Game of the Scene

I started doing comedy to improve my writing. I pictured my funny muscles flexing and taking shape, coming up with zingers at a rate almost incomprehensible to my peers around me. What I found is that, yes, I am (a bit) faster than I was before, but even more so, I have taken away more grounded values and sources of personal growth.

Game: I would like to introduce you to a concept called the game of the scene. Upright Citizens Brigade teaches this concept – essentially, whether in sketch comedy or improv, find what is funny and follow it through a pattern of “if this is true, what else is true?” For example, if we were to do a scene about a mother-daughter lunch, and the mother repetitively cuts off her daughter and overshares as she needs to get something off her chest, we could follow that to answer and explore key questions: what are other topics she could overshare about? In what other ways does she emotionally lean on her daughter? Comedy is found in this exploration of characters’ emotional identities, finding a pattern of the unusual and then heightening from there.

Game is essential to UCB’s teaching method, and I have found myself watching for these kinds of patterns in my everyday life. It seems to me that the same principals that make a successful scene also build meaningful connections in communities. This might just be why, in a completely unbiased way, I insist that comedy classes are primed for fostering relationships.

Yes, And: Yes, really. People make jokes and say it’s cringe and blah blah blah, but the principle is simple: accept the information your scene partner gives, and then add to it. It’s a sign of respect for the other’s point of view, a way of acknowledging the teamwork that goes into making effective comedy. This is true in everyday conversations too; how many times have people cut you off, or neglected to hear and engage with the point you brought up? 

In the reverse sense, it is also a good lesson to truly hear the person you are talking to, beyond just listening or thinking about how you could pivot back to your topic. I find it interesting that “yes and” does not necessarily mean “agree with the other person.” You can say “no” and still “yes and” the conversation by accepting their reality and adding to it. It doesn’t boil down to simply yes-ing or agreeing without substance; it’s a bigger idea and a philosophy that I try  applying to my own life in an effort to build meaningful connections with others.

Get to the Action: Don’t just talk about bowling with hand grenades or surfing on a cotton candy mountain, do it! Everyone finds themselves in scenes where they are simply talking about doing something fun or exciting (did I mention surfing on cotton candy?) instead of just doing it. It’s much more fun to show, not tell. Similarly, when you and that friend who are constantly in the we-need-to-catch-up phase, it may be better to just cut to the chase and actually hang out. I have found this to be especially important in the real world and another reason I find comedy classes to be so community building; you are consistently doing things with people. It also tends to attract people who are willing to jump into activities or try new things.

Follow Through: If you say you are going to do something, do it. Don’t flake. While this may be a personal pet peeve of mine, it is also important for comedy. Especially with improv, ideas are flying left and right. Pay attention, and follow through when you say you are going to do something. This applies to sketch too, as ideas or ‘game’ should be continued upon to create a strong comedic pattern.

Emotions: Sorry to scare you with such an intense word, but even the avoidants must agree that emotions (and emotional processing!!!) are necessary, and in fact, bonding. Scenes are driven by characters’ wants and needs that are often grounded in emotions. They heighten the humor (what if a fully-grown adult was actually angry about the ice cream man being late?) and are vital to building relationships on and off the stage. Talk about your feelings!

Callbacks: You know the feeling when someone remembers something you previously said and references it? Feels great, right? Comedic callbacks are almost as satisfying and are a great way to tie different threads together.

Admittedly, I am an amateur on most of these fronts, but luckily, I am surrounded by a great group of people that inspire me to keep learning, growing, and making dumb jokes about bowling with hand grenades … I am proud of myself for that callback.

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