes sit by myself and wonder why I can't create magic. I am much better at making magic out of other people's ideas. Is there a job for this skill? I should do that job.
It was really magnified for me when I sat down to make a solo show for the Auckland Improv Festival recently. I put a lot of thought into it, started rehearsing it with Lis and it probably would have been fine and as worthy as a lot of things I have done or seen in improv land, but I wasn't enjoying it, just didn't trust that half an hour of Me was worthy of people's time, and I lost the 'Why, ' which eventually lead me to pull out, something I hate to do.
People who have worked with me will tell you that if I am in a cast, or have an ensemble, or even just a partner for something dramatic then I can be super creative and sparked up at the drop of a hat. Maybe too many ideas.
It's interesting that you point out that improv training might have 'done this to you' and I think that may be true for me too. I have been questioning whether my decision to quit in this AIF instance, not finish scripts, not follow through on strong ideas for things etc, was down to my lack of self worth, but your observation here allows me to think that it's also my training, an ingrained propensity to look for that scene partner and not feel inspired if they're not there. So thanks for them good thoughts!
I have this same problem and is part of the reason I’m taking a break from improv to try and cultivate creativity in different ways (with extremely limited success so far hahaha). As for whether improv did this to us or we were drawn to improv because it allowed us to create, I don’t know! Maybe both?
I know I get bored of things very easily and quickly (and have some other thoughts about why that might be that I’d be happy to share more privately Dan and Jen) and am currently reading four different books and about 15 different articles which is good for stimulating my brain but not good for a sense of focus. Improv sometimes feels like the only thing that can focus me enough to create. I’m not sure if it’s the presence of an audience or what. More introspective vibes of “what’s wrong with me?!”
My other issue is I’m increasingly finding much improv unrewarding (your talk on mediocrity a couple of NZIFs back haunts me Dan) and I can’t unsee it.
Anyway! Often reading and thinking these things and happy to chat in person with you both should the opportunity (Dan in Wellington anytime soon) arise!
Haha, yes that job is EDITOR! This may explain why my brother Ben is an editor. I think that job is also teacher, and dramaturg, and director, and anything that involves cobbling and editing and shaping, and I think we are actually already doing these things, so we're good! But yes, thank you for reinforcing that solo shows are hard and weird to rehearse, because that was our experience too, and yes, I am enough, thank you Jen. I suspect my show would have been really good! Lol. There are at least three really good unfinished scripts in my Drive that I haven't finished because they are REALLY GOOD but also I HATE THEM! So, thanks for the offer, I might take you up one day.
Love the logo