There were over 20 people at the prospect jam yesterday.
My question to you: Is this success?
A brief history: I came into RFT when the process of entry was hazy. You asked the right people the right questions, things might go your way. So, my brain started working. I knew people who I thought were good improvisers (mostly Nik, Stu, and the crew from the University Improv club) that I thought deserved a place where they could keep developing with RFT. I spread the idea of the Prospect Jam around, and Tad helped me realize I needed to write an official proposal.
Support was mixed. Some loved it, some hated it, some were in the middle. Crad made it happen, and added the idea of auditions. Problem solved.
Chad co-founded the prospect jam, now commonly referred to as the Sunday jam, and supports the idea every step of the way. But honestly, I don't think either of us expected this to be so well attended. Nosebowl certainly helped, but we still have the stalwarts from before on board.
So, is this success? Or is it overcrowding? Or is it just a sign of how loved the artform of Improv is? I guess we'll find out with the attendance after the auditions...
Don't forget to comment by voting for a song from Today's CD. And vote on the old ones from the past few entries (March 8, 9, 10)
Today's CD: The New Pornographers "Twin Cinema".
Tracks: "Twin Cinema", "The Bones Of An Idol", "Use It", "The Bleeding Heart Show", "Jackie, Dressed in Cobras", "The Jessica Numbers", "These are the Fables", "Sing Me Spanish Techno", "Falling Through Your Clothes", "Broken Breads", "Three Or Four", "Star Bodies", "Streets of Fire", "Stacked Crooked".
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6 comments:
Shawn, this has been a point of disagreement among us: jams keep going even after auditions or no?
It sounds like yes.
Title track is my pick.
and thanks for the links :)
Maybe all my woes were due to a lack of communication. Yes, yes, and more yesses. The Jam on sundays continues even after auditions, and Crad would like it if people who make it into the cast continue to attend. It's good for you, like bran. If you don't make it into the cast, you are encouraged to come every Sunday. It's your way to stay connected. I hope that's clear now.
Yes, that is what I suspected last night. Good.
I'm going wiht sing me spanish techno simply because it sounds awesome
To directly quote Shawn, "[The Prospect Jam is] like bran". There you have it, folks. That's all you need to know.
Is it success to have lots of folks at the jam? Maybesies. An important point to make is that it's an entirely different setting than a workshop or a performance. That's a good thing and an ungood thing, because while it lets one get some improv in after high school (it's not that far away, you know!), it can also lead to stagnation. My challenge to all the new kids on the block who just discovered the PJ is to introduce something to improv that you want to see, and share it with your fellow 'provver. Invent!
One less positive note for those of you who wind up auditioning: space is limited on the schedule, and even moreso since dickheads like me and Busby squeezed into that overfull elevator, so don't be surprised if you don't get picked up right quick. Your best bet is to stick with the Prospect Jam through thick and thin (thin being 3 people or less), and while you're at it, IMPROVe! It's tough not making an ass of yourself on stage, and you need to develop a flexible attitude toward what improv is and can be in order to make a good show. Always IMPROVe.
One more tip for auditioneers: Be polite and energetic and note that while a TS audience might like toilet humour, understand that the folks evaluating you (probably Chris Craddock, Condor/Bill, Kevin Gillese, Joey, or any combo thereof) have heard it all before. Try to focus on the things that only an improviser would notice and your chances will be better for it.
I'm not sure i like this PJ/bran analogy. The Prospect Jam doesn't keep me regular.
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