Coaching
The role of an improv coach
Coaching improv is a unique position. Here’s a bit about my experience and how I see the role.
When I started coaching, it was a survival job. I felt like I needed to prove myself to teams. I wanted them to like my coaching so that they’d ask me back and refer me to other teams. As I started teaching, I coached less and coached fewer one-off sessions. I sought teams that I enjoyed working with or occasionally took sessions to earn a couple extra bucks. Now, between teaching and other commitments, I rarely coach. I worked with the UCB Harold team, The Library, for six months. I’ve remotely coached a couple of teams in Glasgow and Philly. Being pickier about my coaching gigs has helped crystalize how I think about the work.
One thing that’s strange about coaching is the power dynamic. In New York, indy teams pay their coaches which means they need to like their coaches and feel that they’re progressing. On one hand, that’s great. On the other, it can limit the amount that the coach can challenge performers. A good coach should push both individuals and the team to improve. With the ability to hire a new coach at any time, there’s an impetus for coaches to keep practices light and fun.
If the director of a play could be fired by the actors or a WNBA basketball coach could be axed by the players post-game, they wouldn’t be able to lead in the same way. The dynamics are different with an improv team are different, and I don’t think the coach should have more control, but they should be expected to lead. The solution is to find improv team/coach matches that are respectful, communicative, and creatively aligned.
Now, the dynamic of a coach/team and the role of the coach is also different depending on the level of the players ability and commitment.
A group of new improvisors needs someone to review basic concepts and run reps. They should keep things moving and light. New performers are working to get better at improv and feel out the group dynamic to see if it’s something they want to invest in. Coaching a group of new improvisors is bumper bowling and the coach is the bumpers. New improvisors also might not know who the coach is. For a coach, a big chunk of a first practice with new improvisors is proving yourself to be credible. For these reasons, working with a new group can be super fun and joyful, but it can also be a slog.
A group of very experienced improvisors with a clear goal can be incredibly rewarding. The key here is to make sure that the improvisors’ goals are aligned with the group and the group’s goals are aligned with the coach. Best case scenario, a team comes to a coach they respect, wanting to work on something that coach is great at and/or great at coaching. Ideally, there’s an open dialogue about what the team wants to achieve and how they can work on that together. In this coaching relationship, the coach finds creative fulfillment working with the team. The team respects the coach. They experiment and push each other to build something together.
Most groups fall in between these two extremes. The improvisors have been playing for a while. Maybe they had a class together and are now forming a practice group. Or they’ve been practicing a couple of years. Perhaps they host a show. Maybe it’s a group of somewhat experienced performers assembling to try something new. For any of these groups, it’s helpful to set expectations. The individuals on the team should share what they want to work on and their goals for the team. The coach should share how they think about improv and how they approach coaching. Often a coach and a team are working together because their schedules aligned. Best case scenario, everyone’s working together with purpose and excitement.
Upcoming Shows:
Teacher Feature at UCB Tuesday, July 21 9:30pm Livestream
Asssscat at UCB Saturday, July 25 8:30pm Livestream
Put Me in Coach at UCB Tuesday, July 28 9:30 pm Livestream
Upcoming Classes:
UCB Improv 101 starting Monday, July 27 7:00-10:00pm
UCB Improv 201 starting Wednesday, August 12 3:30-6:30pm
UCB Improv 101 starting Wednesday, August 26 7:00-10:00pm