I was never that good on stage with live improv. I was much better on film or writing something and then thinking about it. I was too in my head when I was on stage.
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
I never did improv professionally, but that was certainly in my training as an actor. I like it.
I'm an actor first and foremost, who happens to do improv. I've also done sitcoms, I've done stage.
Very rarely do I talk off the top of my head on stage. I'm not an improv guy. I'm a writer-guy who presents what he's written.
I was once doing an improv show and it was my turn to jump on stage and I fell on my face. It's a really terrible way to start a show.
When I first did 'Best in Show,' I had never done any improvisation.
I have made stage adjustments which allow me to hear myself better onstage so that has made playing live much more enjoyable.
I never went to acting school, so improv was my training. Just being quick on your feet helps in everyday life.
I took an improv class in 2005 in Chicago at ComedySportz, which was short-form, more of a games-based improv. I remember it being real fun and helping with my stand-up. If I did an improv class, and then I did stand-up later, I felt looser on stage and more comfortable.
Improv definitely made me a better auditioner, without a doubt. We did do an audition semester in grad school, and that was helpful for those times that you have a script and you have a few days to prepare it, to really work on sides. But the auditions I was doing in New York, if you got it the night before, you were very lucky.
The stage and the live crowd taught me to think on my feet, to improvise.