What Do I Do After Finishing Improv Classes?

You found improv. You took a chance and you enrolled in a Level 1 class at a theater or school nearby. You loved it! You continued on to Level 2. You questioned if you should keep going, but as the bonds between you and your classmates strengthened, it became a no-brainer. You enrolled for Level 3. By now, you acknowledged that you’re in it to completion, whether that meant one or two more levels, and you went for it. Level 4 and Level 5 came and went and now the smoke has cleared. Almost a year later and about 1,000 - 1,500 bucks broker you ask yourself: Now what??? Here’s what to do after finishing an improv curriculum.

7 Tips to Continue Performing Improv Beyond Improv Classes

1. Hit up the Jams!

If you haven’t already done so, then you should be going to jams. Most theaters offer one, whether it’s monthly or weekly, and jams are valuable experiences. They provide a stage, usually free of charge to perform, and more importantly, an opportunity to meet and hang with fellow improvisers. One of the bedrocks of performing improv is the community that forms around it. Jams are an excellent example of how that community aspect shines when there is no longer the structure, organization, and discipline of a classroom. Plus, the only way to truly improve is to get up on stage and do it. Here is your chance!

2. Form a team & practice with a coach

This seems obvious, and while it’s easier said than done, it is highly encouraged to form your own team, seek out a coach, and continue to sharpen your skills. The chemistry you’ve formed with your classmates might be the best place to start. You’re all familiar with each other, have presumably forged a bond, and based on class show performances, have proved that you can share a stage together. Your teachers are a great source for coaching recommendations, too! You’re no longer a student, which means it’s entirely up to you to take initiative. Rise to the challenge!

3. Leverage your improv training for more experience in performance

For many people, taking improv classes is a means to challenge yourself and meet people and socialize. But for others, it can be the gateway to other mediums. Some may take improv to sharpen their stand-up comedy skills and others may take improv classes to become a better actor. And yet, another use for improv comedy skills is to forge a way into sketch comedy. There are a slew of other applications for improv in the corporate and public speaking space, too. When you take a giant step back and examine the landscape where you can apply your own improv tools, you might discover that you’d rather leverage what you know for a completely different trajectory than simply improv. The best advice is to try everything until something you truly love falls into your lap, then pursue that. Improv can serve as a springboard to your larger goals. 

4. Attend workshops/drop-in classes

Many of the improv theaters around the world might offer workshops and/or drop-in classes. These are a bit more focused on one aspect of improv, or they might simply serve to brush up on fundamentals and scenework. Whatever the case may be, they are excellent for advancing your improv skill set. On a similar note, many theaters might offer electives–classes that aren’t necessarily part of a leveled curriculum–so if musical improv, clown, or dramatic improv are appealing, then follow through and expand your knowledge!

5. Attend shows

This can’t be said enough: Go. To. Shows! It’s more than a show of support for your community, it’s an opportunity to watch improv through a more concentrated lens as a performer. After classes, you now know what to look for in an improv set or scene. You’re able to identify the moves a player makes (and in some cases, the moves they don’t). You’ve been taught and now, you can watch improv as a participant rather than as a spectator. There is something to glean from every experience and this includes watching shows. Aside from how fun they are to attend, shows can function as lessons of their own. If there’s a particular team or show that is popular amongst your scene, then go and find out why. Identify the styles of various players to grow and evolve and your own comedic voice. There was a time before you took classes when you sought out the inspiration of comedy. Don’t lose sight of that! Keep going to shows and feeding your passion. 

6. Produce your own shows

This might also fall into the category of “easier said than done’ but nonetheless, it is highly encouraged. Everyone has to start somewhere, so why not throw your team out there and produce your own shows. Whether at a theater or the back of a bar or any other creative environment, producing your own shows helps to facilitate community and grants you the freedom of your team getting its own reps. The best approach is try not to stress about themes or attendance (I know, how do you not stress about attendance??) and instead simply focus on putting on a show. You’re likely to pick up some production tips along the way, but more importantly, you’ll be contributing to the improv community.

7. Learn to teach

Some theaters offer teacher assistant roles or programs to help facilitate learning to teach improv. If you loved your improv education experience so much that you’re inspired to impart your own wisdom to students, then reach out to those theaters and see how they may help. Teaching others how to do improv can be equally as rewarding as performing improv itself. 

Contact Ryan for Workshops, Coaching, or Consulting

Completing improv classes is a major accomplishment. After moving through all the levels with your classmates, you’ll feel a sense of achievement and excitement at all the creative doors that have been unlocked for you. But you might ask, “Now what?” once you’ve completed your courses. As we discovered above, there are no shortage of options to stay active. For more info on my coaching and workshops, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly, or follow me on Instagram.