Brian Perry: Blog

Tuesday night I had the joy of participating in a night of improv sketch comedy. It was the culmination of an improv class offered by Lesly Fredman. Anyway, so it turns out improv is not about being funny. What it’s about is being present and releasing judgment of yourself. Cool, huh?

For example, Lesly says, “Okay Brian and Mike, you are a pair of diamond earings. Go.” Part of my brain starts launching into judgment and criticism of everything I might do and/or think to do. I mean who among us doesn’t leave a conversation, meeting, date, or party going “I can’t believe I said/did that. That was so lame. Ugh.” Another part stands up tall, hands at my sides kind of curtseys a bit says wistfully and with loud enthusiasm “Sparkle!” turning to face different parts of the room as I repeatedly do so. I don’t know if that’s funny or not on its merits. What I do know is it is precisely what came to me in the moment and that I wasn’t thinking of my list of things to do and that I wasn’t playing my “you suck” tape in my head and that I was simply being present. AND it was SUPER fun!

Improv requires one to turn the nonsense off. To feel what’s happening right now and then to respond to the moment in whatever way comes up, with total commitment and passionate authenticity and without judgment or internal criticism. So pretty much you get to be a kid again.

Having dabbled just a bit with this one class, I feel braver in my daily life and less hung up on any given moment. I am reminded that, as Emerson wrote, “All life is an experiment.” And it all feels just a bit more playful and fun. Not a bad lesson to live, right? So, quick – be…yourself. Weeee!!!